Friday March 30, 2012

Sultan of Brunei among royalty invited to attend King’s installation

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, is among the royalty being invited by Malaysia to attend the installation of the 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah.

The royal invitation was presented to the Sultan of Brunei by Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, who is chairman of the Special Installation Committee, during an audience at Istana Nurul Iman here on Wednesday.

Rais, who was accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Masnah Rais and an installation committee delegation, arrived here on Tuesday for a two-day visit to deliver the invitation.

They were entertained at a luncheon hosted by Brunei’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II Datuk Seri Lim Jock Seng at a restaurant in Jalan Kota Batu here.

Royal invitation: Rais at Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan yesterday to extend Malaysia’s invitation to the Sultan to attend the King’s coronation. — Bernama

Speaking to Malaysian reporters after the audience with the Brunei Sultan, Rais said relations between Malaysia and Brunei would be further strengthened through the visit to extend the royal invitation, which reflected the close ties of the royal institutions of both countries.

Rais said he and the installation committee would endeavour to ensure that the colourful ceremony proceed smoothly.

He said various programmes symbolising that “The Ruler and His Subjects Are Always Together (Raja dan Rakyat Berpisah Tiada)” had been drawn up such as the “Exhibition on Our King” and the programme “The King and the People”.

“The symbols in the official ceremony, besides the component of the King as a representative of Parliament, are made up of the (Yang di-Pertuan) Agong, the Dewan Rakyat and the Senate, but many do not understand how these three key elements make up the legislative power, the power of the monarchy and the judiciary,” he said.

April 11 has been declared a public holiday in Malaysia in conjunction with the installation. — Bernama

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