National Day flag-hoisting today

THE official flag-hoisting ceremony in anticipation of Brunei Darussalam's 27th National Day Celebrations on February 23 will take place today at 8am at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar 'Ali Saifuddien (Soas).

Officiating the ceremony in the capital will be the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Paduka Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah.

Tomorrow, Royal Brunei Navy officers will raise the 12 foot by 24 foot national flag on a 110-foot high pole that sits in the centre of the capital, in front of the Sir Muda Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Mosque. The flag will be raised to the strains of the national anthem, "Allah Peliharakan Sultan" performed by the Royal Brunei Police Force band and sang by a choir consisting of students from four schools Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College, Sultan Omar 'Ali Saifuddien College, Dato Ratna Hj Mohammad Jaapar Primary School and Seri Mulia Sarjana School.

Flag-raising ceremonies for Tutong, Belait and Temburong will also be taking place concurrently.

The Executive Committee of National Day celebrations has decided that Brunei's 27th National Day will be celebrated together with Prophet Muhammad's (Peace be upon him) birthday as both occasions are only a week apart. A total of $1 million has been allocated for the National Day celebrations. The theme for this year's celebrations is "Negaraku Brunei Darussalam" ( My country, Brunei Darussalam).

Approximately 6,542 will be participating in this year's parade at Taman Soas, representing 119 groups including the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Royal Brunei Police Force, government departments and ministries, schools, colleges, representatives from the private sector and non-governmental organisations. Rehearsals for the procession will take place on February 17, 19, 21 and 22 from 7.30am to 11am at Taman Soas.

During a press conference yesterday, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dato Paduka Hj Jemat Hj Ampal urged members of the public to attend the celebrations at Taman Soas and said shuttle buses would be provided at designated pick up points for all who wished to join the festivities.

The Ministry also plans to distribute 30,000 flags to the public in the form of car flags and miniature flags for the student flag-wavers that will line the streets on February 23. The distribution of car flags will begin on February 13 Pasarneka Serambangun in Tutong and other districts concurrently.

Head of Media Services and Public Relations Division at the Information Department, Hj Dayang Hj Kassim said that almost 400 applications for media passes had been received by the department, consisting of accredited media, bloggers, photography fans and students from photography clubs.

On the eve of National Day, the ministry will also hold thanksgiving prayers at Soas mosque beginning at 6pm before Maghrib prayers until Isyak prayers during which His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam is expected to attend with male members of the Royal Family.

Concluding this year's festivities, the lowering of the flag will take place on February 26 at 2.30pm, by Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Hamid Hj Mohd Jaafar.The Brunei Times