By Salawati Haji Yahya –
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 8 OCT – The Ministry of Defense Group and the Ministry of Education Group were respectively announced as the winners of the male and female categories of the Final Stage Brunei Dikir Competition for Officials and Staff of the Ministries, at the prize-giving ceremony that took place today, at the Multi-Purpose Hall Pengiran Anak Puteri Muta-Wakkilah Hayatul Bolkiah Religious School, Kampung Serusop.
Present as the guest of honor and then presenting prizes to the winners of the competition was the Minister of Religious Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Director Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman.
The second place winner for both categories was the Ministry of Religious Affairs Group (KHEU) and the third place for men was the Prime Minister’s Department Group while the women’s category was the Ministry of Defense Group.
The competition was held in conjunction with the celebration of the Maulud of the Prophet Muhammad SAW for the year 1446H/2024AD, organized by the Department of Mosque Affairs through the Emirah Division, together with members of the Takmir Committee (AJKT) of the Mohamed Bolkiah Mosque, Kampung Serusop.
In addition, Dikir Brunei is one of the dikirs that has been practiced since time immemorial. The art of dikir needs to be practiced and preserved so that it is not lost to time.
Also present during the event were the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Mohd Tashim bin Pengiran Haji Hassan; KHEU Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary (Administration and Finance), Awang Misle bin Haji Abdul Karim; and KHEU Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religion), Haji Shamshol bin Haji Omar.
By mastering dikir skills, especially Brunei Dikir songs, the Muslim community can play a role in maintaining the Brunei Dikir, considering that many dikirs still lack the ability to deliver these songs.
Among other things, the purpose of the competition is to produce officials and staff in ministries and AJKT mosques who are skilled in singing Dikir Brunei and Dikir Syarafil Annam songs, thus knowing how to sing dikir tunes correctly without making mistakes.
In addition, it can also increase the self-confidence of the participants to participate in various dikir competitions that will be held in the future.
With such a competition, it will be able to enliven and invigorate the celebration of the Maulud of the Prophet SAW through religious events.
