Ten students join Haj event in Saudi Arabia
By Achong Tanjong & Rosli Abidin Yahya

Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Brunei Darussalam Mr Esam A.Abid Al-Thagafi presents passports and air tickets to the Acting Director of Haj Affairs Ustaz Haji Talip

Students pose with Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Brunei Darussalam (centre) and officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia

Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Dato Ustaz Dr Hj Mohd Zain (front row, 3rd right), UBD Vice Chancellor Dr Hj Ismail (4th right) and UBD Dean of Students Dr Ampuan Hj Brahim (5th right) in a group photo with the students at the Brunei International Airport

Ten students, comprising six from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and four from Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB), departed for Mecca yesterday morning to participate in the International University Camping event held in Saudi Arabia.

Brunei Darussalam is among the 10 countries selected by the government of Saudi Arabia to participate in the 20-day programme.

Present at the Brunei International Airport to see the students off were Minister of Religious Affairs YB Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Haji Awg Md Zain, Deputy Minister of Education Dato Paduka Haji Suyoi, Vice Chancellor of UBD Dr Hj Ismail bin Hj Duraman, UBD Dean of Students Dr Ampuan Hj Brahim bin Ampuan Hj Tengah, various senior government officials as well as the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Brunei Darussalam Mr Esam A.Abid Al-Thagafi.

Dr Ampuan Hj Brahim said the students will be considered as performing the full Haj ritual as they will undergo all the necessary tasks in performing the fifth pillar of Islam.

He added that UBD selected student representatives from the Undergraduates Association of UBD (UAU), led by its president Suazmie bin Hj Zulkifli, as a way to thank them for being active in the university organisation to lead other students in performing extracurricular activities.

Earlier, a ceremony was held at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia at Kampung Salar where students were presented with the air tickets and passports. On hand to receive the air tickets and passports was Acting Director of Haj Affairs Ustaz Haji Talip bin Haji Apong.

Also present were officials from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Brunei Darussalam, during the ceremony, said this was the first time students from Brunei had been invited to join the International University Camping event, which aimed to bring together students from various countries to perform the Haj.

The ambassador also promised to try and make the programme an annual event.

Public Relation Officer at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Malai Norain Mohammad, on behalf of the students, expressed his gratitude to the Government of Saudi Arabia for inviting Bruneian students to participate in the programme.

The 10 students selected for the programme were: Awg Haji Muhd Hairul Rizal bin Haji Awg Zain (head of the delegation), Awg Md Suazime bin Haji Zulkifli, Awg Mohamad Amirudin bin Haji Suhai, Awg Ariffin bin Mohamad Noor/ Morshidi, Awg Mohammad Aliyani Sabrey bin Yakub, Awg Hasrional Faizal bin Haji Mohd Taib, Awg Muhammad Dahrin bin Daud, Awg Haji Zul Fakhari bin Muksin, Awg Nurulfakhrilah bin Abdullah and Awg Kamarul Zaman bin Kamis.

As part of the camping activities, the ten participants will have the opportunity to perform the Haj by joining the estimated 2 million pilgrims currently converging in the holy land for the religious ritual.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin