BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, FRIDAY 8 JULY 2011 – His Royal Highness Prince General Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and General of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces has officiated the City Parade of the Brunei International Fleet Review 2011 in the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan.
The Brunei International Fleet Review (BIFR) City Parade featured some 800 sailors from 12 foreign Navies into our beautiful Capital City of Negara Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, where the march started off from 8.30am until 9.30am from the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in the capital, along Jalan Sultan and Jalan Pretty before ending at the Bandar Seri Begawan Waterfront.
The participation ships in the BIFR were from Australia, the People’s Liberation Army Navy of China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Sabah, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United States of America.
City Parade is simply a form of recognition to permit military personnel to enter the city and interact with the local citizens. This official recognition has its root from the more formal tradition known as the “Freedom of Entry”. The practise of conferring the privilege of “Freedom of Entry” upon military troops was exercised long throughout the middle ages in Europe. Armed men on horses and ships used to be maintained by various rich nobles. Dispute and tension between the nobles posed the threat of attack and invasion onto their town. Hence, fortified wall has to be built around the town to protect it against such threat. Consequently any forms of armed bodies were not allowed to enter a protected town as their intent would always become suspicious. A formal permission has to be granted by the governing council to the Military Commanders for their intention to enter the city.
A military unit required trade with local merchants for victuals, and services, and for recruitment and that there is a mutual need between the two. According to an open source the protocol of formally granting a permit to military unit to enter the city was established by the City of London. This granting of permission for armed men to enter a city became a mark of trust and confidence in which that body was held by the citizens of the city. The protocol would require the unit to march in full ceremony in recognition of the confidence, trust and friendship existing between citizens of the city.
The Commander of Royal Brunei Navy, First Admiral Haji Abdul Halim bin Haji Mohd Hanifah said “This City Parade BIFR is a platform to forge friendship and confidence building among neighbours and allies, it is also our hope that this significant event in Brunei’s history will be continue in the future with generation ahead; committed to regional peace and stability. Furthermore to re-strengthen the bond of friendship through this event and at the same time, we also delighted to showcase to our friends the Kingdom of Unexpected Treasure, Brunei Darussalam.”
