|     James Kon     |

MINISTER of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong yesterday gave a thumbs up to a new local agrotech startup which combines traditional farming methods with information communication technology (ICT) to help grow fresh vegetables at home with ease.

MADGrow Tech has set up its headquarters at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) in Jalan Menteri Besar, turning the former gym/lounge area at the ministry into an office and workspace, which now houses a greenhouse and several ongoing aquaponic and experimental vertical farming projects.

The minister highlighted the growing trend of technology usage in farming during his speech at the launch.

“Every day in the news, you see and read about the emergence of different kinds of innovative agricultural technologies around the world. This increasing trend in developed and developing countries alike only proves that we should also take an early jump on this as well. This is in line with our ministry’s aspiration to introduce modern technology to increase productivity and growth in the agricultural sector,” the minister said.

Collaborating with MADGrow Tech, the Agriculture and Agrifood Department under the MPRT, he said, “has embarked on a path towards upgrading the lifestyle of communities in Brunei Darussalam. The introduction of modern agricultural technology used in urban farming here today will hopefully trigger interest among new entrepreneurs to venture into and see farming as a viable way to earn a living.

“The Agriculture and Agrifood Department believes that this project has the potential to turn Brunei into one of the providers of urban farming technologies in the region. Ultimately, the goal is to progress into being able to mass produce high quality, fresh organic produce – be it fruits or vegetables – to satisfy the country’s food requirements, and to improve agricultural productivity through the application of modern farming technologies,” the minister added.

This aspiration, he said, “will improve our competitiveness and export potential, and will then contribute to our economic growth which is also in line with the Strategic Plan 2016-2020 of the MPRT.”

MADGrow Tech has set its sights on becoming a major agrotech player in Brunei, and with guidance and support from the Agriculture and Agrifood Department, hopes to build on this ‘data-enabled agriculture’ practice – a farming method making use of environment sensors, mobile computing, wireless communication and drone imaging.

MADGrow Tech Founder and Managing Director Wan Mohammad Syazwan bin Mohammad Hijazi said, “Today’s launching (of MADGrow Tech) could not have come at a more opportune time, especially with 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’s motioning for efforts to transition the agricultural sector towards a state of self sufficiency during a titah last week at the 14th Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations at the International Convention Centre.”

Recalling the process involved in MADGrow Tech’s inception, he pointed out, “The journey started in late December 2016 when I assembled my core team. The first three months, we kept in touch, sat down a few times, brainstormed and constantly kept in touch via social media.

“I officially registered our company in February 2017. Initially, we were hoping to build our FarmBot on a rooftop at a chosen building; sadly, however, our proposal was never entertained, which turned out to be a blessing in disguise for us.”

FarmBot is a one-of-a-kind CNC farming machine from a California-based company. The firm provides all the necessary hardware, electronics, software and tools required to assemble the machine here in Brunei, and has selected MADGrow Tech as the focal point for the conducting of all FarmBot-related activities in the Southeast Asian region.

The first shipment of the farming robot went out on April 2017, with only 350 FarmBots making it to various parts of the world (Brunei currently has two of the first-generation FarmBot Genesis). MADGrow Tech has already started making orders for the second-generation FarmBot, which will ship out later this year.

“Between March and April we held meetings with the Director of Agriculture and Agrifood. Alhamdulillah, this room along with other resources available at our disposal is proof that the meeting went extremely well.”

“By mid-April, we had moved in to this area, which used to be a gym/lounge area. In late April our FarmBot arrived in Brunei, and in May, we wanted to build a raised scaffolding structure but eventually abandoned the idea mainly due to safety,” Wan Mohammad Syazwan explained.

“By June we had decided to build a greenhouse and came up with a design – things really started rolling after that. It took us a fair bit more time than we had expected, as we had to sort out the plumbing, wiring and materials for the building works, and we were understaffed with only three of us overlooking the project – my other two team members were holding full time day jobs.

“However, we managed to pull through eventually and what you see here today is the fruit of our labour.”

Also present at the launching were permanent secretary and deputy permanent secretary at the MPRT; directors and senior officers under the ministry; invited guests; and members of the media.

For more information about MADGrow Tech, please visit their website at www.madgrowtech.com.

|     James Kon     |

A CHINESE worker sustained an injury to his left hand, while three vehicles were destroyed and two more damaged in a workshop fire that broke out in the wee hours of Sunday morning at Simpang 41-13, Ban 6, Kampong Mulaut Kilanas.

A distress call was received by the Fire and Rescue Department at 4.32am and two fire engines with 14 firefighters were dispatched to the scene.

Upon arrival, the firefighters found a huge fire spreading at the ground floor of the workshop. The firefighting team – led by SSFR Nohi Irwan Surkawi, Commanding Officer of Operation Branch ‘F’- managed to bring the inferno under control within six minutes.

The total cost of damages from the fire, believed to have been caused by a two-pin portable wiring extension, is currently being determined.

The Fire and Rescue Department reminds residents to ensure their households and business premises or buildings are equipped with fire extinguishers and fire alarms.

In addition, members of the public should make sure that electrical equipment is always used properly in accordance with the correct standards – especially with regard to wiring – and avoid the overloading of appliances.

All wiring works should be carried out by qualified personnel from the Department of Electrical Services.

The Department also advises the public to switch off electrical equipment when they are not used or when no one is at home. Electrical equipment should always be monitored and supervised when switched on.

In the event of emergency, the public should contact the Fire and Rescue Department’s via the emergency hotline 995.

|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

MARKING its 15 years of providing specialised cardiac care in the Sultanate, Gleneagles JPMC commissioned a new Coronary Care Unit (CCU) yesterday.

Dato Seri Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, the Deputy Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC) officiated at the opening ceremony.

The new eight-bed facility will expand the capacity of Gleneagles JPMC and enable better patient low and streamlined services.

Congratulating Gleneagles JPMC for opening the new CCU, the deputy minister said it is heartening to note that majority of Gleneagles JPMC’s 150 staff are Bruneians, and hoped that the heart centre would continue to build upon its successes and eventually expand its services to neighbouring countries and beyond.

