The Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Speech During Farewell

Bismillahirahman Nirahim.

Praised to Allah the Almighty for his gracious consent has enabled us to gather here this afternoon for Brunei International Tattoo 2006 (BIT 2006) ‘Farewell Get Together.’

Our Guest of Honour, The Honourable Pehin Dato Singamanteri Colonel (Retired) Dato Seri Paduka Hj Mohammad Yasmin bin Hj Umar, Deputy Minister of Defence, Yang Mulia Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Defence, Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Dato Kerma Setia Dato Paduka Seri Zainuddin bin Jailani, Commissioner of Police Brunei Darussalam, His/Her Excellencies the High Commissioners / Ambassadors of participating nations, Distinguished Head of Delegations, BIT 2006 participants, Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen. 

It is indeed a great honour and privilege for me to welcome you all to the International Convention Centre (ICC) this afternoon, for a High Tea Reception in honour of BIT 2006 participants and to deliver these short remarks. 

Personally, as the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed forces and on behalf of all members of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (the host of BIT 2006), officers and staffs at the Ministry of Defence, I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to our honoured Guest of Honour, The Deputy Minister, participants, the Organising Committee, and distinguished guests for their presence here this afternoon.

For 3 consecutive nights, we have enjoyed nights of many splendours.  A very good beginning will soon end with happy and sad endings.  We have one more night left.  We have together celebrated His Majesty’s 60th Birthday. On 29th July, together we have presented to His Majesty a very special birthday gift for his 60th Birthday.  This afternoon, ‘Together’ we celebrate the success of BIT 2006.

Before my counterparts the Chiefs of Defence Forces / the Chiefs of Staff or his representatives left Brunei Darussalam, I have expressed my sincere gratitude (with difficulties for I cannot find exact words of expression to appreciate them) for their invaluable support in making BIT 2006 a reality, a great success, meaningful and a historical event.

This afternoon, I feel the same.

- If I were a poet, I would write a poem or poetry about BIT 2006.

-  If I were a writer I would write a book about it or..

-  If I were a painter I would certainly paint a beautiful picture depicting it…

Suddenly, I realized I am only a soldier – a fighting soldier after all.

It was earlier this year the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence were very determined to produce and present a very special, unique and meaningful gift to his Majesty the Sultan, the Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Minister of Defence on his 60th Birthday, and finally decided on BIT 2006.

Like any military operations, having considered various options and factors, we realised we cannot do it alone.  Having decided on a mission that is “Together we celebrate His Majesty’s 60th Birthday” – and decided the D-Day to be the 29th July (coincidently His Majesty is the 29th Ruler), we have appointed Colonel Pengiran Haji Azmansham, Commandant Service Forces, Royal Brunei Armed Forces as the Allied Force Commander. 

For the past 3 months, as ‘Allied Forces or 13 Coalition Forces of the willing’, we planned our moves/manouvres or courses of actions (applying all the principle of war such as Surprise, Economy of Efforts, et cetera).  We are also lucky among the 13 countries we have veterans and experts and for almost 2 weeks before the D-Day we eat and trained together in BIT 2006 camp (which is our Assembly Area).

On the D-Day (after many rehearsals for the night of Deliberate Assault) - we moved to our respective Forming Up Points and Start Lines – and with all the Supports we required and well timed H-Hour we crossed our Start Lines and captured the Objectives together with great accomplishment.

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and his Royal Families thoroughly enjoyed the evening and so are his loyal subjects, spectators and us as his mighty armies joined him as victorious forces.

As a General and a fighting soldier, I take this opportunity to thank, salute and congratulate all of you for a job very well done or a mission accomplished.

While planning our strategy at BIT 2006 village or training camps – we realised the need to build a bridge to maintain our Main Supply Route (MSR) open linking the 13th participating forces – we named this bridge “Friendship, Goodwill and Solidarity”.  We plan to build this bridge so strong that we are confident this bridge will sustain maximum weight and the test of time, and can be further expanded to link with other musical villages or cities well beyond the Asia Pacific Theatre.  I note that preliminary meetings on the formation if Asia Pacific Band Masters Conference has produced some good way ahead.

Now that the mission has been accomplished, I once again tasked the Allied Force Commander to conduct Post Mortem of this successful operation to study all the ‘lessons learned’ and these will be documented as a Workable Doctrine for future operations or new generation references.  We will also strive to archive these achievements in our Museum.  Please come and visit us at www.mindef.gov.bn/tattoo2006  

The Honourable Deputy Minister of Defence, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. 

History sometimes repeats itself.  For Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium is certainly history repeating itself having been the venue of the 1992 Tattoo.  However, BIT 2006 is a new history altogether. BIT 2006 is by far, one of the biggest ever organised in this part of the world.  I am most happy to note that this event has accomplished in producing a grand combination of colorful display of Military performances and musical traditions performed by a combination of students, civilians, cadets, and trained soldiers.  Royal Brunei Armed Forces and all of us are certainly proud to be part of it and part of this new history.

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

On a very serious note, please allow me personally and on behalf of The Honourable Deputy Minister of Defence to express my most sincere and heartfelt gratitude to all participating contingents for their diligent and unyielding efforts to produce an excellent and memorable performance in this historical event.  I finally have to use these little words – not a poetry, not a picture and not a book.

“Terima Kasih” to: Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore participants.

“Thank you” to: Australia and United Kingdom participants.

“Bohot Syukriah” to Pakistan participants.

“Syukran Zazilan” to Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Sultanate of Oman participants.

“Meraming Salamat Po” to the Philippines participants.

“Kap Kun Krap” to Thailand participants.

“Sei Sei” to China participants.

“Kham En” to Vietnam participants.

I look forward to tonight’s final show, and confident although we are all tired and exhausted, you will give the very best and leave behind an unforgettable evening for every one.  Please enjoy this precious afternoon.  I also hope our dear overseas friends enjoyed their stay as our honoured guests in the “Abode of Peace”. 

I take this opportunity to wish them a happy and safe journey to their respective countries and may we have another opportunity to see each other again in the future. Royal Brunei Armed Forces and Brunei Darussalam will sorely missed you all.  We wish you “Selamat Jalan dan Jumpa Lagi” – Bon Voyage and see you again.   

Thank You.