| Azaraimy HH |
THIS year’s third batch of Haj pilgrims departed for Madinah early yesterday morning, on board the Royal Brunei Airlines carrier BI4205.
A total of 251 pilgrims and three medical officers travelling under Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd had gathered at the Brunei International Airport as early as 4am, with their families and friends on hand to wish them well.
Among those present to wish them a safe journey were Minister of Religious Affairs, Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman and his spouse.
Also in attendance was the Minister of Health, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Jaafar and his spouse.
To bless the pilgrims on their journey, a Doa Selamat was recited by Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Suhaili bin Haji Metali Al-Hafiz while the call to prayer was performed by Mudim Haji Amran bin Haji Md Salleh.
Also in attendance were Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar; Deputy Minister of Finance, Dato Paduka Awang Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman; Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force, Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Mohammad Irwan bin Haji Hambali, and his spouse; representative from the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Brunei Darussalam, Saad Salih M Baeshen; Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Mohd Yusof and his spouse; Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Health, Haji Abdul Manap bin Othman; Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Communications, Haji Azhar bin Haji Ahmad, and his spouse; Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang and his spouse; and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional) at the Ministry of Health, Dr Haji Zulaidi bin Haji Abdul Latif.