|       Azlan Othman     |

CYBERCRIME incidents have seen a sharp increase in Brunei Darussalam with the number of victims during the first 11 months of this year exceeding the total recorded last year.

Referring to the statistics of cybercrime victims issued by the Criminal Investigation Department of the Royal Brunei Police Force, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, the Minister of Education, said 207 people have become victims of cybercrime until mid-November 2017, compared to 190 in 2016.

The minister said this during a ceremony to hand-over social media learning package to government and private schools, held at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Girls Arabic Religious Secondary School in Katok yesterday.

“Of the victims, 123 are those aged 18-35 years. This is a worrying trend and we do not want to see such negative things coming along with information technology, especially on social media. This will upset the various initiatives planned and implemented by the Ministry of Education (MoE),” the minister added.

“It seems that the development of social media can no longer be controlled, and it cannot be denied that social media applications pose serious and powerful challenges to the world. In a study on social media, the Royal Society of Public Health, United Kingdom, has found that social media has become a new form of addiction.

“Social media has also been linked to increased rates of anxiety, depression and poor sleep. The findings match what is happening in our country and we need to act to protect the younger generation, especially students, from challenges posed by social media. Misuse of social media can create adverse effects and affect the reputation of a person or an organisation,” the minister noted.

“In this regard, MoE wants to inculcate awareness on the use of safe social media in school curriculum. It is intended to enhance understanding of the moral and ethical elements involved in the use of social media.

“This is because the National Education System for the 21^st Century (SPN21) not only focusses on academic field but also stands for perfecting human development through a holistic and dynamic curriculum as one of the best approaches to tackling this global social problem,” he said.

The minister added that the social media learning package will be used starting 2018 and educate students on how to use social media in a smart, ethical, safe and responsible manner. This effort can also be supported by several strategies set by MoE for achieving the SPN21 goals, among them include strengthening competence in information and communications technology (ICT) among students, teachers and education administrators through integration of ICT into school curriculum, he added.

“The absorption of ICT into teaching and learning will not only help students gain computer knowledge but also prevent them from being accidentally trapped in offences or victims of cybercrime.”

“It is hoped that awareness initiatives such as these can protect and restrain children and teenagers from being victimised by the advancement of information technology and educate them on how to take advantage of the social media platforms prudently.

“This will enable us all and the future generations to live in prosperity and harmony in the country and receive blessings from Allah the Almighty. To catalyse the effort, I hope that all parties concerned, such as institutions of higher education, will be able to produce studies that can help the government curb the negative use of ICT,” the minister concluded.

Meanwhile, Haji Zulkifli bin Haji Mohd Yusuf, the Acting Director of Curriculum Development, said that it is the responsibility of school leaders and the teaching workforce to ensure that the learning package is used properly. This could cultivate a culture of using social media effectively and sustainably.

The package, an initiative spearheaded by the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) in cooperation with the Curriculum Development Department, is approved by the Content Advisory Council. Starting next year, the package will be disseminated among years 4-6 students in primary schools and Years 7-9 students in lower secondary schools.

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|     Azlan Othman     |

CIVIL servants in the country will be receiving their annual bonuses together with the monthly salaries today.

The much-anticipated payments will definitely help them in meeting expenses during the back-to-school period. The new school term begins on January 2, 2018.

The bonus will also provide government servants with some extra money to settle other financial burdens such as credit card bills and car maintenance costs.

“The bonus is a great reward for all our hard work this year,” said Hajah Lin, a civil servant.

Mohd Rafie bin Haji Tejuddin, Manager of Samima Kiulap branch, said customers have been flocking to their bookstore since last month for children’s stationeries, workbooks, and so on. Some even made reservations for the school textbooks and material early before the school holiday to avoid disappointment and to put themselves at ease during their family holiday.

Meanwhile, an established bus company providing services to Miri and Kota Kinabalu, said their buses have been fully booked for the Christmas holiday and December 31.

A wholesale supplier in Brunei, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said business would be normally quiet following the disbursement of the year-end bonus, as many Bruneians prefer to cross over the border to Miri or Labuan, or fly to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore to do their shopping.

Due to the favourable exchange rate, the annual cross-border shopping in Malaysia has become a normal occurrence now.

Statistics from Tourism Malaysia have indicated that during the first eight months of this year, some 1,150,759 visitors from Brunei Darussalam came to Malaysia, a 34 per cent increase in the visitor count compared to the same period last year (January-August 2016), which made Brunei the fifth-largest tourist market for Malaysia.

A total of 1,391,016 visitors from Brunei came to Malaysia in 2016, with the figure standing at 1,133,555 in 2015.

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LOCAL team Wisdom Lawn Bowling Club (WBC) overwhelmed Labuan Sports, Culture and Welfare Club (KSKK PL) 12-6 to claim the President’s Cup Lawn Bowling trophy, scoring six wins from nine multi-disciplinary games.

