|     Azaraimy HH & Daniel Lim     |

IN THE true spirit of Ramadhan, a delegation from Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (Yayasan) led by the Chairman of the Yayasan Board of Directors, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, Minister of Education, made working visits to the homes of several senior citizens and less fortunate families in the Tutong and Belait districts to hand over donations.

Yayasan is a religious and charity organisation set up by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and members of the royal family as a mark of their care and concern towards Brunei Darussalam’s needy citizens.

Twelve houses from five villages in the Tutong and Belait districts were visited.

During yesterday’s visits, Yayasan handed over a number of items such as cash, basic food and essentials, as well as home care equipment for some of the senior citizens. Total donations handed out for the Tutong District amounted to $10,270, while the Belait District received $26,487.

In addition to the working visits, Yayasan also handed over two houses (which fall under the Housing Scheme of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah) to two needy families: the family of Dayatirina binti Moksin, and the family of Allahyarhamah Hasmani binti Tawi – both of whom reside in Kampong Bukit Udal, Tutong.

The Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Housing Scheme aims to provide comfortable, safe and clean housing to Brunei Darussalam’s citizens. The project is part of Yayasan’s initiatives to improve the welfare and wellbeing of the country’s citizens – one of the body’s key objectives.

Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, Minister of Education in his capacity as the Chairman of the Yayasan Board of Directors, handing over wheelchair to a recipient. – PHOTOS: AZARAIMY HH & DANIEL LIM

A recipient receives cooking equipment

A recipient in Belait District receives car wash equipments to start a business

Besides helping build new homes for the needy, Yayasan had also assisted in the restoration and renovation of houses for less fortunate families; those who have been living in unsafe and dilapidated houses.

The houses of three families who had received house restoration assistance were also visited by the Yayasan delegation yesterday.

The houses visited belonged to: Zaleha binti Idris from Kampong Bukit Beruang; Hajah Mariam binti Abdullah Mili and Mahmud bin Haji Mohamad from RPN Kampong Bukit Beruang; Bismi bin Abang from Seria; and Hajah Rokiah binti Hitam from STKRJ Seria.

The Four Wheel Drive Association of Brunei Darussalam – Yayasan’s strategic partner – provided the transportation required to distribute the donations during the working visit yesterday.

Accompanying the delegation were members of the Legislative Council, YB Haji Abdul Wahab bin Apong who is also Penghulu of Mukim Tanjong Maya and YB Haji Ramli bin Haji Lahit, Penghulu of Mukim Telisai; Haji Brahim bin Haji Ismail, Managing Director of Yayasan; related government officers; officers and staff of Yayasan; as well as the Tutong and Belait district officers.

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|     Wani Roslan     |

ROUGHLY 5,000 orphans registered under the Community Development Department (JAPEM) will have something to smile about this coming Hari Raya Aidilfitri after receiving donations from JAPEM.

The donation presentation, organised by JAPEM and the Brunei-Muara District Office in collaboration with Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD), took place at the International Convention Centre in Berakas yesterday.

The donations were meant to lighten the financial burden of the orphans and provide them with extra funds for new clothes or miscellaneous items for Hari Raya.

In the Brunei-Muara District, 3,212 registered orphans received the donations during yesterday’s ceremony. Orphans from other districts will receive their share of the donations in separate presentation ceremonies in their respective districts. These donation funds were officially handed over to the respective district officers during the ceremony yesterday.

A total of $250,000 from the National Orphans Fund, $80,300 from the Brunei-Muara District Orphans Fund, and $150,000 from BIBD were collected and distributed to registered orphans nationwide.

The donations were presented by Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, Minister of Development and Chairman of BIBD Board of Directors, and his spouse Pengiran Datin Hajah Noorsiah binti Pengiran Hamdan; and Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, and his spouse Datin Hajah Kalshom binti Haji Suhaili.

Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports presenting donations to recipients during a ceremony at the International Convention Centre in Berakas yesterday

Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports presenting the donation to a recipient during a presentation ceremony at the International Convention Centre in Berakas yesterday. More than 3,200 registered orphans received donations at the ceremony, which also saw the presentation of awards, rewarding orphans who excelled in their studies

Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, Minister of Development and Chairman of BIBD Board of Directors presenting the donation to one of the recipients

Datin Hajah Kalshom binti Haji Suhaili, spouse of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports presenting the donation to a recipient

Pengiran Datin Hajah Noorsiah binti Pengiran Hamdan, spouse of the Minister of Development presenting the donation to a recipient. – PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR

During the ceremony, BIBD also presented the Outstanding Students Encouragement Scheme Awards to orphans who excelled in the 2016 Primary School Assessment (PSR), GCE ‘O’ Level and ‘A’ Level examinations.

