| Azaraimy HH |
THE final batch of 251 Haj pilgrims and three medical officers under the Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd’s Haj package left for Madinah at 12.50am yesterday, on board the Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) flight BI4207.
This brings the total of Haj pilgrims from Brunei this year to 1,000. The first batch of pilgrims left on July 28.
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 bid the pilgrims farewell at the Brunei International Airport.
Also present were Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB) and Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Md Isham bin Haji Jaafar with his spouse.
A Doa Selamat was recited by Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Mustafa bin Haji Murat to bless the pilgrims, while Mudim Haji Abdul Latif bin Haji Saman conducted the Azan.
Shortly before departure, one of the pilgrims, Malai Rabiah binti Sheikh Nikman, spoke to the Bulletin about her happiness at finally being able perform the Haj.
“I was prepared to fulfil my religious obligations two years ago, but only got my turn this year,” said Malai Rabiah, who was accompanied by five of her family members.
Also performing the Haj for the first time this year was Mustappa bin Haji Damit and his wife, Lailawati binti Haji Yahya, who had been saving up for the journey since 2015.
“Our wish finally came true this time, and I hope that our pilgrimage will be blessed,” said Mustappa.
Also among those present yesterday were Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar; Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Mohammad Irwan bin Haji Hambali and his spouse; Saad Salih M Baeshen, a representative from the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Brunei Darussalam; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Mohd Yusof and his spouse; Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health (MoH) Haji Abdul Manap bin Othman; Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications Haji Azhar bin Haji Ahmad and his spouse; Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the MoRA Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang and his spouse; and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional) at the MoH Dr Haji Zulaidi bin Haji Abdul Latif.