His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to award 'Bintang-Bintang Kebesaran Negara Brunei Darussalam' or Brunei Darussalam's State Decorations to more than 200 recipients.

The ceremony was held in conjunction with His Majesty's 62nd birthday anniversary at the Istana Nurul Iman.

Also present were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik.

His Majesty first awarded the Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Yang Amat Mulia Darjah Ketiga, SMB, or the Most Honourable Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Third Class to 53 recipients. The recipients comprised employees from the government and private sector.

His Majesty also awarded the Darjah Seri Ugama Islam Negara Brunei Yang Amat Bersinar Darjah Keempat, SUB, or the Most Eminent Order of Islam Brunei Fourth Class to six civil servants from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

A total of 163 people received the Darjah Setia Negara Brunei Yang Amat Bahagia Darjah Keempat, PSB, or the Most Blessed Order of Setia Negara Brunei Fourth Class.

Five government servants received the Darjah Seri Ugama Islam Negara Brunei Yang Amat Bersinar Darjah Kelima, PUB, or the Most Eminent Order of Islam Brunei.

Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Cheterias, Cabinet Ministers, Members of Councils, Deputy Ministers, Pengiran-Pengiran Peranakan, Pehin Manteris, Manteris Pendalaman, Foreign Diplomats, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Government Department were also present at yesterday's investiture ceremony.

The ceremony ended with a doa selamat read by the State Mufti, Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Abdul Aziz bin Juned. - Borneo Bulletin (30th July 2008)