|  Daniel Lim    |

IN CONJUNCTION with the 72^nd birthday celebration of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the third Ria Carnival Bukit Sawat is held at Bukit Sawat Community Hall starting on August 3.

Organised by the Mukim Consultative Council (MPM) of Mukim Bukit Sawat in collaboration with the Village Consultative Council (MPK) of Kampong Bukit Sawat, MPK Kampong Merangking, and the Belait District Office, the carnival aims to offer an opportunity for residents from the Ulu Belait area to participate in the festive annual celebration of His Majesty’s birthday.

Village Head of Kampong Bukit Sawat Muhammad bin Abdullah said, “Plenty of activities are conducted during the course of the carnival, which is slated to be held over the next few days to further enliven the atmosphere in Bukit Sawat.”

He also explained the carnival is held annually, with this year representing the third time the carnival is held at Bukit Sawat.

“Among the activities that has been conducted included a religious event held on Thursday night, while yesterday’s activity included a sporting event which helps to showcase the skills and talents of youth of Mukim Bukit Sawat,” he added.

Some of the sporting activities held yesterday included futsal, sepak takraw, darts and tarik kalat, all of which were held as contests to create friendly competitive spirit and sportsmanship among the participants of each sporting events.

“In addition to the activities conducted, there are also booths showcasing local businesses as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) from around the Belait District, which not only helps enliven the carnival but also help promote their goods and services to the residents visiting the carnival,” said the Village Head of Kampong Bukit Sawat.

Over 35 booths are set up at the venue selling a range of goods and services from food and drinks to antiques brass ornaments by resident collectors.

“We hope to continue to conduct this carnival as a yearly event to provide residents of the mukim and villages from the surrounding areas to experience and celebrate the festive season close to home,” Muhammad concluded.

In addition to the carnival and activities held at Bukit Sawat, a motor and paddle boat racing will be held along the Belait River on August 19.

THE Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE) at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) through the Department of Competition and Consumer Affairs, recently conducted visits to the Jerudong Market and Gadong Market to remind traders to clearly display the price tags or signs, and to conduct business ethically.

The visits, which covered 49 stalls in the Jerudong Market and 68 stalls in the Gadong Market, were conducted to protect consumers and promote ethical business practices in the market.

The traders were informed that under Section 2 (1) of the Price Control (Display of Prices) Order, it is illegal to sell any consumer product for retail without an appropriate price tag, label or marking to tell the consumer the price of the items.

The benefits of price tagging is to provide consumers with adequate information, and allow them to compare the quality and prices of goods. It also discourages and minimises haggling, which is a waste of time, money and energy for both buyer and seller.

During the operation, many traders were found to be selling goods without price tags. They shared that price tagging can cause ‘inconvenience,’ citing issues such as the changing prices of fresh goods, competition among sellers and lack of knowledge on the price tag law.

The traders were advised to use simple price tag cards that reflect the latest prices of the goods per unit (piece, kilogramme, bundle), or to have a price list displayed at visible spots.

JPKE officials also exchanged dialogues with members of the public, explaining that fish and vegetables are not price controlled items, however under Section 2 (1) of the Price Control (Display of Prices) Order, sellers are required to display price tags clearly to ensure price transparency and ethical business conducts. This applies to all sundry goods including foodstuff, beverages, fabrics, pharmaceutical products and electrical appliances.

Consumers are also protected through the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Order 2011, in which traders are deterred from unethical conducts such as providing misleading information on the source of the products, noting that there is a significant price difference for local and imported fish. Another common complaint is the changing or increasing price during the transaction.

JPKE also conduct daily inspections to business premises in all four districts to ensure prices of price controlled items are not sold above the maximum price.

On average, 240 different premises are inspected every month. These include 205 premises in the Brunei-Muara District; 15 in the Belait District; 15 in the Tutong District and five in the Temburong District. JPKE will continue to conduct inspections.

Members of the public are encouraged to be the ‘eyes’ and ‘ears’ by sharing their feedback on consumer issues through the PenggunaBijak or SmartConsumer mobile application, by calling 2230223 (office hours), e-mailing aduanpengguna@jpke.gov.bn or consumercomplaint@jpke.gov.bn, or visiting its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/AduanPenggunaJPKE.

Alternatively they can go directly to the Department of Competition and Consumer Affairs, Room 3.06, Level 3, West Wing, Department of Economic Planning and Development, Block 2A, Jalan Ong Sum Ping, BA1131

Businesses found to not be putting up price tags can be issued a warning notice for the first offence and a compound of no more than BND1,000 for subsequent offences. Further offences could result in the individual being taken to court to face the following penalties: A BND5,000 fine and imprisonment for two years for the first offence; or a BND20,000 and imprisonment of five years for a repeated offence.

|    Fizah HAB    |

THE Brunei English Language Teachers’ Association (BELTA) International Conference 2018 was officially opened yesterday at the Badi’ah Hotel’s Bahtera Hall, titled ‘Blooming HOTS: Developing the Thinking Classroom’.

The guest of honour was Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education Dr Haji Azman bin Haji Ahmad.

The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, followed by welcoming remarks from President of BELTA Mohd Wafi Sia bin Abdullah and a speech by the guest of honour, who highlighted the importance of literacy.

“We see the need to raise the rate of literacy among the students. The access to the thinking classroom and literacy are fundamental keys that open the many doors of maturity, successful learning which are not exclusive to just in classrooms.

“These help to develop high-literate citizens who can use and apply these skills,” he said in his speech.

The conference, participated by some 130 teachers and invited guests, continued with a keynote speech by guest speaker David Didau titled ‘Getting more of what we want: What research tells us about developing ‘21^st Century skills?’.

He shared about students developing creativity, critical thinking, problem solving and collaboration and aligning the concept of the thinking classroom to knowledge learning.

The three-day conference will host activities such as the BELTA oratory competition, school visits for foreign participants and parallel sessions held today and tomorrow.

|    Ishan Ibrahim    |

A CLOSING ceremony was held yesterday at the Chancellor Hall of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) for the Back2Communities Convention, which has accentuated the urgency for youth to be more engaged in efforts to create an inclusive environment for people with special needs.

The guest of honour was 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.

At the concluding session of the four-day convention, titled ‘Breaking Barriers to Special Needs Inclusion’, the minister expressed his optimism and satisfaction that increasing opportunities are taken up by youth who can fundamentally shape the direction and landscape of Brunei’s future.

“This youth movement towards the betterment of the nation is in line with the philosophy of the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, particularly the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports,” he said.

The minister also urged youth “to take ownership in determining the future landscape of our beloved country, through our own creativity and resiliency”.

He also cited a prime example where the involvement of youth through the spirit of volunteerism was linked with the needs of people with special abilities during the International Volunteers Day, which ran concurrently with the Persons with Special Needs International Day.

“This participation benefitted the community, where volunteerism is often one of the critical mechanisms that are supportive towards the efforts in helping the community in general,” he said.

As a probable reminder, the minister said the upcoming Brunei Young Leaders Convention (BYLC) next week will gather youth of all levels, including those with special needs, with the aim of having an active role in the realisation of Brunei Vision 2035.

“The caring for people with special needs is a shared responsibility for the society in general,” he said.

“Building an inclusive community has been a long standing commitment in Brunei Darussalam, as part of the whole-of-nation approach advocated by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and a collective responsibility to give an opportunity to everyone, leaving no one behind, to reach their full potential and be part of the community.”

The minister further explained that special needs inclusion often entails the educational aspects of the lives of those with special abilities.

At the same time, he acknowledged the efforts of the Back2Communities Convention in highlighting the challenges and accomplishments of people with special needs, while creating opportunities and establishing networking among participants to share ideas in finding solutions towards special needs inclusion.

“In recognition of the substantial advantages and benefits achieved from the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), courtesy of its programme of mentorship and assistance which turned their ideas into action, I hope that youth will take up the challenge to make changes and contribute towards their society, country and nation,” he said.

“This will not only help to foster a feeling of belonging and commitment to their communities, but it can also be a powerful mechanism for giving youth a voice, to be more integrated into society, and to feel the value of being a citizen.”

After the presentation performances of the participating groups, the minister made an impromptu appearance on stage, advising the participants how to serve the community in a more efficient way.

“The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports is always ready to give assistance to youth in this context,” he told them.

In her remarks, founder of the Youth-Setter Community and the Project Leader for Back2Communities Convention Nur Amalina Munyati binti Ismail expressed her appreciation to the United States (US) government, in addition to the support given by sponsors, collaborated centres, guest judges and speakers in making the convention a success.

She also commended the youth participants for developing plans of action, as well as their collaboration with the Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources (SMARTER) Brunei and the Centre for Children with Special Needs (KACA).

The Brave team grabbed the honours for the best overall performance in the Action Plan Presentation. The other groups were Star, Hope, Clp and Team.

The prize was presented to the Brave team by the minister.

Certificates and tokens of appreciation were also presented to guest judges, President of SMARTER Brunei Malai Haji Abdullah bin Malai Haji Othman and Project Leader of Uniklearn Rasyidah Samah.

|    Aziz Idris    |

THE Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC) has reached another milestone with the introduction of the latest Computed Tomography (CT) scanner that offers increased efficiency and clinical flexibility.

One of the major developmental achievements for JPMC, the state-of-the-art machine with the latest functions is capable of producing images of the human body from X-ray test and computer.

To mark the momentous occasion, the management and staff hosted a Doa Kesyukuran for the new diagnostic scanner yesterday.

According to JPMC, “The new system is part of the medical centre’s initiative to possess excellent diagnostic imaging and patient management by introducing the Dual Energy SIEMENS Definition Edge CT Scanner.

The CT scanner system meets every market demand with a single system, increasing the standard requirements for the patients’ comfort, supporting high image quality and efficient workflow process, a press statement issued by JPMC said.

Executive Director of JPMC Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Md Isham bin Haji Jaafar stated that among all the diagnostic technologies, CT scanning and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanning possess the most versatility. “It can be used to do various examinations of the whole body to perform any diagnosis.”

The TwinBeam Dual Energy X-ray Tube Definition Edge concept enables simultaneous imaging at two different energy levels for the first time in single-source computed tomography.

Meanwhile, anaesthesiologist from the Operating Theatre Department Dr Kabeer Meera Sahib, in his capacity as the Medical Director of JPMC, said, “This new addition helps us not only meet but also exceed the expectations of our customers by improving JPMC’s efficiency and patients’ medical results in all clinical capabilities.”

Detailing JPMC’s Digital Diagnostic Imaging Department’s facilities, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham mentioned, “JPMC has earned a regional reputation for quality and excellence in providing superb diagnostic imaging services, thoughtful patient care and radiological interpretations that are second to none. It can be assured that when patients come to JPMC for their radiology examination, they are in the best of hands.”

Chief Radiographer Varghese Paulose, in his capacity as the Chief Operating Officer of JPMC, said, “The Department of Diagnostic Imaging (Radiology Service), since its inception has evolved into an outstanding specialty branch of JPMC’s patient care. In order to keep up with the advancing technology, JPMC has added a high-end Dual Energy SIEMENS Definition Edge CT Scanner and embarked a new technology that will propel the JPMC radiology service to unprecedented heights.

“The Department of Diagnostic Imaging plays a critical role in the diagnosis of virtually all patients of JPMC.

“The department’s renowned expertise in specialty areas as well as the technical and clinical abilities of the radiology and the radiographers together with the number of specialties offered, not only improve the quality of patient care, but also assist in attracting prospective patients from overseas,” he added.

