|     Hakim Hayat     |

A TRIO of Indian classical musicians are set to dazzle crowds in Brunei Darussalam at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas tomorrow.

The trio, led by Pandit Vikash Maharaj, an award winning and internationally acclaimed sarod (classical music instrument originating from Afghanistan) player and composer, will showcase their unique blend and new take of Indian classical music that has been passed on from generations.

Pandit Vikash Maharaj, together with his sons Prabhash Maharaj, Tabla Player and Abhishek Maharaj, Sitar Player, form a group called the Maharaj Trio hailing from Varanasi in the Northern part of India and were invited by the High Commission of India in Brunei Darusslam to perform for the first time in Brunei.

Speaking to the Bulletin in an interview yesterday, Pandit Vikash Maharaj explained that their range of Ragas, which is the melodic mode in Indian classical music is the heart of all of their music which has been passed down from generation to generation in this family of musicians that can be traced back to fifteen generations.

His son Prabhash said that every performance is unique, as the dynamic relationships between musicians and audience create an entirely new and unforgettable experience every time. The band has performed at major world music festivals in Europe, Asia, the United States, the Middle East, Canada, and South America.

Sharing more about his father’s inspirational journey in promoting Indian classical music inherited by his family, Prabhash said his father has devoted his life promoting plural voices through the instrument and is also actively working on protecting human rights and human dignity as one of the founders of the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights.

His composition and improvisation is filled with joyful and complex interactions between melody and rhythm. What makes Pandit Vikash Maharaj’s performances unique is his ability to innovate with ragas and talas with the sarod using natural abilities and also their ability to suit occasions and mood such as weather and atmosphere at where they are playing. This has been attributed to his musical lineage, part of which were masters of ancient Indian classical music.

While he is passionate about the classical traditional music of North India, he also played his own compositions and has performed internationally with musicians from a variety of genres ranging from classical Indian to modern American jazz.

He had shared stage with many great Indian music legends and has also performed with many great International musicians recorded over 150 Cd’s and LP’s. Pandit ji is the first Indian Sarod player who had performed at Nobel House in Sweden and in the parliament of New Zealand on special request of Prime Minister Helen Clark. Pandit Vikash Maharaj is also awarded with parliamentary batch of Germany and honoured with Life Time Achievement Award by City Remscheid, Germany on his 185th German visit this year.

Backed with his strong passion and desire to develop and continue the legacy of his family, in 2012, Maharaj found the group Maharaj Trio with his two sons.

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|     Lyna Mohamad     |

MINISTER of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof yesterday officiated the launching of the four-day Beautiful Pakistan Art Exhibition at the Art Gallery of the Dermaga Diraja in Bandar Seri Begawan.

The event, hosted by the High Commission of Pakistan in Brunei Darussalam to mark Pakistan’s 71st Independence Day celebrations, began with a recitation of verses from the holy Quran, followed by a welcoming speech by the Pakistani High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Major General (Rtd) Tariq Rashid Khan.

In his welcoming speech, the high commissioner expressed hope that visitors to the gallery will enjoy the exhibition, which will be showcasing both historical and artistic exhibits and open the window to Pakistan’s history, culture, people and beauty.

Major General (Rtd) Tariq Rashid Khan also noted that “we are fortunate to have leading Pakistani artist Shehla Rahman here in Brunei”. The renowned artist will be showcasing her artworks – themed ‘Beautiful Pakistan’ and painted on canvas – which will feature Islamic calligraphy, various landscapes, traditions and faces of Pakistan.

Following the traditional ribbon cutting to mark the launching of the exhibition yesterday, the minister and his spouse were then taken on a tour of the art exhibition, where they were briefed by the artist herself. They also toured the cultural exhibition situated on the other section of the gallery.

The cultural exhibition featured a number of traditional attires worn by several Pakistani ethnic groups such as the Sindh, Punjab, Balochistan and Baltistan, as well as replica models of the homes of these groups and the crafts that they produce and sell.

The Beautiful Pakistan Exhibition is open to the public from August 14 to 17.

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|     Azaraimy HH     |

FAMILY members and friends bid farewell to the last batch of intending pilgrims at the Brunei International Airport that left for Madinah at 10.08pm yesterday.

The flight was scheduled to arrive at 2.48am Madinah time.

Onboard the flight were 253 pilgrims under the Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd and under Raudah Al-Amin Sdn Bhd, including a medical team and officers from Darussalam Holdings and Raudah Al-Amin.

Present to bid the pilgrims farewell were Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB); Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs; Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Mohd Yusof, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs; Haji Harun bin Haji Junid, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

The departure ceremony was blessed with a Doa led by Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Mustafa bin Haji Murat, and an Azan was performed by Mudim Haji Suhaili bin Haji Kalong.

Mohammad Juhilmi bin Haji Mazid, a young pilgrim, in an interview with the Bulletin expressed gratitude to his parents who decided to bring him along and to Allah the Almighty for the blessing.

Pengiran Zainal Abidin bin Pengiran Haji Matarsad, in an interview with the Bulletin, expressed gratitude to Allah the Almighty for enabling him to perform the Haj this year. The former soldier also expressed gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and shared that he received Kurnia to perform the Haj through the Ministry of Defence.

He also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Religious Affairs for providing intending Haj pilgrims courses on the Haj pilgrimage.

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|     Azlan Othman     |

BRUNEI began official implementation of the Motor Claims Guidelines (MCG) for motor vehicle accidents yesterday.

The guidelines were introduced to “speed up the clearing of accident scenes and expedite the settlement of insurance claims,” according to Acting Director of Land Transport, Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud yesterday.

It is normal to see – in the event of an accident in this country – motorists from both lanes slowing down their vehicles to check and have a look on who is/are involved in the accident, and this creates traffic jams, causing employees to arrive late for work,” Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal pointed out.

“On average it takes a maximum of 110 minutes to disperse an accident. This includes contacting the police, conducting of accident assessment by the police, waiting for the tow truck, and placing the vehicle on the tow truck.

“Accidents will not be covered under the MCG if they involve injuries or fatalities; hit and run; intoxicated drivers; damage to government property; pedestrians or cyclists; or royal family vehicles,” the acting director added.

Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal also stated that a number of involved agencies will hold information dissemination programmes nationwide to create awareness and understanding among the public on the implementation of the new guidelines.

This will include FAQs, distribution of brochures at Vehicle Inspection Centres, to car dealers, and so on.

The introduction of the MCG is also meant to reduce the number of traffic accident cases brought to the courts, thus increasing their capacity to handle other cases.

Statistics have shown that an average of 3,000 road traffic accidents occur in the Sultanate annually. From January to November last year, 16 deaths, 41 serious injuries and 398 minor injuries have been reported. Throughout January to December 2015, 36 deaths, 41 serious and 419 minor injuries were recorded.

Meanwhile, Haji Darryl bin Haji Maidin, Deputy General Manager cum Chief Corporate and Legal Compliance Officer of Takaful Brunei, said that the key aspect of introducing the MCG is to speed up claims not involving fatalities and other exclusions.

“One should know who your insurers are and who to call for advice. It is very common thing that motorists change their insurance from year to year [adding to confusion or complications during claims],” he added.

“Drivers involved in minor road traffic accidents only need to call their insurance agent’s accident hotline or accident reporting centre (ARC) to determine whether the accident falls under MCG or otherwise. At the same time, the driver should also call the police hotline to determine this.”

Once an accident has been determined to be falling under the MCG, each driver should then exchange particulars such as their names, identity card numbers, driving licence numbers, telephone numbers, address and insurance details. The vehicle numbers of both parties involved in the accident should also be noted down, and photos of the accident scene (capturing one’s own vehicle and the other damaged vehicle) should be taken.

If multiple collisions occur, photos of those directly involved in the accident should be taken.

The next step is for each driver to bring their accident-involved vehicle – whether damage or otherwise – to the nearest ARC within 24 hours or by the next working day, to submit the photo of the accident scene and Brunei Insurance Takaful Association (BITA) accident statement report.

If the accident happens to be a non-MCG case, the driver must lodge a police report and follow the normal road accident procedures.

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HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Deputy Sultan received in separate audiences newly-appointed envoys to Brunei Darussalam.

The newly appointed envoys presented their letter of credence to 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 on August 10. The audience ceremony took place at Qashr Al-Meezaan.

The first envoy received by the Deputy Sultan was Richard Stephen Lindsay, the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Brunei Darussalam. Lindsay previously served as the Head of Security Policy Department at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

His Royal Highness then received Motohiko Kato, Ambassador of Japan to Brunei Darussalam. Kato formerly held the post of Envoy Extraordinary, Minister of Plenipotentiary and Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of Japan in the United Kingdom.

His Royal Highness also received Peter Hermann Wolff, the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Brunei Darussalam. Wolff served as the Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Germany in Paraguay.

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HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam consented to grace the royal wedding ceremony of Her Highness Tunku Tun Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Sultan Ibrahim and Dennis Muhammad Abdullah held at the Balai Singgahsana as well as the royal banquet ceremony held at Dewan Santapan, Istana Besar Johor Bahru. Accompanying Their Majesties at the said functions were His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel and Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah.

The arrival of His Majesty, Her Majesty and members of the royal family at Istana Besar Johor Bahru were greeted by His Royal Highness Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar and Her Royal Highness Raja Zarith Sofiah binti Almarhum Sultan Idris Shah, the Permaisuri of Johor.

The ceremony began with Istiadat Merenjis and Menepung Tawar. Prior to the ceremony, Doa Selamat was read by Mufti of Johor Darul Ta’zim, Sahibus Samahah Dato Haji Tahrir bin Dato Kiyai Shamsuddin.

Their Majesties were invited to start the Istiadat Merenjis and Menepung Tawar for the royal couple followed by the parents of the royal couple and other members of the royal family.

The Istiadat Merenjis and Menepung Tawar for the royal couple was followed by a royal banquet held at Dewan Santapan, Istana Besar Johor Bahru. It began with the recitation of Doa by the Mufti of Johor Darul Ta’zim.

Before departing from Istana Besar Johor Bahru, Their Majesties consented to congratulate the royal couple.

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|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam national netball team put up a spirited fight in the 64-27 loss to gold medal favourites Malaysia in the preliminary round of the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at Juara Stadium Bukit Kiara in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The national team fell short of the 30-point mark that they established against Singapore but this was a steady improvement from their 82-24 defeat to the same team in the previous edition two years ago.

It is also the second consecutive match that Brunei have narrowed the gap with supposedly two of the region’s giants feeling the effect of their competitiveness in one of the four contested quarters.

Brunei closed the gap with the reigning Asian Netball Championships holders in the second quarter almost reminiscent of their display in the third quarter against Singapore but Malaysia stepped up a gear from the third quarter.

Malaysia head coach Tracey Robinson devised her own strategy and rested an automatic starter in An Najwa Azizan in the bench with team captain Nur Syazaliyana Mohd Ali who boasts an expertise in long throws joining her in the reserves.

However, they still have Norashikin Kamalzaman who terrorised the Bruneian defence two years ago in Singapore as their focal point of attack in the starting line-up.

Brunei’s Siti Marhayati binti Ahmad squandered her side’s first attempt after her shot hit the rim enabling Malaysia to take control of play inspired by the commanding presence of Norashikin.

The Malaysian goal shooter was in devastating form converting 15 of her side’s 18 goals in the first quarter though Brunei had a respectable nine points in the intermediate result.

The Royal Bees started adventurously at the start of the second quarter with Nor Hafizah bte Haji Abdul Sidek in clinical mode scoring four baskets in quick succession as she increased her scoring accuracy.

The Bruneian top goal shooter missed her initial shot but showed determination to win the rebound and sunk a well-deserved point to help her side rake in more points.

National netball coach Thilaka Jinadasa valued highly the importance of Nor Hafizah in the squad though there is still room for improvement.

“She made good moves to overcome strong defenders and it helped to improve our momentum throughout the game. But still, she can do much better if she can be patient with shots,” said Jinadasa of her goal shooter.

Although Brunei looked confident in passing the ball well, their good work at times were cut short as the Malaysian defence were alert to thwart any Brunei attack exemplified by the defensive prowess of Yap Suo Kuen.

The wing defence utilised her height advantage to retrieve the ball at arm length before making the transition from defence to attack.

Malaysia hit another gear in the third quarter after expanding their lead to 26 points thanks to a haul of 18 points compared to Brunei’s five.

Brunei produced their best display in the third quarter against Singapore after matching them with 12 points but this was arguably their worst with their lowest point tally.

Malaysia brought on Izyan Syazana Mohd Wazir to the fold as she partnered up with the impressive Norashikin and contributed to Malaysia widening their lead.

Jinadasa gave a runout to one of their substitutes possibly to help the in-form Nur Hafizah save energy ahead of their remaining group fixtures against Philippines and Thailand.

Malaysia’s goal-shooter Norashikin said that they have done their homework on Brunei’s patterns of play and stuck to their strategies to overcome their opponents.

Meanwhile in the other match, Thailand hammered Philippines 86-16 as the former notched their first win of the tournament.

Brunei will play Philippines next in the preliminary round in a must-win encounter which is almost an identical situation that they faced during the previous edition in Singapore.

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INSURANS Islam TAIB Holdings Sdn Bhd and its subsidiaries, Insurans Islam TAIB General Takaful Sdn Bhd and Insurans Islam TAIB Family Takaful Sdn Bhd completed the first actuarial human capital development project in Brunei.

Over the last two years, 27 key members of Insurans Islam TAIB had undergone rigorous training sessions and workshops aimed at increasing technical know-how in the Takaful business.

The actuarial human capital development project was delivered by learn@AP, the foremost professional actuarial education and training provider in Southeast Asia.

“This is the first time a Takaful company in Brunei has undergone a structured actuarial human capital development project. This will bring significant positive change to the company as well as to the landscape of the Takaful and insurance industry in Brunei. The project was made possible with very strong support from our Board of Directors,” said Haji Osman bin Haji Md Jair, Managing Director of Insurans Islam TAIB Group of Companies who is also the Chairman of Brunei Insurance and Takaful Association since 2014.

This is a major milestone for the takaful and insurance industry in Brunei. Insurans Islam TAIB recognises that increased technical know-how, specifically in the field of actuarial science, enables them to better serve their customers through effective and efficient products as well as sound financial management.

This also demonstrates Insurans Islam TAIB’s commitment towards attracting and retaining a strong and professional workforce, and towards promoting the growth, sustainability and professionalism of the Brunei’s financial system.

The actuarial division of Insurans Islam TAIB was established in 2015. Today, it is the largest actuarial division in Brunei and headed by Arif Leong, the first and only actuary in Brunei.

According to Arif, this human capital development project gave the entire company a deep insight on actuarial business projections, product pricing, actuarial valuation as well as other actuarial management issues such as treating customers fairly.

Insurans Islam TAIB’s commitment to developing a professional Takaful workforce with strong technical knowledge puts them light years ahead of their peers. It is also in line with the goals and objectives set out in Brunei Vision 2035.

The post Brunei’s first ever actuarial human capital development project completed appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Danial Norjidi     |

THE use of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRA) was highlighted during the first plenary session of the 14th Southeast Asia Survey Congress (SEASC) yesterday.

During the first plenary session of the congress, Surveyor (Sr) Pengiran Matusin Matasan, the President of the Brunei Institution of Geomatics delivered a presentation entitled ‘Bridging the Gap through MRA’.

In his presentation, Pengiran Matusin noted that Asean Federation of Land Surveying & Geomatics (AFLAG) was established on March 15, 1995. The objective of AFLAG, amongst others, includes: to serve as a focal point for exchange of ideas related to land surveying and geomatics in the Asean region; and to cooperate with national and international organisations and to support and supplement their work.

He said that AFLAG assists Competent Authorities in Asean member states in capacity building and institutional strengthening; assists to establish professional institutions; assists to set up regulatory and licensing/registration systems; and training.

He also noted that on December 15, 1995, the Asean Economic Ministers signed the Asean Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS) to formally institutionalise the cooperation in trade services in Asean.

The objectives of AFAS include: to enhance cooperation in services amongst Asean; to improve efficiency and competitiveness, diversify production capacity and supply and distribution of services of their services suppliers within and outside Asean; to eliminate substantial restrictions to trade in services amongst member states; and to further expand liberalisation in trade in services beyond those undertaken by member states under GATS with the aim to achieve a free trade area in services.

He also noted that at the 7th Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan on November 5, 2001, Asean leaders mandated the start of negotiations on MRA to facilitate the flow of professional services under AFAS.

Mutual Recognition, he explained, is the process which allows the qualifications gained in one country to be recognised in another country.

The goal of a MRA is to facilitate the flow of foreign professionals taking into account relevant domestic regulations and market demand conditions. An MRA enables professional services certified or registered by the relevant authorities in their home country to be mutually recognised by other signatory member states.

In his presentation, he shared that the Asean Economic Ministers signed the Framework Arrangement for the Mutual Recognition of Surveying Qualifications on November 19, 2007 in Singapore.

One of the objectives of the Framework Arrangement is to identify the framework and establish the basis for Competent Authorities to observe while negotiating MRAs between or amongst each other to facilitate the mutual recognition and mobility of surveying professionals as it is recognised that Asean member countries may have different nomenclatures and requirements.

Another objective is to exchange information in order to promote trust and adoption of best practices on surveying standards and qualifications.

“We still have quite some way to go before we finalise the MRA. So there are challenges ahead, and we have to adopt certain strategies to address these challenges.”

It was shared that these challenges include: recognition/definition of surveying services; the different levels of development between member states; accessibility and quality of education systems; and regulatory and licensing/registration systems in place.

An expert group, Land Equity International (LEI) was engaged to provide the technical assistance to find solutions to move the roadmap and implementation plan forward faster.

LEI aimed to develop an implementation strategy for the Asean MRA for Surveying with the result of improving the freer movement of surveying professionals across Asean.

As a result, the major outcome of the project is a roadmap with detailed activities and outcomes to better understand, document and enhance the education, professional competencies and institution of sustainable surveying profession across all Asean member states that underpins country specific, regional and global progress and development.

“They identified certain key elements that should be addressed very, very quickly,” he said.

Pengiran Matusin shared that the Surveying MRA Group agreed to work towards Asean Registered Surveyors by excluding the Land Cadastre at this juncture with the following focus: Educational Template; Licensing and registration procedure; and National Surveying Boards.

He proceeded to share some success stories, beginning with the current status of registered Asean professionals. “The architects and the engineers have concluded their MRAs and they’ve already registered an extensive number of Asean professionals.”

Statistics he shared show 2,552 professionals registered under engineering (15 from Brunei Darussalam) and 417 registered under architecture (11 from Brunei Darussalam) and 136 under accountancy (from Singapore and Thailand) while none are registered under surveying.

Pengiran Matusin said that work towards Asean Registered Surveyor has been entrusted to Malaysia, who will develop a concept paper for discussion in the coming CCS Meeting in October in Cambodia.

He also noted that Brunei Darussalam and Singapore signed a bilateral MRA on Surveying Education Qualifications in November 2016. In addition, a bilateral MRA on Surveying Education Qualifications between the Land Surveyors Board of Peninsular Malaysia and Land Surveyors Board Singapore has also been concluded.

Pengiran Matusin said, “The thinking is if and when we finalise the Asean Framework of the Arrangement for the Mutual Recognition of Surveying Qualifications, we will have the MRA for surveying services, and there will be the opportunity for surveying professionals to mobilise across Asean. And we will have a free flow of professionals, and it is possible, especially in a borderless world.”

“But we must be mindful that there is a lot of work to be done, there are a lot of gaps to be filled. Even though we cannot close the gap altogether, but we must be mindful of this gap,” he continued. “It is up to us, it is up to the surveyor professionals in the Asean member states to help each other to narrow the gap and bridge the gap.”

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THE Ministry of Health (MoH) warned the public that it found eight traditional medicines and health products as well as one cosmetic product to be adulterated.

The Laboratory of Pharmacy Section, Laboratory Services, MoH tested and found the products to contain undeclared, potent western medicine.

The following health products were found adulterated with Sibutramine: ‘DZ Garcinia Herbal Plus Capsule 500mg’ from DZ Trade Sdn Bhd, Malaysia; ‘XXS 350mg Pill’; and ‘Beautea Slim 10 Days Program Capsule’.

Sibutramine is a slimming agent but no longer recommended for medical use in treating obesity due to its harmful effects on the heart and liver. Its consumption can also cause serious adverse reactions such as high blood pressure, heart palpitation, insomnia and in the worst cases, kidney and liver damage.

Two health products, ‘Maajun Selasih Pil’ from Kampung Teluk Sungai Dua, Butterworth, Malaysia; and ‘Pil Ubat Penyakit Kulit Capsule’ from Vitai Pharm Factory Sdn Bhd, Taiwan were found adulterated with Dexamethasone and Clorpheniramine.

Unsupervised long-term consumption of potent corticosteroids such as Dexamethasone can cause increased blood glucose levels leading to diabetes, high blood pressure, cataracts, muscular and bone disorders, and an increased risk of infections. Long term use of corticosteroids can also lead to Cushing’s syndrome which is characterised by a round face or ‘moon face’, and upper body obesity with thin limbs.

Consumers who have taken high doses of steroids over a prolonged period of time may suffer from withdrawal symptoms which include fatigue, muscle and joint pain, fever, low blood sugar, low blood pressure and dehydration.

The unsupervised consumption of Chlorpheniramine can cause adverse effects including dizziness, lowering of blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, confusion, depression and convulsions.

Meanwhile, the health products ‘Mantap Bro 1,500mg Sachet’ was found adulterated with Tadalafil, while ‘Maxman IV Capsule 3,800mg’ from United Century Health Products (International) Group Co Ltd and ‘Bazooka Capsule’ from American E-Commerce Solution, the USA were found with Sildenafil.

Sildenafil and Tadalafil are drugs used to treat male impotency and can only be prescribed by a qualified doctor or physician. Among their side effects include nausea, vomiting, flushing and dizziness. In severe cases, they can also result in abnormal increase in heart rate, sudden loss of hearing and seizures.

The cosmetic product ‘Bee Venom 4 in 1 100% Organic – Moisturiser & Repair Serum’ was found adulterated with Mercury – a potent ingredient prohibited in cosmetic products as stipulated in the Medicines (Cosmetic Products) Regulations 2007.

Mercury is prohibited due to its hazardous effects on human health. It is readily absorbed through the skin on topical application and tends to accumulate in the body. Exposure to mercury can cause skin rashes, memory loss and muscle weakness while high exposures may result in damage to the brain and kidneys. It is also extremely toxic to unborn children.

The MoH has not issued any approval nor Cosmetic Notification Acknowledge-ment Letter for the importation for the sale of these products. Following these findings, the products are not allowed to be imported and sold in Brunei Darussalam.

Members of the public who have purchased or used these products are advised to stop using them immediately, and to consult a medical practitioner if they feel unwell or experience any undesirable reactions as a result of using them.

Members of the public involved in the retail of these products – including online retail – are reminded that it is an offence under the Poisons Act 1956 to sell any product containing any substance controlled under the said Act. The penalty for such an offence upon conviction, is a fine of $8,000 or six months’ impri-sonment.

If a person commits an Act that amounts to such a degree of negligence so as to endanger or be likely to endanger human life, the person shall be guilty of an offence which carries a penalty of a fine of $16,000 and 12 months’ imprisonment.

It is an offence under the Medicines (Cosmetic Products) Regulations, 2007, to import and market cosmetic products in the local market without a Cosmetic Product Notification Acknowledgement Letter issued by the authority.

The penalty for contravening these regulations upon conviction is a fine not exceeding $5,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both. The ministry seeks cooperation from the public to report to the Health Regulations Services if any of these products are still found on the market.

For information, the public can contact the Health Regulations Services at 2384182, e-mail to health.regulations@moh.gov.bn or go directly to Health Regulations Services, First Floor, Ministry of Health, Commonwealth Drive.

The public can also contact Darussalam line 123 for enquiries.

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|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

MUKIM penghulus and village heads from Zones 1 and 3 in the Brunei-Muara District attended a dialogue session yesterday with the Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, at the Brunei-Muara District Office in the Old Airport, Berakas.

During the session, the minister called for more active participation from villages and mukims, for the 50th Golden Jubilee 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 Accession to the Throne, on October 5.

“This is an appropriate time for all citizens and residents to show their undivided loyalty towards His Majesty who has steered this country’s progress and development in various fields, enabling the people to enjoy lasting peace, prosperity and security,” he said.

The minister added that the dialogue session was the latest in a series of conferences for mukim penghulus and village heads at the district office.

“I understand that previous meetings have already dealt with major issues based around constructive suggestions, while examining problems at village, mukim and district levels with the objective of preserving the welfare, peace and security of village residents in the Brunei-Muara District,” he said.

The minister also gave a recent update on the Brunei Darussalam Mukim Penghulu and Village Head Services Scheme (Skim Perkhidmatan Penghulu dan Ketua Kampung Negara Brunei Darussalam), which was established in April 2013.

“The scheme has been revised and currently undergoing a final assessment, where a detailed study is being made on qualifications that need to be coordinated with certain factors such as the National Accreditation Council, salary estimation, confirmation of salary payments, allowances and so on, to allow these mukim penghulus and village heads to adapt to the new arrangement,” he said.

The minister also disclosed that 40 openings for mukim penghulus and village heads have so far been advertised under the new scheme, but “these posts are still vacant, because none of the candidates were able to meet the required standards as outlined in the new Brunei Darussalam Mukim Penghulu and Village Head Services Scheme”.

To address the issue, the minister said the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken specific steps, such as co-hosting a three-day workshop on Basic Community Leadership with the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD)’s Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Advancement (ILIA) last May, which was attended by 33 members from several mukim and village consultative councils.

At the same time, the minister said the Ministry of Home Affairs was planning to conduct a roadshow in all four districts, to give out more facts and information on the leadership criteria and qualifications under the new scheme.

“In view of this, the ministry will continue to assist in advancing the capabilities of all mukim and village consultative council members by having them attend workshops and courses to boost their knowledge in specific areas such as weaving, handicraft, cookery, farming and product packaging for added value,” he said, adding that these courses were especially designed with the aim of supporting village entrepreneurs under the One Village, One Product (1K1P) project.

The minister also announced that as of April this year, five 1K1P products have attained the Brunei Darussalam Halal Certification: the ‘net crepe’ (roti jala) of MPK Zone 2 RPN Mentiri; the fish snacks of MPK Sungai Teraban; the virgin coconut oil of MPK Tanjong Maya; the herbal tea of MPK Kiudang; and the egg noodles (‘mee kuning’) of MPK Senukoh.

Commenting on suggestions in establishing a sales centre for 1K1P products, the minister said certain measures to promote village enterprises have already been implemented.

“In the Temburong District, for example, the mukim and village consultative councils have set up a centre for the sale of village products,” he said.

“While in the Tutong District, 1K1P products are sold at the 1K1P Gallery, which is under the Tutong District Office.

“In addition to that, the Ministry of Home Affairs is currently negotiating with the Civil Aviation Department, to showcase and place 1K1P products at the departure hall of the Brunei International Airport.”

The minister announced that the Ministry of Home Affairs would work together with village entrepreneurs to develop their products, in response to suggestions by several Legislative Council members earlier this year.

“This is to ensure that 1K1P products are sustainable enough to qualify for both domestic and foreign markets,” he said, while also stating that nine MPK/MPM products have been selected for the upcoming China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) 2017 in Nanning, China, on September 12-15.

Among the main objectives of yesterday’s dialogue session was examining current issues faced by mukim penghulus and village heads, while at the same time providing a platform for active discussion on how to improve services.

The post Minister calls for villages’ active participation in Sultan’s Golden Jubilee celebration appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     James Kon     |

AS A member of United Nations Global Geospatial Information Manage-ment (UNGGIM), International Federation of Land Surveying (FIG) and Asean Federation of Land Surveying and Geomatics (AFLAG), Brunei Darussalam through the Survey Department, Ministry of Development will continuously support the initiatives to sustain and enhance national, regional and global socio-economic development by capitalising on geospatial technology.

Brunei Darussalam’s continuous commitment in working with inter-national organisations on Land Surveying and Geomatics was lauded by Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, Minister of Development in his keynote address as the guest of honour at the opening ceremony of the 14th Southeast Asia Survey Congress 2017 yesterday.

It was hosted by the Survey Department in collaboration with Brunei Institution of Geomatics (BIG) and AFLAG.

On the local front, the minister said the Ministry of Development through the Survey Department had also launched its own Survey Geoportal where members of the public can have online access on the geospatial information of Brunei Darussalam.

“The use of geospatial data and technology enables a lot of government programmes, services and economic activities to run more efficiently. The technology enables the integration of disparate information from many sources to support decision-making across broad sectors of the country,” he added.

Last year, the minister said the Ministry of Development through the Land Department also launched the Land Application and Registration Information System (LARIS).

The system enables applicants to apply for government approvals of any land transaction online. The plan is to further integrate LARIS with other systems of government departments and agencies in the future so as to expedite the approval process as part of the country’s Ease of Doing Business efforts, he said.

