HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to officiate the passing out parade ceremony for the first intake of the National Service Programme (PKBN) at the PKBN training camp field, Sports Complex in Berakas.

His Majesty was greeted upon arrival by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah.

Also present were Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abd Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Minister of Finance II at the Prime Minister’s Office; Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office; Datin Paduka Hajah Adina binti Othman, Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports; Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Hamid bin Haji Mohd Jaafar and Haji Mohd Rozan bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos, Permanent Secretaries at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

His Majesty was accorded the royal salute followed by the singing of the national anthem. The monarch then consented to inspect the guard of honour comprising 125 trainees (92 male and 33 female) of the first PKBN intake.

Following the inspection, the parade proceeded with a slow and fast march past before returning to position.

The passing out parade ceremony then continued with His Majesty’s titah followed by awards presentation by the monarch to Best Overall Trainee for Male, 10088 Mohd Said Nazrul bin Haji Mohd Salleh and Overall Best Trainee for Female, 10101 Mahanie binti Idris. The awards for Best Parade Trainee for Male went to 10131 Muhammad Mu’iz bin Haji Mohin and Best Parade Trainee for Female went to 10141 Nur Hamizah binti Hasmadi. Awards for Best Male Trainee in Physical Training went to 10057 Md Jazli bin Ahmad and Best Female Trainee in Physical Training went to 10099 Nur Liyana binti Mohammad Zini.

Following the awards presentation, His Majesty received three chants of ‘Daulat’ from the parade and continued with a recitation of a Doa Selamat.

His Majesty once again received the royal salute and the parade ended with the singing of the national anthem.

From the PKBN field, His Majesty proceeded to PKBN training camp at the Sports Village to view an exhibition on three PKBN pilot projects – archery, module on personality development, entrepreneurship module and module of motivation.

His Majesty then proceeded to a “santap” with the award recipients and later consented to sign the royal parchment in commemoration of the visit and received a ‘pesambah’ from the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.

Before leaving, His Majesty consented to mingle with the trainees and their families which then concluded with a group photo. - Borneo Bulletin (3 December 2013)