Ex-policemen seek bigger role

Spectators could not get a good view of the national day celebration as they needed to stand outside the fence. Photo: Hj Minor Absah

Awg Hj Mohd Zaide bin Hj Damit said he and other retired policemen would not hesitate in participating in such celebrations to show their patriotism towards their nation.

"If retired soldiers have their own association where every year they participated in the march-pass of national day celebrations, I am wondering what happen to our retired policemen.

"I believe it is up to the retired policemen to reactivate their association and participate in future celebrations," he said.

More than 15,000 people including 6,000 students participated in the 19th National Day celebration, which took place last Sunday at the Taman Hj Sir Omar Ali Saifuddien in the capital.

However, some members of the public hope for future celebrations to take place in other locations such as the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

They said if future celebrations could take place in such location then many more spectators could see the ceremony clearly.

"There were tourists who complained that they could not witness the national event clearly.

"Members of public also could not see properly, in between people's heads and the gates that fenced the Taman Hj Sir Omar Ali Saifuddien," they said.

They said many spectators watched the celebrations on the streets, shop pavements or on top of some buildings.

"Some of us could only watch the marching of the participants into the Taman and not the actual celebration itself, which was held at the Taman," they said.

They felt many more spectators did not bother to see the celebration, preferring to witness the national event within the comforts of their living rooms as the event was telecast live by the national television, Radio Television Brunei (RTB).