Brunei sultan confers country's highest award on king

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah today conferred Brunei’s highest award, Darjah Kerabat Mahkota Brunei (DKMB) on Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, who is on a three-day state visit.

Sultan Hassanal presented the award to Sultan Abdullah during an audience at the Laila Kenchana Room at Istana Nurul Iman.

He also conferred the Darjah Kerabat Laila Utama Yang Amat Dihormati (DK) on the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.

At the same ceremony, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong conferred Malaysia’s Darjah Utama Seri Mahkota Negara (DMN) on Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha, the consort of the Brunei sultan.

In October 1980, the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ahmad Shah Sultan Abu Bakar, the late father of Sultan Abdullah, conferred a similar award on Sultan Hassanal.

Earlier, Brunei accorded a state welcome to Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah.

Their majesties arrived in Bandar Seri Begawan yesterday on the first state visit to Brunei following Sultan Abdullah's installation as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong on July 30.

The meeting of the two rulers is aimed at strengthening the relations between the two countries that was established more than three decades ago.

Sultan Abdullah and Tunku Azizah arrived for the state welcome at Istana Nurul Iman at 11am and were welcomed by Datuk Paduka Maharaja Lela Brunei Pengiran Penggawa Laila Bentara Istiadat Diraja Dalam Istana, Pengiran Alauddin Pengiran Paduka Tuan Pengiran Abu Bakar.

The Royal Brunei Armed Forces Band played the Malaysian national anthem 'Negaraku' and the Brunei national anthem 'Allah Peliharakan Sultan'. Then, a 21-gun salute was fired.

Sultan Abdullah, accompanied by Sultan Hassanal, then inspected a guard of honour mounted by 110 officers and men of the Royal Brunei Land Force, led by Major Pengiran Md Razif Pengiran Idros.

The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is scheduled to visit the Royal Regalia Museum and the Kampong Ayer water village.

- Bernama