The newly completed extended
banquet hall, gleaming with 18 chandeliers hanging from the centre of the foyer,
housed guests who were dressed in traditional Malay white attire.
Each table at the main and
extended banquet halls were adorned and brightened with an assortment of
beautiful fresh flowers.
A live mini orchestra sounded the
hall and entertained guests with calming traditional music.
Seated at the main banquet hall
were cabinet ministers, state dignitaries, foreign envoys, senior army and
police personnel, senior government officials and all their spouses, while the
extended hall was filled with other guests including civil servants, penghulus,
village heads and individuals from the private sector, among others.
Also present were the monarch's
special guests, including Chief Minister of Sarawak Pehin Sri Dr Hj Abdul Taib
Mahmud, Yang Amat Berhormat Sabah Chief Dato Seri Paduka Hj Musa Hj Aman,
National Education Minister of Indonesia Professor Dr Muhammad Nuh and Thai
Minister of Energy Arak Chonlatanond, among others.
About five Royal Brunei Police
Force personnel sounded the trumpets to signal the monarch's arrival into the
main banquet hall.
The sultan was accompanied by Her
Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha down the red carpet, as guests
rose in honour of the King and Queen's arrival.
Other members of the royal
family, including HRH Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and
Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, HRH Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak
Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah, Yang Amat Mulia
Pengiran Bini Hjh Faizah Dato Hj Nasir, HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of
Foreign Affairs and Trade, HRH Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah,
HRH Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah, HRH Prince 'Abdul Malik and HRH Prince 'Abdul
Mateen, and HRH Princess Datin Laila Utama Basma Talal of Jordan followed suit
into the banquet hall.
After the playing of the national
anthem, the royal family then took their seats below the gold arches adorning
the north face of the hall at a long table atop the royal dais.
Prior to the dinner prepared by
royal chefs, a Doa Selamat was read by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja
Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Hj Abdul Aziz Juned to bless the occasion.
The glorious evening concluded
with a much-anticipated spectacular display of fireworks.
RACHEL THIEN
The Brunei Times
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