Izah Azahari
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) held a virtual Doa Kesyukuran ceremony to mark International Women’s Day 2022 celebration yesterday.
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 spouse Datin Nurhayana Janis binti Abdullah participated in the virtual event, which also saw the recitation of Doa Selamat for protection against the COVID-19 pandemic.
The minister opened the event with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, followed by the recitation of Surah Yaasiin, Doa Yaasiin, Istighfar and Taubat led by Muhammad Darwisy Afiq bin Jalani from Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.
Doa Kesyukuran and Doa Selamat were led by Haji Abdul Mateen Bolkini bin Haji Ahmad from Tutong Youth Movement (IMPAK), and Doa Allah Peliharakan Sultan and Negara Brunei Darussalam was led by Md Hazwan Nizam bin Ibrahim.
A short lecture titled Wanita, Kuatlah Demi Ilahi (Women, Be Strong for the Sake of Allah the Almighty) was delivered by Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Education Officer Siti Hanisah binti Haji Othman who noted significant female figures in Islamic history, the lessons that can be taken and adopted into modern-day Muslim women’s daily lives, and the strengths of women that can continuously contribute towards the ummah.
Legislative Council members, permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretaries at the MCYS, senior officials and staff, the President of the Brunei Darussalam Women’s Council together with members of women’s associations and organisations, MCYS strategic partners and volunteers attended the event.
Apart from the Doa Kesyukuran ceremony, several activities and programmes have been organised throughout March in line with the theme ‘Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Future’.
The main event to be held is an eco-chat series titled Women Leading the Way (Female Champions of Sustainability in Brunei) – a joint effort from the MCYS, Community for Brunei and Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam.
The objective is to promote awareness campaigns and attitude change towards matters of climate change. In addition, various interactive programmes, workshops and forums will also be held with MCYS’s strategic partners to raise awareness on women’s issues.
In enlivening the International Women’s Day 2022 celebration, the Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien (SHOAS) Bridge was lit with purple lights yesterday at 7pm and will end at noon today.
