HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to attend the closing and handover ceremony of the Asean Chairmanship.

The ceremony began with the closing statement by U Thein Sein, President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and Chairman of the 25th Asean Summit and Related Summits.

He expressed his appreciation to all leaders and delegates attending the event, especially to Dato Laila Utama Dato’ Sri Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia as the upcoming host of Asean.

Before the ceremony, His Majesty proceeded for a group photo session with other Heads of State and Government attending the summit and related summits.

At the end of the ceremony, the President of Myanmar as Chair of Asean passed the gavel to the Malaysian Prime Minister to symbolise the handover of Chairmanship of Asean to Malaysia.

Accompanying His Majesty were Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Minister of Finance II at the Prime Minister’s Office and Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II. - Borneo Bulletin (14 November 2014)