Bandar Seri Begawan - The final competition of the Dikir Brunei between ministries, in conjunction with the 1434 Hijrah New Year Celebration was held yesterday at the Mohamed Bolkiah Mosque in Kampong Serusop.

The competition was participated by officers and staff of respective ministries who attended the Dikir Brunei and Dikir Syarafil Anam workshop, which commenced last May. The Department of Mosque Affairs together with the committee members of the Mohamed Bolkiah Mosque in Kampong Serusop (Dikir Research Centre) have organised a Dikir Brunei workshop for government officers and staff at respective ministries to preserve and expose the Dikir Brunei inheritance.

A CD and book of the Dikir Brunei and the Dikir Syarafil Anam were also launched at yesterday's competition.

On hand to launch the Dikir Brunei and Dikir Syarafil Anam CD as guest of honour was Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad bin Pg Hj Abd Rahman, the Minister of Religious Affairs, who also presented the prizes to the winners and participants of the competition.

Also present were Dato Paduka Awg Sa Bali bin Abas, Permanent Secretary (Administration and Finance) at the Ministry of Religious Affairs; Awg Hj Harun bin Hj Junid, Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs; and permanent secretaries from respective ministries; as well as senior officers and staff of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

A total of 14 groups participated in the competition, consisting of nine groups for the men's category and five groups for the women's category.

The men performed the Dikir Badat Nurjala and the women performed the Dikir Tanaqal Maulai.

The first place for the men's category of the Dikir competition was won by Indera Pahlawan from the Ministry of Development with an overall score of 93.5 per cent, second place went to Al Muhafizun of the Ministry of Home Affairs with a score of 93 per cent and third place went to An Nur of the Ministry of Finance with a score of 92.5 per cent.

The women's category was won by Zara Razqiyah from the Ministry of Religious Affairs with an overall score of 96.5 per cent, second place went to Wizarutus Sina'ah from the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources with a score of 89 per cent and third place went to Nur Hidayah from the Ministry of Defence with a score of 87.5 per cent.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin