|     Aziz Idris     |

ALL water taxi operators have been urged to remind their passengers to comply with the standard safety regulations, especially wearing safety life jacket.

This was stressed by Dr Haji Supry bin Haji Awang Ladi, the Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications on the sidelines of a handing-over ceremony of used life-jackets from Mashhor General Contractor Sdn Bhd to some 40 water taxi operators in Kampong Ayer recently.

He said water taxi operators should be role models to passengers by wearing their safety life jacket at all times regardless of the travel distance.

Asked if there have been any increase in the number of operators and passengers wearing life-jackets since a recent campaign, Dr Haji Supry told the Sunday Bulletin, “The majority of the water taxi operators have complied with the regulations to wear life jackets.”

Meanwhile, the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam (PBMP) has warned that action will be taken against any water taxi operator who do not comply with the safety regulations and ignore the safety of the public.

It also reminded water taxi operators to comply with the speed limit of the boats.

In addition, the authority had continuously reminded owners and operators of water taxis to register with the PBMP if they had not done so.

And those who fail to comply with the safety regulations are not allowed to provide any transport services to the public.

However, Dr Haji Supry was quick to note that majority of passengers are still not wearing life jackets.

“We want the water taxi operators to do their part and inform their passengers the importance of a safety life-jacket. Safety is everyone’s business and we will continuously work with the relevant agencies to tighten the regulations and conduct awareness campaign to ensure the safety and well-being of the public,” he added.

During the event, Dr Haji Supry together with representatives from PBMP joined the Deputy Director of Corporate Affairs from Mashhor General Contractor, Haji Osman bin Haji Omar, to hand over the used life jackets to the water taxi operators.

According to Haji Osman, Mashhor General Contractor has worked closely with the PBMP to conduct safety campaigns in the wake of a recent drowning incident in Kampong Ayer.

He called on other companies to step forward and do their part to ensure the safety and well-being of the community.

The handing-over ceremony of used life-jackets was held at the jetty of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex, Bandar Seri Begawan.

Members of the public are also advised to only board water taxis registered with the PBMP.

For more information and enquiries, members of the public can contact the enforcement section through phone at 8721347.

The post Water taxi passengers must wear safety jacket appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Daniel Lim     |

THE formation of a philatelic or stamp collection museum at the Kuala Belait Post Office came up for discussion during the recent visit of Minister of Communications Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat to the post office.

Present during the discussion to provide suggestions on the best way to establish the museum was Haji Bakar bin Haji Berudin, Secretary-General of the Brunei Darussalam National Philatelic Association.

“In cooperation with the Kuala Belait Post Office and the Postal Services Department, the museum is aimed at promoting the hobby of stamp collection among the young generation as well as to function as a platform to help them take part in various activities related to stamp collection within and outside the country,” he said.

He noted that the Brunei Darussalam National Philatelic Association is actively encouraging the development of stamp collection as a hobby among the public.

“Currently, there is no philatelic museum in Brunei, and this fact extends to the whole of Borneo, whereas within the Asia region, only Singapore, Macau, and Hong Kong have such museums. If formed, the Brunei museum will be the second of its kind in the Asean region.”

The current plan is to use the space on the first floor of the Mumong Branch of Kuala Belait Post Office to establish the museum with the support from Ministry of Communications, adding that the museum will be modelled on those in other countries.

“Many of the philatelic museums in other countries display old and antique stamps, which we hope to replicate here. Apart from showcasing personal collections, the museum will also display old and antique stamps collected by the Postal Services Department and the post offices.??

Asked how the museum can generate interest in an increasingly cyber-focussed generation in Brunei, he said, “It is true that this is a trend not only in Brunei, but also in other countries where the young generation is less interested in collecting stamp, but one of the ways to help spark a passion for stamp collection among them is providing opportunities to meet like-minded youth from around the world and attend global events such as the Youth World Stamp Exhibition, which is an avenue to showcase various antique stamps collected across the globe.”

The museum could be a platform to introduce the youth to such exhibitions, he added.

An ardent stamp collector since he was young, Haji Bakar noted that stamp collection can also be beneficial as an investment for the future. “Collecting stamps can offer many benefits including educational, financial and historical, in addition to leisure.??

He explained that every stamp has an inherent value associated with it, and as the stamp ages in time, the value of the stamp increases. “Stamps are also financially beneficial as some stamps are more valuable than other, especially limited edition ones found in other countries.”

The value of the stamp can also change with the condition of the stamp because “while perfect stamps are more sought after, stamps that are worn and torn will most likely decrease in value,” he noted.

Haji Bakar said there is an international committee which is dedicated in cataloguing various stamps from around the world.

“While there are records to help determine the value of a stamp, it is not fixed, as according to the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie (FIP), the value of a stamp can potentially increase tenfold in every decade as the stamp ages over time,” he said.

He also noted that old Brunei stamps have a value due to the history associated with them.

Back during the Second World War, Brunei stamps in circulation were taken away from Brunei by the Japanese army during their occupation from 1942, and these stamps now represent the cultural heritage of the country during that era,” he said. “Brunei stamps of that era have been collected from outside the country by many stamp collectors, and I have purchased some of those stamps from Australia, United Kingdom, United States, Germany and other countries.”