The top-performing PSR students received $500 cash vouchers; GCE ‘O’ Level top performers received cash vouchers of $800, while top-achieving GCE ‘A’ Level students each received a $1,000 cash voucher.

One of the recipients of the Outstanding Students Encouragement Scheme Awards, 12-year-old Nozaeem bin Jaini, told the Bulletin that his achievement of 5A’s in the PSR examinations was due to his attending tuition and extra classes.

Meanwhile, 13-year-old Sazalina Norainah binti Salehuddin, who also obtained 5As in the PSR exams, said; “It was always my goal to obtain 5As and the award motivates me to do better in the future.”

The Bulletin also spoke to the mother of one of the donation recipients, eight-year-old Nur Nazratun Hadrina binti Hadanan from Kampong Tanah Jambu.

“She has been receiving the donations since two years ago and usually it will be used to buy items for Hari Raya, with the remainder of the funds put into her savings for future needs. Alhamdulillah for the assistance given for the orphans,” said the mother.

Another donation recipient was nine-year-old Mohd Fauzi Rezqulah bin Abdullah Shahairul Anuar. Her mother, Roziawati binti Mat Daud, also said that the donation will be used to purchase only what he needs for the upcoming festive season, while the rest of the funds will be put into his savings.

The ceremony saw a recitation of verses from the Al-Quran and its translation, and the readings of Tahlil, Doa Arwah and Doa Selamat.

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|     Azlan Othman     |

BRUNEI will introduce the Motor Claims Guidelines (MCG) starting July 31 to expedite the process of dispersing motor accident cases and settlement of insurance claims.

“This will be implemented in stages and in the early phase, it will cover only minor accidents that do not involve any injuries, deaths and damage to government properties,” said the Deputy Director of Land Transport, Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud.

Speaking to the media yesterday, he said the initiative is a joint effort of the Land Transport Department (JPD) of the Ministry of Communications, the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) and the Brunei Insurance Takaful Association (BITA). MCG is based on international best practices, especially in Malaysia and Singapore, and tailored to the needs of the Sultanate, he added.

Exclusions from MCG at this early phase are: any public vehicle that is licensed for the carriage of passengers for hire or reward; accidents happening outside Brunei Darussalam like in Labuan, Sabah and Sarawak; accidents involving foreign-registered vehicle; and hit-and-run cases, he explained.

MCG gives a clear procedure to the public on what should be done including reporting a vehicle accident immediately.

“Those involved should contact their respective insurance agent or motor vehicle Takaful for further advice and exchange parti-culars such as name, identity card number, address, mobile phone number of driver and car owner, vehicle registration number, type of vehicle and information on insurance or motor vehicle Takaful,” the official said.

Other steps include taking pictures of cars involved in the accident and its surrounding and sending the car involved to the Accident Reporting Centre (ARC) appointed by the respective insurance and Takaful companies (either drive the vehicle himself/herself or seek for tow truck service appointed by the insurance or Takaful company within 24 hours, or the following working day), he added.

Deputy Director of Land Transport Department Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud during the media briefing. – AZLAN OTHMAN

For further details on MCG, visit JPD’s website at www.mincom.gov.bn/ltd or log on to BITA website at www.bita.org.bn.

Before the full implementation of MCG, agencies involved will hold information dissemi-nation programmes nationwide to create awareness and understanding among the public on its implementation.

Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal hoped that the implementation of MCG will reduce traffic congestion caused by accidents, and thereby lessen productivity loss to the nation.

“Due to traffic accidents, officers arrive late for work, and office counters will be opened late. Due to this, a procedure called Motor Claim Guideline is going to be introduced. It is also to support efforts towards ease of doing business by reducing traffic accident cases that are brought to the court and thus enhancing the capacity of the court to handle other cases.

“The implementation is also in line with the provision of reliable public bus service in the country. JPD wants to see reliable public bus service that arrives on schedule without being affected by traffic congestion caused by accidents,” he said.

Meanwhile, Haji Darryl bin Haji Maidin, Deputy General Manager cum Chief Corporate and Legal Compliance Officer of Takaful Brunei, said that the objective of introducing MCG is not just to provide an efficient and transparent claim process but also to enhance customer experience which is in line with international best practices.

