|     Lyna Mohamad     |

DATO Seri Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Deputy Minister of Finance, yesterday urged travel agents to develop more tour packages showcasing what Brunei can offer not only to local population but also to travellers from abroad.

In an interview after officiating the launch of the two-day Brunei Travel Fair 2017, organised by Sabre Travel Network Brunei at the International Convention Centre in Berakas, the minister said that the event is an opportunity for people to plan their holidays, and more importantly, it also showcases domestic tourism with a very encouraging number of packages for people to choose.

“Hopefully local travel agents will work together with the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) as well as other relevant agencies and ministries to develop more packages in the future,” he said.

The deputy minister also expressed the hope that there will be more such promotions on local tourism in the coming years and it is very encouraging to see some of the travel agents creating their own packages on this sector.

“Brunei obviously has a lot of attractions including a number of eco-tourism spots and places of interest such as Temburong, Tutong and even the Kampong Ayer that have not been fully exploited,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of Sabre, Karam Chand, in his welcoming address at the launching ceremony, was confident of seeing an increase in the number of visitors to the event compared to previous years.

“Brunei Travel Fair is an important event for the nation and Sabre Travel Network Brunei is proud to once again organise this event for the benefit of Bruneians, the expat community, airlines, travel trade partners, national tourist offices and our other business partners,” he said.

The 14th edition the fair offers travellers a wide range of deals under a single roof and is a testimony to Sabre’s commitment to provide a large platform for its travel partners for showcasing their products and services.

Karam Chand further noted that with the broad support from travellers and their travel partners including national tourist offices, travel agents and financial institutions, the fair is becoming a much-anticipated event for Bruneians every year.

Sabre has provided more than 50 terminals to the travel agencies participating at the fair to help them efficiently service their clients. General Manager of Sabre Travel Network Brunei Irene Soon said that the fair provides an excellent opportunity for Brunei-based travellers to shop for both overseas and domestic travel packages. “It is an event on the travel calendar not to be missed,” she added.

The travel agents participating at the fair are Pan Bright Travel Service, Anthony Tours & Travel Agency, At-Taqwa Travel Tours, Bess Tour & Travel, Century Travel Centre, Darussalam Holdings and Freme Travel Services, Grace Travel Agency, JJ Tour Service, Sinar Tour, Southern Cross Travel Agencies, Straits Central Agencies and Sunshine Borneo Tours.

The national tourism organisations participating in the event are the Brunei Tourism Board, the Sabah Tourism Board, the Sarawak Tourism Board, the Taiwan Tourist Bureau, the Tourism Authority Thailand and the Tourism Perak Management Board.

Other exhibitors are Baiduri Bank Berhad, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam, Jerudong Park Country Club, Poni Divers, Standard Chartered Bank and Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) who are showcasing their booths to extend support to the participating travel agents and provide assistance to visitors.

The post Brunei Travel Fair opens with attractive offers appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Ishan Ibrahim     |

QAF Eurokars Sdn Bhd lifted the curtains on the exciting entry-level Panamera in front of an eager crowd of auto fans and media representatives during an unveiling ceremony at its Beribi showroom on Saturday.

The company, the official importer and distributor of Porsche vehicles in Brunei, expanded its Panamera family in the country with the new Panamera 4S.

“The new Panamera is more agile than ever before and with systematic lightweight construction, coupled with effortless power delivery, ensures handling that is worthy of a thoroughbred sports car. But if you prefer to have a luxuriating long distance drive, the Panamera demonstrates its superiority with new levels of comfort thanks to its three-chamber air suspension,” said Clement Chong, General Manager of QAF Eurokars Sdn Bhd, who oversaw the event.

As with the rest of the Panamera models, the new entry-level Panamera was developed for sports car drivers looking for that four-door, four-seat configuration, and for saloon drivers who prefer sportier handling combined with superior style.

Manifesting attributes of both a genuine sports car and a luxury saloon, the base model Panamera’s expressive design, dynamic proportions, flared shoulders, athletic flanks, and a much faster roof line gives the car an image of enhanced power and speed, while its classic Porsche flyline creates a stylistic link to the Stuttgart automaker’s iconic 911.

The vehicle’s broad spread between performance and comfort sets standards in the luxury segment, including new features such as the rear-axle steering with a three-chamber air suspension as an option. Porsche has always been known for its Advanced Cockpit and intuitive functions which create a more convenient and safer driving experience.

The newly designed three-litre V6 engine completes the range of Panamera engines at the entry-level end. On the Panamera, the agile six-cylinder engine drives only the rear wheels, while the motor is linked to an extremely fast eight-speed Porsche Doppelkupplung (PDK).

Like all other engines of the new Gran Turismo, this V6 is also a turbo engine with direct petrol injection.

It delivers a power output of up to 243 kW (330 hp) between 5,400 and 6,400 rpm, representing a 20hp increase over the naturally aspirated engine used in the previous model.

The turbo engine delivers a maximum torque of 450 Nm from just 1,340 rpm (predecessor: 400 Nm). The V6 turbo is much more responsive than the na turally aspirated V6 engine it replaces. Despite all this improved power and torque development, fuel consumption is still reduced by up to 1.01 L/100 km.

The new Porsche Panamera also features high-gloss black air intake covers in the front wings and black brake calipers behind its 19-inch wheels.

Other standard equipment include matte black side window strips, LED main headlights, four-point LED daytime running lights, optional LED front light modules with position lights and indicators, a driving light assistant with Automatic Coming Home lights, three-dimensional LED tail lights with four-point brake lights, a full-length light strip at the rear, and ambient lighting in the mirror housings.

From a functional perspective, the standard exterior equipment includes a rain sensor for the windscreen wipers and an electrically-operated tailgate. In addition, the front and rear of the vehicle are equipped with Park Assist, which provides visual and acoustic warnings of obstacles encountered when parking or manoeuvering.