Whenever he goes out of the country, Haji Bakar would be on the look out for Brunei stamps to add to his collection, which he said helps him learn more about the significant cultural heritage of the era.

While these stamps are costly, he noted that the cost is outweighed by the cultural significance the stamp has on the heritage of the country during that era. It is to bring the history back to Brunei that the association has proposed the creation of a philatelic museum in Brunei, he added.

“We, as citizens of Brunei, should appreciate the cultural heritage of our country that was built over the course of many decades, and the philatelic museum will be an avenue to showcase the rich history of the country,” he concluded.

The post Tales of history stamps tell appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Daniel Lim     |

THE ‘Spektrum Belait’ art exhibition staged at the Belait District Museum along Jalan Maulana in Kuala Belait was officially opened to the public in a ceremony yesterday.

Present as the guest of honour was YB Haji Abdul Hamid bin Haji Mumin, Legislative Council (LegCo) member and Penghulu of Mukim Liang.

Welcoming the guest of honour at the event were Haji Mohamad Jefri bin Haji Sabli, Acting Director of Museums, along with Belait District Museum staff and artists whose paintings are showcased at the exhibition.

Some 47 paintings comprising the works of 21 local artists are currently on show at the exhibition which is held to highlight the sights and sounds of the Belait District as seen through the eyes of the artists.

“The art exhibition aims to highlight the uniqueness and beauty that surrounds the Belait District. It is also meant to showcase the legacy, economy, nature, historical landmarks, social makeup and handicrafts that can be found in the district,” said Haji Mohamad Jefri. “The works featured in the exhibition are from well-known local artists who have made their names both within the country and internationally.”

YB Haji Abdul Hamid, in his speech, said, “Having opened its doors on July 23, 2016, the Belait District Museum has continued to strive to not only educate but also showcase the uniqueness of the Belait District. This art exhibition is just one of the efforts carried out by the museum.

“To the artists, I would like to thank them as their efforts and works will surely resonate with Bruneians and help further develop the art of painting in the country, as well as inspire future generation of young painters.”

The guest of honour then went on to view the various exhibited works and meet with the artists.

The ‘Spektrum Belait’ exhibition will run until June 30, with more exhibitions being planned in the future to further enrich visitors’ experience at the museum. The exhibition is open to the public Saturday to Wednesday from 9am – 5pm. Admission is free.

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|     Khairil Hassan     |

TEAM Brunei-Muara dominated the fourth day of the 3rd Brunei Open Fencing Championship yesterday at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas.

Team Brunei-Muara, comprising Alina Ali, Amal Nazurah Mahzan and Nurul Bazilah Haji Mohd Tarsat, emerged winners of the Women’s Epee Team category after defeating Indonesia-based Ikasi Surabaya 45-28.

The Indonesian team comprised Rizki Rahmalia Bachtiar Agus Bachtiar Aziz, Ken Soraya Ananta Tantri Budi, Azzeldine Aliya Zahira Hisnindarsyah and Aurelya Rizky Armanda P Riza Yusuf. Royal Brunei Armed Forces Sports Council (MS ABDB) with 21417 Corporal Suriemarlina Haji Yahmad, Corporal Kamariah Haji Abu Bakar and 21652 Private Khalizah Khaldon settled for third.

In the Men’s Foil Team category, Anaqi Danish Asahrin, Abdul Matin Amran, Awangku Ahmad Sofhi Pengiran Idris and Huzaimi Kassim of team Brunei-Muara took champion’s title, after defeating Louis Choe Ming Liang, Daniel Cornelius Wong and Kelvin Chung Kin Vui of Malaysian outfit Sabah FA 45-38. MS ABDB team – 852 Major (U) Nahriq Moksin, 52063 Private Hazeeq Asmuie Md Fazillah, 51038 LS Bokhari Haji Jalani and 18756 Lance Corporal (U) Abdul Azim Ibrahim were in third after disposing off Kuala Belait team comprising

Ahmad Wajidi Haji Zainoren, Mohd Yadiy Rizalman, Mohd Danial Erwan and Mohd Syazwi Jefri.

Trio of Anaqi Danish Asahrin, Haziq Asahrin and Ronnie Tan of Brunei-Muara team once again won gold medal in the final match after defeating MS ABDB, which comprised 18207 Corporal Md Yunus Haji Abdul Hamid, 52063 Private Hazeeq Asmuie Md Fazillah and 18756 Lance Corporal (U) Abdul Azim Ibrahim with the score 45-32.

Athos Fencing Club with Lachlan Magorcka, Adrian Wong and Huzaimi Kassim were third after beating Mohd Hafizuddin Damit, Fawwaz Fikri Saiful Akhmar and Bagas Arya Fernanda Agus Eko Setiawan of Brunei-Muara ‘B’ 45-37.

The post Brunei-Muara team dominate on fourth day appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

THE Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (ITQSHHB) has played a significant role in Al-Quran learning development in the nation, particularly in producing more quality Hafiz (Al-Quran memorisers), helping in the nation’s aspirations of becoming a Zikir Nation based on the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) principles.

This point was shared by Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang, the Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) and guest of honour, during an admission ceremony for new ITQSHHB students (secondary) for the 1439H/2018 session yesterday morning.