“MCG is a new motor best practice undertaken by all motor insurers to provide clear and common procedures on what to do in the event of a motor accident. We provide the motorist with enhanced claim experience and at the same time help insurers deal with motor accidents a lot more efficiently. Motor claims can be made in a simple, efficient and speedy manner,” he added.

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|     Fadhil Yunus     |

THE mid-season transfer window in the Great Eastern-Hyundai S League has opened with various clubs hoping to bolster their squads for the remainder of the season.

The nine teams in the league are currently on a break until mid-June with Brunei-based outfit DPMM FC hoping to put their woes behind them and get their season back on track.

Football web portal FourFourTwo has listed DPMM FC defender Zeljko Savic in their entry of which players that could potentially be released.

The defender, who was brought in as a replacement for the injured Francois Marque, enjoyed his debut in the 2-0 win against Hougang United but he has been part of the team that suffered a collapse in form ever since.

Only avoiding bottom due to Garena Young Lions being in a worse position than them, Steve Kean has two weeks to prepare his charges to try and secure a first victory since April 2.

With the Gegar Gegar men out of title contention early since the 2013 season, they may do title-chasing Home United FC a favour if they could take all three points from a relentless Albirex Niigata (S) side, their next opponents at the Jurong East Stadium in Singapore.

Home United will also be playing the White Swans later this month and a DPMM FC win will make matters interesting at the top of the table.

DPMM FC will be hoping to avenge defeat when the Japanese satellite team ran out 2-0 winners on March 9.

DPMM FC and Home United in league action. The mid-season transfer window has opened with clubs hoping to bolster their squads. – S LEAGUE

The league will not resume until June 16 through Home United have been involved in a continental tie in the AFC Cup at the end of last month.

The Protectors have been one of the in-form sides this campaign having progressed to the Asean final of the AFC Cup after seeing off Global FC 3-2 in the second leg.

Warriors FC, whose own title aspirations were dealt a severe blow following a three-game winless run in the league, also bowed out of the Singapore Cup following an emphatic 4-1 defeat by invited Cambodian side Boeung Ket Angkor.

They were joined by Balestier Khalsa in an early exit who were beaten 4-3 by Nagaworld FC.

Meanwhile, DPMM FC have announced the acquisition of Chilean forward Daud Gazale through their website.

Gazale, who earned eight caps for his country, did not make it in time against Home United.

DPMM FC only featured two foreign imports in that match with Billy Mehmet not named.

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IN CONJUNCTION with the National Savings Day 2017, a radio competition was held for Years 10 and 11 students all over Brunei.

Chung Hwa Middle School, Bandar Seri Begawan won the competition’s second and third place awards.

Students who obtained the second position and prize money of $450 were Liu Jia Hui, Tan Choon Jieh and Kazim Chin Shen bin Ismail.

Walking away with the $300 prize money in third place were Abdul Jalil bin Haji Sulaiman, Muhd Waliudauddin Rifae bin Adizan and Hazirul Faees bin Maidi.

The awarding ceremony was held at the Rizqun International Hotel. The event was graced by Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan bin Haji Mohamad Daud, the Acting Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The competition, which aimed to encourage savings using the tagline ‘Be Financially Smart’, was organised by Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Radio Television Brunei.

The Acting Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan bin Haji Mohamad Daud, in a group photo with the award recipients from Chung Hwa Middle School

Some of the winners during the presentation ceremony at The Rizqun International Hotel

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ECO-CONSCIOUS subscribers looking to do more to save the environment can look towards Telekom Brunei Berhad’s (TelBru) Go Green initiative neatly consolidated into the My TelBru mobile and website application that simplifies user-friendly transactions, queries and upgrades accessible anytime, anywhere.

Since its launch in 2015, the My TelBru application has evolved to cater to the busy Bruneian as part of TelBru’s initiative in better accommodating the needs of its clients that encompasses day-to-day aspects of the company’s service.

This, among others, includes the most utilised My TelBru features such as bill payment that provides real-time confirmation of transactions, bill viewing, data top-ups, as well as the Telephone Directory that takes mere seconds to access over a highly secure network.

These online features reduce the need to visit any of the TelBru’s 10 nationwide branches that translates into better efficiency, while saving time and resource without having to stand in line.

