| Hakim Hayat & Abdul Hakiim Yakof |
TENS of thousands of people from all walks of life thronged the Istana Nurul Iman yesterday to convey their Hari Raya Aidilfitri greetings to 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, Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam and members of the royal family.
The annual tradition at the Istana Nurul Iman is a golden opportunity for the people, including visitors to the country to meet and personally convey their Hari Raya Aidilfitri wishes to the beloved monarch and the royal family amid the festive atmosphere as the nation celebrates the end of the holy month of Ramadhan.
On the second day of the ‘open palace’, a sea of people dressed in colourful attires were seen as early as 8am at the main gates of the Istana, with the gentlemen on one side to meet His Majesty and other members of the royal family and the ladies on the other side to meet Her Majesty and other members of the royal family.
The festive atmosphere at the Istana was apparent with cheerful people of all ages including tourists, expatriates, senior citizens, children and even special needs individuals – all beautifully dressed and in smiles – eager to meet the royal family.
Also conveying their Hari Raya greetings to the royal family yesterday were thousands of uniformed personnel, including those from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), as well as members of prominent business groups in the country.
Well-wishers signing their coupons for goodies. – PHOTOS: KHAIRIL HASSAN
The dessert corner serving members of the public
Senior citizens were provided wheelchairs before sent off to greet the Royal Family
To make the trip to the Istana more comfortable, shuttle buses were provided at designated parking areas around the palace compound.
At the Istana entrance, visitors were greeted by friendly Istana staff and security staff for registration and security inspection.
Following registration, visitors were guided into the largest residential palace in the world where Hari Raya songs greeted them.
The dining hall displayed scrumptious traditional Malay delicacies specially prepared for guests, as a true demonstration of the monarch’s hospitality to his beloved people.
Making the occasion more special, the Istana Nurul Iman was beautifully decorated with fresh flowers, neon lights and Hari Raya ornaments.
After greeting Their Majesties, guests were distributed souvenirs in a yellow Hari Raya goodie box and Hari Raya greeting cards from Their Majesties by the Istana staff. As with tradition, children were seen happy walking away with Hari Raya green packets.
Lau Cheok Fun, 65, from Kuala Belait – ABDUL HAKIM YAKOF
First time visitor to the Istana, 65-year-old Lau Cheok Fun hailing from Kuala Belait, said he truly enjoyed the experience. “I love how His Majesty as a very generous monarch who cares a lot about the welfare of his people. I would like to wish him a pleasant and happy life ahead.”
Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Haji Ghulam Mohd bin Sayeed PhD, from Sabah – ABDUL HAKIM YAKOF
Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Haji Ghulam Mohd bin Sayeed PhD from Sabah said this is his first time in Brunei and also to the palace. “We have found it to be a nice place. My granddaughter Isabelle is a fan of the Crown Prince, so we decided to come down to Brunei so she can meet him and the Sultan.” he said.
“The palace is very beautiful and impressive. We are proud of the Sultan, we are proud to have him as one of the Muslim monarchs. He is peace loving and a harbinger of peace, and I wish him a long life.
This is my prayer for His Majesty,” he added.
Adi Nur Azri bin Rosli, PKBN recruit – ABDUL HAKIM YASOF
PKBN recruit Adi Nur Azri bin Rosli said that he was proud to be part of the uniformed recruits at the open Istana. “I would like to wish His Majesty and the rest of the royal family a happy
Hari Raya Aidilfitri. May this tradition carry on for more generations to come,” he said.
The three-day Hari Raya open house, open from 10am to 12noon for the morning session and 2pm to 4pm in the afternoon, will conclude today.
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