| Azaraimy HH |
THE first batch of 254 Haj pilgrims arrived safely at the Brunei International Airport at 3.15pm yesterday, where they were reunited with their families and friends.
At the arrival hall, the pilgrims were welcomed by Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Md Isham bin Haji Jaafar and his spouse, and Acting Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar and his spouse.
Also on hand to welcome the Haj pilgrims were Interim Charge d’Affaires at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Brunei Darussalam, Hussain Mohammed M Al Dajani, Permanent Secretary (Law and Welfare) at the Prime Minister’s Office Haji Mohammed Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Mohd Yusof and his spouse, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the MoRA Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang and Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Mohammad Irwan bin Haji Hambali.
The 254 pilgrims comprised 189 under Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd, 31 under At-Taqwa Travel Tour Sdn Bhd, 31 from Raudah Al-Amin Sdn Bhd, and three medical officers.
A Doa Selamat was recited by Mosque Affairs Officer at the Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque Mudim Haji Amran bin Haji Md Salleh to bless their return.