|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

IT WAS a moment to remember for 261 graduates of Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) yesterday as they celebrated their academic success and received their degrees and diplomas from His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, and the Chancellor of KUPU SB, during the university’s 7th Convocation Ceremony held at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Berakas.

Upon arrival, His Majesty was greeted by Minister of Religious Affairs, Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, in his capacity as Chairman of the KUPU SB Council; State Mufti, Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned; Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, in his capacity as Deputy Chairman of the KUPU SB Council; Chief Syar’ie Judge, Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Uztaz Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar; and Acting Ra’es of KUPU SB, Dr Haji Adanan bin Haji Basar.

The convocation ceremony commenced with a recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by the State Mufti, followed by a recitation of verses from Surah An-Nuur by Mohammad Zul-Hafiz bin Haji Tengah and graduates of the college’s Postgraduate Diploma in Religious Teaching.

KUPU SB Acting Ra’es Dr Haji Adanan in his welcoming address explained that the university has strived to meet its vision and objectives of being the best religious teaching university in the Malay world, and for KUPU SB to continue building trust from other international higher learning institutions.

Dr Haji Adanan also underlined the steps taken to reassess all their course performances by integrating and updating course content, teaching methods and evaluation assessment. These enable the college to more effectively assess their courses based on eight competency criteria, which include indicators such as Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) content, moral and leadership values, as well as quality of Taqwa.

He added that during the Asia-Pacific University Community Engagement Network (APUCEN) held last September at Kyoto University for Foreign Studies in Japan, KUPU SB was reappointed as a member country for the APUCEN Consul Council.

The university was also appointed as the host country for the next University Community Engagement Conference in 2019.

This year, KUPU SB has received several invitations and visits from foreign higher learning institutions, with most of them expressing interest in establishing friendly relations and collaborating with the university in selected fields of study.

Dr Haji Adanan said the Fiqh Al-Usrah Centre has been set up and has already set in place its own roles and functions, which among others, include organising forums, roadshows, international seminars, and so on.

“At the same time, KUPU SB through its Language Centre has taken steps in organising Lugathul Mu’allim workshops for Arabic school teachers, offering Bachelor’s degree programmes in Religious Teaching (teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers), as well as organising regional and international Arabic Language seminars,” Dr Haji Adanan said.

His Majesty then proceeded to deliver his titah, before handing over degree and diploma certificates to the graduates.

Of the 261 graduates, 18 received Master’s degrees in Religious Teaching, 38 received postgraduate diplomas in Religious Teaching, 103 received Bachelor’s degrees in Religious Teaching, and 102 received higher diplomas in Religious Teaching.

The post Proud day for KUPU SB students as convocation crowns years of hard work appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Lyna Mohamad     |

RELIGIOUS teachers are agents of the community to assist in guiding the direction of the national programmes from time to time, said His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, and the Chancellor of Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB).

Delivering a titah at the 7th Convocation Ceremony of KUPU SB at the Plenary Hall of the International Convention Centre in Berakas yesterday, the monarch noted that they also hold a role in rectifying problematic situations based on pure religious knowledge.

Religious knowledge forms the foundation for the nation to ensure welfare and receive blessings, His Majesty said, adding that the most valued blessing for a nation is to always remain safe.

His Majesty further highlighted that it is important for the graduates to be aware that the profession of a teacher is very noble, as teachers can play a significant role in developing the community and the nation.

“In taking up this role, teachers need to possess strong fighting spirit as well as noble ideas that can bring about change. Without such spirit and ideas, change is hard to come by.”

Highlighting excerpts from Surah Hud Verse 117, His Majesty said that KUPU SB and other higher learning institutions need to nurture critical thinking capabilities to ensure that their graduates are able to work for the welfare of the society and the country.

“The nation is very much in need of more beneficial learning disciplines as the purpose of learning is not just acquiring knowledge, but it must contribute to all-round human development.”

Every higher learning institution needs to continuously evaluate its programmes to ensure that its curriculum contents are practical and stay relevant to the current needs – including teaching methods and student development assessment, the monarch said.

In this context, higher learning institutions need to ensure their academic staff possess high professional characteristics so that they will be able to serve more effectively and innovatively, and make a holistic and fair assessment of students’ development, His Majesty added.

Acknowledging KUPU SB’s efforts to produce teaching graduates with identity, the monarch said that the institution is actively strengthening its programmes to enhance the competencies of students. This is good and reasonable, yet methods of assessment need to be streamlined more systematically to ensure that the graduates truly reach the required level of competence, His Majesty added.

“All higher learning institutions need to organise their respective academic programmes and co-curriculum activities to produce holistic and balanced graduates who can excel in spiritual, intellectual, physical, entrepreneurial and community aspects.”

As former students of Arabic schools form the main candidate base of KUPU SB and Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, the quality of Arabic education also needs to be enhanced, the monarch urged.

“Just like a factory, Arabic schools need to produce quality students and continuously be strengthened. It requires improvising what needs to be improvised or strengthening what is found to be weak until the school can truly become superior and well-known.

“This is not something impossible, but something that can be accomplished with much determination and hard work,” His Majesty said.

The post Religious teachers must assist in guiding country appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

HONG Kong cemented top place in the pool stage after preserving their perfect record in a 2-0 win over Pakistan at the 3rd Women’s Asian Hockey Challenge at the Hockey Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex yesterday.

The highest ranked side in the tournament also collected their fourth clean sheet and looked in great shape to take down the title judging from their perfect campaign thus far.

The pair is poised to meet again in the final tomorrow though Hong Kong pulled a win without necessarily hitting top gear.

Tiffany Chan continued her fine goal-scoring form with a double all coming in the first half and consolidated her lead at the top of the scoring charts with 10 goals to her name.

Pakistan coach Muhammad Khan claimed his side could perform much better considering that Hong Kong was playing a casual game.

