| Aziz Idris |
FOUR People with Different Abilities (OKU) were among the 42 participants of the pledging team at yesterday’s National Day celebration at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien.
The others included members from the civil service, uniformed bodies, institutes of higher education and the private sector.
One of the OKU oath members, Noramalina binti Haji Sidang who has a speech-impairment, in a text to the Sunday Bulletin, said she was personally selected by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports to join this year as an oath reader using her sign language skills.
For several weeks, she tirelessly trained to hone her skills, with the support from other oath readers but admitted that interpreting the National Day pledge before the monarch and thousands of people was an experience she’ll never forget.
“I was nervous because this was my first time but my team always provided endless support and for that I’m forever in debt. They (oath proclamation team) made me realise how meaningful this opportunity was and this is an experience I will never forget.”
The proclamation of the National Day pledge is one of the highlights at every National Day celebration.
Oath leader, Dr Mohd Nuriskandar bin Mohd Hasnan, meanwhile, urged youth to take the opportunity before them or seek to create new ones rather than wait for opportunities to be handed over.
According to Dr Mohd Nuriskandar, youth should be bold and not be afraid to take risks, be it in entrepreneurship or expressing ideas through positive channels.
He said this on the side-lines of the 35th National Day celebrations at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien yesterday.
The Universiti Brunei Darussalam graduate who received his doctorate degree in Philosophy and Arts last year, said youth need to be innovative to achieve Vision 2035.
He applied to be a part of this year’s oath proclamation team and stood out to be the best of hundreds of applicants.
Asked how it feels to lead this year’s proclamation of the National Day pledge, he replied, “Amazing!”
He also described that the responsibility to lead thousands of people to recite the oath was a “once in a life time experience”.
Meanwhile, Legal Counsel and Prosecuting Officer at the Attorney General’s Chambers Sabrina binti Haji Mahmud told the Sunday Bulletin that February 23 has always been a date she looks forward to every year.
“Regardless the scorching heat or heavy downpour, that sense of patriotism still sparkles and grows endlessly,” she added.
Sabrina, who is also the Chairperson of Brunei’s National Service Programme Alumni (PAPKBN), said praise to Allah the Almighty she had the honour of being selected as the assistant oath reader.
“Let us all play our part in achieving the Nation’s Vision, maximise and utilise our capabilities and continue to contribute in developing our nation in whatever ways we are capable of. May Allah the Almighty’s blessings and protection be with us always,” she added.
Sharing the same sentiment was fellow oath reader, Mohd Nazirul Hakeem Abdul Azis, an Education Officer at Institute of Brunei Technical Education who urged youth to be proactive, progressive and develop oneself to achieve Vision 2035.
Mohd Nazirul Hakeem shared that it was a proud moment for him when he was chosen to be part of the oath proclamation group for the auspicious day. Unlike Dr Mohd Nuriskandar, he was nominated by his peers to join this year.
Following the pledge, the resounding call of Allahu Akbar was led by Muhammad Yadly bin Haji Mat Yasin, a PhD student in Arabic Language at the Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali.