Amazing love, loyalty of senior citizens
Written by Writer on Monday, October 6th, 2008
Amazing love, loyalty of senior citizens
Ubaidillah Masli
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
EVEN as the Istana Nurul Iman opened its doors for the final day of the annual Hari Raya open house, the public showed up in their thousands, eager to convey their greetings to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Royal Family.
Senior citizens showed their loyalty and love for the revered monarch as hundreds of them converged in the halls of the palace, accompanied by family members.
Eighty-eight-year-old senior citizen Hj Ibrahim Kassim said that he had “never missed” a single open house hosted by His Majesty.
He mentioned that he had even visited the Hari Raya celebrations at the old Istana during the reign of the late Begawan, Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien.
At the time, Hj Ibrahim was enjoying a meal in the section allocated for senior citizens in one of the halls of the palace. He remarked that His Majesty treated his guests very well, providing them with food and care as they waited to greet the caring ruler.
Hj Ibrahim was accompanied by his son and said that even though he came every year to the palace, he felt good to meet His Majesty face-to-face during every Raya festival.
Bruneian Mohd Rais Salleh said that the event was an enjoyable experience where parents could bring children to meet the nation’s ruler.
“It’s good for the young ones to meet His Majesty, to see him in person and to shake hands with him,” he said.
One of his sons, who was seven years of age, found the crowd to be quite overwhelming, but also felt excited at the same time to have the chance to meet the monarch.
He added that he was happy that he could drink the chocolate beverages as much as he wanted.
Other families were seen constantly trying to avoid from getting separated from one another, herding their children to stay close as one could easily get lost in the large turnout, especially in the grand halls of the Istana Nurul Iman.
First aid staff from Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha hospital said that the open house yesterday occurred without any serious incidents.
There were a few who fainted from the heat and the crowds as well as a few cases of high blood pressure, but overall the day went by smoothly, the Ripas employee stated.
According to her, there were some 40 nurses, 30 paramedics and 10 doctors on duty in shifts during the three days that the Istana was open to the public.
The Brunei Times