The world number 58 may have minimised the scores in their rematch but Khan felt that there was still room for improvement for his charges ahead of a probable final tomorrow.

When asked if they have improved, Khan replied, “No, I don’t think so. They (Hong Kong) have planned to play a very casual game. They’re keeping themselves for the final. I know them.

“Our players did well compared to the last one but still they could have done much more because they were planning for a very casual match.”

“Our girls are not playing their own game as I feel they can because they were much better when we drew against them last year.”

The pair could not be separated following a 1-1 draw when they met at a competitive meet in the 4th Women’s AHF Cup last October in Bangkok.

“The girls were totally upset in the last match but today they slightly moved better and in our next match in the final we’re hoping to give them a tough time,” he continued.

Despite Brunei Darussalam finding the competition to be tough compared to the previous edition where they had a shot of winning bronze in Bangkok, Khan noted some positives and possible additions to the squad.

“With the Brunei team, I’m very impressed with the right and left fullback. The player is very confident and particularly their captain (Rokiah Kesut),” said the coach.

However, he highlighted the need to introduce a certain type of player who can be a valuable asset to the team.

“They need to have some players who can really run with the ball. And that can be created depending on the coach.”

He added that one solution of identifying a new member who possesses such quality is to acquire a player who specialises in athletics.

“We also chose a player who has an athletics background and they can also find someone similar.”

Khan also stressed on the need to recruit a foreign coach to assist on steering the national team.

Meanwhile, Hong Kong captain Ka I Lo said that they performed as how they planned during the victory.

“We’ll stick to what we know and we stick to what we’re confident in. We’re going to keep scoring goals,” she added.

Brunei will conclude their pool stage play against Pakistan today with the latter most likely occupying the second qualifying berth for the title showdown.

The post Hong Kong confirm top spot in pool appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam’s national futsal coach Haji Md Yunos bin Haji Md Yusof will be drawing on some positives from a much-improved showing in the second half despite falling to a 13-0 defeat to Myanmar in their group opener at the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Futsal Championship at the Phu Tho Indoor Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam yesterday.

The national coach saw his charges plundered eight goals but they managed to let in five after the interval and also created decent opportunities of their own too to salvage some pride.

“The eight goals we’ve conceded in the first half provided us a lesson to rectify our errors in terms of our defensive play,” Haji Md Yunos told the media.

“In the second half, we changed the rhythm and created several scoring opportunities and only conceded five goals. However, luck was not on our side,” he further added.

It was always going to be an uphill battle against the White Angels who were finalists in the previous edition and in the process stunning former winners Indonesia, the only other winner in the tournament other than Thailand.

“We were quite startled with the quality of play that Myanmar brought today,” said the national coach who represented his country as a goalkeeper from 1984 to 1999.

He said that Brunei did not have warm-up matches which would have enabled them to look for compatibility between players as preparations for the tournament which have been done by other participating countries.

Despite the defeat, Haji Md Yunos refused to wave the white flag and has underlined the high importance of the Indonesia match.

“Our first defeat in the competition does not mean that we will give up. We will be correcting our errors and we will improve on what we lacked from our first match.”

“The match against the Garuda (Indonesia) will be an important mission and hopefully we will not be repeating the same mistakes from the first match,” he concluded.

The Wasps could have broken their scoring duck following a clear-cut opportunity after Abdul Azim Boll Hassan hit his shot straight at Myanmar’s goalkeeper after being set up by Abi Syarillizam Sabtu. Brunei’s captain Maziri Maidin won a free kick after he was clipped by a Myanmar player before his subsequent shot from the rebound was blocked.

Myanmar’s Khin Zaw Linn laid a ball to Pyae Phyo Maung who forced a double save from Brunei goalkeeper Husin Aji.

Myanmar’s Kyaw Kyaw Tun then found space to unleash a fierce drive but it was safely handled by the assured hands of Husin who proved to be an automatic choice given his excellent display between the sticks in the second half.

Myanmar also had an open net to aim at but unfortunately slipped at the crucial moment and could not get the shot away though the goals were not drying up at this stage.

Kyaw provided a classy finish after exchanging neat passes with a teammate for his second of the game. Myanmar had options and opted to find a team-mate waiting for the ball in the near post but his shot brushed off against the post from an acute angle.

With Brunei playing the ball backwards, Myanmar invited pressure which worked as three players narrowed the angle for a Bruneian defender hence forcing him to make a misplaced pass.

The ball fell to Naing Ye Kyaw, who had no opposing players beside him, and threaded a pass to Pyae Phyo Maung whose cross was half-heartedly cleared away by Husin allowing Aung Aung to rifle into the roof of the net.

It was exhibition football for the White Angels as Maung delightfully showed a piece of individual brilliance lifting the ball into the air before picking up Aung Aung.

The goalscorer provided the cutback for Nyein Min Soe but Husin made a fine stop to deny the midfielder from point blank range.

And the Street United shot-stopper came to his side’s rescue again after sparing embarrassment from his teammate Faiz Hasnan scoring an own goal through his outstretched arms.

Moments after Aung Aung missed an opportunity to complete his hat-trick after skewing his shot wide, Husin provided a long throw into the opposition half and though Brunei were one-on-one with the goalkeeper the late consolation did not arrive.

Meanwhile in the other Group ‘A’ tie, Indonesia, Brunei’s next opponents, trounced Philippines 21-0.

The post Coach heartened by second-half display despite heavy loss appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

THIRTY-FOUR officers from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Defence Academy recently visited the Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) Mechanical Campus as part of their modules for the Junior Officer Staff Course (JSC) which began last September.

The delegation was led by Lieutenant Colonel (U) Muhammad Amiruddin bin Haji Tuah, Directing Staff 1 of the Leadership and Management Centre at the RBAF Defence Academy.

