BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

ALL Muharram babies, born on the first day of new Hijrah year 1436, yesterday were celebrated throughout the country, with the exception of Temburong district where no birth was reported that day.

A total of 23 newborn were recorded – 18 in Brunei-Muara district (11 boys and seven girls); three in Belait district (one boy and two girls); and two in Tutong district (one boy and one girl). The figure is higher than last year with only 18 Hijrah babies recorded.

Dikir Marhaban echoed in the lobby of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital yesterday morning to honour the Hijrah babies express thanksgiving and gratitude to Allah (SWT) for their safe deliveries.

On hand to present the gifts were Minister of Religious Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad Pengiran Hj Abd Rahman and Minister of Health, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof as well as their spouses.

Also present were Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Hj Halbi Hj Md Yussof as the Chairman of Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB); Chairman of Takaful Brunei Darussalam Sdn Bhd, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Hj Mohammad Hj Daud; Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Hj Mohd ‘Abdoh Dato Seri Setia Hj Abd Salam; Acting Managing Director of Takaful Brunei, Hj Shahrildin Pehin Orang Kaya Lela Utama Dato Paduka Hj Jaya; and Acting Managing Director of Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB), Rokiah Hj Badar.

Each baby received a voucher worth $100 and a hamper of baby clothing and equipment from MORA, a Takaful Nur Savings worth $250 and a baby carrier contributed by Takaful Brunei Darussalam Sdn Bhd, as well as Si Manja savings account worth $200 and $50 worth hamper from TAIB.

 The first birth was recorded at 6.34pm when the 3.37kg baby girl was born at RIPAS hospital, 30 minutes after the call for Maghrib prayers. The proud parents are Musa Hj Mohammad and Nor Diyana Daud from Kg Serasa.

“Alhamdulillah, this is our firstborn and also the first grandchild of our parents on both sides. InsyaAllah, I really hope that my daughter in the future will be and a ‘tahfizah’ (Al-Quran memoriser). I also pray that my daughter will be a person that can contribute to the religion and nation,” said the mother who planned to name her child after the seventh day.

Another couple, Pengiran Anak Hj Hishamuddin Shah Mardi Pg Anak Hj Hassanuddin and Pengiran Widyanordi Pengiran Hj Tajuddin, also did not expect that their fourth child will be born on first Muharram and shared that it is all ‘rezeki’ (blessings) from Allah (SWT).

Similar events organised by MoRA were repeated in Belait and Tutong districts.

In Belait, gifts for the three Hijrah babies were presented by Permanent Secretary of MoRA, Dato Seri Setia Hj Abd Aziz Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Hj Mohd Yusof and spouse at Suri Seri Begawan Hospital.

In Tutong, numerous gifts for two Hijrah babies were presented by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Datin Paduka Dr Hjh Norlila Dato Paduka Hj Abd Jalil and Tutong District Officer Wardi Hj Md Ali at Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah Hospital.

The Brunei Times