On the first day, WBC earned six points from three wins from four games while on the last day, WBC had three wins from five disciplines as well as six points for a total of 12 points. KSKK PL collected six points from three wins.

This victory was made possible as a result of the team’s hard work by undergoing intensive training over the last few weeks, WBC President Haji Johari Achee said. The victory was more sweeter for the country as it coincided 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.

It has always been WBC’s aim to elevate Brunei’s name in any tournament in the country and abroad, the president stated. After three championship tournaments in Labuan, the 4th President’s Cup Lawn Bowling Championship and Under 25 Youth Cup will be held in Brunei in 2018.

The WBC were led by its president Haji Johari Achee, while KSKK PL were headed by Datuk Rozman bin Datuk Haji Isli, a member of the Labuan Federal Territory Parliament.

Meanwhile, defending champion Labuan retained their second successive hold of the Under 25 Youth Cup after a stunning win with 12 points to nil against WBC.

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|     Daniel Lim     |

SWORDS clashed and bullets flew across the virtual war field of Mobile Legends, a popular online video game, as gaming teams from across Brunei battled it out against one another at the multipurpose building of the recreational park along Jalan Sungai, Kuala Belait.

Fourteen teams from all four districts converged to participate in the fourth edition of the Mobile Legends E-Sports Tournament. Each team comprised seven members, with five playing in the matches and the remaining two as substitutes.

Organised by STK Gaming in conjunction with the Brunei December Festival 2017, the tournament was held to promote Mobile Legends to the public as well as showcasing the talents of local gamers and give them the opportunity to work as a unit and pitch their skills against their peers in a healthy competition.

Mobile Legends is a mobile gaming application, where two teams compete in an arena featuring various objectives which give teams advantages for the final goal of defeating the enemy’s base. Mobile Legends as well as various other games with similar game format are collectively known as ‘Multiplayer Online Battle Arena’ (MOBA) games, and have an extensive player base from all across the globe.

This is the first time the tournament was held in the Belait District, with previous editions hosted in the Brunei-Muara District.

As the players readied themselves for the tournament’s start, spectators began to fill the viewing hall and cheers started ringing. Each team was given their own room in which to play the game to ensure fairness and neutrality during the competition.

The Bulletin spoke to STK Gaming founder and tournament organiser Mohd Shahrulnizam bin Juhar.

“We had 14 teams for the event and they competed against each other in a double elimination-style tournament,” he said. “This means that teams which have lost twice would be eliminated from the tournament.”

Mohd Shahrulnizam also noted that response from both the players and attendees was much better than expected.

“We did not expect such a warm reception in the Belait District, and we saw the atmosphere of the tournament heat up as we approached the final matches of the tournament,” he said.

Mohd Shahrulnizam explained that STK Gaming, founded in December 2016, is a gaming community made up of players who share the same passion for gaming, in particular, Mobile Legends.

“We have around 148 members and many of us met each other and became friends while playing Mobile Legends. The players come from the various districts and we compete against each other not only to show off our individual skills, but also to get to know local players, and share knowledge, tips and tricks of the game.”

STK Gaming, he said, stands for ‘Special Combat Squad’.

“We are inspired by the camaraderie found among real-life special combat squads. We battle it out in the virtual battlefield and we are able to respect each other and appreciate skills.”

Mohd Shahrulnizam said that STK Gaming is looking to stage the fifth edition of the Mobile Legends E-Sports Tournament sometime next year.

“It will hopefully be held in the Tutong District,” he said.

Team Pakop Gaming which had an incredible run and performed magnificently throughout the competition emerged as champions, followed by STK T1 and BBS in second and third place.

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|     Ishan Ibrahim     |

A GROUP of Wing Chun practitioners from the Ip Man Wing Chun Club, Sungai Tilong, have begun fine-tuning and practising their martial arts movements and performing drills getting ready for the Martial Arts Festival 2017, round the corner.

The Martial Arts Festival 2017 on December 29-31 at the parking area near Royal Regalia Museum is organised by Andika Samudera Event Management and supported by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism.

The much-awaited martial arts event will see the participation of practitioners from disciplines such as Silat (Persatuan Gerak41), Hapkido, Taekwondo, Wushu, Wing Chun, Kickboxing, Aikido (018 MMA Academy), Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Kendo, Judo, Kempo and Muay Thai.

A mini martial arts festival will be held on December 28 at the same venue to provide the public with a teaser of the main event.

The Ip Man Wing Chun Club is managed by the vastly-experienced and skilled Sifu Zainal Abidin and Sifu Pengiran Mohd Alexander.

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|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

FOUR orphans in Kampong Kuala Lurah received a donation of school supplies from the Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) yesterday.

The Director of the Language Centre at KUPU SB, Dr Haji Hambali bin Haji Jaili, presented the items to Izyan Pertama Sari binti Daud, a Year 11 student, and her siblings Dzuljalaliwal Amin, in Year 10; Izzah Pertama Sari, in Year 8; and Inayah Pertama Sari, in Year 3.

The provision of the school items is intended to alleviate the family’s financial burdens, while preparing the children for the new academic year of 2018.

It also gave an opportunity for the staff from the Language Centre at KUPU SB to support the welfare of disadvantaged communities, particularly orphaned children.

The post KUPU SB donates school items to orphaned siblings appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

THE Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE) at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday announced that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in November 2017 decreased by 0.3 per cent year-on-year compared to November 2016.

The Non-Food Index decreased by 0.7 per cent, while the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Index increased by 1.6 per cent year-on-year.

The CPI decrease in November 2017 was mainly due to decrease in the indices of Clothing and Footwear (5.3 per cent); Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance (3.2 per cent); and Miscellaneous Goods and Services (1.7 per cent).

The Clothing and Footwear Index decrease was mainly due to lower prices of clothing materials, garments as well as shoes and footwear.

Meanwhile, lower Furnishing, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance Index was due to decrease in prices of furniture, household textiles as well as household appliances.

Lower Miscellaneous Goods and Services Index was due to decrease in prices of hairdressing, other articles for personal care and travel goods and bags.

On a period-on-period basis, CPI in January-November 2017 decreased by 0.2 per cent compared to the same period last year.

The Non-Food Index decreased by 0.2 per cent, while the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Index increased by 0.1 per cent.

CPI is a measure of price changes of goods and services paid by the consumer in a specified period and compiled on a monthly basis.

The list of goods and services in the CPI is based on the average expenditure per household from the Household Expenditure Survey.

The CPI full report for November 2017 is available at JPKE’s website: www.depd.gov.bn.

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A WARNING notice and a compound of not more than B$1,000 were issued to two businesses found to have exceeded the set maximum price for cooking oil and formulated powdered milk under Chapter 142 of the Price Control Act and its Regulations, when the Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE) at the Prime Minister’s Office, through the Department of Competition and Consumer Affairs, recently made surprise visits to several business premises along Jalan Muara and Pekan Muara.

The visits were made to assess the owners’ compliance with the Price Control (Cheap Sale Price) Regulations and the Price Control (Display of Prices) Order.

The surprise visits are part of an ongoing effort to cover all four districts with the main objective of ensuring that price controlled goods under Chapter 142 of the Price Control Act, including cooking oil and formulated powdered milk, are not sold above the set maximum prices. Rice, however, is not sold above the subsided price.

Monitoring was also carried out on the prices of selected goods listed under the amendment of the customs import tax and excise duties of the Royal Customs and Excise Department of the Ministry of Finance (MoF), such as sweetened beverages (fizzy drinks), monosodium glutamate (MSG) and car tyres.

The JPKE delegation was led by Pengiran Hajah Siti Nirmala binti Pengiran Haji Mohammad, the Acting Permanent Secretary (Economy and Finance) at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Also present was Haji Asrul Adrain bin Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Ahmad, the Acting Deputy Director-General of JPKE.

Businesses can be imposed a fine of B$5,000 and two years of imprisonment for the first offence, or a fine of B$20,000 and five years of imprisonment for a repeated offence.

In addition, business owners were briefed on the following items listed under the Act as price controlled items: rice (Thai Hom Mali, Thai rice and glutinous rice); sugar (white, referred, granulated, cane sugar, fine grain); plain flour; formulated powdered milk; milk (condensed and evaporated); cigarettes and tobacco; motor gasoline Premium 97; motor gasoline Super 92; motor gasoline Regular 85; diesel; dual purpose kerosene; bottled liquefied petroleum gas; cooking oil (canola, corn, palm, vegetables, sunflower and soya bean); reinforcement bar; sand; stone (aggregate ¾); cement; bitumen; asphalt; ready-mix concrete; bricks (clay); and passenger motor vehicles.

The maximum prices for cooking oil, formulated powdered milk, passenger motor vehicle, and bricks (clay) are set by JPKE, while the maximum prices for essential goods such as rice and sugar are set by the Division of Supply and Store, Treasury Department, at the MoF.

The listed items will be reviewed from time to time. Apart from those listed in the Act, the prices of goods are determined by traders themselves through economic forces of supply and demand.

In its press statement, JPKE reminded members of the public on the importance of being a smart consumer, which involves comparing prices at different shops before making any purchase, to get the best value for money.

The public is also encouraged to access the Pengguna Bijak/Smart Consumer mobile application which provides a platform to compare prices of selected daily necessities, price controlled goods and information on consumer-related laws.

The application also serves as a channel to share feedback and lodge consumer complaints directly to JPKE.