Among the main objectives of the working visit were to introduce stakeholders/advocates in the government and private sectors that are responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing service programmes; to evaluate their policies and responsibilities towards realising the goals of Brunei Vision 2035; to understand the challenges faced by these institutions; and to provide comparative platforms of their respective roles.

The delegates were given a presentation on IBTE’s Transformation Journey and its initiatives in supporting Brunei Vision 2035 by Munirah ‘Athirah binti Dato Paduka Haji Othman, the Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Corporate) at IBTE, and Haji Mohd Fadzillah bin Haji Abdullah, the Divisional Director of Corporate Affairs at IBTE.

After the briefing, the delegates were taken on a tour of the IBTE Mechanical Campus to view the training sessions and methods.

The post Tips on policies, challenges in services for RBAF personnel appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Aziz Idris     |

THE Cardiac Society of Brunei Darussalam (CSBD) in collaboration with Gleneagles JPMC will host the 22nd annual Asean Federation Cardiology Congress (AFCC) from November 3 to 5 which will focus on sharing advances in the field of cardiology.

Held for the first time in Brunei Darussalam, the three-day programme includes keynote lectures, concurrent sessions, plenaries, symposia, interactive sessions, pre-congress workshops, joint symposia, poster sections and live cases broadcast to the conference venue from the cardiac centre.

These were among the key points highlighted by Dato Paduka Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar, President of the CSBD on Wednesday during a press conference at the Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC). According to Dato Paduka Dr Haji Isham, the congress is another major step forward for cardiovascular services in the Sultanate, with over 500 delegates from local and regional expected to attend.

He said the congress will also “help not only local medical expertise but also to share and allow our international colleagues to experience the culture, sights and sounds and celebrations of Brunei Darussalam”.

He said the congress will gauge Brunei Darussalam’s potential for medical tourism.

Other eminent speakers include medical experts form the Asia Pacific region including Australia, China and India, and from the European Society of Cardiology and the American College of Cardiology.

A pre-congress workshop on transthoracic echocardiology chaired by a leading expert cardiologist from the United States, Dr Lissa Sugeng, and led by a local cardiologist with hands on training, will be held on November 2. The workshop is directed at non-cardiologist clinicians to learn basic echocardiology skill that can be applied in routine clinical practice to guide management and treatment of commonly encountered cardiac pathology.

Present during the press conference was Dr Sofian Johar, Chairperson of the Organising Committee and Dr Rajinikanth Rajagopal, Scientific Committee Member. The 22nd AFCC will be held at The Rizqun International Hotel.

The post Cardiology congress in Brunei for first time appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Danial Norjidi     |

TELEKOM Brunei Berhad (TelBru) puts great importance on continuously investing in training and learning for its people, as it is crucial to have a skilled workforce with the right attitude and the right capability.

David Kay, the Chief Executive Officer of TelBru highlighted these points in an interview with the Bulletin yesterday.

TelBru has several training and educational programmes offered to its staff related to leadership management and the telecommunications industry.

This facilitates for a better human resource pool capable of meeting customer demand, whilst inculcating a culture of quality throughout the entire company.

TelBru will hold its third graduation ceremony tomorrow for 126 TelBru graduates across a variety of fields from better understanding of fibre technology, and management.

The ceremony will also mark the first such graduation ceremony for 25 participants in the company’s Leadership Development Programme (LDP) certified with an Executive Masters in Management (People Leadership) from Asia e-University.

Asked on the importance of investing in people, Kay said, “It’s absolutely crucial. If you don’t have a well skilled workforce with the right attitude and the right capability, you can’t actually do very much.

“At the end of the day technology is technology, and as long as you’ve got it, it’s on par with everyone else, but the difference is people, and investment in people is just as important as investment in the network infrastructure, because if you’ve got the right people you can achieve anything.

“Even if you haven’t got the right equipment, you can go a long way. If you don’t have the right people you can’t actually do anything. You can have the greatest equipment, tools, etc, but if you don’t have the right people, it doesn’t work,” he said.

“I believe that continuous investment in those people and the new people who join the company, you need to keep it going.”

Kay spoke on what he hopes to see for TelBru in terms of continuous learning going forward.

“In the context of the overall company, we have now a company that’s got a good network. We’ve got customer service and our outlets up to a standard.

“Now we need to take advantage of the great technology and this great human resource that we now have,” said the TelBru CEO, noting that the company has an innovation unit to come up with new ideas, products and services.

He said he would like to see people capitalising on the learning that they’ve already had and continuing it.

He added, at TelBru’s headquarters, “We’ve got quiet areas where people can sit and study dotted around in a certain part of the company, away from the noise.”

He said these areas offer their staff, during breaks and lunch times, a quiet corner to study. “That facility is available so we’re encouraging it.”

Kay also spoke on TelBru’s Learning Centre in Berakas. “That is widely used. It’s to encourage this type of learning. We get people in to do courses, but we also get people in remotely via conference call. We’ve got excellent, first-class facilities out there, so that we don’t have to send people overseas or fly people in from the UK. They can actually talk to 30-40 people and train them there.

“One thing that we are going to do is, apart from encouraging and building on that, I’d like people to carry on learning, and the innovation will mean that they have to learn, or at least a number of people do. The technology’s changing; they have to learn about the technology. So we’re continuously encouraging that and I hope that would continue,” he added.

The post Skilled workforce key to success, says TelBru CEO appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

FOUR Politeknik Brunei (PB) students recently launched the Demure brand, a local clothing brand for women.

The ceremony was organised by PB School of Business (Entrepreneur and General Studies) at the PB One Stop Centre, according to a press statement.

The project is one of the developments of the Internship Incubation programme carried out by PB, where students under the programme have been given the opportunity to start their own business. Seventeen students took part in the programme for six months, which started in July this year.

