|     Hakim Hayat     |

THE Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) nabbed seven men and a woman, aged between 33 and 55 years, for suspected gambling activities at a house in Kampong Tanah Jambu National Housing Scheme on Monday evening.

Acting on a public tip-off, the raid was conducted by the Gambling Suppression and Anti-Vice Unit with the House and Vehicle Theft Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), RBPF.

Five of the suspected individuals apprehended are locals, while the rest are foreigners.

The police confiscated items believed to be used for katam-katam gambling activities and cash believed to be connected to the illegal activity. All suspects were brought to the CID for further investigation.

The RBPF welcomes public assistance in combating illegal activities in their neighbourhoods and urged the public to contact hotline 993 to report illegal activities.

|     Faridah Haji Ibrahim     |

RADIO Television Brunei (RTB) and Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) jointly produced a programme under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) called Eksplorasa 2.

The cooking show with a travelogue concept shares legends or myths surrounding a place and introduces village products, attractive locations and traditional cuisines of Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia.

According to the show’s Producer Hajah Siti Halipah binti Haji Taib, this year’s eight episodes from Brunei and eight episodes from Malaysia have been recorded.

“We have picked eight villages from Brunei Darussalam for Eksplorasa 2 based on their specialties and attractions. The villages are Kampong Lugu-Katimahar, Kampong Mumong, Kampong Labu Estate, Kampong Putat, Kampong Labi, Kampong Danau, Kampong Belais/Buda-Buda and Kampong Tanjong Maya,” she said.

Meanwhile, Malaysia will feature Kampung Alai (Melaka), Kampung Mengkuang (Penang), Kampung Pendiat (Perak), Kampung Seterpa (Kelantan), Pulau Suri (Kelantan), Kenyir Lake (Terengganu), Ketapang Gulf (Terengganu) and Kampung Air Limau (Melaka) in the cooking show.

The show’s presenters are Brunei Darussalam’s Miennan Yunos and Malaysia’s Munawar Azmie.

According to Miennan Yunos, the show can help audiences to explore in depth the specialities present in each village and they will also get the chance to share their delicious recipes.

Eksplorasa 2 began showing on July 3 at 10.30am on RTB Perdana.

MINISTER of Development Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar is currently attending the Singapore International Water Week (SIWW), from July 8 to 12.

Among the minister’s delegation are Permanent Secretary (Technical and Professional) at the Ministry of Development Haji Marzuke bin Haji Mohsin, Director-General of the Public Works Departments, Haji Amer Hishamuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Pahlawan Haji Zakaria, as well as several officers from the Department of Water Services and the Department of Drainage and Sewerage.

Prior to the opening of the SIWW on July 8, the minister held separate meetings with Minister of National Development of Singapore Lawrence Wong and Minister of Environment and Water Resources of Singapore Masagos Zulkifli bin Masagos Mohamad.

During the bilateral meeting with Lawrence Wong, issues of national development, public housing development and land use were discussed, along with plans for exchange programmes in the near future.

In 2015, the Brunei’s Ministry of Development and Singapore’s Ministry of National Development signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote exchanges of information and cooperation between the two government agencies.

At the bilateral meeting with Masagos Zulkifli, both ministers discussed environmental and water issues of mutual interest, including progress updates in the areas of air quality monitoring, water resources management and environmental youth exchange.

Under the framework of the MoU on Bilateral Partnership in Environmental Affairs between Brunei and Singapore, meetings and exchanges on environmental programmes ranging from solid waste management, air quality, water resources management and environmental education are held on annual basis.

During the separate bilateral meetings, Lawrence Wong was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of National Development of Singapore.

Meanwhile, Masagos Zulkifli was accompanied by officials from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources of Singapore and the National Environment Agency and Public Utilities Board (PUB), Singapore’s national water agency.

|     Azaraimy HH     |

WITH their wealth of skills and life experiences, senior citizens are an invaluable asset towards societal development and nation-building, said the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin yesterday, during the first-anniversary celebrations of the Tutong Senior Citizens Activity Centre (PKWE Tutong).

“PKWE Tutong is a role model for any association or project activity, especially those that involve senior citizens,” the minister added. “This is a step towards realising the country’s Vision 2035 for a higher quality of life.”

Held at the multi-purpose hall of Kampong Serambangun in the Tutong District, the celebrations were further enlivened with several song performances and poetry recitals as well as a lucky draw.

Legislative Council members, Penghulu of Mukim Telisai Yang Berhormat Haji Ramli bin Haji Lahit; Penghulu of Mukim Tanjong Maya Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Wahab bin Apong; and Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin were also present.

|     Azrol Azmi     |

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday afternoon received in audience Director-General of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) Dr Abdulaziz Othman Altwaijri.

The audience ceremony took place at the Istana Nurul Iman.

During the ceremony, His Majesty was awarded the Golden Medal of ISESCO by Dr Abdulaziz in recognition of the support and commitment from His Majesty and Brunei Darussalam towards ISESCO in the advancement of education, science and culture in Islamic nations.

The Golden Medal of ISESCO is the highest honour awarded by ISESCO to head of states.

Accompanying Dr Abdulaziz was Director of External Relations and Cooperation of the ISESCO Dr Ahmad Said Bah.

Minister of Education Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman was also present.

ISESCO is an international organisation with a key role in shaping cooperation among Islamic countries, specifically in the fields of education, science and culture.

Dr Abdulaziz and delegation is in the country for a four-day working visit.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday graced Brunei Darussalam polo team’s opening match against Pakistan in the His Majesty’s 72nd Birthday Polo Tournament at the Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club in Jerudong.

His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah were also present to watch the match.

Also in attendance were Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Abdul Hakeem and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul ‘Aleem.

Brunei made a perfect start in the tournament after a 10-4.5 win over Pakistan while Singapore edged Malaysia 6-5.5 in a tightly contested affair.

The competition continues today with Brunei taking on Malaysia while the Philippines play Singapore.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

DPMM FC maintained their unbeaten record at home as Shahrazen Said inspired his side to a 3-2 victory over Hougang United in the Singapore Premier League at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium last night.

The Gegar Gegar men stayed unbeaten after six games and are now only four points behind Tampines Rovers with a game in hand.

With only two minutes of the match elapsed, Hougang forward Muhaimin Suhaimi received a booking after pulling a DPMM FC player into the ground hence denying him the opportunity to break forward.

The hosts took the lead with two of their most influential attackers in harmony which was made possible after Adi Said exhibited perfect ball control.

The forward picked out Volodymyr Pryimov who gleefully smashed the ball home for his 12th goal of the season in the sixth minute.

Adi, who is proving to be one of Weber’s main players, was in the mood taking out defenders with ease but unfortunately his final product did not result in a connection from a teammate.

DPMM FC import Mojtaba Mollasaraei checked inside a Hougang defender who was able to close down the angle enabling goalkeeper Khairulhin Khalid to make an expected save.

Proving that stubbornness was not only centred in defence, Hougang got back into level terms after Fabian Kwok produced a screamer from the edge of the box in the 31st minute.

Mojtaba then forced Khairulhin into making a one-handed save from an acute angle as again the Hougang defence left him no option but to hit his shot from a wide position.

Awangku Fakharrazi, who made a rare start, was forced off through injury just before half-time as Najib Tarif took his place.

With less than a minute of the second half expired, Shahrazen Said got himself in the referee’s books after pulling down a Hougang player.

Hougang rising star Jordan Vestering then saw his free-kick comfortably dealt with by DPMM FC goalkeeper Haimie Anak Nyaring.

The provider turned into scorer as Adi powered home a stunning effort in the 61st minute.

Hougang forward Iqbal Hussain laid the ball for Faiz Salleh in the centre but his snapshot landed straight into the arms of the untroubled Haimie.

Hougang substitute Fareez Farhan made an immediate impact after executing the perfect free-kick moments after being introduced having came on in place of the injured Muhaimin.

Volodymur’s free-kick was screaming for the goalmouth but Khairulhin was equal to the task with a stunning reflex save.

In the dying minutes, Khairulhin brilliantly kept out a header on goal from Brian McLean, only allowing the ball onto the path of Shahrazen who struck a ferocious shot first time for the winner.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam polo team recorded their second successive win in the His Majesty Sultan of Brunei’s 72nd Birthday Polo Tournament after defeating Malaysia 8–4.5 at the Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club in Jerudong yesterday.

His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen and Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah inspired the team with goals while Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar was in his usual high standards during the win.

Brunei’s Gaston Urturi produced another master-class and played a key role in the win, keeping up with his stellar performance against Pakistan.

The experienced polo player produced a moment of magic as his artistry with the ball was accompanied with quick movement before completing the move with a tidy finish.

The visitors had earlier gotten back into the game before the end of the first chukka through Saladin Mazlan as they heightened their hopes of upsetting the Gaston show.

Gaston strode as if a man on a mission to roll the ball home before displaying another side of his game where he effortlessly sliced a sublime pass for His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen who tapped it into goal.

Malaysia needed a break and a 60-yard penalty was an opportunity but nothing came out of it as Brunei started from the back.

The match was filled with quality in shot-making as Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah knocked a one shot drive after a Malaysian player missed a backhand.

With Malaysia missing a chance to get closer to their opponents, Gaston made a long drive and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen launched to guide the ball home.

Malaysia pulled one back through Saladin within the final moments of the third chukka.

Gaston’s individual brilliance typified an artist at work especially in one instance when he appeared to recover a ball from going past the touchline after clearing the ball into another direction.

With the ball travelling at pace and his horse catching up with all its firepower, the brilliant Gaston hits a spell-binding pass for His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen who tried to make an angle for a clear shot.

After Malaysia took care of the threat, Gaston made up some distance to collect the ball but unfortunately his shot ended wide.

Brunei had already caused substantial damage but Malaysia finished the game on a high with three goals.

Dato Mohamed Moiz was given the honours to convert a penalty before Saladin rushed forward to roll the ball home after receiving the deftest of contacts with the ball by Dato Zekri.

It was formality on how the fourth chukka panned out for either side and Dato Mohamed squeezed in Malaysia’s final goal of the game despite running into traffic.

Meanwhile, Singapore matched Brunei’s record in this tournament after a 7-3 win over Philippines.

The competition continues today with both Pakistan and the Philippines looking for their first win of the tournament when they play against each other.

|     Ishan Ibrahim     |

AN INTENSIVE course on the presentation of the Khutbah (sermon) and the refinement of daily prayers was launched at the Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) yesterday.

State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned was the guest of honour.

The attendees included Deputy State Mufti Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Japar bin Haji Mat Dain @ Maidin, Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) Roslan bin Haji Taja’ah, Acting Ra’es of KUPU SB Dr Haji Adanan bin Haji Basar and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the MoRA Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang.

The event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, followed by the mass reading of the Asmaul Husna and the singing of the national anthem.

In his welcoming address, Dr Haji Adanan noted that the primary aim of the course is to uphold 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 titah, which places the highest importance on the blessings of Allah the Almighty on the nation, based on the teachings of Islam – especially through Jemaah (Islamic congregation) and the Khutbah.

To be more specific, he explained, the course aims to refine participants’ prayers that adhere to Mazhab Shafi’e, which are guidelines to the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB)philosophy and the constitution of the nation.

The course also aimed to enhance the institution of the mosque as a place of Islamic education by way of proper understanding of Islam and effectively listening to the Khutbah.

Dr Haji Adanan also cautioned against irresponsible elements that aim to misinform on Islam.

He said despite the ease of obtaining information on the teachings of Islam through media such as the smartphone, not all information are accurate and this can have a detrimental effect on society in general.

Meanwhile, the State Mufti’s address elaborated on the importance and concepts of Khutbah and prayers. This was followed by a presentation of certificates to course facilitators Dr Haji Adanan and Senior Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Usuluddin (KUPU SB) Dr Mikdar Rusdi.

Dr Mikdar Rusdi presented working papers on The effective principles of Khutbah, while a demonstration of Rukun was conducted by Dr Haji Adanan.

Some 450 participants that included mosque Imams, religious school principals, students of Year 4 Religious Teachers Bachelor Programme and Religious Teachers Highest Diploma attended the ceremony.

|     Daniel Lim     |

THE Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) recently organised a Hari Raya gathering with an Arabian theme, for the students of the Sultan Bolkiah Campus (SBC) in Seria.

Around 464 students and 60 staff members of the IBTE SBC attended the celebration, which was led by the event Chairperson Ann Michelle Rahman binti Suhaili.

The guest of honour was Head of the School of Energy and Engineering Satellite at the IBTE SBC Pengiran Mohd Hassan bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman as a representative of Principal of the IBTE Satellite Norjemee bin Jenek.

The event began with a welcoming speech from Head of the Student’s Council at IBTE SBC Awangku Muhd Abdul Wafi bin Pengiran Muhd Sukrey, who said that Hari Raya is the perfect time of year for reconnecting with families.

The event continued with several song-and-dance skits by the new batch of IBTE SBC students, along with performances by local artistes Azim Ariffin, Dani Ahmad and Abby Skandar.

There was also a lucky draw and an awards presentation in various categories, which included the best-dressed students, the best-dressed staff members and the best performers.

A similar gathering will be held today for the students of the IBTE Jefri Bolkiah Campus (JBC) in Kuala Belait.

LEE Wan Sze (Year 11 Science) and Wong Yu Ling (Year 6 Red) received the BC-GCE Outstanding Achiever Award and the PSR Outstanding Achiever Award respectively in recognition of their academic performance in 2017.

An award presentation ceremony was held on Monday at the Chancellor Hall, Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

The ceremony was organised by the Ministry of Education and co-organised by the Department of Schools, the Board of Examinations, Special Education Unit, Private Education Section and the Examinations Syndicate of Cambridge International Examinations. A total of 265 students attended the ceremony, including 18 students from Chung Hwa Middle School, Bandar Seri Begawan (CHMS BSB).

Lee Wan Sze obtained Top 10 in The World in Mathematics Syllabus D, Top in Brunei Darussalam in Physics, First Place in Best Across Nine Cambridge O Levels, and the High Achievement award in Brunei-Cambridge GCE ‘O’ Level.

Lee was one of the top scorers in CHMS BSB with 11A’s in GCE ‘O’ Level Examination 2017.

Other top scorers from CHMS BSB, includes Ling Dexuan – Top in World / Top in Brunei Darussalam in Mathematics Syllabus D, Chang Yong Xin – Top 10 in The World / Top in Brunei Darussalam in History (Modern Affairs), Alvina Hee Chee Ying – Top 10 in The World in Mathematics Syllabus D and Nadya Yasmeen binti Zayd – Top in Brunei Darussalam in Combined Science.

Fifty-five students of CHMS BSB scored 5As in the Primary School Assessment (PSR) 2017. Eleven students received the Outstanding Achiever Awards, constituting almost half of 25 outstanding achiever award recipients for PSR category (Private Section) in Brunei.

The most notable recipient was Wong Yu Ling with 5As and the highest score in Malay Language. The other Outstanding Achiever Award recipients were Zoe Chan Zhi Yi, Owen Alviano, Timothy Ngu Xian Yi, Chuang Pei Rong @ Annika Chuang, Arshia, Alexis Lim Kai Xuan, Ericsson Bong Cheng Loong, Flora Ngu Jia Ying, Belle Lee En Tong and Lim Tong Xin @ Phoebe.

The guest of honour was the Minister of Education Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman.

The Principal of CHMS Kho Guik Lan, Assistant Principal Tan Been Tiem, and awardees’ parents were also present at the ceremony. – CHMS BSB

|     James Kon     |

BEGINNING its operations last year, Bank Usahawan is all set to meet the financial ambitions of entrepreneurs for Brunei’s future.

To date, Bank Usahawan has approved five disbursements of loans worth over half a million in various sectors ranging from agriculture to manufacturing, to the services industry.

With a number of potential projects in the pipeline, Bank Usahawan is expected to double its disbursement of loans by the end of this month. It hopes to reach between 50 and 60 disbursements by the end of this year.

These latest developments and progress were highlighted yesterday by Bank Usahawan Chief Executive Officer Udo Schedel during the bank’s first Hari Raya open office.

Minister of Finance II Dato Seri Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah attended the event in his capacity as the Chairman of Bank Usahawan.

Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Nik Hafimi binti Abdul Haadii, who is also a member of the Board of Directors of Bank Usahawan, was also in attendance

On the bank’s range of services and products, Udo Schedel said, “We are Syariah-compliant regarding our products and operation. We have two products, namely Assets Financing Murabaha – to finance fixed assets or/and working capital for entrepreneurs and businesses; and Working Capital Financing Tawarruq – to finance operating expenses and stocks or/and working capital.

“Our focus group is entrepreneurs; we don’t offer any retail services, no deposits, no credit cards. We are purely equity finance from the Ministry of Finance, with the aim of helping to diversify the economy.”

He added, “We had a case, where we managed the disbursement of a loan within two weeks. Our processing time is faster than other banks, depending on meeting the requirements.

“We are looking at opening other branches in other districts, and we are also planning to implement and improve digital services over the next year.”

With eight locals among its list of employees, Bank Usahawan is seeking to hire more local staff for further expansion.

The bank’s mission is to improve access to a broad range of appropriate financial services for the majority of Brunei businesses in a sustainable and efficient manner, while its vision is to be the leading provider of financial services to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) of Brunei.

|     James Kon     |

THOUGH Brunei Darussalam’s greenhouse gas emissions are limited, the country is taking actions to raise its climate ambition. As part of this, the Sultanate has revised its Nationally Determined Contributions that outline plans and actions for the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Brunei’s commitment in battling climate change was highlighted by Minister of Energy and Industry Dato Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein in his National Statement at the Special ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Climate Action (SAMCA) held on July 10, attended by ministers in charge of climate change from ASEAN member states.

“The revision aims to shift the Nationally Determined Contributions from sectoral targets to a more action-oriented and long-term strategic trajectory for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” the Minister of Energy and Industry said.

Following the SAMCA, taking place was the Expanded SAMCA (E-SAMCA) session in the presence of ministers from Plus Three countries, the Presidencies of the 23rd and 24th sessions of Conference of Parties (COP) and the Executive Secretary of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

The meetings were inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore Teo Chee Hean and chaired by Minister for the Environment and Water Resources of the Republic of Singapore Masagos Zulkifli bin Masagos Mohamad.

The SAMCA discussed ASEAN’s concerted efforts in addressing climate change, given that it is one of the most vulnerable regions to the impact of climate change. ASEAN member states shared their respective climate action commitments while addressing the three Talanoa Dialogue questions, namely: ‘Where are we?’, ‘Where do we want to go?’ and ‘How do we get there?’

There was a strong sentiment across ASEAN member states on commitments to fulfil the implementation of the Paris Agreement. The cross-cutting issues within ASEAN sectoral bodies were also discussed with the view of ensuring coherence. It is hoped that this will strengthen the profile and centrality of ASEAN in tackling climate change and send a strong signal to the world.

The E-SAMCA discussed current cooperation and future opportunities between ASEAN and Plus Three partners to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Both COP Presidencies and UNFCCC emphasised the importance of negotiation and completion of the Paris Agreement Work Programme so as to operationalise the deal in a timely manner.

The meetings were hosted and organised by Singapore in support of its Year of Climate Action as part of the City State’s ASEAN Chairmanship focus – resilience and innovation.

|     James Kon     |

BANK Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD), the largest financial institution in Brunei Darussalam in terms of assets, financing and deposits, posted a record net profit of over BND169 million last year.

