Bandar Seri Begawan - Starting next year, Brunei‘s National Day themes will have a different flavour, with the two-word Tunas Jaya proposed to herald the 2008 celebrations.
The logo will remain the same, with minor changes to the background colour from the blue and green used in 2005 and 2006 to a brown colour.
The theme, taken to denote Brunei‘s Jati Diri or identity, may be simple, but it is "to the point" and "can be understood easily," the Permanent Secretary of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dato Paduka Hj Jemat Ampal. This represents the country ability, after two deca
This was decided during the Organising Committee Meeting for the 24th National Day celebrations at Dewan Di-Gadong, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports which was chaired by the Minister, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Hj Mohammad Hj Daud.
Among the issues discussed were the postmortem of the 23rd National Day celebrations, possible venues and activities for future National Day festivities.
In conducting the post-mortem, the minister stressed its importance in providing a "useful guide for future undertakings". Feasible and successful measures will be retained and shortcomings will be tackled, and at the same time meaningful, relevant proposals and ideas generated, he added.
Some of the concerns voiced during the meeting were regarding the regular venue of the grand celebrations, the Taman Sir Omar Ali Saifuddien. The increase in activity, particularly in terms of performances, during the festivities were seen as a problem as the venue is located near the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien mosque, and were thus seen as disruptive.
The minister suggested that the performances be seen not as mere entertainment but as creative expressions of patriotism. Synchronised with patriotic songs, they serve to build up the patriotic spirits of the nation.
However, he took the issue into consideration and said that even though such activities are not considered as entertainment "the committee will discuss ways to ensure that it does not clash with the sultanate‘s culture and Islamic rules and regulations, especially the attire of the participants.‘.
Another issue that came up was the reluctance of some members of the public with regard to hoisting the flag on the National Day.
In this regard, leaders play an important role.
The head of the History Centre, Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Dato Seri Utama Dr Hj Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri Begawan Pehin Udana Khatid Dato Seri Paduka Hj Umar, said that village leaders should take the first step forward.
"The village headmen should advise those under their jurisdiction to observe the call for flag hoisting and explain to them the reason behind it," he said.
The minister echoed the sentiment, and suggested that villager heads should hold flag hoisting ceremony in the village to set an example for the rest of the villagers.
Source: www.bruneitimes.com (2 Juli 2007)