The students involved were Siti Nadzirah binti Shafie, Nurul Haziqah binti Abdul Ghani, Izzah Maziyyah binti Haji Busrah and Siti Nazurah binti Haji Lukman Hakim.

The ceremony was launched by the guest of honour, Alias bin Haji Abu Bakar, the Acting Assistant Director of PB, who took a look at the Printed Bawal exhibition of ‘Bunga Collection’ from Demure Company.

The Demure Company thanked Cikgu Goh Chai Li, Cikgu Hazmi bin Razab and Cikgu Mahdini bin Wahab from PB; and Siti Nur Hafidah binti Haji Kula and Mark Koh Tze Horng, both from the L ‘Orient Company for the support.

Thirty people attended the launching ceremony comprising invited guests, PB’s lecturers and students.

The slogan of the Demure Company is ‘Humble and Inspiration’, from the meaning of Demure, which means modest.

The Printed Bawal of ‘Bunga Collection’ is the first product of the company, which has been generated through the inspiration of its founder.

The post PB students launch local clothing brand for women appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     James Kon     |

UNDER President Donald Trump’s administration, the United States of America continues to place high priority to engage with Asean member countries, with particular focus on five strategic areas of cooperation: maritime, economy, transnational issues, the role of women, and emerging leaders.

The importance of US-Asean ties will be further highlighted when President Trump meets with Asean leaders to discuss regional cooperation during the Asean Summit in Manila in November.

The reassurance given by the US in its strong commitment to engage with Asean was lauded by Daniel Shields, Charge d’Affaires and interim at the US Mission to Asean, who is currently in Brunei to meet with officials for an exchange of views on Asean-related issues, in preparation for the upcoming summit.

In an interview at the US Embassy in Brunei Darussalam, Shields described US-Asean relations as ‘deep and dynamic’, taking into account that this year marks the 40th anniversary of US-Asean ties.

The former US ambassador to Brunei Darussalam (2011-2014) told the Bulletin, “We have had vigorous exchanges with Brunei and other Asean member countries on maritime issues; we have a lot of common interests in increasing the awareness of all the countries in the region on what’s going on in the sea, and maritime cooperation on law enforcement.”

On the economic front, he said, “A good example of the ongoing US-Asean cooperation would be the Asean Single Window (ASW) on customs clearance. Asean member countries have contributed about $250 million to develop this initiative to facilitate trade within the region, and also for countries like the US which are trading with Asean.

“The US has provided over $10 million over 10 years to help facilitate the ASW, and we are delighted to see the launching move forward soon.”

On transnational issues that include crime, terrorism, drugs, human trafficking and wildlife trafficking, he said, “There is a dynamic area of exchange and cooperation between the US and Asean. We continue to conduct workshops and coordination through Asean mechanisms on these issues.

“All 10 member states are working together to fight human trafficking through the Asean Convention against Trafficking in Persons. The US law enforcement is working together with Asean to exchange information on human trafficking. We applaud the efforts that Asean has made, and we will continue to support this in any way we can.”

On combating terrorism, he noted the strong awareness between Asean and the US to step up on cooperation, in an effort to prevent problems plaguing countries such as Iraq and Syria from spreading to this region.

The Philippines, he said, “has effectively addressed the problem in Marawi, and the US would like to partner with all 10 Asean member states to counter and prevent the spread of terrorism, foreign fighters and the financing of terrorists, which can affect the stability and prosperity of the region.

“Looking at the 50th anniversary of Asean, it is very extraordinary to see the level of security and prosperity that all 10 member states were able to achieve. But there is no room for complacency, so the US will work with all of its partners mainly through bilateral channels, in terms of working with particular member states to share expertise and information. We learnt a lot from our experiences in the Middle East about ISIS, and we certainly would want to share them with the governments of Asean.”

On the role of women in Asean, he said, “I was thrilled to participate in the recent women leadership academy, which brings together women leaders from across Asean to help develop leadership skills and networking.”

On the subject of emerging leaders in the region, he said, “The US has worked with the participants of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) in helping to develop their leadership skills and networking. Through this, the US would like to see a strong integrated Asean, while the people coming out of this programme will have the ability to network in all 10 member states and play an important role in deciding the future of Asean.”

“We are excited about the upcoming summit in Manila, and that President Trump will be coming to the Philippines to engage Asean in this commemorative summit to mark the 40th anniversary of US-Asean ties. We also see this is an opportunity to advance the excellent relationship between US and Asean.

“When the Trump administration came in, all eyes were on where the US was headed with its engagement in Asean. The first indication that the current administration would have a strong focus on Asean was when Vice-President Mike Pence visited Jakarta in April, along with the Asean Secretariat and the permanent representatives of various Asean member countries. He also held engagements with YSEALI and others. These were the first signs that Asean would be a priority in the Trump administration.

“At the ministerial level, I was with US Secretary of Defence James Mattis and Secretary of State [Rex] Tillerson in Manila, while President Trump is coming to meet with Asean leaders at the summit. This shows the US’s commitment in continuing to develop relationships with Asean.”

On the US’s withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), he said, “TPP was never Asean-focussed, although there were a number of Asean member countries like Brunei involved in TPP negotiations. With regard to US-Asean cooperation in economic engagement, the Asean Single Window is the best example of the cooperation that we have. It took more than 10 years to get to where we at now.

“The US will continue to engage with Asean in any way possible to support integration as it stands to benefit from a strong and dynamic Asean. The integration of Asean could be beneficial for US companies which may export to the region.”

Asean, he said, “Is the favourite destination for US Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The US’s cumulative FDI in Asean for a period up to 2015 is over US$270 billion, which is bigger than US investments in Japan, China, Korea and India combined. I am very optimistic for the future of economic and investment relationships between the US and Asean.”