In his welcoming remarks, Dr Peter Tay, Chief  Executive Officer (CEO) of Gleneagles JPMC, explained that since its establishment in 2002, Gleneagles JPMC has been at the forefront of medical innovation and technology from the first coronary stenting and coronary artery bypass graft surgery performed in 2003, to the surgical implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) in a patient with severe heart failure in 2014 and the more recent trans-catheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in 2016, a procedure which did not require open heart surgery.

“In 2013, we introduced 3D electrical mapping of the heart for electrophysiology and ablation to treat cardiac rhythm abnormalities,” he said.

“The number of cardiac patients treated at our centre has increased through the years. In 2016, Gleneagles JPMC performed over 1,000 angiograms, more than 550 percutaneous interventions and in excess of 150 open heart surgeries.”

Gleneagles JPMC has been working closely with the Ministry of Health in providing tertiary cardiac services to patients in the Sultanate. This close collaboration has resulted in joint care of cardiac patients and improved response time for cardiac emergencies, the CEO noted.

The ward capacity expansion is an initiative in Gleneagles JPMC continuous effort to provide high standards of cardiac care and services and to be a centre of excellence for cardiovascular diseases in the Sultanate and beyond.

|     Azlan Othman     |

CELEBRATIONS of important days in the Islamic calendar will focus on the theme of government and state leadership, in view of the 50th Golden Jubilee of 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’s ascension to the throne.

This was highlighted yesterday, during an Executive Committee Meeting for the National Major Islamic Events, by Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, the Minister of Religious Affairs, who also chaired the meeting at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.

“In addition, there are also sub-themes that highlight the essence of the teachings, which should be propagated as significant or historical events happening on important days in the Islamic calendar,” said the minister.

“When promoting Islam at a national level, we should do it cooperatively as a joint commitment by all, instead of being a mere monopoly by certain parties in terms of religious matters.”

The minister also noted that the objective of this meeting is to formulate and act upon suggestions in regard to significant events in the Islamic year of 1439 Hijrah.

“This marks our continuing commitment to the country to glorify Islam, which is the official religion, as well as being the main support and guidance in governance.

“The religion of Islam, which has been practised in this country for centuries, has formed our way of life and influences the quality of life in the Brunei monarchial system which is full of goodness, peace and happiness.

“Accordingly, in every celebration, we try to highlight important teachings and principles, which are relevant. We have the appropriate themes to offer, while promoting the teachings of Islam which serve as a strong base and authority.”

The meeting discussed working papers to be presented for upcoming major events in the Islamic calendar such as the New Year of 1439 Hijrah, the Maulidur Rasul, an Al-Quran reading competition for adults and the celebrations for Israk Mikraj.

Among the matters discussed were the themes for every event and venue; side activities; and the appointment of steering, executive and working committees. As in previous years, Islamic events will be observed mainly through religious activities organised by ministries, departments, and mosques, suraus and religious halls such as special prayers to welcome in the New Year of 1439 Hijrah, as well as religious talks and forums.

Also present at the meeting were Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar, the Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara; Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs; and other senior government officials.

|     Abdul Hakiim Yakof     |

THE country’s uniformed men and women, clad in ceremonial attire, assembled in the Banquet Hall of Istana Nurul Iman yesterday to celebrate the 71st birthday of 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.

An annual event, the Royal Banquet saw participation of guests from Brunei’s multi-level security agencies as well as uniformed organisations and associations.

Upon arrival, His Majesty made his way across the Banquet Hall along with Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam.

Also present at the banquet were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and

Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah; and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah.

Also in atendence were His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah binti Pengiran Haji Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah; and Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam.

A Doa Selamat was read by Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the State Mufti, to bless the occasion.

Towards the end of the banquet, guests assembled to greet and convey their wishes to Their Majesties and members of the royal family.

The uniformed personnel attending the banquet comprised those from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), Fire and Rescue Department, National Service Programme (PKBN), Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association, Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society, army and police cadets, and other organisations.

The Royal Banquet for uniformed personnel also signifies His Majesty’s appreciation for their continuing efforts and dedication in promoting peace, security and stability in the country while achieving progress and development.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam under-15 national team ended the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Under-15 Youth Championship in fourth place following a stalemate against Philippines in Group ‘B’ at the Chonburi Campus Stadium 2 in Chonburi, Thailand yesterday.

The young Wasps missed an opportunity to leapfrog Cambodia in third place, who lost 4-2 to Malaysia, with victory enough to see them pip the Kouprey Blue by a single point.

However, the Brunei under-15s still created a new milestone after accomplishing their best point tally at this age group level with five points, just a point shy of their nearest rivals.

The current generation also amassed four points more than the previous team which set the benchmark for the best point tally with one in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in 2015.

Brunei under-15s have also tasted victory for the first time in the 2-0 win over the Kouprey Blue after six appearances since joining the competition for the first time in 2002.

The Philippines draw marked their second clean sheet of the tournament following their efforts against Timor Leste in the opening fixture.

Brunei also ended the tournament with three goals scored and five goals conceded making it their best showing in their history in the competition.

Under-15 national team head coach Stephen Ng said that it was not easy for his young guns after playing their fifth game in nine days.

“Our boys continued their good momentum from the last game to dominate almost the entire game, creating many chances in both sides of the half, but was unlucky not to find the net today,” Stephen said.

“Overall our boys did well for a young side that finished the group stage with five played, one win, two draws and two losses.”

“We also scored three goals and conceded five,” the head coach further added.

He also highlighted the team’s disciplinary record with only two bookings in five games.

The team will continue their training and will be hoping to continue their promising work as they gear towards the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) qualifiers in September.

“The next stage for the team is to continue training and playing at this level of international game intensity and to prepare well for the AFC qualifiers in September,” the head coach said.

Meanwhile, Vietnam sealed top spot in Group B after thumping sorry Timor Leste 4-0.

|    Khairil Hassan    |

THE Brunei Darussalam Netball Association (BNA) and selected teams from BNA received sponsorships during a handing over session at the Green Room of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas yesterday.

Selected teams from BNA: Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB); Brunei Darussalam Schools Sports Association (BSSA); Spitfire; 7Strike; Netballisus; and Herricans received sponsorship from Gilbert Training Netballs and a set of bibs.

Brunei Darussalam Netball Team, the Royal Bees received 25 Molton Netballs SN58MX – which will be used as the official netball for the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur – from Prestige Robes, TeaStar Corporation USA/SL, Australian Migration Consultants, YHM International and Sports In News Melbourne Australia (SNNI) for the Multi-Cultural Sports Development Programme.

Presenting to the teams were Johann Dias Jayasinha, National Operations & Media Manager of The Island, Sports In News (SNNI) and his colleague, Sanjeewa.

|    Khairil Hassan    |

THE Men and Ladies Masters Softball National Team of the Brunei Darussalam Amateur Softball and Baseball Association (BASBA) departed for Bangkok yesterday to compete in the 3rd Ladies Masters Softball Championship and 5th Men Masters Softball Championship at the Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, from July 20-23.

Some 25 ladies and 16 men represent the masters team led by BASBA’s Secretary General, Major (Rtd) Wan Mohd Tambrin bin Haji Suhaili. The teams will compete against teams from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Japan.

“Both teams won bronze in 2016. We aim to get better results this year,” BASBA Secretary General said told the Bulletin.

Present to bid farewell to the teams was President of BASBA, Pehin Orang Kaya Lela Pahlawan Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Mohd Jaafar bin Haji Abdul Aziz.

|    Fadhil Yunus    |

DPMM FC will have to wait another year for an opportunity to win their fourth Singapore League Cup, with a possibility of not being associated with creating history after they received a 5-1 humbling by Warriors FC in the semi-finals at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore last night.

Though it is premature to make any earlier assumptions at this stage considering how ruthless Singapore’s finest local side were, the title of history makers may fall to Albirex Niigata (S) after the side booked their place in the final with a 4-0 win over Geylang International FC.

The Japanese satellite side have three titles to their name and they will add a new record if they emulate their feat against DPMM FC’s conquerors.

The ‘Gegar Gegar’ men still have the Singapore Cup to look forward to in their hopes of taking something out of the season but their journey in the Singapore League Cup has brutally ended.

Warriors FC head coach Razif Onn had got everything right with his tactics and their beleaguered opponents simply had no answer to their relentless brand of football.

Most of the Warriors FC players who caused mayhem during their league clash at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium were instrumental in the resounding win.

Their adopted home venue had always brought good memories in the past especially at this stage of the competition but last night was not one of them.

Emmeric Ong, who is one of the players to watch out for the visitors, certainly made his case as one of the stars in the Warriors show after sending a good cross in which import Andrei Cosmin Ciolacu headed over.

The Romanian forward had a mixed start to his Warriors career after scoring a hat-trick before going missing in the other games but his liveliness would never be in question.

Jordan Webb, the other player that deserved special mention, took matters on his own hands after initiating a counterattack but Shahril Ishak failed to connect with Hafiz Nor’s cross.

DPMM FC’s resistance were duly broken after the impressive Ong slotted the ball past goalkeeper Mu’izzuddin Ismail following good work from Hafiz Nor.

Adi Said nearly levelled for the designated hosts but saw his header go wide after connecting from his brother Shahrazen’s cross.

The Brunei-based outfit were dealt with a massive blow after Warriors nicked a goal a minute before the break after a fine team move which firstly saw Ho Wai Loon releasing the ball to Webb before squaring across goal for Shahril to tap home.

Ciolacu, who needed time to settle in his brief time in Singapore football, put his side to a commanding 3-0 lead after nodding home Webb’s cross in the 53rd minute.

Chilean import Daud Gazale, who missed the group stages due to injury, was introduced from the bench against Warriors as he came on for Adi Said in the 69th minute.

But the free-scoring Warriors never got out of their rhythm as Shahril spectacularly volleyed home Ho’s teasing cross from the by-line for his second of the night.

Shahrazen pulled one back for DPMM FC after converting Azwan Ali’s cross from close range but his side were heading out of the competition with 13 minutes of the clock remaining.

Warriors added gloss to the win after Shahril completed his hat-trick with a well-taken penalty after defender Hanif Hamir was adjudged to have handled in the area.

Warriors will now represent the whole of Singapore to prevent Japanese side Albirex from making history of clinching their fourth League Cup title.

|     Danial Norjidi     |

EMERGING markets offer tremendous opportunities, and it is crucial for businesses to understand the local nuances in these markets to be able to create a product that resonates with the people there.

These points were made during a presentation by Azran Osman-Rani, the CEO of iFlix, who discussed ‘The iFlix strategy of constant innovation’ during the CEO Summit 2017 at the International Convention Centre in Berakas in May.

In his presentation, he spoke about the journey to creating iFlix as a game changer from the ground up, transforming the way Southeast Asian customers’ access entertainment content, and continuing to innovate in a rapidly changing world.

iFlix was launched on May 26, 2015. “So two years ago, it was still just a bunch of guys at the Mid Valley Mall in Kuala Lumpur furiously clicking away at our laptops. That’s all we were. Fast forward to today, iFlix is now in over 20 countries,” he shared.

“Let me share some context why we think there is tremendous opportunity by thinking differently,” he said, noting first that “when you step out and look at the world that we live in today in these emerging markets, the opportunities are massive.

“Today, even if you exclude China and you exclude India, not only are there over a billion users in emerging markets, there are a billion mobile-connected users today. What gets us even more excited is over the next few years, by 2020, that number will double.

“So today, in the world that we live in, there are a billion people who are not even connected to the Internet yet. Yet, they are going to over the next few years as smartphones proliferate.

He noted that the price of a good Android smartphone that connects them to the world of the Internet has now plummeted to under US$35. “And so, Internet connectivity, for the very first time, is coming to the hands of over a billion people in emerging markets.

“A lot of people they want to be entertained. They want a lot of things. Entertainment is one of them. The other thing that’s happening is television and video consumption is moving to the small screen.

“We might have grown up in the days where we watch the television in our living rooms with a big screen TV, but if you ask your kids today, over 60 per cent of the video consumption is on the small screen,” he said. “Even when you gather them in a living room as a family, they’re all watching their own shows.

“So the world is changing. The mobile phone has been an incredibly powerful and empowering device that opens up the world of the Internet to everyone. But here’s the thing. Telecommunications companies are rushing to spend trillions of dollars in capital expenditure to roll out telecom networks, data networks, 4G networks, some people are even talking about 5G today.

“But in a lot of these emerging market countries, network coverage is no longer the issue, because the populations of these countries that live in network coverage areas but are not yet connected do not have a mobile Internet subscription. So network is not the main reason or barrier. Accessibility is no longer an issue.

The real issue, Azran said, “is the availability of relevant local content, because in emerging markets, that western view, that English-dominant view, doesn’t appeal to most of the population. And this is something that we, as businesses, have to be careful of because we’re not in this demographic. We communicate in English, we have our iPhones, we can use our credit cards, we have a Facebook account, but to 90 per cent of the people in emerging markets, it does not resonate there.

“So if we’re going to try and create a digital service, it has to be something that appeals to them not just from a linguistic point of view, but from an emotional and cultural point of view so that they will take up the service.”

He went on to note, “One more thought from an infrastructure view also is that in these emerging markets, as much as telecommunications are rolling out all these fast 4G networks, even by 2020, over 70 per cent of network coverage in emerging markets will still be 2G and 3G technology.

“So the dream of high-speed 30, 50mb per second mobile Internet connectivity will still remain a dream for many years to come in these vast emerging markets, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t create digital products. We just have to engineer it differently to make it work on these networks.”

He explained that iFlix was created to provide a mobile-first video and demand platform, recognising that for this target demographic, the mass market, they use mobile phones as their primary device.

They aimed to be able to, for an affordable price, provide thousands and thousands of hours of entertainment at their fingertips, easily curated, and to provide a wide selection, he shared, “not just English shows, but Korean dramas, Japanese anime, Thai horror shows, Filipino soaps, Malay comedies and animation.

“While Hollywood does have an appeal for this mass market, it has to be localised to provide subtitles, and this is where you have to be on the ground to understand,” he affirmed. “For example, the Bahasa that we use for Malay in Malaysia and Brunei doesn’t work in Indonesia, and vice versa. In Myanmar there are two different scripts and you need to be careful which script you use, or the Arabic that’s spoken in North Africa doesn’t translate to the Arabic that’s spoken in the Gulf. And so, understanding these nuances requires us to be on the ground.”

Continuing on how iFlix has worked to innovate, he said, “While the guys in Silicon Valley are focussed on how do we stream on ultra-high definition, 4K and 8K, how does it work on a big 80-inch flat screen TV, our engineering is focused on how do we make iFlix stream on a sub 1mb per second 3G connection without buffering? It’s a very, very different technology challenge. When we focus on the new, emerging markets we can understand that these are the realities you have to solve. It’s a very different technical challenge.

“But even if you could solve that challenge, people aren’t going to consume their precious gigabytes of data just watching lots and lots of TV shows because data’s precious, and so we would have been the first to figure out it’s actually important to figure out how do you download your shows so that when you get to a public wifi spot or when you’re at the office and you have a wifi connection, you can quietly download shows on iFlix onto your phone and then on your commute back home or at home, you can watch it offline without requiring a data connection.”

Azran went on to highlight, “So, in summary, iFlix is about addressing all the pain points. How do we create something that’s incredibly affordable at a retail price of about US$2 a month, and having thousands and thousands of shows across multiple genres because people have different interests, to be able to have features like the ability to download and watch offline, to not be bound by contracts?

“Every time you see pain points, it’s an opportunity to create something that’s different, as long as you have the best interests for the customer,” he added.

|     James Kon     |

CHINESE tourists are important for Brunei Darussalam and the increase in direct flights as well as tourists arrivals, will spur local employment opportunities in the tourism sector, said Salinah binti Salleh, Acting Director of the Tourism Development Department.

She made these comments during an interview at the Brunei International Airport yesterday to welcome the first Lucky Air’s flight from Kunming to Brunei.

Some 160 Chinese tourists arrived on board the inaugural flight supported by local travel agents – BonAsia Holiday travel agency, Freme Travel Services, Anthony Tours and Travel Agency and PJ Majestic Tours and Travel.

The Chinese tourists were welcomed to the sounds of the Hadrah.

Salinah said with the increase in Chinese tourists, the demand for Chinese speaking tour guides will also increase creating employment opportunities.

She said; “Based on Tourism Development Department statistics provided following studies conducted by the Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS) earlier this year, tourism revenue in 2106 generated by the China market was estimated at B$6,451,178.86 with an average stay of 2.8 days.

The spending power of Chinese tourists can also help contribute to the economy and businesses in the country.”

The increase in Chinese tourist arrivals can help achieve the ministry’s target of 450,000 tourist arrivals by 2020, Salinah said.

She said with flights under Lucky Air, “we hope that there will be a steady flow of Chinese tourists into the country.”

She welcomed the efforts of local travel agents who helped promote Brunei Darussalam as a top tourist destination in the region.

Caroline Ang, Executive Director of BonAsia Holiday Management Services in a statement said; “The guests will stay in Brunei for five days and four nights. The hotel accommodation, transport, tourist attractions and catering are operated and arranged by us – BonAsia Holidays Management Services. As one of the travel agencies in Brunei, we aim to become an excellent quality tourism enterprise, shape the boutique corporate image by creating a sincere and enjoyable travel experience to our guests.”

