| Rokiah Mahmud, Azaraimy HH & Daniel Lim |
NINETEEN infants were born on the 1st day of Muharram, 1440 Hijrah, in the Brunei-Muara, Tutong and Belait districts.
The Brunei-Muara District recorded the births of nine girls and six boys at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital.
The first infant, a girl weighing 2.7kg, was welcomed into the world at 6.55am, by her mother, Mariani Bun.
Meanwhile, one infant girl was born at 2.19pm in the Tutong District, while two infant boys were delivered at the Suri Seri Begawan Hospital in the Belait District.
No births were recorded in the Temburong District on the day.
Yesterday, a presentation of gifts was held for the infants born on the auspicious day.
In the Brunei-Muara District, the presentation ceremony was held at the Women and Children’s Centre, where the guests of honour 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; Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, in his capacity as the Acting Minister of Health and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB) and his spouse; and Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar.
Also present were the permanent and deputy permanent secretaries at the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Each of the infants received a BND200 hamper of baby essentials, presented by the Minister of Religious Affairs; a BND200 ‘Si Manja’ savings account and a BND50 hamper from Perbadanan TAIB, presented by the Minister of Defence II; and a BND250 Takaful Nur Savings voucher and a baby hamper from Syarikat Takaful Brunei Darussalam Sdn Bhd (STBD), presented by Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and a Board member of STBD Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Yussof.
In the Tutong District, the ceremony was held at the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Hospital, where the guest of honour was Deputy Permanent Secretary (Municipal and District) at the Ministry of Home Affairs Abdul Walid bin Haji Metassan.
Also present were Legislative Council (LegCo) members Yang Berhormat Haji Ramli bin Haji Lahit and Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Wahab bin Apong, as well as Tutong District Officer Shamsul Bahrin bin Haji Mohd Hussain.
The presentation of gifts was accompanied by the recitation of Doa Selamat by Head Religious Teacher at the Tutong Health Centre Ustaz Haji Abdul Yazid bin Rosli Aziz.
The parents, Jauyah binti Haji Yahya and Zeimey bin Haji Ahim, expressed their gratitude for the gifts, while praying that their newborn daughter would help to contribute for the good of the country in the future.
In the Belait District, the ceremony was held at Block ‘R’ of the Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, where the guests of honour were Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health Haji Abdul Manap bin Othman and his spouse.
Also present at the event were LegCo members Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Hamid bin Haji Mumin and Yang Berhormat Haji Hanapi bin Mohd Siput, Acting Belait District Officer Ridzuan bin Haji Ahmad, Head Religious Officer for the Belait District Haji Asminan bin Haji Chuchu, and Chief Executive Officer at the Suri Seri Begawan Hospital Haji Abdul Khalid As’ari bin Haji Azahari.
During the ceremony, the parents of the newly-born infants also received religious texts as gift from the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The presentation of gifts was accompanied by the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by Head Religious Teacher at Suri Seri Begawan Hospital Ustaz Md Ali Omar bin Yusop, and the sprinkling of scented oil by the guests.