Azlan Othman & Daniel Lim
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office joined congregants at Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque yesterday for a Doa Kesyukuran ceremony to mark the nation’s 39th National Day.
Accompanying His Royal Highness was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik.
Upon arrival, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah 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; Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad as the Chairman of the 39th National Day celebration’s Executive Committee.
Their Royal Highnesses joined the mass Maghrib prayer led by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar, who also led the Sunnat Hajat prayers and a mass recitation of Surah Yaasiin.
The Doa Kesyukuran was also read by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Salim.
The mass Isyak prayer was led by Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Awang Mustafa bin Haji Murat.
Similar events were also held nationwide at mosques, suraus and religious halls.
Focal point mosques in Brunei-Muara District were at Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah in Kampong Kiarong, Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque in Kampong Mentiri, Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam Mosque in Kampong Jerudong, Mohamed Bolkiah Mosque in Kampong Serusop, Sultan Sharif Ali Mosque in Kampong Sengkurong, Al-Muhtadee Billah Mosque in Kampong Sungai Kebun, Setia Ali Mosque in Pekan Muara and Perpindahan Lambak Kanan Mosque.
In Belait District, the focal points were at Mohammad Jamalul Alam Mosque, RPN Kampong Pandan Mosque, and Pekan Seria Mosque.
At the Mohammad Jamalul Alam Mosque, Acting Belait District Officer Haji Amirol Hafidzin bin Haji Muhammad attended.
Also present were Legislative Council members Yang Berhormat Salleh bin Haji Othman as the Penghulu of Mukim Bukit Sawat and Yang Berhormat Mohammad bin Abdullah @ Lim Swee Ann as the Village Head of Kampong Bukit Sawat, as well as mukim penghulu, village heads, as well as head of government departments and agencies based in the Belait District.
The mass Maghrib prayer was led by Mosque Affairs Officer Mohd Hilmi bin Yakop, who also led the Sunnat Hajat prayers and a mass recitation of Surah Yaasiin.
The Doa Kesyukuran was then read by Head Religious Officer in the Belait District Mohd Aliyani bin Ismail.
The ceremony continued with a mass Isyak prayer led by Mohd Hilmi and the recitation of Surah Al-Insyirah and Surah An-Nasr.
Meanwhile, similar events were held at the Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque in Tutong District and at Utama Mohammad Salleh Mosque in Pekan Bangar for Temburong District.
The theme for this year’s National Day celebration is ‘Menjayakan Wawasan Negara’.