“All of you (new students) should practise noble behaviours as taught in Al-Quran in your efforts to become knowledgeable Hafiz, especially in these challenging times,” said the acting permanent secretary in his remarks, adding that Hafiz are very highly regarded in the eyes of Allah the Almighty as well as highly respected and honoured in society.

For this year’s academic session, 82 students comprising 36 boys and 46 girls were accepted to further their studies at ITQSHHB.

The students underwent a six-day orientation week that ran from January 8 – 13.

During the ceremony, the new students were presented with copies of Mushaf Al-Quran by the acting permanent secretary. A video slide of the students during their orientation week was also shown.

Various activities were organised for the students during their orientation, including listening to a briefing from the acting principal of ITQSHHB; demonstration of the proper etiquette and techniques of memorising Al-Quran; workshops and lectures; and sports activities.

Also present at the ceremony were senior officials from MoRA, parents and guardians of students, and officers, teachers and staff of ITQSHHB.

The post 82 new secondary students enrol at ITQSHHB appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

DPMM FC have been confirmed participation in the S League for the 2018 season, according to the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) website.

The confirmation ended speculation about the uncertainty surrounding the Brunei-based outfit who have been in a merry-go-round in the last few weeks being linked to a move away to either the Malaysian or Indonesian league.

However, as club officials met the FAS top brass, their participation in Singapore top football league has been confirmed with the number of foreign players capped at three.

The participating clubs in the league reportedly agreed with the conditions imposed on the 2015 winners following discussions with the FAS.

The ‘Gegar Gegar’ men shall field one local (Brunei citizen) under-23 player in their starting line-up.

Similar with certain conditions imposed on the participating clubs, if the local under-23 player is substituted out in the first half, he shall be replaced by another local under-23 player.

FAS President Lim Kia Tong said, “There has been much speculation on Brunei DPMM FC’s participation in the league for the coming season.

“We have been actively discussing with Brunei DPMM FC officials, the other participating clubs, and all related stakeholders on the rules governing their participation in our league, and are happy to announce that they will continue in the 2018 season.

“This would not be possible without the clubs’ chairmen’s support for DPMM FC,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ali Momin, DPMM FC team manager said, “We are appreciative of the FAS for their efforts to engage with us and to come to an agreement on our continued participation in the League.

“Thanks also to other participating clubs who we understand have also been very receptive of our team.”

S League clubs Warriors FC and Balestier Khalsa are among those who welcomed the decision for DPMM FC to select three foreign players.

The club can now fully focus on pre-season training as they look to fill in the three available slots for foreign imports with S League winner Tatsuro Inui also in the frame.

The post DPMM FC to play in S League this season appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     James Kon     |

HAJAH Najmina binti Haji Abdul Latif has been elected as the President of the Brunei Association of Japan Alumni (BAJA) on Friday.

She vowed to work hard to further strengthen the friendship between Brunei Darussalam and Japan.

The annual general meeting held at the Radisson Hotel saw Mohammad Sabry bin Haji Mohd Yusof being elected as the Vice President and Mohammad Raymie bin Haji Othman as Secretary.

Dayangku Habibah binti Pengiran Haji Hidup was elected as the treasurer and Abdul Rahman bin Dr Haji Abdul Hamid as the public relations officer.

Hajah Najmina acknowledged the constant support that BAJA has received from the Government of Japan through the Japanese Embassy in Brunei Darussalam and related Japanese partners and companies.

She also applauded the hard work and contribution of the executive committee of 2016/2017 for supporting the initiatives organised by BAJA.

Hajah Najmina explained, “BAJA has grown in depth and purpose throughout these few years. I am proud to share that we have seven ASIA-MEXT scholars currently studying in Japan and we are expecting another two to go this coming April.

“BAJA has been working on more methods for helping applicants with their scholarship examination preparation as well as promote Japan as one of the options for Bruneians to further their studies.”

The guest of honour, Motohiko Kato, the Ambassador of Japan to Brunei Darussalam said that the Japanese Embassy will continue to support and work with BAJA and its initiatives.

He said, “I enjoy carrying my mission to further boost the wonderful relationship between Brunei and Japan, and I was also very lucky to be able to witness 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 last year.”

Motohiko Kato added that Their Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan had sent a congratulatory message on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee Celebration of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s Accession to the Throne.

The post BAJA gets new office-bearers appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Azaraimy HH & Daniel Lim     |

MINISTER of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong yesterday visited flood-hit areas in Tutong and Belait districts to better understand the situation and oversee ongoing flood mitigation efforts there.

In Tutong, he praised the government agencies and community leaders involved in tackling the flash floods that have been affecting the Tutong District since middle of November last year.

Speaking at a briefing at the Incident Command Post at the Lamunin Fire Station during his visit to flood-prone areas in the district yesterday, the minister congratulated the government agencies for using their assets to lighten the impact of the floods on members of the community, especially the use of military trucks for transportation.

The minister also commended the Tutong District Office for helping to successfully coordinate with the National Disaster Management Centre (NDMC) and the District Disaster Management Centre (DDMC) in handling the flood situations.

“We hope this strong cooperative spirit will continue. Thanks to Allah the Almighty, the situation at affected areas has improved.

“Affected roadways have dried up, but we cannot predict what will happen in the coming days due to the unpredictability of the current weather condition,” he said.

The minister was briefed on the current flood situation in the district before his tour to the areas recently affected by flash floods caused by continuous heavy rains.

The briefing was led by Tutong District Officer Haji Shamsul Bahrin bin Haji Mohd Hussain. The minister visited several flood-affected areas including Jalan Rambai, Jalan Kuala Ungar/Rambai, Jalan Bengkuru and Jalan Kecil Layong.

Several members of the Legislative Council (LegCo), mukim penghulus and village heads also accompanied the minister during the visits.

The minister’s entourage included Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA); Ajman bin Haji Meludin, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Security and Welfare) at the MoHA; Colonel (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Maiddin bin Pengiran Haji Said, NDMC; as well as officers from the Fire and Rescue Department, Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Royal Brunei Police Force and NDMC.

In the Belait District, the minister and his delegation gathered at the multi-purpose hall of Sungai Mau to listen to a briefing delivered by the Station Commander of the area on the current situation faced by flood-affected residents in the district.

Following this, the minister visited several areas including Kampong Sungai Mau, Kampong Bukit Sawat and Kampong Merangking.

Also present during the visit were the Permanent Secretary at the MoHA, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the MoHA, Director of NDMC and Acting Director of the Fire and Rescue Department; Abdol Hazis bin Haji Ahad, Acting Belait District Officer; YB Hanapi bin Mohd Siput, LegCo member; as well as officers from the NDMC and senior officers from the ministry.

The post Minister visits flood-hit areas in Tutong, Belait appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Aziz Idris     |

BANK Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) held a Sunnat Hajat prayer and a Doa Kesyukuran ceremony at the Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque to commemorate the Silver Jubilee of Islamic Banking in Brunei Darussalam.

The religious event marked 25 years of contribution by BIBD (and its forerunners the Islamic Bank of Brunei, and the Islamic Development Bank of Brunei, IDBB) toward Brunei’s economy as the nation’s premier Islamic banking institution and also the Islamic financial landscape.

Present at the ceremony was Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, Minister of Development who is also the BIBD Chairman. Also present were Managing Director and CEO of BIBD, Mubashar Khokhar as well as officials from the Syariah Advisory Body, BIBD Board of Directors, officials and staff members of the bank.

On Wednesday, January 13, 1993, 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 announced his vision to introduce Islamic banking and paved the way for the creation of the Islamic banking industry in the Sultanate with the conversion of then International Bank of Brunei into the Islamic Bank of Brunei (IBB).

By consent of His Majesty, IBB subsequently merged with IDBB, resulting in the creation of BIBD in 2005. Therefore, the date was chosen as a special significance to BIBD since both IBB and IDBB are forerunners of the bank.

BIBD has contributed in many ways, as the trust of the custodianship of then Islamic banking industry in Brunei that was given to it 25 year ago, by supporting the nation’s efforts in building the foundations of the industry, in line with Brunei Vision 2035.

This is demonstrated by BIBD’s immense contributions to the development of Brunei Darussalam’s economy and banking system such as its ‘SME 360’ banking proposition, award-winning IT platforms which include its digital banking and payment platforms, physical branches and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) initiatives.

At the same time, BIBD has received international recognition winning many awards, and has also received the highest of A- for a Bruneian bank from an international rating agency, S&P Global.

According to BIBD Chairman, the bank has witnessed the evolution, development and growth of Brunei’s Islamic Financial sector since His Majesty launched the Islamic Bank of Brunei 25 years ago.

“At the same time, we are very appreciative of the people of Brunei Darussalam who have supported the Islamic banking industry wholeheartedly and have promoted it and contributed to its dominance in Brunei’s banking sector,” added the Chairman.

He also noted that BIBD has represented Brunei regionally and beyond and empowered Bruneians to achieve their dreams besides supporting local SMEs and CSR initiatives.

“By focussing our efforts into developing education, entrepreneurship, and community engagement, Insya Allah, we will continue to uphold our meticulous international standards and contribute to the Bruneian economy for years to come,” chimed Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Bahrin.

Meanwhile, Mubashar Khokhar stated, “The milestones achieved by BIBD and its forerunners during the past 25 years have been a true reflection of the growth and progress of the Bruneian economy and Islamic Banking landscape.”

Moving forward, he believes the bank will continue to uphold their commitments to deliver ethical values and world-class standards for customers.

The post Religious ceremony marks Islamic Banking’s 25th anniversary appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Azlan Othman     |

BRUNEI Darussalam is mulling to export chicken to Japan and Korea, said the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong.

“The ministry is opening up opportunities to new local farmers and foreign investors interested in poultry farming in the country not only for local consumption but also exporting. We are looking to export to Japan and Korea and discussions are ongoing with relevant agencies in this regard,” the minister told the Sunday Bulletin yesterday on the sidelines of his visit to Riza Fudhlana Farming located at the Agriculture Development Area in Kampong Bebatik, Kilanas.

“Our market is small and for our local farmers to expand business, they need to penetrate the overseas market,” he said.

Riza Fudhlana Farming utilises closed-house chicken cooling system technology which can accommodate 20,000-23,000 chickens per round.

Asked about the visit, the minister said, “I found the development of this poultry farm overwhelming where 500,000 chickens were produced in 2012 which doubled in 2013. The farm is expected to produce about two million chickens this year and four million in 2019.

“Through the utilisation of closed-house chicken cooling system technology, temperature inside the chicken coop can be controlled depending on the growth of chicken. Chicken feeding cleaning operations are automated. This is important as it reduces the rate of chicken death.

The ministry continues to help monitor the farms under the Agricultural Development Area to ensure that the site is utilised in accordance with the conditions set out and following best practices in infrastructure development, nutrition, disease prevention and maintaining cleanliness of chicken coops and the workers – all that have contributed to reducing the rate of chicken death to below five per cent,” the minister added.

Meanwhile in a statement, the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood said it continues to support poultry farming through advisory services, provision of suitable areas for farming and introducing high technology.

“This will further enhance the production of broiler chicken for the local market and open up opportunities to penetrate overseas markets,” the statement said.

One of the efforts under the department’s farm standards programme is monitoring of Good Animal Husbandry Practices (GAHP). The Department of Agriculture and Agrifood has always encouraged farming operators to practise GAHP to ensure the health of animals.

In order to improve the quality of livestock farming towards increased productivity, good disease control and quality products, entrepreneurs are encouraged to embrace GAHP in livestock farming.

The goal of GAHP is to improve the quality of farming towards creating a quality and productive farm. Apart from that, it emphasises biosecurity aspects of farms, health and safety of workers, wellbeing of livestock and measures to mitigate environmental impact.

Management of farm records is also important to facilitate the detection of diseases and to ensure the quality of a farm, the statement noted.

Currently, the department is actively undertaking several programmes to upgrade existing farms through high technology absorption, the use of Good Preservation and Biosecurity Practices and monitoring of livestock diseases.

Accordingly, the department advised poultry entrepreneurs to make use of technology within their enterprises.

Riza Fudhlana Farming is one of the subsidiaries under Riza Group and the business is carried out on a six-hectare plot at Tanah Tuah Agricultural Development Area in Bebatik Kulapis.

At the time of the company’s establishment, there were only two poultry houses and the company continued to grow with the addition of two closed housing cooling systems in 2015, said Pengiran Haji Haris bin Pengiran Haji Duraman, Managing Director of Riza Fudhlana Farming.

In 2017, there were nine units of coops operating, with a total production of 1,750 metric tonnes of broiler chicken worth B$7.9 million. The company is planning to add more coops in 2018 with a capacity of 25,000 chicken per cage.

Chicken coop handling works at Riza Fudhlana Farming are carried out by foreign workers, while in the management side, majority of workers are locals.

The post Brunei plans to export chicken to Japan, Korea appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI-Muara closed the 3rd Brunei Open Fencing Championship 2018 in style with final-day victories in the Women’s Sabre and Women’s Foil team events at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex yesterday.

The trio of Hajah Anis Sabrina Haji Yahya, Eleena Haji Anuar and Maisarah Mahusin defeated the trio of Nuna Rowena Haji Mahmud, Alina Ali and Darin Iliya Musfirah @ Natasya Hashim 45-23 in an all-Brunei Muara affair in the Women’s Foil Team final.

Sabah FA’s Syariena Ahmad Rosdin, Chia Jing Ying, Belinda Michael Francis and Anis Nazurah Nasib settled for bronze after cruising to a 45-9 victory over MS ABDB.

Brunei-Muara’s quartet of Dayangku Siti Syahirah Pengiran Idris, Hajah Anis Sabrina, Nursyahmimi Mohd Syahiran and Nurul Nabilah Ali emerged winners in the Women’s Sabre Team final after defeating Ikasi Surabaya’s quartet of Rizki Rahmalia Bachtiar Agus Bachtiar Aziz, Ken Soraya Ananta Tantri Budi, Azzeldine Aliya Zahira Hisnindarsyah and Aurelya Rizky Amanda P Riza Yusuf 45-30.

Kota Bogor’s Anggi Williansyah, Muhd Dwi Wahyu, Muhd Indra Haryana and Bagas Arya Fernanda Agus Eko Setiawan grabbed gold in the Men’s Epee Team final after defeating MS ABDB’s Nashriq Moksin, Hazeeq Asmuie Md Fazillah, Bokhari Haji Jalani and Abdul Azim Ibrahim 45-34.

Brunei-Muara emerged overall champions of the tournament after accumulating a total of 11 gold medals, seven silver and nine bronze.

Kota Bogor FA of Indonesia claimed second place with two gold medals and one silver while China settled for third place with one gold medal to their name.

Meanwhile, Brunei-Muara’s Tristan Chienwei Gesong struck gold in the Mixed Foil Individual Under-14 category while Brunei Muara’s Naeema Rayme achieved an identical feat in the same mixed gender discipline in the Under-8 category.

Tristan enjoyed a close battle against team-mate Hakimi Zulfaqar Mahzan in a 10-9 win while Naeema edged team-mate Nur Alma’iyah Harisah Harrisman Ashady 8-7.

Presenting the prizes was Pengiran Anak Sofian bin Pengiran Anak Haji Ibrahim, Acting Deputy Director of Youth and Sports Department.

According to Nashriq Moksin, Secretary General of Brunei Darussalam Fencing Federation (BDFF), the aim and objective of the tournament was to give competition experience for fencers in Brunei.

