By Azlan Othman

His Majesty inspecting the Guard of Honour. - JASON LEONG	His Majesty arriving at the conference hall. - JASON LEONG
His Majesty the Sultan and other members of the royal family in a group photo with LegCo members. - INFOFOTO
His Majesty the Sultan signing the plaque. - INFOFOTO	His Majesty and HRH the Crown Prince leaving the conference hall. - JASON LEONG
HRH the Crown Prince during the national anthem. - JASON LEONG
HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah receiving the Royal Salute upon arrival. - AZROL AZMI	HRH Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah receiving the Royal Salute. - AZROL AZMI
HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah arrives for the LegCo session. - AZROL AZMI	HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and the speaker. - JASON LEONG
Pg Indera Mahkota Pengiran Anak (Dr) Kemaludin Al-Haj during the national anthem. - JASON LEONG
Front row from left: Pehin Dato Awang Haji Suyoi, Pehin Dato Awang Haji Adanan, Pehin Dato Awang Haji Abu Bakar, Pehin Dato Awang Haji Ahmad and Pehin Dato Awang Hj Mohd Zain. - JASON LEONG
From left: Pehin Col (L) Mohd Yasmin, Pehin Lim Jock Seng, Pehin Abdul Rahman, Pehin Yahya, Pehin Maj Gen (R) Mohammad and Pehin Abdullah at the LegCo opening. - JASON LEONG	State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Awang Hj Abdul Aziz reciting the doa selamat. - JASON LEONG

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam officiated the grand opening by signing a plaque shortly after receiving the Royal Salute and inspecting the guard of honour by the personnel of the Royal Brunei Police Force.

Also in attendance were His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah.

Since achieving independence 24 years ago, this is the first time that the nation held the council meeting at the new grand parliament building, the construction for which began in March 2005 under the 8th National Development Plan.

The council meeting reconvened in 2004 after it was suspended for 20 years.

The building has three blocks. Besides office rooms and conference hall, the building also accommodates a banquet hall, library, meeting rooms, auditorium, surau, gymnasium, VIP rooms and canteen, as well as a parade ground in front of the building, parking space, landscape and a three-acre lake.

The clerk of the council, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Jaya Dato Paduka Hj Judin, said the new building would facilitate the council in implementing its mission to give better service to the government and nation especially those relating to the privy council, legislative council and cabinet ministers meeting.

At the same time, it will also uphold the Legislative Council to be comparable to the renowned House of Parliament in the region.

The ceremony yesterday began with the approval of the minutes of the previous meeting held last year at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.

After the titah by His Majesty the Sultan, the speaker of the Legislative Council, YAM Pg Indera Mahkota Pg Anak (Dr) Kemaludin Al-Haj said the meeting would adjourn till 9.30am tomorrow.