The post US committed to strengthening Asean ties appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Aziz Idris    |

THE Brunei Fitness Expo (BruXFit) was officially launched yesterday, with its sight cast on promoting a healthy lifestyle and encouraging an active lifestyle among the community.

Now in its second consecutive year, the four-day expo aspires to be one of the largest health and fitness events in Brunei Darussalam, encompassing all aspects of a healthy lifestyle.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof officiated the launch.

BruXfit Co-Founder Syen Sofian bin Haji Abdullah pointed out that the expo will this year “focus more on activities and give more floor space for fun and movements.”

“Throughout the four days, members of the public can participate in various fitness and sporting activities provided by our partners,” he added.

They include Brunei Calisthenics BarRage 4, Fitness Zone free 3-days pass, Poni Divers’ pool dives, Muay Thai Fitness, Capoeira Brunei, Up Climbing Centre and Rhythm Movements Spinning demonstrations.

Gleneagles JPMC will conduct free health checkups, while Jerudong Park Medical Centre will hold a blood donation drive.

This year, BruXfit has partnered with Cube Junction to provide space for small medium businesses to introduce and sell their products.

One of the BruXFit main events is the BarRage 4 competition organised by Brunei Calisthenics and supported by the World Calisthenics Organisation.

This year will see close to 40 athletes from Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia, joined by Calisthenics experts and officials from the United States and the United Kingdom.

Demonstrations on the art of Capoeira, Muay Thai and calisthenics took place before the minister visited the exhibition booths. Activities will be held from 10am to 10pm daily. For more information, visit ‘bru.x.fit’ on social media.

The post Curtains to Brunei Fitness Expo raised appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Abdul Hakiim Yakof     |

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 graced the 8th Southeast Asian Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition finals at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas last night.

The monarch was accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah.

They were received on arrival by Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports in his capacity as the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the competition; Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan bin Haji Mohamad Daud, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Deputy Minister of Education; and Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the State Mufti.

The event began with a recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by the State Mufti and welcoming remarks from the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.

His Majesty then delivered a titah, followed by the announcement of results of the 8th Southeast Asian Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition, by Haji Abdul Rajid bin Haji Mohd Salleh, Acting Director of the Islamic Da’wah Centre, Ministry of Religious Affairs, in his capacity as the chairman of judges.

Ahmad Zulwaqar bin Suhaili and Dayangku Amal Zahirah binti Pengiran Haji Jofri, from Brunei Darussalam emerged as the Qari and Qariah champions of the competition.

The male category saw Ilham Mahmuddin Murdan from Indonesia in second place and Muhammad Qayyim Nizar bin Sarimi from Malaysia in third.

In the female category, Nurjannah Yosef Piliang from Indonesia emerged as the runner-up and Siti Syahirah binti Isa from Malaysia the second runner-up.

The video of the holy Quran recitation footage of Qari and Qariah on the first and second nights were shown that evening.

His Majesty then presented the champions and the rest of the participants with their prizes and tokens of appreciation. The event concluded with a Doa Selamat read by the State Mufti.

The competition is a project of His Majesty’s Government, which has been held every two years since 2000. Invitations are extended to Muslim youths between the ages of 18 to 30 from countries such as Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam, and Thailand, with Brunei Darussalam as the host.

Twenty-one Qaris and Qariahs took part in the competition and for the first time this year, Brunei invited Timor Leste.

Meanwhile, the Qari champion, Ahmad Zulwaqar, a 26-year-old Al-Azhar University graduate, said that the victory was unexpected as he competed alongside champions in international competitions. “I would like to dedicate my achievement to my late father, Haji Suhaili bin Haji Matzin, as he encouraged me since I was little to explore the knowledge of Tarannum Al-Quran,” he said.

He said he got more involved in Tarannum at the age of 12 under the guidance of his late father, who gave him much exposure that shaped him into the Qari that he has become today. He added that the recitation workshops organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports helped him prepare for the competition.

He said he now plans to improve on his weaknesses and master Tarannum from experienced teachers.

Qariah champion, Dayangku Amal Zahirah, 20, a graduate of Kemuda Institute, said she is thankful to Allah the Almighty for being crowned the champion and that her achievement is also due to support from her parents.

“I never thought I would be champion as the other participants also performed well,” she said.

She said she has been active in Al-Quran reading competitions since she was eight and after winning this competition, she plans to take part in adult level competitions as well as international competitions in the future.

The post His Majesty graces 8th Southeast Asian Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     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 highlighted in a titah last night on the significance of youths’ contributions to development, while also reminding that noble spiritual values derived from Al-Quran must also be established within them, along with other accomplishments.

The titah was delivered during the final night of the 8th Southeast Asian Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.

Also present with His Majesty at the event were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah.

Ahmad Zulwaqar bin Suhaili from Brunei was the champion in the Qari category, while Dayangku Amal Zahirah binti Pengiran Haji Jofri, also from Brunei, was named the winner in the Qariah category, following three nights of Al-Quran recitations which saw 21 participants from across the region competing for the coveted top title in the biennial
competition.

Describing the young generation as ‘Asean’s largest resource’, His Majesty said that with their numbers reaching 211 million, this should render them capable of steering national development in their respective countries.

“Harnessing their capabilities successfully will help to augment national strength and resilience,” said the monarch.

His Majesty stated that among his aspirations for the Southeast Asian Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition was to see Asean youths armed with noble values in harmony with the teachings of Al-Quran, since all Muslims are required to adhere to these values.

His Majesty emphasised the importance of education among the youths, as stipulated in the National Youth Policy: “Education is the foundation of development, because without it, development may not be possible. This is very important for our youths.”

The monarch saw the competition as a step towards promoting healthy social activities and interaction among the youths, as well as a concerted effort among governments across the region to develop the young generation.

“The meeting of youths in this competition is capable of enhancing the network of regional interaction among the youth community. It can also contribute to the solidarity of the Ummah (community) in a holistic way,” said His Majesty.

