|     Fadhil Yunus     |

DPMM FC’s woes in the Great Eastern-Hyundai S League continued as they fell to a narrow 1-0 defeat to Albirex Niigata (S) in the Great Eastern-Hyundai S League at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium last night.

The runaway league leaders Albirex Niigata (S) flexed their muscle towards their relentless pursuit to the title as Naofumi Tanaka 26th minute goal separated both sides.

The first chance of the game fell to the visitors after Ryuya Motoda with the midfielder firing wide.

The Japanese satellite team came back to pose more serious threat after Motoda’s midfield comrade Kento Nagasaki rattled the bar.

DPMM FC’s goalkeeper Mu’izzuddin Ismail was at the right place to collect the loose ball with Shoichiro Sakamoto ready to pounce.

It was stuff of nightmares for Mu’izzuddin after the goalkeeper fumbled Nagasaki’s free kick in similar circumstances against Balestier Khalsa as Naofumi Tanaka was handed a gift on a silver platter.

The goalkeeper was culpable of the Tigers’ opening goal last month.

The White Swans were not finished and Mu’izzuddin kept out a shot from Sakamoto before defender Yasutaka Yanagi headed over.

Nagasaki attempted a shot from inside the box but it was straight at the former MS PDB goalkeeper.

The hosts showed some encouragement in the early stages of the second half as Rafael Ramazotti headed Azwan Salleh’s cross wide.

Albirex’s goalkeeper’s Yosuke Nozawa was called into action following Adi Said’s header from an Azwan Ali’s cross.

At the other end, Nagasaki’s free-kick went over from the edge of the box.

A chance went begging for Nagasaki after poking the ball wide following good ball movement from the league leaders.

Albirex’s Ryota Nakai pulled a strike from just inside the box but it sailed wide.

The visitors nearly doubled their lead but Rosmin Kamis cleared Sakamoto’s header off the line.

Ramazotti nearly came to the rescue again after nearly pulling a spectacular attempt to draw level but it went wide.

The post DPMM FC fall to league leaders Albirex appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|   Lyna Mohamad   |

THE Pepsi Bonanza 2017 Lucky Draw is making a comeback with a grand prize of a savings account worth $8,888.88 up for grabs.

Brought to you by Kingston Beverage and Creamery Sdn Bhd, the promotion also gives participants the chance to win other cash rewards and Pepsi hampers.

Kingston Beverage and Creamery Marketing Executive Joey Chen noted that the lucky draw, besides being a warm gesture to reward customers’ loyalty and tremendous support over the years, serves to further raise awareness that Pepsi is proudly made in Brunei, alongside 7 Up and Mirinda.

To be eligible for the lucky draw, customers are required to purchase any ‘twin pack’ bottles of 1.5L Pepsi, Pepsi Twist, 7 Up, Revive, Mirinda Orange, Mirinda Strawberry, Mirinda Green Apple and Mirinda Green Fruit fizzy drinks.

Upon purchase, customers will be given a lucky draw form to fill up and submit into the allocated lucky draw boxes placed at the participating outlets. Customers are required to attach both bottle labels with the purple Brunei Halal logo along with the completed registration form.

For the monthly draw, first prize winner will walk away with $300, while the second and third prize winners, $200 and $100 respectively. Seven consolation prize winners will each bring home Pepsi hampers worth $50.

In the grand draw, the second prize winner will take home $2,400 and third prize winner, $1,200, while the fourth, fifth and sixth prize winners will win $300, $200 and $100 respectively.

Three draws will be held consecutively over a space of three months: one each on October 13 and November 10, while the grand draw will be held on December 10.

The post Pepsi Bonanza lucky draw returns appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|   Daniel Lim   |

A SERIES of beach cleaning campaigns were recently held at beaches across the country – including Muara, Jerudong, Danau, Lumut, and Panaga beaches – by the Brunei Shell Joint Venture (BSJV) companies, comprising Brunei shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd (BSP), Brunei LNG, Brunei Shell Tankers (BST), Brunei Shell Marketing (BSM), and Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd (BGC).

This year’s campaign was held as part of the group’s annual activities and saw the participation of more than 801 volunteers – a similar turnout to last year’s cleanup. In total more than 5,906 tonnes of unwanted items and trash were collected at the aforementioned beaches.

Present at Panaga Beach to lend a helping hand in the cleaning campaign was Dr Ceri M Powell, the Managing Director of BSP, who is also the BSJV companies Shell Country Chair for Brunei.

Also present were the management and staff from the BSJV companies and BGC.

For the Belait District, roughly 364 volunteers were recorded to have participated in the beach cleaning campaign.

“BSP is a responsible oil and gas operator, which includes protecting the environment in which we operate and I am very fortunate to be able to join my fellow colleagues at this beach cleaning campaign today which BSP has been supporting for the past three years,” said Dr Ceri prior to the start of the cleanup.

“I’m delighted to see all volunteers together with students, members of the community, business partners and youth from various associations working together towards a common goal, which is to keep the beaches of Brunei clean and safe, which benefits the local community,” Dr Ceri added.

Among the volunteers who took part in the campaign included students from various schools across the three districts, members from the various Village Consultative Councils, District Offices, Marine Department, various higher education institutions, Aziz Latif Company, Poni Divers, ESCA Marine Services, Fazrul Sdn Bhd, and Mashhor Group of Companies.

This activity is organised by BSJV to not only encourage the employees to give back to the community, but also as an exercise for them to work in collaboration with members of the community. An example of such collaboration is the recent ‘Keep Belait Clean and Green’ campaign, which is a key project initiated by the Belait District Office to promote environmental sustainability.

The post BSJV companies organise national beach cleaning campaign appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|   Daniel Lim   |

TO HELP promote the Belait District as a tourist hot spot, a Dialogue Session was recently held at the District Emergency Operation Centre Room located in the Belait District Office, for various important agencies in the Belait District.

Present at the session was Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Tourism) at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, accompanied by Haji Zulzalani bin Haji Osman, Special Duties Officer, Grade I, Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism.

Welcoming them was Haji Azmi bin Haji Abdul Rahim, Acting Belait District Officer.

The session was organised by the Tourism Development Department and the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, in collaboration with the Belait District Office.

The aim was to serve as an avenue to receive feedback from various stakeholders and local agencies in the Belait District concerning tourism.

Haji Zulzalani in an interview with the Sunday Bulletin said, “The goal of the dialogue session was to improve and promote the Belait District as a tourism area.”

He also added that the dialogue session will be used to receive feedback from the local agencies and important figures amd this will be used to construct and improve the various tourism packages for the Belait District.

When asked about the various tourism packages for the local travel agencies to implement, he answered that, “among the packages that are being offered to the various travel agencies include, the ‘Oil and Gas Trail’, which is very popular in the Belait District”. The ‘Oil and Gas Trail’, sees the tourists visiting various oil and gas industrial areas in the Belait District as a way to promote the oil and gas industry and its influence in and out of the country.

Another package is to promote the area surrounding Labi, Teraja, and Rampayoh, as part of an initiative to promote various fauna and flora found in Brunei.

Furthermore, packages will be improved with the feedback from various travel agencies and important figures. “The dialogue session was already held in the other three districst, starting with Temburong District, then the Brunei-Muara District and Tutong District,” he added.

The Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism hoped that by offering these packages to promote the districts of Brunei Darussalam and their respective attractions it can convert Brunei as a major tourism destination.

The post Move to promote Belait District as a tourist hot spot appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|   Azlan Othman   |

HER Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, the Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Commandant of the Women Police yesterday attended a hi-tea reception and a get-together ceremony at the Officers Mess in Gadong police headquarters.

Her Royal Highness was greeted upon arrival by the Chairperson of the ceremony, Senior Superintendant of Police, Masni binti Haji Jamil and other committee members.

The gathering was a sign of appreciation from the Women Police to Her Royal Highness as the Commandant of the Women Police.

Around 300 women police personnel including invited guests, low rank personnel of the police force and civilians from various departments, formations and police districts nationwide attended the hi-tea reception.

Before leaving, Her Royal Highness received greetings from invited guests, officers and personnel of the women police and civilians.

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A PARLIMENTARY delegation from Brunei, led by YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Dato Setia Haji Mohamed Taib, Speaker of the Legislative Council (LegCo), attended the official opening ceremony of the 38^th General Assembly of Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

The ceremony was held at the Makati Shangri-La in Manila, the Philippines with the theme ‘AIPA and Asean: Partnering for Inclusive Change’.

During the assembly, representatives of each AIPA member countries conveyed the message of the leaders of their respective countries.

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 in the message said, “40 years since its establishment, AIPA has already succeeded in realising several joint ventures. The role of AIPA has helped Asean in moving towards the Asean Community.

“Until now, AIPA has played an important role in ensuring that Asean’s regional policies are understood by the people of Asean member countries by making sure that every member country’s parliament speeds up the support delivered to the people directly.

“Undoubtedly, this will link the government with the people in creating a united, integrated and responsible community.”

His Majesty further praised AIPA’s diligence in discussing issues related to sustainable development goals, climate change, drug trafficking, cross-border crimes, foreign workers and various matters that are not just the concerns of the Asean member countries, but the world in general.

The Main Plenary Session was chaired by Pantaleon D Alvarez, President of AIPA and Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, who invited representatives from AIPA member countries to deliver a speech.

In his speech, YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman said that 2017 is an important year for AIPA during which it celebrated its 40^th anniversary since its establishment in 1977 and it is also a historic moment for the Asean which celebrates its 50^th anniversary.

The LegCo Speaker elaborated that throughout its establishment, AIPA and Asean have strengthened cooperation through significant engagements and have managed to bring people closer to the Asean, which is in line with this year’s theme.

The LegCo Speaker further stated that Brunei Darussalam will always provide solid support in further enhancing the country’s involvement with AIPA.

AIPA is becoming more mature and sensitive to its environment where important issues are the topics of discussion at various levels, he added.

He hoped that the AIPA member countries will be able to move forward in achieving the collective desire for a safe and stable life, sustainable economic growth, prosperity and social progress to move towards Asean 2035.

Also present at the event were Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Jaya Dato Paduka Haji Judin bin Haji Asar, Secretary to the Cabinet Ministers’ Council and Clerk to the Legislative Council and six other members of the LegCo.

The five-day assembly will discuss various regional issues.

The post His Majesty hails role of AIPA in realising Asean Community appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

AT THE 14^th China-Asean Expo (CAEXPO), Brunei Darussalam, the Country of Honour of the prestigious event for a second time, won two awards – The Best City of Charm Pavilion and The Best Exhibitor Organisation.

The awards were instituted for the first time this year.

The City of Charm Pavilion, which showcased what Brunei has to offer in terms of tourism, was represented by a dome-like structure made out of steel pillars and were silhouetted by glowing blue orbs to highlight a transcendent look.

The steel pillars symbolised this year’s Golden Jubilee of the nation’s growth under the rule 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, while the blue orbs represented the nation under the “umbrella” of His Majesty upholding the philosophy of Malay Islamic Monarchy. Brunei’s Commodity Pavilion this year was very well-organised.

A total of 119 companies from Brunei participated in the 14^th CAEXPO and were segmented into Education, Food and Beverage, Fashion and Handicraft, Health and Cosmetics, Manufacturing, Companies Developing Household Products and Services.

The awards were presented during the 14^th CAEXPO Senior Officials Meeting and Awards Ceremony by Han Ye from the Department of Asian Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, China and Wang Lei, CAEXPO Secretary-General and received by Hajah Tutiaty binti Haji Abdul Wahab, Deputy Permanent Secretary (IT, E-Government and Industry) at the Prime Minister’s Office.

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|   Rokiah Mahmud   |

HIS Royal Highness Prince (Dr) Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), yesterday officiated at UTB’s 4^th Convocation Festival 2017.

Upon arrival at the Library Complex in UTB, His Royal Highness was greeted by Minister of Education and Chairman of UTB Council Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman and Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman, Vice-Chancellor of UTB.

Also present at the ceremony were members of UTB Council, high commissioners, ambassadors, senior government officials, industry partners and staff and students of UTB.

The ceremony commenced with recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat led by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar, Chief Syar’ie Judge.

His Royal Highness then consented to deliver a sabda launching UTB’s 4^th Convocation Festival 2017 which was followed by the call of Takbir and a multimedia show. His Royal Highness then toured the ‘Innov8’ exhibition.

In ensuring competitiveness through constant improvements in quality, efficiency and productivity, ‘Innov8’ was the chosen theme for this year’s convocation festival.

Innov8 is derived from the word innovate which means making changes to the current state through the introduction of something new including new process, idea, methods and products.

Innovation is critical in a higher educational institution as the digit ‘8’ in the theme signifies that eight important areas where innovation has been applied in order to produce quality graduates who can make an impactful contribution to the nation. These areas are: Innov8 Network, Innov8 Research, Innov8 Campus, Innov8 FEng, Innov8 SCI, Innov8 UTB SB, Innov8 Enterprise and Innov8 Leader. The theme is also in line with the university’s ambition to achieve excellence in the areas of teaching, research and community engagement.

To innovate is also one of the core values of UTB. The other core values are professionalism, integrity, being passionate and engaging.

‘Innov8 Network’ features the network of collaborations with various local and international institutions and organisations through which innovative ideas can be generated.

Postgraduate students are an important link between research and generation of new ideas. ‘Innov8 Research’ showcased two projects by graduate students from MSc in Mechanical Engineering programme named Development of Bio-inspired Polydimethysiloxane-coated Fibrous Membrane for Oil Water Separation’, and ‘The Characterisation of Mechanical and Thermal properties of Fibre Reinforced Plaster’.

Under ‘Innov8 Campus’, His Royal Highness viewed the ISLE Garden that was officiated during the 2^nd UTB Convocation Festival in 2015. The ISLE Garden was opened as part of UTB’s effort to provide a conducive campus and strengthening the infrastructure for research and learning.

‘Innov8 UTB SB’ and ‘Innov8 FEng’ exhibitions are dedicated to innovate products developed by Business, Computing and Engineering undergraduates. At the ‘Innov8 UTB SB’ exhibition, three start-ups – Plus Exp, DAH and Mayang Couture and three business projects ‘Let’s Fly’, ‘Terpisah by Creight Media’, and ‘Your Transit in Brunei UTBCare’ were presented.

His Royal Highness later launched the UTB Start-Up Kiosk that is a space to accommodate selected business start-ups by students. Currently, the kiosk houses Plus Exp GroMinda, an online career development platform for graduates seeking for work experience through internship.

At the Lecture Theatre, His Royal Highness viewed a short horror film ‘Terpisah’ that was produced by a group of students from UTB School of Business.

Four projects are showcased at the ‘Innov8 SCI’. Two of them – ‘Subduing the Audience in an Immersive Digital Environment’ and ‘Interactive Driving Lessons using Virtual Reality’- are presented under the Creative Multimedia programme area.

Two other projects – ‘Smart LED Street Light System Using Sensor and Wireless Network’ which has won the first prize under the Tertiary Category at the Brunei ICT Awards (BICTA) 2017, and ‘Smart Waste Management and Monitoring System’- are presented under the Computer Network and Security programme area.

The ‘Innov8 FEng’ features seven engineering projects, namely: Development on the Design and Fabrication of an Automated Shoe Rack, Design and Fabrication of Bionic Leg, Autonomous Robot Pat Planning under the Mechanical Engineering programme area; Automated Fertigation with GSM Alert System under the Electrical and Electronic Engineering programme area; the Effects of Coir Fibre in the Consolidation Behaviour of Soft Clay; Earthquake Design of Buildings under the Civil Engineering programme area; and Production of Benzene via the Hydro Dealkylation of Toluene under the Petroleum and Chemical Engineering programme area.

UTB students who have won awards at the BICTA ICT Awards 2017 also presented their inventions before His Royal Highness including ‘Brunei Forest Prevention System’, ‘Mobile Incident Reporting and Web-Based GIS for Disaster Management’ that have won second and third place respectively under the Tertiary Category, and ‘VRIS – Virtual Reality Interactive Science’, which received the Special Awards in Emerging Technology Category.

The ‘Innov8 Enterprise’ highlights UTB’s community involvement. The Enterprise Office, a newly established unit which aims to provide high quality training to participants who are interested in enhancing their technology in the area of communication skills, leadership, business, engineering and technology, features three initiatives – Bridging for the Hopes of Tomorrow (BRIGHT) School Adoption Programme; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Challenge; and participation in international robotics competition FIRST Global Challenge 2017.

‘Innov8 Leader’ showcases innovative implementation of community engagement programmes such as the #iReach Programme and the Student Leadership and Development Programme.

After viewing the exhibition, His Royal Highness consented for a group photo with members of UTB Student Representative Council and later received a pesambah from them.

The Convocation Festival is held annually to celebrate students who have successfully completed their studies and will be graduating in the upcoming UTB Convocation. A series of events have been lined up in conjunction with the festival that include Khatam Al-Quran ceremony, Innov8 UTB SB Homegrown Entrepreneurs, UTB Sports Fiesta, Innov8 Run & Cycle, Innov8 Pop-Up Vendor, Innov8 Career Fair, UTB Charity festival and UTP Photomarathon.

The UTB Convocation 2017 will be held on September 30, 2017 at the Plenary Hall of International Convention Centre in Berakas.

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BRUNEI Amateur Swimming Association (BASA), with the support from Department of Youth and Sports (JBS) successfully hosted the 6th Brunei Open & Masters Long Course Swimming Championships from 15 to 17 September, 2017.

ISB Hammerheads Swimming Club topped the medal tally with 28 gold medals, 22 silvers and 13 bronze medals. In second place was Jerudong Swimming Club with 16 gold medals, four silver medals and four bronze medals. In third place was Brunei Speed Swimming Club with 13 gold medals, six silver medals and two bronze medals.

Panaga Stingrays Swimming Club collected seven gold medals and two silver medals. Victoria Swimming Club claimed six silver medals, eight silver medals and five bronze medals. Dolphin Swimming Club won five gold medals, six silver medals and eight bronze medals. Royal Brunei Recreation Club collected two silver medals and four bronze medals.

In the three days of action, there were several stand-out swimmers. Among them was 19-year-old Muhammad Isa Ahmad, who is also known as Muis Ahmad who won 11 medals – eight gold medals, two silver medals and a bronze medal. “It was good and I will be flying off tomorrow to attend Uni,” said Muis Ahmad. He added, “I didn’t break any national records but I managed to break my personal best but I did set a new national record during the FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, last month.”

Nur Haziq Samil, 16-year-old swimmer from Brunei Speed Swimming Club won seven medals from the 10 events that he participated in. He earned six gold medals and 1 silver medal. “My strength is actually in freestyle and backstroke events. I go to Sayiddina Abu Bakar Secondary School in Year 11 and I really love Maths and Sastera. I also enjoy running and joined a few local running events,” said Nur Haziq Samil.

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PEHIN Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports attended the opening ceremony of the 2017 Kuala Lumpur Asean Para Games at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium.

Also present were Dato Paduka Haji Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Awang Mohd Taha, the Brunei High Commissioner in Kuala Lumpur; and Haji Noor Jusmin bin Haji Abdul Samad, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS).

Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said because of the powerful impact among the para athletes he hoped that the Para Games would be another glorious chapter in celebrating the human spirit across Southeast Asia.

Khairy said the athletes who were being honoured and celebrated yesterday night were extraordinary with stories of unimaginable challenges and sacrifices.

“The grit and determination of staring at failure in the eyes and defeating it. The tenacity of pushing yourself beyond limits you never knew existed. The freedom that comes from liberating yourself from physical restrictions and soaring to heights once unimaginable.

“They show us nothing is impossible. They do not just inspire others who are disabled but all of us. They remind us that even if we had no control of past circumstances, we can chart our own future,” he said in his speech at the opening ceremony held at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

The ninth edition of the Games which will close on September 23 brings together some 1,421 athletes from 11 countries, namely Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Timor Leste and host Malaysia.

At stake are 368 gold medals in 16 sports, which is the highest number of sports for competition at the Games.

