| Rokiah Mahmud |
KAMPONG Belimbing Subok Mosque yesterday received a Waqaf (endowment) in the form of a hearse.
The hearse was presented by a representative of the donor to the guest of honour, YB Naim bin Haji Kamis, member of the Legislative Council who then presented the key replica to Head of Imam of the mosque, Pengiran Haji Mohamad Hafizzudin bin Pengiran Haji Bakar.
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THE closing ceremony for the 2017 Training Course on Hybrid Rice Yield Increasing Technology in Brunei Darussalam was held yesterday at the Simpur Hall of the Rimba Horticulture Business Centre in Gadong.
Present as the guest of honour was Hajah Aidah binti Haji Mohd Hanifah, Director of Agriculture and Agrifood under the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT). Also present at the event were Ning Bo, Charge d’Affaires ad Interim and Zhu Rong, Chief of Economic and Commercial Office from the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Brunei Darussalam; and senior officers as well as officers from the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood.
A total of 25 participants comprising officers and staff of the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, Institute of Brunei Technology Education Agro-Technology Campus and local rice farmers have successfully completed the course and received certificates.
The training course was jointly organised by the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood and Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Co Ltd with the support of the Ministry of Commerce, People’s Republic of China. The training course was conducted from November 15 to December 28 in Brunei Darussalam by five trainers from Longping High-Tech Co Ltd.
The training courses are part of an ongoing cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and the People’s Republic of China in the field of rice production to support the MPRT’s initiative to increase rice productivity to 12 metric tonnes per hectare in irrigated areas and to ensure the sustainability of rice farming.
It is hoped that through the collaboration, Brunei Darussalam will be able to identify high yielding varieties that are adaptable to its environmental conditions and at the same time build the capacity of local farmers in hybrid rice technology.
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| Rokiah Mahmud |
AS PART of efforts in assisting underprivileged families in meeting the school expenses of their children, a handing over of donation was held yesterday at the Al-Afiah Hotel in Kiulap.
The donation comprising cash and coupons was handed over to a total of 40 children of the patients under the Medical Welfare Section of the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital.
Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd Yusof in his welcoming remark said the donation will ease the patients’ burden especially in preparing their children’s school needs for the upcoming school term.
The ceremony continued with presentation of donation and coupons to recipients by a representative of Al-Afiah Hotel owner, with the coupons handed over by Mohammad Adi Shukrie bin Haji Aji, Manager of Ajwa Kitchen.
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| Azlan Othman |
WITH the new school term just two days away, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has presented education assistance to over 1,500 students in the form of school uniforms, workbooks and fee exemption.
The assistance for the year 2018 was distributed through the Miftaahun Najaah Unit of the Department of Schools in a ceremony held at the MoE yesterday.
The ministry’s ‘Miftaahun Najaah Educational Assistance’ scheme aims at alleviating the burden of parents and guardians who are unable to purchase schooling requirements, in hopes of ensuring that all students have access to education and improving students’ academic achievements.
The ceremony saw guest of honour Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, Minister of Education distribute the assistance under the Miftaahun Najaah scheme to representatives from 32 primary schools where a total of 1,522 students will be benefitted.
Also present at the event was Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Deputy Minister of Education.
The event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, followed by a welcoming speech by Marina Chek binti Bujang, Acting Director of Schools.
During the 2018 academic year, a total of 13,043 students – 6,845 primary school students, 6,111 secondary school students and 87 pre-university students – will receive education assistance under the Miftaahun Najaah scheme which was launched in 2011.
Each government school has a committee member for the scheme who is responsible for distributing schooling assistance to deserving students.
It is hoped that the various initiatives and programmes implemented by the Ministry of Education (MoE) will act as a catalyst for the realisation of Brunei Vision 2035 towards creating well educated, highly skilled and successful citizens.
Also present at the event were Dr Haji Azman bin Ahmad, Acting Permanent Secretary at the MoE; Haji Azis bin Haji Nayan, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary; Dr Chin Wei Keh, Acting Director-General of Education; directors; senior officials of the MoE; school leaders as well as teachers.
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| Fadhil Yunus |
DOZENS of passionate Liverpool Football Club (LFC) supporters attended an event organised by the Brunei LFC Supporters Management Team to mark the 125th year of establishment of the Liverpool Football Club (LFC) at the BZY Restaurant in Jerudong last night.
With the Liverpool themed attire, a sea of red home jerseys was in full view while the supporters were also kept entertained with the playing of the famous rendition of ‘You Never Walk Alone’.
The main highlight of the event was a cake-cutting whereby the colourful cake signified four different crests of Liverpool Football Club.
Zool Addy, the chairman of the event, expressed gratitude to the Liverpool Football Club community in Brunei for attending the event.
He said that there are those who have been supporting the club for 40 years and some watched a game in LFC’s home ground, Anfield.
“We assembled here today mainly because we are supporters of the club. What made it more touching is there are amongst us who have been supporting Liverpool Football Club for the last 40 years,” Zool Addy said.
Zool shared plans of embarking a ‘Road to Anfield’ programme to enable supporters the chance to fulfil a dream to go to the stadium in 2019.
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| Izah Azahari |
THE Martial Arts Festival 2017 was launched recently at the parking area opposite the Royal Regalia Museum where over 13 various self-defence styles of Pencak Silat, Karate, Wushu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, Hapkido, Wing Chun, Kendo, Muay Thai and Judo took to the stage in conjunction with the Brunei December Festival 2017.
The guest of honour, Haji Ali bin Haji Matyassin, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs launched the event.
The event saw 200 martial artistes participating in the event, apart from about 100 guests including the presidents of the various Brunei Darussalam martial arts associations and clubs.
The event began with the arrival of the guest of honour, followed by an introduction of the martial artistes, the launching of the festival and the recitation of Doa Selamat.
An opening performance by the Pencak Silat Gerak 41 Master Guru, along with three segments of martial arts performances enlivened the event followed by certificate presentation to the associations and clubs.
The objective of the festival was to bring all the martial artistess together and promote sports tourism through martial arts in the country.
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| Wani Roslan |
TODAY is the start of the first day of the new academic session for the students after a month-long holiday and a hectic season for most teachers in preparing new schedules for students.
These are to ensure the learning session throughout the year of 2018 is going well as planned and students can show their interests and strong determination to be more focussed on their studies as well as in co-curricular activities.
Highlighting the preparation of teachers before the start of the new school term, the Bulletin interviewed some of them.
Nurzaidatul Idza, a Malay Language and Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) upper primary teacher from Chung Hwa Middle School, expressed her excitement for the opening of the new academic session and expects that all teaching and learning will run smoothly throughout the year.
“Every year, I have to prepare myself mentally and physically as I have to face different students with different attitudes. And in terms of teaching technique, most of the students are interested in the use of technology and I have to be more advanced and creative in teaching,” she said.
She then added, “I wish all teachers can do their best for this new academic session and they never give up even when it gets harder, because I believe that all our hard work will pay off.”
Meanwhile, Dayangku Nurhidayah binti Pengiran Azahar, Head of Malay Department at Seri Mulia Sarjana International School, shared her preparation in various aspects including review of scheme work, lesson plans for the first day and weeks ahead, ideas of icebreaking for the first day of school, teaching material and buying of books for additional teaching references.
“After attending various professional development programmes conducted by the school itself, my expectation for this year is to use my knowledge I have gained and improve myself to be a better teacher for the students and school,” she said.
Nurizatul Aziah binti Haji Kamaruddin, a teacher from Sufri Bolkiah Secondary School, shared that every new school term will be challenging for the teachers as they need to prepare everything early before the start of the term.
Like other teachers, she had to prepare teacher’s record file, weekly lesson plans as well as research for resources on new teaching techniques for her students, especially Mathematics for Year 9.
“I hope to see that the academic session this year will see good collaboration between teachers and parents to improve the students’ abilities,” she said.
