The presentation of house keys by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to recipients of the 2,000-unit Kampong Panaga National Housing Scheme took place yesterday at the Jalan McKerron Convention Centre Building Hall, Kuala Belait. And like the previous presentation ceremony two weeks ago, the monarch yesterday consented to visit the new homes of the recipients.

Following the path of two families who converted to Islam in a ceremony held during the previous visit, another family has also taken the opportunity to perform a similar conversion in the presence of His Majesty.

His Majesty yesterday consented to witness 14 people - consisting of a family of six and their relatives - converting to Islam at one of the new houses, which belonged to the father of one of the relatives.

Muhd Hakimi Abdullah Jamal, one of the new converts who led the family during the ceremony, said that all but one of them were Ibans, the one being Murut.

Muhd Hakimi spoke to the Sunday Bulletin of his long-awaited intention of converting to Islam.

"It has been a while since my heart opened up to embrace Islam as a new way of life, but we just couldn't decide when to do it," he said. "Islam has fascinated me, especially as lots of (our) other family members are Muslims. I also look forward to celebrating Hari Raya with the rest of my Muslim family members.

"I felt a little bit nervous when embracing Islam in front of His Majesty, but nonetheless I am glad that we did it in His Majesty's presence," he added. - Borneo Bulletin (31st July 2011)