30th NATIONAL DAY - BRUNEI

DARUSSALAM

The First National Day - History

BRUNEI Darussalams independence celebrations

began with the official opening ceremony of the
Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium on 23rd September
1983. That date coincided with the 70th birthday of His
Majestys father, Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien
Saadul Khairi Waddien.

On 31st December 31, 1983, the independence

celebration was continued with the lighting up of
coloured light decorations in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Lighted and really beautifully decorated archways were
Many Bruneians thronged to Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in the city centre for the recital of Surah Yassin
and Doa Selamat. Despite the heavy rain, the mosque was filled to capacity and many prayed in the open
courtyard drenched with rain.

After the ceremony, everyone went to Taman Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien. With everyone coming from all the
districts, the place was jammed to the brim. They came with one purpose the Proclamation of Independence for
Brunei Darussalam at the stroke of midnight.

At 12.01am, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah read the Proclamation of
Independence and His Royal Highness Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Saadul Khairi
Waddien led the calling out three times of Allahu Akbar after the proclamation.

The Taman was immediately lighted up with the words of Allahu Akbar and Merdeka Negara Brunei Darussalam
1984 in Roman and Arabic scripts accompanied with the beatings of the hadrah and the firing of the 21-gun
salute.

It was a long journey but now Brunei had resumed its full political independence.
Fifty four days later, in totally contrasting weather, on a hot and sunny day on 23rd February 1984, there was
another big crowd. This time the crowd was at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium. They came with one
purpose to participate in Bruneis first National Day celebrations.

Executive Committee: 30th National Day plans taking shape

THE second executive committee meeting for the upcoming 3o th National Day (HK-30) celebration was yesterday
held at the Conference Hall of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, chaired by Minister of Culture, Youth and
Sports Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah.

Attending the meeting were YAM Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz bin
Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar, Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara; YAM Pengiran Seri Wijaya
Pengiran Haji Ahmad bin Pengiran Mohd Yusof, Senior Assistant Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara; Dato Paduka Haji
Abdul Wahab bin Juned, Deputy Minister at the Prime Ministers Office as well as senior officers from various
government ministries and uniformed agencies.

The follow-up meeting also involved representatives from 22 working committees who discussed various side
events for the HK-30. This included a description for the chosen logo, identifying suitable dates for the hoisting of
national flag, field performance format, doa kesyukuran ceremony, national assembly, sectorial activities and other
matters.

The minister noted that His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam had consented to
several of the agreed agendas during the first meeting, which was held last September. Other matters included
the distribution of mini national flags, Doa Kesyukuran ceremony as well as mass Maghrib and Isyak prayers to be
held at mosques throughout the country on February 22, with the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque being the focal
point.

The minister expressed hopes that all parties will work hand in hand to ensure yet another successful celebration.

National Day theme

THE 30th National Day theme for this year, Generation with a
Vision, will continue to be adopted for National Day Celebration next
year.

In his speech, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri
Setia Awg Hj Hazair, who is the chair of the Executive Committee for
National Day Celebrations, noted, During the first meeting of the
executive committee for Brunei Darussalams 30th National Day
celebration 2014, it is agreed upon to use the Generation with a
Vision theme for the following years until there is a suitable time to
change to a new theme.
Preparations for 30th National Day in full swing

IN PREPARATION of the 30th National Day Anniversary that will be

celebrated on February 23, a full dress rehearsal for the flag-hoisting
ceremony was held yesterday at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal
Bolkiah Complexs open area in the capital.

Present for the rehearsal were the Permanent Secretary at the

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), Dato Paduka Dr Hj
Affendy bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Hj
Abidin, senior government officers, as well as the ministrys officers
and staff and participants, among others.

The national flag was handed over to the 21 Royal Brunei Navy
(RBN) personnel during the rehearsal, followed by the flag-hoisting
and a performance of the National Anthem. The actual flag-hoisting
ceremony, to be held this coming Sunday, will also see flags and
posters handed over to District Officers from all four districts. MCYS
has also informed that there will be a slight change in the schedule,
as the flag-hoisting ceremony will be at 10am reported. To glorify the
occasion, the countrys citizens and residents have also been asked
to fly the national flag at home as well as at government and private
buildings and premises.

