Sixty-two year old Paul Goh was one of the many foreign citizens who had the opportunity to shake hands 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 during the get-together ceremony in Kuala Belait yesterday.
The senior Malaysian holds the monarch in special reverence. Goh was born in Brunei on July 14, 1961 while his parents were working in the country. While they moved back to Sabah two years later, he considers Brunei Darussalam to be his ‘birthplace’.
“Finally, I met my own Sultan here at my birthplace over 60 years later. This will be a golden memory that I will treasure for the rest of my life,” he said.
Goh and his sister, Mary, were in Kuala Belait to visit family.
Mary said she first visited the country in 1983, and has been back on several occasions over the last 40 years.
Yesterday, along with her brother, she had the opportunity to witness the event.
Meanwhile, Datuk Henry and his wife Datin Cecily arrived in Brunei from Kuala Lumpur and both were excited to join the ceremony for a chance to meet His Majesty.
“It was truly a memorable experience for us and to be with the people of Brunei in meeting this beloved monarch of the country I was born in,” said Datuk Henry.
Locals were also eager to meet the monarch. Secretary General of the Kuala Belait Senior Citizens Activity Centre Mohd Yunus bin Haji Muhd Punggut said there were around 80 to 100 senior citizens at their booth, where His Majesty stopped by during the get-together session.
June Goh from Brunei Fertilizer Sdn Bhd (BFI) shared that they have been participating in the event since 2021 and this year saw more than 50 personnel joining in the event.
The company presented a group photo of the monarch with BFI personnel during a working visit to the plant for His Majesty to sign.
Meanwhile, Haji Jamaluddin bin Haji Mohd Yassin who works with Adinin Group of Companies said he and his colleagues were honoured to have the opportunity to get together with His Majesty and showcase the company’s achievements.
They presented His Majesty with a birthday cake, where he made a ceremonial cut, signed a parchment and took a group photo.
Paul Chang, a Filipino working for Brunei LNG Sdn Bhd said, “This is my first time participating in the get-together and I am very excited to see His Majesty.
“It is also wonderful to see the people express their love and appreciation for His Majesty.” – Lyna Mohamad
