HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam safely arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia yesterday to attend the 18th Annual Leaders’ Consultation between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia.

Present at the Subang Air Base to greet His Majesty were the Defence Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein as the Minister-in-Attendance; High Commissioner of Malaysia to Brunei Darussalam, Datuk Awang Sahak bin Awang Salleh as well as senior officers from the Government of Malaysia.

Also present to greet His Majesty were Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II; and High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to Malaysia, Dato Paduka Haji Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Awang Mohd Taha.

His Majesty consented to walk past a static guard mounted by two officers and 24 personnel from the 6th Royal Ranger Regiment of the Malaysian Armed Forces before boarding a motorcade towards Shangri-La Hotel, where His Majesty will reside.

Upon arrival at the hotel, His Majesty was greeted by the hotel’s General Manager Manfred Webber and the hotel’s Manager Allwyn Drego as well as the hotel’s staff.

Accompanying His Majesty is 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.

The Annual Leaders’ Consultation between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia has been conducted since 1997, and the 17th Annual Leaders’ Consultation was held on December 8, 2013 in Brunei Darussalam.

The event will allow both leaders to take stock and review the progress of bilateral relations in the past year, especially with regard to the implementation of the agreements reached between the two countries in the Exchange of Letters signed in 2009, Bernama reported.

According to a Malaysian Foreign Ministry statement yesterday, His Majesty will be hosted to a luncheon following the Annual Leaders’ Consultation by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak and wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in honour of the ruler’s visit.

His Majesty will be conferred the Honorary Doctorate of Laws by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) in Penang on Nov 5, Bernama reported.

Earlier, before leaving the Istana Nurul Iman, a Doa Selamat was read by the State Mufti, Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abd Aziz bin Juned.

Present at His Majesty the Sultan’s Flight Hangar to bid farewell to the monarch were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel and Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah as well as other members of the royal family.

Also present at the hangar were YAM Pengiran-Pengiran Cheteria, Speaker of the Legislative Council, Cabinet Ministers, Members of the Privy Council, Deputy Ministers, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and Acting Commissioner of Police, as well as a representative from the Malaysian High Commission in Brunei Darussalam. - Borneo Bulletin (3 November 2014)