By Rosli Abidin Yahya
The celebration venue at the car park area near the Royal Regalia in the capital is currently being spruced up to welcome local and foreign visitors to watch the nightly performances during the two-week celebration to commemorate His Majesty's 60th Birthday.
Weeks of preparation have seen the capital city being spruced up, its streets cleaned, buildings given a fresh coat of paint and trees and branches trimmed.
A performance stage and a temporary secretariat building are currently under construction by workers from the Public Works Department, Ministry of Development.
Decorative lamp-posts similar to the ones at the Jerudong Park Playground are also being installed at the venue to provide ample lighting during the celebration.
Stalls featuring a variety of authentic and exotic products including fruits, food and beverages will also be put up at the area.
Thousands of visitors are expected to throng the venue to watch the nightly performances to be presented by government agencies, non-governmental associations, local and foreign artistes and schools.
It has been announced that His Majesty's 60th Birthday will be celebrated in grand style this year.
The festivities will officially kick off tomorrow. A massive Brunei flag will be hoisted at the open court of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah situated in between Masjid Omar 'Ali Saifuddien and Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar 'Ali Saifuddien in the capital to mark the commencement of celebrations.
Starting Saturday, the nation will witness a series of activities including a walkathon, fireworks, stage perfor-mances, floats, processions, Asean tug-of-war tournament, Majlis Kesyukuran, Konsert Dirgahayu Emas, International Halal Products Expo and Malam Rumpun Seri 60.
The international military tattoo to be held from July 29 to 31 at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas will feature military band music and cultural acts from some 12 countries, namely Australia, China, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, Vietnam and the host country, Brunei Darussalam.
The last such grand event was organised by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces in 1992 at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's Accession to the Throne.
- Borneo Bulletin
(30th June 2006)
