Grand banquet marks royal 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 hosted guests at the Banquet Hall of Istana Nurul Iman to celebrate the monarch’s 77th birthday yesterday.

Accompanying Their Majesties 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; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel; 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 and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Norhayati binti Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman.

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; as well as members of the royal family were also in attendance.

Among the distinguished guests were Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah Tun Datuk Seri Panglima (Dr) Haji Juhar bin Datuk Haji Mahiruddin and spouse Toh Puan Datin Seri Panglima (Dr) Hajah Norlidah binti Tan Sri Datuk RM Jasni; Singaporean Minister for Health Ong Ye Kung and spouse Kuik Sin Leng; Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji bin Haji Noor and Datin Seri Panglima Hajah Juliah Salag; and Deputy Premier of Sarawak and Second Minister of 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 Ali Hassan and spouse Dato Hajah Dayang Morliah binti Datuk Awang Daud.

Royal Thai Armed Forces’ Chief of Defence Forces Dato Paduka Seri General Chalermphon Srisawasdi and spouse Budsakorn Srisawatsdi; and Indonesian National Armed Forces General Dato Paduka Seri Andika Perkasa and spouse Datin Diah Erwiany were also present.

Other guests included state dignitaries, Cabinet ministers, government officials and members of the diplomatic corps.

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 Police Force and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports played at the venue. – Adib Noor