By Rosli Abidin Yahya
Thousands of participants braved the afternoon heat at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien in the capital yesterday to rehearse their performances to greet their beloved ruler who will be attending a Sunday get-together with the people of Brunei-Muara District.
The colourful full-dress rehearsal was witnessed by Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Haji Adanan, and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Haji Dani, who gave the participants a round of applause for a near-perfect rehearsal.
The rehearsal began with the Penghulu of Mukim Kianggeh, Penghulu Hj Lutfi leading the penghulus and ketua kampongs of Brunei-Muara District in declaring their undivided loyalty to His Majesty by chanting "Daulat Kebawah Duli Tuan Patik". The same words have been installed on top of camps all along the length of the Taman.
Brunei-Muara District Officer, Dato Haji Mohd Yussop, rehearsed his speech for the big day before the finals of Tug-of-War Competition which will take place at the field fronting the Royal Dias.
Some 1,200 students from secondary and primary schools in Brunei-Muara District rehearsed their cultural performances comprising traditional and contemporary dances, pencak silat, music, beating the gongs, drums and hadrah, and belting out patriotic songs demonstrating their allegiance to their ruler.
Organisers estimated that as many as 50,000 people from Brunei-Muara District will take the opportunity to meet and greet His Majesty.
Some 38 camps have been erected all around the Taman to accommodate representatives of 17 mukims as well as various organisations.
- Borneo Bulletin
(19th July 2006)
