| Azlan Othman |
PRIVATE functions and events booked in advance at the Community Hall at Kampong Mentiri national housing scheme (RPN) will not be affected following Wednesday’s fire, government agencies said.
Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs told the media yesterday that with regard to the dates booked in advance for private occasions, especially weddings, will not be interrupted.
“The Government 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 has taken note of the importance of such events and any bookings that were made and allowed, will not be affected,” he said.
The fire at RPN Kampong Mentiri devastated large parts of the RPN Kampong Mentiri Mosque making it not safe to be used and is temporarily closed.
“The public can utilise nearby religious halls such as the prayer hall at Fire and Rescue Station in RPN Kampong Mentiri as well as Kampong Sungai Besar and Kampong Sungai Buloh mosques.”
Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof (3rd from L), the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, addressing the media yesterday. – PHOTOS: AZLAN OTHMAN
The RPN Kampong Mentiri Mosque that was razed early Wednesday morning
Permission to use the School Hall of Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Secondary School in Kampong Mentiri as an alternative venue for events like weddings has been given by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA)through the Brunei-Muara District Office and the Department of Schools under the Ministry of Education, said Abdul Mutalib.
He said His Majesty’s Government, through the Brunei-Muara District Office, MoHA and the Mosque Affairs Department, Ministry of Religious Affairs has taken the initiative to use the Community Hall in Mukim Mentiri for worshippers at RPN Kampong Mentiri and its surrounding area to perform the obligatory prayers.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Religious Affairs is doing its best to repair the mosque so that the activities could be conducted as normal, said Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Mohd Yusof, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
“The damage is extensive and restoration requires deep assessment. We are not able to ascertain when the repair works will be completed,” said Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz.
The Community Hall will also be used for Al-Quran recitation and Muqaddam classes, Sunnat Tarawikh and Hari Raya prayers. The Community Hall can accommodate about 800 people. Several camps were also established outside the Community Hall to accommodate additionally up to 1,400 worshippers.
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