|     Message by Nagma M Mallick, High Commissioner of India to Brunei Darussalam     |

THE High Commission of India in Brunei Darussalam and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports of the Government of Brunei Darussalam will jointly host the ‘Exhibition of Indo-Islamic Calligraphy’ as the inaugural event of the Festival of India in Brunei Darussalam in the year of the Golden Jubilee of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s Accession to the Throne.

The Government of India recognises the significance of the Golden Jubilee in the history of Brunei and desires to acknowledge the personal contribution of His Majesty in strengthening the bilateral relationship between the two countries with this Festival.
The Festival of India will be celebrated with varied events till March 2018.

“We have brought a narghile of perfume from Tatar,

“We have used rubies and emeralds in this work,

“It is said that calligraphy is better than a mine of gems,

“So we have brought a house full of jewels for you”

Thus does a Persian verse elevate the value of calligraphy! Islamic or Arabic calligraphy is the artistic practice of highly-stylised writing based on the Arabic language usually of words or verses from Al-Quran, or of the Names of Allah the Almighty.

It has flourished in lands with a shared Islamic heritage.

The letters are executed with one stroke of the pen, a broad-tipped traditional one called Qalam. It is probably the most respected Islamic art linking language, religion and artistic endeavour.

The essence of this art form is the balance struck by calligraphers between transmitting a text and glorifying it with artistry and beauty.

India has an ancient tradition of artistic embellishment and carving in stone, and a highly-developed aesthetic sense that showed in its music, dance, textiles and other arts of the ancient period.

With the arrival of the Islamic tradition in the Indian sub-continent, the two traditions began a slow process of integration that produced, by the 17th and 18th centuries, the incandescent artistic, musical and cultural blossoming of the Mughal period.

Islamic calligraphy was one of the arts which too blossomed in this efflorescence. Muslim artists had always glorified the Word of Allah the Almighty, but in the Imperial Mughal and the later-era princely courts, calligraphy reached new heights of beauty and virtuosity.

Stonemasons worked in their hundreds of thousands to inlay Arabic letters from Al-Quran in precious stones, into the marble and sandstone of the mosques, mausoleums and palaces of the imperial cities of the Indo-Gangetic plain.

More delicate calligraphy was also painted on paper and leather and embroidered in velvet to decorate the homes of the nobles and kings.

These were overlaid with gold paint; the calligrapher also made use of other more exotic materials like crushed rubies and emeralds or beetle-wings, to heighten the effect he was seeking.

Some calligraphers signed their creations, while most did not, since the artwork was usually meant to glorify Allah the Almighty.

Texts other than Al-Quran also began to be the subjects of calligraphy – poetry, usually in Persian and sometimes in Arabic, Hadith or sayings and practices of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), or sometimes just applications for jobs – doubtless to impress the selector!

Examples of all these types, and more, of calligraphy will be on display at the Islamic Calligraphy exhibition at the Malay Technology Museum from tomorrow until November 25.

The 36 photographs of rare pieces of calligraphy on display have been carefully curated from the large and extraordinary collection of the Rampur Raza Library, India.

This Library is one of the well-known traditional libraries of South Asia. It was founded in 1774 by Nawab Faizullah Khan.

The Nawabs of Rampur, the rulers of this former princely State of India, were connoisseurs of the arts and patrons of the ulama, poets, painters, calligraphers and musicians.

The Library possesses nearly 3,000 rare specimens of Islamic calligraphy, including by celebrated master calligraphers of Central Asia, Persia and India such as Mir Ali, Muhammad Husain Kashmiri, Zarrin Raqam, Sultan Ali Mashadi, Aaqa Abdul Rasheed Delami, Dara Shikoh, Mir Imad Al-Husaini Abdullah Mushkin Qalam, Gulzar Raqam, Muhammad Akram, Muhammad Habib, Muhammad Masum, Mumin Al-Saini, Muhammad Rafi, Muhammad Hashim, Muhammad Amin Samarqandi.

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|     James Kon     |

SEVEN members of the Society for Community Outreach and Training (SCOT) yesterday afternoon received SCOT Honorary awards and six Certificates of Aspiration for their inspirational volunteer work in conjunction with the association’s 4th Annual General Meeting. The event was held at the Youth Centre in the heart of the capital.

The guest of honour, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, presented the SCOT Honorary award to Siti Noraspadiyah binti Haji Md Sah, the Director of SCOT Education (Brunei).

Siti Noraspadiyah, who is also a member of SCOT’s Board of Directors, has been a key pillar in the success of SCOT’s education project in Brunei and Cambodia. She contributed her expertise and experience in creating a flexible curriculum tailored to the participants’ different levels of competencies, which allowed the SCOT education project to achieve its aim of building up participants’ self-confidence and empowering them through the English Language.

The recipients of the SCOT Certificates of Aspiration are association members Hajah Nor Hakimah binti Haji Mohd Nor, Pengiran Salimatul Sa’ada binti Pengiran Saleh, Muhammad Nur Isman bin Abu Bakar, Dayangku Nurul Khairunnisa binti Pengiran Haji Roslin, Awangku Zulkarnian bin Pengiran Juata and Nurul Izzati Khairunnisa binti Embran.

