Royal caution to nation
By Malai Hassan Othman and Mohd Bahrin

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. Photo: Hj Mohd Said

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday urged the nation to prevent an unhealthy culture from making its debut into the country, which he said would only bring destruction to the nation if left unhindered.

"Once we allow such an unhealthy culture to make its debut into the country, it will mean that we have allowed infiltration of our safety fortress. Indeed this matter cannot be seen as clearly as we see the sun. But its poison is like white ants causing ruin to timber. We will only know it when it will be too late when the timber would have been eaten and become rotten from the inside," said the ruler in his titah to mark the celebration of Israk Mikraj.

Israk Mikraj was a miraculous event in which Allah the Almighty with His grace ordered Archangel Gabriel to take Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) on a night journey from Masjidil Haram to Masjidil Aqsa and to the universe in just one night "to see His signs".

Allah the Almighty revealed this miraculous night flight where Prophet Muhammad was taken to see the eternal world in the hereafter in the Holy Quran in Al Israa Verse 111 or Night Journey.

The ruler in his titah urged his subjects, especially the parties concerned, to realise that any unhealthy culture no matter where it comes from is actually a scourge that needs to be fought against from coming into the country.

His Majesty said we always fear the scourge of diseases.

We will be cautious over it but why are we not afraid of the scourge of unhealthy culture that can poison the spiritual beings of our people and the nation? he asked.

"This is the beauty of Islam. Besides giving importance to the safety of life it also gives importance to the maintenance of moral values as the deterioration of such virtuous values could jeopardise the interest of the nation, ruin lives, properties and even the safety of the nation," said the ruler.

Brunei as a nation that practises Islam as its religion has been firm in upholding the divine teachings. Brunei is now not only striving to fully follow the true path in the affairs of the state but also in observing strictly to what is lawful and prohibited in Islam pertaining to foods and drinks.

Selling and serving alcohol and liquor, for example, have been banned. No licences have been issued to any commercial entities for the sale of liquor ever since the government imposed the ban many years ago. The only permit that has been given is permission to bring limited quantity of liquor and alcoholic drinks by non-Muslims travellers and residents for their personal consumption. It would be an offence for them to consume liquor and alcohol in public places.

But despite this many still failed to appreciate and give respect to such noble rules. Smuggling activities of liquor and alcoholic drinks are rampant and there were even certain quarters in the country, including Muslims themselves, who have tried to pressure the government to relax such rules.

As His Majesty indicated in his titah yesterday, the Islamic faith of some people towards the divine teachings, it seems is weakening. Many it seems still fail to understand the real purpose of this life and to firmly believe in the hereafter where every one of us would end up forever either in hell or in heaven.

"The Israk Mikraj event had occurred over one thousand years ago. It happened with the will of Allah the Almighty. It presents many interesting stories for us to learn from. But lamentably, many Muslim followers still failed to understand and appreciate the wisdom of the miraculous event."

"This is truly saddening as we all know that this world is not young. It is getting older and we should by now be busy preparing for the next life. There is no two or three things that need to be done to be happy in the next life. There is only one thing and it is 'takwa' or strong belief and faith in the Islamic teaching," said the ruler.

"Takwa will determine whether we will be among those who will be victorious or otherwise. Those who will be successful are those who fortify their faith and belief that after this life there is another eternal life waiting for us," he added.

The Sultan lamented that the progression of globalisation trend as it appears now is sweeping mankind adrift. Some people appear at a loss and without guidance. They do not know where they are going, observed the ruler.

This is especially so with the youth who are always at the mercy of this globalisation process. They do not realise that if they are ruined, it will be the nation that will have to bear the consequences.

The nation always needs strong and healthy heroes and heroines. But if the youth could not withstand the onslaught of negative influences, it will mean that they are not strong and could not be considered as heroes and heroines.

"Who will then take their place? This is what we are always worried about when looking at the current progress and development where there are signs which show many unhealthy trends that could bring our youth to destruction," pointed out the Sultan.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin