Committee all set for 28th Nat'l Day celebrations
BY LOW LENG MAY
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - THE NATION is buzzing with anticipation as some 5,700 participants prepare for a spectacular 28th National Day celebration.
The participants in this year's parade at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar 'Ali Saifuddien (Taman SOAS) in the capital, represent 121 groups including the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Royal Brunei Police Force, the Hassanal Bolkiah Youth Trophy participants, government departments and ministries, schools, colleges, representatives from the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
According to Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid Hj Mohd Jafaar (picture), permanent secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as the Secretary of the 28th National Day celebration committee, a 1,000 participants were members of NGOs while 200 comprised civil servants.
This year's theme for the celebration will be "Negaraku Brunei Darussalam" (My country, Brunei Darussalam), he said.
The celebration will begin at Taman SOAS at 7am, in anticipation of His Majesty's arrival. The royal arrival will be marked by the national anthem, sung by a specially-assembled National Day Choir followed by the procession, oath taking and field performances.
The field performances consist of six segments, portraying Brunei's development priorities being an independent and sovereign state such as environmental conservation, education, and a strong and dynamic economic development, Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid said.
A number of roads in the capital will be closed from 6am on February 23, said Acting Director of the Investigation and Traffic Department SPT Hj Mohd Hassan Pehin Penyurat Hj Ahmad, and drivers should use alternative routes to reach their destination.
The roads that will be closed on the day of the celebration are: the T-junction traffic light at Spg 4, Jln Tutong (road leading to Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah highway in front of Baadiah building); the T-junction traffic light at Spg 4, Jln RIPAS, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah highway (near the Magistrates' Court); the T-junction traffic light at Jln Hj Basir, Spg 3 at Jln RIPAS (near the BSB Fire Station); the traffic light area at Jln Kianggeh, Spg 3, Jln Kg Kianggeh (Jubilee Hotel); Jln Residency (near the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Jln Stoney (near the Royal Brunei Police headquarters).
Shuttle buses will be provided for those wishing to join in the celebrations. The pick-up point will be at the parking area of the Jame' 'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah in Kg Kiarong. Passengers will be dropped off at a number of points: Jln Bendera (in front of the Royal Regalia), Jln Stoney (in front of Terrace Hotel), Jln Kumbang Pasang (near the St Andrew's Church and Gerai Tamu Selera) and Jln Hj Basir (Pusar Ulak School area).
Prior to the main celebration, a mass Maghrib prayer and Doa Kesyukuran (thanksgiving prayers) will be held at 5.45pm on February 22. His Majesty and members of the royal family are anticipated to attend the prayers held at Sultan Omar 'Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) Mosque.
Similar mass prayers will be held at several major mosques in Brunei-Muara District: Jame' 'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah , Sultan Saiful Rijal Mosque, Mohamad Bolkiah Mosque, Syarif Ali Mosque, Al-Muhtadee Billah Mosque, Setia Ali Mosque, Al-Ameerah Mosque and Lambak Kanan Mosque.
In Belait District, the prayers will be held at Jamalul Alam Mosque, Perpindahan Kg Pandan Mosque and Pekan Seria Mosque.
The congregants in Tutong and Temburong districts will perform the prayers at Bolkiah Mosque and Mohamad Salleh Mosque respectively.
-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times