Other accessible and easy-to-use features include viewing user’s broadband data usage and history, instant broadband plan upgrade, summary usage, TelBru’s Plan Wizard, status tracker, locations for TelBru’s branches and TelBru WiFi locations.

The My TelBru mobile application is downloadable for both Android and iOS users while the website feature can be accessed through any web browser with free registration. For more information, contact TelBru Customer Care centre at 111 or visit any of its social media platforms.

The My TelBru mobile application provides subscribers with the convenience of hassle-free transactions anytime, anywhere. This includes purchasing data top-ups for as low as $8 and paying bills at a click of a single touch

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|     Hakim Hayat     |

CHINA Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) hosted some 35 autistic members from the Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources (SMARTER) Brunei to a boat cruise along the Brunei River on Thursday, as part of its commitment in giving back to the community.

According to the China-based infrastructure construction company, apart from fulfilling their corporate social responsibility commitment, the activity was also held to commemorate Children’s Day which was celebrated in China on Thursday.

The SMARTER Brunei members were joined by their teachers and also employees of CHEC during the cruise, where they had the opportunity to take a closer look at the bridge construction in the Brunei River and scenic places.

CHEC said the activity follows their contribution of a playground for SMARTER Brunei last year. “We want to make these children happy and have fun through the boat cruise and we want to share happiness with them and this is especially meaningful for the month of Ramadhan,” according to Shu Jing Zhou, Administration Manager at CHEC.

Staff of China Harbour Engineering Company Limited (CHEC) with members and teacher of SMARTER Brunei during the boat cruise

CHEC staff members with students and teachers of SMARTER Brunei in a group photo before the boat cruise. – PHOTOS: HAKIM HAYAT

The children were presented with gifts from the company and food to take home and break fast with their families.

Joining the cruise were CHEC’s Project Director, Zhang Shuaijun and SMARTER Brunei’s President Malai Haji Abdullah bin Malai Haji Othman.

CHEC is spearheading the construction of the 2.7km sea-crossing Pulau Muara Besar Bridge that will link the mainland to Pulau Muara Besar where new industrial developments are planned. As well as traffic, the bridge will carry a network of utilities.

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PROGRESIF Cellular has announced the launch of full-service roaming for all its prepaid customers, allowing roamers to have access to data, text and voice calls in Malaysia.

Progesif’s prepaid customers can now make direct calls and texts in Malaysia and use data to browse the internet and social media, “giving them the freedom to do more”, a press release said.

Customers can now roam on the Digi or Celcom mobile networks, at preferred rates, without having to use callback services or having to swap SIM cards.

Hafiza Mohamad, Corporate Communications Manager at Progresif, said that the new development gives prepaid customers the convenience that they need when travelling in Malaysia.

“This is just one of the ways that we are simplifying communi-cation for our customers. By having prepaid roaming available in Malaysia, our customers can enjoy using communication services with more convenience,” she said.

Devin Edwards, Chief Marketing Officer of Progresif, said the introduction of prepaid roaming is one step closer to “removing the differences between postpaid and prepaid services”.

Devin Edwards, Chief Marketing Officer of Progresif. – PROGRESIF

Prepaid roaming will eventually be rolled out to cover more than 100 destinations where Progresif has roaming partners.

The pricing is available at its website www.progresif.com.

As the service is available to all prepaid customers, Progresif advised users who live close to bordering Malaysian towns or those travelling by boat to turn off data roaming to avoid unwanted charges.

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|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

PROVIDING local entrepreneurs an avenue to showcase their exquisite products, SH-Himco launched a three-day event dubbed Souq Al-Ramadhan 2017 at the Royal Berkshire Hall of the Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club yesterday.

In a speech, Shanti S Samtani, Manager of SH-Himco, said the event aims to gather local entrepreneurs selling a variety of designer products, organic beauty products, perfumes and jewellery.

At the same time, the Souq Al- Ramadhan also showcases SH-Himco’s gorgeous fabrics.

“Having 18 years of textile experience, I am able to foresee the trends and upcoming requirements that not only suit the local market but also internationally.

“I have seen that our local entrepreneurs have unique expertise but limited support. We are more than willing to help anyone out there wishing to expand their business in the fashion industry,” Shanti S Samtani said.

During the Souq Al-Ramadhan 2017 which will be carried out until June 4, 1,001 goodie bags will be given.

