|     Azlan Othman     |

BRUNEI Darussalam will showcase theatrical performances before the opening ceremony at the 14th China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) in September in Nanning, China highlighting elements of the Sultanate and promoting cultural exchanges, the CAEXPO Secretariat said yesterday.

The Business and Investment Summit, where Brunei will act as the country of honour for the second time, will also see the country hold a series of themed activities, including the opening ceremony of ‘charm of the city’, the opening ceremony of Commodity Museum and a promotional activity.

“All these are aimed at deepening the cooperation between China and Brunei in energy, infrastructure, small and medium enterprises, Halal food, education, culture and tourism,” the secretariat said.

In May this year, as a part of the series of themed activities, the Guangxi Province successfully held the China-Asean Expo (Brunei Exhibition). The expo was also known as the first session of micro, small and medium enterprise exhibition in Brunei which received a good response.

Against the backdrop of the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative, a higher requirement will be cast on the summit – “Regional cooperation mechanism must be renewed into a high-level communication platform and a professional cooperation platform with their own characteristics, and ‘Nanning Channel’ should be open.”

In the exhibition, the expo, for the first time, will set up a zone for the ‘Belt and Road’ initiative. Many enterprises are from the ‘Belt and Road’ including over 10 Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) such as Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka, the United States, Australia, Egypt, Poland and Kazakhstan.

This year, the expo will be held at the new E pavilion of Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center. The centre has a new exhibition area spanning 12,000 square metres, an exhibition area of 122,000 square metres and 6,500 stands.

Asean member states and other countries outside the region have booked an exhibition area of 33,000 square metres, with an increase of nearly 3,000 square metres compared to the previous year. It is a new record for the expo.

Taking ‘advanced intellectual manufacturing’ as the characteristics, China’s exhibitors will highlight the integration of the equipment manufacturing industry and the ‘Internet Plus’.

Continuing to focus on international cooperation on production capacity, the expo will try to make investment promotion more effective. A number of agreements with international influence will be signed.

The International Cooperation Pavilion for agriculture is an important part of investment and cooperation this year, which will show China – Asean’s achievements on agricultural cooperation, trade and investment promotion projects, modern agricultural demonstration park, logistics and cold chain, with newly added display on the ‘Internet + Agriculture’ and manufacturing and technical cooperation of condiment.

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|     Danial Norjidi     |

BRUNEI Darussalam is a unique and valuable part of the Commonwealth family and can be an effective voice for the rule of law internationally.

This was shared by Tim Hitchens, the Chief Executive Officer of the Commonwealth Summit 2018 during an interview with the Weekend Bulletin.

Hitchens visited Brunei on Wednesday as part of his preparations for the Commonwealth Summit 2018, which will be taking place in April 2018 in London and Windsor.

He noted that among the topics to be discussed at the summit include challenges on trade, climate change, security and Commonwealth values.

Speaking on the significance of the Commonwealth, he said that the organisation’s role in the 20th century of helping countries emerge from colonial experience has changed in the 21st Century to a completely different role.“I think its role now is very much not London-centric but multi-centred,” he said. “It expresses a set of values that are around acceptance, moderation and respect for the rule of law.

“I’ve been a diplomat for 35 years now. I’ve never known the world a place where the rule of law has been more at risk than it is now, and that is because of the behaviour of a number of states, and it seems to me that a community of states that value the rule of law, that value proper purpose and proper process, that is more valuable than ever before, and that is what I think the role of the Commonwealth is in shaping attitudes in the 21st Century,” he shared.

On what part Brunei can play in the Commonwealth, Hitchens said, “If I look at the Commonwealth, more than two thirds of the Commonwealth members are what you call relatively small states, and yet, the perspectives of small states, be they Brunei, be they Saint Lucia, be they Vanuatu, all of them have a vote at the United Nations, all of them have perspective on what their regional interests are, and actually small states tend to want to work by the rule of law more than large states sometimes do, and so they can be a really effective voice for the case of the rule of law internationally. And because they tend not to throw their weight around, they can be states that speak with a persuasive power that some of the larger states don’t have.”

While in Brunei, Hitchens visited and had meetings at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

Speaking on these meetings, he said, “With the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, which clearly is the key ministry in preparation for the summit, I ran through the four key challenges we’ve agreed upon. I ran through specific ways that the UK and Brunei are responding to those challenges, and things that we might work on between now and April in order to deliver specific things that we can announce in April on those four challenges, so we talked about that.

“We talked a little bit about the protocol, because these big events take quite a lot of organisation. I think Britain will do it very well but we need to liaise with people early on.

“At the Ministry of Education, we talked a lot about young people’s aspirations, particularly the connection between linking education and work opportunities, and this is an issue that is true across the Commonwealth. When I talk to my friends in Trinidad, when I talk to my friends in Samoa, they all talk about how you link what people to study with the job opportunities and how you make those connections.

“And with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, we talked very much about how we celebrate the role of the Commonwealth across the world and in young people’s lives. And we talked about a number of projects that we think might happen here in Brunei in the course of the next six or seven months that will link with the summit, as well as with the celebration of the Commonwealth in Malaysia two years later.”

Asked what his impression of Brunei has been, he said, “I think the country is a unique and valuable part of the Commonwealth family.

“There’s an enormous variety to the country, and I think some of the economic blessings that have come from the energy assets have been put to very good use in the country. So it’s remarkable, and I couldn’t think of another place like it, to be honest, anywhere in the world. It’s got a unique quality of its own.”

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|     Azlan Othman     |

THE mega Temburong Bridge linking Bandar Seri Begawan and Pekan Bangar is currently 30-35 per cent complete and works on the $1.6-billion engineering marvel are expected to be finished by November 2019, according to a top official associated with the project.

“We are now working on the permanent bridge project where we have constructed 500 metres in length from south and north,” said Mohd Ali bin Abdullah, Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) Manager of China State Construction Engineering Corporation Limited (CSCEC) which has undertaken the CC4 package of the multi-billion bridge project.

Talking to the Weekend Bulletin on the sidelines 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 meet-and-greet session with people in Pekan Bangar, Temburong last Thursday, the official noted that to meet of Brunei’s HSSE requirements, a UK system has been set up.

“Everything goes well and we have entered the second year of the project. Insya Allah, we will be able to complete the bridge in November 2019.

“Overall, the bridge is now 30-35 per cent completed including the construction of the CC2 and CC3 projects undertaken by Daelim Industrial Co Ltd of South Korea. Our scope of work is mostly on the swampy land in the Temburong reserve forest while Daelim focuses more on above water construction.

“We are facing several challenges as working on swampy land is unpredictable in nature as it consists of both soft and hard ground. But, we have overcome the learning curve and are moving forward,” the official said.

“In terms of safety, we have achieved 2.35 million hours without loss time injury (LTI) since the beginning of the project back in October 2015. We will strive to maintain zero LTI till the end of the project,” he added.

The Temburong Bridge, which will link Jalan Utama Mentiri in Brunei-Muara District and Jalan Labu Estate in Temburong District traversing the Brunei Bay, is one of the largest public infrastructure projects ever carried out in this country.

The bridge reflects His Majesty’s concern for the welfare of the citizens and residents of the country and will allow commuters to travel with ease by avoiding four frequently congested immigration checkpoints and shorten the travel time between the two towns.

The project involves five contract packages, or phases, and includes construction of two 13.4km marine viaducts, a 1.1-km cable-stay navigation bridge and the 11.8km Temburong viaduct, installation of systems encompassing traffic control and surveillance, supervisory control, data acquisition, road lighting as well as supply network to provide high-voltage electricity to power the entire bridge.

In tune with Brunei’s Malay Islamic Monarchy philosophy, the bridge, which overlooks the Brunei Bay on one side and the Kampong Ayer on the other, will also feature several stars placed within crescent moons set atop towers, or pylons, that will also carry the three ‘Kalimah’ of ‘Subhanallah’, ‘Alhamdulillah’, and ‘Allahu Akbar’, with each signature tower dedicated to the country’s four districts.

In the New Year titah last year, the monarch said the Temburong Bridge is seen as a mega project heralding the modernisation drive of Brunei. Once completed, it will provide many socio-economic opportunities for Bruneians by helping expand tourism as per the country’s plans for financial diversity.

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|     Daniel Lim & Aziz Idris     |

THOUSANDS of people from all walks of life converged at the Municipal Field, Kuala Belait yesterday for the annual royal get-together ceremony in conjunction with the 71st birthday celebrations 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.

Micheal Lim, a recreational photographer who attended the event, felt that the theme ‘Raja Bijaksana, Wawasan Negara Perkasa’ was ideal. He managed to brave the eager crowds and took good photos of the participants during the performance. He noted the smiles on the faces of performers showed their eagerness and willingness to participate. He looked forward to attending the next visit by His Majesty.

Senior citizen Haji Musa bin Basar said he looks forward to the Junjung Ziarah every year. “The celebration is a unique opportunity to meet and greet His Majesty personally. This reflects His Majesty’s concern for the well-being of his citizens.

“I am grateful to have a ruler who would go out not just to observe, but also better understand the needs of the people, especially the senior citizens,” he chimed.

Medical personnel on-duty also took the golden opportunity to wish birthday greetings for His Majesty.

Led by Haji Mohd Reduan bin Abdul Fata of Clinic ‘B’, their main role during the celebrations was patrolling the vicinity to assist the elderly and special need individuals.

Haji Mohd Reduan said being in the presence of His Majesty and members of the royal family was an “honour” to serve and provide their medical services for the public.

“We are thankful for His Majesty leadership in meeting the Vision 2035 while continuing to harness the development and progress of the country for the benefit of the future generations,” he added.

Visitors near and far also witnessed the royal spectacle which proves to be a unique event only in Brunei. Dr Abdul Rahman Al Sharif from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia described the event as a “spectacular display of love and loyalty” from the subjects to the ruler.

He was caught in the storm of thousands of well-wishers eagerly waiting to interact with the benevolent ruler. He said shaking hands with His Majesty was a “worthwhile” experience that he will cherish and share with his family and friends back home.

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|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

HER Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah graced the Ukhwah Aidilfitri Reunion on Friday at the Season’s Restaurant in The Centrepoint, Gadong.

The reunion gathered former students of the Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College (MSPSBS) of Intake 1986/1987, in which Her Royal Highness was a student of the Lower Six Form of Intake Year 1986.

The reunion coinciding with the celebration of Hari Raya organised by Musa Hussin and Hajah Norsham binti Haji Ludin marked their anniversary by celebrating 31 years of their met as classmates.

Three decades since their first meeting, their friendship and bond remain warm. The reunion served as a medium for them to continue strengthen the everlasting friendship.

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|     James Kon     |

THE Tourism Development Department at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism and the Department of Immigration and National Registration recently held a briefing and dialogue session to address the question of tourists entering Brunei Darussalam without compromising its security and safety aspects.

Around 62 tourism stakeholders representing airline companies, travel agencies and hotels attended the session.

The initiative is a result of continuing efforts between all parties towards better visa facilitation, to boost tourist arrivals into the country.

The Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali, said, “Currently, we are celebrating 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.

“Soon, we will be conducting events for His Majesty’s 50th Golden Jubilee celebrations, as well as for the Brunei December Festival 2017. We hope that we can strengthen our relationships, and collaborate with all parties towards developing our tourism industry.”

The briefing also dealt with issues faced by travel agents and tourists, such as multiple entry visas on arrival and transit visa.

Salminan bin Haji Burut, the Director of Immigration and National Registration; and Salinah binti Haji Md Salleh, the Acting Director of the Tourism Development Department, were among those who attended the session.

More dialogues and briefings will be held in the future, to keep tourism stakeholders abreast of the latest developments and updates.

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|     Wani Roslan     |

TO FURTHER strengthen the partnership between Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) and the Ministry of Development (MoD), a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) addendum and variation signing was yesterday held at UTB.

Minister of Education Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman attended as the guest of honour.

Signing on behalf of UTB was its Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman with Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Dr Hajah Noor Maya binti Haji Md Salleh attending as witness.

The MoD was represented by Acting Permanent Secretary (Administration and Finance) at the MoD Dr Nor Imtihan binti Haji Abdul Razak, witnessed by Hajah Norshukorinah binti Haji Md Daud, the MoD’s Acting Head of Human Resource Management Division.

The addendum expands on the scope of selected programmes and cooperative work covered in the previously agreement. These include conducting joint research, capacity building programmes, information sharing, internship, sharing of laboratory or equipment, and other joint efforts to promote careers and education in the field of engineering and other related sectors.

The signing further strengthens the partnership between the two bodies with the introduction of a new Postgraduate Study programme (offered by UTB) to fresh graduates as well as engineers who are already working in the industry.

The programme is aimed at increasing students’ knowledge and capabilities to satisfy educational requirements and progress their careers towards becoming professionally qualified chartered engineers.

In her welcoming remarks, Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah highlighted that the first MoU was signed in 2015, with UTB’s strategic focus area then being Community Engagement – aiming to proactively engage stakeholders through mutually beneficially partnerships and constructive dialogues.

“We strengthen the MoU today by expanding the scope of work and cooperation in the principal MoU. This includes postgraduate education, joint research, capacity building, internship, sharing of information and resources,” she said.

“We realise the importance of providing a conducive working environment for our employees, for them to have the opportunity to excel and develop a successful career. UTB prides itself on the caliber of its people, from internationally recognised academic leaders in their fields to talented professionals and administrative staff providing technical expertise,” she added.

The Staff Excellence Award serves as a platform to recognise and reward the outstanding and valuable contribution of staff towards the success of the university in achieving its strategic goals, she said.

The signing also saw the annual ‘Staff Excellence Awards 2017’ presentation ceremony where awards were presented by the guest of honour.

Six staff members received the Excellence Awards, while five received the special mention in the teaching, research and administration categories. Each Excellence Awards recipient received a certificate of recognition, plaque and a $1,000 cash prize, while Special Mention recipients received certificates.

The event continued with the guest of honour visiting Hari Raya ‘open booths’ set up by different sections and department of the university.

Also in attendance at the signing were Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar, Acting Minister of Development; Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Deputy Minister of Education; the permanent secretary and deputy permanent secretaries at the Ministry of Education; senior officials; UTB’s principal officers; industry partners; and staff and students of the university.

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|     Daniel Lim     |

A SPECTACULAR field performance by various groups in the Belait District enlivened the atmosphere during the royal get-together ceremony in conjunction 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 71st birthday celebrations, at the Municipal Field, Kuala Belait yesterday.

Themed ‘Raja Bijaksana, Wawasan Negara Perkasa’, the performances highlighted a brief history of the country’s educational development, the high standard of living of the people as well as the dynamic economic progress of Brunei Darussalam under the visionary leadership of His Majesty.

More than 871 students, youths and members of various associations and communities from the oil district took part in the field performances, braving the hot sun in a show of loyalty towards the monarch.

The special performance portrayed residents who are blessed to have a caring monarch who is always attentive of their well-being, in terms of education, youth empowerment and economic diversification, towards achieving the Vision 2035 and to become a Zikir Nation.

It also showcased the nation’s development since achieving independence as a result of His Majesty’s wise leadership which is based on the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) concept and illustrated the ruler’s supremacy, prominence and charisma as king, ruler and head of state.

The performance also highlighted that practising the teachings of Islam, state protocol and a way of life based on faith are the identity of Brunei.

Students from Perdana Wazir Secondary School, Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar Secondary School, Sayyidina Ali Secondary School, St James’ School, Chung Hua Middle School, and IBTE Jefri Bolkiah Campus were among those who participated in the three-sketch performance.

The performances reflected the multi-racial Belait District community and its aspiration in achieving the national vision through high resolutions and dedicated efforts.

A special ‘birthday song’ was performed by all participants as well as members of the public concluding the performance, accompanied by the releasing of ceremonial balloons and glittering confetti.

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|     Daniel Lim & Aziz Idris     |

THE prosperous and harmonious life enjoyed by the people under the leadership 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 was clearly reflected in the unity and solidarity expressed by the people during the monarch’s get-together ceremony in the Belait District.

This was the impression shared by the newly appointed Managing Director of Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd (BSP) Dr Ceri M Powell on the sidelines of the royal birthday bash. She applauded the commitment of the working committee for the celebration, led by various government agencies and the private sector, for making this a joyous event.

“I am truly grateful for being part of the unique meet-and-greet with the Belait community in conjunction with His Majesty’s 71st birthday celebrations.

“I’m in awe with how beautiful and colourful the celebration is with all the decorations and performances.”

She also had the opportunity to witness the beautiful grand celebrations at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien followed by the investiture ceremony at the Istana Nurul Iman recently.

Dr Powell said this has been a “streaky special year” for her because she had the opportunity to witness this momentous occasion of celebrating His Majesty’s birthday and is now looking forward to the historical event of His Majesty’s ascension to the throne 50th Golden Jubilee celebrations.

During her short time in the Sultanate, Dr Powell has already seen strong efforts placing Brunei on par with other countries in various fields.

She expressed confidence that through His Majesty’s leadership and determined efforts, Brunei Darussalam can gain further prominence and respect on the world stage.

“His Majesty’s leadership is noble, which is characterised by care and concern for the people’s wellbeing and prosperity,” she added.

Dr Powell was appointed as Managing Director of BSP, a vital joint venture for Shell with the Government of Brunei, in March 2017.

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|     James Kon     |

CJ CHEILJEDANG , a top South Korean food company which manufactures food ingredients and food items, has announced its willingness to work with selected micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from Brunei with the potential to enter the Korean market.

The potential collaboration was lauded by Kim Kyung-ryong, a specialist under the Strategic Purchasing team of CJ CheilJedang; and his colleague Lee Sung-joo, a senior analyst, during a recent interview following the inaugural Trade Facilitation Workshop for Brunei MSMEs.

To venture into the Korean market, Lee advises strengthening the image of local food products by gaining international certification, such as ISO or HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point), aside from the Halal stamp.

The next step, he said, “is to learn design and packaging to attract the interest of buyers. Local companies could make use of Brunei’s image to market the product.”

Lee also suggested that Brunei MSMEs could penetrate Korea through the online and Halal markets.

“The online market is growing globally, including in Korea, and Brunei’s MSMEs can target the premium segment or niche market,” he said. “Secondly, Brunei companies can also set their sights on the Halal market in Korea. We are not familiar with Halal procedures, but Brunei specialises in them.

“Currently, the Government of Brunei is very supportive of start-ups and able to provide facilities to MSMEs, such as fast Internet connection or online marketing strategies.”

Asked to comment about the disadvantages of being small, Lee said, “Small is not important; building a good brand image is.

“Consumption trends are changing very fast globally, and big companies are finding it hard to adapt to changes because they will need to consider a lot of matters when addressing changes, whereas small-size companies can adjust faster.”

Kim, meanwhile, noted that seafood-based products have an excellent potential of venturing into the Korean market, “Because Brunei has vast ocean areas. After visiting Golden Corporation Sdn Bhd, Brunei’s leading aquaculture company, I am very impressed with its quality control and good processing system.

“I feel that Brunei has the potential to create a similar company to Golden Corporation, because it has good business models.”

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|     Khairil Hassan     |

THE coaches and managers of all four National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) Under-16 Elite Youth Cup semi-finalists are ready for Wednesday’s semi-finals.

According to a press release, NFABD yesterday organised a Match Coordination Meeting ahead of next week’s semi-finals which will see defending champions Tabuan A take on Projek Ikan Pusu at the Balapan Track and Field and Rimba Star face Tabuan B at the Berakas Sports Complex.

During the Match Coordination Meeting at NFABD House, the representatives from the four club were given official confirmation of the time and venue of the matches, finalised the jerseys they will be wearing for the match and given a briefing from NFABD’s Referee Department.

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|     Fadhil Yunus     |

JURAMAS took a major step closer towards clinching top spot in Group ‘B’ barring an unlikely collapse in form after defeating YTE Morsjaya 100-94 in a pulsating clash of the titans in the MK Group Cup at the Brunei Basketball Association Court in Batu Bersurat last night.

YTE Morsjaya surrendered their 100 per cent start in the tournament while Juramas improved to 3-0 and looked in pole position with an expected final group game win over Walltique Sdn Bhd.

Juramas head coach Lim Soon Khiong stressed the importance in defence as a basic foundation of winning the match especially against the quality of YTE.

“The key word here is defence, teamwork and rotating the ball,” said Juramas head coach Lim Soon Khiong in a post-match interview after the game.

Lim is the third head coach after Arnel Caringal of YTE and Pong Bing Chau of Street Roc to highlight the importance of a strong defence.

He commended praise to both locals and imports including players who boasted considerable experience in the national squad.

“It is a mixture of the imports and the locals’ teamwork. The players have good teamwork; they talk to each other and have good eye contact as well as passing the ball and making use of the imports.”

Juramas is likely to avoid defending champions Easyway at least before the final should they seal top spot in Group ‘B’.

YTE Morsjaya’s fears of a possible meeting with Easyway may rang true after looking likely to slip to second subject to confirmation of the Walltique and Juramas game tomorrow.

However, YTE can still cling to hope of avoiding the title favourites should they receive an unlikely setback against Street Roc, who hold a perfect 3-0 record, tonight.

YTE sunk two consecutive treys to overturn a 15-point deficit but Juramas held firm.

Meanwhile, Walltique picked up form ahead of the Juramas game with a 103-78 win over Hainan in the opening game of Group ‘B’.

Juramas’s Carl Montgomery clocked a game high of 33 points while Udun Osakue contributed with 19 points.

The competition continues tonight with Street Roc looking to cause a major upset against Easyway in a tie which could potentially decide top dogs in Group ‘A’.

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 |     Daniel Lim     |

A NORMALLY quiet Belait, the largest district in Brunei Darussalam, came alive to welcome its benevolent ruler yesterday.

Citizens and residents of the district turned out in large numbers to greet 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 traditional meet-the-people programme and royal get-together ceremony in conjunction with His Majesty’s 71st birthday celebrations.

Belait is the third district to host the event which kicked off in Tutong on July 18. The finale of the annual royal get-together ceremony will take place at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien today.

As early as 6.30am, people from all walks of life, dressed in colourful outfits, staked out their spots and waited for the arrival of His Majesty.

The atmosphere along Jalan Maulana towards Kuala Belait Municipal Field was joyful with students waving miniature national flags as the royal motorcade passed by.

