James Kon
The Australian High Commission in Brunei Darussalam held a dawn service to commemorate Anzac Day at the Brunei-Australia Memorial at Muara Beach yesterday to honour the service of Australians and New Zealanders in wars, conflicts, peacekeeping and humanitarian operations.
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof attended the event.
Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force Dato Paduka Seri Haji Mohammad Irwan bin Haji Hambali, members of the Diplomatic Corps and military officials as well as Australians and New Zealanders in the Sultanate were also present.
In his Anzac Day address, Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Luke Arnold spoke about how Anzac Day is commemorated in the modern multicultural societies of Australia and New Zealand.
He drew attention to the fact that the prayers for the Muara Beach service were led by Royal Australian Navy Chaplain Imam Essa, an Australian Muslim with Malay heritage who was born in South Africa.
He also noted that in 1945, Australian soldiers arrived at Muara Beach and worked closely with Bruneians and other allied forces as part of a military operation which contributed to the liberation of Borneo, including Brunei.
Japanese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Maeda Toru said the ceremony expressed his deep respect to those who lost their lives in the battles between Japan and Australia on Muara Beach 78 years ago.
“I would also like to remind ourselves once again of the sufferings of the people in this region caused by our actions and battles during World War II,” he added.
“Today, the balance of power in the international community is shifting dramatically.
“Peace in such a world can be successfully maintained only by concerted efforts of all the stakeholders, small or big, nearby or distant. A key to the efforts is to uphold the rule-based international order based on such principles as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo by force. Japan is firmly committed to these principles, joining hands with many friends in the international community, including Brunei and Australia.”
The Australian High Commission also extended its appreciation for the provision of a catafalque party from the First Battalion of the Royal Gurkha Rifles, and ceremonial support from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Gurkha Reserve Unit.