SCOT Chairman Anwar Mohammad said, “SCOT was established in 2011 as an organisation aimed at catalysing projects to eradicate poverty in the country. Since then, the association has carried out more than 20 projects within and outside the country, specifically Cambodia.

“SCOT has also successfully implemented the 9th Green XChange at Kampong Batu Marang where almost five tonnes of recycled items were collected from the villagers. I hope that the attitude of caring for the natural environment will be instilled as a daily discipline among the villagers through the Green XChange programme,” he added.

The chairman also revealed that since the start of Green XChange in 2011, a total of 80 tonnes – or 80,000 kilogrammes – of recycle items had been collected.

The second successful project that SCOT has implemented, he explained, “is the SCOT Education programme to improve the level of English Language literacy among children of underprivileged families,” where he added, “this year, SCOT has changed its strategy to increase the duration of the programme from three months to seven months to ensure better monitoring of the participants’ progress in the project.”

He also recounted that recently “the workshop-based Youth Against Poverty programme – themed Breaking the Cycle – was successfully implemented. The two-year-old programme involved community leaders sharing their knowledge in efforts to develop the country in the areas of volunteerism, entrepreneurship and caring attitude towards one another.” Also in attendance at the event were Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid and Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, the Permanent Secretaries at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, as well as YB Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari, member of the Legislative Council.

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|     Azaraimy HH     |

THE State Mufti, Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, described the virtues of a righteous and principled ruler in a special lecture titled ‘Pemerintahan Raja Shaleh Membawa Berkat’ (Pious Ruler Brings Blessing) during the official opening of the Knowledge Convention 2017 yesterday at the International Convention Centre (ICC).

“Anyone can lead a life full of blessings from Allah the Almighty, in particular the prophets, sovereigns, sultans, the ulama (Islamic scholars) and those who are devoutly religious. That is why the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) urged his followers to perform as many good deeds as possible,” said the State Mufti.

He cited the example of the Caliph ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz, whose reign has been described as free from conflicts and bitter hostilities, by many Islamic scholars, despite having ruled for only a short period of 30 months.

“The Caliph ‘Umar never wavered in his faith to Allah the Almighty. He always fulfilled his religious obligations while performing good acts throughout his life and reign,” said the State Mufti.

He then went on highlighting the reign of Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam as a particularly blissful period for Brunei.

“During Al-Marhum’s reign, his compassion paved the way towards righteous authority. For example, senior citizens were treated generously through the provision of the old age allowance,” he said.

“Which ruler in the world would do this? And which economic expert would be courageous enough to commit state finances as an enduring gift or contribution to the country’s senior citizens, while the economy was still in its infancy?”

The State Mufti also extolled 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 as a considerate ruler towards the welfare and needs of the people, while placing Islam at the highest position in the country.

“An example of His Majesty’s virtuous and upright authority was the prohibition of alcohol in this country,” he said.

“Alcohol is the source of many troubles in this world. According to statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol consumption is the cause of 2.5 million deaths every year, with 320,000 of the fatalities occurring in those from 15 to 29 years.

“Blessings cannot be bought and they come about unseen, such as the effects of one good deed, which is repaid with 10 beneficial attainments.

“Whatever has already taken place, or is currently happening in Brunei Darussalam, are all of historic significance for the ruler and his legacy, since the ruler is the cause behind it all. The country owes its lasting prosperity, peace and stability to the good deeds of its ruler,” said the State Mufti, concluding the special lecture.

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|     Azrol Azmi     |

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday afternoon received in audience Sahibus Samahah Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, Mufti of the Federal Territories (Malaysia), who is currently in Brunei Darussalam to attend the Knowledge Convention 2017.

Accompanying Sahibus Samahah Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri was Haji Hashim bin Salleh, Deputy Mufti of Federal Territories (Malaysia).

Also present during the audience ceremony was Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the Brunei Darussalam’s State Mufti.

The audience ceremony was held at the Istana Nurul Iman.

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|     Abdul Hakiim Yakof     |

THE Knowledge Convention 2017 held in conjunction with the 71st birthday 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 was further enlivened with exhibition set up by various government agencies yesterday, at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.

Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang, the Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Co-Chairman for the Working Committee of the Knowledge Convention 2017, told the Bulletin that this year’s theme of Pious Ruler Brings Blessing was designed to highlight the vision and sincerity of His Majesty in the application of Islamic principles to government policies throughout his 50-year reign.

“Among the main features are the status and legitimacy of monarchy in Islam, the history of past and present monarchs of Brunei Darussalam, the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB), and the concept of a Zikir Nation as seen from various perspectives including His Majesty’s advocacy of Al-Quran in the country through various beneficial activities, expanding Islamic propagation, and the strengthening of the institution of mosques and the emphasis by His Majesty on religious education in public schools, as well as religious schools,” he said.

Meanwhile, Haji Abdul Rajid bin Haji Mohd Salleh, the Acting Director of the Islamic Da’wah Centre, explained that their exhibit is a display of information on the establishment of the centre on September 16, 1985 by His Majesty, in addition to the number of Muslim converts from 1971 to 2017, totalling 18,753 people from various races and ethnicities in Brunei Darussalam.

Another exhibit features an iOS app called ‘Qari.bn’, which allows users to listen to Al-Quran recitations by local Qaris such as Dato Paduka Haji Md Yussop bin Haji Bakar, Haji Abdullah bin Lakim, Haji Wasli bin Haji Bakar, Awangku Muhammad Adibul Amin bin Pengiran Haji Marjuki, Muhammad Fahmie bin Haji Metusin, Haji Ismail bin Haji Sulaiman, Muhammad Zul Hafiz bin Tengah, Mohammad bin Ali, Haji Nasrul Fakhrie bin Haji Yahya, and Mohamed Noor bin Haji Ibrahim.

The mobile application was especially developed in honour of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of His Majesty’s Accession to the Throne.

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|     Azlan Othman     |

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 called on the need to take action against those who spread distorted views on Islamic practices.

Delivering a titah at the opening ceremony of the Knowledge Convention 2017 to mark the monarch’s 71st birthday, His Majesty said appropriate measures should be initiated against those who repudiate the Tahlil practice, reject the practice of paying respects to the deceased at cemetery and question Maulidur Rasul (birthday celebration of Prophet Muhammad) (pbuh) as well as the recitation of Al-Quran before commencement of work and so on, on the ground that these were not established by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

“The world is full of challenges and among those that regularly hit us are challenges in practising religion,” His Majesty said.

“And these issues come and go as if there is no end to it. The masterminds who create these challenges intend to divide opinion by denouncing the Tahlil practice, rejecting the practice of paying respects to the deceased at cemetery and questioning Maulidur Rasul as well as the recitation of Al-Quran before starting work and so on.

“They do not want to hear any explanation from scholars and stick on to their opinions and stance. We should not allow this to continue,” said His Majesty.

“Though we work hard in various ways – through propagation and advice – it still happens, perpetrated by a side which is stubborn in its opinions.

“In my opinion, it is better to handle this matter through law – by providing provisions under the relevant act to block such contorted opinions calling for rejecting Tahlil and questioning Maulidur Rasul, paying respect to the departed as well as reading Al-Quran before starting work.

“Only through this way, all Di’ayah (propaganda to persuade people) that destroys the harmony of living religiously in this country can be effectively blocked,” His Majesty said in the titah.

“We cannot afford to let anyone carry out or import any teachings that could disintegrate Muslims in the country. This is our determined stance which cannot be compromised at all. We will stay with our stand.

“The faith that we hold is based on Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah and no one is above it. It has been stipulated in our constitution as our ultimate foundation,” the monarch said.

In the titah, His Majesty was pleased to note that the Knowledge Convention this year is held when the country is celebrating the Golden Jubilee of the monarch’s Accession to the Throne.

“This year, it (Knowledge Convention) carries the theme, ‘Expressing Thankfulness Especially in Religious Service during His Majesty’s 50-Year Reign’. I am also made to understand that a special talk titled ‘Pious Ruler Brings Blessing’ was also delivered (during the convention).

“Undoubtedly, this ceremony will address the quest to find the right interpretation of who the king is and the role and effect of the king’s actions. All these will become the task of experts to give an authentic perspective. This task is not light and it requires scholars who are really experts and trustworthy.”

Speaking about leadership, the monarch said, “It is related to knowledge, without which leadership could become unbalanced.

“Why is that so? Is it not knowledge a source of enlightenment? Try to imagine we walk in the dark without light. Hence, I am pleased with this Knowledge Convention as it is held annually to mark my birthday,” His Majesty added.

Also present at the opening ceremony yesterday were Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah binti Pengiran Haji Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna,

Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar.

The event also saw a special talk by the State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned titled ‘Pious Ruler Brings Blessing’.

This was followed by a pledge-taking ceremony by 71 individuals comprising civil servants, grassroots leaders, associations, members of non-governmental organisations and students from higher education institutions who pledged their unwavering loyalty towards His Majesty and expressed their gratitude for the peace and harmony under the reign of their beloved monarch.

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|     Fadhil Yunus     |

THE Ministry of Development (MoD) will be meeting the Ministry of Home Affairs in the final of the Inter-Ministry Football Championship Keputeraan Cup in conjunction with the 71st birthday 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 after triumphing 2-0 over the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex last night.

It was a cruel way to exit from the competition for the PMO who had boasted a perfect record in the group stages but the MoD got the goals to ensure their passage into the next round.

Both teams drew blanks in a cautious opening first half but it was MoD who took the advantage after they led 1-0 courtesy of Haji Hassan bin Haji Damit in the 63rd minute.

The veteran received a good ball from their own half before passing through the opposition defence and unleashing a fine strike to put his side in the lead.

In the dying minutes of the match, Fakri bin Ismail sealed the tie after his effort took a deflection off a PMO player.

The competition continues with PMO and Ministry of Defence locking horns in a third place playoff on November 11 at the Berakas Sports Complex while finalists MoD and Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) will contest the title at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium on November 12.

MoD team manager Mohd Khairul Haji Bakar was proud of his players after reaching the final adding that their preparations has borne fruit. “We really felt the pressure from PMO but the players showed high level of discipline in their plans during their match and tweaking the tactics by deploying long balls strategy was a good move,” the team manager said.

With regards to the final, Mohd Khairul said that they will be hoping to provide great opposition to the MoHA and will be planning a raid for the title.

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|     Fadhil Yunus     |

THE national swimming team which will be competing in the three-day 41st Southeast Asia (SEA) Age Group Swimming Championships starting on November 12 received a sponsorship boost in terms of apparel and accessories during an attire handover ceremony held at the International School Brunei yesterday.

On hand to receive the apparel and accessories was the President of Brunei Amateur Swimming Association (BASA) Aziz Latip.

The president also presented the apparel and accessories to all nine national swimmers representing the country.

Representing on behalf of Gator Sports Brunei was Abdul Mu’iz bin Haji Sahrani while Globex Global Logistics Sdn Bhd was represented by Dayangku Nurhidayu binti Pengiran Haji Saidi and Imperial Sports represented by Haji Yadie Riyadi bin Haji Bakri.

The swimmers are Nur Haziq Samil, Dylan Chua Chen Yee, Justin Lim, Chan Zeke, Breanna Lee Le Er, Natasha Sia, Andra Chai, Ashley Chai, Natasha Sia and Emma Yusuf.
Nur Haziq and Ashley Chai will be the more experienced swimmers at least at international level with the former having been a veteran with four tournaments and also represented the country in the Asian Age Group Swimming Championships.

Ashley has already represented the country notably at the Samoa Commonwealth Youth Games in Apia in 2015. She will be competing in the 50m, 100m and 200m backstroke, 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly events.

Both swimmers will be looking to improve their personal best (PB) in the competitive meet which attracted the best young talents from Southeast Asia.

Nur Haziq, who is a national record holder in the 50m backstroke, will be competing in 50m, 100m, 200m and 400m freestyle events which he described as his pet event.

With the competition accredited as a prequalifying meet for next Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 2018, Nur Haziq will try his utmost best to make the cut.

Ashley will be hoping to make the top five during the heats and if it could not be achieved, she has an objective to at least improve her personal best during the competition.

The 16-year old has only been recovering from an injury early this year and has worked tirelessly in time for the competitive meet.

“My coach pushed me even harder than before because lately I’ve been stagnant. I’ve been injured beginning this year and it was a bad injury because I tore my quad muscles so it took me months to recover,” said Ashley.

“When I recover, I do not feel 100 per cent. Now, I’m getting back to my usual time and now I want to better it,” said the national swimmer who is trained by Victor Tan of (Royal Brunei Recreational Club (RBRC).

Asked on how she feels being a part in an international meet which she is already familiar with the scene in past years, Ashley said: “I’m excited and nervous.”

Another national swimmer, Dylan Chua, who will be competing in most of the breaststroke event, highlighted the heightened intensity of the training which indicated how hard they have trained in view of the SEA Age Group Swimming Championships.

“The preparations have been tough because we have been training like crazy since a month before the competition. Basically there was no rest period until last week,” said Dylan who swims for the Dolphin Swimming Club at club level.

Dylan has also already participated in the SEA Age Group Swimming Championships in previous edition as well as an outing at the Asean School Games.

“It’s been ten times harder and usually normal training wouldn’t be this tough but then we had to get prepared for this competition.”

“There were a few times where I want to give up and drop out from the competition but then I already set my goals and didn’t want to give up,” he concluded.

Breanna Lee Le Er is among the youngest members in the national team and has posted impressive results during the Brunei Open recently.

“I have been in the recent Brunei Open and I got one gold, two silver and two bronze. I beat all my PBs as well and the other competition that I did was the Singapore Swimming Invitational. A lot of countries participated in it like Thailand, Vietnam and Japan,” she said.

The 10 year old, who will be competing in the 50m freestyle and 50m butterfly events, said, “I’m really excited and nervous at the same time because when I look at the sheet of the names that I’m facing, they’re really fast.”

Emma Yusuf, who will be performing in the breaststroke events namely the 50m, 100m and 200m, shared that she has competed in Labuan with her club.

Asked what her expectations are, Emma said: “I’m expecting to make my times better. It will be very challenging because most of these swimmers are at a very high level.”

“I’m nervous but I’m very excited of actually representing Brunei,” continued the young swimmer.

Natasha Sia, who will be competing in the 100m backstroke, 50m freestyle, 50m backstroke and 100m freestyle, said that it is her first year competing in the SEAAG Swimming Championships and will be aiming to gain experience in the international meet.

“I thought swimming was hard before but when you’re training for a competition it is even harder,” said Natasha.

She identified the 50m freestyle as her favourite event and highlighted that sprinting is her favourite skills in the event.

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|     Abdul Malik Omar     |

A THREE-DAY Commonwealth Youth Summit 2017 was recently held in Malaysia to mark the celebration for youths throughout the Commonwealth realm. His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, was present to open the summit on the first day of the summit at the University of Nottingham Malaysia from Semenyih, Malaysia.

According to a press statement, the summit was first of its kind and was organised by the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Malaysian Government.

Over 150 delegates from 52 countries, including one from Brunei, attended the prestigious event. With the theme ‘intergenerational convergence’, the summit focussed on four key areas, namely climate policy and finance, digital economy and entrepreneurship, peace-building and global inequality, and social cohesion.

