By Liza Mohd
Thousands of people made a spectacular scene in their festive best at the Padang Bandaran Kuala Belait yesterday morning to pay tribute to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam who visited them in conjunction with the 60th Royal Birthday Celebrations. Belait was the third district to host the get-together ceremony with His Majesty.
Hundreds of school children waved flags along Jalan Maulana welcoming His Majesty and members of the royal family, as they arrived at the Padang.
His Majesty was greeted upon arrival by Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Adanan, Minister of Home Affairs; Pehin Orang Kaya Dewa Pahlawan Dato Paduka Awang Hj Dani, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs; Permanent Secretaries at the Ministry of Home Affairs; and Acting Belait District Officer, Awang Haji Mohammad bin Haji Abd Rahman.
Accompanying His Majesty were HRH Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, HRH Prince 'Abdul 'Azim, HRH Prince 'Abdul Malik and HRH Prince 'Abdul Mateen.
His Majesty was hailed with loud cheers of 'Daulat Kebawah Duli Tuan Patik' as he arrived at the royal dais in KB.
The Acting Belait District Officer on behalf of officials and staff at all levels in His Majesty's government extended appreciation towards the kurnia of accelerated increment for government officials and staff in Section Two and below and also the increment on living allowance for staff under Section Four and Five, announced during His Majesty's titah on July 15 this year, during the Istiadat Mengadap and medal of honours investiture at Istana Nurul Iman.
The Acting District Officer on behalf of the citizens, residents and government servants in the district also pledged undivided loyalty to His Majesty in his welcoming address.
He observed during His Majesty's reign the standard of living of the district had continued to improve in all aspects and at all levels starting from towns to remote and isolated areas. He said this year more than 8,000 people showed their love and loyalty at the get-together, comprising people from a wide spectrum of society in the district under the title 'Rampai Seni Meraih Kegemilangan'.
An interesting highlight at the performance was the flip chart transformation at the grandstand, portraying a background message to suit the flow of the act.
His Majesty mingled with over 40,000 enthusiastic well-wishers who waited in droves to personally greet and wish their beloved monarch.
His Majesty also visited the ten-day 'Gemilang 60' grand exposition, which signified the social and economic growth of Belait district and Brunei Darussalam in general and further demonstrated the unity of His Majesty's subjects in helping to build the future of the country.
The Monarch and members of the royal family then joined government officers, community leaders and other invited guests for a luncheon and received 'junjung ziarah' from members of Belait National Committee and invited guests, marking the end of Belait's grandest annual ceremony.
- Borneo Bulletin
(23rd July 2006)
