TO MARK Brunei’s inaugural Adat Istiadat Day (Ceremonial Customs Day) yesterday, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) staged the semi-finals of its Adat Istiadat Melayu Brunei quiz.
The quiz is part of the university’s Adat Istiadat week of festivities, ending on April 7, and was organised by the Executive Council for Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB or Malay Islamic Monarchy) and the APB, through APB second-year students taking the AB 2204 Adat Istiadat Brunei course.
Hj Samri Hj Mohin, event chairperson said that the quiz aims to expose and increase knowledge of adat istiadat practised in Brunei.
Making it through to the finals on April 7, were the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (Fass) and Academy of Brunei Studies (APB).
Qualifying rounds for the quiz were held on March 10, with all six UBD faculties taking part. Four faculties made it to the semi-finals: Fass, APB, Faculty of Business and Policy Studies (Fbeps) and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE).
In yesterday’s rounds, with APB Director Dr Siti Norkhalbi Hj Wahsalfelah present as a guest, APB defeated SHBIE by 29 points to 12 points, while Fass emerged victorious over Fbeps by 24 points to 17.
Although the SHBIE team are now out of the contest, they said reaching the semi-final was enough.
“We did not prepare well for the quiz, and we mostly relied on our general knowledge to answer questions,” said Mohd Fizree Hj Md Deli, a second-year student of BA in Education (Physical Education).
Amirullah Sallehan added, “It is important for young people to know about Brunei’s adat istiadat to prevent our ceremonial customs from being forgotten, and from becoming extinct.”
Fellow team member Mohd Amirul Alim Hj Taha suggested that Adat Istiadat Day celebrations focus on the sharing of experience and knowledge between elders and youth, such as how the values in adat istiadat can be applied in daily life.
Although HRH Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, announced the national cultural day April 1 last year, official festivities to mark the event this year have yet to be announced.
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