| Nuri Sufri |
YAYASAN Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (Yayasan) yesterday donated $42,900 to 46 mosques, suraus and religious halls in all four districts across the country in a ceremony held at the Multipurpose Hall of Yayasan Complex in Bandar Seri Begawan.
Yayasan made the donation with the aim to improve the understanding of Islam among born Muslims and converts as well as prepare them for the upcoming Ramadhan. Present as guest of honour was Haji Brahim bin Haji Ismail, Managing Director of Yayasan, who also presented the donations. Also in attendance were other board members and officers of Yayasan as well as representatives from the four districts.
Yayasan, the charitable organisation 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 and members of the royal family provides annual financial assistance to religious entities to organise community events and activities during the holy month for born Muslims.
The selected mosques, suraus and religious halls include those from the remote parts of the country that have a large number of converts such as Kampong Lamunin Mosque in the Tutong District, religious hall of Kampong Melilas in Kuala Belait and Kampong Selangan Mosque in Temburong, among others.
Speaking to the Bulletin, Hajah Rohaidah Anizah binti Haji Mohd Kamsani, a representative from New Muslim Converts Association of Tutong District (PESATU) in Jalan Lubok Pulau, plan to use the donation to organise activities such as Tedarus and Tarawikh as well as Al-Quran reading and Tahlil Doa Arwah.
Haji Brahim bin Haji Ismail, Managing Director of Yayasan presenting the donation to a recipient. – NURI SUFRI
“We also plan to provide hampers to senior citizens registered under PESATU,” she said.
PESATU is a non-governmental organisation that represents converts from the Tutong District. It was established 34 years ago with over 200 registered members. According to Hajah Rohaidah Anizah, the organisation provides eight Islamic teaching classes for new converts, but because of the lack of religious teachers from the Department of Islamic Studies, it has been reduced to seven.
In an interview, Mohammad Shahrin bin Mohammad Halim, Acting Imam representing religious hall of Kampong Melilas said, “We plan to purchase raw foods weekly as it is difficult to get them in our area. We want to make sure that food provided is enough because the number of converts that attend our events varies from day to day.”
“We are grateful for this donation because it has helped us a lot over the recent years. It is not only used to buy food, but also to buy gas and water,” he said. “We are hoping that by next year, the long houses will be completed so that we can attract more people.”
“We are grateful to His Majesty for this annual donation as it helps both Muslim and new converts to breaking fast during the holy month and to join Tedarus,” said Imam Haji Mohd Azley bin Haji Mohd Aliuddin from Kampong Bukit Mosque in Tutong. “This will assist in enhancing the knowledge and increase activities for converts of Islam. The community will also have a say on financial planning with the donation given to us.”
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