Brunei Royals Visit Chinese New Year Open Houses

HRH Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, HRH Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah and other members of the royal family watch a lion dance at the residence of Chan Key Hong, General Manager of Maju Motors. PHOTOS BY DEAN KASSIM, BAHYIAH BAKIR AND MUIZ MATDANI

Their Royal Highnesses in a group photo with the family of YB Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Awang Goh King Chin

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Muntaqim and Her Royal Highness Princess Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah during a Chinese New Year celebration at YB Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Awang Goh King Chin’s residence

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, HRH Prince ‘Abdul Muntaqim and HRH Princess Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah in a group photo with family members of Dr Chan Sui Kiat and Chan Key Hong

Their Royal Highnesses enjoying a dragon dance performance

Their Royal Highnesses in a group photo with Managing Director of D’Sunlit Sdn Bhd, Jackson Ting and family

HRH Prince ‘Abdul Malik in a group photo with the family members of Dr Chan Sui Kiat

YB Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Awang Goh King Chin feeds the ‘lions’ during the Chinese New Year celebration at his residence

A child feeds a ‘lion’ during the Chinese New Year festivities

Posted date: February 20, 2015
| Lyna Mohamad, Hakim Hayat & Abdul Hakiim Yakof |

THE festive Lunar New Year of the Goat began with a royal touch as His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office with Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah graced the Chinese New Year open houses of prominent figures in the Chinese community yesterday.

Accompanying Their Royal Highnesses were HRH Prince ‘Abdul Malik, HRH Prince ‘Abdul Muntaqim and HRH Princess Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah.

Their Royal Highnesses first visited the house of a prominent business figure and Legislative Council (LegCo) member, YB Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Awang Goh King Chin in Kampong Sungai Besar, Jalan Kota Batu.

Their Royal Highnesses were greeted on arrival by YB Pehin Dato Paduka Awang Goh King Chin and Datin as well his family members.

YB Pehin Dato Paduka Awang Goh King Chin is one of the prominent business figures who annually hosts the open house on the first day of the Chinese New Year.

He also welcomes members from various welfare associations and villagers around the area to his open house.

Their Royal Highnesses then visited the house of Managing Director of D’Sunlit, Jackson Ting, and were greeted on arrival by Jackson Ting and his family members.

HRH the Crown Prince and Their Royal Highnesses later visited the residence of Chan Key Hong, General Manager of Maju Motors, in Kampong Mata-Mata, Gadong.

Their Royal Highnesses were greeted by Chan Key Hong and Chairman of Maju Motors, Dr Chan Siu Kiat, as well as members of Dr Chan’s family.

A group photo session ensued with Dr Chan’s family followed by a feast. Prior to departure, Their Royal Highnesses witnessed a colourful dragon dance performed by a troupe of young traditional dancers.

Earlier, HRH Prince ‘Abdul Malik paid a visit to Dr Chan’s residence and was invited for a feast followed by a group photo with Dr Chan’s family.

The Chinese New Year open house serves as an opportunity to strengthen ties and friendship among the Chinese community in Brunei as well as to extend festive greetings to families.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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Sally Piri and Ak Md Khairuddin Pg Harun
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, February 20, 2015

HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and other members of the royal family yesterday visited Chinese prominent figures in Brunei as the annual tradition of Lunar New Year is observed within the Chinese communities around the globe.

In the Sultanate, the festive spirit not only filled with joy but also community togetherness reflecting the ethnic harmony found here, where the Lunar New Year celebrations have been held for generations.

Accompanying the Crown Prince was Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik, Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim and Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah.

During their visit to the residence of Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin in Kota Batu, the Crown Prince, his family and his brother, engaged in light conversations with their hosts. The royal entourage concluded the visit with a group photo with YB Pehin Dato Goh and his family members.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, YB Pehin Dato Goh hoped for a good and steady year, if not a better one than before, as the Chinese welcome the Year of the Goat.
“I hope this year everything will run smooth and will slowly improve, most importantly is steady,” he said.

He expressed appreciation for the people who personally conveyed their wishes to him and his family on the auspicious day every year. “I try to contribute to the community and the society. I believe it is important to help the people. So, I will give back to the society in any way I can,” said YB Pehin Dato Goh.

Another guest during the open house, Kho Guik Lan, principal of Chung Hwa Middle School Bandar Seri Begawan, also hoped the New Year will give all celebrants great health and hope the year will have a great start to achieve the Vision 2035.

Senior government officials, members of diplomatic corps and business community were seen at the venue.

Members of the public who live in the neighbouring area also paid a visit to YB Pehin Dato Goh’s house. All guests were served not only various cuisines and delicacies but also were entertained by a performance of a lion dance troupe.

Meanwhile, Chan Key Hong, Maju Motors Sdn Bhd Managing Director, who lives in Kg Mata-Mata, also hosted an open house that was attended by members of the Royal Family.

His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik arrived first at Chan’s house. Greeting HRH was Chan’s family, including his father Dr Chan Suit Kiat, Executive Director of Maju Motors Sdn Bhd.

Not long after HRH Prince ‘Abdul Malik left, the royal entourage of HRH Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah arrived which was greeted by excited Chan’s family members.

The royals and their hosts then engaged in a celebratory tossing of “Yee Sang” that symbolises increasing prosperity, abundance and vigour in the Chinese New Year. The visit concluded with a lion dance performance in front of the house before the royal entourage left.

Dr Chan Suit Kiat told The Brunei Times that his family was considered to be lucky to be visited by the royal families.

“As Chinese Bruneian, we feel very special. Only in Brunei we see royal families visiting house-to-house of members of the Chinese community. In other countries, this has never been heard of,” said the 74-year-old leading businessman from the Chinese community in Brunei. (additional reporting by Izzati Jalil)

Courtesy of The Brunei Times