| Azlan Othman |
BRUNEI Darussalam has made the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) concept a shield to protect the nation.
This was said by Dr Haji Muhammad Hadi bin Muhammad Melayong, Special Senior Duties Officer of Malay Islamic Monarchy Executive Committee, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) in his working paper titled ‘MIB Values and Challenges’ at a one-day seminar organised by the Anti-Drugs Association (BASMIDA) yesterday at The Empire Hotel & Country Club.
The seminar was themed ‘Prevention of the Misuse of Drugs through Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) noble values’.
Dr Haji Muhammad Hadi’s paper was read by Haji Raffee bin Haji Shafiee from the Academy of Brunei Studies (APB) of UBD.
If our foothold to values of MIB based on Islam is strong, we can enjoy peace and stability, Dr Haji Muhammad Hadi said.
“As MIB is a blessing from Allah the Almighty, the people have the obligation and responsibility to practise it as a strong foothold.
“We should be thankful to Allah the Almighty as over the past 49 years of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s reign, we are still convinced to practise MIB as the country’s philosophy, which has become the nation’s heritage.
“We hope that the present and the future generation will uphold the historical heritage to maintain the establishment of an independent and sovereign nation,” he stated.
Dr Haji Muhammad Hadi also touched on the values found in MIB, which has become Brunei’s way of life.
These values have become the core essence of the government’s policy to establish peace and prosperity in a community and a nation that is over 600 years old.
Haji Raffee bin Haji Shafiee from Academy of Brunei Studies (APB) of Universiti Brunei Darussalam.
Dean of Usuluddin Faculty of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Dr Lily Suzana binti Haji Shamsu. – PHOTOS: AZLAN OTHMAN
A section of attendees during the seminar.
“MIB should not be diluted. Certain people may not be attuned to the national philosophy,” Dr Haji Muhammad Hadi said. “Some Bruneians are not convinced with the MIB values.
The monarch system has been in place for 600 years and it should not be questioned.”
Meanwhile the Dean of Usuluddin Faculty of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Dr Lily Suzana binti Haji Shamsu, in her paper titled ‘Strong Aqidah (Belief) Prevents Misuse of Drugs’ said drug abuse is a big global issue.
The problem is getting harder to tackle as the vaccine for prevention lies inside the individual, which can be overwhelmed by addiction. Islamic Aqidah or belief is a strong vaccine to free the individual from worldly foothold.
Quoting statistics from the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), she said that throughout 2013-2015, some 1,928 arrests were made over misuse of drugs. In 2015, 639 arrests were made.
Throughout the three-year period, 44 per cent were relapse cases while 56 per cent were new cases.
Meanwhile, a speaker from the Islamic Da’wah Centre, Pengiran Norhayati binti Pengiran Haji Kasharan spoke on ‘Piety, Faith and Repentance in the Prevention of Drugs’ she said that misuse of drugs come from individual level and curiosity drives them to such a menace.
This curiosity later leads to addiction and affects the physical and mental condition of those involved.
Islam is very concerned in looking after mankind and the warning to refrain from engaging in such misuse has been highlighted in the Al-Quran.
Faith, piety and repentance can become a shield and every individual has the responsibility to look after oneself from such undesirable elements.
If the person’s faith is strong, outside factors will not affect his/her stance, she said.
The post Strong faith in MIB wards off bad influences appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.