The Grand Parade was followed by the Audience and Investiture Ceremony held at Balai Singgahsana Indera Buana, Istana Nurul Iman. His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohammed Alam attended the ceremony. At the ceremony, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam conferred Brunei Darussalam State Decorations to 23 recipients in conjunction with His Majesty’s 76th Birthday anniversary.
The conferment of the Brunei Darussalam State Decorations reflected His Majesty’s appreciation for the contributions and services of each recipient in the various fields of national development.
Also present were His Majesty’s sons and daughters as well as brothers and sisters:
– 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;
– His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah;
– His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen;
– His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel;
– His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah;
– His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah;
– And His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah.
Also in attendance were:
– Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah;
– Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah;
– Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah;
– Her Royal Highness Princess Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah;
– Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah;
– Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Ameerah Wardatul 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 as well as other members of the royal family.
Also attending were His Majesty’s special guests:
– His Excellency Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore and wife, Madam Lee Ho Ching;
– His Excellency Tun Dato Laila Utama Pehin Sri Doctor Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud, Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak and wife, Yang Amat Berbahagia Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Hajjah Raghad Kurdi Taib;
– Yang Berbahagia General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Haji Affendi Buang, Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces and wife, Yang Amat Mulia Tengku Puteri Seri Teja Dato’ Hajah Tengku Muhaini binti Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah;
– Yang Terhormat General Muhammad Andika Perkasa, Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces and wife, Ibu Hetty Andika Perkasa;
– Mr. Carlos Garcia Dominguez the Third and wife, Madam Cynthia Andrews Dominguez from the Republic of the Philippines.
His Majesty in a titah says although the country is still concerned by the threats of COVID-19, the country must plan several economic recovery strategies that enables the country to go back to normal.
In the titah, His Majesty underlines that for 2022, several international agencies such as the International Monetary Fund, IMF, ASEAN Plus 3 Macroeconomic Research Office, AMRO and the ASEAN Development Bank, ADB projected that Brunei Darussalam’s economy grows at a rate of 1.8 per cent, 4.1 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively.
The Monarch also takes note of the sharing of the National Retirement Scheme’s structure.
In the titah, His Majesty also stresses on the importance of developing international relations to achieve mutual security. On food security, His Majesty underlines that geopolitical tension and supply chain disruption have affected the world’s food supply.
At the ceremony, His Majesty conferred Brunei Darussalam State Decorations to 23 recipients. His Majesty first conferred The Most Exalted Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang, First Class, DPKT which carries the title ‘Dato Paduka Seri’ to:
– Yang Terhormat General Muhammad Andika Perkasa, Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces;
– Yang Berbahagia General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Haji Affendi Buang, Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces;
– And Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
Meanwhile, The Most Gallant Order of Pahlawan Negara Brunei, First Class, PSPNB which carries the title ‘Dato Seri Pahlawan’ was conferred to:
– Awang Sulaiman bin Alidin, Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force;
– Brigadier General Saifulrizal bin Abdul Latif, Commander of the Royal Brunei Land Force;
– And Brigadier General (Udara) Haji Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin, Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force;
Whereas 6 Cabinet Ministers were conferred The Most Blessed Order of Setia Negara Brunei, First Class, PSNB which carries the title ‘Dato Seri Setia.’ They are:
– Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Minister of Home Affairs;
– Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Paduka Doctor Awang Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism;
– Yang Berhormat Dato Paduka Awang Haji Muhammad Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid, Minister of Development;
– Yang Berhormat Datin Seri Paduka Doctor Dayang Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Md Salleh, Minister of Education;
– Yang Berhormat Pengiran Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha, Minister of Transport and Infocommunications;
– And Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Nazmi bin Awang Haji Mohamad, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.
6 other recipients were conferred the title The Most Honourable Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei, First Class, S.P.M.B which carries the title ‘Dato Seri Paduka’. They are:
– Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Ahmad bin Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa, Attorney General;
– Awang Mohammed Riza bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohammed Yunos, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office;
– Dato Paduka Awang Haji Sufian bin Haji Sabtu, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office;
– Awang Haji Khairuddin bin Haji Abd Hamid, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy;
– Pengiran Hajah Zety Sufinah binti Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Sani, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy;
– And Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohammad Tashim bin Pengiran Haji Hassan, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs.
Doctor Awang Haji Dennie bin Haji Abdullah, Assistant Mufti for IFTA’ was conferred The Most Eminent Order of Islam Brunei Second Class, DSSUB which carries the title ‘Dato Seri Setia’.
Meanwhile, The Most Honourable Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei, Second Class, DPMB which carries the title ‘Datin Paduka’ was conferred to:
– Professor Doctor Dayang Hajah Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman, Vice Chancellor, Universiti Teknologi Brunei;
– And Dayang Hajah Anifa Rafiza binti Haji Abdul Ghani, Director of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
Yang Arif Awang Haji Mohd Bahrin bin Haji Alias, Syariah High Court Judge was conferred The Most Eminent Order of Islam Brunei, Third Class, SSUB.
The Most Blessed Order of Setia Negara Brunei, Third Class, SNB was conferred to Dayang Hajah Nor Hashimah binti Haji Mohd Taib, Deputy Permanent Secretary for Security, Enforcement and Law at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Doa Selamat was read by Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Doctor Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, State Mufti.
Even though the country is still under the threat of COVID-19, with Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala’s blessings, the citizens and residents were able to celebrate His Majesty’s 76th birthday safely and in peace.
Source: Radio Television Brunei