His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik as the Chairman of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Committee of Governors in a sabda applauded grassroots leaders and members of consultative councils for their sincerity, commitment and perseverance in distributing dates as kurnia peribadi (personal gifts) 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 for the upcoming holy month of Ramadhan.
His Royal Highness said this in a sabda during the launch ceremony for the distribution of dates at the Yayasan Complex.
His Royal Highness also said, “We should not be complacent. Certain parties have not received the dates. Hence, the management authorities of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and other parties involved must continue to shoulder the responsibility with full sincerity and dedication in ensuring no one is left out of His Majesty’s gifts.”
The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque’s Imam Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Mustafa bin Haji Murat, followed by a welcoming speech from Minister of Health and Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yayasan Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar.
His Royal Highness distributed dates to representatives of uniformed personnel, the public, civil service, the private sector and Muallaf association. The ceremony concluded with a Doa Selamat read by Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Mustafa.
Commanders and commandants of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces as well as directors and officers in command of the Royal Brunei Police Force will distribute dates to their officers.
District officers will distribute the dates to all mukim penghulu and village heads to be distributed to residents under their jurisdictions.
For civil servants, the distribution will be made through ministries and their departments, and for the private sector, it will be through the companies or village heads according to the residences.
This year, some 159 metric tonnes of Safawi dates will be distributed to all Muslim citizens and residents throughout the country regardless of age and nationality. – Azlan Othman