The post Asean Para Games a celebration of human will and spirit appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Daniel Lim     |

THE Oil and Gas Discovery Centre (OGDC) recently hosted a five-day science workshop for government secondary school students in the Belait District.

Organised in collaboration with the Kid International Discovery (KID) Museum of Bethesda, Maryland in the United States, the workshop is part of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative, Professional Fellows Programme (YSEALI PFP), and involves a representative from one country visiting another country – in this case, an American representative visiting Brunei – to impart onto participants knowledge on various science and technology related topics.

The workshop was also meant to provide students the chance to interact with the foreign representative and further strengthen ties between the two countries.

Ten students from five government schools in the Belait District participated in the workshop, conducting and demonstrating various science experiments on circuitry and mechanics, among others.

KID Museum Maker Educator Ram Mosher, who facilitated the workshop, said he came to Brunei through the YSEALI PFP to “introduce to the students of Brunei what we call the ‘KID Museum’s invention studio’, which essentially teaches students technical skills and walks them through the invention process using the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) learning approach, fully tapping into the students’ potential to learn new skills”.

STEAM learning is a popular movement founded by Georgette Yakman in 2007 to promote and integrate design and art in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields.

In response to what he hopes to impart onto workshop participants, Mosher explained, “Our pedagogy at KID Museum is to teach life skills through STEM learning and STEAM learning, and so we not only teach kids how to do woodworking, textile and electronics, but also 3D printing and coding, which is part of the Maker Movement that we try to impart on the students.”

Maker Movement, or Maker Culture, represents a contemporary culture involving a technology-based extension of do-it-yourself (DIY) culture, which includes reverse engineering various existing creations through tinkering to create new and exciting devices.

Mosher added, “We also try to teach the students what we call social emotional skills, such as teamwork, grit and all the various skills that are beneficial to being successful in this interconnected world, where interaction between people – especially people from different countries – as well as having the resolve to keep improving oneself are key to one’s success.”

Recounting his Brunei experience, he said: “Everybody here is just so friendly, amazing and welcoming.”

He also praised workshop participants, adding that they are “respectful, concentrated and working hard on their current projects”.

Mosher visited the longhouses and waterfalls in the district.

“I have had a wonderful time in Brunei and the visit has been a great experience,” he says, adding that he hopes the workshop has allowed students to explore new skills and techniques, as well as broaden their mindset and encourage them to think outside of the box.

The OGDC plans to organise more similar workshops in the future in Belait and other districts.

The post Belait students acquire new skills appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     James kon     |

A LOCAL man sustained injuries to his leg after a fire broke out in his home at the Lambak Kanan National Housing Scheme yesterday afternoon.

According to a statement from the Fire and Rescue Department, an emergency call was received at 3.36pm.

Three fire engines from the Lambak Kanan Fire Station and one fire engine from the Berakas Fire Station were rushed to the scene.

A total of 13 firefighters led by SSFR Noor Aflan bin Awang Kachi, Commanding Officer of Operation ‘C’ Unit, who were dispatched to the scene of the fire, brought the fire under control within 17 minutes.

The estimated cost of damages and the cause of the fire are under investigation.

The 13 people residing at the affected house are safe.

The Fire and Rescue Department urged the public to not leave any cooking unattended and ensure that electrical installation works are done by certified electrical personnel, as well as avoid overloading electrical extension cords or sockets.

The operation centre of the Fire and Rescue Department can be contacted at 995 to report any emergencies or to obtain more information pertaining to fire-related issues.

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|     Fizah HAB     |

MORE than 1,000 Years 7 and 11 students from Chung Hwa Middle School, Bandar Seri Begawan (CHMS BSB) took part in a walkathon yesterday morning, which began at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, in celebration of the school’s 95th anniversary.

Among those present at the event were Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, the Minister of Education, as well as senior officers from the Ministry of Education and members of the CHMS BSB’s Board of Directors.

In his welcoming speech, YB Ong Tiong Oh, a Legislative Council member, in his capacity as Chairman of CHMS BSB, highlighted the school’s illustrious history, including the achievements of its current crop of students and alumni.

He also announced a donation of $3,000 to the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans (DANA), from the $170,000 collected during the walkathon.

YB Ong presented the mock cheque to Dato Paduka Eddie bin Dato Paduka Haji Sunny, the Managing Director of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, in his capacity as the Chairman of DANA, in a ceremony witnessed by the Minister of Education.

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|     Fizah HAB     |

RADIO Television Brunei (RTB) organised a song writing/composing competition for the ‘Golden Jubilee Symphony’ at the Raya Hall, RTB, in the capital Saturday night.

The competition was org-anised to commemorate the 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.

It also sought to enliven the celebrative atmosphere, instil love for the monarch and the country while showcasing the local talents in the musical industry

The guest of honour, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Home Affairs, in his capacity as Co-Chairperson of the Executive Committee for the Golden Jubilee Celebration, presented the awards to the winners.

Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Hamdan bin Haji Abu Bakar, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; Mohamed Riza bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohamed Yunos, Permanent Secretary (Media and Cabinet) at the Prime Minister’s Office; and Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs were also present.

