BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The SMS Brunei Prihatin for the Orphan Fund 2025 has reached BND185,826, marking a 20.47-per cent increase from the amount collected in 2024 as a result of encouraging response from the public.
The donations were presented by telecommunications companies to Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Seri Setia Awang Nazmi Awang Mohamad.
Of the total collection, BND135,353 was donated by DST Sdn Bhd, including BND125,353 from DST customers and BND10,000 from DST. The collection was presented by DST Chief Executive Officer Radin Sufri Radin Basiuni.
Meanwhile, the contribution from Progresif Sdn Bhd amounted to BND40,473, of which BND39,473 was collected from Progresif customers and BND1,000 was a donation from Progresif.
The contribution was presented by Progresif Chief Administration Officer Abdul Hakim Basir. A contribution amounting to BND10,000 was presented by imagine Sdn Bhd, comprising donations from imagine and its customers.
The contribution was handed over by imagine deputy chairman and executive director Ahmad Fathi Datuk Paduka Junaidi.
All funds collected will be fully channelled to the Orphans Fund administered by the Community Development Department (JAPEM).
Meanwhile, the SMS Brunei Prihatin for the Orphan Fund 1447/2026 was launched Thursday (Feb 12) during a ceremony at the Simpur Room, Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, by JAPEM, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), in collaboration with Department of Radio Television Brunei (RTB), DST, Progresif and imagine.
Datuk Seri Setia Awang Nazmi officiated the launch.
The SMS donation campaign will run for nine months until Nov 12. The public can donate via SMS by typing YATIM (without spaces) followed by the amount to be donated, 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, 50, or 100. For example, YATIM20 (for a donation of BND20) and send it to 38111 for DST and Progresif customers, and 39999 for imagine customers.
SMS Brunei Prihatin is an annual project jointly implemented by JAPEM, RTB, and telecommunications companies since 2005, aiming to provide a platform to facilitate public contributions to registered orphans under the National Registration of Orphans.
The event continued with the presentation of scholarship award certificates for the Orphan Scholarship Programme for Session 5, for the year 2026/2027 to two selected orphans who will participate in the BIBD ALAF Programme and they are Baby Nur Syahiezah Fazillah Mohammad Yussof/Norariffin, a Year 7 student of Sayyidina Umar Al Khattab Secondary School, and Nur Sabrina Omara, a Year 9 student of Raja Isteri Girls High School.
Participants enrolled in the BIBD ALAF Programme will be funded through the Orphan Fund managed by JAPEM.
This programme is one of the initiatives by the MCYS, which has been implemented since 2022, aimed at enhancing the impact and objectives of the Orphan Fund.
Donations from the public will also be allocated to finance education of the Orphan Scholarship Programme under the BIBD ALAF Programme until they complete their GCE ‘O’ Level examinations.
JAPEM acting director Fauziah Mohd Salleh and acting director of RTB Cheong Chee Keong, in their capacities as co-chairpersons of the ceremony, were also present. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