With the numerous initiatives in place, the minister said these are just the beginning of Brunei’s effort in carefully embracing geospatial technologies to address Brunei’s developmental needs and as an element to facilitate the realisation of Brunei’s National Vision 2035.

Touching on the use of technologies in geospatial earlier in his address, the minister highlighted is among the most important and exciting emergent technologies of today and the applications offer the potential to reward its users both in the private sector and in the government.

“The increasing availability of Geographic Information Systems and Internet Mapping with high resolution images is promoting both private and public sectors to start embracing and applying this technology in their planning, development and business strategies as well as in areas as diverse as disaster management, environ-mental and urban planning, security provision, risk assessment, utilities management, telecommunications, transportation and education,” he said.

The minister also noted that members of the public are increasingly purchasing and utilising place-based GIS generated products without necessarily having to be familiar with the technical aspects of the technology.

“The use of GPS or Internet-based maps to locate a particular place of interest using smartphones is just one of the examples of this trend. Such ease of access at relatively affordable prices makes the adoption of these technologies by consumers an increasingly compelling proposition, offering greater prospect for greater commercialisation in the future. This in turn will potentially fuel further innovation and new applications of the technologies and provide expansion room for the industry to enter into new market segments and an upward trajectory of growth,” he said.

The post Brunei to capitalise on geospatial technology: Minister appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     James Kon    |

OVER 300 local and international participants are attending the 14th Southeast Asia Survey Congress 2017 (SEASC 2017), hosted by the Survey Department in collaboration with the Brunei Institution of Geomatics (BIG) and the Asean Federation of Land Surveying and Geomatics (AFLAG).

The three-day congress was officially opened by Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, Minister of Development at The Rizqun International Hotel yesterday.

The meetings are attended by local government officers, students and participants from Australia, Britain, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan, all who will join deliberations of over 70 papers which will be presented in the parallel sessions during the congress.

In his welcoming remarks, Haji Ali Bakar bin Haji Kasim, Surveyor General at the Survey Department, said, “In the 14th Southeast Asia Survey Congress 2017, we try to harmonise the surveying profession with other related professions and work together closely in the construction industry to enhance our social, physical and economic development. It is imperative for all levels of professions to share geospatial information in order to expedite national development.”

Haji Ali Bakar, who is also the chairperson of the event, added, “SEASC brings together the international surveying and spatial professionals community to share innovative science and technology solutions with policymakers and stakeholders. I am pleased to see that some papers prepared by the speakers are related to SEASC’s objectives and relevant to our profession and will be very beneficial to all.”

Altogether, 72 working papers will be presented by local and overseas speakers comprising four papers presented in the two plenary sessions, and 68 papers presented in the parallel sessions.

The papers will touch on topics such as Surveying and Mapping, Land Administration, Disaster Management, and Geospatial Intelligence, among others. Meanwhile, Surveyor (Sr) Mohammad Azmi bin Mohd Zain, President of AFLAG, in his address congratulated Brunei Darussalam as the country will be celebrating the Golden Jubilee of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s Ascension to the Throne in October this year.

He highlighted that the Southeast Asia Survey Congress is a flagship event held once every two years, with the previous congress being held in Singapore in 2015.

“We have identified and adopted the theme of enhancing the synergies with focus initiatives, promoting the aims and objectives of Asean. This means AFLAG is bringing together Asean surveyors and geomatics professionals and sharing knowledge of technologies which can be embraced and add value to our profession – improving on traditional standard practices – for the advancement of mankind and the community in Asean,” he said.

The theme for this year’s congress ‘Bridging the Gap’, defines AFLAG and Asean’s common aspiration and vision of creating an even more closely-knit regional community, with the expressed aim of forging ever closer cooperation in land surveying and geomatics.

SEASC 2017 aims to be a platform for the sharing of ideas and best practices in surveying and geomatics, helping to adopt and advance common standards, as well as address the various conformance issues within the industry in a meaningful and productive manner for the mutual good and benefit of all member countries.

Also present at yesterday’s ceremony were Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar, Deputy Minister of Development; Pengiran Haji Matussin bin Pengiran Haji Matassan, the President of Brunei Institution of Geomatics; and other senior officials from the ministry.

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|     Azaraimy HH     |

SEVERAL roads in the Tutong District were flooded following continuous rainfall yesterday morning.

Affected areas included Jalan Mukim Rambai, Jalan Keranching Benutan, Jalan Benutan, Jalan Bengkuru and Jalan Kuala Ungar/Rambai.

According to the report from the Lamunin Fire Station, the water level at Jalan Keranching Benutan and Jalan Bangkuru (Mukim Rambai) nearly reached one metre high, making the roadway impassable by heavy vehicles or trucks.

The water level at Jalan Benutan was recorded at 0.30 metre and was passable by four-wheel drive vehicles while the roadway at Jalan Kuala Ungar/Rambai was safe to be used by saloon cars as the water level was not high. The Fire and Rescue Department (FRD) advised residents of low lying areas prone to flash floods to be cautious and prepared during such incidents.

The Tutong District Disaster Management Centre (DDMC) will continuously monitor the water level in several areas with help from the Lamunin Fire Station as well as penghulus and village heads.

The public is advised to safeguard their assets and important documents in high areas.

The public is also advised to keep a watchful eye on family members and avoid swimming in flooded areas.

For any emergency, the public can contact the FRD emergency line 115.

The post Continuous rainfall floods roadways appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Aziz Idris     |

THE Government of India will host a ‘Festival of India’ in Brunei Darussalam from October to mark the Golden Jubilee of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s accession to the throne.

This was shared by Nagma Mohamed Mallick, the Indian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam during a dinner reception to celebrate the 71st anniversary of India’s independence last night.

This year also marks 25 years of Asean-India Dialogue Partnership and the High Commission of India in Brunei Darussalam is excited to host several events including a car rally, a food festival, and musical events to celebrate the milestone in the Sultanate.

“In the months to come, we will welcome all Asean Leaders to India for a Commemorative Summit.

“We are grateful to His Majesty and His Majesty’s Government for the support they have invariably extended to the Indian community in Brunei Darussalam,” she said.

