MIRI – His Excellency Tun Pehin Sri Dr Haji Wan Junaidi bin Tuanku Jaafar, Sarawak’s Head of State, together with his wife Yang Amat Berbahagia Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Hajjah Fauziah binti Mohd Sanusi, attended the Prayer Recitation Ceremony marking the end of the Islamic year 1447H and the beginning of 1448H at the At-Taqwa Mosque in Miri on 16 June.
The couple arrived at 6.20 pm and were warmly received by senior state leaders and religious officials. Among those present to welcome them was Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, YB Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat.
Also present were Sarawak Islamic Council President Datuk Haji Misnu Taha, Chief Syarie Judge Datu Haji Awang Suhaili Ledi, Sarawak Islamic Religious Department Director Tuan Haji Mual Suaud, and Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mohamad Zainal Abdullah.
The Head of State and Toh Puan were accompanied by the Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department, YB Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, who also serves as Project Coordinator for DBKU and Islamic Affairs, together with his wife Datin Siti Shorgayah Ahmad Zaidin and their daughter Puan Hajah Sharifah Fariah.
The ceremony began with the recitation of the Final Prayer for the year 1447H, followed by Maghrib prayers in congregation. Attendees then joined in the First Prayer for the year 1448H, led by Deputy Grand Imam of Sarawak, Ustaz Haji Mohamad Ihsan Haidzir.
The programme continued with the recitation of Surah Yaasin and a special Tazkirah Ma’al Hijrah delivered by Professor Dato’ Dr Haji Mohd Izhar Ariff Mohd Kashim, Dean of the Faculty of Islamic Studies at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
In his address, Professor Izhar Ariff highlighted the importance of migration not only as a physical journey but also as a transformation of mindset and society.
He emphasised that Muslims should embrace migration as a shift towards knowledge, improved living standards, and unity of the ummah.
The Head of State and Toh Puan later joined the congregation for Isyak prayers before attending a communal dinner.
The dinner was also attended by Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, Deputy Minister of Tourism Sebastian Ting Chiew Yew, Miri Division Resident Encik Galong Luang, and various community leaders and tribal representatives.
Tun Pehin Sri and Toh Puan expressed their hopes that the event would inspire self-improvement, stronger faith, and greater acts of worship.
They noted that the spirit of unity and the meaning of migration should be appreciated as part of building a knowledgeable, resilient, and integrity-based society. This, they said, aligns with Sarawak’s vision for progressive and inclusive development.
