Adib Noor & Lyna Mohamad
Brunei Darussalam will celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri tomorrow as the hilal or new moon of Syawal for 1444 Hijrah was not sighted at vantage points yesterday evening.
The announcement was made last night with the consent of 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, following reports from officials, and was broadcast on Radio Television Brunei (RTB).
Officials assigned to the moon-sighting events at the five assigned locations throughout the country were unable to locate the crescent moon of Syawal which was confirmed by the Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar. The results of the moon-sighting was delivered to Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman in his capacity as President of Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) in the presence of other members of MUIB.
The moon-sighting at the DST Tower in Jerudong was attended by Permanent Secretary (Infrastructure, Housing and Professional) at the Ministry of Development Ir Haji Amer Hishamuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Zakaria. Similar moon-sighting events were held at Bukit Agok and Tanjong Batu in Brunei-Muara District, Bukit Ambog in Tutong District and Bukit Lumut in Belait District.
