Kuala Belait - In further enlivening the Islamic New Year 1434 Hijrah celebration, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, in collaboration with the Belait District Office under the Ministry of Home Affairs, held a Premier Forum yesterday morning, at the Kuala Belait Convention Hall.

Present as guest of honour at the forum was the Minister of Development, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Suyoi bin Hj Osman.

The forum was chaired by Awg Hj Hardifadhillah bin Hj Mohd Salleh from the Islamic Jurisprudence Unit of the Ministry of Religious Affairs while the panel of speakers was comprised of Dr Hj Jaafar bin Maidin from State Mufti's Office, Prime Minister's Office, Dr Hj Adenan bin Hj Besar from the Education Faculty of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and Dr Hj Mohammad Hussin bin Pehin Penyurat Hj Ahmad, also from UBD.

The forum aimed to inform the Muslim community on various aspects of life in accordance with Islamic teachings, while at the same time replenishing religious knowledge and opening participants' minds on the issues discussed by panel of speakers.

It was hoped that through the forum, the theme of this year's Hijrah celebration "Umat Bertaqwa Negara Berkat" (Pious Ummah, Blessed Nation) will be realised and well-comprehended by the Muslim community present during the forum.

Also present during the religious forum was the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Pg Dato Paduka Hj Bahrom bin Pg Hj Bahar, Legislative Council members from the Belait District, Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretaries at the Ministry of Development and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, invited guests, senior government officials, Mukim Penghulus, village heads and education institutions.

Radio Television Brunei will be airing the premier forum on Thursday, November 29, at 8.50pm.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin