More than 400 flag-flying

MORE than 400 vehicles yesterday participated in the distribution of small flags ceremony to commemorate the Silver Jubilee National Day celebrations.

About 30,000 flags have been made for distribution, where 24,500 of which were allocated to the Brunei-Muara District, 3,000 to the Belait District, 1,500 to the Tutong District and 1,000 to the Temburong District.

The procession, consisting of 200 4x4 vehicles, 150 motorbikes, 100 scooters and 30 vehicles representing private agencies, gathered early in the morning, lining up on the side of the road at Sumbangsih Mulia in Beribi before heading off to their appointed routes.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Ahmad Hj Jumat, who kickstarted the ceremony at the Rizqun International Hotel by putting a mini flag on the top of a Toyota Cruiser owned by Hj Zainal Abdullah, an adventurer who has driven around Borneo Island as well as around Java and Bali with his wife.

He then led the 4x4 Convoy to the Belait district, where they would congregate at the Oil and Gas Discovery Centre (OGDC) in Seria to meet with the Belait district officer for him to officiate the small flag ceremony, while scooters as well as vehicles under private and public agencies paraded to the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

The Sponsorship Working Committee will present and distribute the small flags to the Tutong and Temburong Districts on Tuesday.

Also present was Pehin Orang Kaya Ratna Setia Dato Setia Hj Abdul Hapidz Pehin Orang Kaya Laksamana Hj Abdul Razak, co-chairman of the Sponsorship Working Committee for the Silver Jubilee National Day celebrations, and other members of the committee.

The ceremony was further enlivened with the presence of the Raja Isteri Girls’ High School and Sultan Omar ’Ali Saifuddien College choirs together with the Royal Brunei Police Force band.

The event is an annual project and is the 10th of its kind to be held since it started in 2000.(AFH1)

The Brunei Times