| Azlan Othman & Fizah HAB |
THE Pertiwi Association of Brunei Darussalam received a four-day goodwill visit from its Sabah counterpart, Tindakan Wanita Islam Association (PERTIWISA), to strengthen closer ties and to get to know more about their activities.
A dinner to welcome the 25 PERTIWISA members was hosted by Chairperson of Pertiwi Association Datin Paduka Hajah Jusnani binti Haji Lawie at Serikandi Restaurant, RBA Golf Club, Berakas on Tuesday.
“The Brunei Pertiwi Association visited Sabah two years ago and was welcomed by another non-governmental organisation (NGO), PAWASA. Our visit to the Sultanate is to reciprocate such a visit,” PERTIWISA Chairperson Hajah Zaleha binti Dato Seri Panglima Haji Mohd Kassim told the Bulletin on the sidelines of their visit to Pertiwi Nursery School in Jalan Ong Sum Ping near the capital yesterday.
Pertiwi Nursery School’s Chairperson Datin Paduka Hajah Zahrah binti Haji Idris, Datin Paduka Hajah Jusnani and senior members welcomed the delegation.
The delegates were also hosted at the residence of Vice-President of Pertiwi Association Datin Hajah Fatimah binti Dato Seri Abang Haji Razali yesterday afternoon. The delegates viewed a mini exhibition and the sale of products made by their local counterparts as well as a meeting session with members of the association from the Brunei-Muara, Belait, Tutong and Temburong districts.
The PERTIWISA members also made courtesy visits to the Youth and Sports Department of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Islamic Da’wah Centre and toured places of interest.
PERTIWISA has four branches – Kota Belud, Sandakan, Tuaran and Beaufort – in Sabah.
“Our activities mostly drive towards religious matters like sharpening Al-Quran reading such as Tajwid and Arabic classes to guide the mothers with half of them pensioners. But we are attracting young members to take part in the religious and social activities.
“Our regular project is visiting orphans to assist them with basic necessities and clothing. We regularly contribute to new converts in religious schools in Tambunan, Sabah. We also make contributions to Sudan, Syria and Palestine,” Hajah Zaleha added.
They also assist flood and fire victims in Sabah. The Brunei NGO also renders assistance to Pulau Banggi in north of Kudat, Sabah.