| Siti Hajar |
BRUNEI Darussalam will celebrate its fifth National Family Day this coming Sunday under the auspices 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 who announced for such an observance as a means to strengthen the family institution and towards reducing as well as addressing social issues.
With the theme ‘Family with Vision’, this year’s celebration will commence with mass Maghrib and Isyak prayers nationwide on April 30, from 5.45pm onwards with members of the community invited to take part by the lead government agency the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS).
The main mosques for the religious gathering will be the Sultan Sharif Ali mosque, Sengkurong for the Brunei-Muara District, Muhammad Jamalul Alam Mosque for the Belait District, the Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque for the Tutong District and the Mohammad Salleh Mosque for the Temburong District.
At a press conference chaired by Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, that was held at the ministry, it was revealed heard that several activities will be lined up in commemoration of Family Day 2016, which will include its climax to take place on Sunday with a Special Lecture on Strengthening the Family Institution by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned to take place at the grounds of the Prime Minister’s Office.
Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, and Mawardi bin Haji Mohammad, Acting Director of the Information De-partment, with the Family Day poster. – AZROL AZMI
The event will see the participation of approximately 1,000 individuals across different youth demographics to include students from higher education institutions, uniformed youth recruits and, but not limited to, trainers from the Youth Development Centre.
“The celebration,” that falls on the first Sunday of every May, “stresses the importance of the family institution in shaping a community and a country of high integrity, that is hoped to be the pillar and strength of the community,” said the permanent secretary yesterday, whilst also moulding families that are not just viable but also resilient with the resounding message that strong families can result in strong communities.
With the hashtag #hkk2016 and @harikeluargakebangsaan, members of the public are encouraged to share their activities for this Sunday related to the national event by way of highlighting the country’s unity towards the celebration.
The country’s hospitals will also play a major role in welcoming the celebration with babies born this Sunday slated to be celebrated.
The event, which will see the handing over of souvenirs to the families under as part of the ‘Anakku, Harapanku’, or My Child, My Hope programme, will be held simultaneously in all four districts on May 2 in district hospitals.
On May 3, the International Convention Centre will host a motivational forum on strengthening the family institution with lectures delivered by several senior government officials in the morning whilst a similar event will take place in the afternoon in Seria with the venue being Pusat Insani.
Yesterday’s event also witnessed the handing over of several National Family Day posters from the ministry to representatives from the district offices.
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