| Syazwani Hj Rosli & Faza Suraj |
AS THE nation rang in the arrival of the first day of the new Islamic year of 1438 Hijrah on Sunday, several families from around the nation welcomed their own bundles of joy. A total of 16 babies were born in various hospitals across the nation on Sunday – 12 were born at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital in the Brunei-Muara District, twin baby girls were born in the Belait District and another two were born in the Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC) in Jerudong.
No births were recorded in the Tutong and Temburong districts.
The babies born at the RIPAS Hospital were celebrated yesterday in a prize presentation ceremony held at the Seminar Room 1 and 2 of the Women and Children’s Centre of the hospital in the capital.
The first baby weighing 3.690kg was born at 6.16pm past Maghrib time on the 1st of Muharram 1438H, to Siti Nurul Hamizah binti Haji Kula and Pengiran Khairul Iqbal bin Pengiran Haji Metahir.
The guest of honours at the celebratory occasion were Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, Minister of Religious Affairs, and Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi, the Minister of Health.
The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah followed by the gift presentation to each of the Hijrah babies from the ministers and sponsors.
During the ceremony, each baby was presented with newborn essentials worth $200 from the Ministry of Religious Affairs, a ‘Si Manja’ savings account worth $250 from Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB), Takaful Nur Savings Voucher worth $250 and a rocking chair from Takaful Brunei Darussalam Sdn Bhd and its subsidiaries. Parents of the newborns welcomed the gifts.
Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, Minister of Religious Affairs; Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi, Minister of Health; Dato Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Deputy Minister of Finance; and Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs along with other officials.
Minister of Religious Affairs presenting the gifts to a recipient. – PHOTOS: DEAN KASSIM
The Minister of Health taking a closer look at one of the newborns.
Rahmat Hidayat bin Haji Marzuki and Nur Hasyimah Mastura @ Jasmine binti Haji Burhanuddin pose with their newborn baby.
Pengiran Mohammad Irwan Iswandy bin Pengiran Haji Ahmad Zaini and wife, Norhanisa binti Haji Mohammad Tasdi with their twins. – FAZA SURAJ
Excited parents were seen cuddling their babies and said that they were happy at birth of the babies and were grateful over ‘rezeki’ for their babies in welcoming the new year of the Islamic calendar.
In an interview, first-time parents, Rahmat Hidayat bin Haji Marzuki and Nur Hasyimah Mastura @ Jasmine binti Haji Burhanuddin, said that their daughter was scheduled for an early caesarean delivery last Wednesday but were thankful to Allah the Almighty that the operation was cancelled and were told that Nur Hasyimah Mastura could proceed with a normal birth.
“Alhamdulillah, we are happy that our daughter is healthy. We are very excited and blessed that our little girl has managed to wait for the special day to become a Hijrah baby yesterday. We would like to thank the hospital and the officials for what they have done for us,” he said.
“We pray that she will grow up to be a pious Muslimah and may Allah the Almighty shower her with His richest blessings in health and Iman. Amin,” he added.
Also present were Dato Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Deputy Minister of Finance in his capacity as the Deputy Chairman of Perbadanan TAIB Board of Directors; Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs and spouse, Datin Hajah Zalina binti Haji Omar; Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Haji Mohammad bin Haji Daud, Chairman of Takaful Brunei Darussalam Board of Directors and its subsidiaries, and spouse, Datin Hajah Saidah binti Haji Md Said.
Meanwhile, Pengiran Mohammad Irwan Iswandy bin Pengiran Haji Ahmad Zaini, a Public Works Department (JKR) employee and housewife, Norhanisa binti Haji Mohammad Tasdi welcomed their Hijrah twin babies at the Suri Seri Begawan Hospital in Belait District.
On hand to present the gifts were Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Mohd Yusof, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and spouse. The twins were presented baby essentials and hampers, along with a ‘Si Manja’ savings account worth $250 from Perbadanan TAIB, while Takaful Brunei Darussalam Sdn Bhd and its subsidiary companies presented Takaful Nur Savings voucher worth $250 and rocking chairs.
The twins were born 18 minutes apart through normal delivery at 12.37am and 12.55am.
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