For more details, the public are advised to contact JPKE directly through the Pengguna Bijak/Smart Consumer mobile application. They can also make inquiries at 2230223 during office hours; via email to aduanpengguna@jpke.gov.bn, or consumercomplaint@jpke.gov.bn; via Facebook at www.facebook.com/AduanPenggunaJPKE; or write directly to the Department of Competition and Consumer Affairs, Room 3.06, Level 3, West Wing, Department of Economic Planning and Development, Block 2A, Ong Sum Ping Road, BA1131.

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|     Fizah HAB, Daniel Lim & Bahyiah Bakir     |

BUSINESSES across the country are witnessing an increase in customer traffic, due to the ongoing Brunei Salebration, back-to-school shopping and the year-end bonus for civil servants.

Long queues were seen at ATMs and banks as early as dawn yesterday, as consumers swarmed bookshops and shopping centres, to buy school supplies for the new academic year of 2018.

Jahabat Sathik, a representative of Bismi Trading Sdn Bhd bookstore in Gadong, told the Bulletin, “We anticipated the year-end sale and final rush before the start of the school term by preparing our stocks in advance, especially textbooks and workbooks for primary and secondary levels, as well as basic school supplies.

“Bismi Trading bookstore is also one of those shops which accepts DANA coupons to purchase school supplies for orphaned students.

Many customers have exchanged these for textbooks, stationery and even footwear.”

In Belait, bookshops are also receiving a boost from both parents and students doing their last-minute shopping, before the start of the new school term on Tuesday next week.

One consumer, Yati, said that her daughter will be enrolling as a Year 1 student in the New Year, which is only four days away.

“I now have the time to buy the things that she needs, such as exercise books and stationery,” she said, adding that she was planning to set aside $500 for her daughter’s school essentials.

Other consumers expressed similar sentiments, with some having done their back-to-school shopping as early as November.

The Belait District is a short drive away from the neighbouring town of Miri, but many last-minute shoppers told the Bulletin that they preferred to spend their holidays at local attractions such as the Jerudong Park and the eco-corridor park, with family members.

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|     Azaraimy HH     |

IN LIGHT of the recent adverse weather conditions and occurrence of flashfloods affecting some areas in the country, the public has been urged to be extra cautious in accepting unverified viral messages on social media platforms, which can cause unnecessary alarm.

They have also been encouraged to grab a free copy of the ‘Emergency and Public Safety Guide’ book at the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) office at Old Airport, Berakas or download the ‘Safety Guide’ mobile app from the App Store or Google Play Store. Another weather-related mobile app, ‘Brunei WX,’ issued by the Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department (BDMD), can also be downloaded through the App Store and Google Play Store.

These statements were made by Colonel (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Maiddin bin Pengiran Haji Said, Director of the NDMC during a press conference at the Tutong District Office yesterday.

He said the recent tropical storm Kai-Tak and Typhoon Tembin have effectuated adverse weather and tidal side effects, causing Brunei to experience fierce and heavy downpour resulting in flashfloods in Tutong.

The bad weather has also caused landslides and uprooting trees in some areas since December 20.

The situation has normalised, with incidences of flashfloods confined only to a number of areas in the Tutong District and one location in Belait, while in the Brunei-Muara and Temburong districts, there were no further reports of flashfloods.

Colonel (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Maiddin added that as a response to distress calls on landslides, the Fire and Rescue Department has taken precautionary action by installing canvas cover over exposed ground to mitigate the risk of soil erosion, as well as cut and removed fallen trees.

The Public Works Department provided technical expertise and evaluation of flashflood danger levels at affected locations.

“The centre will continually monitor the weather situation and put government assets and related resources on standby mode to respond as required,” assured the director, pointing out that following flashfloods in the interior areas of Tutong, six boats and four polyboats have been handed over to the Tutong District Office to be distributed to residents for their use.

Colonel (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Maiddin also reminded the public, especially those in flood-prone areas, to make their own early preparations so that they can better face such bad weather side effects in the future.

He noted that disaster mitigation is a community effort, and residents are advised to take their own initiative to prevent flashfloods by keeping their environment clean, such as ensuring the drainage is not clogged and that rubbish is properly disposed of. “For those living in flashflood-prone areas, it is helpful to have a ‘drive bag’ where important documents and items can be store in and protected in case of severe flashfloods,” he added.

Meanwhile, Tutong District Officer Shamsul Bahrin bin Haji Mohammad Hussain, explained that flashflood mitigation projects undertaken in flood-prone areas have helped lessen the impact of flashfloods in the mentioned locations.

“With the establishment of multilateral agency efforts and agencies such as the NDMC, the impact to the lives of affected residents has been able to be lessened. Examples of relief efforts include providing transport for the residents during flashfloods so that they can continue to go to work or school, or get to other places,” said the district officer.