The BIBD Group recorded a net profit of BND116 million during the period which ended on December 31, 2017.

Continuing its commitment to deliver better returns to shareholders, the Islamic bank also announced an interim dividend of BND0.125 per ordinary share for 2017 which will be added to the expected final dividend of BND0.051, returning a total dividend of BND0.176. This will take the total dividend amount to BND127 million, an 11.5 per cent improvement in year-to-year yield from 7.5 per cent for the group. The approved financial statement for 2017 was shared at the BIBD Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2018 held at Tarindak D’Seni yesterday.

Expressing his heartfelt appreciation for the trust and support received from BIBD’s customers, shareholders and other stakeholders, Minister of Finance II and Chairman of BIBD Dato Seri Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah said, “Alhamdulillah, it is another milestone year for BIBD as we continue our progression as Brunei’s leading bank. Our accomplishments are the result of our commitment to our customers and the strong cooperation with our regulators as we continue to play our role in supporting the nation’s ongoing efforts to create a more resilient and robust economy in line with Vision 2035.”

Meanwhile, Managing Director and CEO of BIBD Mubashar Khokhar took the opportunity to congratulate the efforts of the entire BIBD Group for realising another prolific year.

“Alhamdulillah, BIBD is blessed to have such an energetic and dedicated team which is always prepared to overcome challenges posed by the current market conditions. Advancement in digital banking has also allowed us to provide our customers with the very best Islamic banking solutions such as our BIBD NEXGEN.”

Besides the shareholders, the AGM was attended by members of the BIBD Board of Directors and Syariah Advisory Body as well as BIBD senior management and officials.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

THE Philippines moved to the win column of the His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei’s 72nd Birthday Polo Tournament after edging Pakistan 5 – 4.5 in a thrilling encounter at the Royal Brunei Polo and Riding Club in Jerudong yesterday.

Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah was present to watch the match

Pakistan was awarded half a point before opening the scoring in the first chukka but Philippines hit back with their first goal.

Philippines moved into the lead after Miguel Diaz struck and they held onto a slender lead at the end of the first chukka.

Pakistan responded through the free-scoring Daffadar Raheem who made a brilliant solo move from his own goal before Colonel Mashood Akbar helped Pakistan retake the lead.

Miguel made his move with two goals and a solitary effort from Rodrigo Bauza put Philippines in control of the tie.

Pakistan reduced the deficit through Major Haseeb Minhas which proved to be the only goal in the fourth chukka.

UNIVERSITI Teknologi Brunei (UTB) held a closing ceremony for the eighth Student Leadership and Development Programme (SLDP) yesterday at its Lecture Theatre 2.

The programme was organised by the Executive Committees Leadership Development and Mentor Executive Committees, under UTB’s Student Representative Council (MPP).

Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Industry and Services) of UTB Haji Ady Syarmin bin Haji Mohd Taib handed over certificates to the 20 participants, comprising students from UTB, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB), Politeknik Brunei, Science College Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan (MSPSBS) and those who recently finished their ‘A’ Level.

The programme was held for four days and three nights at UTB and Berakas Forest Reserve Recreational Park, and aimed to foster character development, allowing youths to uncover their potential and be more proactive in building their future.

RIZA Fudhlana Farming Company raises chickens for meat on a farm at Jalan Bebatik in Kulapis, using a closed-house system technology and an internal cooling system.

In a press release, Riza Fudhlana Farming Company Manager Pengiran Haji Haris bin Pengiran Haji Duraman said when they first started out in 2014, the company had only two poultry houses.

In 2015, the farm continued to grow with the addition of two more closed houses. At present, 10 closed houses have been completed, which can accommodate 20,000-23,000 birds per cycle.

The company currently plans to build 13 closed houses in the Brunei-Muara District. Three closed houses are already in progress and expected to be fully operational by the end of the year.

Pengiran Haji Haris added that he also plans to integrate the production of broilers (any chicken bred and raised specifically for meat production) to fulfil his production needs according to the value chain.