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| James Kon |
EFFORTS to promote Brunei Darussalam as a holiday destination are beginning to yield positive results, with data from the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism showing that tourist arrivals had increased by 10 per cent towards the end of 2017, compared to 0.3 per cent in 2016.
Brunei’s achievements in the tourism sector were complimented by Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, in his New Year’s Eve speech during the Appreciation Night for the Brunei December Festival 2017, at The Empire Hotel & Country Club.
Summarising some of the main initiatives of 2017, he said, “This year, the Brunei Tourism Board launched the Bandar Seri Begawan and Kampong Ayer Heritage Trails.
“We also promoted the Tutong Destination Packages the Belait Destination Packages, and launched the Brunei Diving Packages.
“I am proud that we successfully organised a calendar filled with exciting events of every category, which included the Brunei Gastronomy Week, the Arts Affair and the Brunei December Festival which offers various events such as an International Food Festival and various religious, cultural and fun-filled activities.”
For 2018, the minister suggested for more signature and international-level events to attract visitors.
“Stay imaginative and creative for Brunei’s tourism industry,” he advised. The minister then paid tribute to the event organisers for the Brunei December Festival 2017, saying, “There are some events which are still ongoing until the middle of January 2018, such as the ‘Pameran Cinta dan Kenali Rasulullah SAW exhibition at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas, which is organised by Avertu Management Services; the Brunei Water Festival, organised by Heroes Event Management; the Photography Competition, organised by Politeknik Brunei; and the Brunei Salebration, organised by the Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE).”
The minister also underscored some of the recent attractions of the Brunei December Festival, highlighting the 2nd Green Jewel Night Run, organised by the CARE organisation, with more than 500 participants, including several runners from Norway, Columbia and Morocco.
“Around 50 international participants joined the Brunei Off Road Challenge organised by the Four Wheel Drive Association of Brunei Darussalam, with 43 international participants in the Temburong edition of the Mountain Trail Bike Challenge,” he said.
“An indigenous cultural performing artist, Matthew Doyle, was brought in by the Australian High Commission, to perform with our ethnic communities,” the minister added.
A renowned chef, William Wongso, was brought in by the Indonesian Embassy and The Rizqun International Hotel, during the ‘Magnificent Culinary of Indonesia’.
There were some participants from Asean for the Motorcross Challenge, organised by the United Youth Volunteer Movement (GPPS) in Tutong, well as the Tutong Boat Race at the ‘Pesta Santai’, organised by the Village Consultative Council (MPK) of Kampong Penabai in Kuala Tutong.
“There were several events that gained popularity and attracted huge crowds at the ‘Bangarku Ceria’, ‘Tutongku Ceria’, ‘KBku Ceria’ and ‘Bandarku Ceria’, such as archery organised by Ar-Rafi Archery; paintball shooting organised by the Royal Brunei Technical Services; and the Nyirik Culinary Challenge, organised by Eco Kampong and Eco Ponies; and where some cooking enthusiasts competed to show their cooking skills.”
The minister then presented certificates to strategic partners and event managers as a token of appreciation for their contributions to the success of the Brunei December Festival 2017.
Also present at the event was Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah, the President of Alliance Française de Brunei; Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin, the Managing Director of Goh Hock Kee Motors Sdn Bhd; YB Haji Abdul Hamid @ Sabli bin Haji Arsad, in his capacity as the President of the Association of Travel Agents in Brunei; Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali, the Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism; Abdul Rani Siteh, the President of the Brunei Association of Hotels; and members of the Diplomatic Corps in Brunei.
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| Azlan Othman |
LIFEJACKETS are being sold to water taxi operators at cheaper prices as part of a Brunei Maritime and Ports Authority campaign to ensure better safety in Brunei waters amid the adverse weather conditions.
Taxi operator, Mohd Zakaria bin Mustapha from Kampong Bakut Siraja Muda in Kampong Ayer, who bought six lifejackets from Aewon Garment, told the Bulletin that the lifejackets are for the use of his passengers.
Mohd Zakaria, who has been a water taxi operator since 2002 – earning around $20-$30 per day, said he is aware of the regulations enforced by the authorities.
