|     Achong Tanjong     |

TO ENLIVEN the 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, the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) yesterday once again held a 71 Times Khatam Al-Quran ceremony.

The event which took place at Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah was held as a special gift from the ministry’s workforce to the caring monarch.

It was also conducted to pray to Allah the Almighty for the longevity of the ruler as well as the well-being and prosperity of the monarch, people and nation.

Present at the ceremony was the Minister of Religious Affairs, Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman.

Also present were the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud; the Permanent Secretary at the MoRA, Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Mohd Yusof; Deputy Permanent Secretaries Haji Harun bin Haji Junid and Roslan bin Haji Taja’ah, as well as officers and staff of the ministry.

Some 2,130 of the ministry’s officers and staff members comprising 46 male and 25 female groups were involved in the recitations ceremony yesterday.

The event also coincided with a Doa Selamat recitation for intending pilgrims who will soon visit the holy land. This year, some 48 people from the ministry will perform the Haj, comprising 20 male and 28 female pilgrims.

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|     Hakim Hayat     |

EFFORTS to develop and revitalise the Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park in the Tutong District to become a top tourist attraction in country were discussed during a dialogue session yesterday.

The session was a joint initiative between the Brunei Museum Department, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT). Attending the event were members of the Tutong District Tourism Promotion and Coordination Body, tour operators and other government and non-governmental agencies.

Several ideas were mooted by different parties to help craft a long and short term plan for the park and its surroundings that have vast potential.

The Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park was recognised as an Asean Heritage Park in 1984, in an effort to preserve Asean’s heritage, making it one of the top tourist attractions in the Tutong District.

During the dialogue session, Mohd Jeffrey bin Haji Mohd Sunny Lai, the Head of the Nature Unit at the Tourism Development Department, shared some of the proposed strategic and systematic planning for the sustainable development of the park to attract more visitors and help boost the local s economy and livelihood.

Mohd Jeffrey also shared some propo-sed ideas of setting up homestays in the park, organising tour packages around the park and also promoting tourism products in collaboration with the local tourism body, village consultative councils and tour operators.

“As Tutong District’s pride, Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park has the potential to become a more attractive tourist destination due to its attractive natural beauty, lush and well-maintained flora and fauna and also existing infrastructures for visitors’ convenience such as its exhibition gallery and the butterfly park,” he added.

Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali, the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Tourism) at the MPRT, said that he hopes the proposed long and short term plans to maintain the park will help sustain its development through employment opportunities for the surrounding community and also give relevant stakeholders a chance to contribute to the Tutong District and the country as a whole, through a one-nation approach.

Also present at the briefing yesterday was Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Omar Ali, the Curator of Natural History and the Manager of Tasek Merimbun Heritage Park.

As part of their efforts to maintain the park’s cleanliness and attraction, a cleaning campaign will also be held next week, involving a number of government agencies and NGOs.

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|     Azrol Azmi     |

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, Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) yesterday consented to receive in audience General Surapong Suwana-Adth, Chief of Defence Forces, Royal Thai Armed Forces (RTARF).

Present at the audience ceremony were First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, the Deputy Minister of Defence; Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, the Commander of the RBAF; Captain (Rtd) Dato Paduka Abdul Rahman bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence; and Biravij Suwanpradhes, the Ambassador of Thailand to Brunei Darussalam.

Meanwhile, in a separate audience at the Istana Nurul Iman, Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam also consented to receive in audience Vanvimol Suwana-Adth, the spouse of the RTARF Chief of Defence Forces. She was accompanied by Pengiran Datin Nuur’Izzah Nabilah binti Pengiran Haji Ahmad Mahdi Al-Sufri, the spouse of the Commander of the RBAF.

In 1999, Brunei Darussalam and Thailand signed an agreement to cooperate in areas of training, human resource development and exchange of visits, in which defence has grown to be an important part of the overall bilateral ties.

The goodwill visit by General Surapong Suwana-Adth aims to further strengthen the professional bilateral ties and defence cooperation between the two armed forces.

The audience ceremony took place at the Istana Nurul Iman.

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|     Aziz Idris     |

WITH the rising global demand for Islamic finance, the Brunei Darussalam Islamic Investment Summit (BIIS) 2017 hopes to produce financial experts and professionals.

They will develop the lucrative financial industry, in line with the nation’s aspiration to become a reputable Islamic financial hub.

With this, the various components in Islamic finance will see a spur in innovative products and services whilst also encourage economic growth.

This was among the key points highlighted by Managing Director of Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD), Yusof bin Haji Abdul Rahman during the final day of BIIS 2017 held at The Empire Hotel & Country Club yesterday.

The managing director pointed out that the Islamic financial experts will not limit their expertise to Syariah only but also cover other areas such as management, economic, audits, actuarial and investments.

He is confident that with the knowledge gained from the summit, the development of innovative Islamic financial products and services with respect to the Maqasid Al-Syariah (the branch of Islamic knowledge) can further be established in a comprehensive and sustainable Islamic financial environment that are both stable and transparent.

“In order to achieve these goals, in line with the Brunei Darussalam Financial Sector Blueprint, AMBD has provided certain initiatives such as the ‘Professional Fiqh Muamalat’ programme offered by Centre for Islamic Banking, Finance and Management (CIBFM) and supported by the Syariah Financial Supervisory Board, where third-party recruitment is currently being accepted.

“I hope the alumni for this year’s programme will continue to support and engage in developing expertise in the Islamic finance industry as well as establishing cooperation and interaction with local institutions of higher learning, Insya Allah.

“I also hope that through the summit and the discussion sessions, we all are equally benefited and guided by the perspective of our partnership in developing the rising demand of the Islamic finance industry,” he noted.

This year’s theme, ‘Globalisation of Islamic Finance: The Road Ahead’ reflects the current global dynamics and sophisticated financial flows that are in line with international best practices and global economic needs.

This rapid growth and development include infrastructure facilities and operating platforms such as Fintech development, rules and standards together with product innovations and services.

The summit also reached a milestone this year as it marked 25 years since Brunei’s first Islamic financial system was introduced by Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB) in 1991.

The managing director thanked the panel of speakers and participants of BIIS 2017 that have made the two-day event a success in bringing further enrichment to the Islamic financial industry both nationally and internationally.

The summit saw an attendance of over 200 participants from government ministries and agencies, financial institutions and the private sector as well as members of the Legislative Council.

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|     Fadhil Yunus     |

THE Ministry of Education (MoE) through the Sports School recently held an appreciation ceremony for its alumni who will be representing the country in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from August 19 to 30.

The guest of honour at the event was Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Acting Minister of Education.

Among the objectives of the event were to show appreciation and moral support to students and former students of Sports School for being selected to represent the country in the 29th SEA Games.

According to a press release by the MoE, the list of Sports School current students and alumni who will be participating in Kuala Lumpur included Md Qazzri Fakhri bin Haji Aslimon and Mohammed Qawim Fakhri bin Haji Aslimon in golf; Abdul Hadi bin Saidin, Muhamad Basyiruddin bin Haji Khamis, Muhd Hafizzuddin bin Jamaluddin, Muhd Alifuddin bin Jamaluddin and Muhd Shahrine bin Bubin in sepak takraw; Muhammad Ishyra Asmin bin Jabidi, Muhd Naziruddin bin Haji Ismail, Md Akif bin Haji Roslan, Awangku Faezuddin bin Pengiran Haris, Mohammad Amin bin Haji Sisa, Mohammad Shafie bin Haji Mohd Effendy, Awangku Md Alimuddin bin Pengiran Jamaludin, Mohamed Zulkhairy Hady bin Razali, Mohd Burhanuddin bin Haji Edy Asmady and Mohd Hanif bin Hamir in football as well as Basma Lachkar in wushu who is still studying at the Sports School.

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|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam national Wushu team manager Calvin Ang emphasised the main focus of overseas training for the athletes is to increase their difficulty level ahead of the much-anticipated 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia this month.

The five Wushu athletes who will be taking part in the SEA Games are Md Sufi Shayiran bin Roslan, Mohammad Adi Salihin bin Roslan, Mohammad Adi Sya’rani bin Roslan, Ang Guat Lian and Basma Lachkar.

The Wushu athletes, accompanied by national coach Li Hui, have been busy at a training camp in China as part of their preparations with four athletes having been away since June 21 and the remaining member of the team joining them on July 5.

“The preparation so far is focusing on the difficulty level because Wushu has so many different classes. We’re trying to get their difficulty level higher up so hopefully with that we will improve,” said Calvin in an interview with the media at the Menglait Sports Complex yesterday.

Calvin pointed out that host nation Malaysia will be tough opponents with Singapore and Indonesia equally as strong adding that Indonesia is traditionally strong in Tai Chi.

With one of the Roslan brothers in fine form in the international stage with Mohammad Adi Salihin winning silver in the Sukma Games last year and more recently gold in the Pars Wushu Cup in Iran, the manager indicated that it is always a huge encouragement in winning an international competition.

“The older two brothers are more exposed as they have joined in two editions of the SEA Games but the younger one Salihin is fairly new at international level.

“But I believe in the last event in Iran, he did quite well and came back with the gold so hopefully we are hoping that he can maintain the momentum and go for the best.

“Normally winning medals on international-level competitions is always a good way to boost your morale. What is important is that they can maintain their morale and this is why they go for trainings,” he continued.

“During training, they will try focus more on their weakness and hopefully with that they can lessen their weakness, have lesser problems and make fewer mistakes.”

He further stressed the benefits of training abroad with the athletes able to demonstrate a really good performance, minimise errors and work on increasing their difficulty level.

“When it comes to Wushu, it’s always standard movement so the less mistakes that you have, the more perfect landing that you get and it adds up to your scores.”

He added that overseas training provided the opportunity for the local athletes to train with international competitors which they can take a leaf out of their book.

“With that, they are exposed to many different athletes and they can also improve by getting their own morale or self-esteem higher to see that people are also here training.”

“We are all still learning and even if you don’t do well on the day, it’s okay because you’ll learn from your mistakes. This is why training is so important,” the manager concluded.

The national Wushu athletes are due to return on August 14.

The Wushu event in the SEA Games will start on August 20 to 22 at Hall 5 of the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.

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|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam national fencers will be hoping to use their training experience in Hong Kong sparring with the world-class national team and receiving valuable advice from the coach to their benefit ahead of the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Kuala Lumpur this month.

The trio of Muhd Anaqi Danish bin Asahrin, Mohammad Hardiwan Shah bin Rahim and Hajah Anis Sabrina binti Haji Yahya, who attended a two-week training stint at Hong Kong from June 28 to July 11, will be competing in the individual events with the male participants entered in the men’s sabre and the sole female representative in the women’s foil.

Muhd Anaqi Danish, who recently clinched bronze in the team’s event of the Southeast Asia Pacific Junior Championships in Manila, said that the feedback given to them in Hong Kong would stand them in good stead during their time in Kuala Lumpur.

“Training has been excellent. I have just returned from Manila to take part in warm-up games and before that I went to Hong Kong for training with the national team there,” said Muhd Anaqi Danish in an interview with the media.

“I feel really confident to give our best because we’ve had a really good preparation and there are also good warm-up games,” he continued.

He added that Malaysia will provide stern competition due to their strong junior line-up and Singapore which could stand in their way to success.

The fencing athlete vowed to deliver a good performance and give a good name to Brunei Darussalam.

Muhd Anaqi Danish said that they received advice from the Hong Kong’s Hungarian coach Andras Decsi which they could make good use at the SEA Games.

“Their (Hong Kong national team) coach from Hungary helps us a lot as well as their athletes who provided valuable tips for us on what an individual would face such as in the court where one have to be confident, to take their breath, prepare the steps that they will do point after point,” the national fencing athlete said.

“The head coach helped us a lot because they provided us training which is very beneficial including a daily sparring routine,” he added.

Muhd Anaqi Danish said that training was quite intensive due to the quantity of fencers there as opposed to the limited number of men’s fencers in Brunei.

“There are a lot of fencers there. Brunei only has five to six fencers. But there are maybe 15-16 male sabre fencers there and all of them are competitive,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, his compatriot Mohammad Hardiwan Shah echoed his sentiments that their Hong Kong training stint would provide them a world of good in their preparations for the SEA Games.

“I did learn a lot in Hong Kong with the advice and tips. Our time in Hong Kong was well spent and we trained really hard and were always punctual during the training sessions,” said the Brunei Open Fencing Championship silver medallist.

He agreed that his success in the Brunei Open provided him the confidence and helped instil high spirits in taking part in other competitions in preparation for the SEA Games.

Mohammad Hardiwan shared that Vietnam will be the biggest threat in the competition having heard that they underwent training in Korea.

“It will be a tough fight but I will try my best there. We will add more experience in the SEA Games,” concluded Mohammad Hardiwan.

The national fencing team for the SEA Games are currently in their final stages of their preparations and have been sparring with their Indonesian and Australian counterparts.

The male duo will not be joining the team’s sabre event as Malaysia will not be organising the category this year.

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|     Bahyiah Bakir in Bangkok     |

THAILAND recently hosted the Asean-India Expo and Forum 2017 from August 2-5, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre in Bangkok, featuring a total of 193 booths from India and all Asean member countries, including Brunei Darussalam.

Under the theme ‘Creative and Digital’, the three-day event was organised by Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce, in collaboration with various partners from both the public and private sectors. It also received the support of Asean governments, the Thai Bankers Association and Thai Commercial Industries.

The opening ceremony last Thursday was officiated by Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who also gave a keynote speech.

India’s Commerce and Industry Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman; and Thai Commerce Minister, Apiradi Tantraporn, also delivered their respective opening speeches during the ceremony.

Afterwards, General Prayut was given a tour of the Asean-India Expo booths set up at the Plenary Hall and Exhibition Zone of the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre.

