| Lyna Mohamad |
HIS Royal Highness Prince (Dr) Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) consented to grace and launch the university’s 8th Mahrajan Hafl Al-Takharruj (convocation festival) yesterday at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.
Jointly organised by UNISSA’s Student Affairs Section (HEP) and the Centre for Promotion of Knowledge and Language in collaboration with the Faculty of Islamic Development Management and Leadership and Lifelong Learning Centre, the convocation festival is aimed at enlivening the UNISSA Hafl Al-Takharruj ceremony and is usually held annually to celebrate the students who will be completing their studies at UNISSA.
Upon arrival, His Royal Highness was greeted by Minister of Education Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman in his capacity as Chairman of the UNISSA Council; Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman in his capacity as Deputy Chairman of the UNISSA Council; and UNISSA Rector Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal as Chairman of UNISSA’s 8th Mahrajan Hafl Al-Takharruj Executive Committee.
Yesterday’s event began with a Surah Al-Fatihah recitation and Doa led by Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Imam Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Hamid bin Bakal. After this, His Royal Highness consented to launch the ceremony and tour the 8th Mahrajan Hafl Al-Takharruj exhibition gallery at the Main Conference Hall.
The exhibition reflects the theme of this year’s convocation festival – Belia Berkepimpinan Menjayakan Wawasan Negara – which was chosen to honour the youth and highlight the UNISSA students’ contributions towards realising Brunei Vision 2035.
Among the items displayed at the gallery include exhibits on prominent Islamic youth figures during the glorious period of Islam such as Imam Asy-Shafi’e, Imam Al-Bukhari, Ibn Sina and Al-Khawarizmi.
His Royal Highness viewed the setup on leadership figures who played key roles in spreading Islam in the Sultanate such as Sultan Sharif Ali (the consolidator), Sultan Hassan (the lawmaker), Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam (the architect of modern Brunei), 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 as well as His Royal Highness himself. There was also an exhibit on Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Md Zain bin Haji Serudin, a member of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB).
His Royal Highness also took a closer look at the display on the contributions of local youth figures such as Legislative Council members Yang Berhormat Iswandy bin Ahmad and Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari, Ustaz Khairul Nazif bin Haji Damit, and Mohamad Iqbal bin Haji Damit.
Following the tour, His Royal Highness consented to launch several of the university’s publications and was introduced to UNISSA students involved in knowledge and community activities.
His Royal Highness also consented to receive a pesambah from UNISSA Rector, and went on to mingle with the students and lecturers before leaving the ceremony.
The event will also see several competitions and academic sessions. Among these are a youth forum, the Khat Writing Workshop and Competition, the English Oratory Workshop and Competition, and several game activities.
A bazaar running from 8am to 9pm from September 8 to 11 is also open for the public.