The recognition of Bandar Seri Begawan as the Asian Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019 is a great honour and is an important historical landmark for Brunei Darussalam. Speaking at a Media Conference this afternoon, Datin Paduka Doctor Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports explained that Bandar Seri Begawan is the third Southeast Asian capital chosen for the honour after Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia in 2009 and Indonesia's Jakarta in 2011.

Datin Paduka Doctor Hajah Norlila said the selection also has meaningful added value for Brunei Darussalam which also reflects the status of Southeast Asia as a region filled with Islamic history and culture as great as other regions. She added that what also makes it special, is that the cities selected as capitals of Islamic culture for 2019 will gain a unique honour as a twin city to the city of Al-Quds Al Sharif. With this declaration it is hoped that the country will achieve meaningful returns either in tangible aspects such as tourism or even intangible one such as the enhancement of religious and cultural values in line with the Malay Islamic Monarchy philosophy.

Datin Paduka Doktor Hajah Norlila also shared a number of main events that have been lined up in conjunction with Bandar Seri Begawan's selection as Asian Capital of Islamic Culture for 2019 including the Bandar Seri Begawan Traces of Islamic Architecture and Landmarks Exhibition which will be held tomorrow at the Arrival Hall, Brunei International Airport for one month. The exhibition is linked to Bandar Seri Begawan which has gone through the  transformation of a nation, giving birth to an Islamic culture and human development based on the Malay Islamic Monarchy philosophy of more than 600 years. It showcases a number of Islamic architecture and designs found around Bandar Seri Begawan as well as Islamic calligraphy masterpieces.

Bandar Seri Begawan was selected as the Asian Capital of Islamic Culture alongside Tunis, the Republic of Tunisia in the Arabian region and Bissau, the Republic of Guinea in the African region during the 9th Islamic Conference of Culture Ministers (ICCM) in 2015 in Muscat, Oman. The initiative is under Islamic Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, ISESCO of which Brunei Darussalam has been a member since 1985. Aside from the Bandar Seri Begawan Traces of Islamic Architecture exhibition, the 2nd International Islamic Expo and Al-Quds Al-Sharif Photography Exhibition will also be held.

As an effort to disseminate Bandar Seri Begawan as a capital of Islamic culture, a yearlong calendar has also been planned scheduling various activities including arts, culture, academics, sports and recreation will be carried out by the ministries, NGO's and the private sector.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect

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