Bandar Seri Begawan - The Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and its departments yesterday celebrated the New Year 1434 Hijrah at Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah in Kiarong. The celebration was organised by the Labour Department and the Fire and Rescue Department of MoHA.

Present as the guest of honour was the Acting Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Hj Awg Halbi bin Hj Mohd Yussof.

The ceremony began with the recitation of verses of Al-Quran by Awg Zulhilmi bin Hj Abiddin, Deputy Commissioner of Labour.

This was then followed by welcoming remarks from Awg Ramlee bin Hj Jamudin, the Commissioner of Labour in his capacity as Co-chairman of the organising committee, in which he talked about Hijrah during the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

"In an organisation, Hijrah is applicable for the purpose of reforming or improving in relation to the ways of working, thinking, attitude or mode of action," he said.

During the celebration, a lecture was delivered by Ustaz Ha Mail bin Hj Besar, an invited speaker from the Islamic Dakwah Centre. The ceremony then proceeded with a doa selamat for officers and staff who have recently returned from performing the Haj.

Also present during the ceremony were Permanent Secretaries, Deputy Permanent Secretaries and Senior Officers of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Heads of Departments, Penghulu of Mukims, Village Heads as well as staff members of MoHA and the departments under it.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin