His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday afternoon for the 16th Annual Consultation between His Majesty and Dato' Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

His Majesty was greeted on arrival at the Royal Malaysian Air Force Airbase in Subang by Dato' Seri Shaziman bin Abu Mansor, Minister of Public Works as the Minister-in-Attendance; and Datuk Richard Riot Anak Jaem, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as senior officers from Royal Malaysian Air Force.

Also present at the airbase were Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II; Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister's Office; Dato Paduka Haji Ishaaq bin Haji Abdullah, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to Malaysia, as well as senior government officials from Brunei Darussalam and officers from the High Commission of Brunei Darussalam in Kuala Lumpur.

His Majesty consented to walk past a static guard mounted by the Malaysian Armed Forces, before boarding the motorcade to the place where His Majesty would reside.

While in Kuala Lumpur, His Majesty will hold a four-eye meeting with the Prime Minister of Malaysia at Sri Perdana, Putrajaya, Malaysia for the 16th Annual Consultation.

Before His Majesty left Brunei for Malaysia, a doa selamat was read at the Istana Nurul Iman by Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Hj Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the State Mufti.

Present to bid farewell to His Majesty at the Sultan's Flight Hangar in Rimba were HRH Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office; HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah; HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah; HRH Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah; HRH Prince 'Abdul Malik; HRH Prince 'Abdul Wakeel; and HRH Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah.

Also present to bid farewell to His Majesty were Pengiran-Pengiran Cheteria; Members of the Privy Council; Cabinet Ministers; deputy ministers; Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces; Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force and Puan Haznah Md Hashim, Acting High Commissioner of Malaysia to Brunei Darussalam.

The 16th Annual Consultation will appraise the progress of ongoing cooperation and explore new potentials for an enhanced partnership that can mutually benefit the peoples of the two countries, according to the Malaysian Foreign Ministry.

The consultation is the most important event in the annual calendar of both countries, serving as a mechanism for discussions on a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues of common concern. - Borneo Bulletin (4 September 2012)