Guest of honour, Pengiran Hajah Yura Halimatussa’adah binti Pengiran Haji Yura Perkasa (2L), owner of SH-HimCo Shanti (C), Pengiran Ratna Siti Noor Aishah (R) and Sharifah Amirah binti Malai Haji Hamir (2R) during the ribbon-cutting ceremony

Shanti S Samtani, Manager of SH-Himco speaking at the event

The guest of honour, invited guests and Manager of SH-Himco during the tour

Members of the public at Souq Al-Ramadhan 2017. – PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR

There will be a 50 per cent discount on SH-Himco products and customers also stand a chance to win two tickets to Dubai and 10,000 Royal Skies miles which is only for Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) clients.

Present yesterday at the launching ceremony as invited guests were Pengiran Hajah Yura Halimatussa’adah binti Pengiran Haji Yura Perkasa, Pengiran Ratna Siti Noor Aishah and Sharifah Amirah binti Malai Haji Hamir.

A total of 13 vendors are participating in the event including SH-Himco Brunei, At-Taqwa Travel Tours, Little Ummi, Oudh Al-Aswad, Suharajewalart, Lynda Rahim, Menur, Lina Abdul, Shu Shu She, Mastuli Khalid, Moore Hairstyles, Nuur Imani Hijab and JL Jewellery.

The event is supported by BIBD, DST Group, White Room Studio and Mix Media works and organised by Maszalina Event Management.

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TURKISH Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Mehmet Suat Akgun yesterday made a courtesy call to Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) Rector Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal.

The pair discussed cooperation opportunities in the academic field between UNISSA and universities in Turkey.

Through the meeting, UNISSA is able to move forward in attracting the interest of Turkish citizens in pursuing studies at UNISSA. Additionally, UNISSA can be of service for joint research or student exchange.

UNISSA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University, Turkey on May 23 this year.

At the meeting, Mehmet Suat Akgun expressed readiness in playing connector for collaboration with institutes in the country that are known for Islamic civilisation heritage.

The meeting was also attended by the UNISSA Deputy Rector and its International and Public Relations Centre’s Director.

UNISSA Rector Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal in conversation with Turkish Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Mehmet Suat Akgun

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SINGAPORE celebrity chef Siti Mastura and her husband yesterday got a taste of Ramadhan in the Sultanate as they broke their fast at Gohan Sushi and Shabu Shabu in Kampong Kiarong.

Chef Siti was impressed with the high quality food, the presentation and service at Gohan Sushi.

She noted that most Brunei food and beverage (F&B) establishments use fresh products and quality ingredients in meal preparation, adding that Gohan Sushi is comparable with high class international Japanese restaurants, with a Halal-compliance advantage.

National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam (NCCIBD) Advisor cum iCentre Cottage and Initiative Programme Principle Mentor Captain (Rtd) Zailan bin Pehin Datu Kerma Setia Major (Rtd) Dato Seri Laila Jasa Mohd Don and his spouse, as well as iCentre Cottage and Youth Initiative Programme Advisor Haji Ramlee bin Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Zainuddin and his wife also joined the breaking of fast.

The celebrity chef then made her way to the The Library Cafe in Kiulap for a coffee and cake treat as well as a two-hour cake-preparation demonstration at the Library Cafeteria.

Celebrity chef Siti Mastura (second right) during the cooking demonstration

She shared cooking tips with attendees, among them VVIPs, dispensing advice on the proper heating temperatures, importance of grill positioning, usage of graded eggs, among others.

Chef Siti was best pleased with the performance of The Library Cafe’s chef – who boasts 13 years’ experience in whipping up delicious cakes and pastries, the ambiance of The Library Café and its modern fusion cakes.

Overall, Brunei has huge potential in offering high-class dining experience, which should be marketed and branched outside of Brunei, she said, before expressing hopes of coming back to the Sultanate for more talks and forums.

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|     James Kon     |

BRUNEIANS looking for big bargains at the many shopping outlets in Malaysia can look forward to the upcoming two mega sales events.

To further entice Bruneians to shop and visit Malaysia, Tourism Malaysia, in collaboration with four prominent local travel agents, has launched the Malaysia National Sales Campaign 2017 holiday packages in conjunction with the Malaysia Mega Sales Carnival to be held from June 15 to August 31 and the Malaysia Year End Sales from November 1 to December 31, 2017.

Various affordable and attractive travel packages to Malaysia are available from Anthony Tours and Travel Agency Sdn Bhd, Century Travel Centre Sdn Bhd, Freme Travel Services Sdn Bhd, and Pan Bright Service to promote the events.

