COLOMBO (AFP) – Two major Sri Lanka newspapers are suspending their print editions because of a lack of paper, their owner said yesterday, the latest casualties in the island’s economic crisis.More details in Saturday’s Borneo Bulletin.
Vote campaign starts amid violence, virus fears
MANILA, Philippines (AP) – Candidates for Philippine congressional seats and thousands of smaller races started campaigning on Friday with police watching closely due to past violence and to enforce a pandemic ban on handshakes, hugging and tightly packed crowds that are a hallmark of the country’s often circus-like campaigns. More details in Saturday’s Borneo Bulletin.
Quest to produce quality preachers
Azlan Othman
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 called on the Islamic Da’wah Centre to produce Da’ie (religious preachers) of high calibre.
During His Majesty’s unscheduled visit to the Islamic Da’wah Centre in Kampong Pulaie yesterday, His Majesty said the centre’s crucial role as one of the departments under the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) is ensuring Islamic eminence prevails in the country.
“The centre cannot avoid such a bold task. But I see that the Islamic Da’wah Centre is yet to meet the required demand as there are still weaknesses plaguing, especially in terms of the structuring of the creation of the post of a religious preacher that is yet to be seen.
“Although it is called the Islamic Da’wah Centre, there is no designated post as a ‘preacher’,” His Majesty said, adding that there is conflict on who is responsible in giving the task to preach or deliver religious talks in filling up the preaching programme. “Officials regularly push the task from one person to another to the extent that some unqualified individuals are forced to preach even if it is not entailed in their job description. Hence, in such a pressing need, the centre would request assistance from religious teachers, mosque officers or university graduates to preach by providing them with a fee allowance.”
His Majesty warned that preaching Islamic teachings in the Sultanate will wither and diminish should such practice persists.
His Majesty said, “To produce seasonal local preachers of high calibre, the MoRA has carried out formal training through seminars, forums, courses, conferences, study visits and to send the qualified ones from the Islamic Da’wah Centre to participate in programmes through the memorandum of understandings with MABIMS (Religious Council of Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore) nations and so on.
“In my opinion, although the intention is good, it is not enough to produce preachers of high calibre.”
His Majesty added that MoRA is seeking to offer 195 posts in the preaching division to realise the need to fill in the vacant spots.
“There is always the tendency to add more manpower but adding such a a large workforce is not enough to ascertain the department’s capability in shouldering such a monumental task if it still lacks in quality,” His Majesty said.
“Hence, before adding more to the workforce, the existing state of the preachers’ welfare should be taken care of and empowered in terms of quality.
“This is achievable by establishing a training scheme to provide these officers proper guidance for effective deliverance. Under this scheme, these potential officers will be groomed and encouraged to take a PhD in the relevant field. The methodology is to interview preachers who have been identified to be of high calibre either domestically or internationally, and to learn from them in delivering effective preaching or any recipes for success needed to attain such an objective.”
His Majesty also highlighted that if candidates complete their PhD and produce a high quality thesis, they will become experts or can be educators to other preachers.
“If this happens, we can see major changes,” His Majesty said, affirming confidence that the Islamic Da’wah Centre is equipped with a capable workforce to be given opportunities.
Present to greet His Majesty upon arrival at the Islamic Da’wah Centre were Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretary at the MoRA and Prime Minister’s Office.
His Majesty also held a dialogue session with local preachers, signed the visitors book and toured a learning session of basic guidance course scheme for Muslim converts.
Sultan makes surprise visit to PDI
Lyna Mohamad
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 made an unscheduled visit to the Islamic Da’wah Centre (PDI) yesterday.
Upon arrival, His Majesty was greeted by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Permanent Secretary (Civil Service, Welfare, International and Media) at the Prime Minister’s Office Mohamed Riza bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohamed Yunos, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) Haji Mohammad Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the MoRA Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang.
His Majesty was ushered to the centre’s Conference Hall to deliver a titah. A recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat were read by Acting Director of Mosque Affairs Pengiran Haji Haslin bin Pengiran Haji Ali.
This was followed by a welcoming speech by the Minister of Religious Affairs, highlighting the number of Da’ie (religious preachers) under MoRA, certified Da’ie and lecturers from the Brunei Islamic Religious Council, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB), State Mufti’s Office, Mosque Affairs Department and Islamic Studies Department and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.
Following the titah, a dialogue session took place with a number of Da’ie, before His Majesty consented to sign the memorable parchment and witnessed a basic guidance course for Muslim converts in session.
The PDI began operations on January 1, 1985 with His Majesty gracing the official opening ceremony on September 16, 1985.
In a statistic shared by the centre, some 20,030 individuals have converted to Islam nationwide from 1971 to 2022.
Adhere to health guidelines during Qingming festival
Izah Azahari
Those celebrating the Qingming Festival or Ching Ming Festival, also known as Tomb-Sweeping Day, are advised to abide by the guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) when visiting the cemetery.
This was said by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar during the daily press conference yesterday, adding that people must wear face masks and social distance themselves.
“It’s all about each other’s responsibility to ensure that no such ceremony becomes the cause of additional clusters,” said the minister.
The minister also advised attending family members to conduct an antigen rapid test (ART) prior to gathering at the cemetery.
