IN THE Tutong District, some 600 students and youths participated in the 67 times Khatam Al-Quran ceremony for students and youths in conjunction with the 67th birthday celebration of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, yesterday at the Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque in Tutong.

The guest of honour was the Minister of Finance II at the Prime Minister’s Office, Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Abdul Rahman bin Hj Ibrahim.

At the ceremony, the ‘Doa Khatam’ was read by Abg Hariz bin Abg Hadzman, a student of the Tutong Sixth Form Centre (PTE Tutong), while the ‘Doa Allah Peliharakan Sultan’ was led by Awg Hj Muhammad Muadz bin Hj Ramlee, also a student from PTE Tutong.

Also present at the event was Dato Paduka Dr Hj Zulkarnain bin Hj Hanafi, Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education who is also the Vice Chancellor of UBD.

The Ministry of Education together with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, yesterday organised a simultaneous 67 times Khatam Al-Quran ceremony in all four districts across the Sultanate.

In the Brunei-Muara District, the ceremony was held at two separate locations in order to segregate both male and female participants. At the ceremony for male students and youths, which was held at the Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik attended and was greeted upon his arrival by the Minister of Education, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Awang Abu Bakar bin Hj Apong.

The grandson of His Majesty, YAM Pengiran Anak ‘Abdul Raqiib bin Pengiran Maharaja Setia Laila Diraja Sahibul Irshad Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Rahim was among the 2,384 male students and youths participating in the ceremony.

Meanwhile, female students and youths converged at Universiti Brunei Darussalam Mosque, attended by Datin Paduka Hajah Adina binti Othman, Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, in her capacity as the guest of honour.

In the Temburong District, the ceremony took place at the Utama Mohammad Salleh Mosque and involved 300 students. The guest of honour was Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Abdullah bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, Minister of Communications.

In the Belait District, the ceremony was held at the Kampong Pandan National Housing Scheme Mosque, where 540 students and youths took part in the ceremony and was attended by Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, as the guest of honour.

The ceremony held across all four districts is the continuation of joint efforts by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports last year for all educational institutions in the country.

This year a total of 5,338 students and youths took part. The event was also held to inculcate a culture of reading, understanding and practising the teachings of Al-Quran among students in daily life.

The event was also used as a platform to pray for the continued health of the monarch in conjunction with his 67th birthday as well as to promote Brunei as a Zikir Nation in addition to upholding the Malay Islamic Monarchy. - Borneo Bulletin (19 July 2013)