The second and third day of the event was held at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology from Cyberjaya, Malaysia, where there were a variety of capacity building programmes, panel discussions, a fashion show and a gala dinner. Capacity-building programmes included ways that start-ups or NGOs can utilise the Canvas Business Model to initiate and bolster community projects.

Representing Brunei was Abdul Malik Omar, Head of Brunei Enterprise, who during the
summit shared the success stories of the Brunei Government in promoting sustainable environmental design and enhancing economic competitiveness through its Heart of Borneo initiative and DARe (Darussalam Enterprise)’s pro-economic and pro-business reforms.

On the final day of the closing ceremony, Chairman of the Commonwealth Youth Council, Kishva Ambigapathy in partnership with the university announced that the university will soon give out five fully funded scholarships to students from each country in the Commonwealth, including students from Brunei Darussalam.

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|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

THE Kampong Kilanas Village Consultative Council (MPK Kg Kilanas), in collaboration with De’Indera Event and Entertainment Management, will be staging the International Food and Consumer Expo 2017 (IFACE 2017) at Hall 1 and Hall 2 of Bridex Hall in Jerudong from December 27–31, 2017.

This was revealed by Head Economy Bureau of MPK Kg Kilanas, Mohd Hasmawi bin Ghani, during a media conference held yesterday at the meeting room of the Brunei-Muara District Office’s new extension building.

According to Mohd Hasmawi, this will be the seventh time the MPK Kg Kilanas is holding the expo. However, he said, the upcoming IFACE 2017 will be the first time the council is organising it in such a scale, adding that he hopes it will become a prelude for them to organise bigger events in the years to come.

He noted that there will be a total of 300 booths provided for all participating entrepreneurs at the expo and that registration will be open until December 10, 2017.

He added that three types of booth packages will be provided for IFACE 2017: the corner booth, the intermediate booth, and the cafeteria booth.

Mohd Hasmawi also informed media that among the activities to be featured at IFACE 2017 will include a sales exhibition by local and international entrepreneurs – including from Malaysia and Indonesia, a blood donation drive which will be hosted by the Blood Donation Centre of the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital, and an entrepreneurship seminar by an invited speaker from Malaysia, among others.

“We hope to receive good support from local and international entrepreneurs, and also members of the public by visiting IFACE 2017 this coming December,” he adds.

The expo is meant to be a platform for small and medium entrepreneurs to market their products and stimulate business growth, as well as to expose young, budding entrepreneurs to the business world.

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|     Achong Tanjong     |

STATE Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned received a courtesy call yesterday from Sahibus Samahah Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, Mufti of the Federal Territories (Malaysia).

The meeting was held at the State Mufti’s Office of Darulifta in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Sahibus Samahah Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri was accompanied by his wife Datin Dr Shereen bin Muhamad Yunoos; Deputy Mufti of Federal Territories (Malaysia), Haji Hashim bin Salleh; and two officers from the Federal Territories Mufti Department, Malaysia.

Sahibus Samahah Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, his wife and the rest of the delegation were welcomed by senior officers from the State Mufti’s Office. Also present was Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Japar bin Haji Mat Dain @ Maidin, the Deputy State Mufti.

During the meeting, the two religious figures held discussions on Fatwa and Islamic affairs.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the State Mufti presented the latest book published by the State Mufti’s Office of Brunei to Sahibus Samahah Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri. The State Mufti also received a book published by the Malaysia Federal Territories Mufti Department.

The Mufti of the Federal Territories (Malaysia) is in the country as a guest panellist for the three-day Knowledge Convention 2017 held at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.

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|     Ishan Ibrahim     |

BRUNEI Halal yesterday received a youth delegation from the Republic of Korea at its head office in Kampong Mata-Mata in Gadong.

The visitors, who are in Brunei as part of a bilateral youth exchange programme between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Korea, were given a briefing by Brunei Halal Business Development and Operations Manager Suserena binti Haji Hashim.

During their stay in the country, the group made scheduled visits to Youth Centre in Bandar Seri Begawan, the Youth Development Centre, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Malay Technology Museum, Brunei Darussalm Maritime Museum, Royal Regalia Building, Sports Gallery, International School Brunei, DARe (Darussalam Enterprise), as well as explored firsthand the activities and fun events taking place at Bandarku Ceria.

The Korean youth also got to enjoy a two-day stay with foster families in a homestay programme and experienced Brunei’s culture and customs.

The bilateral youth exchange programme which runs for 10 days until November 9 was incepted after the penning of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Republic of Korea and Brunei Darussalam in 2009.

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|     Achong Tanjong     |

OVER 8,000 people throughout the nation’s four districts will participate in the Golden Jubilee Run on November 12 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, according to Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Juanda bin Haji A Rashid at a press conference at the ministry’s Citra Budaya Hall.

The permanent secretary said the run, organised by the MCYS together with the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Development, Ministry of Communications and Ministry of Health as well as a number of other ministries and the Brunei Darussalam Athletic Association, will flag off at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in the capital at 6.30am and end at the same venue.

Two categories will be available for the run: the 10km Men and Women Open, and 4km Fun Run.

