| Izah Azahari |
THE 14th Legislative Council (LegCo) session yesterday saw YB Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, Minister of Religious Affairs, answering queries and receiving suggestions from LegCo members, YB Haji Mohimin bin Haji Johari @ Jahari and YB Pengiran Haji Mohamed bin Pengiran Haji Osman @ Othman.
The LegCo members raised queries on issues pertaining to Halal food certification, a nationwide mass Subuh prayers, the Religious Education Primary Schools Certificate Examination (SSSRU), and the RPN Kampong Meragang Mosque.
Speaking on Halal food certification, YB Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin, welcomed the suggestion from YB Haji Mohimin on increasing the number of enforcement officers.
Responding to the suggestion from YB Haji Mohimin on nationwide mass Subuh prayers similar to those during the Bandarku Ceria every Sunday, the minister said there is a mass Subuh prayer conducted at the Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque as well as a pre-dawn lecture. The minister added that the suggestion can be examined further on its suitability.
The minister commended the suggestion of SSSRU having private candidates similar to ‘O’ Level or ‘A’ Level examinations as it has a high economic value in the local job market.”The Ministry of Religious Affairs together with the Department of Islamic Studies will examine its suitability in holding open exams for private candidates,” said the minister.
Responding to the request of speeding up the process building the RPN Kampong Meragang Mosque by YB Pengiran Haji Mohamed, the minister explained that looking at the B$14,000 budget from the allocated B$25 million, it can be seen that this year’s plans for the mosque is in its initial stages of planning in terms of technical aspects.
YB Pengiran Haji Mohamed also spoke on the Halal food certification for restaurants that were operating for quite some time but have yet to apply or display the certificate in their restaurants, asking whether any action will be taken against these establishments.
YB Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin said that under the law that had been amended last year it has now become mandatory for restaurants to have the certification. The minister added that action will be taken against restaurants not abiding by the regulations.