Rokiah Mahmud
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) celebrated the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in the capital yesterday.
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof was the guest of honour.
The International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking is celebrated every June 26.
This year, the theme is ‘Collective Prevention for a Happier Nation’, which aims to remind all walks of people to be responsible together in preventing and combatting drug activities in the country.
The theme encourages government agencies, public, parents, schools, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and grassroots leaders to unite towards the effort to cultivate awareness and concern for the social illness.
At the ceremony, the minister launched two video clips Tekad Biro Kawalan Narkotik and Adang Tah.
Tekad Biro Kawalan Narkotik, a song performed by NCB officers, was composed to instil courage among its personnel in performing their daily tasks.
Meanwhile, Adang Tah is a rap song written in Brunei dialect which describes the life of a drug addict trying to get back on the right track.
The song was aimed at the youth to keep them away from getting involved in drugs.
Among the participating government agencies and NGOs were the Drug Prevention Education Division of NCB; Public Relation Unit of NCB; Al-Islah Centre; Women and Child Abuse Investigation Unit of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF); Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB); Internal Security Department (ISD); the Royal Customs and Excise Department; Prisons Department; the Anti-Tobacco Unit of the Health Promotion Centre (HPC); National Anti-Drug Association (BASMIDA) and Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council. Meanwhile, NCB also organised a religious ceremony at their headquarters in Jalan Tungku, Gadong on Thursday.
NCB Director of Dato Paduka Mohd Zalani bin Haji Ismail was the guest of honour.
The ceremony began with mass Sunat Hajat prayer followed by recitations of Surah Yaasiin, Selawat Tafrijiyyah and Doa Selamat.
Also present were NCB senior officers and representatives from divisions, district branches and units.
In addition, the Friday sermon also highlighted the significance of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
To mark the celebration, the Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien (SHOAS) Bridge and the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha (RIPAHS) Bridge will be illuminated in green and white from June 20 to 30 from 6.30pm to midnight.
June 26 has been declared by the United Nations (UN) as International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking since 1987.