His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on Monday called on the government, private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), citizens and residents of the country to work together to achieve the national vision.
His Majesty said this in a titah during the Hari Raya celebration 1444 Hijrah / 2023 organised by Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (Yayasan) that was held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.
Accompanying His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik, Chairman of the Committee of Governors of Yayasan; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, the Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The monarch said that while Allah the Almighty’s blessings have enabled the Sultanate to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri, it is important to remember “the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic”.
His Majesty stressed, “We need to continue to observe health protocols and standard operating procedures to protect the well-being of all.”
The coronavirus aside, the monarch also noted that the world is facing multitude of challenges that are growing more complex, thus, “all stakeholders need to have strategic plans to ensure the continuity of development and quality of life of the communities”.
In reference to Yayasan’s theme for this year’s festive event, ‘Memperkasa Penglibatan Masyarakat Dalam Mencapai Wawasan Brunei 2035’ (Empowering the Involvement of the Community in Achieving Brunei Vision 2035), His Majesty reiterated the aspirations of the Sultanate in becoming a nation that takes pride in its highly-educated, skilled and successful citizens in a dynamic and sustainable economy.
The monarch also acknowledged the active involvement of government-linked companies (GLCs) and the private sector in the communities through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, which His Majesty believes “serve as catalysts for the development of the Sultanate”.
More details on Tuesday’s Borneo Bulletin
