Tremendous Welcome For HM At Belait
By Hadi DP Mahmud, JM Qistina Rangga and Nur Farhanah Aus

Kuala Belait - The second leg of the annual get-together ceremony to celebrate His Majestyhe Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's 62nd birthday continued yesterday amid pomp and splendour in Belait District.

About 12,000 well-wishers gathered at the municipal field in the vicinity of the district's goverment complex early in the morning to catch a glimpse of the monarch as 2,500 flag-wavers, mainly comprising of schoolchildren, waited by the roadside eagerly anticipating his arrival.

Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof, the Minister of Home Affairs, was on hand to greet His Majesty on arrival as a live choir performance of the national anthem tolled in the background.

His Majesty was accompanied by a royal entourage which consisted of His Royal Highness Prince Hj AlMuhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Sufri Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik and His Roy, t1 Tlighlie,s Prince 'Abdul Mateen.

The customary cries of Daulat Kebawah Duli Tuan Patik (Long Live His Majesty), delivered by a group of penghulu, village heads, heads of longhouses and the district's consultative council members ensued. Hj Mohammad Hj Abdul Rahman, the Belait District Officer then delivered a speech expressing gratitude and loyalty towards the benevolent ruler.

His Majesty and the rest of the royal entourage were then treated to colourful and spirited field performances by about 3,000 students, which were mostly choreographed with a hint of religious-and-cultural-themed performances, such as hadrah and nasyid (Islam-oriented songs).

The high-spirited performances topped off with a grand finale, which featured a specially-composed song on Brunei's Vision 2035 and a final blast of colourful confetti that drew strong cheers from the crowds.

The highlight of the day came following the performance, when the monarch stepped down from the podium to be greeted by thousands of well-wishers who had lined up around the field in tents as early as seven in the morning.

As the monarch made his way through the crowd, mobile phones, cameras and plenty of hands were in the air to greet and take pictures of the caring monarch, who is known to spend hours greeting and meeting his subjects during festive functions.

Oil and gas producer Brunei Shell Petroleum, which has based its operations in the oil town of Seria since the discovery of the commodity in 1929, took the opportunity to reveal its biggest community development project to the monarch with an exhibit called 'Galeria Pusat Insani'. BSP in cooperation with Belait government agencies will be building a multi-million dollar community centre, one of its kind in the district, that will feature a 1,500-capacity banquet hall, a 24-lane bowling centre and a cineplex.

Today will see the third leg of the get-together ceremony at Taman Sir Muda Omar 'Ali Saifuddien in the capital. On August 1 this year, His Majesty will mark the 40th anniversary of his crowning.  -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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