Later in the afternoon, the forum opened with discussions on ‘Untapped Trade Potential’, by Rolf Dieter Daniel, the EU-Asean Business Council President; ‘Asean’s 50th Anniversary and Beyond’, by Le Luong Minh, the Asean Secretary General; and ‘Trade and Investment Opportunities’ by Apiradi Tantraporn, among the major highlights.

There was also a Young Entrepreneurs Networking session, a Business Matching Zone, a Site Visit and Presentation (Eastern Economic Corridor), and cultural show performances from Asean member countries and India.

Among the exhibitors from Brunei Dar-ussalam were Asli KTM Sdn Bhd, Ghanim International Corporation, Rizqussalam, Nurul Hikmah and Seri Pekatan Sdn Bhd.

In an interview with the Bulletin, Dr Nur Rahman, CEO of Ghanim International Corporation, said that their company has been working with the Brunei Government in supporting local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to develop standard products for export to other countries.

During the Asean-India Expo and Forum, Ghanim showcased various food and beverage products, ranging from ready-to-cook meat, crackers and biscuits, which received encouraging responses from customers and members of the public.

Another local entrepreneur, Hajah Noor Monasalieana binti Haji Mohd Salleh, the Executive Managing Officer of Seri Pekatan, told the Weekend Bulletin that there was a potential market in the Asean region for seafood crackers from Brunei.

“People enjoy eating cracker snacks, and I believe that the quality of our seafood crackers would be a good selling point,” she said, adding, “We don’t use any additives, so the original seafood flavours are retained.”

The Asean-India Expo and Forum was organised to mark the 25th anniversary of Asean-Indian official relations and the 70th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Thailand and India.

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|     Hakim Hayat     |

THE abundance of well-educated people with a solid support ecosystem presents vast potential for new business start-ups to thrive in Brunei and beyond, said a visiting US-based professional mentor, advisor and investor for several American tech-related start-ups and companies.

Rekha Pai Kamath, who is also on the selection committee for TechWomen – a US Department of State initiative that seeks to connect global women leaders in technology with those in Silicon Valley, is in the Sultanate to engage with local entrepreneurs and young Bruneians on the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)-related careers, while sharing her own personal journey in the tech industry.

In an interview with the Weekend Bulletin yesterday, she said that her interactions with several young Bruneians in the entrepreneurship and tech sector had been a positive experience, in face of their motivation and drive for success.

“One of the biggest advantages that Bruneians have is that everyone in Brunei gets a good level of education, even help and support for their higher education… and there is a rich ecosystem of people who are very motivated to start-up new companies,” said Kamath.

“The Brunei Government is focused on supporting these efforts, especially in entrepreneurial activity – through its initiatives such as DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) and paid internship programmes.”

Despite the lack of a diversified economy that limits job opportunities and industries in Brunei, Kamath said that she has received some amazing ideas from some local entrepreneurs willing to spend their efforts into exploring local and international markets.

“Successful business models look outside for markets, and I have seen a couple of successfully developed talents here, who go outside to find markets,” she said, while stressing that more role models are needed, as an example to show young Bruneians the way forward.

Commenting from her perspective as a tech expert, Kamath advised Bruneians to leverage on technology to explore different markets and solutions, both domestically and beyond Brunei’s borders.

“In my presentations I talked about sharing economy – technology has made it easier and more seamless to share information, marketing services and products, while the Internet allows Brunei to be connected to the rest of the world as it is to Brunei,” she said.

“The whole world is a market, and there is no reason why a talent could not be developed here to create a product or service, whether in Brunei or outside. When there is a problem in a community, you will be the best-equipped person to solve it and turn it into a business idea,” she further advised.

Commenting on Brunei’s high rate of unemployment, Kamath said that one way of tackling the problem would be creating opportunities for employment and providing job skills training to the unemployed, on level with existing and emerging local industries.

As an advocate of women empowerment in tech industries and STEM education, Kamath said that more and more companies in male-dominated societies are becoming aware of this and making various efforts to promote interest, attract and retain more women in tech jobs.

The demanding nature of tech jobs that offer little work-life balance is often the reason why women are not attracted to tech jobs, said Kamath.

“It is a hard place for women to be in the workplace as they work long hours and are on the job at all times, mentally and physically.We frequently don’t have much help at home… But today, more tech companies are trying to make working conditions more attractive, such as the ability to work from home.”

She observed that there is a good representation of women in Brunei’s Government and private sectors, but still said that it is difficult for women everywhere to compete in a male-dominated workplace. From her own experiences in overcoming the barriers of work-life balance, Kamath said that she has learnt how to manage her time, priorities and utilise a trade-off method to balance out her work and family.

“My family would understand that they won’t be seeing much of me at one period of time but later, I’d make up time for them,” she said.

On Thursday, Kamath delivered a talk on ‘The Silicon Valley Innovation Ecosystem’ and other entrepreneurship topics at the Design and Technology Building in Anggerek Desa Technology Park.

