Bandar Seri Begawan
| James Kon |
TO MARK the start of Brunei Darussalam’s 35th National Day celebration, a giant-sized national flag hoisting ceremony took place at the open area of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah complex in the heart of the capital.
Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman was the guest of honour.
Also in attendance were Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Penggawa Laila Bentara Istiadat Diraja Dalam Istana Pengiran Haji Alauddin bin Pengiran Paduka Tuan Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar, the Grand Chamberlain as joint deputy chairman of the 35th National Day Celebration Executive Committee; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, the joint chairperson and senior officials.
The ceremony kicked off with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Allah Peliharakan Sultan dan Negara Brunei Darussalam by mosque affair officer at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Mudim Haji Amran bin Haji Mohd Salleh.
This was followed by Royal Brunei Navy personnel marching into the venue to receive the giant flag measuring 3.7 metres by 7.3 metres from the Minister of Religious Affairs.
The flag was then hoisted accompanied by the national anthem sung by a choir from Sultan Sharif Ali Secondary School comprising 35 male and 35 female students. The music was played by the brass band of Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF).
The ceremony was also enlivened with two patriotic songs Berkibarlah Bendera and Bendera Negaraku where some 400 students and representatives of non-govermental organisations lined up at the street in front of the open areas, waving the national flag.
Before the conclusion of the ceremony, the Minister of Religious Affairs presented the national flag and Brunei Darussalam’s 35th National Day celebration poster to Brunei-Muara District Officer Misle bin Haji Abdul Karim; Acting Belait District Officer Ridzuan bin Haji Ahmad; Tutong District Officer Shamsul Bahrin bin Haji Mohd Hussain; and Acting Temburong District Officer Mohammad Yassin bin Haji Ahmed.
Kuala Belait
| Daniel Lim |
IN THE Belait District, the flag hoisting ceremony was held at Menara Cendera Kenangan located at Jalan Sungai, Kuala Belait. Acting Belait District Officer Ridzuan bin Haji Ahmad was present to oversee the ceremony.
Also present during the ceremony were members of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Penghulu of Mukim Liang Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Hamid bin Haji Mumin, who is also the Acting Penghulu of Mukim Bukit Sawat, and Village Head of Kampong Labi 1 Yang Berhormat Hanapi bin Mohd Siput, who is also the Acting Penghulu of Mukim Labi.
Belait District heads of departments, penghulus and village heads, principals and headmasters of schools, business leaders, members of mukim and village consultative council (MPMK) and representatives of various associations and groups were in attendance.
The ceremony started with the arrival of the convoy bearing the national flag led by Assistant Belait District Officer Abdol Hazis bin Haji Ahad which was greeted by the police, army and fire and rescue cadets from schools in the district.
The recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat led by Head Imam of RPN Kampong Pandan Mosque Haji Noor Azhar bin Haji Harith was followed by the handing over of the national flag to the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF).
The raising of the national flag was accompanied by the singing of the national anthem Allah Peliharakan Sultan, followed by the patriotic song Bendera Negara sung by the choir group Permata 2.0 from Mukim Seria who was the champion of the Inter-Mukim Patriotic Choir Competition for the Belait District held earlier this month.
Following the songs, the Acting Belait District Officer handed over the national flags to penghulus in the district to be hoisted at their respective mukims.
The Acting Belait District Officer also handed over the national flag to a representative of the Belia Cinta Tanah Air Programme, who will volunteer and participate in the National Day Parade at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in the capital later this month.