At the entrance to the square, primary school students holding ceremonial flowers welcomed His Majesty and members of the royal family as sounding of the Hadrah reverberated across the field.

Upon arrival, His Majesty 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’s 71st birthday celebration, and Haji Haris bin Othman, Belait District Officer and head of the executive organising committee for the celebration.

Also attending the royal get-together and meet-and-greet ceremony 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.

As His Majesty and members of the royal family proceeded to the royal dais, singing of the national anthem ‘Allah Peliharakan Sultan’ and the hailing of ‘Daulat Kebawah Duli Tuan Patik’ three times by penghulu mukims, village heads, members of the executive organising committee for the celebration and representatives of various organisations in the district echoed in the square.

In his welcoming speech, Haji Haris expressed gratitude and undivided loyalty on behalf of all the citizens and residents of Belait District towards His Majesty.

He highlighted the determination of the leaders at the grassroots level to enhance management, administration and productivity as well as steadfastly uphold His Majesty’s leadership in the years to come.

The event was enlivened by colourful performances themed ‘Raja Bijaksana, Wawasan Negara Perkasa’ by 871 participants who represented various communities in the district.

The highlight of the day was the tour of the field by His Majesty and members of the royal family to personally meet and greet citizens and residents. Eager well wishers reached out their hands for an opportunity to shake hands with their beloved ruler and the royal entourage with some of them whipping out their phones to take a memorable selfie.

The event also saw various organisations presenting pesambahs to His Majesty.

At the end of the tour, His Majesty and members of the royal family visited the official residence of the Belait District Officer for a royal luncheon.

The whole ceremony reflected the gratitude, affection and love of the people of Belait District towards His Majesty, their beloved king who has steered the nation towards the pinnacle of excellence and glory with justice and wisdom.

The post Belait erupts in joy appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Khairil Hassan     |

THE opening ceremony for the Silat Competition in conjunction with the 71st birthday celebrations 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 was recently held at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah Sports Complex in Berakas.

Haji Noor Jusmin bin Haji Abdul Samad, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports launched the opening ceremony with the unsheathing of the ‘Keris’.

The opening also saw the declarations of oath by referee led by Suzana binti Haji Shahperi, and Qistina Athirah binti Zainal for the athletes.

The guest of honour was introduced to teams from all districts, and he also witnessed the ‘Pembukaan Gelanggang’ or Arena Opening performance by Cikgu Dua bin Haji Garip.

The competition will conclude on July 26.

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|     Fadhil Yunus     |

EASYWAY preserved their unbeaten record in the MK Group Cup after downing rivals Street Roc 99-75 in Group ‘A’ at the Brunei Basketball Association Court in Batu Bersurat last night.

In what supposed to be their biggest test in the competition so far, they passed with flying colours and head coach Xavier Fong said that they could not cope with them in all four quarters.

Fong acknowledged his players for their patient approach after Street Roc briefly led but knew that they always had the game under their control.

Easyway’s import duo of Justin Howard and Avery Scharer were simply too good for the Street Roc defence in every department. Avery was a joy to watch with his repertoire of skills while no one could contain the strength of Justin.

Meanwhile, local player Ben Sim was at his vintage best and every single player in the Easyway express in the same breath as the trio hardly taken a foot wrong.

However, despite a straightforward night which arguably decided the group positioning, not all was plain sailing for the defending champions as work is still needed to be done particularly in defence.

Asked on the gravity of the defensive concerns, Fong said, “I think these are just tiny details. At the moment we are just overcommitting so when we overcommit, they (Street Roc) can actually penetrate and the defence collapsed basically.

“If it is a shooter, we actually have to go out and stretch out but at the moment they are not shooting at each and every open position, it is going to be a three-pointer.

“They’re getting very close to the opponent and when you do that just one step the whole defence collapses. We shouldn’t allow that.

“This is still the round robin game. I believe if we’re going to go very far into the semi-final and the final we really need to work on our defence. That is something we have to address,” the head coach said.

Easyway’s Justin Howard recorded a game high of 30 points while Avery Scharer contributed with 17 points.

Easyway will seal top spot in Group ‘A’ if they manage a victory over against Em Prez Sdn Bhd, who beat CK & Associates 105- 103 in an earlier tipoff tomorrow.

The competition continues tonight with Juramas looking to seal top spot with a win over Walltique Sdn Bhd while Hainan play Tutong basketball team.

The post Easyway stay unbeaten after Street Roc win appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI under-23 national team ended their stint in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-23 qualifiers without a victory to their name after losing 4-1 to Singapore in Group ‘F’ at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar yesterday.

