7th anniversary.

Dinner at Mangrove Paradise Resort last evening

5 days to go.

HIS MAJESTY HOSTS STATE BANQUET FOR NZ GOV-GEN

Izam Said Ya'akub / The Brunei Times

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
THE strong bond between Brunei Darussalam and New Zealand highlights the importance of cooperation between smaller countries in a global context, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam said last night.

His Majesty was speaking during a state banquet hosted in honour of the Governor-general of New Zealand, The Right Honourable Sir Anand Satyanand, and Her Excellency Lady Susan Satyanand and their delegation.

During the state banquet, His Majesty in a titah emphasised the strong relationship between the two countries has an impact in larger regional and international connections."Bilaterally, we have strong lasting ties in education, health and defence.""We also work together in many Commonwealth programmes, especially those directed at the special needs of small states," said His Majesty.

His Majesty added that "the regional and international commitments of Brunei and New Zealand were growing steadily", pointing towards their involvement in Asean, Asem and the East Asia Summit.

"As members (of Asem and East Asia Summit), we may be small countries but we share a joint responsibility with our great partners for planning the future direction of the world's largest region," he stressed.Sir Anand said in the century ahead, "the Asia Pacific region seems destined to play a critical role in shaping global peace and prosperity.

"Smaller countries need to work effectively and skillfully together if they are to determine their destiny in an interdependent world," said the Governor- general."This is the premise on which Asean is based, and I believe also it underpins the growing understanding between our countries," he said.

Brunei's working monarch was quick to point out that the Brunei relationship with New Zealand transcends cordial diplomatic ties. "Like all our international relations, of course, they are guided by common interests, but in the case of New Zealand, there is something far more human," said His Majesty.

His Majesty also expressed his gratitude to the contribution of New Zealand community here. "We warmly appreciate the contribution to our own development by your teachers, consultants, advisors, trainers and professional experts in so many walks of life," said the Sultan.

Sir Anand pointed out that there's a small but growing contingent of New Zealanders working in the Sultanate, who are enjoying the time spent in Brunei.

"Susan and I have had the distinct pleasure of meeting several of them and they told us how much they enjoyed living and working here," he said.

"Thus in economic diplomacy, defence, and in people-to-people linkages, the relationship our two countries can be described as strong and which has sig-nificant potential for future development," said the Governor-general.

Images by bruneidaily

HM greeted Sir Anand upon arrival

Their Royal Highnesses...(I'm very close to them last evening).

Prior to Banquet Hall at Istana Nurul Iman

HRH Prince Sufri Bolkiah with YAM Pengiran Bini Hajah Faezah

Among the guests were the state dignitaries

As well as the foreign diplomats

Doa selamat was read by the State's Mufti

They were tough enough to stand for almost an hour (or maybe more)

Stands still for the national anthem

But this guys, stomach in-chest out for two hours (or maybe even more!)

Remember.

Tribute to 'Architect of Modern Brunei' in SOAS Memorial Lecture 2010

By Azaraimy HH / Borneo Bulletin.
Dubbed as a legendary leader, religious scholar and a true intellectual thinker that is the late father of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien was a royal poet that had contributed to many turning points in Brunei history, leaving in his track legacies that earned him the accolade "Architect of Modern Brunei".

Pengiran Setia Negara Pg (Dr) Hj Mohd Yusof bin Pg Hj Abd Rahim called the people to celebrate in remembrance of a person who put his position as Sultan and the fate of his people on the line. During his reign, said Pengiran Setia Negara, Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien initiated a long and winding road for constitutional reforms and suspension in order to save the country and its existence.Speaking in Bahasa Brunei during the Sultan Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Memorial Lecture 2010 at the Chancellor Hall, Pengiran Setia Negara said the insightful monarch was able to drum up a heightened spirit of nationalism and sense of patriotism among the people in all four corners of the country during times of constitutional reforms.