The champion, Pengiran Haji Sallehuddin bin Pengiran Haji Md Noor, composer of ‘Raja Bertakhta’, received $5,000, certificate of participation and a trophy. The song was performed by Dayangku Hajah Sahanisah binti Pengiran Haji Metali and Dayangku Siti Nurul Fadhilah binti Pengiran Mohd Ali.

In second place was ‘Demi Raja Taat Setia’ by Pengiran Haji Md Shahremi bin Pengiran Haji Md Salleh followed by ‘Raja Berdaulat’ by Pengiran Haji Mohd Khairul Amilin bin Pengiran Haji Yahya.

Meanwhile, the song ‘Menara Harapan’ by Noraffin bin Haji Abdul Hamid, won the best lyric category.

The seven songs – ‘Menara Harapan’ by Noraffin bin Haji Abdul Hamid, Dr Khadizah Haji Abdul Momin and Abdul Hafis bin Abdul Salam; ‘Raja Berdaulat’ by Pengiran Haji Mohd Khairul Amilin bin Pengiran Haji Yahya; ‘Raja Peneraju Negara’ by Pengiran Samsul Rezal Malek Faesal bin Pengiran Haji Merali; ‘Teraju Mahkota’ by Zakiuddin Lani; ‘Raja Bertakhta’ by Pengiran Haji Sallehuddin bin Pengiran Haji Md Noor; ‘Daulat Raja Sanjungan Rakyat’ by Haji Mohammad Abu Yazid bin Haji Awang Damit; and ‘Demi Raja Taat Setia’ by Pengiran Haji Md Shahremi bin Pengiran Haji Md Salleh, will be compiled into a special album for the Golden Jubilee Celebration of His Majesty’s Accession to the Throne.

The post Night of music in the capital appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     James Kon     |

DESPITE the sudden downpour, 170 cyclists gathered at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien yesterday for the Brunei End Polio Ride 2017.

Organised by the Rotary Club of Bandar Seri Begawan (RC BSB), the ride for the first time was open to the public, riding for the noble cause of raising awareness on the fight to end polio.

Polio is a paralysing and potentially fatal disease, which threatens children in some parts of the world.

Rotary has launched its Polio Plus programme, the first initiative to tackle global polio eradication through the mass vaccination of children. Currently, polio still plagues three countries – Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Minister of Health cum guest of honour Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi flagged off the End Polio 40km Challenge Ride, before joining the End Polio 10km Fun Ride.

Speaking to the Bulletin, the minister commended the RC BSB’s initiative in organising the End Polio Ride 2017, an effort which began at the grassroots level.

The polio vaccine for children was introduced in the country in 1962, and there has been no reported case of polio since 1978. The Western Pacific Region, including Brunei Darussalam, was declared polio-free in 2000.

The minister highlighted that the challenge has always been to ensure that polio remains eradicated through the raising of public awareness.

As mentioned by 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 numerous occasions, a whole-of-nation approach and a whole-of-society approach are needed when it comes to health, as health truly is everyone’s business and the maintenance of the country’s health and wellbeing should not rest solely on the shoulders of the Ministry of Health, but on every individual.

Of prime importance, the minister iterated, is that “we need to move away from the sick model to the health and wellness model in health. It would be much better to see people maintain good healthy lives for a long time.”

The public “must therefore pay extra attention to what they consume, which is still the biggest issue in Brunei. The second thing is physical activities where we can see in the last five years, there has been an increase in physical activities among adults. Let physical activities become a lifestyle and not just recreational pursuits,” he added.

The minister stressed that it is vital for children to carry out physical activities daily as well, and hoped there will be more grassroots-level stakeholders organising similar events to raise awareness on not only infectious diseases, but also non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke and others.

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|     Achong Tanjong     |

HUNDREDS gathered yesterday to watch an enthralling arena performance in Brunei’s waters that highlighted the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) joint capabilities in conducting Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO). The performance – which featured the latest assets and personnel of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF), Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) and Special Force Regiment – was held at the RBN Base in Muara, in conjunction with RBAF’s 56th anniversary celebrations. The spectacle illustrated the RBAF’s mix skills concept applied in the implementation of MIO to defend the maritime safety and sovereignty of Brunei waters.

The performance began with the arrival of the of RBAirF Blackhawk S-70i demonstrating tactical manoeuvres led by 494 Lieutenant Colonel (U) Md Sufian bin Ahmad. The helicopter displayed two types of manoeuvres: low-level flying and wingover.

The Blackhawk S-70i contributes towards enhancing the capacity of RBAirF playing an important role in handling and assisting land and maritime operations defending safety in the region.

One part of the performance showed the Blackhawk S70i supporting the Special Forces Regiment Tactical water borne insertion and extraction. The Blackhawk S70i can fly at a speed of up to 170 knots (equivalent to 315 km/h) and as low as 10-15 feet.

In the second segment, explosives and shooting material were used for the ‘Awkward Operation’ to safeguard assets that berth at the RBN Jetty.

The Speed Boat Fighter performance demonstrated manoeuvrability techniques. Among the roles and tasks of the squadron is to assist and support river transportation operations that include humanitarian aid and disaster relief, as well as search and rescue operations. The show continued with a sea-borne attack and the MIO performance. The aim of the MIO is to delay, disrupt or destroy the enemy before they are able to inflict damage of their target.

