Grand banquet for His Majesty’s birthday

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 and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam, attended a banquet in conjunction with His Majesty’s 78th birthday celebration at Istana Nurul Iman yesterday.

Also in attendance were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah binti Pengiran Haji Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Anisha Rosnah binti Adam; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah binti Dato Haji Nasir; and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah.

Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam, along with other members of the royal family, were also present.

The special guests were His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Saud bin Abdul Mohsin Al Saud, as representative of His Royal Highness Prince Saud bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Saud; Governor of Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi bin Tuanku Jaafar and spouse Toh Puan Fauziah binti Mohammad Sanusi; Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari bin Tun Datuk Abang Haji Openg; Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development and Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment of Sarawak Dato Paduka Seri Laila Jasa Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah bin Ali Hasan and spouse Datin Dato Hajah Dayang Morliah binti Datuk Haji Awang Daud.

Other special guests included Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore Heng Swee Keat and spouse Chang Hwee Nee, and TNI General Purnawan Dato Paduka Seri Andika Perkasa and Datin Diah Erwiany Perkasa, and Toh Puan Datuk Seri Panglima (Dr) Hajah Norlidah binti Tan Sri Datuk R M Jasni.

The royal banquet was preceded by the singing of the national anthem and recitation of Doa Selamat by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned.

Guests in traditional Malay costume and formal attire dined on various delicacies while bands from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, the Royal Brunei Police Force and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Radio Television Brunei and the Brunei Youth Symphony played at the venue.

The banquet also saw a special Silat Kuntau performance by the Brunei Darussalam Pencak Silat Federation (PERSIB). – Adib Noor