As one of the four founding members of the U-FLY Alliance, Hainan Airline Group subordinate airline – Lucky Air continues to aggressively expand its network in the region by launching a new route connecting Kunming to Brunei, further strengthening its vast network to Asia in response to the ‘One Belt, One Road’, initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping to build trade routes between China and countries in numerous regions including Asean.

Lucky Air is using its Airbus A320 aircraft to fly to Brunei twice a week, every Tuesday and Saturday.

|     James Kon     |

TWENTY-ONE abandoned cars were yesterday discovered during a joint operation codenamed ‘Terjah 66/2017’ led by the Law Enforcement Unit of the BSB Municipal Department.

Of the 21 vehicles, five were towed away by Syarikat M Han Enterprise to a scrapyard after permission was obtained by the Land Transport Department through Section 84 of Chapter 68 under the Road Traffic Act.

Three vehicles will be removed today, while another five are expected to be moved by their owners within the week.

Eight more vehicles were moved by their owners yesterday morning.

Personnel from the Land Transport Department, Public Health Services under the Ministry of Health, and a scrap metal company were also involved in yesterday’s operation which targetted the surrounding areas of a commercial building in Bunut.

During the operation, BSB Municipal Department enforcement personnel also issued compound fines under Chapter 30, Section 12 (1) of the Minor Offences Act to two workshops for disposing rubbish in public areas.

Under this act, the storing or disposal of any item in public places is prohibited and considered an offence. Any party – be it a company or individual – issued with a fine must settle it within seven days.

In failing to do so, the case will be referred to the courts. If found guilty, a $1,000 fine or one month imprisonment will be imposed (first offence), while subsequent offences carry a punishment of a $3,000 fine or imprisonment not exceeding three months.

The Law Enforcement Unit urged all companies to maintain the cleanliness of their premises and to comply with the various regulations under the Minor Offences Act. The unit also notified owners of abandoned cars found in public areas that their cars will be removed under Section 84, Chapter 68 of the Road Traffic Act.

Similar inspections and operations in areas under the BSB Municipal Department’s jurisdiction will continue to be conducted by the unit in the future.

|     Azaraimy HH     |

A SERIES of colourfully choreographed special field performances charmed thousands who congregated at the field area of the Tutong District Civic Centre Complex yesterday to attend 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’s annual get-together ceremony in conjunction with the monarch’s 71st birthday celebrations.

The enchanting field performances summed up the affection of the people of Tutong District towards their ruler.

The spectacular show involved around 571 individuals, comprising 471 students from secondary and primary schools in Tutong District, members of local ethnic communities, representatives of mukim and village consultative councils, local youths and the Tutong District Volunteer Group.

Cikgu Aziz bin Hamdan, chairman of the special field performances in Tutong District, in an interview after the event said, “Alhamdulillah, we had rehearsed the performances nearly a month last May. We had to temporarily stop the rehearsal to give respect to the holy month of Ramadhan and Hari Raya celebration. Today, as chairman of the special performance I feel satisfied and very proud of how the participants, especially our young students performed. We hope that His Majesty is also satisfied with the performances.”

Some of the young people involved in the performance included students from Nusa Jaya, Muda Hashim, Tutong Camp, Bukit Beruang, Tanjong Maya, Tumpuan Telisai, and Sengkarai primary schools as well as students from Muda Hashim, Sufri Bolkiah Tutong, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha, Sayyidina Othman, Tanjong Maya secondary schools and Mahad Islam Brunei.

Carrying the theme ‘Raja Bijaksana, Negara Makmur, Rakyat Sejahtera’, the colourful 20-minute performance reflected the beloved monarch’s charismatic leadership, benign characteristics and capable kingship in ensuring the wellbeing of the people and prosperity of the nation under the guiding national philosophy of Malay Islamic Monarchy.

Tutong has diverse ethnic groups, and the performances featured the distinct cultures of people from Puak Tutong, Puak Kedayan, Tiong Hua community, Puak Dusun and Puak Iban, Cikgu Aziz said.

He said three songs were made especially for this year’s performances, created by himself and co-chairman of special performance Mohd Amir bin Haji Umarali. The songs were ‘Gerak Belia Perkasa’, ‘Gema Perpaduan Rakyat’, and ‘Raja Terungul Daulat Kebawah Duli Tuan Patek’.

Describing the songs, Cikgu Aziz said ‘Gerak Belia Perkasa’ symbolises youths as the nerves of the nation. ‘Gerak Belia Perkasa’ reflects youths as inheritors of the nation’s heritage and identity. Part of the lyric of this song is ‘Orang Tutong Orang Kita’ which expresses the love of people of Tutong towards the nation and the king. The song ‘Raja Terungul Daulat Kebawah Duli Tuan Patek’ highlights the respect and loyalty of the people of Tutong District towards the beloved king.

The special performance session was divided into four segments.

The first segment portrayed the young generation of Bruneians as the future hope of the country and highlighted the progress in the field of education through the implementation of farsighted policies by His Majesty that give birth to young citizens with big heart.

In this segment, a group of young students played a musical drama titled ‘We are Children with Big Heart’. The drama told the story of the young generation of people who are faithful to the religion and the king, possess big ambitions, respect their parents and teachers, and always strive to realise a noble ambition. Their skills were shown through their ability to communicate, hold dialogue and sing. The performance involved some 100 students aged 12 and below.

The second segment showcased the active participation and sound leadership of youths who are capable of spearheading the nation towards a respected position. Involving some 150 students, the segment began with a synchronised movement and singing entitled ‘Gerak Belia Perkasa’ (Mighty Motion of the Youth). These motions reflected the boldness of the nation’s youths in entering a more challenging field for the sake of the nation’s development. This group of youths represented different sectors such as creative and innovative industry, tourism, agriculture, arts and culture, entrepreneurship and others. This segment showed the group of youths forming the number 71 in both Jawi and Roman alphabets. On a whole, the segment showed that the nation’s youths are responsible and progressive and have a strong spirit of teamwork.

