Thousands of uniformed personnel gathered under one roof at Istana Nurul Iman yesterday for a banquet hosted by 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 for the monarch’s 77th birthday celebration.
Accompanying His Majesty were Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam; 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 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.
Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul 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.
Other guests included state dignitaries, Cabinet ministers, government officials and members of the Diplomatic Corps.
The banquet was preceded by the recitation of Doa Selamat by Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar.
The banquet was hosted for over 2,000 uniformed personnel from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), Gurkha Reserve Unit, Immigration and National Registration Department (INRD), Royal Customs and Excise Department (RCED), National Service Programme (PKBN) and other enforcement agencies as well as the youth associations including Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association (PPNBD), Girl Guides Association of Brunei Darussalam (PPPBD), military and police cadets.
His Majesty later joined a Junjung Ziarah with the guests. – Lyna Mohamad