The youthful Wasps scored their first goal after three games in the competition but could not secure the point they needed to finish third of the group.

Meanwhile, it was a first victory for Singapore in the competition after starting the campaign with successive defeats to Myanmar and Australia.

Singapore under-23 forward Ikhsan Fandi Ahmad impressed in the game with a brace in either side of the half.

Mohamad Hanafi bin Mohd Akbar and Taufik Suparno also netted for the youthful Lions while Brunei’s scant consolation came from DPMM FC young starlet Azim Izamuddin bin Haji Suhaimi on the brink of half-time.

Brunei under-23s midfielder Mohd Asnawi Syazni was not ineligible to play after serving his suspension while Singapore had four players out due to ineligibility including Irfan Fandi.

“I’m very disappointed with our performance and results. But we’ll rectify our weaknesses. And we will be back with a better performance in the SEA Games,” Brunei under-23 national head coach Kwon Oh-Son was quoted as saying by AFC website.

“In this competition, I was testing my players. I will make some changes for the SEA Games,” the coach said.

The under-23 national team lost 2-0 in their opening game against Australia which saw goalkeeper Haimie Anak Nyaring receiving plaudits from the Socceroos head coach.

They lost 3-0 to Myanmar in the second game in what was a dress rehearsal ahead of their next meeting in the SEA Games next month in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Brunei under-23s will also have a second round to look forward to against the Lions in Group ‘A’ in the SEA Games.

The under-23 national team will now shift their focus to the SEA Games in less than a month’s time.

The post Brunei winless after Singapore setback appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

DPMM FC head coach Steve Kean expressed confidence that his charges’ exploits in the Singapore League Cup could help provide a morale boost against Geylang International FC in the Great Eastern-Hyundai S League at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium tonight.

The revitalised ‘Gegar Gegar’ men produced a strong showing in the opening two group games but bowed out in the semi-final stage against Warriors FC.

Their defeat to Warriors may have been as a consequence of players running out of steam but it is the earlier results which have been seen as positive signs of an upturn in fortunes.

“It is a competition we’ve always done well but unfortunately the fourth game (against Warriors) which was the fourth game in 11 days, it just caught up with us a little bit physically. We looked very tired and it wasn’t that we didn’t have any quality,” said Kean in an interview with the Bulletin after a training session at the Jerudong Mini Stadium yesterday.

“We’ve seen that in the first three games. We scored a lot of goals, we defended well and we just had a run out of steam.

“But we take a lot of positives from getting to the semi-final. We’ve played against clubs and beat them fair and square by good margins.”

Kean added that the Eagles would prove to be tough opposition who themselves have been on a resurgence since Noor Ali succeeded Hasrin Jailani in the managerial hot-seat.

“They’re a good side but with the exception of the last game in the League Cup, it wasn’t that we played bad. I think we’ve just ran out of energy and at the moment we’re playing well.

“We’ve been scoring a lot of goals and the goals are getting shared all around the team,” the former Blackburn Rovers manager continued.

DPMM FC will be missing the services of defender Vincent Salas who has been ruled out of the match through suspension. David Gazale returned for the Gegar Gegar men in the Warriors defeat but is yet to reach full fitness while Rafael Ramazotti is still on the sideline.

“We only have one import but what we’ve shown in the League Cup and some of the games we didn’t have any imports.”

Kean withdrew Salas in the 65th minute in the final group game against Geylang in order not to risk the player from missing the semi-finals.

“In the third game, we had a complete team from Brunei. So that can only be good for us for the future.

“Then when we get the imports back in to help us, I think we can have a strong finish to the end of the season,” the head coach further added.

The Brunei-based outfit had made seven changes since the start of the season in the last couple of games with Mu’izzuddin Ismail in goal, Haizul Rani Metussin slotted in the right back position, two new central defenders in Vincent Salas and Hanif Hamir, Nurikhwan Othman as well as Adi Said and Shahrazen Said up front.

“Seven changes from the starting 11 is a lot. It has shown that those seven that have come in… most of them are locals and they’ve all improved.

“We’re such a small country and we need to keep on developing our own players,” he said.

The post Kean confident League Cup form can bring glory appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Daniel Lim     |

THE Belait residents were recently treated to a Pentarama performance night organised by the Information Department in celebration 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 71st birthday.

Held at the stage which was erected alongside the night market in Tudung Saji, Kuala Belait, the Pentarama – a portmanteau for ‘Pentas Drama’ (stage drama) – was organised by the department with the aim of spreading positive messages on education, nationalism and religion among community members in the district.