“Therefore, logistics is one of the areas that the government can help. The Royal Brunei Police Force is also ready to provide extra security, especially for cars parked on higher ground (and temporarily abandoned) by the roadside during floods. In the case of temporary relocation for people affected by floods, the government through the security agencies can also provide extra security to houses temporarily left behind.”

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|     Azaraimy HH     |

THOUGH the weather has improved, many areas in the Tutong District are still not fully recovered from the impact left by flash floods and landslides caused by tropical storm Kai-Tak last week.

The government is making concerted efforts to lessen the burden of those affected in the district.

To assess the situation and oversee the measures, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Acting Minister of Home Affairs and Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports yesterday visited several flood-affected areas including Kampong Penapar, Jalan Belunu in Kampong Layong, Kolam Tekungan Kuala Abang Layong (Water Reservoir) and the Incident Centre at Lamunin Fire Station, and some of the affected people.

Accompanying the ministers were Legislative Council members YB Haji Abdul Wahab bin Apong, Penghulu of Mukim Tanjong Maya, and YB Haji Ramli bin Haji Lahit, Penghulu of Mukim Telisai.

Also present during the visit were Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Yusof, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs; Haji Amer Hamzah bin Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Zakaria, Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; Haji Ali bin Matyassin and Salminan bin Haji Burut, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretaries at the Ministry of Home Affairs; Colonel (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Maiddin bin Pengiran Haji Said, Director of the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) and Acting Director of Fire and Rescue; as well as senior officials from government agencies.

Various government agencies involved in flood relief efforts are continuing to pull all available resources together to be attentive to the needs of the affected, especially in terms of transportation and temporary relocation.

Since late last month, the country has been hit by harsh weather conditions. Heavy rains coupled with strong winds and flash floods affected several areas in Tutong District, uprooting trees and damaging several houses.

Following the heavy downpours since December 20, the water level in some interior areas in the district, especially in Kampong Benutan, had increased. The flash floods also badly hit Kampong Rambai, Kampong Kuala Ungar, Kampong Panchong, Kampong Layong and Kampong Penapar, affecting houses and inundating some roadways.

The Tutong District Office and other relevant agencies have been working together to carry out measures to ensure the welfare of affected villagers and safeguard their properties.

The Royal Brunei Police Force has been active round-the-clock in flood-hit areas to ensure that motor vehicles are parked safely along the roadside areas and are secured. Moreover, new road signs and police cones have been placed at affected areas.

Several government assets are currently on standby including passenger boats and trucks for transportation. Community halls and apartments have also been arranged including Kampong Layong Community Hall, Tanjong Maya Community Hall, Pekan Tutong Community Hall, Kampong Tanjong Maya Mosque’s Hall and Tutong District Residential Flat.

Two army trucks from the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces have been allocated for two affected locations in Jalan Belunu in Kampong Layong and Simpang Empat (four-way intersection) to Kampong Panchong, Kuala Ungar, and Rambai to assist in the transportation of affected residents.

Meanwhile, Tutong District Officer Shamsul Bahrin bin Haji Mohammad Hussain said at a press conference that the flood water has begun to recede and affected roadways in Jalan Kampong Panchong and Panchong-Kuala Ungar can now be used by residents.

He said the flash flood situation is under control, adding that this time it was not as severe as the flash floods that hit the district in 2014 when flood water in some areas reached shoulder high.

He urged the public to always be cautious during uncertain weather and keep away from all activities at the beaches due to the unpredictable nature of tidal waves.

He also appealed the public to not allow children to play in flooded areas and safeguard their health and wellbeing, especially during situations like the current one.

The Tutong District Officer said his office and other government agencies as well as mukim penghulus and village heads will continue to monitor the situation in flood-hit areas.

The post Flood waters recede; relief efforts still on appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fizah HAB     |

AS PART of giving back to the community, Pizza Hut Brunei, through its corporate social responsibility programme, donated $10,000 to Brunei Council on Social Welfare (MKM).

The handover of donation took place yesterday at the Pizza Hut Sungai Tilong branch. The mock cheque was presented by Izan Zein, Public Relation of OTC Inc (Pizza Hut Brunei), to Datin Paduka Hajah Intan binti Haji Mohd Kassim, President of MKM.

“We hope to continue to do our part in contributing to those in need,” Izan Zein said. “We would like to thank our customers for their generous support for the donation. We also donated to the Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources (SMARTER) Brunei and Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam through the corporate social responsibility programme and hope to continue the programme next year especially in line with the 25th year of Pizza Hut Brunei.”

In an interview with the bulletin, Datin Paduka Hajah Intan said the donation will be used for the ‘Back 2 School’ campaign to ease the burden of the underprivileged and needy. “Alhamdulillah, with the support from Pizza Hut Brunei, MKM will be able to support the students in preparing for the 2018 school term,” she said.

