BRUNEI DARUSSALAM MISSIONS ACCOMPLISHED

Checking-in at Brunei International Airport

Alhamdulillah, we are safely back in Penang today. All missions in Brunei Darussalam were accomplished. Our knowledge about zakat in the country has been increased, and networking has been established with Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) through Academy of Brunei Studies and Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) through Madhab Shafi'i Research Centre.

In consequence, I am thinking aloud to establish a research team on Malay Islamic Monarchy (Melayu Islam Beraja) concept of the Brunei Darussalam, consisting of academic staffs of ISDEV, UBD and UNISSA. For the beginning, perhaps at least four research concentrations could be undertaken, viz, development, institutional management, zakat, and Islamic banking. The present state of the four could be observed and their potentials could be prescribed in strengthening the realisation of the Malay Islamic Monarchy concept.

In memory: At one of the three buffet restaurants behind our hotel that we used to have our dinner

In memory: The Palm Garden Hotel, our accommodation at Kiulap, Brunei Darussalam

In memory: While waiting for our connecting flight to Penang, working at one of the restaurants at LCCT, Sepang

In memory: While flying back to Penang, Dr Zakaria and Dr Zahri reading and commenting on the thesis of ISDEV graduate students

4TH DAY IN BRUNEI

With the Director Dr Siti Norkhalbi Haji Wahsalfelah (1st right) and students of the Academy of Brunei Studies of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam during the Eid Celebration at the Academy

On our fourth day in Brunei today, we carried out three tasks. The first was attending an Eid celebration lunch of the Academy of Brunei Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam; the second was a discussion with the Dean/Director, Deputy Deans and lecturers of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA); and the third was another Eid celebration dinner at Dr Zahri's friend residence in Tutong - about 45 minutes drive outside Bandar Seri Begawan. Below are some of the recorded activities.

With Deputy Director of the Academy of Brunei Studies Tuan Haji Mohd Sharol Amira bin Abdullah (1st left) and two expatriates from United Kingdom and Japan at the Academy (1st and 2nd right)

With Programme Leader Tuan Haji Mohammad Rafee Shahif (1st left) and Deputy Director Tuan Haji Shahrol (3rd left) of the Academy of Brunei Studies at the later's office

Discussion with the Deans, Deputy Deans and lecturers of  Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) on the zakat in Brunei and the UNISSA-ISDEV possible cooperation, chaired by Acting Director of the Madhab Shafi'i Research Centre Dr Abdul Nasir bin Haji Abdul Rani (1st right)

After the discussion at UNISSA: (L-R) Dr Zahri, Dr Zakaria, Dean of the Faculty of Usuluddin Dr Husin, myself, Acting Director of the Madhab Shafi'i Research Centre Dr Abdul Nasir bin Haji Abdul Rani, Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Shari`ah and Law, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Management Sciences, lecturer Hajjah Ros Abdullah and expatriate from Sudan

Receiving a gift from UNISSA's Madhab Shafi'i Research Centre Dr Abdul Nasir bin Haji Abdul Rani

Eid celebration at the residence of Dr Zahri's friend in Tutong

INTELLECTUAL DISCOURSE AT ACADEMY OF BRUNEI STUDIES, UNIVERSITI BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

The intellectual discourse at Academy of Brunei Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, chaired by its Director Dr Siti Norkhalbi Haji Wahsalfelah

Our third day in Brunei Darussalam today was spent at Academy of Brunei Studies of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UDB). We had an interesting intellectual discourse with the Director Dr Siti Norkhalbi Haji Wahsalfelah, Deputy Director Tuan Haji Mohd Shahrol Amira bin Abdullah, Programme Leader Mohammad Rafee Shahif, lecturer Associate Professor Dr Mikio Oishi and few others.

The topics ranged from the state of the rich and the poor in Brunei, the management of zakat in Brunei, the state philosophy Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB), the position of zakat within the MIB philosophy, and possible cooperations between the Academy and ISDEV.

For the latter, coincidently, three undergraduate students of the Academy are now in USM and taking my Principles of Islamic-based Development course via a student exchange programme. We agreed that this could be the start of our cooperation, followed possibly InshaAllah by the participation of the academicians from the Academy in ISDEV 5th IDMAC11 to be held in December 2011 at USM, academic visits and exchanges, and research collaborations in the near future. If these are realised, a MoU will be signed between ISDEV and the Academy, InshaAllah, for a longer collaboration.