He noted however that the water taxi business is not as good today as compared to the old days following the migration of Kampong Ayer residents to inland areas over the past few decades.
The recent lifejacket price of $8 (as of December 28, 2017) is considered cheap compared to the usual price of around $12.
“Usually I will not be able to get lifejackets at this price in the market, and it is worth buying them now instead of leasing them from other owners, especially for those who own boats,” said Mohd Zakaria.
“But I need to allocate a storage space inside my water taxi to accommodate these new lifejackets, as their condition will deteriorate if left exposed under the sun. If the lifejackets are wet for a prolonged period, they will emanatea bad smell and passengers will not like to wear them.”
The reduced-price lifejackets means that water taxi operators now have no good reason not to equip their boats with the lifesaving gear.
Regular water users have lauded the Brunei Maritime and Ports Authority campaign, which was initiated last Thursday to encourage more widespread usage of lifejackets and increase water safety.
Still, continuous monitoring of water taxi operators needs to be done, especially considering that the operators have taken the lifejacket issue for granted in the past.
Other water taxi violations have occurred previously as well, such as operators inappropriately using high-powered engines for small-sized water taxis.
“Water taxi operators and passengers must use lifejackets; doing so could save their lives in the event of an emergency,” said Haji Yussof bin Haji Metussin, Marine Engineering Officer who is also the Head of the Brunei Maritime and Port Authority.
Commenting on water taxi operators with expired licences, he said, “The Authority will place a temporary area to facilitate water taxi operators residing in Kampong Ayer to register and renew their licences. The Authority will also conduct the Class 9 course for water taxi operators during the day and night.
“The measurement of boat size, capacity allowed and engine horsepower will also be made. It is against the law to modify boat engines and the Authority will not hesitate to take action against water taxi operators who modify their boat engines.”
The Authority has stated that it will continue to monitor water taxi operators operating in Brunei waters and reminded them to ride with extra care especially when passing through areas with low visibility and areas where there is construction being carried out, particularly during the uncertain weather conditions.
Meanwhile Lau, Director of Aewon Garment & Embroidery, said his company sold lifejackets at a discounted price of $8 at the Yayasan passenger jetty in conjunction with the Brunei Maritime and Ports Authority’s safety campaign as part of their corporate social responsibility initiatives.
For increased visibility, free brightly-coloured shirts are also provided for water taxi operators who purchase the lifejackets.
“If the Authority wants us to extend the promotion, we will support their campaign in the other districts,” Lau added.
“Last Thursday we also sponsored 50 lifejackets. During the recent Golden Jubilee Celebration for 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, we also sponsored 100 lifejackets for water taxi operators.”
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| James Kon |
A CONSTRUCTION company was yesterday slapped with a $200 fine by the Law Enforcement Unit of the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Department for dumping waste material at a public area beside a commercial building at Batu Satu.
The construction waste was found at a parking lot beside the gas cylinder storage area of the commercial building, which could be dangerous to the public, according to the department. The construction company was given seven days to settle the fine.
Under Chapter 30 Section 12 of the Minor Offences Act, anyone or company found guilty of disposing rubbish in public places will be handed a compound fine not exceeding $500.
Failing to settle this, the matter will be forwarded to the courts and a further $1,000 fine will be levied for a first-time offence. A fine of $3,000 and jail term not exceeding three months will be handed for subsequent offences.
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| Daniel Lim |
IT’S good news for residents of Seria as they now have a new eatery to try out with the official opening of Nazmul Restaurant and Catering Sdn Bhd.
The launching of the new restaurant was supported by the Bangladesh High Commission in Brunei Darussalam and officiated by Air Vice Marshal Mahmud Hussain, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Brunei Darussalam.
Upon arrival at the restaurant, the high commissioner was welcomed by Nazmul Islam, Director and owner of Nazmul Restaurant and Catering Sdn Bhd.
Residents from the surrounding areas also gathered for the grand launch, enlivened with various activities including a lucky draw.
“I am very happy to see so many faces here today, and hope that both the Bangladesh and Bruneian community continues to grow together as one united community,” said the high commissioner.
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A CYBERSECURITY awareness roadshow was recently hosted by Brunei Computer Emergency Response Team (BruCERT). The roadshow, staged under the invitation from the Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD), was held for personnel from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) and AMBD.
The event commenced with BruCERT delivering an awareness talk entitled ‘The Anatomy of Phishing’, which described how phishing can harm an organisation from just a click of a malicious link. The importance of security awareness among employees was also brought up, including awareness on the latest cyber threats and the consequences of oversharing information.
The computer security agency also delivered a short presentation on ‘Money Muling’, illustrating its warning signs and measures to prevent it.
The cybersecurity awareness roadshow then began at the MoF lobby area. Various activities were held for visitors including cybersecurity-themed games and live demonstrations of a webcam takeover, mobile phishing, and reverse engineering malware on Android devices.
A ‘Don’t Get Phished’ game challenged visitors’ ability to identify scam emails which trick people into revealing their personal information.
The ‘Dumpster Diving’ game, on the other hand, demonstrated the importance of properly disposing unwanted documents such as bills or receipts.
The highlight of the roadshow was the ‘Password Challenge’ contest, in which visitors were challenged to create a strong password which would require the longest time to crack.
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| Syazwani Hj Rosli & Daniel Lim |
THE Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) hosted Doa Kesyukuran in Brunei-Muara and Belait districts yesterday, to mark the 97th occasion of Police Day, which fell on January 1.
In Brunei-Muara District, the event was held at the RBPF Headquarters in Gadong, where Dato Paduka Seri Haji Mohd Jammy bin Haji Muhd Shah Al-Islam, the Commissioner of Police, was the guest of honour.
Also present were YB Pengiran Haji Mohamed bin Pengiran Haji Osman @ Othman, a member of the Legislative Councils (LegCo) and Haji Mohammad Hassan bin Pehin Penyurat Haji Ahmad, the Chairman of the Islamic Religious Bodies of RBPF.
The event began with Sunnat Hajat prayer, followed with the recitation of Surah Yaasiin and Tahlil led by Pengiran Haji Ludin bin Pengiran Haji Metali, the Imam of the RBPF Surau at the Gadong Headquarters.
The session continued with the recitation of Doa Kesyukuran and concluded with a mass Asar prayer.
Meanwhile, at the RBPF Panaga Headquarters in the Belait District, the guest of honour was Dato Paduka Mohammad Irwan bin Haji Hambali, the Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police.
Also present were YB Hanapi bin Mohd Siput, a member of the LegCo and the Village Head of Kampong Labi I; Superintendent Suhairi bin Haji Sukri, Officer-in-Charge of the Police District (OCPD) in Tutong; Superintendent Haji Mohd Azrie bin Haji Talip, the Acting OCPD in Belait.
The event began with Sunnat Hajat prayer, followed by the recitation of Surah Yaasiin and Tahlil, before concluding with the Doa Kesyukuran and a mass Asar prayer.
Both of the celebrations in Brunei-Muara and Belait districts were attended by members of the Association for Retired Personnel of the Royal Brunei Police Force Personnel (POLSARA); Neighbourhood Watch groups; and police cadets.
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| Lyna Mohamad |
RUSH hour traffic was back yesterday, as students returned to school for the new academic term of 2018, following a four-week vacation.
Statistics from the Ministry of Education show 25,345 students entering government primary schools and 29,921 in government secondary schools this year, bringing the total to 55,266 students in government educational institutions nationwide.
At the same time, 28,265 students have registered in private primary and secondary schools across Brunei.
While it is common to see toddlers beginning nursery school or kindergarten with tears, their older peers look forward to the new term with a mixture of nerves and excitement.
Particularly anxious are the Year 6 students who will be sitting for a major exam this year.
Among them are Siti Batrysia, Mohd Shafiezul Fadhli and Muhd Habrillah, who are glad to be with their friends again, but know that they have to work hard to gain good results for their Primary School Assessment (PSR) exam in October-November.
