BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

AL-KHALIL and Az-Zayyan tausyeh groups emerged as champions in this year’s Radio Televisyen Brunei (RTB)’s Tausyeh Competition in the under-12 and teenage (13 to 18) categories.

Held at Dewan Raya RTB yesterday evening, the final round was aired live over RTB 2 and RTB 3 channels as well as Nur Islam radio broadcast channel.

Ten-year-old Zainal Mustappa, the team leader for Al-Khalil expressed his joy and gratitude to their Tausyeh teacher for coaching them after having snatched the champion title at yesterday’s competition. The group, established in 2010 and comprising students from PAP Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah Religious School (afternoon session), was the first-runner-up in the same competition in 2012.

For Az-Zayyan group, team leader Abd Wafiy Hj Ibrahim shared that the group had won fourth place in the same competition in 2011. The current members too are from different educational institutions in the country, but have the same passion for tausyeh and other religious activities.

Abd Wafiy, who is a student at Maktab Teknik Sultan Saiful Rijal (MTSSR), added that, “We hope to find new members to coach and train them to participate in the next competition, Insyaallah.”

Both champions bagged cash prizes of $3,000 each, trophies and also certificates of participation.

For the under-12 category, Nur Nawwarah and Al-Aswatudz Dzahabiah were placed second and third. Meanwhile in the teenage category, first runner-up went to Qaisaratus Zahra and second runner-up, to Firqah Al-Mumtahanah.

First-runners-up received cash prizes of $2,500 each while second-runners-up received $1,500. The prizes are sponsored by Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB), Insurans Islam TAIB and Darussalam Holdings Sendirian Berhad. All participants received and trophies as well as certificates of participation.

Qaisaratus Zahra too was announced to be the best tausyeh group and won $1,000 cash prize as well as a trophy.

Present as the guest of honour and on hand to present trophies and cash prizes to winners was Dato Paduka Hj Abd Wahab Juned, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Aimed to support the vision of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam towards Negara Zikir or Zikir Nation, it is the eighth time that RTB has organised the Tausyeh Competition.

In the programme, RTB Director Hj Muhd Suffian Hj Bungsu noted the overwhelming participation from the public this year.

There were a total of 91 participants, mainly comprising students from religious and Arabic schools throughout the country, including from the Hassanal Bolkiah Tahfiz Al-Quran Institution and private individuals.

“By looking at the overwhelming participation of the competition, we feel confident that tausyeh will continue to have a place among our people. Tausyeh, as a religious concept, will continue to reverberate over radio and television in addition to enlivening our religious events and celebrations.”

He added, “Indirectly, this competition serves as a platform for educating and spreading the teachings of Islam, especially towards character development and creating a religious generation. The competition too, will certainly encourage serious commitment from participants and instil a positive competitive spirit, which eventually will foster good relationship amongst them.”

The Brunei Times