Hari Kebangsaan
(National Day)
National Day 2023
Official nameHari Kebangsaan
Also calledHari Kemerdekaan
Observed byBruneians
TypeNational
SignificanceMarks the independence of Brunei
Date23 February
Next time23 February 2024 (2024-02-23)
FrequencyAnnual
First time1985 (1985)

National Day (Malay: Hari Kebangsaan; Jawi: کبڠساءن‎ هاري) or Independence Day (Hari Kemerdekaan) is a national holiday in Brunei commemorating the anniversary of Brunei's proclamation of independence. It was made a national holiday by government decree in 1985.[1] Although Brunei broke away from the United Kingdom on 1 January 1984, it wasn't until February that Brunei was totally free of British control.[2]

History

Background

In 1888, Brunei signed a deal with the British to come under their protection in order to ensure its own political survival.[3] As piracy and rebellion threatened the internal order of the kingdom and Sarawak's White Rajahs encroached on the borders, Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin petitioned the British government for help to slow the rapid collapse of Brunei's land. The British residency was established in 1906, and Brunei remained under their rule for an additional 53 years. The Constitution Agreement, which abolished the residence requirement and established internal self-government while leaving Britain in charge of defense and foreign policy, was signed with the United Kingdom in 1959, marking the beginning of the country's journey toward independence. The timeframe for independence was established by subsequent treaties with the United Kingdom in 1971 and 1979.[4][3]

1 January 1984

At 00:01 midnight of 1 January 1984, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah read the Declaration of Independence:[5]

The time has now arrived when Brunei Darussalam will resume full international responsibility as a sovereign and independent nation in the community of nations.

— Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 1 January 1984

Upon the reading of the proclamation, Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the father of His Majesty, led three cries of "Allahu Akbar" among the 30,000 people gathered at the padang (present day Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien). A 21-gun salute was fired to celebrate the event, and the sounds of the hadrah resounded around the field.[3] That evening, the capital Bandar Seri Begawan was packed to the gills with people praying for a smooth handover outside the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque and the field despite the heavy rain. Notwithstanding the fact that Brunei proclaimed its independence on 1 January, the date for National Day was chosen as 23 February. Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium was chosen as the location for the celebrations.[4][6] The Acting Chief Minister (Menteri Besar), Abdul Aziz, presided over the preparations.[7]

Attendance

Several key figures of the Commonwealth and countries' representatives attended the celebration, such as:[4]

Themes

There have been multiple themes used for the celebration of national day such as;[1]

Year(s) Theme Translation
1985 Bersatu Padu Menghayati Konsep Negara Melayu Islam Beraja United to Appreciate the Concept of Malay Islamic State
1986 Membangun Negara Tanggungjawab Bersama Building a Country of Mutual Responsibility
1987 Bersatu Ke arah Keamaan dan Kemajuan United Towards Prosperity and Progress
1988 Berdisiplin Cergas Berbudaya Negara Bahagia Disciplined Healthy Cultured Happy Country
1989 Berdikari Meningkatkan Kemakmuran Negara Self-reliance Increases National Prosperity
1990 Perhubungan Berkesan Mengeratkan Perpaduan Relationships Effectively Strengthen Unity
1991 Bersatu Padu Mengekalkan Ketahanan Nasional United Maintains National Resilience
1992 Menanai Kedaulatan Tanahairku Surviving the Sovereignty of My Homeland
1993 Meneguhkan Kesejahteraan Tanahairku Strengthening the Well-being of My Homeland
1994 Bangsa Cemerlang Tanahair Gemilang Outstanding Nation of the Homeland
1995 Brunei Darussalam Tanahairku Brunei Darussalam My Homeland
1996 Pembangunan Masyarakat Matlamat Negara Community Development National Goals
1997 Kemajuan Ekonomi Teras Kesejahteraan Core Economic Progress of Wellbeing
1998 Membina Insan Yang Sempurna Dengan Pendidikan Bersepadu Building the Perfect Human With Integrated Education
1999 Siap Siaga Ke Alaf Baru Ready For The New Millennium
2000 Mengukuhkan Jati Diri Bangsa Di Alaf Baru Strengthening the Nation's Self-Reliance In The New Millennium
2001 Maju Bangsaku Sejahtera Negaraku Forward My Nation of My Country
2002 Memperkasa Keupayaan Bangsa Empowering the Nation's Capabilities
2003 Bangsa Berilmu Negara Maju Knowledgeable Nation of the Developed Country
2004 Patriotisme Teras Keteguhan Negara Patriotism at the Core of National Strength
2005 Bersepadu Memperkasa Mandiri Bangsa Integrated Empowering the Nation
2006 Mempertingkatkan Daya Saing Bangsa Enhancing the Competitiveness of the Nation
2007 Iltizam Memperkasa Keupayaan Bangsa Iltizam Empowering the Nation's Capabilities
2008 Tunas Bangsa Budding Nation
2009 Kedewasaan Bernegara Country Adulthood
2010–2013 Negaraku Brunei Darussalam My Country Brunei Darussalam
2014–2016 Generasi Berwawasan Visionary Generation
2017–2023 Menjayakan Wawasan Negara Successing The National Vision[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan". 2018-02-25. Archived from the original on 2018-02-25. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  2. ↑ "Hari Kebangsaan 2023, 2024 dan 2025 di Brunei Darussalam". PublicHolidays.asia. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  3. 1 2 3 Siddique, Sharon (1985). Southeast Asian Affairs 1985 - NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM. ISEAS Publishing. doi:10.1355/9789812306753-009. ISBN 9789812306753.
  4. 1 2 3 Scoop, The (2018-02-23). "A look back at Brunei's first National Day". The Scoop. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  5. ↑ "Brunei Darussalam National Day". aipasecretariat.org. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  6. ↑ Mulliner, K. (1985). "Brunei in 1984: Business as Usual after the Gala". Asian Survey. 25 (2): 214–219. doi:10.2307/2644305. ISSN 0004-4687. JSTOR 2644305.
  7. ↑ "Remembering the First National Day in 1984". Remembering the First National Day in 1984. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  8. ↑ "National Day Theme". Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. 2017.
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