One of the main benefits of purchasing from Porsche Centre Brunei, the only official authorised Porsche dealer in Brunei (operated by QAF Eurokars), is the advantage of being able to have your car designed and customised to your own needs and preferences.

Established on August 1, 1997, the modern and well-equipped Porsche Centre Brunei is a one-stop auto facility, giving customers and sports car enthusiasts access to a fully equipped showroom, after-sales service, Porsche Tequipment accessories, Porsche Driver’s Selection, and a number of other services.

To get a closer look of the new car, the public can drop by the Porsche showroom in the Beribi Light Industrial Area.

The post Entry-level Panamera unveiled appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam national equestrian athlete Pengiran Mohd Nasir bin Pengiran Anak Ja’afar advanced to the final round of the Individual Jumping event with his horse Hunters Canatano Z in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at the 3Q Equestrian Centre yesterday.

The national rider was included among the top 15 and incurred four penalties heading to the final round but he will be looking for a cleaner run to be in contention of medalling the event.

The national rider is in high spirits going into the final round and will be seeking for improvements.

“Canatano was performing great while in regards to my own (performance) there’s still room for improvement, but we’re feeling good for Monday,” he said.

The competition has been further enhanced with more seasoned riders returning to the competition while teams have opted for old heads than assembling a junior side.

“The standard has definitely gone up a lot compared to the SEA Games in Singapore two years ago,” said Pengiran Mohd Nasir.

The country’s sole representative in the jumping event led the pack in the preliminary rounds in the last edition to book his berth in the final round.

With the majority of the riders in his field European-based, Pengiran Mohd Nasir also has similarities having been undergoing his development in Belgium and has actively participated in high level prestigious competitions sanctioned by Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI).

The national rider whose best achievement to date is fifth place in the FEI World Ranking Grand Prix event, has had a busy schedule this year having competed in the CSI** Beervelde in Belgium, CSI* Baltica Tour in Poland, CSI** Knokke in Belgium and CSI** Moorsele in Belgium.

Defending champion Sharmini Christina Ratnasingham is in contention of retaining her title that she won in Singapore in front of a home crowd while the competitor she pipped to gold Catherine Chew will hope that the tables are turned.

Catherine and Sharmini was involved in a faceoff after both posted perfect rounds but the latter edged the former who was at that time backed by home support at her home Games.

Thailand’s Sailub Lertratanachai, bronze medallists from the previous edition, will be eying to add her team bronze to her growing collection.

The final round of the competition will be held on Monday with the top 15 riders to be cut down to the final 10.

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|     Lyna Mohamad     |

THE ambitious ammonia and urea plant, set to be established by Brunei Fertilizer Industries (BFI), will create 1,000 jobs in the construction phase and a further 200 jobs during the operational phase. The plant will also generate 600 indirect jobs in the service sector.

This was stated by the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance II Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim in his keynote address at the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) Agreement signing ceremony yesterday.

All construction activities including infrastructure projects are now geared towards realising and delivering this project on time for production by 2021, he noted.

The signing of this EPC contract, the minister said, is yet another significant achievement to the development of the downstream industry in Brunei Darussalam. Earlier this year, Hengyi Industries also announced their commitment to invest in a crude oil refinery and aromatics cracker complex valued at US$3.445 billion, which will have a significant impact on our economy in the short to medium term.

According to the minister, the conclusion of the extensive negotiations on the EPC contract will firm up Brunei Fertilizer Industries’ commitments and investments in Brunei Darussalam to realise the construction of an ammonia and urea plant with a total investment value of B$1.8 billion, marking another important success and milestone for the industry.

“The government, in addition to these investments, is also actively undergoing negotiations for further investments in the downstream industry sector that will create more value added to the economy.

“For example, if realised, a further estimated investment value of US$11 billion is expected for the downstream industry. All of these are a testament to Brunei Darussalam’s attractiveness as a preferred destination for foreign investments,” the minister said.

He further pointed out that the government remains firm and committed to ensure that our business environment continues to be open, transparent, pro-business and pro-investment so that it will support not only foreign direct investments but also local entrepreneurs at large, as a backbone the nation’s economy.

These, said the minister, will not be achievable without the wise and visionary leadership of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

“The diversification efforts for Brunei Darussalam have always been a key focus of His Majesty’s Govern-ment. With the blessings of Allah the

Almighty, we are confident that with all these investments, Brunei Darussalam, Insya Allah, will see further tangible results with the creation of more jobs and economic opportunities,” he added.

“Opportunities are abound for MSMEs ranging from catering services, to the provision of complex maintenance contract, packaging, business services, parts supply, general office and building maintenance.

“But, to make this work, all parties must recognise the opportunities and plan forward to ensure our companies and our people are ready and well equipped to be part of this important journey.

“Brunei Darussalam, as a member of Asean, will continue its efforts to diversify its economy, and play an important regional role, in the value chain across our key clusters. We invite more ideas, collaboration and collective work towards making this happen. We also welcome efforts by all parties including our esteemed ambassadors and representatives to work closely with our business people with the hope to increase our mutual trading links to greater heights,”

Extending his gratitude to the FDI Action and Support Centre (FAST), DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) and other relevant government agencies for their crucial support in this project, the minister also acknowledged the role of Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd (BSP) as the main supplier of natural gas feedstock to the BFI plant.

“It is my hope that all parties will remain committed and focused towards ensuring the continued success of this project and other foreign direct investment projects in Brunei Darussalam,” the minister concluded.

The post BFI fertilizer plant to create 1,200 jobs appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC), yesterday attended the gold medal match in the Women’s Pairs event between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia at the National Lawn Bowls Centre, Bukit Kiara yesterday.

Brunei Darussalam national female duo Dayangku Nurul Nabilah binti Pengiran Md Salleh Chuchu and Esmawandy binti Brahim settled for silver after losing 17-10 to the Malaysia’s pair of Siti Zalina binti Ahmad and Auni Fathiah binti Khamis who grabbed gold.

The hosts exacted redemption in the perfect possible fashion after losing to Brunei 20-15 in the preliminary rounds.

In addition to the Malaysian scalp which included two-time Commonwealth Games champion Siti Zalina, the national duo beat Singapore 22-13 and the Philippines 20-15.

The Brunei pair contributed to the other two silver medals won by their teammates in the men’s lawn bowls and wushu’s emerging star Basma Lachkar.

The country bettered their previous edition in the Southeast Asian Games when the men’s triples team in lawn bowls won the country’s second silver in this edition with the women’s triples team adding the bronze.

Lawn bowls have contributed two silver medals and one bronze in the country’s medal haul.

Malaysia has been hugely successful winning five gold medals so far in lawn bowls with Philippines spoiling a perfect sweep after winning the men’s fours event.

The hosts will be looking to add another two having gained representation in the final for both the Men’s and Women’s Singles through Mohd Soufi bin Rusli and Emma Firyana binti Saroji, respectively.

The post Brunei’s lawn bowl duo clinch silver appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Lyna Mohamad     |

THE Brunei Fertilizer Industries Sdn Bhd (BFI) yesterday signed an agreement with Germany-based worldwide engineering and construction services provider ThyssenKrupp Industrial Solutions AG (tkIS) to set up an ammonia and urea plant.

Located on a 55-hectare site in Sungai Liang Industrial Park, the BFI plant will produce 2,200 metric tonnes per day (mtpd) of ammonia that will be converted into 3,900 mtpd of quality granulated fertilizer (urea).

The plant is expected to start commercial production by the first quarter of 2021.

The signing of the Engineering, Procure-ment and Construction (EPC) Agreement took place at The Empire Hotel & Country Club in the presence of the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance II and Chairman of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and Downstream Industry Steering Committee, Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim.

The signing ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah followed by the opening remarks by the Minister of Development and Chairman of BFI, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah.

He noted that the signing will open up many economic opportunities for the country and people, both directly and also through the spin-offs that will be created, as the country presses ahead with its hydrocarbon-related activities, not only to further diversify the country’s hydrocarbon downstreaming strategy but also, and more importantly, to enhance the strategic developmental benefits to the local economy.

The BFI chairman further noted that as urea application is mainly as fertilizers, BFI will leverage on the country’s central geographical location to supply the surrounding agriculturally rich countries to fulfil their fertilizer demand and the export of high-quality urea produced by BFI will have the potential to commercially benefit the country’s export logistic sector.

“Hence, BFI is also expected to catalyse spin-off opportunities for micro, small and medium enterprises such as the area of provision of logistic services or specialised services for plant.”

The coming-on-stream of the project, added the chairman, will also open up further downstreaming activities of exploration such as the potential production of melamine resins that has applications in many industries hence creating further business opportunities for local companies and foreign direct investment.

“All in all, BFI is excited to be signing the EPC agreement with tkIS today, to pave the way for the construction of our own world-class fertilizer plant which will place Brunei Darussalam in the world map as a new and serious player in fertilizer production,” he added.

Additionally, in support of the natural gas requirement of the project, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) has also been signed with Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd (BSP) in commitment to continuously supply a total of 0.5 trillion cubic feet gas over the next 20 years.

With the total investment value of B$1.8 billion, BFI will enable the country to create further value to its natural gas resources by developing downstream industries in the oil and gas sector beyond the existing production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and methanol while the ammonia and urea produced from BFI will also be able to create further downstream opportunities, including the production of urea formaldehyde and melamine.

These by-products also present potential for spin-off industries, such as in the manufacturing of fibre board, wood furniture, and tableware while further investments in the downstream industry can potentially create a further estimated US$11 billion value.

The further growth of the downstream oil and gas industry is in line with the economic diversification agenda of the country, alongside the development of other priority investment clusters in the Halal industry, technology and creative industries, business services, and tourism.

Meanwhile, Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman in his keynote address said this investment is expected to generate employment for the local Bruneians, where on top of the 1,200 job opportunities during construction and operational stage, there will be a further 600 indirect job opportunities in the service sectors.

Also in attendance were the Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office and Deputy Chairman of FDI and Downstream Industry Steering Committee, Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar; the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong; and the Deputy Minister of Finance, Dato Seri Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah.

The post BFI signs deal to establish world-class fertilizer plant appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

THE Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) General Secretary Dato’ Haji Hamidin Haji Mohd Amin has issued a statement with regards to events which surfaced during the football matches involving the Ultras Malaya in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

The Ultras Malaya has recently received scrutiny for offensive chanting addressed to participating nations and an official complaint has been received following the incident.

“Together with General Secretary of Olympic Council Malaysia (OCM), Dato’ Low Beng Choo, Youth and Sports Ministry Secretary-General Dato’ Lokman Hakim Ali and Deputy President of Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Datuk Wira Mohd Yusoff Mahadi, we have held a meeting with two delegates of Ultras Malaya, Rambo and Mizi at Concorde Hotel Shah Alam today to discuss a few issues which include an official complaint received regarding chants that were insulting to the opposition team during the 2017 SEA Games Men’s Football Match,” Dato’ Haji Hamidin said which was released to their Facebook page.

“We deeply regret the occurrence of the unfortunate incident and on the basis of Asean friendship, we have reached a mutual understanding that Ultras Malaya shall not produce such chants for the remaining 2017 SEA Games starting with the semi-final against Indonesia and also the upcoming match on Tuesday (if Malaysia qualify).”

He added that the Ultras Malaya have taken preventive steps by not producing the insulting chants during their 3-1 victory against Laos in the group stage match.

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|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam national cycling team moved out of medal contention in the Men’s Team Sprint in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games after posting a time of 52.151s at the National Velodrome in Nilai yesterday.

The national trio Ahmad Rifaie Haji Johor, Azmi Abd Hadzid and Md Nurjamri Johari was placed fifth out of five teams after posting the slowest time in Qualifying Heats 3.

Malaysia’s trio Shariz Efendi Shahrin, Fadhil Zonis and Khairil Nizam Rasol clinched the gold medal after beating Thailand in the final who settled for silver with Indonesia claiming bronze in the Men’s Team Sprint.

The host nation qualified to the finals with the quickest time of 45.318s while Thailand recorded a time of 45.717s.

Singapore was the third quickest with a time of 46.882s while Indonesia clocked a time of 46.956s with both nations moving for the bronze medal decider.

In the gold medal decider, Malaysia, who had a great deal of hype of their work ethic, beat Thailand with a time of 44.776s.

In the race for bronze, the Indonesians had a powerful start which paved the way for Reno Yudha Sansako to establish a good lead and finished off by Muhammad Nur Fathoni.

Meanwhile, national duo Abd Hadrie Morsidi and Ahmad Rifaie Haji Johor were part of the chasing pack that were blown away in a breakaway by Malaysia’s Irwandie Lakasek and Thailand’s Thurakit Boonratanathanakorn in the Men’s Scratch finals.

Malaysia’s Irwandie struck gold after making his move in the final two rounds to steer away from Thailand’s Thurakit whose best attempts of foiling the Malaysian’s quest keeping in touch with him until the final moment was awarded with the consolation of silver.

Thailand’s Thanawut Sanikwathi claimed bronze while Malaysia’s Muhamad Afiq Huznie bin Othman missed out on a podium finish in fourth.

National rider Ahmad Rifaie was placed sixth while Abd Hadrie ended at the bottom in the 11-entrant race.

The Men’s Scratch event was last contested in the 2011 edition in Palembang with Mohd Harrif Saleh taking gold.

The post Brunei suffer early exit in team sprint appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Daniel Lim     |

IT WAS a morning of fun and exercise yesterday in Kuala Belait (KB) as 694 individuals from around the country descended upon a cordoned-off section of Jalan Sungai in the district to take part in ‘We Run KB’.

The running event, organised by RYS Entertainment with support from the Kuala Belait and Seria Municipal Department, was held side by side with ‘Kuala Belaitku Ceria’ to further enliven the otherwise normally quiet weekends in the town.

The event was held to encourage individuals to lead healthy lifestyles, which also happens to be one of the goals of ‘Kuala Belaitku Ceria’.

The run was divided into three categories – 3 kilometres, 5 km and 10 km.

The 3 km run, meant as a fun run, was open to all age groups and both genders, while the 5 km and 10 km runs were divided into men and women categories.

The event kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony officiated by guest of honour Ridzuan bin Haji Ahmad, Chairperson of the Kuala Belait and Seria Municipal Board.

Upon arrival, the guest of honour was welcomed by Foo Kian Ming, RYS Entertainment’s Business Development Manager; and RYS Entertainment Managing Director, Ampuan Haji Yusof bin Ampuan Haji Kula.

Following the ribbon-cutting, a short Zumba aerobics session was conducted for participants to warm up for the run.

In the 10 km run for men, first place went to Sefli Ahar, who clocked in with a finishing time of 33 minutes and 27 seconds, followed by David Patton and Mohd Norisman bin Ismail in second and third place, recording finishing times of 33 minutes 33 seconds and 34 minutes and 32 seconds respectively.

For the 10 km women’s category, Rachel Scott took first spot, crossing the finish line with a time of 43 minutes 38 seconds. Second place was won by Vanessa Lobb with a time of 44 minutes 29 seconds, while Airice Liam finished in third with a time of 45 minutes 38 seconds.

In the 5 km run men’s category, Sahminan bin Haji Mohd Salleh bagged first place with a time of 23 minutes and 31 seconds. Lau Soon Hau took the first runner-up spot with a time of 23 minutes 42 seconds, while third place went to Muhd Hafiz bin Haji Hamzulani, who clocked in with a time of 24 minutes 19 seconds.

Meanwhile, Leong Sheo Yee (with her finishing time of 26 minutes and 47 seconds), Vanessa Gomez (28 minutes and 52 seconds) and Samantha Lee (30 minutes and 53 seconds) came in first, second and third respectively in the 5 km run for women.

Prizes were later presented to the podium finishers by the guest of honour, alongside RYS Entertainment’s Business Development Manager and Managing Director.

The guest of honour also received a small gift from RYS Entertainment as a token of gratitude for the Kuala Belait and Seria Municipal Department’s continuous support of the company’s efforts to promote a healthy lifestyle among the Belait community.

Various donations were also handed out yesterday to the Belait District branch of Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam and Pusat Bahagia Eric Goh as part of RYS Entertainment’s drive to support local organisations that provide aid to troubled individuals in Belait.

Participants who did not finish in the top three were given something to cheer about at the end of the event, as many received a small medal each for their participation, while others took photos in front of the displayed ‘We Run KB’ logo.

The post Lively Sunday as nearly 700 take part in ‘We Run KB’ appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

THE Occupational Therapy Unit of the Ministry of Health organised a cardiac rehabilitation programme at Jalan Menteri Besar Recreational Park, Berakas yesterday.

The annual activity was hosted by the cardiac rehabilitation team, comprising Occupational Therapy staff and cardiac nurses with the support from the Cardiology Unit and the Accident and Emergency Department of Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital, as part of their therapeutic interventions in cardiovascular disease management.

