Brunei - Ministries celebrate new year 1434

IN CONJUNCTION with the new Islamic year, several ministries held a Hijrah celebration at their respective buildings yesterday.

The plight of Muslims in Gaza, Palestine was highlighted during a talk at the celebration which was held at Mechanic Training Centre in Tungku, which was attended by Minister of Education Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Hj Abu Bakar Hj Apong, as the guest of honour.

Ustaz Hj Firdaus OKK Hj Nordin, invited speaker from Islamic Da'wah Centre, said that the Islamic world is being threatened due to the ideology of Islamophobia leading to a clash of civilisation.

"Our brothers and sisters in Gaza, Palestine are being attacked and many have been killed. Schools and universities have been forced to close due to bomb threats and killings," he said.

In his speech on the 'Greatness of Hijrah: Hijrah of the Heart", he said that the heart plays a role in the matters of life in humans and questioned the act of 'suicide bombing' whereby innocent people are also killed and injured when this act is carried out.

He stressed that the war in Gaza, murders, rapes, robberies, skipping of school and the abuse of drugs are all matters of the heart and should be fought against.

He also touched on hijrah of the heart from a moral standing and how students should be motivated to nurture, teach and protect their hearts in order to be tough and said that currently, hijrah can also be declared as a transformation or an innovation.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) organised its celebration at the Raja Isteri Pg Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital sports complex.

Present as the guest of honour at the event was the Minister of Health, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof.

A special religious talk was then delivered by the Dr Hj Mohammed Hussain Pehin Penyurat Hj Ahmad, Dean of the Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University (UNISSA).

Another event that took place at the event to celebrate Hijrah 1434 was the welcoming back ceremony for the Haj medical team who were sent on duty to the Holy city of Mekah and members of the MoH who have just returned from performing the Haj.

The Minister of Development, during the ministry's celebration, said hijrah that it should be viewed as a time for change in carrying out daily work by aiming to be better than before.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman said changes include exemplary work ethics and new thoughts which can be applied to the execution of their duties. It should be a time to gain new abilities, expertise and professionalism towards a level that is much higher before this, he said.

Hijrah in essence, said the minister, is to have better work output and contribution to the public; to achieve advancements and development which would bring about harmony for all society, covering aspects of economy, politics, social and culture.

"As an organisation that generates advancements and development, therefore to achieve continuous success in our work, we must take effort and continue to be determined to 'berhijrah' (move) from less productive practices towards improvements," said the minister.

"It would be such as loss, if we have the potential to produce better and quality work, but are only satisfied with only 'just enough'. Therefore, in conjunction with the new Islamic calendar, we should scrape away that attitude and be determined to do better," said the minister.

The event also saw to a presentation of certificates for 45 retired officers, and welcoming of 26 returning officers from performing the Haj ritual.

The Ministry of Communications held its celebration at the Amar Pahlawan Hall, Ministry of Communications.

Present at the event was the Minister of Communications, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdullah Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar.

A talk titled 'Umat Bertaqwa, Negara Berkat', loosely translated as Muslim community who obey Allah SWT will create a blessed nation, was delivered by Hj Suhaimi Hj Mohd Noor, a speaker from the Islamic Da'wah Centre.

At the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR), the celebration was organised by the Forestry Department took place at the Setia Pahlawan Hall of the MIPR building.

A special religious talk was delivered by Ustaz Hj Mail Hj Besar from the Islamic Da'wah Centre followed by a ceremony to welcome members of the MIPR who have embraced Islam.

Minister of Industry and Primary Resources Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar joined over 200 officers and staff at the event.

Meanwhile, at the Ministry of Finance, Minister of Finance II Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Hj Abd Rahman Hj Ibrahim joined officers and staff at the Theater Hall, as they listened to a lecture on the great importance of Prophet Muhammad's (saw) journey from Mekah to Madinah, and the valuable life lessons it teaches to Muslims.

The talk which focused on a change in management was delivered by Dr Ustaz Hj Mohammad Adi Zaky Hj Metassim.

ASHYIQ MASRI, ELEENA TEOH, NURHAMIZA HJ ROSLAN AND SYAZWAN SADIKIN

The Brunei Times

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