She also reminded the local Indian community to adhere to the wheel of national endeavour of Brunei and India, and to contribute in improving India’s image abroad by their efforts, talents and abilities.

“May the friendly ties between India and Brunei Darussalam grow ever stronger and deeper,” she added.

She also spoke on India’s many achievements in recent years spearheaded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

Present as the guest of honour was the Minister of Education, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman and spouse.

The minister and spouse joined Nagma M Mallick and spouse for the ceremonial cake cutting.

National anthems of Brunei and India were also played.

Renowned musician, PT Vikash Maharaj, who played the Sarod, also performed Hindustani classical music.

The post ‘Festival of India’ to delight local crowds appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     James Kon     |

SEVENTEEN people were rendered homeless after two houses in Kampong Bakut Pengiran Siraja Muda ‘A’ were gutted by a fire early yesterday morning.

A distress call was received at 4.07am, according to the Fire and Rescue Department.

Led by SSFR Hadi Zulfadli bin Yahya, Commanding Officer of Operation ‘D’ of the Fire and Rescue Department, 22 firefighters were dispatched to the scene to fight the blaze.

The fire, which was spreading rapidly through the wooden, zinc-roofed houses, was brought under control by the crew within 20 minutes. Two houses were however destroyed, with a further three damaged.

One of the decimated houses owned by a local woman housed eight residents. The other home, which had seven people staying, belonged to a local man. No casualties were reported from the fire as all affected residents were evacuated safely.

Present at the scene to oversee the firefighting operation was Lt Col (Rtd) Yahya bin Haji Abdul Rahman, Director of the Fire and Rescue Department.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. The total cost of damages have been estimated at around B$122,000.

Speaking on the incident, the Fire and Rescue Department advised the public to always be vigilant on home safety by making sure that their homes are equipped with working fire extinguishers, smoke alarms, and fire blankets.

They should also learn how to properly use fire extinguishers to extinguish small flames and ensure that electrical appliances which have been turned on are always monitored and electrical circuits are not overloaded. Wiring works should always be carried out only by skilled professionals accredited by the Department of Electrical Services.

Cooking should never be left unattended, and the hose and regulator of the cooking gas cylinder must be the correct type and recognised by Brunei Shell Marketing Co Sdn Bhd (BSM).

For any emergency, the public can contact the operation centre of the Fire and Rescue Department at 995, and provide accurate information on the incident.

The post Early morning blaze guts 2 houses, leaves 17 homeless appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

DPMM FC bowed out of the Singapore Cup with a second successive defeat at the hands of Home United FC after losing 3-1 in the second leg and 6-2 in aggregate at the Bishan Stadium in Singapore last night.

The result meant that Steve Kean’s charges will be without silverware for the second consecutive year since lifting the league title having been struggling in the Great Eastern-Hyundai S League this year and missed out on a place in the Singapore League Cup final.

It was inevitable that Home United FC midfielder Faris Ramli rose to the occasion marking yet another goal while man-of-the-moment Iqram Rifqi passed his audition with flying colours of becoming a consistent member in the S League squad with an assist and a goal.

Faris Ramli has been a nuisance against DPMM FC capping his fine performances with seven goals in the last three meetings and in the early going influenced their attacking play initiating the threat for the returning Stipe Plazibat and Song Ui-Young.

Faris nearly gave the Croatian a welcoming present in his return to the starting line-up since his absence in the first leg but DPMM FC goalkeeper Mu’izzuddin Ismail was quick to get off his line to block his attempt which illustrated why his coach Steve Kean has shown faith in him with his goalkeeping abilities.

The Home United FC midfielder returned with a through ball for Song but the latter’s shot did not trouble the goalkeeper on this occasion.

Plazibat managed his first attempt but his effort sailed off the upright as it was all Home United in the opening 10 minutes of the game.

The Protectors looked to kill the tie once and for all as Cristopher Van Huizen cut inside on his left and unleashed a venomous shot but it crashed off the crossbar.

Vincent Salas had a good chance to open his account in DPMM FC colours but scoffed his shot in the six yard box.

It was a shame for Van Huizen to exit the pitch prematurely after such an inspiring start as Izzdin Shafiq was brought in his place in the 34th minute.

Plazibat was denied by Mu’izzuddin again as half-time loomed before Juma’at Jantan, one of the heroes of the first leg, drove a rasping shot wide.

The Gegar Gegar men needed a goal to stand any chance of staying in the contest and Helmi Zambin provided the platform in the 48th minute after dispossessing Song and slipping the ball between the legs of Home United goalkeeper Hassan Sunny.

Faris came close to increase his personal tally with eighth against DPMM FC this season after brilliantly skipping past a defender and his shot just rolled wide off the bottom corner.

DPMM FC missed a glorious opportunity to go within a goal of making it to the next round after Abdul Mu’iz Sisa, a surprise starter, missed one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Home United FC head coach Aidil Sharin has been pleased with what he’s seen with Prime League player Iqram Rifqi in the first leg and if there’s any indication of him seeking for a better performance he definitely received it.

Iqram, who was promoted to the S League squad, made an instant impact a minute after coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute after squaring the ball for Faris who netted his eighth goal in four matches against DPMM FC this season.

It was an eventful three minutes for the young forward as he had a good chance to single-handedly put his side into the lead but Mu’izzuddin made a wonderful point blank save.

The former MS PDB shot-stopper was called into action yet again this time from Juma’at and based on evidence there was no arguments that the bulk of chances came from the home side.

It was a perfect end for Iqram, who over the two legs had been one of the players pivotal in guiding them to victory, after helping his side to a 2-1 lead in the 86th minute.

Home United replicated their result in the first leg after Juma’at finished off Plazibat’s assist.

The post DPMM FC crash out of Singapore Cup appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam national netball team edged a step closer towards advancing to the semi-finals of the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games after notching their first victory in the 69-32 win over the Philippines at the Juara Stadium Bukit Kiara in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The national netball team is likely to clinch third place if they exact redemption in their remaining group tie against Thailand and with the gulf in class and quality it is difficult to see Philippines getting a win against reigning holders Singapore and gold medal favourites Malaysia.

