HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam bestowed honorary medals to 20 recipients during the Investiture ceremony held at Istana Nurul Iman yesterday in conjunction with the celebrations of the monarch’s 68th birthday.

His Majesty arrived at the Istana’s Balai Singgahsana Indera Buana, accompanied by Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha.

The first to receive a medal yesterday was Tun Dato Seri Paduka Pehin Sri Dr Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, who was presented the Darjah Kerabat Laila Utama (DK).

Next was the presentation of Darjah Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang Yang Amat Gemilang Darjah Pertama (DPKT) to General TNI Dr Moeldoko as well as Royal Brunei Armed Forces Commander Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah and Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Bahrin bin Md Noor.

The Darjah Pahlawan Negara Brunei Yang Amat Perkasa Darjah Pertama (PSPNB) was presented to Brigadier General (U) Awang Haji Wardi bin Haji Abd Latip, while the Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Yang Amat Mulia Darjah Pertama (SPMB) was presented to Dato’ Seri Anifah bin Haji Aman.

Meanwhile, Tan Sri Rastam bin Mohd Isa and Tan Sri Dato’ Ahmad Fuzi bin Haji Abdul Razak received the Darjah Paduka Seri Laila Jasa Yang Amat Berjasa Darjah Kedua (DSLJ).

Three recipients were then presented the Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Yang Amat Mulia Darjah Kedua (PPMB), namely: Pehin Khatib Awang Haji Emran bin Haji Kunchang, Dr Awang Haji Mehboob Alikhan and Iqbal Ahmad Khan.

The Darjah Seri Ugama Islam Negara Brunei Yang Amat Bersinar Darjah Ketiga (SSUB) were presented to Awang Haji Harun bin Haji Junid and Dayang Hajah Sinega binti Haji Swadi.

Additionally, the Darjah Setia Negara Brunei Yang Amat Bahagia Darjah Ketiga (SNB) was presented to five recipents: 259 Colonel Awang Haji Zainal Ariffin bin Dato Paduka Haji Ahmad, Pengiran Haji Mohd Zain bin Pengiran Haji Abd Razak, Awang Haji Ali Bakar bin Haji Kasim, Awang Razali bin Haji Badar and Awang Mohd Serudin bin Haji Tuah.

Next to be presented was the Darjah Paduka Seri Laila Jasa Yang Amat Berjasa Darjah Ketiga (SLJ), with Senior Liutenant Colonel Meyyappan Nadarajan Thevar and Major Bishan Kumar Rai Dewan as the recipients.

The Investiture ceremony then came to a close after a Doa Selamat was read by the State Mufti, Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Hj Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned.

Also present yesterday for the event were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, YAM Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel.

Also present were Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Muta-Wakkilah Hayatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Nor’ain, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam and other members of the royal family.

The event’s attendees included Pengiran-Pengiran Cheteria, Cabinet Ministers, Pengiran-Pengiran Peranakan, Legislative Council members, ambassadors, permanent secretaries, department heads and senior government officers. - Borneo Bulletin (15 August 2014)