BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

BRUNEI-MUARA district is ready to put on a show for His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s 68th birthday celebrations, an official said.

Md Ihsan Sabri Hj Abd Manap, administrative officer at the Brunei-Muara District Office, said students started training for the performances last month, and are waiting to rehearse at Taman Hj Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien.

“The performance is something to look forward to, as it mixes pantomiming with choreographed movements,” he said on the sidelines of a rehearsal for the get-together with His Majesty yesterday.

According to the officer, the number of students participating in the performances has increased; from 467 students last year to 568 this year. The students were selected from 18 private and government schools.

“The grand finale will include a special song written by our creative team and it will be sung by champions of this year’s national choir competition (the 21st Secondary School Patriotic Songs Choir Competition), the Berakas Secondary School Choir Group.”

In a statement by the Ministry of Home Affairs, the performances would also include army cadets, police cadets, fire and rescue cadets, those from the National Service Programme (PKBN), Institut Tahfiz students, scouts and other associations.

Observing the rehearsal were the Minister of Home Affairs Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Badaruddin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Othman, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Hj Halbi Hj Mohd Yussof and other officials.

The minister had also observed performance rehearsals from the Belait and the Temburong districts last week.

The Brunei Times