| James Kon |
AMID gusts of wind and a sudden heavy downpour, members of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), along with flag bearers from the Prison Department and personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department, managed to complete the first rehearsal yesterday, for the National Flag Raising Ceremony on July 1.
The ceremony will signal the start of nationwide celebrations, marking the 70th birthday of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
Haji Mohd ‘Abdoh bin Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Salam, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, together with Haji Idris bin Haji Ali and Haji Mohammad Sunadi bin Haji Buntar, the Deputy Permanent Secretaries at the Ministry of Home Affairs, were on hand to observe the rehearsal, which took place in the open area of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex, in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Under the pouring rain, 60 flag bearers marched in to the flag-hoisting area, followed by RBN personnel, who then received a massive flag measuring 3.7m x 7.3m.
The national anthem was played during the flag raising by the brass band of Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) and sung by choir members from of the Language and Literature Bureau, the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Department and other agencies.
The next rehearsal will take place on Thursday morning, a day before the actual ceremony on July 1.
Royal Brunei Navy personnel hoisting the flag amid heavy rain
Haji Mohd ‘Abdoh bin Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Salam, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, together with Haji Idris bin Haji Ali and Haji Mohammad Sunadi bin Haji Buntar, the Deputy Permanent Secretaries at the Ministry of Home Affairs observing the rehearsal
Flag bearers during the rehearsal. – PHOTOS: JAMES KON
The post Flag raising rehearsal takes place amid pouring rain appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.
