Seven Muslim converts have received funding for their Haj passages, as a gift from His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

In a ceremony held yesterday at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, each convert was awarded $4,500, the usual rate allocated to government officers.

At the same time, they were awarded an additional amount of $7,500 each, from tithe provisions for converts, rendering them eligible for the Darussalam Holdings Zamrud Haj package (Z1), which costs $12,000.

Each convert was given extra monetary assistance amounting to $2,000, which also came from tithe money.

The recipients were selected through a series of interviews, based on guidelines provided by the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB).

The Acting Secretary of MUIB, Haji Abdul Aziz bin Haji Akop, said out of the original 47 applicants, 38 met the necessary requirements, while seven failed to meet certain aspects, including being a Muslim for less than five years and aged below 40.

Yesterday's ceremony also coincided with the handover of a Haj package payment of $52,500 to Darussalam Holdings for the seven converts.

The fund money was presented by Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Mohd Yusof, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA), to Pengiran Hajah Noraini binti Pengiran Haji Sablon, Acting Managing Director of Darussalam Holdings.

One of the recipients, Nurul Syamimi binti Abdullah Wong @ Wong Siew Miee, expressed her gratitude to His Majesty for the Haj funding.

"I converted to Islam in 2003, and have always dreamed of performing the Haj with my husband," she told the Bulletin, adding that she will leave for Makkah on the second flight on August 19.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Azizul Khairi bin Abdullah Sada @ Likan bin Sada, who converted to Islam in 1998, expressed his gratitude to Allah the Almighty and to His Majesty for providing financial assistance to local Muslim converts.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

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