Azlan Othman, James Kon, Lyna Mohamad & Daniel Lim
The handing over of donations to orphans nationwide continued yesterday, with the hope of reducing recipients’ financial burden in the run up to Hari Raya Aidilfitri. A drive-through system was employed to facilitate the distribution process.
A total of 1,389 orphans in Brunei-Muara District collected the donations at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin and Brunei-Muara District Officer Misle bin Haji Abdul Karim helped with the distribution.
Permanent Secretary (Community and Culture) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Hajah Nor Ashikin binti Haji Johari, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Hajah Noraini binti Haji Sulaiman as well as senior officers from the MCYS and BIBD also assisted.
The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat by Welfare Home Complex Religious Teacher Haji Nordin bin Haji Durahman.
The donations are from the Orphans Fund under the Community Development Department (JAPEM) as well as the Brunei-Muara District Orphans Fund and BIBD.
In Belait District, 619 orphans received the donations at Pusat Insani in Seria.
The event opened with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, led by Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) Religious Officer Arif Fakhrullah bin Haji A Ramlee.
Permanent Secretary (Administration, Finance and Estate) at the MCYS Pengiran Mohd Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud and Acting Belait District Officer Mohamad Yassin bin Haji Ahmed handed out the donations alongside Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP) Corporate Manager Haji Jaafar bin Haji Bakar and BSP Human Resource Director Hajah Zainab binti MA Omar.
JAPEM organised the event with the help of Belait District Office, BIBD and BSP.
Meanwhile, 611 orphans from Tutong District received the donation at the Tutong Sports Complex, following a ceremony officiated by Permanent Secretary (Strategy and Policy Management) at the MCYS Pengiran Haji Mohd Hasnan bin Pengiran Haji Ali Hassan. Acting Tutong District Officer Ajmin bin Haji Meludin was also present. The event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat led by Tutong Senior Citizens Activity Centre Manager Haji Hamaffi bin Mohd Yassin.
In Temburong District, the drive- through was set up at the Pekan Bangar Community Hall Complex to hand over donations to 189 orphans from Mukim Bokok, Mukim Amo, Mukim Bangar, Mukim Batu Apoi and Mukim Labu.
Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary (Culture) at the MCYS Hajah Fauziah binti Haji Abdul Hamid, Acting Temburong District Officer Pengiran Muhammad Ameer Mubaarak bin Pengiran Haji Hashim assisted with the donation distribution.
Acting Assistant Temburong District Officer Haji Mohamad Azmi bin Haji Suhaili; officials from JAPEM, Temburong District Office and National Service Programme (PKBN); and a private donor also attended.
For guardians and parents unable to attend the ceremony, a date will be set for donation collection at JAPEM counters in each district.
Members of the public keen on contributing to the Orphans Fund can visit JAPEM’s Management and Administration Division at Jalan Kebangsaan in Kampong Pulaie during office hours.
Alternatively, they can donate via the SMS Brunei Prihatin for Orphans Fund by keying in YATIM, followed by the intended amount to be donated, and sending it to 38111 for DST and Progresif subscribers or 39999 for imagine subscribers.
This year, BIBD donated BND199,950 to 3,999 recipients – 2,580 from Brunei-Muara District, 619 from Belait District, 611 from Tutong District and 189 from Temburong District, according to a statement from the bank.