The traditional Chinese festival is held when family members and relatives come together to pay respect to the deceased at the cemetery.
Crème de la crème awarded medals and book prizes
Rokiah Mahmud
Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) held a medal and book prize presentation in conjunction with the 11th Hafl Al-Takharruj (convocation ceremony) at Centrepoint Hotel in Gadong yesterday.
Minister of Education cum UNISSA Council Chairman Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman was the guest of honour.
Acknowledging their hard work, the minister presented one Rector Medal, six University Medals and 53 book prizes.
Co-Chairman and Assistant Rector (Academic) at UNISSA Associate Professor Dr Siti Sara binti Haji Ahmad said, “This is the 11th time UNISSA is holding the convocation ceremony, recognising excellent graduates and students with medals and book prize awards every year.
“UNISSA hands out four types of medals – Chancellor Medal, Pro Chancellor Medal, Rector Medal and University Medal. For the book prize, there are also four different categories, including the final year book prize, book prize for excellent results in Al-Quran course (Arabic and English streams), as well as book prize for excellent result in Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) course,” she said.
Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education Dr Haji Azman bin Ahmad and UNISSA Rector Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal also attended.
MoRA holds Tahlil at Royal Mausoleum
Azlan Othman
The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) held a recitation of Surah Yaasiin and Tahlil ceremony for Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam and Al-Marhumah Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman, the late parents of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, and Al-Marhum His Royal Highness Prince Haji ‘Abdul ‘Azim at the Royal Mausoleum in Jalan Tutong yesterday.
Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Permanent Secretary at the MoRA Haji Mohammad Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the MoRA Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang and MoRA personnel attended the event.
Close proximity could result in immoral activities
Azlan Othman
Arabic and religious school students yesterday sat in for a talk on promiscuous behaviour and its repercussions, discussed during a virtual religious programme surrounding the theme ‘Prohibition of Close Proximity’.
Islam strictly forbids such act: The close-knit nature between a man and woman who are not mahrams (a person with whom marriage is generally permissible) could result in the couple behaving immorally, and would likely lead to adultery.
Statistics show that the social ills commonly reported in Brunei Darussalam are tied to drug abuse, fraud, theft, alcohol consumption, close proximity and adultery.
The Sultanate’s main concern is in regulating the interaction between men and women, especially in maintaining women’s dignity and protecting society from depraved moral and degrading behaviour. Islam emphasises on upholding good character, morals and noble behaviour.
Allah the Almighty’s close proximity prohibition comes with good reason: Refraining from adultery protects the offspring, prevents out-of-wedlock births and the abandonment of illegitimate children.
If not weeded out swiftly, widespread acts of close proximity will bring about societal issues.
Islamic teachings prohibit adultery as it is a great sin that can affect harmony if it is allowed to spread. Promiscuity can also bring about fatal sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
The nationwide religious programme began with the recitation of Selawat Tafrijiyyah, Sayyidul Istighfar and Surah Al-Fatihah, before continuing with the religious talk, recitation of Surah Al-Waqi’ah, Doa for protection against COVID-19 and the Doa Allah Peliharakan Sultan dan Brunei Darussalam.
The national religious programme was split into two sessions: At 8am for Arabic school students, and 2pm for those in religious schools.
Brunei logs 775 new COVID cases
James Kon
The Sultanate recorded 775 new COVID-19 cases yesterday, bringing the national tally of confirmed cases to 129,081. Of the new cases, 627 were from antigen rapid test (ART) results uploaded to the BruHealth app, while 148 were from 1,965 RT-PCR laboratory tests performed in the past 24 hours.
Meanwhile, in the past 24 hours, the country registered one COVID-19 fatality. The case is categorised as death not due to COVID-19.
The latest updates were shared by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar at the daily press conference yesterday.
In light of the fatalities, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham said, “On behalf of the MoH and the people of Brunei Darussalam, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the case’s family. May the case’s soul receive blessings and be placed among the pious.”
The minister said, “There are eight cases in Category 4 and three in Category 5. The total number of cases in Categories 4 and 5 is five per cent of the treatment capacity of the categories at the National Isolation Centre (NIC).”
Meanwhile, 1,919 cases have recovered, bringing the tally of recovered cases to 118,980 cases with 9,901 active cases.
At present, the bed occupancy rate at isolation centres nationwide is 4.2 per cent with 155 active cases placed in isolation centres and hospitals, while 9,746 are undergoing home self-isolation.
As of March 23, the minister said, “Under the National COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, 60.3 per cent of the population has received three doses.”
Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional) at the Ministry of Health (MoH) Dr Ang Swee Hui also attended.
Overseas COVID vaccination records integrated into BruHealth
James Kon
Members of the public who have received their COVID-19 vaccination overseas can update their vaccination records at www.healthinfo.gov.bn/travel to be integrated into the BruHealth app.
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar shared this at the daily press conference yesterday.
“Alhamdulillah, COVID-19 vaccination records obtained overseas can now be integrated and updated into the BruHealth app,” he said.
Members of the public can visit www.healthinfo.gov.bn/travel and complete the application information in the ‘Overseas COVID-19 Vaccination Records’ function. Applications will be reviewed by the Ministry of Health (MoH) prior to approval.
