James Kon

A total of 2,516 orphans in the Brunei-Muara District yesterday received coupons from the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans (DANA) for the purchase of school essentials for the new academic year.

The ceremony was held at the Bridex Hall 2 in Jerudong, where Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof presented the coupons to the recipients, in his capacity as Chairman of the DANA Board of Trustees.

The coupons were also presented by Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, as a member of the DANA Board of Trustees; Permanent Secretary (Planning, Land Use and Environment) at the Ministry of Development Dr Nor Imtihan binti Haji Abdul Razak, as the Acting CEO of DANA; and Assistant Director of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Haji Puasa bin Haji Jumat.

Each of the recipients, registered under the Secretariat of DANA, received 16 coupons worth BND450.

The total value of coupons donated by DANA for the orphans in the Brunei-Muara District is BND1,132,200.

The coupons are valid for use at 24 school supplies shops in all four districts, and outlets providing daily essentials for orphans who have yet to attend school.

Two of the recipients, Muhammad Afif bin Haji Abdul Gani and Muhammad Raqiz bin Nasruddin who will attend Year 11 next year, conveyed their thanks to DANA for the donation.

Muhammad Afif told the Bulletin, “This donation will help ease my family’s burden of spending for school items. I will make good use of this to work hard.”

Muhammad Raqiz, who plans to one day join the Royal Brunei Police Force, said, “This certainly has motivated me to get good results for my exams next year.”

The presentation ceremony was also witnessed by Legislative Council (LegCo) members, the Brunei-Muara District Officer and the Assistant Managing Director of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, as well as senior officials from DST and Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd.

At a separate ceremony held on December 10 in the Temburong District, 161 orphans received coupons for school items and daily necessities. The total value of coupons donated by DANA for the orphans in the district was BND72,450.

On the same day, 406 orphans in the Belait District and 552 orphans in the Tutong District also received coupons for the purchase of school items. The total value of coupons donated by DANA for the two districts were BND417,600.

Overall, 3,605 orphans in all four districts received coupons from DANA worth BND1,622,250.