The 10km course will include passes through the newly opened Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas at the 1.12km mark, Jalan McArthur and Jalan Residency at 2.31km, before crossing the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Bridge at the 4.68km mark toward Kampong Kasat, before turning back in the direction of the flag off point.

Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Juanda added that registration for the event was held throughout the four districts from October 10–28, 2017, and public response has been overwhelming; a total of 6,202 registrants from the Brunei-Muara district, 569 people from the Belait district, 941 people from the Tutong district, and 369 registrants from Temburong – amounting to a total of 8,081 people – had been recorded.

“Besides the registered participants, public participation in the Fun Run is very much welcomed to further enliven the event,” he said.

The Golden Jubilee Run will commence with the ‘Masjidku Makmur, Negara Berkat’ ceremony at the Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan at 4.47am, followed by the arrival of participants at 5.45am, invited guests at 6.15am, and the guest of honour, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof at 6.30am.

A warm-up session will then be carried out, before the flagging off of the 10km Women and Men Open and 4km Fun Run. At the end of the run, prizes will be presented to the winners by the guest of honour.

The MCYS encouraged citizens and residents to take the opportunity to participate in the run.

Also present at the press conference yesterday was Acting Director of Youth and Sports Haji Zafri bin Haji Mohamed and representatives from the Traffic Control and Investigation Department, Brunei Darussalam Athletic Association and paramedics.

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|     Azlan Othman     |

SAHIBUS Samahah Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri, Mufti of the Federal Territories (Malaysia), one of the panellists in the premier forum at the Knowledge Convention 2017, said yesterday that youths should spend their time acquiring as much knowledge as possible.

“Opportunities only come once in a lifetime, and youths must seize them,” he said. “Sometimes, people wish that they could turn back the clock and correct their mistakes, and that’s why we should be filling our precious time with knowledge.”

When asked about the issue of child-rearing in an increasingly complicated world, Sahibus Samahah Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri said that parents play a crucial part in educating their children at home, so that they would be undaunted by the challenges of the outside world.

“This is particularly so in this age of advanced technology, where they can be easily led astray, due to lack of support and contact with their parents,” he said.

The Deputy Rector of the Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Dr Haji Mohammed Hussain bin Pehin Penyurat Haji Ahmad, meanwhile said that several youths have already been appointed as members of the Legislative Council, while others are actively engaged as preachers or involved with non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

“The government is also setting up efforts to develop them as the nation’s future investment, and has outlined policies to support them for the sake of our future,” he added.

He also stressed on the need for a comprehensive character education, where both moral and physical attributes are given equal emphasis.

“Youths must also possess a sense of national identity, religious faith and a strong stance, not easily influenced by negative elements,” he said. “They should be self-supporting and not rely on help from others.”

Pengiran Dr Hajah Nur-Ashikin binti Pengiran Haji Petra, a lecturer at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE), said that the National Education System for the 21st Century (SPN 21) has been established with the main goal of realising Brunei Vision 2035, by equipping students with skills in subjects such as science and technology.

“Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) and Islamic Religious Knowledge have become the core subjects in our educational system, to offset the more conventional subjects, and prepare the students for the challenges of the future,” she said. Another panellist, Hilman bin Haji Salim, who is an assistant lecturer at the Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Centre for Islamic Studies (SOASCIS), the co-founder of the Al-Minhaaj Centre and a preacher, underlined the three important characteristics that all youths should possess, namely faith, knowledge and a decent character.

“Regardless of whether one is creative or innovative, if these characteristics are absent, then it is futile. Faith and moral values should never fade away,” he said, adding that youths could assist in lessening the burdens of the government by practising a healthy lifestyle amid the rising costs of healthcare, and to avoid the dangers of drug addiction.

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|     James Kon     |

BLESSED with several splendid tourism sites, Brunei Darussalam is poised to attract more foreign visitors, leveraging on a slew of its signature products and boosting its efforts to diversify the economy away from heavy dependence on oil and gas sector.

Following the introduction of a number of ambitious initiatives to improve the attractiveness, diversity and quality of tourism products and services, the Tourism Development Department under the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) sees robust signs of increasing the number of tourists to the country this year.

According to statistics provided by the department yesterday, the total number international tourists arrived in the Sultanate through the Brunei International Airport (BIA) in the second quarter of 2017 (Q2 2017) has reached 65,747 compared to 52,292 tourists in the same period last year (Q2 2016), recording a 25.7 per cent year-on-year (Y-o-Y) increase.

The increase is mainly attributed to the consistently high travel demand from the main market areas since the first quarter this year coupled with increased air connectivity due to chartered flights from the Far East market, improved travel facilitation and a modest global economic recovery despite tough regional competition from neighbouring countries.

Moreover, main source market areas comprising Asean, Far East, Australia and New Zealand and long haul markets have all shown significant improvement over the previous quarter with the long haul markets contributing the highest growth at +34.4 per cent Y-o-Y, followed by Far East markets at +24.9 per cent Y-o-Y, Asean at +20.3 per cent Y-o-Y, and Australia and New Zealand markets at +9.4 per cent Y-o-Y.