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|     Abdul Hakiim Yakof     |

BUSINESSES in the country have been kept busy ever since government annual bonuses were disbursed recently, with Bruneians flocking to shops and shopping centres in droves to cross out their shopping wish lists and purchase back-to-school items to prepare their children for the new school year.

Niq Ng, a sales manager at Mobile World Enterprise, said the volume of business went up in the last two days.

“We have 18 mobile phone brands and most of them are selling well. We sold almost 400 phones and the number continues to rise, with customers coming in non-stop since 10am until evening. Most are paying cash for mobile phone purchases,” said Ng.

Maria, one of the shoppers in Gadong, said that bonus time is not like what it used to be as the cost of living has increased, noting that her family has adapted to spending more on needs rather than wants, and that some Bruneians have learnt to be more prudent in spending their bonuses.

“Our family now tries to reuse what can still be used such as school bags and school stationery, because times have changed and there is no need to buy new things every year. Especially if you have more children, people need to have some extra money on the side for emergencies and needs,” she said.

Mark Misa, an assistant supervisor at a footwear shop in Gadong, said, “Most of our customers are buying school shoes for their children returning to school next month. The number of customers to our store started increasing rapidly recently and we have sold more than 300 pairs of shoes so far.”

Meanwhile, Riana Momin, a vendor at the Gadong night market who has run her business during the bonus period for the past few years, said of the year-end shopping rush: “People start flocking to the night market after Isyak prayer. But the number of visitors has decreased compared to previous years…I feel this might be because of the economic situation.”

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|     Azlan Othman     |

A STEADY stream of visitors flocking to taste the ever-popular Musang King durians on sale at the Gempak Bonus 2017 Expo at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium area.

A number of vendors have set up stalls at the event selling the beloved durian variety.

According to a stall owner and proprietor, Ariffin bin Tuah, the durians have been brought in on a daily basis by air from Malaysia since the first day of the expo, and will be supplied via the same method until December 30.

An average of 300 to 400 kilogrammes of durians are flown in to the Sultanate daily for the event. The durians are from Pahang and the response from the locals has been overwhelming.

“Profit is good especially with public servants receiving their annual bonus, December 26,” said Ariffin.

Asked whether there will be an all-you-can-eat durian event, he said, “There is no such plan at the moment as the cost of durians fluctuates and also due to space constraints in the area.

For the Musang King, it comes directly from Malaysia, while the Durian Kahwin are supplied by middlemen from Sarawak.”

The Musang King durians cost around $26 per kilogramme while the Durian Kahwin are priced at around $6 per kilogramme.

Gempak Bonus 2017 Expo is organised by StarBugs Event Management and supported by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; and the Energy and Industry Department at the Prime Minister’s Office (EIDPMO).

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|     James Kon     |

NURAIRAH binti Shapiee was the winner of a return ticket to Singapore in the first #BELIHELIX consolation prize draw prize presentation held yesterday at the QAF Auto Showroom.

The 30-year-old from Belait said, “I am speechless and so happy. This is the first time that I’ve won a prize in a lucky draw.

“I have been using Shell Helix Ultra for a long time, and I trust the product,” she added.

The other four participants, meanwhile, received consumer electronics as consolation prizes.

Nurumi Sakinah binti Samak was presented with a brand-new 32’ Panasonic television, while Nurul Qaidah binti Ahmad won a brand new Samsung Galaxy J3 Pro.

Ratini binti Antin received a new Samsung Galaxy Tab E8.0 and Haji Jasmin bin Haji Nawi took home a brand-new Kenwood Juicer.

All winners also received a bottle of 4L Shell Helix Ultra each.

The five winners were selected from over 5,000 entries on December 20, in a draw by media representatives and witnessed by the management of Brunei Shell Marketing Sdn Bhd (BSM).

On hand to present the prizes were Suzlieyati binti Tuah, the

Acting Head of Commercial at BSM, and Sivakumar Krishnan, the General Manager of QAF Auto Sdn Bhd.

In his welcoming remarks, Krishnan said that QAF Auto is proud to count itself among the authorised outlets for Shell Lubricants in Brunei.

Launched on October 28 this year, members of the public who purchase Shell Helix Ultra 5W-40, HX-7 10W-40 and HX5 15W-40 are eligible to enter the #BELIHELIX promotion draw.

The top prizes for the Grand Draw include a brand-new BMW 118i vehicle, a Dubai tour package for two and a B$2,500 cash card.

To register for the draw, members of the public need to purchase a four-litre pack of Shell Helix Motor Oil. They have to fill the details on both sides of the entry form and return only one side, together with the receipt, in the drop boxes provided at the 190 participating outlets across the country, including car dealers, independent workshops and petrol stations.

The promotion ends on January 31, 2018. The next draw will be held in January, while the grand draw will take place in February 2018.