He added that the meet also served as a platform for selection of athletes’ for future international and regional competitions, and promotion of fencing in the country.

The post Brunei-Muara emerge overall champions appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Fizah HAB     |

HEAR Better Services (HBS) Company, a hearing assessment and solutions centre, yesterday hosted its second workshop at the Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas, seeing 16 students sketching and painting the picturesque views of Kampong Ayer, the Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas and the Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque.

The workshop – held in the run-up to the Hearing Awareness Charity Bazaar and Exhibition set to play out at The Mall in Gadong from January 24-28 – was organised by HBS Company and supported by the Special Education Unit of the Ministry of Education and Rainforest Gallery.

On hand to share art techniques and to host the workshop was Brunei Art Forum President cum Rainforest Gallery Owner/Manager Dato Paduka Haji Shofry bin Haji Abdul Ghafor, and local Bruneian artist, Nabil bin Fikri.

The workshop also looked to provide these students access to art mentors and an opportunity to express themselves through art.

It also creates about another form of communication between the hearing-impaired and those of normal hearing, and at the same time, bringing together hearing-impaired students of various ages, allowing them to bond and share their experiences.

Paintings created during the workshop will be showcased and made available for purchase during the Hearing Awareness Exhibition. Proceeds will be channeled towards the students.

The Hearing Awareness Exhibition is a joint effort by the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education (MoE), DST and Hear Better Services Company. A host of activities will be held, including an art exhibition by hearing impaired individuals, fundraising games for children by the Special Education Unit of the MoE, and a mini bazaar.

The Hearing Awareness Charity Bazaar and Exhibition will be hosted by the ‘Better Hearing, Better Living’ Charity Project Committee as part of its 5th Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project, and supported by the Special Education Unit of the MoE.

It aims to promote awareness on hearing impairment and raise funds to provide hearing aid for hearing-impaired students.

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|     James Kon     |

THE children of Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam (Pusat Ehsan) were recently treated to a colourful Bollywood dance and song performance by the visiting Mumbai-based ‘Sugar n Spice’ troupe at the centre’s premises at Kampong Bengkurong.

Indian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Nagma M Mallick, Pusat Ehsan Executive Trustee Pengiran Datin Hajah Noraini binti Pengiran Dipa Negara Laila Diraja Pengiran Haji Abdul Momin, Pusat Ehsan Senior Trustee Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohd Alimin bin Haji Abdul Wahab, and Pusat Ehsan Policy and Planning Trustee Haji Ahmad bin Haji Abdul Rahman were also present.

In her speech, the Indian High Commissioner noted that, “The performance of Sugar n Spice in Brunei is [meant] to celebrate the strong friendship between Brunei Darussalam and India, as well as to celebrate 25 years of Asean-India partnership.”

The troupe’s male lead singer, Mickey Singh Narula, said in an interview, “I have always wanted to perform for special children. It’s a great privilege to give our Bollywood performance for the kids.”

Members from the Welfare Body of the Spouses of Senior Government Officials and Women Officials (BISTARI); International Women’s Club of Brunei; and the Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources (SMARTER) Brunei also turned up to enjoy the show.

Meanwhile, following the success of their performance at the Arts Centre of Jerudong International School on Friday night, Sugar n Spice hopes to return to Brunei with a grander performance.

Narula said, “I have been to many countries and this is my first time to Brunei. The country is beautiful and I am happy that the audience here is very receptive of Indian music and culture despite not understanding our language.”

“People like and love our music. We love Bruneians for loving our music and dances. I hope that our performance can also strengthen ties between Brunei and India. I would love to do more here. I would like to bring a bigger troupe, do more shows and longer performances in this beautiful place. I wish I can return at least once every year,” he said, adding that should the opportunity arise, he would love to collaborate with local artistes to create music and hold dance performances.

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|     Aziz Idris     |

EIGHT local creatives, each with a unique skills set, have merged to launch an art exhibition titled ‘Ukum Status,’ coinciding with an exclusive music video screening of the same title.

For just one night, ChaTraMue Brunei was transformed into an art gallery featuring the works of the young and talented creatives, representing their own individual interpretation of the local idiom ‘Ukum Status’ – a phrase popularised by the Sultanate’s popular Blogger and Instagram personalities Alin Kurapak (@Kurapak) and Khaliq Roziman (@Aliqpombunai).

The opening exhibition was personally curated by Osveanne Osman of Creative Space Art Gallery.

According to the curator, the exhibition intends to highlight each artiste’s individual talent, while maintaining a stable relation with the unified vision being the ‘Ukum Status’ video.

Audience can access the artistes portfolio instantly by means of the convenient QR technology, which adds a broader dimension to the exhibition – in that it exists physically and online simultaneously.

The highlight of the night was the official screening of the Ukum Status music video produced by local sound engineer cum music producer Nabil Iskandar, and performed by Zaed Hani of the former local rap group ‘Mic Bandits,’ and Adib Noor.

The four-minute video was made possible with the direction of Syazwan Sukreyy of Memorise. It depicts several key locations in Brunei as well as prominent business premises and cameos from local personalities and social influencers.

Project manager Auji Azizi told the media that he was attracted to the project after seeing the potential of the passionate (creative) individuals involved.

He believes the event will set a standard for inspiring creatives on the most effective and efficient ways to carry out projects, while optimising each set of creative skills and resources.

