His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam arrived in Bali, Indonesia this afternoon to attend the Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) V.

Present at the Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali to greet His Majesty were Tifatul Sembiring, Minister of Communications and Informatics and Handriyo Kusumo Priyo, Ambassador of Indonesia to Brunei Darussalam as well as other senior officials from Indonesia.

Also at the airport was Dato Paduka Brigadier General (Rtd) Haji Mahmud bin Haji Saidin, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Indonesia.

His Majesty was greeted at his residence by Mr Helmut Pluecker, Managing Director.

The Bali Democracy Forum V will be held November 8 and 9 at the Bali International Convention Centre, Nusa Dua, and will be officiated by Dato Laila Utama Dr Haji Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, President of Indonesia and co-chaired by Lee Myung-bak, President of the Republic of Korea and Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia.

The theme of the Bali Democracy Forum V is 'Advancing Democratic Principles at the global settings'. The forum is expected to discuss how democratic global governance could contribute to international peace and security, economic development and effective enjoyment of human rights.

Before leaving the Istana Nurul Iman, a doa selamat was read by Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the State Mufti.

Present at His Majesty the Sultan's Flight Hangar in Rimba to bid farewell to His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik; His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Wakeel; and Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah as well as other members of the royal family.

Also present at the hangar were Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Cheterias; Speaker of the State Legislative Council; Cabinet Ministers; Members of Councils; Deputy Ministers; Acting Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces; Acting Commissioner of Police; and Madam Nurul Qomar, Charge d'Affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia to Brunei Darussalam. - Borneo Bulletin (8 November 2012)