He established a hatchery at the Agricultural Development Area (KKP) in Mulaut for full-time operations later in the year, while a slaughterhouse is currently in progress at KKP Batumpu.

The company also plans to build a breeder farm at KKP Maraburong in the Tutong District, with an area of eight hectares and the capacity to accommodate 7,500 birds in eight closed houses. To cater for the progressive growth in broiler production, Pengiran Haji Haris obtained an additional site at KKP Tanah Tuah in Kulapis, where he plans to build four closed houses to accommodate 20,000-22,000 birds per house.

To help with his expansion plans, the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism offered six hectares of land at KKP Batumpu in Bengkurong Masin, where he seeks to build 12 closed houses for 25,000 birds.

The Department of Agriculture and Agrifood has always provided continuous support to farmers through advisory services and the provision of suitable areas for poultry farming, using high technology such as closed houses, automated feeding and water systems, to help increase the productivity of broilers for both local and foreign markets.

The production of broilers in 2017 was 23,283 metric tonnes, with a market value of BND106.53 million, contributing to 53.32 per cent of the overall gross output of the livestock industry, or 28.06 per cent of the overall gross output value.

Pengiran Haji Haris said his company’s main market is through domestic sales, with slaughtering services provided by the Jamahat Haji Liman Abattoir, before being delivered to supermarkets in Brunei. Although the market is local-oriented, the company is committed to expanding its market sales for overseas export.

The closed houses are handled by experienced foreign workers, but the main management team of the Riza Fudhlana Farming Company is entirely local, including the manager. With the use of high technology to help boost productivity, companies such as Riza Fudhlana Farming Company are setting an example in the development of the local poultry industry and its contributions to the national gross domestic product (GDP).

OVER two billion people in today’s world lack access to safe water at home, with 54 per cent of the population living in urban areas.

To create environmentally, socially and economically resilient cities, water resources, efficient land use and environment must be carefully managed, with countries required to formulate strategic long-term plans, innovative solutions and dynamic governance structure that are able to respond to and anticipate disruptions.

With these aims in mind, Singapore recently hosted three events – the 6th World Cities Summit (WCS), Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) and the 4th CleanEnviro Summit Singapore (CESS) – from July 8-12.

Jointly organised by the Singapore Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, and the Singapore Ministry of National Development, the three events created a platform for over 150 city leaders and decision-makers, including public sector leaders, business executives, experts and academics, to gather and discuss on how to address today’s most pressing challenges facing cities and nations.

The SIWW was officially opened at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre on July 8 by Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

As a biennial platform for innovative water solutions, the SIWW gathered stakeholders from the global water industry to share the best practices and the latest technologies.

Minister of Development Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar attended the SIWW as the Head of Brunei delegation that included Permanent Secretary (Technical and Professional) at the Ministry of Development Haji Marzuke bin Haji Mohsin and the Director-General of the Public Works Haji Amer Hishamuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Zakaria.

During the opening ceremony, a keynote address was presented by Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe, who shared insights, trends and solutions concerning urban development, water management and environment protection towards a liveable and sustainable future. While in Singapore, Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Suhaimi also attended the Lee Kuan Yew World City Prize and Water Prize Lectures, as well as the Environment and Water Leaders Forum, where among the speakers was Singapore Minister for the Environment and Water Resources Masagos Zulkifli bin Masagos Mohamad.

On the evening of July 8, Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Suhaimi was invited to attend the prestigious Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize Presentation, where the guest of honour was President of Singapore Halimah Yacob.

The Brunei delegation also attended the Water Leaders Summit session, featuring distinguished leaders sharing their insights, trends and solutions concerning water management and sanitation.

The keynote address at the Water Leaders Summit was delivered by the 8th Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon.

During the five-day period, the Minister of Development also visited the Water Expo, where 100 exhibitors from more than 20 countries displayed their products, technologies and solutions for the water industry and a more sustainable environment.

|     Azlan Othman & Achong Tanjong     |

THIRTY-FIVE distress calls were made to the Fire and Rescue Department Wednesday evening, after strong winds and heavy rain uprooted trees and blew off roofs in various parts of the country.

