| Fizah HAB |
HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, has consented to attend several major events in conjunction with the 35th National Day celebration, together with members of the royal family.
The events include the Kesyukuran ceremony together with congregational prayers and recitation of Surah Yaasiin, the Grand Assembly for the 35th National Day, and the Riadah Berbasikal Semangat Kebangsaan cycling event.
This was highlighted by Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, in her capacity as Co-secretary of the Executive Committee for the 35th National Day celebration, during a press conference at the MCYS’ Citra Budaya Hall in Berakas yesterday.
Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila shared information on the main celebrations as well as side events and preparations for the 35th National Day event.
“The theme ‘Accomplishing the National Vision’ (Menjayakan Wawasan Negara) will be retained, with the celebration scheduled to begin at 7.30am on February 23 at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in the capital,” she said.
The permanent secretary also announced that rehearsals for the on-field performances, involving 7,536 students and civil service personnel, are being actively carried out at schools and sports complexes, including the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.
A full-dress rehearsal will be held on February 21 at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien.
This year, 147 teams involving a total of 24,143 participants have registered for the march-past, which is divided into the following clusters: national security, Bestari community, civil service, socio-economy, post-secondary education, secondary education, private education, mosque Takmir committee groups, professional organisations, youth movements, women’s associations, general associations and outstanding teams.
In the meantime, a miniature flag distribution ceremony will take place simultaneously at all primary, secondary and religious schools, including private educational institutions, in all four districts tomorrow.
Among the schools involved are Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) College with Grand Chamberlain Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Penggawa Laila Bentara Istiadat Diraja Dalam Istana Pengiran Haji Alauddin bin Pengiran Paduka Tuan Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar as the guest of honour in his capacity as the Deputy Co-chairman of the Executive Committee for the 35th National Day celebration, while in the Tutong District the ceremony will be held at Pengiran Anak Puteri Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah Religious School in Kampong Kupang with Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Pengiran Haji Kamalrudzaman bin Pengiran Haji Mohd Ishak as the guest of honour.
The hoisting of the giant-sized national flag, which will take place on Saturday at the open area of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex in the capital, will be witnessed by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman.
The Kesyukuran ceremony, together with the mass Maghrib and Isyak prayers and recitation of Surah Yaasiin and Doa Kesyukuran will take place on February 22 beginning at 5.45pm at Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan; the Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque in Pekan Tutong; the Mohammad Jamalul Alam Mosque in Kuala Belait; and the Utama Mohammad Salleh Mosque in Pekan Bangar.
To further enliven the occassion, several activities will be held throughout the celebration including the Riadah Berbasikal Semangat Kebangsaan scheduled for February 24 at 7am at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien.
Other activities include the Belia Cinta Tanah Air programme from February 19-24; a 35 Times Khatam Al-Quran ceremony on March 7; the National Day Run 2019 on March 17; and the Brunei Amazing Race on March 10 at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien.
Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila advised all agencies planning to organise celebratory side events to submit their requests to the 35th National Day Secretariat for further consideration.
She also called on members of the public and residents to participate in the Kesyukuran ceremony as well as in the Grand Assembly for the 35th National Day.
The press conference was also attended by members of the Working Committee for the 35th National Day celebration, which included Senior Assistant of Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara as Co-chairperson for the Invitation and Protocol Working Committee Razali bin Haji Badar; Secretary of the Transport Licensing Board as the representative of the Co-chairman of the Transport Working Committee Mohammad Syafien bin Yandol; Administrative Staff Officer of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces as the representative of the Parade Working Committee Commander Sarifpudin bin Matserudin; Superintendent of Police of Brunei-Muara District as the representative of the Co-chairperson of the Traffic and Security Committee Superintendent Pengiran Haji Abdul Salam bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Ghani; Information Officer at the Information Department as the representative of the Co-chairperson of the Working Committee for Media and Publicity Ali Tarmizi bin Hj Ramli; Acting Director of Youth and Sports Haji Zafri bin Haji Mohammad; and Secretary General of the Brunei Darussalam Cycling Federation (Persekutuan Lumba Basikal Brunei Darussalam) Omar Ali bin Haji Ibrahim as Co-chairman for the Working Committee of the Riadah Berbasikal Semangat Kebangsaan cycling event; and the Secretariat of the 35th National Day celebration.