BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The people of Brunei Darussalam will celebrate His Majesty the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and the Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s 68th birthday on August 14. The giant-sized national flag begins flying in the heart of the capital, marking the start for those bestowed with royal honorary titles to fly their personal flags and normal-sized national flags for the public, ©BRUDIRECT.COM reported.
The hoisting of the giant-sized National Flag in conjunction with His Majesty’s birthday was held yesterday in a special ceremony at the open air of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex. The ceremony began with the recital of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat.
Officiating at the flag hoisting ceremony was Yang Di-Pertua Adat Istiadat Negara, Yang Amat Mulia Pg Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pg Anak Hj Abd Aziz Pg Jaya Negara Pg Hj Abu Bakar, as the Adviser of His Majesty’s 68th birthday Celebration National Committee. Also present were the Minister of Home Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Badaruddin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Othman and his Deputy, Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Dato Laila Raja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Hj Awg Halbi Hj Md Yussof as the Chairman of the oversized National Flag Raising Ceremony’s Committee.
Sixty eight personnel of the Fire and Rescue and Prison Department paraded the massive National Flag that measures 3.6 metres by 1.8 metres. The flag was then presented to Yang Amat Mulia and later hoisted by personnel of the Royal Brunei Navy.
At the ceremony, Yang Amat mulia also presented the National Flags and His Majesty’s 68th Birthday Celebration Posters to the Acting Brunei-Muara District Officer, Awg Hj Sunadi Hj Buntar, the Belait District Officer, Awg Hj Haris Othman, the Tutong District Officer, Awg Wardi Hj Md Ali and the Acting Temburong District Officer, Awg Hj Abd Hamid Dato Paduka Hj Abdullah.
The National Flag rising and distribution ceremonies marking His Majesty’s 68th birthday also took place simultaneously in the other districts yesterday. In the Belait District, the ceremony was held at the Cendera Kenangan Recreation Park in Jalan Sungai, Kuala Belait.
The ceremony began with the arrival of the National Flag bearers led by the Belait District Officer; Awg Hj Haris Othman together with the Belait District Adventure Association and Scooters Club. The convoy began its journey from the Sungai Liang Fire Station towards the Cendera Kenangan Tower and passed through several designated routes. The National Flag was then handed over to the Permanent Secretary of Media and Cabinet at the Prime Minister’s Office, Awg Hj Md Rozan Dato Paduka Hj Md Yunos. It was later presented to personnel of the Royal Brunei Police Force to be hoisted and preceded with the song entitled “Bendera Negara dan Rahmat” (National Flag and Blessings) and the distribution of the National Flags to Penghulu mukims.
In the Tutong District, the National Flag hoisting ceremony took place at the Civic Centre Complex. The flag bearers were led by the Assistant Tutong District Officer, Awg Hj Adnan Hj Adam. The sixty eight flag bearers composed of personnel of Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Prisons Department, Fire and Rescue Department, Four Wheel Drive Association, Tutong District Motorcycle Association (KEKAL) as well as youths from Kg Kiudang. The Tutong District Officer, Awg Wardi Hj Md Ali later presented the National Flag to the Permanent Secretary of Defence Policy and Development at the Ministry of Defence, Colonel (Rtd) Pg Dato Paduka Hj Azmansham Pg Hj Mohammad. Personnel from the Royal Brunei Police Force then hoisted the National Flag and followed by the song entitled “Bendera Negara, Dirgahayu Dan Raja Berdaulat”. The National Flags was also presented to Penghulu Mukims.
Similar ceremony was also held in the Temburong District at the open area of the Wharf in Bangar Town. It began with the presentation of the National Flag by the Acting Temburong District Officer, Awg Ajmin Hj Meludin to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dato Paduka Awg Hj Md Hamid Hj Md Jaafar.
The ceremony proceeded with the National Anthem and the song entitled “Bendera Negara” as well as the distribution of the National Flags to Penghulu Mukims. As of yesterday, people in the country are urged to fly the National Flags until the end of this month as a show of undivided loyalty to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam as well as to enliven the Royal Birthday celebration.
In the Brunei-Muara District, the Flag raising and distribution ceremony was held at the open area of the Dewan Muhibbah of the Brunei-Muara District Office. The function began with the reading of Al-Fatihah and preceded with the handing-over of the National Flag by the Acting Brunei-Muara District Officer, Awg Hj Sunadi Hj Buntar to personnel of the Royal Brunei Police for the hoisting ceremony which was accompanied by the national anthem by the choir team from the Language and Literature Bureau. It was followed by the distribution of the flags to sixteen Mukim Penghulus.