The National Flag is an important way to advocate the rakyat's personality as well as the nation's sovereignty. The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports said the national flag also reflects the strong spirit and desire of the country and its people to move forward, protecting and upholding the country's sovereignty.

Pehin Dato Doctor Haji Awang Hussein was speaking Sunday at the hoisting of the giant flag and the handing over of miniature flags to commemorate the 21st National Day, to be celebrated on the 23rd of this month. The function took place at the open area at the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation.

In his remarks, the minister called on every citizen and resident to be fully committed to hoist the national flag. This shows their confidence toward Brunei Darussalam as a place to live, and to serve their life to the people, religion, the king and the nation.

The giant flag was hoisted by 21 personnel of the Royal Brunei Navy, followed by the national anthem. The Minister also handed out the normal-sized and small-sized flags to the Assistant District Officers of the four districts. This year, the Sponsorship Working Committee distributed 25-thousand small-size flags nationwide. Some one thousand one hundred people comprising kampong community, Youth Associations and school students took part in the gathering. The National Day Celebration carries the theme "Bersepadu Memperkasa Mandiri Bangsa" or "Together Strengthening National Self-Reliance.

Meanwhile, every district also held theirown flag-distribution ceremony in conjunction with the upcoming National Day. In the Brunei Muara District, the flags were distributed to mukim penghulus and heads of village by the District Officer, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Adnan bin Haji Hanafiah.

The ceremony began with a rendition of patriotic songs and the National Anthem, followed by Doa prayer and a short parade. In the Belait District, the flags were distributed by the District Officer, Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yussof. The Acting Tutong District Officer, Awang Haji Abdul Mutalib bin Haji Idris, handed out the flags to penghulus, village leaders and heads of longhouses. And in the Temburong District, the flags were given out by the Acting District Officer, Pengiran Abdul Haris bin Pengiran Haji Shabudin.

The Malaysian Premier League saw Brunei Darussalam crush Pulau Pinang NTFA 5-1 in first round of the championship Sunday night. Brunei's Ajai Oluseye scored a hat trick during the match, with two more goals from Suhaimi Hj Mphd Yusoff and Sharin Jaini, The visiting team scored its consolation goal in the 31st minute of the second half.