THE Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, paid an official visit to the Republic of Singapore, from September 3 to 5.
According to a press release, the deputy minister’s visit was at the invitation of Dr Mohamad Maliki bin Osman, the Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore.
Accompanying the deputy minister were Roslan bin Haji Taja’ah, the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Administrative and Financial Affairs) at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA); Haji Abdul Aziz bin Akop, the Acting Secretary of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB); and Mohammad Masdi bin Rosli, the Mosque Affairs Officer, in his capacity as Personal Assistant Officer to the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs.
At the Changi Airport, the Brunei delegation was welcomed by the High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to Singapore, Haji Awang Saifulbahri bin Haji Mansor.
The deputy minister’s first call was at the residence of Dr Maliki, whom he thanked for the invitation, while also expressing his pleasure at the existing relationship and the special alliance between both countries.
The MoRA delegates then visited the Yusof Ishak Mosque in Woodlands, where they were welcomed by Abdul Fattah Abdussamad, the Executive Outreach of the Yusof Ishak Mosque; and several of the mosque’s board members.
The delegates were briefed on the history of the mosque, which was constructed through the Mosque Building and Mendaki Fund (MBMF), along with special provisions provided by the Government of the Republic of Singapore and the assistance of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS).
On the second day, the deputy minister visited MUIS at Braddell Road, where he was welcomed by Haji Mohammad Alami Musa, the President of MUIS; Haji Abdul Razak bin Hassan Maricar, the Chief Executive of MUIS; Sahibus Samahah Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram, the Mufti of Singapore; and Mohammad Asri bin Abdul Aziz, the Deputy Director Strategic Engagement of MUIS.
The MoRA delegation was briefed by Mohammad Asri bin Abdul Aziz on the history and functions of MUIS, and MUIS-related programmes for Singapore’s Muslim community.
The deputy minister next called at the Jamiyah Islam of Singapore at Geylang, where he was welcomed by Prof Dr Mohd Hasbi Abu Bakar, the President of Jamiyah Islam of Singapore.
During the visit, the MoRA delegation visited the Jamiyah Nursing Home (Darul Syifaa), where they were welcomed by Satyaprakash Tiwari, the Chairman of the Eldercare Academy.
On the last day, the deputy minister visited the Madrasah (Islamic educational institution) Al-Junied Al-Islamiah at Victoria Lane, and was welcomed by Ustaz Mahmoud Mathlub bin Sidek, the Principal of Madrasah Al-Junied Al-Islamiah.
The deputy minister and his delegation were briefed by Ustazah Khairiana binti Zainal Abiden, the Second Deputy Principal of Madrasah Al-Junied Al-Islamiah, on the institution’s history and study programme; the new Joint Madrasah system; the Joint Curriculum of six integrated subject groupings; the upgrading of the Madrasah Al-Junied Al-Islamiah curriculum to include the International Baccalaureate diploma course; and the institution’s 90th anniversary celebration in November, this year.
The deputy minister also visited the Resource and Counseling Centre (RCC) – which serves mainly as a Rehabilitation Religious Group (RRG) – at the Khadijah Mosque in Geylang, where he was welcomed by Dr Mohammad Ali, a representative from the Chairman of the RCC.
The MoRA delegation also paid a courtesy call to Masagos Zulkifli bin Masagos Mohamad, the Minister for the Environment and Water Resources of Singapore, who is also responsible for handling the affairs of Singapore’s Muslim community at Padi @ Bussorah.
During the courtesy call, the deputy minister and Masagos Zulkifli exchanged views on current issues, particularly in areas of common interest.
The three-day goodwill visit clearly demonstrated the close bilateral ties and mutual cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore.
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