Haji Ibrahim Seddiqi bin Talib, Director of Tourism Malaysia in Brunei Darussalam, along with representatives of the four travel agencies, launched the holiday packages yesterday at the Tourism Malaysia office in The Rizqun International Hotel.

Haji Ibrahim Seddiqi bin Talib, the Director of Tourism Malaysia in Brunei Darussalam, in a group photo with representatives from four top local travel agencies that launched the Malaysia National Sales Campaign 2017 Holiday Packages. – JAMES KON

“Shopping in Malaysia has always been the number one choice for Bruneian tourists. Tourism Malaysia is grateful for the continuous support extended by our local travel agents all these years and we look forward to welcome Bruneian shoppers to Malaysia,” the director said.

Malaysia’s shopping branding is centred on ‘experiential shopping’ concept that promotes Malaysia as a fun and wholesome shopping destination, complemented by entertainment and recreation activities, gastronomic adventures, luxury treatments and visits to popular spots.

It is made possible by the support of more than 500 integrated shopping malls and retail outlets in the country whose numbers are increasing every year. New retail and lifestyle hubs coming up this year include KL Gateway Mall in Kuala Lumpur and Genting Premium outlets in Genting Highlands which is further expected to stimulate Malaysia’s shopping scene.

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|     James Kon     |

MALAYSIA, one of the favourite travel destinations for Bruneians, targets 1.5 million tourist arrivals from the Sultanate this year.

The country recorded a total of 1.4 million Bruneian travellers in 2016, making Brunei its fifth largest market and raking in RM3.7 billion in tourism revenue.

In 2015, some 1.3 million Bruneian tourists visited Malaysia. The tourist arrival figures was revealed by Haji Ibrahim Seddiqi bin Talib, Director of Tourism Malaysia in Brunei Darussalam, during the launch of a slew of holiday packages in conjunction with the Malaysia Mega Sales Carnival to be held from June 15 to August 31 and the Malaysia Year End Sales from November 1 to December 31, 2017, at the Tourism Malaysia office in The Rizqun International Hotel yesterday.

“Bruneian tourists are very important to Malaysia where shopping is one of the main attractions. Many Bruneians also like to spend their holidays in Malaysia. We want to further tap into the Brunei market,” he said.

The director also revealed that some 1.3 million Bruneians travel to Miri and a majority of them make only day trips.

“We would like to see more Bruneians stay overnight in Miri and Kota Kinabalu,” he added.

Apart from shopping, many Bruneians visit Malaysia to meet their relatives as well as for business purposes. Some are heading to the country for education, the director noted.

“Brunei and Malaysia enjoy a close relationship and it is not just Bruneians who visit Malaysia but Malaysians too frequently travel to Brunei.”

Haji Ibrahim Seddiqi bin Talib, the Director of Tourism Malaysia in Brunei Darussalam during an interview. – JAMES KON

Asked about the possibility of introducing a direct flight from Brunei to Kuching, Sarawak, he replied; “We will discuss this issue with MAS Airline as there is a growing interest from Bruneians to travel to Kuching.”

Currently, Brunei is the fifth largest market for Malaysia after Singapore (13.3 million), Indonesia (3.1 million), China (2.1 million) and Thailand (1.8 million), according to Tourism Malaysia figures.

The Asean region continued to be the largest contributor of tourist arrivals for Malaysia with a 75.8 per cent share of the total arrivals. Thailand registered the highest growth of 32.5 per cent, followed by Laos (+27 per cent), Brunei (+22.7 per cent), Indonesia (+9.4 per cent), and Singapore (+2.6 per cent).

Malaysia received 26.8 million tourists in 2016 compared to 25.7 million tourists in 2015, a rise of four per cent.

Correspondingly, tourist receipts rose by 18.8 per cent contributing RM82.1 billion to Malaysia’s revenue against RM69.1 billion in 2015, which translates to an average per capita expenditure of RM3,068.20.

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|     Azlan Othman     |

THE Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and its departments held a recitation of Surah Yaasiin and Tahlil ceremony for the late parents of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam and Al-Marhumah Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman.

It was held at the Royal Mausoleum. Present was the Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong. Also in attendance were members of Legislative Council, deputy permanent secretary, heads of departments, senior officers, and staff of the ministry as well as village heads.

The religious activity is an annual programme of the ministry to glorify the holy month of Ramadhan and to gain rewards from Allah the Almighty.

Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong at the Tahlil ceremony. – AZLAN OTHMAN

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THE mukim and village consultative council in Belait District with representatives from the Ministry of Home Affairs and departments under it held a Tedarus ceremony for the Islamic year of 1438H/2017 at Al-Mashor Mosque, Kampong Sungai Mau in Mukim Bukit Sawat, Belait District, yesterday.

Present was Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Home Affairs as head of the delegation.

A Tahlil and Doa Arwah was held during the ceremony, followed by the presentation of donations to 10 orphans from Mukim Bukit Sawat, and the mosque by the head of the delegation.

The event is an initiative by the ministry to strengthen the relationship between the ministry and people of the mukims and villages in Belait District.

It is one of the ministry’s annual religious events which are held in all districts.

The delegation held a Tedarus in Tutong District on May 30 and will be making their way to Temburong and Brunei-Muara districts.

Also present were members of the Legislative Council in the Belait District, acting permanent secretary and deputy permanent secretary at the ministry, Belait District Officer, heads of department at the ministry, senior officers, officers, staff at the ministry and departments under it, penghulus, village heads, members of the mukim and village consultative councils in Belait District, Mosque Takmir committee members and the village community.

Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Home Affairs during the ceremony

The minister presenting a donation to one of the recipients

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|     Aziz Idris     |

TO ENLIVEN the fasting month of Ramadhan, the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) held its first Tedarus at the Suri Seri Begawan Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit Mosque in Kg Manggis/Madang yesterday.

The guest of honour, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong led the Tedarus with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and verses from Al-Quran followed by the breaking of fast and mass Maghrib prayer.

Imam Nuzli bin Haji Jumat led the congregation to perform the prayer.

The Tedarus ceremony is an annual activity aimed at strengthening ties between MPRT officials and the village community, and to reap more rewards by reading Al-Quran.

The religious ceremonies will continue to be organised by various ministries and government departments throughout the holy month of Ramadhan.

Similar events will be held at the Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit Mosque in Mukim Kilanas on June 6 and Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Mosque in Kampong Sungai Akar on June 10.

Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, at the event. – PHOTOS: AZIZ IDRIS

ABOVE & BELOW: Participants at the event

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|     James Kon     |

WINRUN Tyre’s Ladies Team remained unbeaten as they clinched a spot in the final of the Grand Women Open with a convincing 80-63 win against Indera En Voy Transportation in the first semifinal match up last night at the Batu Bersurat Basketball Court.

Captain Izzah Sandoval had a night to remember claiming the MVP award after scoring 31 points, while teammate Michaela Louise contributed 21 points.

Indera En Voy Transportation’s Chieng Lin Ying also had an impressive run scoring 26 points for the night.

Winrun Tyre started off well leading 6-0 after the tip-off but Indera En Voy Transportation managed to cut the lead to only two points after four minutes of play.

However, that was the only time Indera En Voy Transportation would be in touching distance of their opponents.

Winrun Tyre’s Captain Izzah Sandoval claimed the MVP award after scoring 31 points. – PHOTOS: JAMES KON

Winrun Tyre’s towering centre Caroline who dominated the defensive rebounds

With Caroline as the towering centre, Winrun Tyre soon dominated the game with defensive rebounds and catching Indera En Voy Transportation with fast breaks to gain a big lead.

By the end of the third quarter, Winrun Tyre was almost out of sight with a 63-41 lead into the final quarter.

Despite a valiant effort from Indera En Voy Transportation in the final quarter, Winrun Tyre held on to their perfect record heading into the final.

Winrun Tyre’s Coach Kaka said, “The team performed very well tonight in executing the defence and offence to stay undefeated. With the impressive result, we head to the final game with confidence.”

MyTown Eating House wrapped up the other final spot after they beat SSB A 67-45 and will meet Winrun Tyre in the final on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the semifinal of the Grand Veteran Tournament will take place tonight at the Batu Bersurat Basketball Court, where another undefeated team, Little Wonder Enterprise will take on Fitness Zone at 7pm. The other semifinal will se Digimark tipping off against Concept/3B3G at 8.30pm.

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|     Azaraimy HH     |

A TOTAL of 200 people attended a Tedarus, Tahlil and Doa Arwah ceremony at PTE Sengkurong yesterday.

The event began with a recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by the guest of honour, Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Deputy Minister of Education, followed by the recitation of Surahs (chapters) from Al-Quran, starting from Surah Al-An’am.