She also held special talks on STEM-related careers with students and members of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI).

Kamath is currently in Brunei on two programmes jointly organised by the US Embassy in Brunei Darussalam and DARe on Women and Entrepreneurship.

Her visit is also part of the US Speaker Programme Initiative, where Americans of various professional backgrounds are able to travel to foreign countries to meet with the foreign public and offer lectures, workshops and seminars to discuss American policies, society and culture.

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UNIVERSITI Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), through its Student Affairs Section and Halalan Thayyiban Research Centre, recently held a ‘Halal Science Interaction Programme’ for its Halal Science students and students from Thailand’s Princess of Naradhiwas University (PNU).

The programme, held at the UNISSA Auditorium, was to strengthen the partnership between the two universities, which had been signed at the PNU in Thailand on March 28 through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

A total of 46 PNU students, currently undergoing Intensive English Proficiency Course under the Global Discovery Programme of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), were invited to UNISSA to attend the programme along with 26 UNISSA students.

The event is an introduction to UNISSA’s recently established Halalan Thayyiban Research Centre (PPHT), which is led by Associate Professor Dr Nurdeng Deuraseh as the centre’s Director.

The programme hopes to be a turning point for organising joint programmes between the two universities in the future as well as a platform for students of both universities to interact with each other in discussing and sharing knowledge.

An ice breaking session and video presentations were also held at the event.

Also present at the event were the Deputy Dean of Student Affairs Section of UNISSA, Nurhafizatulhikmah binti Haji Serbini, who delivered a welcoming remarks to the students.

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|     Fadley Faisal     |

AS bruneihalalfoods celebrated its eighth anniversary, patrons were treated to discounts over selected products yesterday, during an ‘Open Day’ at the company’s office headquarters and sales showroom in Kampong Mata-Mata, Gadong.

This is the first time that bruneihalalfoods opened its doors to the general public.

Among the products on display were Provia, a low-calorie natural sweetener derived from a stevia extract, which is 200 times sweeter than sugar but has no impact on blood sugar; Cremvia; Nutrisal, which has 57 per cent less sodium and a healthier option to normal table salt; Cordia, a syrup-based low sugary drink, using the stevia extract; and value-added chicken and lamb.

Customers also enjoyed big discounts on bruneihalalfoods’ chicken range, which were sold as low as $5 per pack, compared to the usual retail price of $12, in addition to chilli sauces marked down at $1 per bottle.

The bruneihalalfoods team told the Weekend Bulletin that they are earnestly looking forward to offering their chicken goujons range, which has received the seal of approval for the use of the Ministry of Health’s ‘Healthier Choice’ logo on the packaging, assuring consumers of its health and quality benefits.

The team also said their approach to health and quality has always been the important aspect, when developing products for sale on the market.

While most customers enjoyed massive savings on their purchases, some were just getting to know the company’s product line-up, which includes the international, award-winning Blue Shrimp Crackers.

Visitors were also treated to exciting lucky draws, games, food sampling and many other engaging activities that allowed for better interaction and engagements between the company representatives and customers.

Other food and beverage vendors were also present at the event, offering unique culinary dishes, using the bruneihalalfoods products.

The bruneihalalfoods team said their current products come from manufacturers in Brunei Darussalam, the United Kingdom and Australia, with significant efforts being put into working with local partners who are keen to explore export markets.

The team also plans to have an open consultation opportunity for local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to explore partnership opportunities in food manufacturing, packaging, quality management and marketing.

Noormala binti Othman, the General Manager of Sales and Marketing, said, “Opening our doors gives us the opportunity to reach out to our buyers and potential customers.

“This also adds a personal touch, as the public can meet the people behind the bruneihalalfoods brand, and understand each other.”

When asked on what should be expected next from bruneihalalfoods, Noormala cited several strategic business ventures on top of the company’s expanding product range until the end of the year.

“The team is gearing up for several local expos and definitely looking forward to the CAEXPO in Nanning, China which will be held in September, with Brunei as the country of honour this year,” she said, adding, “bruneihalalfoods is excited in embracing the opportunity of tapping into regional sales and overall international market expansion.”

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|     Azlan Othman     |

BRUNEI Darussalam’s bilingual education system, with its combination of secular and religious schooling, drew admiring remarks from Dr Krissanapong Kirtikara, Thailand’s Deputy Minister of Education.

Dr Krissanapong who is also the Chairperson of the Princess Maha Chakri Award Foundation (PMCAF), was in the country recently to meet this year’s potential recipient of the foundation’s prestigious award.

