HER Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha last night consented to attend Her Majesty’s birthday celebration hosted by the Brunei Darussalam’s Women Council (MWNBD) with the cooperation of Police Wives and Families Welfare Body (PEKERTI), Nurses Association (PENJURU) and Brunei Shell Ladies Association (BSLA) at The Manggis Mall in Manggis.

Accompanying Her Majesty were Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna.

Her Majesty consented to receive birthday cards and pesambah from MWNBD, PEKERTI Association, PENJURU and BSLA.

The President of the MWNBD and the Chairperson of Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Birthday Celebration Committee, Pengiran Datin Paduka Hajah Mariam Pengiran Haji Matarsat, highlighted the MWNBD’s diverse programmes and activities which had been carried out such as in religious, education, welfare, health and economy. The MWNBD has also participated in activities organised by several of ministries.

“Last April, MWNBD with the cooperation of other non-government organisations in the country hosted the Asean Civil Society Conference or Asean Peoples’ Forum 2013 for three days at Asma Hotel in Jerudong.”

Among the objectives of the ACSC 2013 were to increase understanding and foster unity and cooperation among Asean citizens in realising the “Asean Community 2015” as well as to facilitate discussions on various issues involving the Asean Community, including women, youths and children.

The MWNBD also participated in international meetings, conferences and workshops such as the 15th Asean Confed-eration of Women Conference (ACWO) in Jakarta, Indonesia last November carrying the theme “Accelerating the Attainment of Millennium Development Goals through Gender Equality and Strengthening the Economy and Women Protection in Asean”.

About 700 attended the event which commenced with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and thanksgiving prayer led by Dayang Hajah Fatimah binti Haji Abdul Ghani. - Borneo Bulletin (27 October 2013)