BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

AN EXHIBITION showcasing numerous confiscated items is becoming a popular attraction in the Sultanate, drawing more than 2,500 visitors to the Islamic Da’wah Centre in Kg Pulaie over the past year.

According to the religion development assistant at the Islamic Da’wah Centre, the number of visitors to the exhibition has increased every year, with the majority from schools trips, working visits and foreign tourists.

Hj Zulhilmi Hj Lakat yesterday said many first-time visitors to the exhibition were fascinated by the types of confiscated items that were put on display.

Comprising several hundred objects, the exhibit showcased different banned items that have been confiscated in Brunei including magazines containing lewd content and reading materials that propagate religions other than Islam.

“A lot of people don’t know these things can be confiscated until they see it here,” said Hj Zulhilmi, explaining that the exhibition helped to raise awareness about items that are banned.

Brunei has several laws that prohibit the importation, distribution and possession of objects that are contradictory to its national philosophy of Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) such as the Undesirable Publications Act under Chapter 25.

Some of the items on display at the exhibition were confiscated due to elements of pornography and gambling, while others were thought to advocate Christianity.

Hj Zulhilmi explained the wide collection of prohibited objects at the exhibition was obtained from the Censorship and Publication Control Unit at the Islamic Da’wah Centre. The items were confiscated at immigration posts and during enforcement raids.

“These items are now part of our permanent collection, but the relevant authorities have continued to confiscate more things since,” he said.

The exhibition also featured a smaller gallery of religious items belonging to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam located on the ground floor. Meanwhile, the banned objects are displayed in glass cabinets on the first floor.

Among the visitors to the exhibition yesterday were 23 delegates from the Da’wah and Communications Faculty at the Institut Agama Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara (IAIN-SU) of Medan, Indonesia.

The exhibition is open to the public from Monday to Thursday and Saturday between 7.45am to 4.30pm. Established in 1984 under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Islamic Da’wah Centre is tasked with upholding Islam as the country’s official religion.

The Brunei Times