“Brunei Darussalam has embarked on a very good bilingual education system incorporating Malay and English in early childhood. In addition, the combination of religious and secular education in Brunei Darussalam has also attracted the interest of Thai educational authorities,” he told the Weekend Bulletin, when asked about his meeting with officials from Brunei’s Ministry of Education.

“Thailand needs this kind of approach in education,” he added.

Dr Krissanapong also broached the topic of exchange students from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and their Discovery Year programme in Thailand.

“We are also looking at areas like education for special needs,” he said. “The ministry is willing to work with Brunei in sports education, but in the meantime, we need to do some groundwork.

“We are thinking of bringing in good athletes from Thailand as sports coaches in Brunei Darussalam. That’s what we have to offer to Brunei, as a bridge to cooperation.”

During his recent visit to Brunei, Dr Krissanapong also took the time to present some special education equipment for students with visual, development and learning disabilities at the Keriam Primary School in Tutong District.

The Princess Maha Chakri Award was established in 2015 in honour of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn for her dedication and outstanding achievements in the field of educational development, particularly for the disadvantaged.

The award is given in recognition of highly dedicated educators while also supporting and promoting the development of the teaching profession.

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|     Azlan Othman     |

DRIVING exceeding the specified speed limit, using mobile phones while driving, and failure to wear seat belts (or driver’s failure to ensure children wear seat belts) are among the most common offences committed on Brunei roads.

This was revealed recently by the Traffic Control and Investigation Department (JSKLL) of the Royal Brunei Police Force.

Other offences include driving without valid vehicle licence (road tax), driving without a valid driving licence, not stopping when traffic lights turns red and making U-turn at prohibited areas.

Drivers were also caught driving with worn-out or poor quality tyres, driving with excessive loads or dangerous items (for commercial vehicles), and having heavily tinted windscreens (or stickers and curtains) without approval.

The traffic police also highlighted the updated compound fine that took effect on February 2017. For instance, previously the compound fine was a flat rate of $50 for drivers who drove above the specified speed limit.

After the update, drivers who drive beyond the specified speed limit not exceeding 30km per hour, the fine for the first offence is $50 and subject to a $100 increment for subsequent offences.

In other words, if the road’s speed limit is 100km per hour and the driver was driving at a speed of 120km per hour, then the compound fine is $50 for the first offence.

For the second offence, it is $150, the third $250, the fourth $350 and so on until the maximum of $500 after which the driver can be brought to court for prosecution with a higher fine, upon conviction.

Another example is the compound fine for drivers who fail to switch on the front lamps of their vehicles between sunset and sunrise.

After the update, the fine is $200 for the first offence, while for the second offence it is $300, and the third $500.

For the fourth offence, drivers can be brought to court for prosecution with higher fines when convicted.

The traffic police added that once a compound payment is made, no court proceedings will be taken. But if the person fails to pay the compound, the court proceedings will take place and upon conviction, the sentence will be imposed.

The offender will pay a higher fine with the possibility of a driving license suspension subject to the fact of the case. One could also be issued with an arrest warrant and face imprisonment, if he or she fails to pay a court fine.

The police said payment shall be made within 14 days from the date of the offer to compound.

Currently, the compound fine is made in cash only to the police officer or person authorised to receive the payment.

Payment can be paid at the following places, namely the JSKLL Headquarters in Gadong, the JSKLL branch in Kuala Belait, and any police station as well as the Land Transport Department (JPD) Headquarters in Gadong.

Thirty-eight traffic offences have had their compound fines revised and these came into effect on February 1, 2017.

The post Speeding, using phone while driving top traffic offences appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Lyna Mohamad     |

ST ANDREW’S School (SAS) alumni from as far as London, Hong Kong, Melbourne and Singapore, flew into the country to attend the school’s Diamond Jubilee Alumni Gala Dinner yesterday night at the Plenary Hall of International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, 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, who were also former students of the school, graced the dinner.

Their Royal Highnesses were greeted upon arrival by Chairman of St Andrew’s School Board of Governors, Stephen Ong and Principal Jane Keasberry.

The colourful evening started with the welcoming address by the principal followed with another speech by Ong after which Their Royal Highnesses were ushered to the cake cutting ceremony to mark the event.

Keasberry in her welcoming address among others noted that the gala dinner is a platform for meeting up and reconnecting with former classmates, teachers and staff of the school.

She pointed out that with the formal schooling (foundational-secondary years) provided at SAS, each one of the students can testify to the strong foundation received from their alma mater.

“Education at SAS has made us what we are now with many of us serving and holding key positions in the community and contributing strongly to the development of Brunei Darussalam.”

SAS began with 70 boys and girls 60 years ago in January 1957 and it was founded by the late Reverend Canon Paul Chong En Siong who together with his daughters Margaret, Kathleen and Grace, were the first teachers in the makeshift “school”, at the back of the St Andrew’s church vicarage.

