HER Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha consented to present prizes to the winners of the Brunei Girl Guides Association Al-Quran Reading competition at a prize presentation ceremony held yesterday at the Cesar Grand Hall of the Orchid Garden Hotel, Berakas.

Also in attendance at the ceremony were HRH Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah, HRH Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah, and HRH Princess Hajah Masna.

In a welcoming speech presented by Dayang Hajah Siti Hafsah binti Haji Abdul Halim, the Chief Commissioner of the Girl Guides Association, she stated that as a continuation of spiritual activities, the Administrative Office of the Brunei Girl Guides Association has planned a national spiritual activity as part of a number of major activities during the 2013 Day of Peach Celebration which will be held from September 2 to September 8 such as forums and visits to interesting places in Brunei.

“The spiritual activity will be an Al-Quran Reading Competition which will be open to WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) members in the Asia-Pacific region and the Arab Countries region,” stated the Chief Commissioner, adding that so far there have been two countries from the Arab Countries region and six countries from the Asia Pacific region that intend on sending its members to participate in the competition themed ‘Journey to Friendship and Peace’.

A total of 16 participants were chosen to compete in five categories during the competition, which were made up of the Brownies Category, the Girl Guides and Rangers Category, the Young Leaders Category, the Senior Leaders Category, and the Councils and Commissioners Category.

Dk Nurul Sakinah Adawiyah binti Pg Ainolazahar emerged as the first-place winner in the Brownies Category, followed by Dayang Siti Yusrina binti Asmain in second place and Dayang Nurin Ilyana binti Ismail in third. For the Girl Guide and Rangers Category, Dayang Norrodaah binti Haji Asmat came first followed by Dk Alma Hazirah binti Pg Jofri and Dayang Rabiatul Adawiah binti Abdullah in second and third place respectively.

In the Young Leaders Category, first place went to Dayang Siti Nurul Aqilah binti Haji Zaidin, followed by Dayang Pazrina binti Moshidi in second and Dayang Fashila binti Ashraf Ali in third. As for the Senior Leaders Category, Dk Norfatimahwatie Shah binti Pg Haji Timbang emerged as the winner followed by Dayang Norkamilah binti Haji Mohd Hanif in second place. Dayang Joshophiana binti Haji Awang Shapawi settled in third place.

The winner in the Councils and Commissioners Category was Pg Hajah Hajijah binti Pg Haji Matarsat, while second place went to Dyg Hajah Aisah binti Haji Muhammad Dyg Norliham binti Haji Tuah came third.

The Al-Quran reading competition is aimed at giving encouragement to all categories of membership in the association to become literate in reading the Al-Quran as well as to develop a tendency to learn it in depth together with learning and improving the quality of reading as envisaged by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for the people in this country to be literate in reading the Al-Quran .

In addition, it is hoped that through this competition the members of the association will feel more comfortable appearing in public with full competence and integrity in addition to upholding the treaties and laws of the association, and thus creating interest in competing in a positive way and enthusiastic towards carrying out welfare activities.

The event also included a number of Al-Quran reading presentations by the first place winners of the competition, as well as a Nasyid and Tausyeh performances by the members of the Brownies and Girl Guides. - Borneo Bulletin (8 June 2013)