| Azlan Othman |
HIS Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik, Chairman of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Committee of Governors, urged the organisation to open a hotline to receive complaints from the public regarding the distribution of the personal gift (Kurnia) of dates 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.
“This is to improve the means of distributing dates,” His Royal Highness said yesterday.
He was delivering a sabda at the launching of the nationwide distribution of dates from His Majesty to mark the upcoming holy month of Ramadhan 1439 Hijrah at the Chancellor Hall of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).
His Royal Highness said, “Though the distribution of dates has been implemented for many years as a routine, considering that it is aimed to accomplish the noble intention of my father, it should be implemented properly – to ensure that no Muslim in the country is left behind in the distribution.
“The month of Ramadhan is a golden opportunity to look at how best we have implemented the distribution of the dates. Besides performing the obligatory fasting, glorifying mosque at night by performing the Sunnat Tarawikh prayers, multiplying the reading of Al-Quran and enlivening the nights of Ramadhan with Qiyamullail, we are also encouraged to fill the month of Ramadhan with good deeds such as fulfilling our beloved monarch’s trust through the proper distribution of the dates.
“I hope those who are entrusted with upholding this trust would be able to do it responsibly. This cannot be achieved without dedication from all parties – district office authorities, penghulus, village heads and the community at large – in jointly shouldering the responsibility to properly implement the distribution process,” His Royal Highness added.
“Although many means have been undertaken by Yayasan to improve the distribution of dates, there are still instances where Muslims in the country did not receive them.”
“This should not happen as the quantity of dates brought in is based on statistics provided by penghulus and village heads through district offices and is sufficient for the total number of citizens and residents living in this country.
“Hence, I urge all responsible parties to distribute the dates – either at the department or the grassroots leaders’ level – to play their role more effectively with full of dedication. Let us make an effort to ensure that there are no more grievances or complaints among Muslims in the country regarding the distribution of dates,” His Royal Highness said.
The launching ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, led by Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar, followed by welcoming remarks by the Minister of Defence II, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, who is also Chairman of the Yayasan Board of Directors.
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik then distributed the dates to army commanders, commandant of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and directors of formation of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) as well as village heads nationwide. The ceremony ended with the reading of Doa Selamat by the Chief Syar’ie Judge.
All village heads will distribute the dates to residents under their jurisdiction. Commanders and commandants of the RBAF as well as directors of formation of the RBPF will distribute the dates to officers and staff under their departments and formation units.
This year, some 157.8 metric tonnes of dates of ‘safawy’ dates type will be distributed. Every Muslim residing in the country regardless of age and nationality will receive 300 grammes of dates.
To ensure that the distribution of dates is handled properly, Yayasan has outlined some guidelines for the distribution and provided special forms that will be distributed through village heads across the country.
Yayasan hopes that all responsible for the distribution process will follow the guidelines and use the special forms to wisely distribute the dates so that every Muslim in the country will receive them to break fast during Ramadhan. Also in attendance were members of the Yayasan Committee of Governors; members of the Yayasan Board of Directors; permanent secretaries; deputy permanent secretaries; Commander of the RBAF; Commissioner of the RBPF; village heads; long-house chiefs; senior government officers involved in coordinating the distribution of dates as well as representatives of village consultative councils.
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