Azlan Othman
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) through the Community Development Department (JAPEM) yesterday held a Tahlil ceremony at the Royal Mausoleum 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.
The event was held in conjunction with the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (HAOKU) celebrated every year on December 3. This year’s HAOKU theme is ‘Not All Disabilities Are Visible’.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin was the guest
of honour.
Members of the Legislative Council, permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretaries at the MCYS, the Council for the Welfare of Persons with Different Abilities (MKOKU) and its associations, heads of departments and senior officers under the ministry were also present.
The event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah followed by the recitation of Surah Yaasiin and Tahlil led by Head of Religious Teachers of Pusat Bahagia Brunei-Muara District in Kampong Pulaie Haji Mayadi bin Haji Jais.
A related event was mass Asar prayer at Ash-Shaliheen Mosque in Jalan Perdana Menteri led by Ash-Shaliheen Mosque Affairs Officer Haji Mohammad Izzat Izzuddin bin Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Emran.
It was followed by a talk titled ‘Vision 2035 with People with Disabilities’ presented by the Assistant Head of Administrative Centre, Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) Dr Nazirulmubin bin Ahad.
The event ended with the recitation of Doa Kesyukuran recited by the Imam of the Ash-Shaliheen Mosque.
Both events were held to recognise people with different abilities (OKU) as part of the community and to ensure the inclusion of OKU in religious as well as other activities.
The events were organised in collaboration with MKOKU, which consists of nine associations – Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam; Association for Paraplegic and Physically Disabled Persons (PAPDA); Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources (SMARTER) Brunei; Centre for Children with Special Needs (KACA); Brunei Darussalam National Association of the Blind (BDNAB); National Association for the Hearing-Impaired (OKP); Learning Ladders Society; Down Syndrome Association; and Special Olympic Brunei Darussalam (SOBD).