“In commemorating the 40th National Day celebration, we can reminisce not only the event itself but our determination and aspiration to be an independent nation,” said Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman at the International Convention Centre, Berakas yesterday.
The minister added, “The determination and aspiration of independence is a promise to ourselves to do something significant with full power over state affairs and government.
“The determination and aspirations are political determination to maintain Brunei Darussalam as an independent, sovereign and democratic Malay Islamic Monarchy based on Islamic teachings according to Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah and based on justice, trust and freedom.”
The minister also said, “The national determination through Malay Islamic kingdom and with guidance from Allah the Almighty, we will always strive to achieve peace and security, welfare and happiness for the people.
“The determination is to maintain friendly international relations on the basis of mutual respect for independence, sovereignty, equality and territorial integrity for all countries free from foreign interference.” The Ministry of Religious Affairs held the National Day celebration also joined by Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Mohd Tashim bin Pengiran Haji Hassan, as well as permanent secretaries, deputy permanent secretaries and acting deputy permanent secretaries at the MoRA and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
The event also saw a video screening of ‘40 Years of Tracing Independence in Religious Services’ and a discussion on the path to independence by a panel.
The panel included Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Mohd Tashim, Chairperson of Brunei Youth Council Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari and a Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) graduate Iqbal Syakib bin Haji Suhib, the winner of the 2023 National Speech Competition in conjunction with the 39th National Day, and moderated by education officer at the MoRA’s Islamic Studies Department Haji Jaya bin Haji Metussin.
The session was interspersed with a performance of poetry from male and female students of Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB).
The celebration also featured a performance of Kalam Jama’ie, by students of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Arabic School, followed by the recitation of selawat from Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah students.
The celebration is an annual event of the ministry to instil patriotism in officers and staff through national activities while improving the values of community, religion and nation. – Azlan Othman