Meanwhile, teachers had their hands full yesterday, with many working diligently on classroom plans and preparing students for the new school year.
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| Azlan Othman |
DATO Paduka Lim Jock Hoi, a top trade official and diplomat from Brunei Darussalam, assumed office as the 14th Secretary-General of Asean on January 1, 2018.
He succeeds outgoing Secretary-General Le Luong Minh from Vietnam who completed his term on December 31, 2017, Asean.org said yesterday.
Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi was until recently a permanent secretary at the Brunei Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He served as Brunei’s chief negotiator during the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade talks.
Earlier positions included head of trade departments at the then-Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
He graduated from the City of London Polytechnic with a BSc (Hons) in Economics in 1976 and received his Post Graduate Teacher Certificate in 1977. He was awarded the Most Honourable Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei, Second Class (DPMB) in 2007. He is married with two sons.
The Secretary-General of Asean is appointed by the Asean leaders for a non-renewable term of five years, and selected from nationals of Asean member states based on alphabetical rotation.
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| James Kon |
LOCAL basketball fans are in for a special treat this month as the Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) basketball team, one of the top South Korean sides, will play two friendly matches in Brunei Darussalam to raise funds for SMARTER (Society for Management of Autism Related Issues in Training, Education and Resources) Brunei and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Alumni Endowment Fund.
Placed fifth in the South Korean university basketball league last year, the SKKU basketball team will take on the UBD cagers on January 10 at 7pm at the Brunei Basketball Association Court, Batu Bersurat.
The SKKU basketball team will see a tip-off against Beruang Blazer team on January 12 at 7pm at the Brunei Basketball Association Court.
Tickets for both friendly matches can be obtained from PMUBD and OARA. For tickets collection, contact 7285184 or 7290190. The early bird ticket – bought before January 7 – is priced at $3 while the walk-in ticket is $5.
In addition to the friendly matches, the SKKU basketball team will host a youth academy on January 10 from 2pm – 4pm at the Brunei Basketball Association Court. Young basketball players aged 11 years and above are welcome to participate.
During the practice yesterday, Professor Yun Bae Kim, Director of SKKU Athletics and Vice President of the Academic and General Affairs of SKKU said, “Last year, UBS hosted the Future Forum 2017 where President of SKKU, Professor Chung-Kyu Sang attended the event. During coffee at the event, UBD invited us to bring our team for friendly games in Brunei. Today, we are here to participate in the friendly games to build our presence in Brunei and boost collaboration between both universities.”
He also hoped that through the basketball game, more Bruneians will get to know about SKKU and consider to further study in the university. Currently, there are Malaysians, Indonesians as well as Pakistani students enrolled in SKKU.
Regarding his team, he said, “There are freshmen, two sophomores and five junior players. One of the players to look out for is centre Choi Joo Young whose height is 207cm.”
The UBD basketball team comprise university students and alumni. The players are Ammar, Jerickson, Kelvin, Hawaii, Eugene, Siang, Esmond Tan, Yap Chun Ping, Joey, Zainul, SKL and Lit.
According to Coach Lim Kok Shien of UBD, “We have a good mix of players in the team. We will do our best to put up a good game for the local basketball fans.”
Through the friendly game, he added, “We also want to engage our UBD alumni and work together to raise funds for SMARTER Brunei as well as UBD Alumni Endowment Fund.”
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| Rokiah Mahmud |
PARTICIPANTS of the 2nd Cohort of Young Executive Programme conducted by the Civil Service Institute (IPA) held a ‘Strayholders’ Roadshow yesterday at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (YSHHB) Primary School’s hall.
The event aimed to educate and raise awareness among school students on the issue of stray animals.
Over 200 Year 3 students participated in the event, including Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Raihaanah Hanaa-Ul Bolqiah binti Pengiran Anak Khairul Khalil, the granddaughter of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
The Strayholders Roadshow is a project by participants of the 2nd Cohort Young Executive Programme, consisting officers from the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA), including Noor Amal Azirah binti Haji Azlan as Project Leader, Nor Amalina binti Haji Abdul Rahim, Nur Nazurah binti Haji Muhd Alizul and Ustaz Mohd Hilmy Baihaqy bin Haji Awang Yussof.