According to a statement released by the Tourism Development Department, Malaysia contributed the biggest arrivals with 22.2 per cent (25 per cent in Q2 2016) which can be attributed to easy air accessibility and close proximity, followed by China at 15.9 per cent (18.3 per cent in Q2 2016), Indonesia at 9.3 per cent (10 per cent in Q2 2016), the Philippines at 11.2 per cent (7.8 per cent in Q2 2016) and Singapore at 5.7 per cent (6.8 per cent share in Q2 2016).

In total, the top five countries have contributed the major portion (64.4 per cent) of international tourist arrivals into the country during Q2 2017.

Moreover, since January 2017, China and South Korea are amongst the top target markets for Brunei Darussalam with growths of +18 per cent Y-o-Y and +146 per cent Y-o-Y respectively.

The Asean region remained as the largest source market during Q2 2017 at 52.6 per cent (54.9 per cent in Q2 2016), followed by Far East region at 22.9 per cent (23.1 per cent in Q2 2016), long haul markets such as Europe and the Middle East at 10.6 per cent (9.9 per cent in Q2 2016), while Australia and New Zealand markets both contributed at 3.5 per cent (9.6 per cent in Q2 2016).

According to the statistics, the main purpose of visit to Brunei Darussalam in the second quarter was for leisure and holiday at 41.9 per cent (41.9 per cent in Q2 2016), followed by business at 13.8 per cent (18.4 per cent in Q2 2016), visiting friends and relatives (VFR) at 10.8 per cent (11.6 per cent in Q2 2016), in transit at 8.9 per cent (11 per cent in Q2 2016), government purposes at 2.9 per cent (2.6 per cent in Q2 2016), exhibition at 0.6 per cent (0.8 per cent in Q2 2016), others at 12.3 per cent (0.4 per cent in Q2 2016) and not specified at 8.9 per cent (13.3 per cent in Q2 2016). China and Malaysia remained as the main contributors for the leisure and holiday market at 13.5 per cent and 6.9 per cent respectively.

In addition to the total tourist arrivals by air, a total of slightly more than a million international visitor arrivals were recorded at other immigration control posts during Q2 2017. A total of 1,026,769 arrived through land borders and on cruise ships.

The average length of stay in Q2 2017 remained the same at 2.2 days. Whereas, the average hotel occupancy rate for Q2 2017 was 36.8 per cent compared to 41.7 per cent in the same period last year.

For accommodation in Q2 2017, there were a total of 84 establishments ranging from luxury resorts (for example, The Empire Hotel & Country Club), international standard hotels (for example, Radisson Hotel); to business standards; budget; lodgings; apartments, guest houses and homestays. The total number of hotels, resort and apartments were 50, followed by homestays (16), guest houses and rest houses (15) and government guest houses (3).

Meanwhile, the total number of rooms and beds available were 4,317 and 6,079 respectively. In Q2 2016, the total number of establishments was 81, with 4,084 rooms and 5,777 beds.

In Q2 2017, total number of registered travel agents under the Tourism Development Department was 67 compared to 60 last year. All travel agents offer inbound and outbound travel services.

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|     Azlan Othman     |

HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday attended the Premier Forum of the Knowledge Convention 2017 – themed ‘Upholding the Monarch’s Leadership’ – held at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Berakas. Also present was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik.

The premier forum is one of the events organised in conjunction with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s 71st birthday celebrations.

This year’s forum was co-hosted by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, as Chairperson of the Working Committee of the Premier Forum 2017, said the forum discussion topic focussed on ‘Youth as an Asset of the Nation, Upholder of the Monarch’s Leadership’.

The deputy minister said that the theme invites citizens and residents to be more loving and affectionate towards His Majesty, and demonstrate full devotion for the nation and pray for it to be continually blessed by Allah the Almighty and under the strong leadership of our beloved ruler.

The forum also touched on how His Majesty’s leadership has succeeded in shaping and influencing youths in the past and the present, as well as for the future.

Chaired by a member of the Legislative Council, YB Iswandy bin Ahmad, the forum featured panellists which included the Mufti of the Federal Territories (Malaysia), Sahibus Samahah Datuk Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri; Deputy Rector of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, Dr Haji Mohammed Hussain bin Pehin Penyurat Haji Ahmad; a lecturer from Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Pengiran Dr Hajah Nur-Ashikin binti Pengiran Haji Petra; and an assistant lecturer from Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Centre for Islamic Studies and co-founder of the Al-Minhaaj Centre Hilman bin Haji Salim.

The premier forum focussed on the role of youths as a nation’s most valuable asset and pillars of national strength, placing emphasis that they – as potential future leaders – need to be nurtured, educated and guided onto the right path to be knowledgeable, virtuous and trustworthy individuals capable of taking responsibilities honestly and sincerely for the good of the nation.

It also highlighted that youths who are credible, educated, visionary and productive are the cornerstone of a nation’s prosperity and peace, and able to save the state from being afflicted with unnecessary problems.

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LOCAL paintball team, Raptors will represent Brunei Darussalam in the Paintball World Cup Asia (WCA) 2017 Championship starting today until November 12 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Seven Raptors’ players compete in the Paintball WCA 2017 championship in the Division 3 Category, which is participated by 16 other teams.