“After seeing their vision and the scope of the project, I wanted to refine it further by putting forward other elements from the local creative scene, with the intention of bringing a breath of fresh air to the local music scene.”

He hopes this role will solidify his presence as a project manager for future events, alongside sharing such platform for all creatives to fulfil their dreams and build their portfolios.

“In a way, the video and track was inspired by Kurapak and his continuous effort in making his brand. We recognise his hard work and wanted to depict that in the video, hence the heavy theme of social media throughout the entire video. We want the song to bring a positive message – If you work hard, you can achieve anything,” Adib said, offering insight into the meaning of the song.

Meanwhile, Nabil said he took on the project in the hopes of setting a benchmark in the local music scene, and bringing forward a new sound.

“I saw a vision to push the culture forward internationally with industry level standards, while still maintaining our own identity,” he added.

The project was supported by Memorito, Makan Ceria Sdn Bhd (McDonald’s), ChaTraMue Brunei, SneakSmith, Balkony and Mezzanine cafe.

Members of the public can search for ‘Ukum Status’ to view the music video on the popular sharing site Youtube.

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|     James Kon     |

HUA HO Department Store closed its doors for the last time at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (Yayasan) Complex yesterday after 21 years of service.

The cease of operations occurred in two phases: the closure of the second floor on January 1, with yesterday being the last day of activities for the first floor and the ground floor of the supermarket.

The staff and retail stock of the Yayasan branch will be transferred to the Hua Ho Manggis Mall and the Hua Ho Department Store in Tanjung Bunut.

Connie Lim, who ran the branch’s perfume counter since its grand opening on August 19, 1996, said, “I am really saddened that we have to leave this place. I worked here for 21 years and there are so many memories here.”

Holding back tears, she added, “I will definitely miss this place.”

Another long-serving employee, Lilian Wong, who worked at the jewellery counter, shared the same sentiment, saying, “It’s a really sad time for us as we have to move on. I will really miss this place.

“I was there when 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 attended the opening. It was definitely one of my most memorable moments.”

One of the regular customers, who wished to be known as Miss Lim, said, “I live near Bandar Seri Begawan, so I tend to do most of my shopping at the Hua Ho Yayasan Complex. I will have to shop at another place now for my groceries.”

According to the management of the department chain’s Yayasan branch, the closure was due to issues with the property management of the premises.

The management also extended its apologies for any inconvenience caused, while thanking the public for its support over the years.

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|     Fizah HAB     |

A ROADSHOW was held by Radio Brunei through its Pilihan FM network yesterday at Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas in Bandar Seri Begawan.

The event was attended by Radio Television Brunei (RTB) Director Haji Muhammad Suffian bin Haji Bungsu, RTB staff and management, radio producers and presenters from all five radio networks of Radio Brunei, as well as members of the foreign Diplomatic Corps.

Present at the event were Richard Lindsay, the British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam; Raymond Chow, Deputy High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore to Brunei Darussalam; and Rafedah binti Abdul Aziz, Deputy Chief of Mission and Counsellor of the Malaysian High Commission in Brunei Darussalam.

The roadshow began with a welcoming speech by Tan Ka Wei, Acting Managing Director of TGT Sdn Bhd – one of the event partners. Other event partners were BMC Food Industries Sdn Bhd and Bahagia Distributors Sdn Bhd.

This was followed by opening remarks from Haji Muhammad Suffian.

“Year by year, we are getting closer towards achieving our goals for the Brunei Vision 2035. With that (reality) drawing ever closer, our responsibility increases in meeting our goals as a progressive Brunei. To support this vision, we need the close cooperation of the government, private sector and the public as a whole,” the director said, highlighting 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 New Year 2018 titah.

“Close cooperation will make it easy for businesses and entrepreneurs to thrive and make the nation more attractive to foreign investors. If such an environment can be maintained, then it is an asset to the nation.”

Haji Muhammad Suffian mentioned the network’s migration from analogue television to digital television transmission beginning January 1, and explained the technological change meant viewers can now enjoy high-quality pictures and clearer audio.

The event continued with a Tai-Chi warm-up session led by the Brunei Darussalam Wushu Federation, followed by a treasure hunt where participants combed a 3.5km route in the city centre, in search of answers to the clues provided to uncover ‘Biozip treasures’.

Prizes were presented by Haji Muhammad Suffian and Tan Ka Wei. The top three participants in the hunt each received hampers and vouchers, while the rest were rewarded with consolation prizes.

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|     Azlan Othman     |

BRUNEI’S very own Nasi Katok has turned out to be a hit among Arabs in the ‘Oman Winter Souq As Sabt’ food festival currently being held at The Wave in Al Mouj, Muscat, Oman.

“Nasi Katok with anchovies is one of our hottest-selling items, followed closely by Nasi Katok with chicken. Omanis and Westerners who used to reside in Brunei Darussalam are craving for this Brunei dish. That’s the real power of our dish,” said Mohd Afiq, one of the Bruneian vendors participating in the festival.

Bruneian vendors at the event comprised government officers, staff and students working and studying in Oman.

“It costs 1.5 Omani Rials per pack (equiva-lent to B$5). There is not much profit left over (from each pack sold) due to the higher cost of the ingredients shipped from Brunei. Nevertheless, we expect more Nasi Katok to be sold next week,” Mohd Afiq said.