The programme aimed to educate and raise awareness among students and youths on their responsibility in taking care of pets and animals. The programme was filled with activities such as talks on the importance of taking care of pets and animals as well as games.
The talks also discussed animal care from an Islamic perspective.
The Strayholders Roadshow will be carried out at a number of government and private schools on certain days, as part of an effort in enhancing the students’ ability in taking care of pets, so that these animals will not become strays that might pose a threat to the environment.
The programme also involves 40 volunteers comprising youths focussing on the importance of organising community activities and enhancing their leadership knowledge.
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| Wani Roslan |
THE existing syllabus and co-curricular activities at Arabic schools are among the efforts being made by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to enhance Arabic Language skills among students, said Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, the Minister of Religious Affairs.
He made these comments during a working visit yesterday to the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Girls Arabic Religious Secondary School (SUAMPRIPAHS) in Kampong Katok.
“It is hoped that these efforts by local Arabic schools will enable the students to speak three languages fluently,” he said.
The minister also noted a positive reception to Arabic schooling among the populace, indicating that parents are confident about the standards of education in Arabic schools.
“The Islamic religious stream has been providing the opportunity for excellent overseas studies and scholarships for the last 15 years,” said the minister. “About 700 scholarships have been issued through the Islamic Studies Department, both within and outside of Brunei, while some are for PhD level.”
Earlier, the minister and his delegation were welcomed by Hajijah binti Haji Moktal, the Acting Director of Islamic Studies and Hajah Rusidah binti Haji Talib, the Principal of SUAMPRIPAHS.
The minister toured several classrooms, while interacting with the new students of Year 7 and their teachers.
Later, the minister held a dialogue session with the school administrators.
The minister’s visit was particularly intended to monitor the admission of
Year 7 students to SUAMPRIPAHS, following their graduation from the Arabic Preparatory School of Bandar Seri Begawan; and the admission of Year 9 students from the Temburong Arabic School and the Belait Arabic School.
A total of 410 students are enrolled in Year 7 in SUAMPRIPAHS this year. Currently, the school has 1,646 female students in Years 7-11.
The school has achieved various academic distinctions, such as the 95.89 per cent passing score in the Brunei Religious Education Certificate (SPUB) of 2017. It also ranked first in the ‘Pidato Sejarah’ competition, and third in the ‘Syarahan Melayu Islam Beraja’ competition.
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| Azlan Othman |
THE Minister of Education, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, paid visits to three schools yesterday, in the Brunei-Muara District.
The minister’s first call was Rimba Secondary School, where he and a delegation from the Ministry of Education (MoE) were received by Rosmawati binti Mohammad, the Deputy Principal (Academic); and Haji Abdullah bin Haji Ismail, the Head of Schools in Cluster 4.
The minister inspected the registration and orientation for the school’s new intake of Year 7 students.
He then visited Rimba III Primary School, where he was welcomed by Azimah binti Haji Ali Ahmad, the Headmistress; and Head of Cluster 4, Haji Abdullah bin Haji Ismail.
Rimba III Primary School currently has 333 students, with a teaching staff of 28.
During the visit, the minister and the MoE delegation observed Mathematics and English Language classes for Year 2 and 3 students.
He also visited the library, computer lab and several other classes, while interacting with the students.
The minister’s last stop was Katok ‘B’ Primary School, where he was welcomed by Muhammad Nikman bin Haji Muhammad Isa, the Headmaster, and Hamidah binti Haji Daud, the Head of Schools in Cluster 1.
While at the school, the minister and the MoE delegation visited the Special Education Needs Assistance (SENA) Room; an English language class in session; and the Science lab.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the school’s planning and preparation methods, saying that this approach was capable of producing excellent exam results. The total number of students at Katok ‘B’ Primary School is currently 468, with a teaching staff of 36.
