Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei - Brunei Sultan Darussalam Hassanal Bolkiah stressed the importance of Islamic religious education, which he sees as a solution to the social ills of modern youth culture in the country, a newspaper reported Wednesday. The sultan bemoaned the portrayals of casual sex and drug abuse in the media and their influence on young people, saying it was as though parents were "helpless and incapable of functioning," the Borneo Bulletin reported.
"Personally, I see there are still a lot of people who are religiously illiterate," the sultan was quoted as saying Tuesday on visits to two religious schools. "This is evident as youths and teenagers are still seen playing close to dusk prayer."
He also criticized "Western styles in dress and attitudes," adding that such behaviour might be "due to a weak educational system where the religious spirit is not flourishing."
Religious education is not compulsory in Brunei, where Islam is the official religion.
The sultan urged authorities to expedite the construction of the al-Falaah Religious School, the report said.
The school was approved by the Islamic Religious Council several years ago but has yet to be completed.
He also raised the possibility of religious education in nursing colleges so patients might benefit from "an Islamic style of treatment" in Brunei's hospitals.
"Personally, I see there are still a lot of people who are religiously illiterate," the sultan was quoted as saying Tuesday on visits to two religious schools. "This is evident as youths and teenagers are still seen playing close to dusk prayer."
He also criticized "Western styles in dress and attitudes," adding that such behaviour might be "due to a weak educational system where the religious spirit is not flourishing."
Religious education is not compulsory in Brunei, where Islam is the official religion.
The sultan urged authorities to expedite the construction of the al-Falaah Religious School, the report said.
The school was approved by the Islamic Religious Council several years ago but has yet to be completed.
He also raised the possibility of religious education in nursing colleges so patients might benefit from "an Islamic style of treatment" in Brunei's hospitals.
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