BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE acting Brunei-Muara district officer has called on organisers of His Majesty Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s 69th birthday celebrations to practise prudent spending without affecting the excitement of the festivities.

Misle Hj Abdul Karim made the call following the government’s projection that Brunei would run into a deficit of $2.28 billion for the 2015/2016 fiscal year due to plummenting global oil prices.

During the first executive committee meeting for the monarch’s 69th birthday celebration, he said district offices are required to hold focus group discussions on the theme of the festivities as well as the concept of performances during His Majesty’s meet and greet with residents.

Misle said district offices were given the mandate to prepare the proposals for the theme and find new ways to make the performances different from previous celebrations.

He added that committee members need to ensure their performances do not clash with other districts. The performances must feature efforts of strengthening loyalty to the king and country, the district officer said.

Misle also recommended the performances to highlight success stories in the community, such as the ‘One Village One Product’ programme as well as single mothers and their children.

He added that the Brunei-Muara District Office had also been directed to review the guest list for the banquet at the Lapau banquet hall for the meet and greet in Brunei-Muara district.

This was because the small area of the hall and the large number of invited guests had made movement within the hall difficult, he explained.

The closed-door meeting at the Brunei-Muara District Officer was also attended by YAM Pg Seri Wijaya Pg Hj Ahmad, senior assistant to chief of Adat Istiadat.

The Brunei Times