Teams were deployed to clear uprooted trees blocking major roads in the bustling Kiulap commercial area, as well in Bengkurong.

Meanwhile, there were reports of road accidents, and a wedding tent which was carried off by strong winds in Sengkurong.

The brief storm also caused the ceiling of a Tutong school to cave in, and downed a signboard at the cross junction near Pertama Departmental Store at RPN Kampong Lambak Kanan.

The Brunei-Muara District was the worst-hit area, with 25 cases of uprooted trees and five fallen roofs.

The storm also wrecked havoc in the Tutong District, with seven reports of uprooted trees and one fallen roof.

In the Belait District, three calls were made involving uprooted trees, while the Temburong District recorded no cases at all.

According to the Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department (BDMD), the Sultanate is currently entering the south-west monsoon season, with Typhoon Maria making landfalls in eastern China.

Meanwhile, an active low pressure system has also been recorded at the northern part of South China Sea. Yesterday, the department predicted more strong winds of up to 65 km/h, or near-heavy showers.

“There is a risk of flash floods in low-lying or flood-prone areas,” said the BDMD in its press statement. “Strong winds and rough sea conditions pose a danger to small craft and marine recreational sports, while road users are advised to drive with extra care.”

|     Hakim Hayat     |

THE Ministry of Health (MoH) alerted members of the public to two types of cosmetic products found to be adulterated with undeclared, potent Western medicine, following testing by the Laboratory of Pharmacy Section, Department of Scientific Services.

The Malaysian-made products are Dnar’s Dinar Cream – found to contain mercury, and Dnar’s honey cream – found to contain Hydroquinone and Tretinoin.

These ingredients cause adverse effects that are potentially hazardous to its consumers.

Mercury is a potent ingredient that is prohibited in cosmetic products as stipulated in the Medicines (Cosmetic Products) Regulations 2007. It is prohibited in cosmetic products due to its hazardous effects on human health. It is readily absorbed through the skin on topical application and tends to accumulate in the body.

Exposure to mercury can cause skin rashes, memory loss and muscle weakness, while high exposures may result in damage to the brain and kidneys. It is also extremely toxic to unborn children.

Hydroquinone is used in Western prescription medicines to treat skin conditions and is prohibited in skincare cosmetic products under the Medicines (Cosmetic Products) Regulations. Unsupervised use of Hydroquinone may cause skin hypersensitivity, skin discolouration resulting in gradual darkening of the affected skin area and an increased risk of skin cancer.

Tretinoin is used in Western prescription medicines to treat skin conditions and is prohibited in skincare cosmetic products under the Medicines (Cosmetic Products) Regulations. Inappropriate use could lead to redness, peeling and scarring of the skin.

The MoH said it has not issued any approval for the importation for the sale of these products and/or Cosmetic Notification Acknowledgement Letter for the sale of the rest of affected products. Following these findings, the products are not allowed to be imported and sold in Brunei Darussalam.

Members of the public who have purchased or used these products are advised to stop using them immediately. They should also consult a medical practitioner if they feel unwell or experience any undesirable reactions as a result of using them.

The MoH warned members of the public involved in the retail of these products (including online retail such as through Facebook, etc) that it is an offence under the Medicines (Cosmetic Products) Regulations, 2007 to import and market cosmetic products in the local market without a Cosmetic Product Notification Acknowledgement Letter issued by the authority. The penalty for contravening these regulations, upon conviction, is a fine not exceeding BND5,000, imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years, or both.

The MoH called for public cooperation in reporting to the Compliance and Licensing Section, Department of Pharmaceutical Services, should any of these products are still found on the market in this country. For further information, contact the Compliance and Licensing Section at 2393298 (ext 208), e-mail pharmacy.enforcement@moh.gov.bn, visit the 1st Floor, Compliance and Licensing Section, Department of Pharmaceutical Services Building at Kampong Madaras, or call Darussalam line 123.