THE national anthem echoed through the air of the Temburong District yesterday as the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) personnel hoisted the giant national flag at the Dermaga area in Bangar as part of the nationwide flag-hoisting that began yesterday on the occasion of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s 68th birthday celebration.

The guest of honour who handed over the flag for hoisting was Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohd Hamid bin Haji Mohd Jaafar, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

Upon the arrival of guests, the ceremony started with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah read by Haji Kamarulzaman bin Kami, Temburong’s Mosque Affairs Officer. This was succeeded by the handover of the flag from Temburong’s Assistant District Officer, Ajmin bin Hj Meludin to the guest of honour.

The event continued with performances of ‘Lagu Bendera Negara’ and ‘Doa untuk Raja’ presented by the district’s choir group. The guest of honour later handed over national flags to penghulus of the district for the distribution among their respective village heads.

Also present at the ceremony were a member of the Legislative Council, YB Awang Haji Sulaiman bin Haji Ahad; Temburong District Officer, Awang Haji Abdul Hamid bin Dato Paduka Haji Abdullah; OCPD Supt Commissioning Officer of the Temburong District; Penghulus; village heads; heads of department as well as members from non-government organisations (NGO). - Borneo Bulletin (2 August 2014)