The event’s guest of honour was YB Hanapi bin Mohd Siput, the Legislative Council (LegCo) member representing the Belait District and the Acting Penghulu of Mukim Labi.

Also present was Hajah Noorashidah binti Haji Aliomar, the Acting Director of Information.

There were various performances which began with the traditional ‘Jipin Dindang Disayang’ dance, followed by a group medley performance of the theme song ‘Pentarama’ and ‘Dirgahayu’ by local artistes.

A short drama was also conducted onstage entitled ‘Kasih Ibu Di Lupa Jangan, Berpijaklah Di Bumi Yang Nyata’ by the Information Department’s sketch group.

This year’s Pentarama also saw various Information Department employees who were top winners of a recent talent competition performing at the venue.

They include Hasrina, Andie Othman, Amiruddin and popular local comedian Dang Kasum, to name a few.

In addition to the performances, a short quiz session was also held for the audience to participate in.

Pentarama is conducted for the general public to enjoy and, having already conducted performances in the Belait and Brunei-Muara Districts, the group is also scheduled to make stops in Tutong and Temburong on July 26 and 29 respectively.

The post Pentarama brings joy to Belait citizens appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fizah HAB     |

BRUNEI’S first-ever Startup Weekend event began Friday night at the Event Hall of Progresif Cellular’s Headquarters in Gadong.

Partaken by some 50 young entrepreneurs and students, the Startup Weekend is a 54-hour workshop and a global movement comprising over 2,000 events running in over 160 countries.

It is aimed at creating an environment where passionate, aspiring entrepreneurs can gather and brainstorm while pitching business ideas and learning how to build start-ups from the ideation stage as well as how to run them successfully.

The evening began with a dinner attended by Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd’s CEO Paul Taylor, who also delivered welcoming remarks, in which he highlighted Progresif’s focus on innovations with the setup of its Startup Lab.

“The Startup Lab, located here at our headquarters, contributes to shaping society and assists in diversifying the economy away from more traditional sources of wealth and social developments, giving small companies that first leg-up toward greatness, that first step in developing the local market,” he said.

Also attending the event were the CEO of DARe, Javed Ahmad; Siti Mahmud from the British High Commission (Commonwealth and Prosperity Manager); COO of e27 and event facilitator, Jowynne Khor; mentors, workshop participants and members of the press.

The event continued with an ice-breaking session and a Pitchfire session, whereby participants got to pitch their craziest business ideas. If chosen as one of the 10 most popular, their ideas will be featured for the rest of the weekend. After the sessions, the participants were then split into different groups.

Each of the groups was given access to mentors for assistance and guidance. They were then tasked with developing and launching a start-up within 54 hours based on the idea they chose earlier. Other sessions included a business canvas model workshop, a market validation workshop and mentor tanks.

Startup Weekend is a non-profit organisation made up of a community of entrepreneurs who holds the belief that entrepreneurship cannot be taught in the classroom.

The group recognises that the starting phase is the hardest in any entrepreneurial journey, and avails to budding entrepreneurs the best tools and approaches towards creating a business, providing them an immersive environment and the chance to connect with the right people and resources so that start-up magic can happen.

Startup Weekend is supported by Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD), Brunei Enterprise, Thredz, Halftone, Samima Enterprise, SWEE Construction Company, and Brunei Solutions Development Centre (BSDC).

The post 50 local youths join global movement Startup Weekend appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Danial Norjidi     |

DARUSSALAM Holdings Sdn Bhd (DHSB), Brunei’s leading Haj operator, held a knowledge-sharing briefing for the benefit of this year’s batch of intending pilgrims for the 1438H/2017M Haj season who have registered with Darussalam Holdings.

The event was held at the Arts and Handicraft Training Centre in the capital, and featured a panel of speakers led by Haji Mahmud bin Haji Mohamed, the Managing Director of DHSB.

The briefing focused on what can be expected during the month-long Haj experience and the attendees were also given further advice on how to get the most of their holy journey during the pilgrimage, both spiritually and in terms of logistics and other management.

A total of 812 intended pilgrims will be using DHSB as their Haj operator this year from the overall total of 1,000-quota allocated for Brunei.

The seminar was also attended by First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, the Deputy Minister of Defence, as one of the intended pilgrims.

This year, Brunei will have four special flights to bring the intended pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.

The first batch will depart to Madinah on August 10.

Meanwhile, officials from Darussalam Holdings, including Managing Director Haji Mahmud (who will also be the head of delegations), will leave for Saudi Arabia at the end of this month to ensure that operations are all in place before the arrival of the pilgrims.

The post Darussalam Holdings briefing for year’s registered, intending pilgrims appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.