| Hakim Hayat |
TWENTY new Muslim converts received financial assistance to perform the Haj this year under the Haj passage funds from 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.
A ceremony was held yesterday to handover the Haj passage funds to the selected individuals at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) Building in Jalan Dewan Majlis.
Minister of Religious Affairs and President of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman handed over the funds to the Muslim converts who will be travelling under Haj packages offered by Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd, Straits Central Agencies (B) Sdn Bhd and Raudah Al-Amin Sdn Bhd.
A total of B$187,410.00 in passage funds and travel allowances derived from the Zakat Asnaf Muallaf money collection have been granted to the 20 Muslim converts. They have been granted the Haj passage funds according to rates given to Government officers which is B$4,500 per person.
Those who are travelling under the premium package ‘Zamrud’ from Darussalam Holdings was given B$7,200 to make-up the total cost of B$11,700 while another convert was granted with B$7,350 to make-up the cost for Raudah Al-Amin All-In package worth B$11,850.
Another convert was granted with B$10,460 to make-up the cost for Strait Central Agencies (B) Sdn Bhd’s Economy Package worth B$14,960. Each of them will receive a B$2,000 travel allowance as well.
According to MoRA, the money was derived from the Zakat Asnaf Muallaf collection and the selection of Muslim converts to perform the Haj this year was based on interviews and also based on regulations set by the MUIB.
The ceremony yesterday also saw the minister handing over payment of the Haj packages to the respective travel agencies offering the Haj packages.
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