Bandar Seri Begawan - Haj and Umrah travel operator Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd is planning to extend its Al Birri Wa Taqwa, (welfare and piety) charity project to districts outside of Brunei-Muara District next year.

Managing Director Hj Mahmud Hj Mohamed said that its two-day charity project, which concluded yesterday, was limited only to impoverished families in the Brunei-Muara District as it was the first time they organised such a project.

"We are aiming to donate to the other districts next year," he said, adding that the relevant authorities have notified them that the situation in the Belait and Tutong districts were worse.

Hj Mahmud said that they are also trying to increase the amount of contributions in terms of both quantity and value. "This programme was only planned this month, so we are only donating the most basic items," he said.

"We hope to be able to provide more goods for more families, on a larger scale in the future," added the managing director.

A total of nine families were visited by the charity convoy yesterday, each receiving donations not only in the form of money but also daily necessities such as rice, canned foods and drinks worth $100 to $200.

Hj Mahmud said that the selected families were based on a list of recommendations provided by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports' Department of Community Development.

Houses that were visited yesterday included the home of Dk Sabariah Pg Sarifuddin in Kg Bakut Pg Siraja Muda A, Kampong Ayer, shared by 17 members of the family.

Contributions were also given to 62-year-old Hjh Raliah Hj Pungut, who is incapable of caring for herself; thus is completely reliant on her only son and neighbours for her well-being.

The most impressionable stop for Hj Mahmud was, however, the case of Rakit Jakaria who is visually-impaired and staying alone in Kg Tanah Jambu.

"It is a really touching moment and I am very happy to be able to help them out," he said.
The managing director said that this year's charity project was a success, deeming it "a good start" for future charity drives.

"We had originally planned to donate to the orphanage at first but then we realised that they have already received a lot of donations," he said.

"So we decided to donate to the seldom thought-of poor families living in the Brunei-Muara District instead," said Hj Mahmud, adding that the donated goods will help to lessen their burden.

"They won't have to spend as much money to buy food this month," he said.

-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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