The Sultan’s Hijrah 1448 titah carried a clear warning: Brunei is not exempt from the effects of war, crime or unfinished national work. A new year is not a reset. It is a reminder that responsibility cannot wait.
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Analysis & Commentary
In one of his more pointed Maal Hijrah messages, His Majesty highlighted global conflict, domestic crime and the need for sustained national effort as challenges Brunei can no longer treat lightly.
By Malai Hassan Othman | KopiTalk with MHO | Tahun Baru Hijrah 1448
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN — His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, has warned that the country cannot assume itself exempt from the effects of global conflict, saying the world is now caught in the turmoil of war and that its consequences will be felt beyond the countries directly involved.
In his Maal Hijrah 1448 titah, His Majesty said war brings no good, only suffering and hardship, and that all parties, including Brunei, would inevitably be touched by its impact.
The message placed Brunei’s Hijrah reflection against a wider global backdrop. The new Islamic year, His Majesty said, should not be treated as a point from which work only begins, but as a moment to renew resolve in carrying forward responsibilities that already demand action.
Much, His Majesty said, remains to be done — in the economy, physical development, knowledge, education and dakwah. These areas, he reminded the nation, require continuous hard work without stopping.
That was the deeper national message of the titah: a new year is not a reset button. It is a reminder that unfinished work must not be allowed to wait.
His Majesty also expressed gratitude that Brunei continues to enjoy peace and safety, including protection from natural disasters that disrupt daily life elsewhere. This blessing, he said, is linked to the country being nurtured with prayers, zikir and the Quran.
But the titah did not rest only on gratitude.
His Majesty drew attention to crimes that occasionally stain the country’s image, including drug offences, theft and other acts he described as shameful to the nation and strongly condemned by religion.
All relevant agencies, especially those responsible for security and religious affairs, were urged to move swiftly in confronting these problems.
His Majesty also placed particular emphasis on the role of religious education and dakwah. Religious authorities, he said, must strengthen efforts to instil awareness among the public so that society develops a genuine rejection of drugs and other crimes.
Enforcement can punish crime. Education and values can help prevent it from taking root. The titah called for both, but its emphasis on religious education and dakwah points to where the deeper social work must happen — in the character of the nation Brunei continues to build.
His Majesty reminded Muslims not to be careless or forgetful in the face of present challenges, but to increase prayers and zikir, asking Allah for safety and for the country to be kept clean from crime.
He described this as a shared responsibility to protect the ummah and the nation, expressing confidence that such efforts can be achieved with the permission of Allah.
Taken together, the Hijrah 1448 titah carried a clear message of accountability — to God, to country, and to responsibilities that do not pause simply because a new calendar year has arrived.
Brunei may be peaceful. But peace, the message suggested, must never be mistaken for immunity.
Malai Hassan Othman is a veteran journalist, political analyst, and Executive Director of Barakah Bioindustries Company. KopiTalk with MHO is published on Substack.
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