His Majesty also encouraged the youths of today to be tech-savvy and possess technical and vocational skills, in addition to basic entrepreneurial knowledge, in line with national development needs.

The monarch then called for more youth participation in volunteer organisations or activities to cultivate a healthy, active and dynamic lifestyle.

“This practice can inevitably generate quality leaders,” said His Majesty, adding that quality is not merely confined to corporeal matters, but should also extend to include thought, attitude and abilities.

“From this concept, evaluations can be made to determine their quality, whether good or otherwise, although we are convinced that they are truly of good quality and will emerge as the treasured hope of the nation,” said the monarch.

“Islam wants its followers to be of good quality and enriched with noble values; and it is only through these values that admirable traits such as religious devotion, loyalty to the Ulil Amri (leaders), trustworthiness, sincerity and courtesy can be produced.

“May Allah the Almighty bestow upon the youths and all of us with these noble values,” said His Majesty, concluding the titah.

The post Youths’ contribution essential to nation-building and development: Sultan appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam national women’s hockey team completed their campaign at the 3rd Women’s Asian Hockey Challenge in a 4-0 defeat to Pakistan at the Hockey Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex yesterday.

The national women’s hockey team were unable to score a single goal in the entire tournament but showed good fight to keep the score by a single goal in the first half.

However, three goals in the second half gave Pakistan a fair reflection of their commanding performance who will surely be continuing another busy outing tonight in the final against the well-rested Hong Kong.

The Stingers had done well to shut out Pakistan for nearly half an hour and escaped the powerful drive from Zakia Nawaz which flew just wide.

Pakistan captain Ambreen Arshad forced a good save from the Brunei goalkeeper Fatimah before the latter pulled a smart save from a reverse stick shot by Nafeesa Anwar.

However, there was little the goalkeeper could do as the captain guided the ball home from a scramble in the shooting circle.

Pakistan’s Mayira Sabir has been a constant menace for the Brunei defence all tournament and was just too quick as she won a penalty corner as a result from her individual brilliance.

Although there were some similar patterns of play from the hosts which allowed the opponents to apply maximum pressure, there were instances where they came close of scoring the elusive first goal as proven with the succession of penalty corners.

Pakistan doubled the advantage and looked to be heading into another easy win as Khalsoom Shahzadi drove a fierce low shot home.

Ambreen added her second of the game in the 52nd minute before Sehrish completed the scoring a minute from time.

Brunei Darussalam’s captain Rokiah Kesut explained a change in strategy where she moved from her original starting position in midfield to forward to boost the team’s threat in attack.

The tournament hosts had a mathematical chance to qualify for the final but the odds were heavily stacked against them following the double-digit defeat to Hong Kong.

“We were very energetic today but all of us know that we don’t have the chance to reach the final unless we beat Pakistan by a huge margin,” said the captain.

Despite their fate in the tournament already established before the start of the match, Rokiah indicated that they needed to play with their maximum effort in front of a home crowd.

“We have to do our best and we have to win at all costs. Overall, I’m happy with our performance today,” said Rokiah who took over the captaincy recently.

There were still concerns in terms of their fitness levels which may have contributed to the slow decline at the end of the game.

“I can say that our fitness levels are still not up to the standard but we changed our strategy a bit.

“Pakistan read our set plays and for the second penalty corner we changed a bit but there was no luck,” she concluded.

The national captain also shared that they will continue their training with their coach shifting his focus to the national men’s team who will be competing in Myanmar.

Meanwhile, Pakistan head coach Muhammad Khan was not pleased with the state of umpiring.

“I would not say much about the umpiring but it was a little bit not up to the standard. The decisions were not in favour of us because some fouls and warnings should have been given. They were giving surprises to the players as well,” he said in a post-match interview.

Khan also felt that his side should be awarded a penalty stroke as opposed to a penalty corner because an action which was deemed denying a clear opportunity without fair play was committed behind the goalkeeper.

The team endured a setback ahead of the final against Hong Kong with Nafeesa and Hamra suffering injuries.

The post Brunei humbled by Pakistan in women’s hockey challenge appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam endured a second consecutive defeat at the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Futsal Championship after losing 9-0 to Indonesia in Group ‘A’ at the Phu Tho Indoor Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam yesterday.

Indonesia came into the encounter brimming with confidence having enjoyed goals from all over the pitch with nine different scorers in the 21-0 thrashing against the Philippines.

Indonesia’s first chance in the game came after Brunei Darussalam’s Azizan bin Roslan lost possession of the ball with midfielder Johanis Mustamu seeing his shot deflected off Brunei Darussalam’s goalkeeper Nabil Maidin after being set up by Ardiansyah.

Mustamu was provided another opportunity from a corner but Nabil unorthodoxly kicked the ball away with Indonesia starting over from the back.

Indonesia were employing a 2-1-1 tactic with Johanis portrayed as a wall due to his physical presence and Sounis being utilised as an anchor in the team.

Sauqy Saud played a neat one two with Ardiansyah but the former hit his shot straight at Nabil with the rebound falling into his thigh and out for a goal kick.

Sauqy pulled a nice drive wide into the right post from distance with Indonesia enjoying a host of chances.

Nabil’s intended long pass for a teammate could have been counted as a shot on target as Indonesia’s goalkeeper got hold off the ball.

The Garuda opened the scoring in the third minute after Ardiansyah beat his marker Faiz Hasnan with a nice sidestep before firing a fine effort past Nabil.

Brunei played a long ball with their goalkeeper clearing the ball away while Indonesia were implementing a high pressure game.

The Wasps were awarded a pair of corners with Azizan’s shot blocked by an Indonesian player while earlier Abdul Azim Boll Hassan was unfortunate not to make a firm connection with his header.