The Director expressing her points

The participants of the discourse

AL-FATIHAH FOR DATUK KHAIRIL ANWAR SURBAKTI

Datuk Haji Khairil Anwar Surbakti

While here in Brunei, I got a very surprising SMS from Pak Irfan and later on from Pak Syam in Medan this morning, informing me that ISDEV PhD graduate Datuk Khairil Anwar has passed away early in the morning, possibly due to a heart attack. We have just met him less than two weeks ago, when he was at USM in the Monthly Graduate Supervision on the 15th September. He seemed to be very healthy then.

Datuk Khairil is a hardworking student, rarely missing any of ISDEV Graduate academic meetings either in Penang or Medan, and has completed the first draft of his thesis (except the Conclusion chapter). Everytime ISDEV fraternity were in Medan attending Islamic Development Workshop (WAPI), he never missed to treat them for a dinner at his residence. But definitely Allah SWT loves him more and has taken him this morning. May Allah SWT accepts his study as a jihad fisabilillah and bestows him with rahmah, InshaAllah.

Datuk Khairil Anwar at ISDEV Monthly Graduate Supervision in June 2011

Datuk Khairil is the second ISDEV graduate who passed away in the midst of his study. The first was Pak Wim Ansory of Jakarta. Another ISDEV member who has passed away was Dr Salim of Medan, but only after years of the completion of his PhD. May Allah showers all of them with His mercy and love.

DINNER TREATMENT BY DR BAHARUDDIN ARUS OF UNIVERSITI BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

With Dr Baharuddin having dinner at a Malaysian restaurant near Times Square

Just came back from a dinner treatment given by Dr Baharuddin Arus of Universiti Brunei Darussalam. The venue was a Malaysian-owned prestigious restaurant near the Times Square of Bandar Seri Begawan. There were Malaysian foods such as Mee Bandung Muar as was taken by Dr Zakaria Bahari, Nasi Goreng Pattaya taken by Dr Zahri Hamat, Mee Goreng taken by Dr Baharuddin, and Nasi Sup Ayam taken by me. We also shared murtabak together, and our drink was Radix. According to Dr Baharuddin, there are a lot of Malaysian restaurants in Brunei Darussalam. Most of the customers seem to be a middle-income class. After the dinner, we were brought around to tour the city of Bandar Seri Begawan by Dr Baharuddin.

Talking to a father of a graduated MBA student from Jengka Pahang who is in Brunei to attend his son's Convocation Ceremony at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam on Thursday 29 September.

FIRST TASK IN BRUNEI DONE

Programme brochure

Our first task in Brunei Darussalam went on as scheduled, Alhamdulillah. We were at Brunei Darussalam Ministry of Religious Affairs this morning, discussing about zakat in the state with officers of Zakat Collection and Distribution Section (ZCDS) of the Department of Islamic Religious Council. The photos below explain the activities this morning.

The discussion in progress

With some of the Islamic Religious Council's staff involving in the discussion

With the Secretary of the Islamic Religious Council (2nd left)

After solatul zohor at Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque near Kuilap

Outside the Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque

SAFELY ARRIVING BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

Arriving at Brunei Darussalam's airport

Alhamdulillah, we have landed safely at Brunei Darussalam airport at about 3.45 pm. We were ferried to Palm Garden Hotel of the Bandar Seri Begawan - our accommodation in Brunei - by Jom, the hotel driver. Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei Darussalam seems to be quite and peaceful.

After maghrib prayer, he had our dinner at a buffet restaurant beside our hotel. Buffet restaurant style is a unique trend in Brunei, according to Dr Baharuddin, a former USM lecturer who is now teaching at Universitit Brunei Darussalam for the last 12 years. He came to visit us at our hotel at about 11.00 pm just now.

One communication facility that is absent in Brunei is the pre-paid mobile line. Unlike in Malaysia and Indonesia, we could not buy a sim card and use it instantly. Instead we need to register for a fixed line, says Jom the driver. As we are going to stay here for just five days, we decided to use our existing Malaysian line rather than registering for the Brunei fixed line.