The declaration of the national day pledge is a driving force for the
young generation to continue to improve their personal self esteem
and to devote their loyalty to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-
Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

A total of 30 national pledge readers from the combined youth of the

public service officers from various agencies and ministries, private
sectors of various professions are in full spirit to uphold their
responsibilities. The main National Pledge reader for this year said
consolidated training held since January till now continue to toast
their spirit to successfully stage the celebration.

Instructors and the Alumni team of the National Service Programme,

PKBN were also contributing their support in jointly glorifying this year
national day. About 230 PKBN participants will put out a
demonstration of their youth skill and alertness which is in line with
the objective of PKBN and also the theme of the National Day,
'jenerasi Berwawasan' or a generation with vision. They will joint-in
with the army cadet of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Royal Brunei
Police Cadets as well as the cadet contingent of the Fire and Rescue
department in a physical action demonstration with the theme of
'belia Berwawasan' or visionary youth.
Rehearsals for N-Day festivities start
REHEARSALS for the 30th National Day celebrations are under way, with organisers preparing for what promises
to be different performances and the largest number of participants this year.

Norsiah Hj Othman, the head instructor of Creative Arts at the Ministry of

Culture, Youth and Sports, said more than 30,000 people were expected to
be involved in this years celebrations.

In an interview, she said the use of props and arrangement of the show
would be different compared to previous years.

Similar to last year, participants will also be divided into three groups, with
one group performing around the seating area of the stadium, while the
other group will carry out a human LED performance.

The third group will perform at the stadiums field, she said on the sidelines
of a rehearsal for the performances at the National Indoor Stadium
yesterday.

Norsiah, who is part of the organising committee, said the 30th National Day
celebrations will take place at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.

Rehearsals started two days ago at the Indoor Stadium. From February 6,
the venue of the rehearsals will take place at the Hassanal Bolkiah National
Stadium until February 22.

Students from several primary and secondary schools, such as Nusa Laila
Puteri School, Pengiran Isteri Hjh Mariam Secondary School, PAP Masna
Secondary School, will be involved in this years celebration.

Students from Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Institut Teknologi Brunei,

Politeknik Brunei, and youths from the Program Khidmat Bakti Negara
(PKBN) will also be involved in the performances.

Employees from the private sector such as Brunei Shell Petroleum, Brunei
LNG, and non-government organisations will also take part and perform
Security agencies prepare for N-Day
TEN government agencies yesterday conducted a table-top exercise, as
part of security preparations for the upcoming 30th National Day
celebrations.

Held at the Officers Mess of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF)
headquarters in Gadong, the exercise aimed to provide specific standards
for planning and managing security.

The participating agencies included the National Disaster Management

Centre, Medical Services Department, and Internal Security Department.

30th National Day : Media 300 passes issued

Hjh Noorashidah Hj Aliomar, Acting Deputy Director of Information
Department, said 300 media passes will be issued to public and private
media registered for the celebration.

So far, we have not received any applications from foreign media. Foreign
media coverage would highlight the celebration to the world, she said. The
30th National Day celebration is set to be the biggest and grandest one yet
with some 25,000 youths slated to take part in performances.

The Venue for the 30th National day of Brunei

Darussalam
The Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium will be the focal point of the
country's rakyat and residents this Sunday for the 30th National Day
Anniversary Celebration which is usually held at the Taman Haji Sir Muda
Omar Ali Saifuddien in the capital. The colourful celebration will display
various aspects of the meaning of independence such patriotism and spirit
of loving the nation. Preparations in ensuring the smooth running of the
celebration continue to be held.

Outside the stadium, the national flag is proudly flying, as proud as the spirit
of the rakyat and residents to celebrate the National Day. Along Jalan
Budiman, a line of previous national day logos since 1984 have been put up
to open the minds of the rakyat and residents in remembering the history of
the country's independence since three decades ago up to reaching the
summit of excellence.