Indonesia’s Muhammad Subhan Faidasa had little room to manoeuvre but did well to produce the shot with Nabil being kept alert to clear the ball away to safety.

Brunei were dealt a setback after Nabil was forced out of the pitch due to an injury in the 7th minute with Husin bin Aji being given an early runout.

Indonesia’s Alexander Benhard Larawo hit the post after getting the better of his marker with Husin well beaten.

Brunei’s Maziri bin Maidin found space to make an effort but Indonesia’s goalkeeper Yusuf Kurniawan smothered the ball away and was fortunate that the ball did not fall to an opposing player.

Indonesia’s depth of quality in the squad was in abundance after assembling their third group during the match.

The 2010 winners doubled their lead following a cheeky back-heel finish by Guntur Sulistyo Ariwibowo.

The match became a concern for Indonesia after their national futsal coach Victor Hermans got up from his seat and looked animated issuing instructions on the touchline.

Brunei had their moments too in the first half as Mohammad Arif bin Awang Haji Eisa’s shot was blocked by the imposing figure of Mustamu for a corner.

Indonesia found a third in a carbon copy of the second goal with Mustamu guiding the ball into the roof of the net after Sauqy set up a through pass. Nabil was reintroduced into the game after being treated from injury while on the other end Indonesia’s goalkeeper found to be near the centre circle though Abdul Azim could not take advantage.

It was easy for Sauqy after effortlessly skipping past Brunei’s Fakhri Bangkul in the flanks before shooting the ball past the newly introduced Nabil.

Indonesia had a slow start but their combination play was still good enough as Aditya Muhammad Rasyid threaded a nice pass into the path of Muhammad Subhan but the latter’s shot went astray.

The Garuda completed the scoring in the first half with a fifth through Bambang Bayu Saptaji who drilled an expert finish after latching a pass in the centre in the 15th minute.

The Indonesians continued where they left off in the second half with Abdul Rohman Nawawi producing a screamer leaving the Brunei’s goalkeeper no chance.

Sauqy showed his creative side building up a team move as Brunei was made unaware of the sudden involvement of the relatively quiet Ardiansyah into the picture.

Even though the Black Steel Manokwari’s player did not make sufficient contact with the return pass it had little significance as Sauqy blasted the ball into the empty net.

Bambang had beaten the onrushing Brunei goalkeeper and with an empty net to aim at Yamin bin Haji Muhammad was on the line to clear the ball away.

The Wasps missed the opportunity to score a late consolation after Naqib Timbang drove his effort wide.

Indonesia added an eighth through a simple set piece routine after Mohammad Iqbal Rahmatullah latched on a corner from Bambang in the 36th minute.

Maziri struck a long range effort destined for the top corner but Yusuf pulled of an acrobatic save to deny Brunei a goal.

Indonesia’s Alexander had options but the comfort of keeping the ball gave him confidence to pick a spot and firing the ball past the Brunei goalkeeper in the final minute of play.

The post Brunei suffer second loss in AFF meet appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

DPMM FC received a major dent in their bid to steal seventh place off Balestier Khalsa FC after they were beaten 4-1 by Geylang International FC in the Great Eastern-Hyundai S League at the Jalan Besar Stadium in Singapore last night.

The capitulation at Jalan Besar meant that the ‘Gegar Gegar’ men must now beat Tampines Rovers FC in their final home match of the season to stay in contention for the seventh place despite holding a game in hand.

They remain two points off the pace from the Tigers and though the current seventh-placed occupants have one remaining game in the season a win on the last day meant that DPMM FC have to stay perfect.

It is worrying times for the 2015 winners after losing a game which ended 4-1 for the fourth time in the last eighth league appearances.

The Brunei-based outfit have also shipped a total of 21 matches in the process and again overtook basement dwellers Garena Young Lions with the poorest defensive record in the league.

The hosts took the lead after forward Shawal Anuar capitalised on a poor back pass from DPMM FC defender Yura Indera Putera in the 8th minute.

The Eagles doubled their lead after Geylang’s Victor Coto teed up Ricardo Sendra who unleashed a magnificent strike from the edge of the box in the 20th minute.

Geylang was in dreamland as Coto took advantage on another defensive mishap following a poor back header from Hazwan Hamzah before slotting home past Mu’izzuddin Ismail.

The visitors pulled one back after Azwan Ali Rahman volleyed home Adi Said’s cross in the 54th minute.

However, any hopes of a comeback were instantly dashed as Shawal pounced on Mu’izzuddin’s goalkeeping calamity for his second goal of the night.

The current DPMM FC starting goalkeeper had committed a fourth goalkeeping error this season despite a promising start to life with the club.

Meanwhile, in the other S League game, Warriors FC reignited hopes of pushing Geylang International FC all the way in the race for fourth place after an excellent 2-1 victory over Home United FC at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium.

The Protectors also took a massive dent in finishing second place after the defeat left them four points adrift of Tampines Rovers FC with three games of the season to go.

The post DPMM FC’s seventh spot bid dented following Geylang loss appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

PROGRESIF Cellular Sdn Bhd (Progresif) began distribution of their first radio-themed issue of their quarterly in-house magazine to support the coming launch of Brunei’s first app-based radio station.

The magazine features a wide variety of content on the development of radio and the music industry in Brunei, including a feature story about the first album to be recorded at the Progresif studio, titled ‘Locals Only’.

In the pages, readers will find stories of the important contributors to the music scene at the grassroots levels such as the music teachers that work tirelessly to give every student a chance to learn and become better at playing music.

On the technological front, the magazine carries articles which explore how technology has changed the landscape of music, as artists explore how artificial intelligence and big data can become valuable additions to their musical compositions.

The magazine also contains exclusive coverage on Progresif’s four pillars of community support featuring stories about Education, Entrepreneurship, Arts & Culture and the Environment, such as their third annual Cultural Night and the launch of AGROME-IQ new farm intelligence tool.

