| James Kon & Daniel Lim |
IT WAS a joyous occasion for the parents of 14 infants, who were born on the 72nd birthday 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.
To celebrate the 12 infants born in the Brunei-Muara District, the National Committee for His Majesty’s 72nd Birthday Celebrations yesterday held a special Kesyukuran ceremony and presentation of souvenirs, at the Seminar Room of the Women and Children’s Centre of the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital.
The presentation was officiated by guest of honour Datin Paduka Hajah Jahrah binti Haji Mohamad, the wife of Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong.
During the ceremony, each parent received a gift hamper and a BND100 savings account under Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (Perbadanan TAIB) for their infants, from Datin Hajah Khalsom binti Haji Suhaili, the wife of Minister of Defence II and Chairman of the Perbadanan TAIB Board of Directors Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof.
The parents also received portrait photographs of themselves with their babies.
Also present at the ceremony were the wives of permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretaries at the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health, as well as wives of Legislative Council (LegCo) members and Perbadanan TAIB officials.
The first infant to be born at 1.50am, on July 15, was a girl, to Noor Mahmawati binti Mantaldan and Masdie bin Haji Pungut.
The last was a boy, to Noor Izyan Aqidah binti Allinoordan and Abdul Haadi bin Jaafar.
All of the infants were delivered at the RIPAS Hospital.
Nurnadiah binti Haji Ghazali, who welcomed her baby girl at 6.24pm on Sunday, told the Bulletin, “We are very lucky to have a girl who shares the same birthday with His Majesty. This is my second; my first child is a boy.”
Her husband, Mohd Izzuddin Hanis bin Haji Mohd Salleh, conveyed his gratitude to Perbadanan TAIB and the National Committee for His Majesty’s 72nd Birthday Celebrations, for the gifts.
In the Belait District, a similar ceremony was held at the Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, for two infant boys who were born on Sunday.
The first infant was born at 8.01pm, to Noraizah binti Anuar and Mohammad Azmi bin Yunus, while the second was born at 9.59pm, to Nur Bassyirah Aini binti Abdullah and Muhammad Murfarino bin Haji Murni.
The gifts and souvenirs were presented by Hajah Pusparaini binti Haji Thani, the wife of the Acting Belait District Officer, while the contributions from Perbadanan TAIB were presented by Assistant General Manager Zamzaipa binti Haji Ismail.
No births were recorded in the Tutong and Temburong districts on July 15.