The third segment showed the solidarity of citizens and residents towards creating a peaceful and prosperous life.

In this segment, a community of people, represented by some 100 participants, staged a performance based on the concept of tradition – brought together from various traditional musical feats such as ‘Bermukun’ and ‘Berdundun’ into one musical melody titled ‘Gema Perpaduan Rakyat’ (Echoes of People’s Unity).

This segment reflected the principle direction the nation is taking in its development, maintaining its rich heritage and culture, towards reaching the goals of Vision 2035.

The fourth segment was a combined show of all the participants together with the citizens and residents in Tutong District expressing their unwavering loyalty and love towards the beloved monarch.

This segment also included a patriotic song ‘Raja Terungul Daulat Kebawah Duli Tuan Patek’, reflecting the solidarity of people towards a peaceful and prosperous living.

The performance ended with loud cries of ‘Daulat Kebawah Duli Tuan Patik’ (Long Live His Majesty) by the performers and attendees.

|     Azaraimy HH     |

IN A splendid display of love and loyalty, some 8,000 citizens and residents of Tutong District turned out to meet their beloved ruler yesterday.

It was a golden opportunity for those who flooded the field area of Tutong District Civic Centre Complex to welcome 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 during the monarch’s meet-and-greet with the people in conjunction with His Majesty’s 71st birthday celebrations.

His Majesty’s annual get-together with the people is one of the most significant celebrations in the country’s annual calendar of events as it is a platform for the people to get up close to their much adored king.

It is the most unique event of the birthday celebration or any stately celebration in the country.

Tutong was the first leg of the monarch’s annual meet-and-greet with residents in all four districts this year.

At the field of Tutong District Civic Centre Complex, the people awaited as early as 7am, around three hours before His Majesty’s scheduled arrival by helicopter.

Upon landing at the helipad near the official residence of the Tutong District Officer, His Majesty and members of the royal family proceeded to the royal dais on the field of the civic centre complex in a motorcade.

Hundreds of ecstatic schoolchildren lined the roads leading to the dais and thousands of enthusiastic residents waited in excitement as the royal entourage made a grand entry into the field.

The roads leading to the Tutong District Civic Centre Complex were beautifully decorated with welcoming banners and elegant arches.

Accompanying His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.

The arrival of His Majesty and members of the royal family was greeted by Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Home Affairs, who is also the Chairman of the National Executive Committee for His Majesty 71st birthday celebrations.

The festivities commenced with the singing of the national anthem, followed by three loud cries of ‘Daulat Kebawah Duli Tuan Patik’ (Long Live His Majesty) and the pledge of loyalty read by Shamsul Bahrin bin Haji Mohd Hussain, Tutong District Officer.

In his pledge of loyalty speech, the Tutong District Officer conveyed the deep affection and gratitude of people of Tutong District towards His Majesty.

The event then saw a special performance which carried the theme ‘Raja Bijaksana, Negara Makmur, Rakyat Sejahtera’.

The colourful 20-minute performance reflected the beloved monarch’s charismatic leadership, benign characteristics and capable kingship in ensuring the wellbeing of the people and prosperity of the nation under the guiding national philosophy of Malay Islamic Monarchy.

After the special performance, came the much-anticipated main event of the day where His Majesty, accompanied by members of the royal family, went around the field to meet, shake-hands, and chat with his subjects.

Some took the opportunity to present pesambahs to His Majesty and take photos with the monarch.

After the meet-and-greet session, His Majesty proceeded to the Tutong Civic Centre Complex for a short rest before attending a cake-cutting ceremony at the main hall of the civic centre complex.

|    Fadhil Yunus    |

CK & Associates chalked their first win in the MK Group Cup after recording a 101-71 victory over BBA in Group ‘A’ at the Brunei Basketball Association Court in Batu Bersurat last night.

The win kept them in firm contention of a top four place and for BBA, it was a second successive defeat in three days.

Ricardo F Eliseo had a high scoring game with a total of 28 points while Cuberto Sin Lip Tech and Joey Albert De contributed with 16 points each.

Jake Chong top scored for his team with 21 points in a losing effort which included five three-pointers.

Jake is fast becoming an important player for BBA after repeating the feat as his team’s top scorer having scored 9 points in the Easyway defeat.

For CK & Associates, it was the perfect response after bouncing back from their defeat to Street Roc who looks in good shape to make second place their own.

Meanwhile, Street Roc continued their fine performance with a 105-82 win over Em Prez Sdn Bhd.

BBA’s tough campaign in the MK Group Cup continue tomorrow against Street Roc while CK & Associates will look to win back-to-back matches against Em Prez Sdn Bhd.

The competition continues tonight with YTE Morsjaya and Juramas looking for a victory against both Tutong Basketball and Hainan, respectively.

The post CK & Associates chalk first win in MK Group Cup appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|    Fadhil Yunus    |

BRUNEI Darussalam’s goalkeeper Haimie anak Nyaring single-handedly prevented Australia from running away with a huge score-line during his side’s 2-0 loss in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-23 qualifiers at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar yesterday.

The Brunei under-23 number one was outstanding in the group opener as he followed save after save to prevent from further embarrassment against a heavily-fancied side favoured to clinch top spot without much of an obstacle.

The youthful Soccerroos asserted their dominance with at least 10 scoring opportunities with striker Daniel Arzani leading the charge but Haimie stood tall with the majority of the attacking onslaught.

Australia were not to be denied though after George Blackwood converted from the penalty spot with Riley McGree, whose move to Belgian first division side Club Brugge was confirmed, adding a second five minutes from time.

Brunei will play designated hosts Myanmar tomorrow while Australia play Singapore in the other match.

“I am satisfied with our performance in the first half. Hopefully, we will learn from this match,” under-23 national head coach Kwon Oh-son was quoted as saying by the AFC website.

“Australia is a very strong opponent compared to other Asean member countries. Hopefully we continue with our first half performance towards the SEA Games.”

“But first it is important that we focus on all games in the AFC tournament,” he continued.