Readers can find the latest information on handsets, products, promotions, the new Progresif Radio App and the upcoming Progresif Customer Care App.

Devin Edwards, Progresif’s Chief Marketing Officer, said that the magazine continues to be an important channel for Brunei’s creative industry and to act as a platform to promote progressive individuals, initiatives and ideas.

“We’re always excited to share with our readers the ambitious and passionate people in Brunei that work tirelessly to bring their dreams to life and inspire the next generation of dreamers and doers.”

The magazine will be available in stores and at distribution points throughout Brunei as well as on their new website at www.progresif.com

The post Progresif releases music, radio themed issue of quarterly magazine appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadley Faisal     |

THE works of 12 local artists are currently on display at the atrium of the Seri Q-lap Mall, in conjunction with 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.

The exhibition was opened yesterday by Brunei Art Forum Chairman Dato Paduka Haji Shofry bin Haji Abdul Ghafor, who toured the venue and interacted with the artists themselves.

One corner features the drawings and hand-made cards of Quinn Quinn Lau Jun, a remarkable 11-year-old autistic child who attends International School Brunei (ISB) and has a passion for the arts.

According to Muhd Radzuan bin Haji Madali, the co-owner of Hidden Treasures Company, which is jointly organising the exhibition with Seri Q-lap Mall, “This is our way of acknowledging our local artists and exposing their talents to the general public.”

Several activities, including photography and caricature sessions, are also being held alongside the exhibition, which closes tomorrow with a colouring contest and a prize presentation.

The post Artworks by 12 local artists on display at Seri Q-lap Mall appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|    Khairil Hassan in Seoul, Republic of Korea      |

MORE than 100 food and beverage companies from 10 Asean member states are currently taking part in the ongoing Asean Trade Fair 2017 from October 25 to today at the Convention and Exhibition (COEX) Centre in Seoul.

Under the theme ‘Taste the Happiness!’ and running in conjunction with the largest international food fair in Korea, the fair was launched by Kim Young-sun, the Secretary General of the Asean-Korea Centre, on October 25, together with ambassadors from the participating countries.

In his opening remarks, Kim said the exhibition was capable of bringing greater impact and synergy for the Asean food and beverage market.

“There is a growing interest among Korean consumers and buyers for unique, high-quality food and beverage products from Asean,” he said. “Despite the demand, a variety of Asean products have not been introduced yet to the Korean market. I hope that the Asean Trade Fair will offer a platform, not only for Korean buyers to explore business opportunities with Asean partners, but also for the general public to enjoy and understand Asean through its food.”

Among the exhibits on offer are food items made with Kalamansi, a type of lime from the Philippines, which is popular for detoxing in Korea; preserves made from tropical fruits such as mango, durian, papaya, and pineapple; dietary products; packaged, easy-to-cook meals; organic coffees; and exotic seasonings.

This year, four companies from Brunei Darussalam are participating in the Asean Trade Fair 2017 – Asli-KTM Sdn Bhd, Maanggaris Enterprise, Sweet as Sara and Yu Lee Food Industries.

Prior to the event, a trade facilitation seminar for the representatives of participating Asean companies was held on October 24, where Korean experts gave presentations on the themes of distribution system, sourcing trends, safety control policy for imported foods, technology trends and regulations for food packaging in Korea.

The representatives, in turn, gave briefings on recent trends in the food industries of their respective countries to Korean companies. In addition, there were scheduled visits to the DaesangCheon-an Food Plant and CJ Freshway I-cheon Distribution Factory.

The post Delicious exotic food abound in Korea appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Aziz Idris     |

NATIONAL leaders of the 44th Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP) had an audience with the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe at his official residence in Shibuya recently.

Muhammad Ihsan Sabri @ Zayn bin Abdul Manap, the national leader together with youth leaders, Muhammad Hanis bin Haji Ibrahim and Nabilah binti Masli had the opportunity to meet with the Japanese Prime Minister and state leaders.

According to a press release, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe congratulated the youth leaders on the 50th anniversary of Asean and encouraged participants of SSEAYP to learn and discover other cultures while preserving the uniqueness of their own cultures.

The Brunei contingent also participated in the 44th SSEAYP opening ceremony at the New Otani Hotel, officiated by the Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Cabinet Office of Japan, Masaji Matsuyama.

Muhammad Hanis, in his capacity as Brunei Youth Leader, expressed his gratitude to the Government of Japan for successfully organising the programme.

The ceremony also saw the exchange of gifts of 44th SSEAYP contingent. The group also met with Fumiaki Matsumoto, the Japanese State Minister of Cabinet Office.

The post Youth leaders encouraged to discover other cultures appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fizah HAB     |

STANDARD Chartered Securities yesterday introduced to its clients the Allianz Global Investors Funds in Brunei at a private event at the Serambi Batil Ballroom of the Brunei Arts and Handicraft Training Centre.

Speaking at the private launching was Standard Chartered Securities Chairman Anirvan Dastidar, who shared with attendees the various investments available at Standard Chartered.

“Our global range of investment products comes in various currencies and across geographies and sectors. With more than a hundred types of unit trusts and bonds available, our clients have choice and flexibility to diversify their investment portfolios, thereby managing their risks over their returns. Allianz Global Investors is the latest fund house to join our international panel of fund managers, we believe that this partnership of our capabilities and experience can assist Bruneian investors with access to a broad spectrum of strategies and investment appetites,” he said.

The launch was attended by 200 clients and members of the media. Kelvin Lam, Head of Retail Distribution, Southeast Asia, Director Allianz Global Investors Singapore Limited, delivered a presentation on ‘Generating Income in a Low Yielding Environment.’

The post Standard Chartered Securities introduces Allianz Global Investors Funds in Brunei appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.