By Lyna Mohammad
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to grace the "Majlis Kesyukuran" in conjunction with His Majesty's 60th birthday celebrations at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.
Accompanying His Majesty were HRH Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and HRH Prince 'Abdul Malik.
His Majesty and members of the royal family were greeted on arrival by Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Adanan, who is also the Chairman of the National Committee for His Majesty's 60th Birthday Celebrations, executive committee members as well as the ceremony's committee members.
The recital of the holy Quran marked the beginning of yesterday's events that were also attended by Pengiran-Pengiran Cheteria, Cabinet Ministers, LEGCO Members, Deputy Ministers, Pengiran-Pengiran Peranakan, Pehin-pehin Manteri and Manteri-Manteri Pedalaman and permanent secretaries.
The Minister of Home Affairs delivered a welcoming address and expressed his gratitude as the citizens and people of Brunei Darussalam enjoy peace, tranquility, harmony, security and stability apart from achieving development in all aspects under the sovereign and wise leadership of His Majesty.
The development the nation has achieved in the fields of religion, education, health, communication, society, community, economy is not just in town and its surrounding areas but also in rural areas.
This, added the minister, definitely provides a very significant impact and contributes towards increasing the standard of living in the nation. He also said that this was due to the appreciation and application of pure Bruneian values and characteristics that have long been inherited by the people.
Such values and characteristics among all covers loyalty to the Sultan, united, respectful, courteous, competitive, continuous good cooperation among both government and the private sector in working together to generate and contribute to the nation's development towards excellence and glory.
The minister said the Majlis Kesyukuran is one of the main events at the national level that is being organised with the participation of all levels of the community throughout the nation both in the government and private sector.
The minister took the pledge of loyalty to His Majesty on behalf of the people and citizens to stand united to support His Majesty's fair and wise leadership in spearheading His Majesty's government and the nation.
The minister then presented the giant holy Al-Quran named "Mushaf Nurul Iman" as a "pesambah" to His Majesty on behalf of the people of Brunei as a show of their affection, love and care towards their beloved monarch.
The publication of the Mushaf Nurul Iman is an effort to glorify the greatness and purity of the Quran that serves as the guidance to all Muslims. It is handwritten by a group of writers from Universiti Sains Al-Quran Wonosobo in Central Java, Indonesia.
His Majesty was also presented with a Nasyid and Tausyeh performance prior to consenting to receive the pesambah.
(18th August 2006)
