His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam graced the prize presentation to winners of the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults for 1444 Hijrah yesterday.
The ceremony was held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.
Accompanying the monarch were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah.
On arrival, His Majesty and the royal family members were received by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar and Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Mohd Tashim bin Pengiran Haji Hassan.
The ceremony commenced with the recitation of Al-Quran verses by invited Qari from Malaysia Ahmad Azfar bin Azraie who is a special award recipient for Kafa Madani Student at National Level and champion for the International Mazamir Dawud Al-Quran Reading Competition in Algeria for the under-15 category.
The Minister of Religious Affairs as the chairperson of the executive committee for the competition said the competition upholds and realises His Majesty’s vision that Al-Quran is continuously recited and learnt by the public.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Education also formed an Al-Quran learning programme working committee at both government and private secondary schools.
According to Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin, since 2020, the Al-Quran subject has been taught to Years 9, 10 and 11 students as a component under Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK) by using the transition curriculum. The steps, he added, served as a continuity of the subject at religious school.
His Majesty then delivered a titah before Islamic Da’wah Centre Director Haji Abdul Rajid bin Haji Mohd Salleh, as the chairman of the judging committee, announced the champions, runners-up and second runners-up of the annual national competition.
The champion in the Qari category with a score of 91.74 per cent was Pengiran Muhd Amirul Aiman bin Pengiran Haji Marjuki. The champion in the Qariah category with 92.76 per cent was Dayangku Fauziah Nadhirah binti Pengiran Haji Jofri.
First runner-up in Qaris category, scoring 90.02 per cent, was Awangku Adi Nazri bin Pengiran Haji Jofri, while second runner-up, scoring 89.37 per cent, was Haji Nasrul Fakhri bin Haji Yahya.
Dr Hajah Siti Wardah binti Major (Rtd) Haji Abdul Rahman received 88.65 per cent which placed her as the first runner-up, while Dayangku Siti Ummi Syazana binti Pengiran Haji Marjuki was second runner-up with a score of 86.54 per cent in the Qariah category.
The ceremony continued with Al-Quran recitations from Qari and Qariah champions.
The ceremony also saw His Majesty hand over trophies, prizes and souvenirs to the winners.
Each champion in Qari and Qariah’s category received a championship trophy, cash prize of BND7,000 and accompanying prizes, haj package, certificate, Tekad Haji account worth BND2,000 contributed by Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (Perbadanan TAIB), Insurans Islam TAIB Holdings Sdn Bhd and Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd and a set of Brunei woven cloth contributed by Syarikat Little Ummi.
The first runners-up each received a BND5,000 cash prize as well as other prizes, a certificate, a Tekad Haji account worth BND1,500 contributed by Perbadanan TAIB, Insurans Islam TAIB Holdings Sdn Bhd and Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd. Meanwhile, the second runners-up each received a BND3,000 cash prize, which was accompanied by other prizes, a certificate, a Tekad Haji account worth BND1,000, contributed by Perbadanan TAIB, Insurans Islam TAIB Holdings Sdn Bhd and Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd. – Rokiah Mahmud