Present in the minister’s delegation were Nadia Lee Siew Hoon binti Abdullah, the Deputy Permanent Secretary; and several senior officers from the MoE.
At the same time, Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, the Deputy Minister of Education visited the Raja Isteri Fatimah Primary School in the capital; and the Dato Othman Primary School in Lambak Kiri.
The deputy minister’s tour began with Raja Isteri Fatimah Primary School, where he was welcomed by Siti Norbaya binti Haji Abdul Samad, the Headmistress.
Among the facilities viewed by the deputy minister were the school’s prayer area and computer room, as well as the classrooms for Years 1-6. The tour ended with a briefing by the school’s headmistress.
The delegation continued its visit to the Dato Othman Primary School in Lambak Kiri, where they were welcomed by Hajah Hafizah binti Salat, the Headmistress.
While there, the deputy minister inspected the library and science room, as well as the classrooms for Years 1-6.
Dato Othman Primary School currently has 407 students, with 56 teachers and school staff.
Present in the deputy minister’s delegation were Dr Haji Azman bin Ahmad, the Deputy Permanent Secretary; Hajah Anis Faudzulani binti Haji Dzulkiflee, the Acting Director-General of Education; and several senior officers from the MoE.
The visits were aimed at inspecting the enrolment of students for the new school term of 2018, while providing them with motivation and encouragement.
Based on recent data (January 2, 2018), there are currently 24,362 students in government primary schools and 29,921 students in government secondary schools, nationwide.
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| James Kon |
THE Ministry of Communications (MinCom) and Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam, as the enforcement agency tasked with ensuring safety in the country’s water transportation system, have reiterated to the public to make use of lifejackets when using water taxis around Kampong Ayer.
Following the recent ‘Importance of Wearing Lifejackets’ campaign, there has been a noticeable increase in water taxi operators utilising lifejackets. A large number of passengers are still, however, not using lifejackets.
Indera Mohd Noh, a water taxi operator, giving his views on this issue, said, “My boat is equipped with lifejackets for passengers. However many refuse to use them.”
When asked about the reasons for the passengers not using lifejackets, he replied, “Some have said that the weather is too hot and (the lifejackets are) too dirty. Others have said that it’s a short distance (to their destination) so it’s alright not to wear them.”
Asbol bin Haji Sijin, another water taxi operator, lamented on the issue of insurance coverage for water taxis.
“We are forced to purchase insurance to obtain our licence but the insurance does not provide any coverage for us. The annual insurance payment is not cheap,” he said in a separate interview.
MinCom together with the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam continued the campaign yesterday morning to raise awareness on the importance of lifejackets at the Brunei River jetty. This was the third time that the campaign was held.
Joining yesterday’s campaign were Dr Haji Supry bin Haji Awang Ladi, Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the MinCom; Haji Yusoff bin Haji Metusin, Head of Enforcement under the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam; and other officers.
Aewon Brunei Managing Director Lau Chai Seng and Justine Hong Ping Khiong, Sales Manager at Aewon-Sherwood Protective Apparel (B) Sdn Bhd, were also present.
A number of companies were invited by MinCom and the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam to set up stalls selling lifejackets and water safety equipment at the Yayasan passenger jetty from January 3 – 7, 7am to 6pm, as part of the campaign.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam has set up a counter to encourage water taxi operators to register their service and obtain the proper licences.
Each water taxi operator is required to possess a Class 9 licence and the boat is registered only after a stringent inspection of the highest safety standards.
During the second water safety campaign on December 28, 2017, it was found out that of the 50 water taxi operators under observation, 47 or 94 per cent were wearing lifejackets, but only 10 per cent of passengers did so.
This is an increase from the first campaign where it was found that only 23 out of the 40 water taxi operators under observation at the jetty were wearing lifejackets, and no passengers were using them.
In a further monitoring of the issue outside of the campaign period, it was found that 32 boat operators were using lifejackets out of 36 boats. The number of passengers using lifejackets in this study has been found to be worryingly low.
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