The same team is likely to represent the country in next month’s SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The head coach vowed that the team will give their all and likened each tie as a cup final.

“We will play each match like a final. Even though Myanmar is the host country, we don’t have to worry about the next game. We will enter it without big pressure,” the South Korean concluded.

Meanwhile, Australia under-23 national head coach Josep Gombau heaped praise on young Brunei goalkeeper Haimie following his commendable performance behind the sticks.

“Brunei were good opponents and we were fortunate in the first half- the keeper saved good shots and our strikers missed a few,” Gombau said.

The post Haimie impresses in Aussie defeat appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

THE first ever YSEALI Borneo Eco Warriors workshop concluded on July 13 with a closing ceremony at the Courtyard Hotel, Kota Kinabalu.

The ceremony also saw the presentation of certificates to the participants by Professor Madya Dr How Siew Eng, Personal Assistant of the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia, Sabah, as well as the Director of the Eco Campus Management Centre.

Thirty youths from various backgrounds, comprising eight delegates from Brunei, eight from Sarawak and 14 from Sabah participated in the four-day workshop from July 10-13.

According to a press statement, the workshop aimed to raise awareness on environmental issues in the region and enhance individual skills such as leadership, project management, creative thinking and public speaking. Eight speakers were invited to share their views on ocean threats, and initiatives which hope to empower youths to initiate ocean conservation in their region.

Topics covered were Climate Change and the Marine Ecosystem by Marine Biodiversity Research Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sabah; Environmental Issues in Sabah by Environmental Protection Department, Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment; The Environmental Law and Conservation of the Wildlife by Sabah Wildlife Department; Turtle Conservation by WWF Malaysia; Shark Conservation by Sabah Shark Protection Association; Sustainable Marine Tourism by Scuba Junkie, Coral Rehabilitation by Reef Check Malaysia; and The Power of Storytelling by Borneo Eco Film Festival, the press release said.

The highlight of the programme was the trips to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park and Sabah Wetland Conservation Centre. Participants cleaned one of the beaches in Gaya Island and collected 70 bags of mainly plastic bottles. David McCann, Conservation Manager of Scuba Junkie stated that this endless cycle of plastic debris has to stop to avoid harming marine wildlife.

Anis Bazilah, one of the delegates from Brunei said, “It was an eye-opening (experience) to see the effects that we have on the environment first hand during our field trip on the second day. It is very disheartening to see parts of our homes become ‘dump sites’. But with that, it is also nice to see that there are amazing people taking initiative to tackle these problems.”

Lectures from experts and direct field trip exposures have made the participants to come up with a proposed follow-up project after this programme. Seven group of participants pitched their ideas emphasising on education and conservation programme to instill awareness to our generation. This project will be supported by the Borneo Eco Warriors Team in terms of mentoring and funding.

Mohd Firdaus bin Haji Ismail, Project Manager of YSEALI Borneo Eco Warriors, stated that it was an honour to be the first YSEALI members from Brunei to receive the grant. During the closing ceremony, he said, “Ocean conservation is not limited to researchers and environmentalist, but it is everyone’s responsibility.”

He urged participants to take action in mitigating the ocean issues and become role model. “I hope you to become a proactive youth leader in tackling such issues which contributes to environment, and socio-economy,” Mohd Firdaus added.

The workshop was funded by the US Mission to Asean through YSEALI Seeds for Future Grant, and supported by Cultural Vistas, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Active Creation, and The Scuba Junkie.

The post YSEALI workshop tackles environmental issues, moulds youth leaders appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     James Kon     |

BRUNEI Darussalam needs to promote itself, while acquiring a better understanding of the Korean people and their tastes, if it is to gain entry into the Korean market.

This sound advice came from Lee Dong-go, the Deputy Head of Trade and Investment Unit under the Asean-Korea Centre, in an exclusive interview yesterday during the Trade Facilitation Workshop for local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), at the International Convention Centre (ICC).

In 2016, the Asean-Korea Centre invited 10 Brunei companies to participate in a food festival in Seoul, and similar arrangements are being made for this year.

Lee said, “The Seoul Expo in Korea this year is scheduled to take place on October 25-28. This will be a great opportunity for Brunei products to be introduced to Korea.”

He also noted that Brunei’s special sauce and blue shrimp made an impression on Korean consumers at last year’s expo.

Recently, Lee and a Korean delegation, made up of experts in food and packaging, visited the BMC Food Industries Sdn Bhd (BMC) and the blue shrimp farm at Golden Corporation Sdn Bhd.

“I am impressed with the blue shrimp farm here,” said Lee. “It’s very clean with modern facilities. We are already importing numerous seafood products from Vietnam and Thailand, and I feel that there is a very good chance of Golden Corporation exports to Korea.”

Lee also lauded the quality of Golden Corporation’s blue shrimp, which he described as “very fresh and nice.”

On BMC, he said, “It is a potential target for the growing Muslim community in Korea. Halal food is healthy and hygienic, which is a very attractive selling point.”

To promote further understanding between both countries, Lee also recommended the start of direct flights from Brunei to Seoul.

“The direct flights should provide a good chance for the people of both Brunei and Korea to understand each other better,” he said.

This is the 6th visit to Brunei by representatives from the Asean-Korea Centre, which has also conducted various programmes with the local food sector.

The two-day Trade Facilitation Workshop has focussed exclusively on food and packaging, one of Brunei’s prioritised sectors for further economic growth and national development, under the 10th National Development Plan of 2012-2017.

The workshop was specifically designed to enhance the capacity of Brunei’s MSMEs and building networks between Brunei-Korean businesses, while establishing a strong platform for mid- to long-term trade flows between Brunei and Korea in the food sector.

This year, the Asean-Korea Centre brought along experts from eight Korean companies dealing in sub-sectors of food items, packaging design and info-communications technology (ICT) in smart farming.