Pengiran Setia Negara was awarded an Honorary Doctorate in Law by the International Academy Vancouver, Canada in 1961, for his contribution and active involvement in public administration. He also attended Hiroshima University in 1945.He was one of the seven-member delegation sent by the late Sultan during the process of constitutional reforms.

During the SOAS Memorial Lecture 2009 last year, Dato Laila Utama Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's Minister Mentor and long-time friend of Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien, in summary, emphasised that it was through His Majesty's late father's skilful statecraft in a then-turbulent region of the world, and with full knowledge of what was to happen with calculated risks, that he was able to save the nation from premature independence, keep the oil wealth and build the infrastructure needed to achieve statehood. By the 1980s, Al-Marhum had given the sultanate's 200,000 people a high per capita income, enjoying good welfare and a subsidised economy, and transformed the people from inadequacy to being among the world's most privileged societies.

This year's SOAS Memorial Lecture by Pengiran Setia Negara mainly touched on the constitutional reformation, or rather the making of first independently written constitution for the country, whereby His Majesty's late father sent a seven-member delegation into every Mukim and village in Brunei to basically listen to people's aspirations on the writing of such constitution.

Later in the lecture, Pengiran Setia Negara also answered several questions from the invited guests.One of the questions posed was on the reason why Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien decided not to join as one of the Malaysian Federation of States. While Pengiran Setia Negara did not directly address the question, he gave some reasons behind the decision.

Pengiran Setia Negara said that even though the idea was attractive to His Majesty's late father, he did not accept the terms given by Tengku. When the Malaysia Agreement was signed on July 9, 1963 in London, by Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak, Brunei firmly rejected the offer due to Al-Marhum's "utter unhappiness over the terms", as he was worried over the future of the country, the people and sovereignty of the nation, the distinguished speaker added.

According to Singapore Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, several accounts were also given to explain the reasons for Brunei's decision not to join Malaysia. One account cited disagreement over oil revenues as the primary cause. Kuala Lumpur wanted Brunei to hand over control of its oil to the federal government after 10 years. Kuala Lumpur also wanted to immediately tax any new oil and mineral finds discovered after Brunei joined Malaysia, and make the Sultan's contribution of $40 million to federal revenues compulsory rather than voluntary. The Sultan's late father reportedly found these terms unacceptable.

Pengiran Setia Negara Pg (Dr) Hj Mohd Yusof in his lecture also presented a biography of Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien.Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien was born on September 23, 1914 in Kampong Sultan Lama. He was the second son of the 26th Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II.

At the age of 18, in 1932, Al-Marhum enrolled at the Kuala Kangsar Malay College, which according to Pengiran Setia Negara was a college for the Royalty in Malaysia.In 1938, Al-Marhum entered the State Administrative Service and was stationed in Kuala Belait for a year, and lived and worked in the jungle of Ulu Belait. Al-Marhum later joined the Legal Department as a cadet officer, and learned the civil and criminal law matters. In 1938, Al-Marhum left the department and devoted his time to studying religion under a well-known religious teacher.

In 1941, Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien married Pengiran Anak Damit, the daughter of the then Pengiran Bendahara. Al-Marhum's brother, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin passed away on June 4, 1950.

Al-Marhum was crowned and proclaimed as Brunei's 28th Sultan at the age of 35.

HRH Prince Haji 'Abdul 'Azim

Students were among the attendees

YAM PSN delivering the lecture

I'm sure they wish to know more about the late al-Marhum

Nice goody bag, inside-out!

Gear up.

Salam, good day. The 5th Pusat Ehsan Charity Bazaar concluded yesterday. The three day event is the fifth of its kind and also to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam. Pusat Ehsan is a non-government and non-profit organization committed to provide quality education and rehabilitation services for physically and intelectually impaired individuals. In their statement, Pusat Ehsan also very pleased with positive participation from members of Brunei society which had motivated them to improve their capacity to serve the children. The atmosphere was very hot yesterday with a lot of activities on hand:)

Coupons for purchase

Radio team with the Charity Bazaar's Chairman

Horse ride

RTB's radio technicians

Used items on sale