Bandar Seri Begawan - A total of 6,557 guests have been invited to attend the National Day Celebration on February 23 at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar All Saifuddien.

This was revealed by Pg Dr Hidop bin PgHj Samsuddin, Assistant Senior Chief of Adat lstiadat Negara yesterday during a national day press conference.

The conference was chaired by Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid bin Hj Mohd Jafaar, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports who is the co-secretary for the National Committee for Brunei Darussalam's 29th National Day Celebration 2013.

Pg Dr Hidop said letters of invitation have been sent out, and urged each recipient to cooperate in returning the attendance slips to Adat Istiadat Negara as soon as possible.

The invited guests, he said "must arrive before 730am at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien, while those who are invited with spouse have been given two entrance cards".

He then stressed, "The entrance card is not transferable, and those who cannot attend the ceremony must return the card to Adat Istiadat Negara".

On the dress code, he said, "Men must wear Malay traditional attire and long suit for non-Malays. While for ladies, they have to dress in Baju Kurong or Kebaya with head scarf, while a long gown for non-Malays."

Meanwhile Awg Azman bin Hj Abd Rahim, Acting Assistant Director of Information Department revealed that a total of 226 media passes will be issued.

From the total figure, 58 passes are for government media while 55 passes are for the private printing media. There are 32 passes for other private media and three passes for school's media. A further 34 passes are issued for associations and federations, and finally the last 44 passes are for freelance media.

He also urged the media pass holders to stand straight and not to move when the National Anthem is played.

Awg Azman Bin Hj Abd Rahim also reminded photographers not carry a huge bag and not to leave their bags behind.

He also riterated all media pass holders to dress accordingly by following the dress code issued by the Adat Istiadat Negara.

Hj Muhd Esa Bin Hj Ibrahim, the Assistant Director of Land Transport, disclosed that a total of 327 school buses, 265 rented buses, 15 public service buses, 75 boats, five Temburong boats and seven support buses will be utilised on February 23 to transport some 20,000 people participating in the parade.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin