THE government will continue to give priority to education, including the provision of scholarship and education loan schemes. Therefore, students should focus on their studies and continuously improve themselves.
This was stated in a titah delivered by 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 at a get-together ceremony which also saw Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam meet with citizens and residents of Brunei Darussalam who are currently in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.
The ceremony was held at the London Hilton on Park Lane Hotel, London, United Kingdom.
His Majesty said that besides academic success, students should contribute to the development of the country when they return, adding that the knowledge and expertise they acquire are the foundation for realising the development goals of the country.
“The developmental pillar also takes into account the quality of identity and character, and for Bruneians, the mould for our identity and character is MIB (Malay Islamic Monarchy),” the monarch said, reminding the students that they are the heir and ‘the children’ of MIB, and that they should not turn away from it.
His Majesty further emphasised that MIB is the principle and value system for Brunei Darussalam and cautioned everyone from being derailed from this track, or trying something else apart from MIB. His Majesty added that such attitude is not patriotic for citizens of Brunei.
Accompanying Their Majesties at the get-together ceremony were His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel; Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah; and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Jefriah.
At the hotel, Their Majesties were greeted by Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and wife, as well as Muhammad Hasif bin Nordin and Siti Nuramirah binti Haji Sabli, President and Vice-President of the Brunei Students’ Union in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.
Their Majesties then proceeded to the Wellington Ballroom for a hi-tea reception. Their Majesties later signed a commemorative parchment before joining a photograph session with senior officers from the High Commission of Brunei Darussalam in London as well as the president and vice-president of the Brunei Student’s Union in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.
Their Majesties were then invited for a photo session with the recipients of Universiti Brunei Darussalam’s Chancellor’s Scholar for the 2017/2018 session.
Their Majesties then proceeded to the Grand Ballroom for the get-together ceremony.
The ceremony began with the singing of national anthem by the Brunei Students’ Union of the University of Portsmouth. It was followed by the recitation of verses from Al-Quran by Awangku Liyaqat Zhaehierul Haq bin Pengiran Haji Zulkarnain from the University of Leeds, while the translation of the verses was read by Norsaidi bin Serali from the University of Southampton.
A Doa Selamat was then recited by Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the State Mufti.
The ceremony continued with a welcoming address by Muhammad Hasif, President of the Brunei Students’ Union. On behalf of all the students, he also delivered a pledge of unwavering loyalty and allegiance to His Majesty.
Earlier in the titah, His Majesty congratulated the two students who were selected to receive the Universiti Brunei Darussalam’s Chancellor’s Scholar for the 2017/2018 session to study at leading institutions in the United Kingdom. The monarch hoped the recipients of the award would continue to improve themselves and be role models for other students.
In closing the titah, His Majesty prayed for all the students and government officials who are in the United Kingdom to always be in prosperity and in the protection of Allah the Almighty.
After the titah, a video clip titled ‘Generasi Cemerlang dan Berwawasan’ was shown.
Thereafter, His Majesty conferred the Universiti Brunei Darussalam’s Chancellor’s Scholar for the 2017/2018 session to Hanisah binti Haji Awang Sharif (PhD Clinical Medicine Research, Imperial College London) and Najeehah binti Haji Abdul Hamid (Masters in Philosophy Sociology-Modern Society and Global Transformations, Newham College, University of Cambridge).
At the ceremony, His Majesty received a pesambah from the President of the Brunei Students’ Union, while Her Majesty received a pesambah from the Vice-President.
Their Majesties then proceeded to meet and greet more than 1,700 citizens and residents of Brunei Darussalam who are in the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, comprising students, government officials as well as those on vacation. The ceremony also featured a Nasyid performance by the Brunei Religious Officer Student Association (BruROSA).
Article taken from: http://borneobulletin.com.bn/scholarship-loan-schemes-governments-key-priority/