Other Bruneian dishes on the menu included Nasi Sambal (anchovies and egg), Soto Brunei, Kuih Mor (a sweet flour delicacy), and Kek Lapis (multi-layered cake).

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|     Danial Norjidi     |

BRUNEI is an important country in the region for Australia, and one of the most significant aspects to the bilateral relationship between the two countries is education, highlighted Nicola Rosenblum, the Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam during an interview with the Bulletin.

Explaining further on this bilateral relationship, the high commissioner said that Brunei is “a regionally important country for Australia” and that “Asean is really a key part of her neighbourhood”.

“For us, Asean is quite strategically important, and within that (context) we actually have quite close ties to Brunei because we have historical Commonwealth links, and also because we actually have an interesting shared military history,” she said, noting that Australia led the Allied forces that landed in Brunei in 1945 as part of the campaign to liberate Borneo.

“Our trading relationship is about half a billion dollars a year. A lot of that is petroleum – Australia buys oil from Brunei – but it’s also food in the other direction. So Australia supplies quite a lot of meat, in particular, to Brunei.”

Increasingly, this has come to include education and air services, she said, such as “Australians flying Royal Brunei Airlines, Bruneians choosing to study in Australia, and increasingly, Australians coming to Brunei”.

“Australia is the second-largest desti-nation for Bruneian students studying overseas, so we have around 400-500 Bruneian students in Australia at any one time,” she said, adding that some of the students are on government scholarships and some on twinning programmes from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).

The high commissioner also shared that under the New Colombo Plan – an Australian Government initiative – Australians can study and work in the region.

“This year, we’re expecting probably 40 Australian students to come to Brunei for work and study placements,” she said. “Most will be (in Brunei) for a relatively short-term – a few weeks or a few months, doing things like environmental science, physiotherapy and disability studies… They’ll actually come to learn from Brunei in its area of expertise.”

Rosenblum also shared that the Study in Australia Fair will be held on February 9, where the Australian High Commission will bring Australian universities to Brunei to allow Bruneian students to meet directly with university representatives.

“We also have the Endeavour Awards, a scholarship programme that Bruneians are eligible to apply for. We have had some Bruneian students study in Australia under the Endeavour Awards,” she said.

The high commissioner also noted that Brunei’s Mahakarya Institute of Arts has formed a relationship with TAFE Queensland to set up a film school in Brunei. “That will actually be delivering Australian film studies qualifications to Brunei, so that will be a completely different way of kind of looking at that education relationship,” she said.

The high commissioner said, on the sidelines of the Asean-Australia Special Summit taking place in March, there will be a business summit gathering CEOs from each of the Asean member countries to Australia to meet with Australian CEOs.

“I’m expecting at least five CEOs from Brunei to participate in that summit, where attendees will be looking at ways to try and expand economic and business links between Australia and Asean,” Rosenblum said.

She also said efforts will be made at the summit to inform Australian businesses how they could expand into the Asean market and “how they can target Asean markets for development, for investment, or for expanding their own economic footprint”.

“For a lot of them, it might feel like a big step or they might not be aware of the opportunities that are available in Asean.”

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|     Khairil Hassan     |

TWELVE teams are in the frame to lift the Yayasan Cup for the Brunei Darussalam National Takraw Championship being held 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.

Games continued yesterday at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Menglait Sports Complex, that saw Royal Brunei Police Force Sports Council (MS PDB) ‘A’ beat Muara Spurs 2-1 (19-21, 21-11, 21-15) to qualify into the semifinals, and will face Team 88 ‘A’ who won against Team 88 ‘B’ 2-1 (21-18, 15-21, 21-9). Pancha Delima won against Sengkurong ‘C’ in straight sets 2-0 (21-13, 21-17). MS PDB ‘C’ also beat Sengkurong ‘B’ in straight sets 2-0 (21-19, 21-16). Pancha Delima will meet MS PDB ‘C’ in the semifinals.

Teams were divided into four groups. In Group A were Sengkurong ‘B’, MS PDB ‘A’ and Muara Spurs ‘B’. Group B comprised Sengkurong ‘C’, MS PDB ‘B’ and Team 88 ‘B’. Group C consisted of Muara Spurs ‘A’, MS PDB ‘C’ and Sengkurong ‘A’; while Pancha Delima, Triple H and Team 88 ‘A’ make up Group D.

The championship is organised by Brunei Darussalam Takraw Association (PESTABARU) in cooperation with Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.

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|     Fadhil Yunus     |

MS ABDB reached the quarter-finals of the DST FA Cup after a comfortable 4-2 victory over Tebuan Muda ‘A’ at the Berakas Sports Complex last weekend.

Adey Shariduan bin Haji Johari gave the army personnel the lead in the 7th minute before Md Yusof Md Yunos doubled his side’s lead in the 26th minute.

Razimie Ramli made it 3-0 before Hirzi Zulfaqar bin Mahzan pulled one back for Tebuan Muda in the 80th minute.

Razimie grabbed his second of the game four minutes later before Md Nur Asyraffahmi bin Nor Samri scored a scant consolation in stoppage time.

The holders, who are in pole position to defend the DST Super League, will meet DSP United in the last eight.

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