| Azlan Othman |

DON’T panic and pray more.

This was the advice Minister of Religious Affairs, Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman gave to his countrymen who are feeling anxious of economic downturn.

“We should intensify prayers or supplication to Allah the Almighty, which is a spiritual cure,” the minister said, responding to Legislative Council (LegCo) member and Kampong Limau Manis Village Head Yang Berhormat Haji Mohimin bin Haji Johari @ Jahari calling Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) to lead prayers in the wake of the economic downturn blighting the country. “Imams recite prayers for the prosperity and well-being of the people and country, and for the nation to be blessed with wealth and its economy to be revived, as found in the Doa Peliharakan Sultan dan Negara Brunei Darussalam or prayers for the monarch and the nation during every religious gathering.”

The minister said such prayers should not be only be shouldered by UNISSA or the Ministry of Religious Affairs, but by everyone as well. “We should also recite Sayyidul Istighfar in every religious event,” he said.