The operation was also conducted during joint exercises with the navies of neighbouring countries, such as the Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training (SEACAT) Exercise and Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Exercise on Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism. Since the establishment of the RBAF, developments have been notched in various areas, particularly in its capability in implementing joint maritime operations.

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|     Hakim Hayat     |

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) yesterday graced the Grand Parade for the 56th RBAF anniversary celebrations at the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) Base in Muara.

Accompanying His Majesty was His Royal Highness Prince General Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and General of the RBAF.

Greeting His Majesty and His Royal Highness upon arrival at the RBN parade ground were Deputy Minister of Defence, First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit; and Commander of the RBAF, Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah.

At the parade ground, His Majesty received the royal salute and inspected the parade contingent comprising 1,056 RBAF personnel from the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF), Royal Brunei Navy (RBN), Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), Training Institute RBAF (TI RBAF), the Special Forces Regiment (SFR) and Women Military Personnel led by Commander Sapry bin Haji Serudi @ Haji Seruji of the RBN in his capacity as Parade Commander.

After His Majesty’s titah, a prayer was recited by the Head of RBAF Religious Department, Commander Haji Ainolnizam bin Haji Ibrahim to bless the event.

His Majesty then once again received the royal salute followed by the sail-past from KDB Darussalam and fly-past by RBAirF aircraft.

From the parade grounds, His Majesty and His Royal Highness next proceeded aboard the KDB Daruttaqwa to witness an arena performance showcasing RBAF’s maritime interdiction operations capabilities.

His Majesty also toured static exhibitions set up by different units under the RBAF and Ministry of Defence.

At the Petty Officers’ Mess, His Majesty and His Royal Highness were presented with a pesambah in the form of an armour breast plate jacket as well as a shield inspired by Islamic traditions from selected RBAF senior and junior non-commissioned officers.

His Majesty and His Royal Highness then proceeded to the RBN Officers’ Mess for a luncheon.

His Majesty was then invited to cut a cake marking RBAF’s 56th anniversary and presented with a pesambah in the form of a ‘General’s Sword’ by RBAF officers.

In addition to meeting up with current RBAF officers and personnel, His Majesty also took the time to meet former RBAF officers and personnel who have been appointed as members of the Legislative Council as well as penghulus and village heads.

The ceremony concluded with the signing of the royal parchment and His Majesty and His Royal Highness having a group photograph with members of the Defence Executive Committee, service commanders, RBAF Chief of Staff, RBAF head of inspectorate, former deputy ministers of defence, former commanders of the RBAF, military and civilian directors, and commandants.

This year’s RBAF anniversary celebrations theme ‘Together in Accomplishing the National Vision’ underlines the RBAF’s continuous commitment as a key security institution contributing to the nation’s progress and development by ensuring a safe and peaceful environment through the steady provision of defence and security.

The celebrations, traditionally held every May 31, was brought to a later date out of respect for the holy month of Ramadhan.

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 |     Hakim Hayat     |

THE prevalence of security threats in multiple and complex forms in the face of a fast-paced technological evolution calls for greater vigilance and robustness from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of the RBAF said yesterday.

In a titah delivered during a grand parade to mark the occasion of the RBAF’s 56th Anniversary at the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) Base in Muara, His Majesty warned of pervasive threats in the cyberage such as radicalisation and extremism, stemming from deviant sources.

“They are spreading their influences through various means, to persuade communities to sympathise with them and support their objectives. Military personnel are not exempt from the risks of these deviant ideologies,” said His Majesty.

“In its 56 years, RBAF has played the role of maintaining national peace and sovereignty. This responsibility is very serious and also difficult to conform to, particularly in today’s world without boundaries,” His Majesty further noted, while calling for all RBAF personnel to brace themselves against all unwelcome elements.

The monarch also cited a comprehensive understanding of religion as a preventive measure against extremism, while also emphasising the importance of upholding the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) values in everyday life.

His Majesty also highlighted on the importance of social media ethics and vigilant monitoring as a counter-measure against destructive groups attempting to spread their radical ideologies among communities.

Rising Cyber Threats

The monarch also described cyber threats as another threat to national security.

“In this digital age, the Internet plays an important role in fulfilling our needs, including those at the Ministry of Defence (MinDef) and the RBAF; as a result, the risks associated with cybersecurity are very high indeed, which are liable to be exploited by irresponsible parties,” said His Majesty, while also noting the measures undertaken by MinDef in cybersecurity enhancement, as a step to further strengthen its defences.

Prioritisation in Maintenance of Defence Assets and Capacity Building

Taking into account the vast range of complex security threats, the monarch called on the RBAF to boost its strategies by devising a more proactive and competent means of management, particularly in the maintenance of RBAF’s assets and capacity building within its personnel. “I hope that its sense of readiness will be at the highest level, so that the RBAF’s role can be established more effectively,” said His Majesty.

His Majesty also underlined the need for a comprehensive prioritisation exercise and equipment care at MinDef, to allow for the optimal utilisation of existing budget allocations.