The recitation of Al-Quran verses was continued by senior officers and staff of the Ministry of Education (MoE) as well as students from Tanjong Maya Secondary School, Tutong.

The ceremony continued with a recitation of Tahlil and Doa Arwah led by Imam of Pengiran Muda Abdul Mateen Mosque, Kg Mulaut, Asbinin bin Haji Zainal.

The event concluded with a presentation of Waqaf by the guest of honour to the Principal of PTE Sengkurong, Haji Jafri bin Haji Suhaili.

Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Deputy Minister of Education and other senior officers from the Ministry of Education at the event. – AZARAIMY HH

The Waqaf includes 10 copies of Mushaf Brunei Darussalam, 10 pieces of Telekung (prayer veils for women), and a portable PA system for the school’s prayer room.

Funds for the Waqaf were from donations by senior officers, officers and staff at the MoE.

Dr Haji Azman bin Ahmad, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Higher Education), MoE and Dr Haji Mohammed Hussain bin Pehin Penyurat Haji Ahmad, Deputy Rector of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) were also present

A similar event will be held at Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Secondary School, Lumut, Belait District on June 6.

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WORLD Environment Day is celebrated every year on June 5 to bring attention to environmental problems such as illegal wildlife trade, climate change, habitat degradation, biodiversity loss, and many other challenges.

“The celebration of this day provides us with an opportunity to broaden the basis for an enlightened opinion and responsible conduct by individuals, enterprises and communities in preserving and enhancing the environment,” according to the United Nations.

Since it began in 1972, citizens from all over the world have launched thousands of campaigns to encourage others to contribute in implementing positive environmental action. This year’s theme, ‘Connecting People to Nature’, invites people to think how they are part of nature and how intimately they depend on it.

“We at the Asean Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) join people everywhere in celebrating World Environment Day. We call on everyone to look at the interconnectedness among humans, plants, animals, and other species in the web of life, and think of ways to be part of the solution in addressing environmental challenges,” said ACB Executive Director Roberto V Oliva.

According to ACB, there are a number of ways by which people can connect with nature. “Be a biodiversity hero by knowing more about the web of life and the hundreds of things you can do to conserve biodiversity. Plant a tree. Initiate a clean-up activity. Start a simple biodiversity education activity in your community. Be a citizen volunteer in an environment protection group. Every step – big or small, counts. We can be biodiversity heroes not only during World Environment Day, but every day,” Oliva shared.

This year’s World Environment Day’s theme, ‘Connecting People to Nature’, invites people to think how they are part of nature and how intimately they depend on it

On August 7, 2017, Asean will introduce 10 Asean Biodiversity Heroes to represent Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indo-nesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The Asean Biodiversity Heroes are outstanding individuals from the Asean region who not only have connected with nature, but also have contributed significantly to biodiversity conservation and advocacy efforts in their respective countries.

One of the commemorative activities for the Golden Anniversary of Asean, the Heroes project is supported by the Asean Secretariat; the Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs; the European Union through the Biodiversity Conservation and Management of Protected Areas in Asean (BCAMP) project; and HARI Foundation, Inc (HFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of Hyundai Asia Resources, Inc (HARI). The ACB serves as awards secretariat.

The ACB is an inter-governmental organisation that facilitates cooperation and coordination among the Asean member states and with relevant national governments, regional and international organisations on the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, guided by fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of such natural resources. It is the sole Asean centre being hosted by the Philippines. (Asean Biodiversity Heroes Secretariat)

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|     Achong Tanjong     |

GRAND Motors Sdn Bhd has invited the public to a world of dynamic driving and more at its 4th Kia On Tour and Test Drive.

A wide range of Kia models are being showcased at the roadshow at Times Square Shopping Centre from June 2-4. The test drive event will take place today at Berakas Sports Complex from 8am to noon.

Kia will be visiting different districts in Brunei Darussalam – Brunei-Muara, Tutong and Belait – where customers will have the chance to explore Kia’s fun-to-drive vehicles and experience a dynamic driving adventure.

Exclusive Kia smartphone speakers will be given to those who participate in the test drives during the tour.

The 2017 Kia On Tour and Test Drive is part of a global roadshow project initiated by Kia Motors Corporation in Korea to enable the population in its network of dealers covering countries in the US, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia and the Pacific to see, feel and experience Kia.

It is part of Kia’s global commitment to surpass customer expectations through continuous automotive innovation.

Kia models on display at Times Square Shopping Centre. – ACHONG TANJONG

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