Brunei made expected changes in the starting line-up with Nur Ady Elzza Ezrenna Sofian replacing Nur Hafizah binti Haji Abdul Sidek while Siti Nurul Nazihah took the centre role normally occupied by Athiyyah As’ad.

With head coach Thilaka Jinadasa making adjustments to the side, the regular centre starter was slotted in the goal defence role.

Siti Marhayati’s shot tingled the edge and dropped down as Brunei opened up a rather comfortable 9-2 lead.

In terms of progression from the Philippines point of view, they equalled their scoring in the first quarter against Thailand with Ana Rosa executing a good finish.

Philippines had problems defensively and offensively which stemmed from the transition in the middle of the court which more often than not for them broke down and it was a similar story as Brunei made double digits.

The Siklab Pilipinas worked the ball onto the firing line but under no kind of pressure goal-shooter Domino Katryna’s coughed up the ball and within seconds Siti Marhayati took down an opportunity.

The Brunei defence composed of a trio of goal-keeper Nur Syuhaidah Fahriyana binti Haji Sukri and Siti Nurul Nazihah was well marshalled to keep out the advances of Philippines captain Ana Thea Cenarosa.

The first quarter marked slight concerns for the Royal Bees as it is suggested an improvement from the Philippines who were down by 20 points at this stage against Thailand and looked on course to keep their margin by single digits heading into the second quarter.

However, Brunei were truly in the ascendancy as they held a commanding 16-5 at the end of the first quarter.

Brunei broke away and had a chance to get away with double digits but a loose ball enabled Philippines to toss the ball forward on the opposite end of the court.

But their play broke again in a scrappy encounter whereby only 19 points had only been accumulated which was the lowest scoring target of the competition so far with four games already completed.

The lowest opening quarter of the SEA Games competition in Kuala Lumpur has been the match between Singapore and Brunei (22), Philippines and Thailand (26), Malaysia and Brunei (27) and Malaysia and Thailand (28).

Philippines again coughed up allowing Brunei the chance to score right at the end of the first quarter which Nur Ady Elzza duly converted their 20th point.

Siti Marhayati made a nice shot which clipped into the net amid tight defending from Philippines’ goal-keeper Aquino Teresa Angelina to take Brunei lead to 20 points.

The 174cm tall goal keeper had a busy afternoon seemingly called into action every 15 to 20 seconds such as the onslaught of the Brunei attacking force.

The Royal Bees had a rare miss but a whistle had been sounded in which appeared to be an offside meaning they had the chance to try again in their opponent’s territory.

Philippines refused to bow down as Anjelica Estacion got off the mark in the second quarter with a smart finish.

The Siklab Pilipinas were a match for the Bruneians as they trailed only by 7-5 in the final quarter which was an improvement for the former considering the fact that they were blown away 22-2 by Thailand at this stage.

Nur Hafizah, who is expected to regain her starting place in the Thai game, was clinically impressive since being introduced having amassed a succession of baskets.

The in-form Nur Hafizah received a tumble in search of expanding their best quarter scoring tally as the tie drew to a close but it was already job done.

“We really want to try all out tomorrow’s game and players are really looking forward to play tomorrow’s game. Their mind-set is really strong after giving a good challenge to both Singapore and Malaysia. I am sure tomorrow will be a very challenging game again for us,” Jinadasa said.

The post Brunei almost certain of semis berth appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam National Sepak Takraw team bagged their first medal in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games after being awarded bronze in the men’s chinlone event at the Titiwangsa Indoor Stadium in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The national team accumulated 157 points to win automatic bronze with only three teams competing in the discipline.

SEA Games hosts Malaysia and the Philippines progressed to the final after they both totalled 376 and 293 points respectively.

Malaysia won the gold medal for the first time after accumulating 391 points while the Philippines took silver after managing 271 points in the final.

It was the first medals offered to the winning nations in this year’s edition of the SEA Games and the bronze temporarily put Brunei Darussalam third of the medal classification in the pre-opening ceremony events.

Chinlone was introduced in the SEA Games in Myanmar in 2013. It involves six players taking turns juggling the sepak takraw ball in a circle and showcasing a variety of skills and abilities using their footwork.

The post Brunei win bronze in sepak takraw appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Azlan Othman     |

FOLLOWING the implementation of Motor Claims Guidelines (MCG) which started on Monday in this country, a briefing for the officials, members of the private sector was held yesterday at the Ministry of Communications hall.

MCG is where drivers involved in minor road traffic accident only need to call their insurance agent’s accident hotline or accident reporting centre (ARC). At the same time, the driver should also call the police hotline to determine whether the accident falls under MCG or otherwise.

And the ARC or the police will assist to determine whether your accident falls under MCG or not.

If it falls under MCG, then one should exchange particulars like name, identity card, driving licence number, telephone number, address and insurance details and to take note of the vehicle number of both parties involved in the accident as well as take pictures of the accident scene of your own vehicle and other damaged vehicle.

If multiple collisions occur, take picture of those in direct contact. One should then bring the accident vehicle (whether damage or otherwise) to the nearest ARC within 24 hours or by next working day to submit the picture of accident scene and Brunei Insurance Takaful Association (BITA) accident statement report.

If it is a non MCG case, the driver must lodge a police report and follow the normal procedure.

The purpose of introducing MCG is to expedite the process of dispersing motor accident cases and quick settlement of insurance claims.

Present at the briefing were the Acting Director of Land Transport, Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud; Chairperson of Brunei Insurance and Takaful Association (BITA), Haji Osman bin Haji Mohd Jair; Haji Darryl bin Haji Maidin, Deputy General Manager cum Chief Corporate and Legal Compliance Officer of Takaful Brunei.

It was highlighted that the public are adapting to such guideline as it is still new to them and unfamiliar to the procedure.

The post Benefits of MCG explained at briefing appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.