BY Rokiah Mahmud

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 graced Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah’s (Yayasan) Hari Raya celebration at International Convention Centre in Berakas on Thursday.

Accompanying Their Majesties were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah.

Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam were also in attendance.

The royal entourage was greeted by Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Setia Diraja Sahibul Karib Pengiran Anak Haji Idris bin Pengiran Maharaja Lela Pengiran Muda Abdul Kahar as Deputy Chairman I of the Yayasan Committee of Governors.

The event began with the recitation of Doa Selamat by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned and welcoming remarks from Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof as Chairman of Yayasan Board of Directors.

The minister said this year’s celebration saw a gathering of youth, who have contributed to the fields of religion, community development, entrepreneurship and creativity.

Among them were young people who have assisted in socio-economic development and ensured the well-being of the community.

He expressed hope that the youth would be an inspiration for their peers in forming a community that is smart and innovative.

Also joining the Raya celebration were government agencies, private institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and foreign missions.

Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi highlighted that the theme for this year’s celebration, ‘Memperkasa Kecerdasan Belia Mampan’, emphasised on the need for today’s youth to empower themselves through various aspects of intelligence and be ready to bear the responsibility of facing national and global challenges with resilience.

The event also saw a titah from His Majesty, followed by a video presentation that showcased youth involvements and achievements in various initiatives with support from the government, private agencies, NGOs through the whole-of-nation-approach, in efforts to produce a future generation that is moral and confident as well as responsible, dynamic, creative and innovative to ensure the realisation of Brunei Vision 2035.

on Thursday’s celebration also saw a host of stage performances by students from Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah School and Bengkurong Primary School and personnel from the Arts and Culture Division of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

National pencak silat athletes, who recently won silver and bronze medals at the 31st Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, also showed off their skills during a demonstration at the get-together.

The event concluded with Their Majesties touring an exhibition that displayed efforts, initiatives and commitments made by ministries, the private sector and NGOs to encourage sustainable youth development.

The exhibition focussed on three aspects of intelligence – spiritual, intellectual and emotional – that work together to help the youth in tackling complex challenges.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin