Registration for Haj opens despite Gulf uncertainties
By Saiful Rizal

Muslims registering for the Haj at the Registration and Flight Section of the
department in Jalan Kota Batu yesterday morning

Although the Middle East situation is still uncertain, the Haj Affairs Department of the Ministry of Religious Affairs yesterday opened the registration for Haj pilgrimage for the year 2004. The department has designated seven registration centres throughout the country with four of them in the Brunei-Muara District.

Yesterday's registration was open at the Registration and Flight Section of the department in Jalan Kota Batu, Sultan Sharif Ali Mosque in Kg Sengkurong, Setia Ali Mosque in Muara, Mohamed Bolkiah Mosque in Kg Serusop and the offices of the respective Religious Affairs Department in the Belait, Tutong and Temburong districts.

Starting from today, registrations can be made at the Registration and Flight Section of the department in Jalan Kota Batu and offices of the respective Religious Affairs Department in the Belait, Tutong and Temburong Districts from 8.30 am to 11.30 am.

The registration for the Belait, Tutong and Temburong districts residents will close on Monday, 7th July 2003 at 11.30am, while the closing date for Brunei Muara is Monday, 11th August 2003, 11.30am.

One of the requirements for the registration is that the each applicant must have "Akaun Tekad Haji" or Haj Fund at the Brunei Islamic Trust Fund (TAIB) amounting to not less than B$2,000 before they register either with Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd or any other Haj packages that are approved by His Majesty's Government either on their own expenditure or awarded airfare.

This requirement does not apply to the managers of the Haj travel package and their officials as well as registration by foreigners working in Brunei Darussalam.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin