Sultan Of Brunei's Birthday
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Today is the Sultan's 60th Birthday.
It would be a meaningful Birthday for him as he was just graced with a new son borned from his new second wife.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will attend the Royal Banquet with his wife. During the visit, PM Lee will also have an audience with Sultan, and on Sunday, he will attend a breakfast hosted by the Sultan for the ASEAN dignitaries attending the birthday celebrations.
Pictures of the function will be posted soon.
Long Live The King.
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Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has used his birthday speech to call for economic diversification and better planning to ensure continued prosperity in the tiny oil-rich nation.
More than 2,000 foreign and local guests gathered at a 1,700-room palace for the speech by the sultan, once rated as the world's richest man.
"Among the most important things is to ensure that the sources of oil and gas can continue to be enjoyed by the people," the sultan said.
"Along with that, economic diversification is also important for strengthening the country's survival, including an increase in foreign investment and a more eco-friendly policy."
The sultan, one of the world's longest-reigning monarchs who is also prime minister, defence minister, finance minister and head of Islam, spoke without a microphone in front of a golden canopy where his two wives sat.
Hassanal last year married Malaysian television news presenter Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim, 26. She bore him a son, his 11th child, last month.
In the 13-minute speech akin to a state of the nation address, Hassanal said: "It is not appropriate for us to remain complacent, because we are accustomed to importing everything including fruits and vegetables ... We must strive to improve and stem the perception that our current resources are adequate."
The sultan's comments re-emphasized a call he made in last year's address when he said Brunei was facing intense competition from its neighbours. He vowed then to take steps to strengthen the financial system and develop an environment conducive to business.
Brunei, which occupies a sliver of Borneo island, is Southeast Asia's third-largest oil producer. It is also the world's fourth-largest producer of liquefied natural gas.
"We must plan further and that includes acquiring productive and professional human resources," said the sultan.
"We should prepare ourselves with the appropriate skills if we are to compete with others in all aspects," he said.
Last year the oil and gas sector accounted for 93 percent of Brunei's total exports.
Official figures say the country had a population of about 341,000 in 2002, and the mineral wealth has brought the citizens one of the highest per capita incomes in Asia.
There is no personal income tax, and education and healthcare are free. Houses, cars and even pilgrimages to Mecca are subsidized.
Hassanal did not mention record high global crude prices, which on Friday broached 78 dollars per barrel. But he noted without giving figures "that government revenue and financial standing have improved lately", and announced a pay rise for civil servants. Most people in Brunei are employed by the government.
The sultan's Malay Muslim absolute monarchy dates back to the 14th century.
In a report in March, the United States Department of State said the sultan "governed under emergency powers that place few limits on his power."
Such thoughts seemed far from the minds of onlookers like Mohammed Akram Hossain, 34, who waited earlier Saturday for the sultan's motorcade to arrive for a ceremony at a city stadium.
"In Brunei, all men like the sultan," a smiling Hossain said.
"Every year I come," said the Bangladeshi, a 10-year Brunei resident who said he runs a construction firm. He is one of tens of thousands of foreigners working in the country.
Hassanal was welcomed with a 21-gun cannon salute at the stadium, watched over by his goateed image displayed on surrounding buildings.
Wearing a pillbox hat and military dress tunic bearing several medals, he walked onto the field under a parasol to inspect a military honour guard to the sound of bagpipes.
The sultan's celebration was to continue into the evening with a state banquet attended by 10,000 guests including leaders of neighbouring countries.
The sultan was crowned on August 1, 1968 and Brunei achieved full independence from Britain on January 1, 1984. -
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Brunei is capable of producing her own food, yet they need to rely on imports.
No wonder ther Sultan is worried
I think Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern oild-producing countries had already woken up their idea liao -
so gd arh?Originally posted by mhcampboy:There is no personal income tax, and education and healthcare are free. Houses, cars and even pilgrimages to Mecca are subsidized. -
yup2.
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Originally posted by alwaysdisturbed:so gd arh?
I was hospitalized there when I was touring Brunei abt 5 years ago. I had very high fever. Was warded. At the end of the stay, I was worried how much the bill would be amounted to.
The doctor came, told me to sign some forms. Gave me some medicine. And said the hospital has readied a taxi for you back to the hotel. I was like
.
When i asked where do i pay the bill... he laughed and said the Sultan has paid it for you... -
People should look at Nauru and other Pacific Isles
They were like Brunei, except their natural resources is not oil, but phospate.
They grew rich out of mining and selling phospate, and were like Brunei now, subsidising and importing things.
Now without phospate, their economy are crumbling. -
Yeah. Republic of Nauru.Originally posted by laurence82:People should look at Nauru and other Pacific Isles
They were like Brunei, except their natural resources is not oil, but phospate.
They grew rich out of mining and selling phospate, and were like Brunei now, subsidising and importing things.
Now without phospate, their economy are crumbling.
But their phosphate finishing soon already. They subsidized this and that. They did not invest in any other market. They own the Nauru Building in Autsralia though. But they do not have other income arm to support their expenditure. -
So RICH ! If singapore lidat everyone come singapore liao..Originally posted by mhcampboy:
I was hospitalized there when I was touring Brunei abt 5 years ago. I had very high fever. Was warded. At the end of the stay, I was worried how much the bill would be amounted to.
The doctor came, told me to sign some forms. Gave me some medicine. And said the hospital has readied a taxi for you back to the hotel. I was like .
When i asked where do i pay the bill... he laughed and said the Sultan has paid it for you... -
and our island will sinkOriginally posted by rathcycle:So RICH ! If singapore lidat everyone come singapore liao.. -
More Pictures of this morning's ceremony....
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Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong flew into Brunei on Saturday to join thousands of guests invited to celebrate Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's 60th birthday.
Several other ASEAN leaders, such as Philippine President Gloria Arroyo and Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, also did the same.
PM Lee and his wife met the Sultan for about 15 minutes soon after arriving in Brunei.
The Sultan has invited about 10,000 guests to the Royal Birthday Banquet held at the Istana.
Guests will also be treated to a 30-minute display of fireworks to round up the dinner.
The Sultan started his day by inspecting the Guard of Honour at the Padang and witnessing a march past.
His birthday celebrations started at the beginning of this month and will end on August 18.
Posters and banners, with birthday greetings for the Sultan, have been put up along the streets.
This year also marks the Sultan's 39th year on the throne.
Every year, the Sultan's birthday (July 15) is declared a public holiday. -
hows this rich guy gonna celebrate his birthday.......
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Pictures From The Royal Banquet.
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lol, Mr lee wear what?
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CAn see from the pictures he wears a normal tuxedo..Originally posted by Rejected:lol, Mr lee wear what? -
How come the banquet all of them stand around the table like statues?
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cheyy, wh never wear no. 5 xia? lolololOriginally posted by mhcampboy:CAn see from the pictures he wears a normal tuxedo.. -
because he is not in SAF anymore...Originally posted by Rejected:cheyy, wh never wear no. 5 xia? lololol -
chey.. and why our president never go xia?Originally posted by mhcampboy:because he is not in SAF anymore... -
i think national anthem is being played...Originally posted by laurence82:How come the banquet all of them stand around the table like statues? -
Seems the people going are head of government, not head of state
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lawl, dunnoe leh.. looks weird.Originally posted by laurence82:How come the banquet all of them stand around the table like statues? -
because the sultan invited the leader of singapore to go. president just a puppet.Originally posted by Rejected:chey.. and why our president never go xia?