Raptors’ team leader, Hydayath bin Haji Mohd Tahir expressed his gratitude for his team’s opportunity participating in a world-class championship, and for the continuous support from several parties namely the Department of Youth and Sports, Brunei Darussalam National Paintball Association (PANTAS) and Paintball Arena @ Jerudong (PAJ).

“This is the third championship we have participated outside of the country, last year was our first time and earlier this year was in Singapore,” he said.

He also hoped his team will do their best during the championship and every experience gained during the tournament will be used as a learning curve to further enhance the skills of the team.

Present at the Brunei International Airport to bid farewell was the President of PANTAS, Pengiran Shahminan bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahim, who is also the Assistant Director of Paintball WCA 2017 Championship.

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|     Fadhil Yunus     |

COOPT Engineering produced a good start to their campaign at the Low San Brunei Open 2017 after cruising to a 124-82 victory over NPLS Bamboonets at the Brunei Basketball Association Court in Batu Bersurat last night.

Onn Jen Hao contributed 27 points to his name for the winning team while W Magallano recorded a total of 39 points for NPLS in a losing effort.

Coopt Engineering joined Wolves at the top of Group ‘B’ after the win with maximum points.

Coopt Engineering Hawaii Yee said, “Everybody played well. It’s a new tournament and we just do our best.”

The players have been playing for some time either together or against each other in the Tutong basketball community.

“Today’s performance is about us knowing each other better as a team after all these years playing together,” he added.

The team comprised players representing the national team including Khoo Chin Kai while Jen Hao also competed in several local tournaments.

The other match saw Rotary off to a winning start after a hard fought 112-102 victory over Honey Carsmart in Group ‘D’.

The competition continues today with El-Bombazo Buycour taking on favourites Juramas in Group A to vie for the Men’s Tool Box Challenge Cup.

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|     Azaraimy HH     |

SEVERAL wheelchairs were recently donated to six disabled individuals from Kampong Tanjong Maya in Tutong District in a ceremony held at the village’s Community Hall.

The donation was organised by the Four Wheel Drive Association Brunei Darussalam.

Present as guest of honour at the event was Penghulu of Mukim Tanjong Maya as well as Legislative Council member, YB Haji Abdul Wahab bin Haji Apong.

The brand new wheelchairs, contributed by a number of local businesses and 11 of the association’s members, were handed over to Kampong Tanjong Maya Village Head, Haji Mohd Shuib bin Haji Mat Yusof.

During the event, a wheelchair was handed over to one of the attending recipients. Those present at the ceremony then proceeded to the houses of the remaining recipients to hand them the wheelchairs.

Haji Mohd Shuib thanked the local businesses who donated the wheelchairs for their kind gestures and the Four Wheel Drive Association Brunei Darussalam for their part in organising the event.

According to Haji Ibrahim bin Haji Damit, President of the Four Wheel Drive Association Brunei Darussalam, the event was part of the charity projects organised by the association under its social responsibility programme.

He also mentioned that prior to Kampong Tanjong Maya, the association also held similar donation events at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital, Suri Seri Begawan Hospital in Kuala Belait, and the Dialysis Centre in Kampong Rimba.

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|     Azaraimy HH     |

THE unique book entitled ‘The People’s Sultan: Leading a Legacy’ is a part of Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd’s (BSP) social investment contributions. It is also a testament to the true capabilities of Bruneian talent, according to Managing Director of BSP, Dr Ceri Powell.

Speaking yesterday at an appreciation brunch hosted by BSP for all of those involved in the publication of the commemorative book, she expressed her pride in the finished work.

“It was a labour of love – and all the work was done in Brunei Darussalam – showcasing the true capability of Bruneian talent at its very best,” she remarked.

The book chronicles the many achievements 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, set against the backdrop of the growth of BSP, and is as much a piece of educational literature as it is a tribute to the monarch’s legacy.

Dr Powell said, “It demonstrates innovation in delivering something exceptionally wonderful, one that will go down in history to honour this momentous occasion. It adds to the literature on His Majesty for the benefit of the present and future generations.”

The pictorial book features photographs sourced from a variety of archives and personal collections, many of which had never been published or seen by the public eye.

When asked about how the idea of producing such a special book came about, she said, “When I arrived in Brunei about eight months ago, I realised it was an extraordinarily special year in the history of this nation – His Majesty’s 50 years on the throne.

“We immediately started to think what would be a suitable project as part of a social investment from BSP to contribute towards the celebration,” she added.

“We thought about a book and decided to publish one in honour of His Majesty … to chronicle His Majesty not only as a ruler, but also as a statesmen, as a father, as a son, as a husband, as a sportsman, as an adventurer.

“Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd has tried – in a small way – not only to contribute to the prosperity of the nation, but also to celebrate His Majesty’s great love and connection with the people of Brunei.”

The fixed timeline of three months presented a huge challenge in order to get the book ready in time for the Golden Jubilee Celebration, but was made possible through tenacity, professionalism and teamwork between BSP and Brunei Press Sdn Bhd, according to Dr Powell.

The book is available through Brunei Press Sdn Bhd. The Special and Standard Editions will also be sold in bookstores in the future.

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