The programme consisted of supervised exercise and educational sessions not only for patients with heart problems, but also their family members. The programme aimed to help empower individuals to look after the health of their heart, develop self-management skills in managing risk factors to prevent future heart attacks and to improve their quality of life.

The programme also demonstrated that patients can still engage in exercise on their own in the long term, even after the heart has been treated by ballooning, stenting, bypass surgery or valve surgery.

The Occupational Therapy Unit and Cardiology Unit at RIPAS Hospital established a cardiac rehabilitation programme in 2004 to assist people with heart problems to recover and re-engage back to the community or work.

The post Rehabilitation outing, lesson on a healthy heart appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     James Kon     |

FIVE businesswomen under the Women’s Business Council (WBC) are set to collect the prestigious Asean Women’s Entrepreneur Award at the Asean Women’s Business Conference 2017, in Manila.

A 13-strong member delegation, including the award recipients, led by Datin Paduka Hajah Rokiah binti Haji Zakiah, the President of the WBC of Brunei Darussalam, departed yesterday to attend the awards ceremony and four-day conference, which begins today.

The delegation also includes Nellie binti Dato Paduka Haji Sunny, the Secretary- General of the WBC.

The recipients of the outstanding Asean Women’s Entrepreneur Award are Dayangku Hamidah binti Pengiran Haji Kahar, the Director of D’Valley Food Industry and Packaging Company; Fatimah binti Salleh, the Managing Director of Syarikat Melabau Indah Makmur; Kamariah binti Hasbullah, the Managing Director of HKH Fast Food and Takeaway; Mariah binti Johari, the Manager of Triple Sevenz Enterprise; and Rokiah Lubin, the Managing Director of ISKA VZ Textile.

In an interview with the Bulletin, Datin Paduka Hajah Rokiah highlighted the increasing role of women in the local economy through their business ventures in various industries.

“We are delighted that we have five women who will be receiving the awards in the Philippines this year, because they really worked hard to get the recognition,” she said. “This is not the first time that Brunei has received such an award.”

Regarding the conference, Datin Paduka Hajah Rokiah said, “We will be holding discussions focused on three main sub-themes – ‘Women Innovators in Asean’, ‘Women in Trade and Inclusive Business’, and ‘Women and Human Capital Development’ – to commemorate the 50th founding anniversary of Asean.

“This is the first time that Asean has a public-private dialogue event, highlighting women’s vital participation in the region’s economic activities.”

Datin Paduka Hajah Rokiah also said that Bruneian products will be featured at the GREAT Women Trade showcase, at the conference.

Meanwhile, Kamariah, the Managing Director of HKH Fast Food and Takeaway, responsible for establishing the well-known local MOKAM brand of local biscuits, cakes and chips, said, “This is an honour for my company and for Brunei, to receive an award at the Asean Women’s Business Conference 2017.”

As a cottage-based business, MOKAM has grown in production and is currently able to produce 10kg worth of items, with the help of machinery.

During the interview, Kamariah expressed her gratitude to the Brunei Government, the Asean-Japan Centre, Asean-Korea Centre and the Agriculture and Agrifood Department for their support.

Moreover, with a confirmed partici-pation at the China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO) 2017 in mid-September in Naning, China, she hopes to further expand her business into the Chinese market.

The post 5 from Brunei to receive Asean Women’s Entrepreneur Award appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam’s national lawn bowl athlete Amaliah Matali bagged the silver medal in the Women’s Singles event after falling to a 21-12 loss to Malaysia’s Emma Firyana Saroji in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at the National Lawn Bowls Centre, Bukit Kiara in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

The Malaysian ace who possesses credentials as the 2015 World Champion of Champions Singles winner took a 11-4 lead before extending further 17-10 to put her in charge for the women’s crown.

With the winner awarded to the player who reaches 21 points, Amaliah collected two more points before Emma completed the win.

Emma’s win finally ended Malaysia’s gold medal jinx in the Women’s Singles at the SEA Games after losing out to a silver in the editions in 1999 (Brunei), 2001 (Kuala Lumpur) and 2007 (Korat) as well as bronze in 2005 (Manila).

Malaysia asserted their dominance in lawn bowls after winning seven gold medals out of eight categories contested with Malaysia’s Muhammad Soufi bin Rusli taking down the Men’s Singles title earlier after beating Singapore’s Lee Yuan Min 21-6.

The country has contributed three silver medals and one bronze in lawn bowls in this year’s edition which helped better their overall medal haul from two years ago in Singapore.

The national lawn bowler emphasised how much she wanted to win gold for the country.

Amaliah has likened the SEA Games champion as a Malaysia’s lawn bowls icon who boasts an impressive resume in her playing career being crowned Asia Cup winner in 2012.

The renowned bowler has also secured bronze in both the World Cup Junior in Hong Kong in 2009 and the World Cup Indoor in Warilla in 2011 while her recent success came in the World Champion of Champions and Commonwealth bronze in women’s fours in Glasgow.

“She is a must-win favourite in winning gold for Malaysia,” said the 2017 SEA Games silver medallist.

“Our team actually made a good comeback after the pre-SEA Games last month,” said Amaliah who took bronze in her event there.

“Especially with our ladies team, we got a medal back home with the Triples, Pairs and me in the Singles,” continued the national lawn bowler.

The national lawn bowler athlete, who claimed silver in the 2016 Champion of Champions in Christchurch, observed how far they have lagged behind with Malaysia.
“We are far behind them in terms of training and everything,” she highlighted.

Amaliah has identified the urgency to aid the development of lawn bowls in the country including the appointment of a proper professional coach and participating more in international tournaments which will serve as exposure.