Inside the stadium is decorated with various specific designs that signifies
the country's maturity and glory. The Brunei traditional designs instilled
shows the Brunei Darussalam identity as a country of Malay Islamic
Monarchy, MIB. The green backdrop in front of the royal dias portrays
Brunei Darussalam as an Islamic country apart from depicting harmony as
shown in the Rawai-Rawai Daun Lukut, a locally known design.

The royal dias was built in the shape of a barge akin to the one in the lagoon
of the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan.
 Confetti and balloons rained down on the Hassanal Bolkiah National
Stadium yesterday, as the Generasi Berwawasan (Visionary Generation)
marked Brunei Darussalams 30th National Day with patriotic fervour.

More than 30,000 people filled the stadium to capacity, all to witness a
significant milestone in the Sultanates history 30 years of
TWO thousand seats will be allocated to the general public during the 30th National Day celebrations at the
independence.
Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium.

Traditionally, National Day celebrations are held at Taman Haji Sir Muda
Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Permanent Secretary Hj Mohd Rozan Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yunos, who
Omar Ali Saifuddien, the same place where the late Sultan proclaimed
chaired a press conference in his capacity as co-secretary of the celebrations executive committee, said in the
Brunei an independent nation.
event the number of attendees exceed the number of seats available, the Hassanal Bolkiah Indoor Stadium will
be opened with live feeds of the celebration being broadcast on giant screens. The seven points include: parking
areas of the International ConventionBut 2014 called
Centre, forof
Ministry a spectacle on a grander
Health, Ministry scale.and Primary Resources,
of Industry
government offices at the old airport, Royal Wharf in Bandar Seri Begawan, Mohammed Bolkiah Mosque in Kg
Serusop and Paduka Seri Begawan SultanHis Majesty
Science the Sultan
College and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam
(MSPSBS).
arrived at the venue at approximately 8.20am, dressed in the crisp blue
uniform of the Royal Brunei Navy.
Nation full of pride as Brunei turns 30
Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hjh Saleha also made a rare
appearance at the National Day event, accompanied by His Royal
Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior
Minister at the Prime Ministers Office, HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah,
HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah, HRH Prince Hj Jefri Bolkiah, HRH Prince
Abdul Malik and HRH Prince Abdul Mateen, and HRH Prince Abdul
Wakeel.

The strains of the national anthem Allah Peliharakan Sultan (Allah Bless
His Majesty) rang out as thousands of citizens stood proudly in
recognition of their king and country.

The Sultan then descended the royal dais to inspect the guard of honour.

To kick off the show, the marching bands from the Royal Brunei Armed
Forces and Royal Brunei Police Force took to the field for a performance
of the Hawaii Five-O theme song, garnering loud cheers from the crowd.

Fifteen military paratroopers then jumped from a Black Hawk helicopter,

parachuting their way into the stadium, whipping up even more
excitement.

Trainees from the National Service Scheme (PKBN) were also keen to
demonstrate their skills by jumping through hoops of fire.

The gymnastics from the PKBN troops paved way for the fantastic field
performance from students aged eight to 16, who braved the fierce mid-
morning heat to raise placards and flags depicting symbols of Identiti
Bangsa (national identity).

The students swiftly changed formations to illustrate a map of the

The audience seated in the grandstand then watched the procession of 136 groups representing different
sectors of society in the traditional march past. More than 26,000 people including uniformed personnel,
government agencies, schools, non-profit organisations and community associations participated in the
parade.

As the groups marched by, the human LED display lit up the grandstands, donning brightly-coloured tshirts to
perform Mexican waves throughout the stadium. As the march past concluded, the oath readers came out on field
to read the national pledge, led by Hj Mohammad Noor Hj Abdul Rahman, an assistant superintendant with the
Royal Brunei Police Force.

After the recitation of the oath was complete, three cries of Allahu Akbar rang out through the stadium, in
keeping with the tradition started in 1984.
Altogether, 12,600 students participated in various performances, including the field show, human LED, choir,
hadrah, and flag-waving. The event closed with a final performance by the students, with a Royal Brunei (RB)
airlines aircraft flying past the stadium with the theme of 2014s celebrations Generasi Berwawasan
emblazoned on its side.

source: The Brunei Times