The post Consolation prize winner flies to Singapore appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     James Kon     |

ALLIANCE Française de Brunei Darussalam will actively support the national activities of the Government 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 such as the National Family Day, Reading Week and Cultural and Language festivals through collaboration with the relevant agencies in the government.

The strong commitment of Alliance Française de Brunei Darussalam to support the government activities was highlighted by the President of Alliance Française de Brunei, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah in his remarks at the French-Bruneian Gala Dinner 2017 hosted in Tarindak D’Polo, Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club, Jerudong.

The French-Bruneian Gala Dinner 2017 was held in conjunction with the Brunei December Festival 2017.

Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hazair highlighted that one of the many areas focussed by Alliance Francaise de Brunei Darussalam is promoting the French Culture and Language and opportunities of education in France for Bruneian students.

Further explaining some of the benefits of study in France, he said, “There are many universities and institutions of higher learnings in France using English as medium of instructions beside French.

“Moreover the French Government offers grants, subsidiaries and scholarship to foreign students studying in France to encourage more students to consider France as their further tertiary option.”

Meanwhile, the President of Alliance Française de Brunei Darussalam while touching on the characteristics of French, said, “French is well known for their rich and diverse cultures. Two predominant characteristics are the French Language and gastronomy.”

He explained, “The French Language is the language of love. It is a language that expresses culture, fashion, music, art and of course the French gastronomy.”

The significance of the French Gastronomy, he highlighted, is that it signifies togetherness, the pleasure of taste and balance between humans and nature, the French. Bring to food the same appreciation, respect, intelligence and lively interests as they have for arts like painting, literature and theatre.

The guest of honour for the French-Bruneian Gala Dinner 2017 was Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism.

Also in attendance were Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, the Minister of Education, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, with Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Mohd Yussof, Katia Manargues, Acting French Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam, as well as prominent figures in the local community and senior officials from the various ministries.

Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali in his address thanked the former Ambassador of France to Brunei Darussalam, Loan Forgeron and the previous president of Alliance Française de Brunei Darussalam, Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Idris Ibni Al-Marhum Pengiran Temenggong Pengiran Haji Mohamed as well as the previous managers of Alliance Francaise for their effort in promoting better understanding of the different cultures of France and Brunei among the Brunei residents.

Recapping the Brunei December Festival 2017, the minister said, “Throughout the past three weeks, we have seen many events and activities organised across the country ranging from Muslim Youth Camps, international food festivals, creatives arts and cultural activities, E-sports as well as various exhibitions.”

He invited members of the public to visit the Cintai Dan Kenali Rasullulah exhibition at ICC open from December 24, 2017 to January 13, 2018 and also looked forward to the Brunei Film Blitz which is Brunei first short film festival to take place on this Sunday at Empire Cinema.

The post Alliance Française continues to support Government’s national activities appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

THE much-anticipated ‘YES Letop 2017’ has finally returned for a second season, enabling shoppers to enjoy an array of discounts, promotions and rewards under one roof, until December 30.

The four-day expo was officially launched in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the International Convention Centre (ICC) yesterday, by Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan bin Haji Mohamad Daud, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The deputy minister toured the booths at the venue in the company of Haji Syed Mohd Yassin bin Haji Syed Anyatullah Shah, the event organiser.

‘YES Letop 2017’ features 90 local and international vendors offering various products, ranging from ‘Back to School’ supplies to foodstuff and apparel.

Many fun activities and games will also take place throughout the expo, including ‘Guess that Smell’, ‘Guess What’s in the Box’ and ‘Guess the Price’, with participants standing a chance to win a cash prize of $65,000.

A grand draw under the AkuManang.com programme will be held on the last day, where one lucky winner will get to take home the grand prize of a Proton Exora.

Initiated by the Brunei Tourism Board and organised by Battle Pro MMS, the expo is a convenient platform for entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services, while contributing to the country’s economic growth.

The post ‘YES Letop 2017’ opens at ICC appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Azlan Othman & Azaraimy HH     |

LOCAL farmers should acquire the Brunei Good Agricultural Practice (Brunei GAP) certificate which would help their produce enter and impress international markets.

This was stated yesterday by Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, on the sidelines of his working visit to two agricultural development areas and presentation of Brunei GAP certificate to two farms – Bioprop Sdn Bhd in Lumapas Agriculture Development Area, belonging to Jamarshahzuin bin Haji Mohd Jaafar and Eco Nadi Agrobiz in Kampong Sinaut Agriculture Development Site in Tutong, operated by Haji Mohd Ayub bin Haji Suhaili and Khairuddin bin Mohammad.

“This official authorisation will tell overseas customers that agriculture produce from Brunei Darussalam do conform to global safety and quality standards,” the minister told the Bulletin in Kampong Lumapas.

“We encourage more farmers to acquire this accreditation as it brings more benefits to consumers as well as businesses. Nowadays, customers are more sophisticated when buying products and the Brunei GAP certification will certainly help them take the right decision,” Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali added.