Holistic Security Strategy and Defence Diplomacy

In the scope of national cooperation in security, His Majesty urged both MinDef and the RBAF to continuously work together with domestic security agencies in the employment of holistic security strategies.

The monarch also underscored the importance of cooperation with overseas partners, stating his confidence that this can be achieved through existing platforms available both regionally and internationally.

At the same time, His Majesty also praised the involvement of the RBAF in the international arena, such as the International Monitoring Team (IMT) in Mindanao, Philippines, as well the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

“The placement of RBAF personnel in the Information Fusion Centre and the Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre in Singapore also signifies Brunei Darussalam’s commitment in regional security,” said His Majesty.

Asean Direct Communications Hotline Infrastructure for Maritime Security

His Majesty also praised the RBAF’s initiatives at Asean level, especially under the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM), while announcing that Asean Defence Ministers are scheduled to launch the Asean Direct Communications Hotline Infrastructure by the end of this year.

“I believe that this will further reinforce the response mechanisms and assistance in the event of emergencies, particularly those related to maritime security,” said His Majesty.

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|   Fadhil Yunus   |

BRUNEI Darussalam national para athletics team had a successful outing after grabbing a silver and bronze medal in the 9th Asean Para Games at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

Brunei’s Nor Hensan Haji Mataha led the charge after securing the silver medal in the Women Discus Throw F12 event having registered a best mark of 24m.

The athlete seemed to be encountering concerns in the first two rounds after a pair of false starts put her temporarily at the bottom in the overall classification.

Malaysia’s Hemala Devi was way ahead of the chasing pack and despite Nor Hensan’s bumpy start, neither of the competitors seemed to be showing any threat to dislodge the leader.

The Bruneian finally got on the scoreboard and climbed immediately to silver medal position after an impressive toss earned her a score of 21.88m and comfortably ahead from her nearest rivals.

Her score in the third round was good enough to win silver as no-one was able to challenge eventual winner Hemala’s best mark of 32.46m in the first round.

Brunei’s Hirdan Abdul Kadir had earlier won the country’s first medal in the Asean Para Games after claiming bronze in the Men Javelin Throw F56 event with a mark of 22.17m.

Faridul of Malaysia took gold while Vietnam’s Trinh Cong Luan settled for silver.

The national athletics’ contingent collected two gold, three silver and four bronze medals in the previous edition in Singapore two years ago.

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|     Lyna Mohamad     |

ROYAL Brunei Airlines (RB) passengers will now be able to savour a taste of what Brunei has to offer with the introduction of bruneihalalfoods products on flight, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between RB and Ghanim International Corporation Sdn Bhd (GIC) yesterday.

The signing ceremony for the supply of bruneihalalfoods products was held at the Royal Brunei Recreation Club, with Deputy Minister of Finance and GIC Chairman Dato Seri Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah attending as the guest of honour.

Signing on behalf of RB was its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Karam Chand, while GIC was represented by its CEO Dr Nur Rahman.

In his speech, Chand noted that RB believes the high quality local Halal products from bruneihalalfoods will enhance guests’ experience and at the same time bring value to both companies.

With its services well rated by guests – based on various research RB has conducted as well as independent organisations like Skytrax, RB looks to becoming a four-star airline in the near future, and partnerships such as this will play an important part in helping us achieve the ranking, he added.

“Today marks a very special day when two sister companies formalise a strategic partnership to deliver customised products on board RB flights. This is a long term partnership and we will continue to add more products over time,” Chand added.

The airlines will, over the next few months, announce other partnerships with local companies and government-linked companies (GLCs), which we believe will create a win-win for both partners, he added.

Meanwhile, Dr Nur Rahman noted that as part of its growth strategy both in local and international markets, Ghanim has set its sight on having bruneihalalfoods introduced to Brunei’s major industry players, and has always intended to get to as many consumers and as many places as possible.

“As the national carrier, RB was the obvious choice. However, it wasn’t just a matter of selection and GIC knew what needed to be done and is very grateful to RB for giving them the opportunity.

“We want to deliver as the global standard brand and the most trusted company for providing Halal product solutions. We’ve endeavoured to do that by developing and working together with manufacturers that today has resulted in over 75 products,” said Dr Nur Rahman.

Having RB on board as their major partner, the product development team of both organisations will be integrated and continue to increase the number of product offerings by flexing our capabilities in bringing the product solutions.

With their products already on the shelves in China, the United Kingdom, the UAE, Brunei and soon in Belgium and Singapore, GIC looks to add RB destinations to its list of target markets.

“Our aspiration of becoming a major player on the global platform is also coming to realisation as a result of this cooperation,” she added.

“As we strengthen our capabilities to live by our organisational values of delivering Wholesome – Innovative – Trustworthy products, there are many more products in the line-up that we are excited to share and develop with RB. We do not want to just be a product supplier; we will endeavour to be a provider of product solutions,” she added.

The partnership solidifies bruneihalalfoods’ placement on the local and international platform, and with the trust placed in GIC to support RB’s in-flight food and beverage operations, “it will undoubtedly open many doors for them,” Dr Nur Rahman added.

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