It was the 33rd National Day celebration taking place at the capital when Pengiran Nurul Hida Elenna binti Pengiran Haji Hamlin saw – for the first time – a differently-abled person standing in front of the royal dais, in front of the monarch, reciting the national oath.
“From the moment I witnessed it, I fostered the desire to become one of the national oath readers,” said the 40-year-old, who is set to be among the 84 individuals honoured with reciting the national oath at the upcoming 40th National Day celebration this weekend.
However, this occasion will not be her debut but her second participation, as she is among the alumni of national oath readers from previous years’ celebrations who have been invited back to help enliven the Sultanate’s day, marking four decades of national sovereignty.
“My first time was in 2021, during the 37th National Day, and now I am participating again for the 40th,” she said in an interview with the Bulletin.
She added that she is also among the chosen individuals who were born in 1984, the year the country gained independence.
“I felt like this opportunity was meant for me. When auditions were announced, specifically seeking candidates born in 1984, I didn’t hesitate. I jumped at the chance, applied immediately, and was chosen.”
As an active Paralympian and member of the Paralympic Council of Brunei Darussalam, she has not taken the opportunity in vain, as the impetus of her participation lies in her desire to seek a better quality of living for her fellow differently-abled community members.
“Speaking from personal experience, before I became an athlete, my confidence was quite low.
“However, being part of the team has significantly boosted my confidence. Representing our country and interacting with athletes from other nations has shown me that I’m not alone in my journey.”
She believed that many members of their community are still confined to the shadows of their homes. However, just as she was inspired by the representation she witnessed during the 33rd National Day, she hopes her participation will have a similar impact.
“At the Paralympic council, our goal is to empower our members to thrive and engage with the world outside.”
For Pengiran Nurul Hida Elenna, it’s not just about representation; it’s a display of the strength and character of her community members. It’s also about showing the public that individuals with different abilities are not fundamentally different or less capable than the average Bruneian.
“Ultimately, we aim to showcase our abilities and raise awareness so that more people will have confidence in us and provide our members with more opportunities.
“Many of us are able to work, albeit in different ways. The beauty of our involvement in oath reading lies in its ability to allow people from diverse backgrounds to interact with us and gain a better understanding of our community,” she went on to say.
This sentiment was shared by Vice President of the Council for the Welfare of Persons with Different Abilities (MKOKU) Haji Sahari bin Haji Tinggal, who noted the Sultanate’s progress in bettering the lives of differently-abled individuals.
“Since Brunei gained independence in 1984, there have been notable changes in the quality of life of individuals with different abilities. While not drastic, the most significant change is how the public views us,” said the 64-year-old on the side-lines of the full dress rehearsal for the 2024 National Day celebrations at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.
Reflecting on the 80s, Haji Sahari who is wheelchair-bound shared how their community members were often kept on the side-lines, believed to be better off staying at home, shielding from public view due to the sense of shame felt within their own families.
Similarly, in terms of education, opportunities for differently-abled individuals were limited during the 80s and 90s.
“As time passed, I felt compelled to champion change, seeing it as part of my destiny as a differently-abled individual in Brunei.
“This conviction led me to become part of the first intake at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) to include a person with different abilities.”
He noted the country’s educational landscape, lauding the Ministry of Education’s Department of Special Education which was formerly known as the Special Education Unit (SEU), which was initially set up as a unit under the Permanent Secretary office (Core Education) in 1994.
It was upgraded as a department on June 1, 2021.
Despite the progress made, the vice president emphasised the need for further change, particularly in strengthening education for differently-abled individuals.
He highlighted education as a key factor in fostering a community of differently-abled individuals with “economic value”, who can contribute to the country’s development. – Wardi Wasil