She also recognised the importance of developing more junior players and called for more support from other agencies, especially with players having to balance their commitments.

Furthermore, she also encouraged the need to assemble a development squad and conduct a three-month intensive tournament in preparation for major competitions such as the SEA Games and the Commonwealth Games.

With Amaliah preparing for the gold medal match in Kuala Lumpur, social media vultures circled on Saturday night possibly in Brunei when a message went viral claiming that the national athlete had won gold with the match yet to be played.

The gold medal match was scheduled on Sunday afternoon following the conclusion of the Men’s Singles and the victory ceremony for the Men’s Singles.

Meanwhile, it was heartbreak for national lawn bowls athlete Abdul Rahman bin Haji Omar after being edged 20-21 by Philippines’ Elmer Abatoyo in the bronze medal match of the Men’s Singles.

The Bruneian missed out on the podium finish despite holding a 8-0 lead and then 13-6 but was beaten over the line on the 27th end.

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|     Hakim Hayat     |

THE Trans Borneo 2017, a 15-day four-wheel drive expedition across the Island of Borneo, concluded its journey in Brunei yesterday evening with a closing ceremony.

The guest of honour, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, presented certificates and awards to participants of the expedition during the ceremony held at The Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong.

The Trans Borneo 2017 took all its participants on a road adventure, covering the three countries on Borneo Island.

The participants commenced their journey on August 13 in Sabah, Malaysia, crossing into the last frontiers in Borneo, from Malinau to Ba’kelalan in Sarawak, and later Brunei. The event included eight days of hotel and resort accommodation as well as seven days of camping by the roadside or in the jungle.

The journey was supposed to take them through Kalimantan, Indonesia but, due to some unforeseen circumstances, the organisers said they rerouted the trail to several other places in Borneo.

The expedition covered more than 2,000 kilometres through Malaysia and Brunei with a convoy of 20 vehicles and close to 60 participants.

Besides the thrills and adrenaline of off-roading, the expedition was also a journey of discoveries, with visits to interesting travel destinations in Borneo,

These included the only tea plantation in Sabah backed by a majestic view of Mount Kinabalu, the highest mountain on the island. The Chairman of Trans Borneo 2017, Anuar Ghani, in his closing speech last night said that the annual event combines together the automotive and tourism industries.

It aims to promote and strengthen the ties of friendship and the tourism industries in Brunei, Malaysia and Indonesia, he added, by showcasing the beauty and charms of Borneo, shared by all three countries.

He shared that throughout the 15 days, the group visited over 22 places and took part in different cultural, community and leisure activities, which allowed them to experience the charm that each place has to offer.

Anuar also shared that 15 journalists from Australia, Japan and Thailand also took part in the event, and they will later produce their work on different media channels, including travel and adventure documentary TV shows.

Meanwhile, Pengiran Haji Mohiddin bin Pengiran Paduka Tuan Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar, chairperson of the closing ceremony, conveyed his appreciation to the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) for their support in welcoming the expedition group to Brunei.

This event – a collaboration between Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei – was supported by the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines – East Asean Growth Area) business council, the Malaysian Government, the province of North Kalimantan and East Kalimantan, and Brunei Darussalam.

Also present at the ceremony last evening was Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali, the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Tourism) at MPRT.

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|     James Kon     |

GRABBING three silvers and one bronze in the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games 2017, the Lawn Bowl team yesterday returned to Brunei Darussalam to a hero’s welcome at the Brunei International Airport.

On hand to welcome the arrival of the athletes and officials was Haji Noor Jusmin bin Haji Abdul Samad, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports with officials from the ministry as well as family members of the athletes.

The three silvers came from Men’s triples comprised of Ampuan Ahmad bin Ampuan Kasim, Haji Naim bin Brahim and Pengiran Haji Tengah bin Pengiran Haji Tejudin, Women’s Pairs of Dayangku Nurul Nabilah binti Pengiran Md Salleh Chuchu and Esmawandy binti Brahim as well as the Women’s Single from Amaliah binti Matali.

The bronze medal came from Women’s Triples of Hajah Ajijah binti Muntol, Norafizah binti Matossen and Suhana binti Md Daud.

Lokman bin Haji Salleh, Head Coach of Brunei Lawn Bowl team in an interview said, “I am proud of the team for their achievements especially some of the athletes competed in their first SEA Games this time.”

Missing out on gold medals, he stressed the need for athletes to train on the correct techniques as the main area for improvement in order to attain gold medals in the future SEA Games.

Meanwhile Amaliah was disappointed that she could not grab the gold medal from her final at the Women’s Single. She lost to Emma Firyana Saroji of Malaysia with the score of 21-12 She said “I was not at my best when I compete in the competition. I was really nervous. Even a month before the SEA Games, whenever I heard SEA Games I already felt nervous.”

Determined to get the gold medal, Amaliah said “I will train hard and make sure that I bring back the Gold Medal in the Manila SEA Games 2019.”

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|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam’s national equestrian athlete Pengiran Mohd Nasir bin Pengiran Anak Ja’afar narrowly missed out on the podium after finishing fourth in the Individual Jumping event in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at the 3Q Equestrian Centre in Rawang yesterday.

The national athlete had a perfect run clearing all the hurdles in the jump-off without any penalties as well as the two rounds in the final which put him in medal contention.

The sole Bruneian representative produced his closest performance to medalling in a highly-rated championship whose difference in finishing third was separated by 3.28s after recording a time of 44.94s.

Riding his horse Hunters Canatano Z, Pengiran Mohd Nasir moved closer towards a SEA Games medal after completing two perfect rounds in the final where he joined defending champion Sharmini Christina Ratnasingham, Philippines’s Colin Syquia, Malaysia’s Qabil Ambak Dato’ Seri Mahamad Fathil and Singapore’s Catherine Chew in the jump-off.

