| Lyna Mohamad |
MINISTER of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman yesterday officiated the ‘Run & Ride for Humanity’ charity run and cycling event at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien, held as part of activities for Bandarku Ceria.
The event, organised by the Syababul Iman Youth Group of Sultan Sharif Ali Mosque Sengkurong (MSSAS) and supported by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA), Ministry of Health, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Home Affairs, and Ministry of Education, was aimed at raising funds for victims of the earthquake and tsunami that hit Central Sulawesi, Indonesia last year as well as the needy in the country.
It was also meant as an activity for the Syababul Iman to strengthen ties with the community and government and non-government agencies and to encourage the community to practise healthy living.
It was held as part of the Masjidku Makmur, Negaraku Berkat programmes and to coincide with the occasion of Bandar Seri Begawan being chosen as the Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019 in the Asian Region.
The event consisted of a three-kilometre and five-kilometre run as well as a 19-km cycling segment around Bandar Seri Begawan. There was also a poetry activity, exhibition, clothing sale as well as activities organised by the Syababul Iman youth members.
A mass Surah Al-Fatihah recitation and an aerobic warm-up session kicked off the event. This was followed by the minister, who joined the three-kilometre run, flagging off the runners and cyclists.
The minister later presented prizes to winners of the Best Creative Video and Poetry Recital, and handed certificates of appreciation to representatives of the agencies involved in organising the event.
The minister received a souvenir from Head of the Syababul Iman Youth Group Najib Min Fadhillah bin Haji Abdul Majid.
Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Permanent Secretary at the MoRA Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Yussof, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the MoRA Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang, and Penghulu of Mukim Sengkurong Haji Musa bin Haji Tahir were also present at the event.