Haji Nasrul Fakhri bin Haji Yahya, Haji Awang Muhd Fikri bin Haji Awang Metussin, Haji Hazwan bin Haji Salim, Haji Mohammad bin Ali and Awangku Adi Nazri bin Pengiran Haji Jofri were named as the finalists of the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults for 1445 Hijrah for the male category.
Meanwhile, Dayangku Siti Ummi Syazana binti Pengiran Haji Marzuki, Dr Hajah Siti Wardah binti Mejar (Rtd) Haji Abdul Rahman, Najla Sabreena binti Haji Abdul Rajid, Amal Nazirah binti Haji Asmat and Nur Amal Atiqah @ Aida binti Haji Sudirman are the finalists in the female category.
The finalists were announced on Thursday during a ceremony at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.
The ceremony commenced with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by Mosque Affairs Officer Adham bin Hashim, followed by a welcoming speech by Head of the Islamic Propagation Progress Division at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) and competition’s Co-Chair Datin Hajah Umiyati binti Haji Mohammad Noor.
Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman was the guest of honour.
Permanent Secretary of the MoRA Haji Mohammad Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim and Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the MoRA Haji Abdul Rajid bin Haji Mohd Salleh also attended.
Acting Deputy Director of the Haj Management Department at the MoRA and the Chairman of the Judges’ Panel Pengiran Haji Haslin bin Pengiran Haji Ali announced the finalists of the competition.
The event also featured a nasyid performance by students from Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji
Hassanal Bolkiah, followed by Al-Quran recitations by selected male and female participants who advanced to the finals before concluding with the prize-giving ceremony by the guest of honour. – Adib Noor
