By Azlan Othman
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam called on oversea Bruneian students to uphold a decent value system, regardless of where they are and that they will be safe if such values are upheld.
In delivering his 'titah' at a get-together ceremony with Brunei students and Brunei citizens in the United Kingdom and Ireland at the Intercontinental Hotel in London on Sunday, His Majesty underlined that the most noble value system is to be loyal to Allah, the Prophet and 'Ulil Amri' including parents.
"It should not be neglected but is to be nurtured in one's heart. This is the way to thank Allah for all the blessings. We should uphold and make such blessings everlasting," the monarch added.
Also present at the ceremony were Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pg Anak Hjh Saleha, Her Royal Highness Pg Isteri Azrinaz Mazhar and other members of the royal family.
The benevolent ruler said life as a student means they have their own individual lives, where the sole objective at this stage is to succeed in education. They are not looking for money but to acquire knowledge. They are not yet involved in any job or positions but are to concentrate and to utilize their resources to study.
"This is the right attitude. But do all students possess such an attitude?" His Majesty posed. "In my opinion, such an attitude only comes by when there is awareness for the future and the student must be equipped to become a thinker.
Only such high and mature thoughts can drive the individual towards success. We should not regard success to arrive like a breeze. Success requires relentless effort, he said.
On this basis, His Majesty called on all students to become a thinking generation and strive to enhance it. Brunei must be developed by thinkers to acquire a good nation's values in its widest interpretation. A country, which is ruined, is the one that is short on thinking power, regardless of whether such a country is wealthy and big, he added.
When the thinking capability falters, it would certainly be replaced with lust. A 'good nation' is defined by Allah as "Baldatun Thayyibatun", which means a prosperous and peaceful nation. A good nation must also be equipped with the phrase "Warabbun Ghafuur" or to stand strong under the will of Allah," the Sultan said.
His Majesty added, "praise be to Allah, that Brunei is a 'good nation' with peace and prosperity as its identity. Without doubt, it is a blessing for Brunei that is seldom available elsewhere. Hence we should uphold it."
His Majesty said the way to uphold such a blessing is to express gratitude, not by sitting comfortably and enjoying wealth but to always remember Allah.
"While upholding peace and prosperity, we should remember Allah. Those who remember Allah will not commit something that can jeopardise peace and prosperity."
His Majesty and other members of the royal family were greeted upon arrival at the hotel by the Brunei High Commissioner in London, Pg Dato Paduka Hj Maidin; President of the Brunei Students Union, Ak Shahyzul Kahiruddien; and officers from the High Commission and committee members of the students union.
The ceremony began with the reading of 'Doa Selamat' lead by the State Mufti followed by a presentation of 'Pesambah' to His Majesty, Her Majesty and Her Royal Highness.
Before leaving, His Majesty, Her Majesty and Her Royal Highness and other members of the royal family exchanged greetings with the students and Bruneians.
Some 1,315 Bruneian students are currently studying in the UK and Ireland, where 1,020 are under government scholarship schemes, 91 students under Brunei Shell Petroleum Sdn Bhd sponsorship and Brunei Shell Tankers Sdn Bhd and another 295 students self-financed.
- Borneo Bulletin
(4th Dec 2007)