With speed and perfection coming into play in the jump-off, Colin took home the gold medal after registering the quickest time with 37.63s while Malaysia’s Sharmini claimed silver with a time of 41.30s and her compatriot Qabil Ambak taking bronze with a time of 41.66s.

It was still a commendable performance for the national rider who upgraded his eighth placing from the previous edition to within a whisker of winning an equestrian bronze.

“Performance wise, we (with Hunters Catanato Z) don’t think we could have done any better. We did our best. We went three rounds and we didn’t incur any penalties. The level has definitely risen a lot over the years,” said the national rider. “I’m really disappointed coming so close to winning Brunei Darussalam’s first equestrian medal in jumping,” continued Pengiran Mohd Nasir.

The Belgium-based rider has also labelled their fourth-placed finish as his best performance to date adding that there is always room for improvement.

He shared that the obstacle was harder compared to the previous edition in Singapore and that the technicality of the course is also comparable to European standards.

Colin, with his horse Adventure E, snatched gold in the individual jumping event for the Philippines since Diego Lorenzo in the 2011 edition in Palembang and denied Malaysia a perfect swoop in the jumping events.

Thailand’s former SEA Games silver medallist Jaruporn Limpichati and former individual dressage winner Praveen Nair Mathavan were the biggest casualties in the final after failing to make the cut into the second round.

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|     Fadhil Yunus     |

HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC) yesterday attended the pencak silat event in the 29th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at the Juara Stadium Bukit Kiara.

Brunei Darussalam national pencak silat athlete Muhd Imanuddin bin Ahmad competed in the Tunggal Putra event in Pool ‘A’ which included countries from Laos, the Philippines and Singapore.

Meanwhile, Pool ‘B’ comprised of nations from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.

The best countries who excel in their respective pools will meet in the finals to decide the title in the event.

In this edition of the SEA Games, Brunei Darussalam has sent two athletes in pencak silat including Norleyermah binti Haji Raya who competed in the Tunggal Wanita event.

The final competition day for pencak silat will be contested today with countries vying to win the final few medals on offering.

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|     Aziz Idris     |

THE cooperation between Hong Kong and Asean, especially Brunei Darussalam, will continue to expand with the opening of Bank of China (Hong Kong)’s first branch in the Sultanate last December.

This milestone is expected to further strengthen the financial ties between Hong Kong and Brunei.

Hong Kong recently announced that the negotiation of Asean-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement has already been completed and the agreement is expected to be signed within this year.

These were among the key points highlighted by Yang Jian, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Brunei Darussalam, in her remarks during the reception held to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

“We will be happy to see continuous upgrading of the cooperation between Hong Kong and Asean members countries, including Brunei.

“I am confident that with the firm support of the central government and with concerted efforts of the government and people of the Special Administrative Region, Hong Kong will have a brighter future ahead,” noted the ambassador.

Meanwhile, Do Pang Wai-yee, Director-General of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Affairs, in her welcoming remarks touched on this year’s anniversary theme ‘Together, Progress, Opportunity’. Hong Kong people, with the strong support from the central Government of China, have made great strides under the principle ‘One Country, Two System’.

The cooperation between Hong Kong and Asean has been expanding over the years and currently Hong Kong is the regional bloc’s second largest trading partner as well as the fourth largest export market.

The director-general revealed that the bilateral merchandise trade value between Hong Kong and Asean also grew by a cumulative 72 per cent over the past 10 years, reaching US$107 billion in 2016, which accounts for 11 per cent of Hong Kong’s total trade.

In view of this, Hong Kong is upgrading its infrastructure by expanding the Hong Kong International Airport with a three-runway system, the completion of the 30km bridge between the island, Macau and the western part of Pearl River Delta as well as by building an express rail link that connects Hong Kong with mainland China’s high speed rail network.

“To show our commitment towards Asean, the Economic and Trade Office was set up in Jakarta last year. We will work closely with you all for the mutual benefit of Asean and Hong Kong,” she said.

The evening also saw a presentation by Associate Director General of Investment Promotion Francis Ho on business and investment opportunities in Hong Kong.

The reception was attended by over 100 guests comprising prominent businessman and invited guests. It was organised by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Jakarta Office at Radisson Hotel in the capital.

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|     Achong Tanjong     |

NUR Tajwiida Insyirah binti Haji Isa and Muhd Amirul Husaini bin Moksin of Sayyidina Hasan Secondary School (SMSH) emerged as the top winners in the finals of the 33rd National Tilawah Al-Quran competition for Secondary Schools and Colleges held yesterday at the multi-hall of SMSH in Kampong Kilanas.

With the respective scores of 86.75 and 93.75 in the Qari and Qariah categories, both were awarded with their prizes by Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Japar bin Haji Mat Dain @ Maidin, the Deputy State Mufti.

Second place went to Seri Syazwani binti Haji Rosman from Sufri Bolkiah Secondary School, with 85.75 points; and Md Firdaus bin Sait from Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit Girls’ Arabic Religious Secondary School, with the score of 89.

In third place were Saizatul Natasha binti Saipol Rizal from Hassanal Bolkiah Boys Arabic Secondary School, with 83.75 points; and Md Helmi Fahziq bin Hoseni from Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Secondary School, with 88.75 points.

The competition was organised by the Department of Co-Curriculum Education, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education’s Spiritual Unit.

The Principal of Sayyidina Hasan Secondary School, Haryani binti Haji Mohammad, who also co-chaired the competition, said its primary goal was to realise the vision of Brunei as a Zikir Nation, while at the same time cultivating the daily habit of Al-Quran reading among students.

A total of 26 Qaris and 22 Qariahs joined the competition, with only five contestants from each category participating in yesterday’s finals.