Over time, the first chairman of the Board of Governors, Dato Ong Kim Kee generously donated a piece of land and the first set of classrooms with wooden floors and walls were built on this site and later with generous funding from parents and other kind individuals, more classrooms were added.

St Andrew’s School, with the hard work of the former and current Board of Governors, principals and senior management team, has grown to 1,710 students in strength with 106 teachers and staff, Keasberry said adding that it will continue to grow from strength to strength with continued support from the community.

Last night’s dinner also saw a slide show presentation as well as several stage performances including a tribute by the alumnus.

Their royal highness also consented to a group photo session with the Board of Governors and School Management team as well as a tour of the exhibition booths displayed at the hallway.

St Andrew’s School, with the hard work of the former and current Board of Governors, principals and senior management team, has grown to 1,710 students in strength with 106 teachers and staff, Keasberry said adding that it will continue to grow from strength to strength with continued support from the community.

Last night’s dinner also saw a slide show presentation as well as several stage performances including a tribute by the alumni.

Their Royal Highnesses also had a group photo taken with the Board of Governors and School Management team and toured the exhibition booths at the hallway.

The post Royalty at SAS Diamond Jubilee Gala appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Azlan Othman     |

SUPA Save shoppers are in for a treat as making purchase at any Supa Save outlet earns them a chance at winning the keys to the all new Mini Cooper three-door hatchback – the grand prize for the ‘Shop Till You Drive’ promotion, which runs until March 2018.

Other attractive prizes that await shoppers are a Samsung 65-inch curved television, Bang & Olufsen Beosound 2, 13-inch Apple Macbook Air; 256GB iPhone 7 Plus, air tickets plus hotel accommodation to Bangkok or Bali, and $100 Supa Save vouchers.

For every purchase made at the Supa Save Gadong, Mabohai and Seria outlets as well as Smart QAF, customers will be eligible to enter the lucky draw.

Purchases made with a cash or other bank cards entitles the shopper to one chance at winning, while those who pay with a Baiduri card double their chances of winning. Payment by means of Supa Save Visa payWave Debit Card from Baiduri triples a shopper’s chances of winning.

The draw will be held on April 2, 2018 at Supa Save Gadong at 10am, in the presence of customers and media.

The winners will be announced on the same day, and their names will be published in the Borneo Bulletin and Media Permata the following day.

The post Supa Save rolls out Shop Till You Drive promo appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Lyna Mohamad     |

POTENTIAL customers and Audi fans gathered at the Audi showroom in Kiarong for the Audi Q2 open test drive yesterday.

Hosted by TCY Motors Sdn Bhd, the sole local Audi dealer/importer, the two-day test drive which ends today is held from 9am to 4pm.

“The response was very good. We had test driven the car in and out on the test drives since morning and we expect more crowds in the afternoon.

Today may be the busiest for our showroom as we even had customers calling in advance to book for the test drive to avoid the queue,” John Tan, Marketing Manager of TCY Motors, said yesterday.

Touching upon the Audi Q2, John said the newest model from Audi’s Q range is an urban type vehicle with sharp edges, featuring a unique character, an entirely new geometrical design, desirable furnishing and features previously reserved for luxury class vehicles.

Whether on an adventure off the beaten track or everyday life in the big city, the Audi Q2 is an all-rounder and leads a new premium vehicle segment with unmatched entry level pricing.

The post Audi Q2 open test drive sees huge turnout appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Wani Roslan     |

THE Bits ‘N’ Bytes Company yesterday hosted an appreciation ceremony for sponsors of Team Brunei who attended the inaugural First Global Challenge 2017 which was held in July in Washington DC, the United States of America. The event took place yesterday at Lecture Hall 2 of Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB).

The guest of honour was Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman, the Vice-Chancellor of UTB who later presented appreciation plaques to sponsors, and certificates to the mentors of Team Brunei.

In a welcoming remark, Pengiran Haji Zahari bin Pengiran Haji Ahmad, the Operations Manager of Bits ‘N’ Bytes Company, expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Education (MoE) for the support and UTB for allowing the use of its premises and UTB lecturers for volunteering to mentor the students.

He extended his deep gratitude to the generous kind-hearted individuals and corporate sponsors who contributed in bearing the cost of flight, accommodation, food, transportation and equipment for First Global Team Brunei.

He then explained that First Global is a non-profit public charity organisation registered in the United States that aims to gather the world’s youth and ignite their passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) through robotics.

It is the oldest and the largest youth robotics programme in the world and this year, the theme for the challenge was ‘Water’ where teams learned about water scarcity and contamination and must then develop water-cleaning technology using robots.