Brunei GAP is a national standard for vegetable and fruit crops introduced by the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood in 2014.

It was established to increase the potential of local farms in the production of vegetables and fruits and help them compete in the regional and international markets.

Meanwhile at the EcoNadi Agrobiz farm in Kampong Sinaut, Tutong, the minister urged local graduates to explore agro business, particularly high-tech farming, as a viable career option “as the government through the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism is keen to assist aspiring farmers who are serious”. He said agricultural development in the country is not yet satisfying, adding that increased efforts are needed to make it more encouraging.

The ministry has provided eligible farmers land plots of at least two hectares to enlarge their agriculture production, and if they become successful, the government is willing to allocate more land to them, he noted.

“The farmers must be serious in increasing production, not just to acquire the land plot only to leave it aside,” he added.

These initiatives are part of the government’s efforts to diversify the economy away from heavy reliance on the oil and gas industry, the minister said, hoping that more and more agricultural firms will apply for the Brunei GAP to boost public confidence in their produces.

Touching on local people’s interest in venturing into farming business, the minister said the picture is not rosy.

He hoped that more people, especially university graduates, will start exploring opportunities in the agricultural sector as their business or career options.

He said the ministry, through the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, has been organising a series of programmes to introduce agricultural opportunities in the country, especially those utilising modern farming techniques such as hydroponics, fertigation and greenhouse system, and they are attracting many young people including graduates to venture into modern farming business.

The working visits, organised by the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, aimed to observe the good agricultural practices that are being followed by farms that attained the Brunei GAP certification.

The post Conquer global market through Brunei GAP appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam darts player Pengiran Mohamed bin Pengiran Haji Matarsad has been handed a tricky tie against Gary Robson (pic, AP) in the preliminary round of the 2018 Lakeside BDO World Professional Darts Championship to be held at the Lakeside Country Club in Frimley Green, Surrey from January 6-14 next year.

Pengiran Mohamed gained entry to the world championship after winning the Asian qualifiers in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year, becoming the first from his country to compete in the world stage.

Pengiran Mohamed will be hoping to enter the first round in the competition with victory.

The Bruneian was initially handed a draw against 2017 World Masters winner Krzysztof Ratajski but the Polish declined an invitation to play in the world championship in an attempt to qualify for the rival 2018 PDC World Darts Championship.

Gary Robson, ranked number 26 in the world, has been a frequent competitor in the world championship, though he has not progressed past the second round since 2011 when he was stopped in his tracks by Martin Philipps in the quarterfinals.

The Cramlington-born player reached the last eight of the championship three times including in 2007 and 2009 and also won the now-defunct World Darts Trophy in 2005.

Robson, dubbed as Big Robbo, first debuted in the World Championship in 2001 when he was beaten by four-time champion Raymond Van Barneveld in the first round.

Pengiran Mohamed, the only Asian player in the field, will be playing the match which is the first to three sets in the last 40, against supposedly one of the highest ranked players in the preliminary round.

The Asian qualifying winner was joined in the 2018 BDO World Championship by qualifiers from other regions namely Australia, Baltic/Scandinavia, Canada, Eastern Europe, New Zealand, USA and Western Europe.

The top 24 seeds have been drawn in the first round, while the 25th and 26th seeds have to take a longer route in the preliminary round.

Netherlands’s Danny Noppert, who reached the final in 2017, also had to compete in the preliminary round.

The post Pengiran Mohamed to face Robson in world meet appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Wani Roslan     |

THE Centre for Children with Special Needs (KACA) yesterday organised a closing ceremony for KACA’s 2017 programme and activities and a prize presentation ceremony for KACA storytelling competition at the centre in Kampong Kiulap.

Dato Paduka Haji Zainal bin Haji Momin, the President of KACA as the guest of honour presented the prizes.

Also present were Haji Abdul Alim bin Haji Othman, the Managing Director of KACA and members of KACA.

In the KACA storytelling competition, the first prize was won by Sharlin Zefanya binti Arweandy who took home $50, while second place went to Norhabibah binti Abdullah who walked away with $40 and in third place was Siti Norayshikin binti Md Saiful Jasmi who won $30.

Meanwhile, in the fourth and fifth places were Amal Farzana Shairah binti Abdullah and Mohd Hafiz Syafie bin Romei who received a consolation prize of $15 each.

This was followed by a prize presentation ceremony for six children of KACA who had excellent attendance throughout 2017, four children who actively participated in external programmes of KACA and four parents who actively participated in KACA’s activities throughout 2017.

Among the objectives of the ceremony were to encourage the children of KACA to participate in programmes and activities conducted by KACA, improve their skills in speaking and writing, and encourage them to generate spontaneous ideas and be confident in speaking.

The post Children bag awards for active participation in KACA 2017 activities appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.