The post Brunei has potential to penetrate Korean market appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Achong Tanjong     |

CONFEX will be holding the International Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE) Construction Conference 2017 from August 21-23 at the Musyawarah Hall of the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas, following the success of last year’s event.

Addressing a press conference yesterday at the Public Works Department (JKR) headquarters in Berakas, CONFEX Operations Manager Dayangku Maznah binti Pengiran Badarudin – chairing the conference – said, “This year the HSSE 2017 conference is themed ‘Towards Achieving A Sustainable Future,’ and will be inviting HSSE experts from across the Asean region as well as relevant local authorities to share ideas and discuss ways to improve the construction industry (via dialogues and panel discussions) through technological advancements and maintaining positive HSSE performance.”

To run parallel alongside the conference is BUILDEX – an international trade exhibition. The two-day expo – which will be held at the Perpaduan Hall of the ICC – will open on August 22 and showcase the latest products, services and trends in the construction sector – including home building, and give visitors the opportunity to network and meet key industry players.

Exhibition participants will also get the chance to visit and have an up-close-and-personal view of major Brunei construction sites and projects such as the Mengkubau Water Treatment Plant, Ulu Tutong Dam and Temburong Bridge Project.

The Mengkubau Water Treatment Plant, which has been operational since 2000 till early 2014, supplies clean water to 4,000 housing units at the Panchor and Mengkubau, Mentiri national housing schemes in the Brunei-Muara District.

An increasing demand for clean water in the forenamed areas has seen the Mengkubau Dam undergoing an $18 million upgrading project. The now upgraded dam supplies 37.3 million cubic litres of water a day to residents in Muara and Mukim Kota Batu.

The Temburong Bridge is a 30km bridge connecting the Mengkubau and Sungai Besar areas in the Brunei-Muara District with the Labu Estate area of the Temburong District.

The $1.6 billion megaproject is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

An embankment dam under construction along the Tutong River, the Ulu Tutong Dam, is the largest water source project in Brunei Darussalam – acting as a regulating reservoir to the Brunei-Muara and Tutong areas. The reservoir will have a capacity up to 100 million cubic metres upon completion.

Participants in this year’s HSSE – made up of architects, professional engineers and quantity surveyors – will have the opportunity to earn Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points. The CPD is a system which tracks and documents the skills, knowledge and experience gained by professionals – both formally and informally – beyond any initial training (ie through university or college).

It is a lifelong process of learning and continuing personal development, a means by which professionals can maintain and enhance their skills to complement both their current job roles and future career progression.

“Due to the success and great response to last year’s event, we are encouraging and hoping for more companies to participate at this year’s conference and exhibition,” Dayangku Maznah said.

There are currently 33 exhibition booths available for booking for HSSE 2017, and registration for the conference is still open, however, there are limited seats available.

The closing date for registration is August 15, 2017. Group discounts are also offered to encourage group participants.

To register, contact 2651155/8282217, email register@confex-mice.com, or visit the HSSE website at www.confex-mice.com.

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|     Azlan Othman     |

SMUGGLED cigarettes are a major concern to Brunei Darussalam as they contain more nicotine.

According to National Anti-Drug Association of Brunei Darussalam (BASMIDA) President Datin Hajah Masni binti Haji Mohd Ali, “The health authorities have not issued permits for anyone to import cigarettes. All cigarettes are smuggled in with no health warning or details of nicotine content. The nicotine content could be very high and very dangerous to smokers.”

Brunei Darussalam does not get much revenue from cigarettes, although the import duty has skyrocketed, she added.

The BASMIDA president noted this at the Brunei International Airport yesterday, prior to her departure to Penang, Malaysia to attend the 5th Smoke-Free Cities Regional Workshop and the Summit of Smoke-Free Leaders and Champions in Asean (from July 19-22) at the invitation of the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA).

“The workshop’s primary objective is to share updates and learn from the best practices of countries, cities and other smoke-free settings/places in the Asean region.

“It is also preparing a Penang Declaration for Smoke-free Kids Day Out at home, transportation and public places,” she added.

As the national anti-drug association, BASMIDA has been involved in the campaign against tobacco (considered a gateway to drugs) and campaigning on how it is wise to not pick up the habit.

“It is therefore appropriate that BASMIDA has been invited to participate in this regional workshop, she said.

“I advise teenagers that if they want to be attractive, do not smoke. That is our campaign. BASMIDA is among the first non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to raise this smoking issue, which has led to the government organising anti-tobacco seminars locally,” she said, adding, “I urge youths to enrol in the anti-tobacco drive.”

“Our other concern is young children – as they are also exposed. BASMIDA feels that protecting them from toxins of second-and third-hand smoke (passive smoking) or nicotine stained clothes is a joint responsibility.

“In terms of tobacco supply, Brunei has already restricted the importation of tobacco. Several of 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’s titah on tobacco control will be highlighted at the event,” she said.

“Healthy lifestyle focuses not only on controlling food intake and exercising, but also preserving the environment for children to live a tobacco free condition.”

Datin Hajah Masni was accompanied by BASMIDA Vice President Hajah Linda Aini binti Abdullah.

Datin Hajah Masni will provide information on measures taken by the Brunei Government to control tobacco smoke in the country, which includes health education promotion at schools.

BASMIDA has also created posters, as requested by the organisers, detailing legislative provisions prohibiting smoking in public places. They were prepared with the help of government agencies.

Included in the workshop programme is a town hall-type meeting discussing ‘Banning smoking around children’ from homes to cars to public places, even parks.

Participants will be expected to present their ideas and experience on ways to enhance the effectiveness of smoke-free measures.

The important points in the discussion will be used in the Penang Declaration.

The 5th Smoke Free Cities Regional Workshop and the Summit of Smoke Free Leaders and Champions in Asean is organised by SEATCA in close collaboration with the Malaysian Health Promotion Board, Penang State Health Department and World Health Organization (WHO) in the Western Pacific Region together with Framework Convention Alliance (FCA), Smoke Free Cities Asean Network (SCAN) and Smoke Free Heritage Sites Alliance.

It is supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

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