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|     Danial Norjidi    |

THE Brunei Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO) yesterday signed an agreement to kick-start a new patent examination cooperation initiative called the Patent Prosecution Highway Plus (PPH+).

BruIPO was represented by Haji Mohamad Azmi bin Haji Mohd Hanifah, Permanent Secretary (Industry) at the Prime Minister’s Office in his capacity as Registrar of BruIPO, while JPO was represented by its Deputy Commissioner, Kunihiko Shimano.

The signing ceremony, which took place at the Design & Technology Building in Anggerek Desa, was witnessed by Motohiko Kato, Ambassador of Japan to Brunei Darussalam and Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Hamdan bin Haji Abu Bakar, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office in his capacity as Acting Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office.

According to a press release, the PPH+ is a patent examination cooperation work sharing initiative by the JPO that aims to accelerate the examination process for corresponding patent applications from Japan and filed in participating intellectual property offices.

Under the PPH+ arrangement, each participating patent office will benefit from the work previously done by the other patent office, with the goal of reducing examination workload and improving patent quality.

To date, JPO has implemented PPH+ cooperation arrangement with most of the Asean member states’ intellectual property offices. The initiative will commence on October 1, 2017 and the guidelines on this framework will be posted on the JPO and BruIPO website.

BruIPO signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with JPO on May 24, 2015 to enhance cooperation in the field of industrial property, namely, trademarks, patents and industrial designs. Within the ambit of the MoC, JPO has supported BruIPO in developing its capacity through training and dispatch of experts as well as in compiling formality examination guidelines for patents.

Both BruIPO and JPO will continue to deepen their cooperation in the field of patents and promote cooperation in industrial property via the PPH+ initiative aimed at the industrial development of both parties. The cooperation between the two offices aims to make Brunei Darussalam’s business environment more conducive to foreign direct investment, which will contribute to the diversification of the national economy.

Further information on patent filing can be obtained from BruIPO’s helpdesk at the Business Support Centre (BSC) located at Level 1, Anggerek Desa Technology Park, while forms and fee schedule can be downloaded from BruIPO’s website at www.bruipo.gov.bn. Any enquiries on filing procedures can be directed to enquiries@bruipo.gov.bn or by contacting 223 0965/223 0966.

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|     Azaraimy HH     |

BOAT trailers in the country must have a licence to operate and strictly adhere to specification guidelines, the Land Transport Department (JPD) announced yesterday.

Drivers of vehicles carrying boat trailers are also required to acquire Class 2B driving licence, and the trailers need to have insurance coverage.

Pengiran Mohd Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, the Acting Director of Land Transport, said in a in a press conference that there had been reports of near misses and dangerous occurrences on the road involving boat trailers, adding that the new regulations will help enhance road safety and prevent road mishaps.

The regulations will be fully enforced starting January 2, 2018.

The full implementation of the registration and licensing of boat trailers is in accordance with the Road Traffic Act and Regulation, Chapter 68. It is also part of the continuous efforts of the Brunei National Road Safety Council (BNRSC) through the JPD to enhance the level of road safety in the country.

Starting from the date of the announcement (August 28), it is compulsory for all boat trailers to be equipped with instruments specified under the regulation that include mountable brake and back lights (white colour); mountable reverse light (white colour); mountable signal light (amber colour); 50km/hr speed limit plate; mudguard; and side reflector (amber colour).

Starting from August 28 and before January 2, 2018, the process of registration and licensing of all existing boat trailers must be made, including acquiring Class 2B driving licence for drivers of the vehicles that carry the boat trailers.

The application for registration and licensing of boat trailers can be made at the JPD headquarters in Beribi, Gadong or at its branches in Kuala Belait, Tutong and Temburong.

Drivers of existing boat trailers that do not possess the required Class 2B driving licence can submit their application to undergo the driving test at any JPD branch in the country and their cases will be fast tracked.

Under the Road Traffic Act, it is an offence to drive boat trailers without a valid Class 2B driving licence and if found guilty, the penalty is imprisonment of three months and a fine of B$2,000.

Members of the public who wish to operate a new boat trailer must register it with the JPD, take a licence and adhere to the stipulated specifications. They also have to acquire the Class 2B driving licence after undergoing training at a JPD-recognised before the driving test.

Commencing January 2, 2018, all boat trailers must be registered and licensed, and if any boat trailer is found unregistered and unlicensed, its owners will be prosecuted.

The licence fee for boat trailers is B$10 per year.

All boat trailers are also required to have insurance coverage either specific for the trailer or including the vehicle towing the trailer. The roadworthiness inspection of a new boat trailer will be conducted after the trailer’s age reached three years from the registration date, followed by inspections every six months. For existing and used trailers, there will inspection every six months.

Meanwhile, it was also announced that the JPD will announce fresh regulations for other types of trailers such as those carrying animals and food carts in the near future.

According to Pengiran Mohd Amirrizal, currently, there are more than 2,000 registered boats in the country, but there is no available official estimate of the number of trailers.

“Only with proper registration, we will be able to make a realistic count,” he added.

Also present at the press conference yesterday were Haji Mohamad Esa bin Haji Ibrahim, Assistant Director of Land Transport, Ali bin Haji Matusin, Assistant Director of Land Transport and Muhammad Herman bin Abdullah Sebi, Secretary of Brunei National Road Safety Council.

For further information on registration, licensing, specifications, driving schools, and makers and suppliers of boat trailers, the public can visit www.mincom.gov.bn/ltd, or directly contact the JPD at 2451980 extension 510/511/513, or the heads of JPD branches in Tutong, Kuala Belait and Temburong, or meet the Licensing Officer at the Technical Division at the JPD headquarters in Beribi, Gadong.

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