Azlan Othman

A total of 161 contingents and 26,534 participants will take part in the traditional march-past for the 36th National Day parade on February 23.

They will be divided into 15 clusters: National Security, the Bestari Community, Civil Servants, Socio-Economy, Post-Secondary Education, Secondary Education, Private Education, Mosque Committees, Professional Associations, Youth Movements, Women Movements, Sports Associations, Public Associations, General Communities and Visionary Generation Teams.

The Brunei contingent in the recent 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games is also expected to take part.

These details were highlighted in a press briefing by Permanent Secretary (Administration, Finance and Estate) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Pengiran Mohd Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud yesterday.

“Some 7,000 students and civil servants are currently carrying out National Day rehearsals at their schools and sports complexes, including the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium,” he said.

“Integrated and full-dress rehearsals will take place on February 17, 18 and 20, starting at 9am, at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in the capital.”

A distribution of small table flags to school students will be held at the Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Secondary School in Lumut on February 15, as well as at the Pengiran Anak Puteri Besar Primary School in Kampong Sungai Kebun, the Chung Hwa School Kiudang and the Pengiran Muda Mohamed Bolkiah Religious School in Temburong.

A hoisting ceremony for the giant-sized national flag will take place at 8am on February 16, in the open area in front of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex.

Pengiran Mohd Amirrizal also announced that a Doa Kesyukuran and a recitation of Surah Yaasiin, along with mass Maghrib and Isyak prayers, will be held on February 22, with Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque in the capital as the focal point.

In the other districts, the focal points will be Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque in Tutong District, Mohammad Jamalul Alam Mosque in Belait District and Utama Mohammad Salleh Mosque in Temburong District.

The National Day Grand Assembly and Parade will take place on February 23 at 7.30am, at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in the capital.

A lowering ceremony for the giant-sized national flag will be held on February 25.

Several side-events have been scheduled for the occasion, such as National Day cycling event on March 1 at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien; National Day Run on March 29; 36 Times Khatam Al-Quran recitation on March 5; Bicara Berirama competition on April 9; top-spinning competition from March 13-15; Book Festival from February 28-May 8; Belia Cinta Tanah Air event from February 11-25; and Mothers and Child Awareness 2020 campaign from February 12-16.