The first batch of Brunei Darussalam’s intending haj pilgrims departed for Madinah aboard Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) flight BI4201 at 9:45 AM on Thursday. The flight is scheduled to land in Madinah at 2:40 PM local time.
This initial group comprised 254 pilgrims registered under Darussalam Services Sdn Bhd (DSSB) and Straits Central Agencies Sdn Bhd (SCA). Accompanying the pilgrims were three officers from the Haj Affairs Medical Office and officers from the haj package providers.
From the total, 126 pilgrims were registered under DSSB, consisting of 49 males and 77 females, while 125 pilgrims registered under SCA, consisting of 60 males and 65 females.
The Minister of Religious Affairs, Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, and his spouse; the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Minister of Defence II, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General Rtd Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof; the Minister of Health, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar; and the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Brunei Darussalam, Mohammed Abdullah Al-Buraithin, were present at the Brunei International Airport to bid farewell to the pilgrims.
The Doa Selamat was recited by Special Grade Mosque Affairs Officer Zulkifli bin Haji Murat, while the call of Azan was lauded by Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque Officer Haji Hamdini bin Haji Garif. – Rokiah Mahmud
More details on Friday’s Borneo Bulletin
