$10,000 donated to disaster funds

THE fund for Indonesian earthquake and Philippines typhoon victims received a boost yesterday with the latest donation from Pertiwi Association of Brunei.

The $10,000 contribution was handed over by Pertiwi President Datin Paduka Hjh Jusnani Hj Lawie the secretary of the fund Hjh Hazizah Salleh during an event to celebrate the new Islamic year of Hijrah 1431.

Secretary General of Pertiwi Saadiah Bangkol told The Brunei Times that the money was collected by organising dikir sessions at the houses of VIPs, who donated to the fund.

Yesterday's Hijrah celebration began with the recitation of the Surah Al-Fatihah followed by a speech by the organiser of the event Datin Hjh Siti Hajar POKSS Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yussof.

Datin Hjh Siti Hajar explained that the Hijrah celebration were a yearly event carried out by Pertiwi and recapped on some of the events that had occurred in the previous year such as the H1N1 flu pandemic and the earthquake in Indonesia and typhoon in the Philippines.

This was followed by a Tausyeh performance by Pertiwi members from the Brunei-Muara District, and a talk on the Hijrah by Ustazah Hjh Rogayah Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Hj Abd Wahab. The event was also to celebrate Pertiwi members who had returned home safely after performing the Haj.

Present as guest of honour at the event was Pg Datin Hjh Johana Pg Hj Zainal, wife of the Minister of Religious Affairs.

Pertiwi which means 'earth', was established in 1968 and is an affiliated member of the Council of Women of Brunei.

Apart from annual events, they conduct workshops and seminars to help empower and improve the lives of women in Brunei.The Brunei Times