Lyna Mohamad
Following the launch of the storybook from Timor-Leste titled The Boy and The Crocodile, the Embassy of Timor-Leste in collaboration with the Reading and Literacy Association (ReLA) organised a live enactment of the storybook at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex, Berakas yesterday.
The live enactment of The Boy and The Crocodile is a cultural story from the Cultural Stories of the World collection organised during the Brunei Book Fair 2022, under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, in conjunction with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s 76th birthday celebration.
The live enactment aimed at promoting the cultural folklore, tradition, and dance of Timor-Leste and was performed by the youth of ReLA.
Deputy Permanent Secretary (Culture) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Dr Siti Norkhalbi binti Haji Wahsalfelah was the guest of honour.
The event began with the guest of honour visiting the ReLA booth, which displayed cultural books from ReLA and Timor-Leste, followed by a welcoming speech from Ambassador of Timor-Leste to Brunei Darussalam Abel Guterres.
Ambassador Abel Guterres hoped to enhance strong bilateral ties between Brunei and Timor-Leste and expose young readers to the culture and history of Timor-Leste through the enactment of the cultural storybook.
President of ReLA Dr Malai Zeiti binti Sheikh Abdul Hamid spoke on the impact of the cultural storybook and the participation among local youth in the collaboration.
Certificates were then presented to participants and the event concluded with a presentation of gift to the guest of honour from the ambassador.
