BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The ‘Royal Usongan’ chariot displayed at the Royal Regalia Museum attracted Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar’s attention during his visit to the museum here on Sunday.
Arriving at 2.15pm at the museum, Wan Junaidi and his wife showed interest in the design of the Royal Usongan which had been used during the enthronement ceremony of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on Aug 1,1968.
At the time this royal chariot was carried by 40 ‘Pengiran’, most of whom were descended from members of the Royal Brunei Malay Military Force, who were fully dressed in black uniforms.
His Majesty was directed to go around Bandar Brunei which is now known as Bandar Seri Begawan starting from Bandar Brunei Fire Station towards Lapau and vice versa.
It was also used during British monarch Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Brunei in 1972.
Also accompanying Wan Junaidi during the visit was Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki.
Wan Junaidi and entourage were also entertained with a Sarawak folk song, Puteri Santubong by a group of gamelan musicians.
They then visited the Royal Exhibition, which is a gallery that displays the life history of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam from childhood.
The gallery also exhibits royal tools such as the ‘Kucing Emas’ and ‘Tongkat Ajai’.
Before ending their visit to the museum at 4pm, Wan Junaidi and his wife signed the visitors’ book of the Royal Regalia Museum.
