THE hoisting of the giant national flag yesterday marked the start of the nationwide celebrations of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s 67th birthday.

The ceremony took place yesterday at an area near Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in the capital.

The guest of honour was the Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, who is also Chairman of the Executive Organising Committee of His Majesty’s 67th birthday celebration.

Also present was the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, who is also the Organising Chairman of Giant Flag Hoisting Ceremony of His Majesty’s 67th birthday celebration.

The event was also attended by members of the national committee, members of the State Legislative Council, permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretaries, heads of department and the deputies, Mukim Penghulus, village heads, invited guests and members of the public.

The event started with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and a Doa Selamat.

The 67 flag bearers comprise personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department and Prisons Department, accompanied by a band from the Royal Brunei Police Force.

Meanwhile, the flag hoisting team comprises personnel from the Royal Brunei Navy accompanied by a band from the Royal Brunei Police Force.

The choir team comprises 67 personnel from the Language and Literature Bureau, BSB Municipal Department and the Fire and Rescue Department, as well as the band troupe that jointly sang the national anthem and ‘Rahmat’ songs.

At the ceremony, Pehin Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin also handed over the national flags and celebration posters to Districts Officers of Brunei-Muara and Belait, as well as Acting District Officers of Tutong and Temburong.

The hoisting ceremony was also held in other districts.

The guest of honour for the ceremony in the Belait District was Dato Paduka Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Development; Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohd Hamid bin Haji Mohd Jaafar, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports in the Tutong District; Awg Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohammad, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance in the Temburong District.

The giant national flag will be hoisted in the capital until September 30.

Citizens and residents in the nation are also urged to hoist the national flags at their residences, government buildings and business premises starting July 1. For those bestowed with titles, they are urged to hoist their personal flags. - Borneo Bulletin (2 July 2013)