He further added that Bits ‘N’ Bytes will continue to work to make Science a subject that is interesting and fun for kids. The organisation looks forward to work with various agencies and hopes to involve more local youths in their future endeavour.

One of the members from Team Brunei, Siti Aisyah Syazana binti Jamain also shared her experience at the First Global Challenge 2017 where she got to learn more about the different robot designs and the opportunity to share ideas and meeting new friends from all over the world.

At the event, Team Brunei was announced to be part of the UTB’s BRIGHT Scheme through its Adopt-A-Team programme as the guest of honour presented the certificate of acknowledgement to the team captain, Iffah Wirdani binti Azman.

The BRIGHT programme was introduced earlier this year by UTB as a community engagement strategic initiative to help build a strong Science capital among secondary and tertiary level teachers and students and to develop a deeper understanding of STEM subjects in Brunei Darussalam.

The post Team Brunei of First Global Challenge 2017 feted appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Ishan Ibrahim     |

STUDENTS of Raja Isteri Girls High School (STPRI) were yesterday briefed on the importance of the correct procedures in hoisting and lowering the national flag along with knowing the history, meaning and concept behind the national anthem and flag.

The briefing was held during the presentation ‘Appreciating The National Anthem and National Flag’ conducted by Pengiran Ikram bin Pengiran Haji Ahmad, Assistant Information Officer of the Information Department at the Prime Minister’s Office.

A video presentation on the concepts was also conducted to 170 Year 7 STPRI students. They also viewed a video presentation on a mobile app created by the Information Department.

Also present at the briefing were Hajah Susilawati binti Dato Paduka Haji Muhammad, Principal of STPRI, along with deputy principal, senior teachers and teachers.

A quiz related to the talk was also conducted by Dona Azfina binti Ibrahim, Information Officer of the Information Department, providing the students the opportunity to win prizes presented by the department.

The briefing was part of the programme by the Information Department at the Prime Minister’s Office which aims to instil patriotism and love among students as well as developing respect and appreciation towards their nation, religion, monarchy and country.

The post Patriotism briefing for STPRI students appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Daniel Lim     |

THE Open Day Plus at St James’ School provided an opportunity for parents and guardians to visit the school and observe the care and love the school extends to students while encouraging them to excel in their studies and also participate in extra-curricular activities, Principal Haji Md Masa Masdi bin Md Sa’idun said.

He made these comments at the event held at the school compound yesterday, where over 590 students from Kindergarten 1 to Year 11 participated along with teachers, parents and guardians.

The event saw performances and entertaining activities held for the participants as well as promoting local business ventures.

Haji Md Masa Masdi while thanking the participants, praised teachers, students and other staff members for preparing the various performances and activities.

He also hoped to see all parents and guardians at future events as well.

The main objective of the Open Day Plus was to provide an opportunity to showcase the students’ talents to parents, guardians and the community.

Among the performances were singing, dancing and a fashion show.

Following the performances, the principal and guests observed plays each class had prepared in their classroom.

Some students had converted their classrooms to ‘A haunted house’, ‘Nerf foam shooting range’ and ‘Science exhibition’.

Parents also registered their children for next year during the event.

The post Pupils’ skills come alive at St James’ Open Day Plus appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Achong Tanjong     |

A GROUP of 27 paddlers from the Labuan Canoe Association and four from the Brunei National Kayak Association took part in the ‘Kayuhan Kayak Muhibbah’(Labuan –Brunei) held in conjunction with Malaysia’s 60th Independence Day.

The paddlers arrived safely at Serasa Beach yesterday after kayaking for a distance of 80km from Labuan to Brunei.

The Brunei National Kayak Association was represented by Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, President of the Brunei Darussalam National Canoe Association and Major (Rtd) Mohd Talip bin Haji Mohd Tahir, Secretary General of the association and two other members.

Upon arrival at Serasa Beach yesterday the paddlers were welcomed by YB Pengiran Haji Mohamed bin Pengiran Haji Osman @ Othman, member of Legislative Council. Also present at the event was Vice President of the association, Haji Abdul Jalil bin Haji Bakar.

According to Major (Rtd) Mohd Talip, the expedition, organised by the Labuan Canoe Association began on Friday where they stayed overnight at Rusukan Besar Island in Labuan before continuing their journey to Brunei, covering a total distance of 80km.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Labuan Canoe Association said that the kayak expedition was held to mark Malaysia’s 60th Independence Day, celebrated on August 31, and also to promote Labuan as a tourist destination and at the same time, to promote sea sports activity in Labuan especially among Bruneians.

He said that a similar event was organised 10 years ago but without any participation from Brunei.

The President of Brunei Darussalam National Canoe Association also hosted a welcoming dinner for the participants. The Labuan participants will leave the country today.

The post Paddlers complete 80-km kayak expedition from Labuan to Brunei appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.