During the demonstration of the new system, Varghese Paulose said, “Definition Edge CT is designed to deliver outstanding image qualities with unsurpassed workflow benefits for the CT Scan application.”

|    Hakim Hayat    |

BRUNEI International Airport on late Thursday evening tested the readiness of the country’s different first-responders and security agencies in neutralising a threat to the airport’s security during an exercise.

The Security Emergency Exercise 2018, which involved over 350 personnel from different agencies, was based on a scenario of a plane hijacked by a passenger before the flight was scheduled to take off.

Lasting for about six hours and 30 minutes, the drill was conducted to ensure the readiness of the different agencies in their response to security threats, especially in testing the effectiveness in relaying and obtaining information and also of the communication systems between agencies of interest at the Brunei International Airport.

According to the Acting Director of Civil Aviation, the exercise was aimed at assessing the efficiency and effectiveness in coordinating and managing emergencies that involve flight operations and terminal building services.

Observing the security exercise was Minister of Defence II, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof who is also the Chairman of the National Security Committee, and Minister of Communications Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof. Also in attendance were members of the National Security Committee and the National Civil Aviation Security Committee.

The security exercise which commenced at 9.30pm saw the presence of different agencies at the Brunei International Airport including the Ministry of Health (MoH), Ministry of Communications (MinCom), Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), Fire and Rescue Department (FRD), Immigration and National Registration Department, Department of Civil Aviation (DCA), Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) and other agencies of interest. The exercise concluded at about 3.30am yesterday.

Towards the conclusion of the security exercise, an evaluation was made to identify the effectiveness of response procedures during the security drill.

|    Azlan Othman    |

BRUNEI Darussalam’s real GDP growth is projected to be 1.6 per cent this year and 3.4 per cent next year with inflation rates of 0.2 per cent in 2018 and 0.4 per cent in 2019, according to a report by ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO).

Next year onwards, the pace of the country’s economic growth is projected to increase rapidly on the back of the performance of new downstream industries that will commence commercial production and exports from 2019, AMRO revealed in its flagship ‘ASEAN+3 Regional Economic Outlook (AREO) 2018’ report released on Wednesday.

ASEAN+3 includes 10 ASEAN economies and three other large economies – China, Japan and South Korea.

“Resource-dependent economies like Brunei Darussalam have begun the process of trade integration through manufactured goods exports, or are in the process of diversifying their economies away from mining towards manufacturing,” the report said.

“After four years of contraction, the Brunei economy showed signs of improvement, driven by a recovery in the oil and gas sector and an expansion in investment.

“Between 2013 and 2016, the economy contracted as oil prices plummeted to their lowest level in a decade and oil production suffered from unexpected disruptions.

“Since the second quarter of 2017, growth has improved on the back of higher oil and gas production and expanding private investment,” the report noted.

“A moderate recovery in oil and gas prices and further progress of major infrastructure and foreign direct investment (FDI) construction projects are expected to contribute to positive GDP growth of 0.6 and 1.6 per cent in 2017 and 2018, respectively.

“For 2018, inflation is expected to turn positive in line with strengthening domestic demand,” it added.

The report also said exports during January to November 2017 grew by 11.5 per cent compared to -22.4 per cent in the previous year in line with a modest recovery in oil prices.

However, during the same period, imports grew by 14.4 per cent, rising from -18 per cent in the previous year due to the implementation of the two large scale construction projects (Temburong Bridge Project and Hengyi Oil Refinery and Petrochemical Plant Project).

Given that the services and secondary income accounts remained in deficit, the current account surplus is projected to continue to decline.

Nevertheless, it is expected to improve from 2019 onwards as the downstream industries begin their commercial production and exports, the AREO 2018 report said.

AMRO report added, “Looking ahead, high reliance on oil and gas-related factors will continue to pose risks to the economy and the fiscal sector.

There are two main risks related to the oil and gas sector: unexpected disruption in production due to ageing of oil fields and unfavourable global oil and gas prices in the medium term.

“Brunei’s economic growth and the fiscal sector are highly dependent on oil and gas production and global energy prices.

“The government sector has a very significant role in the economy with government consumption and investment accounting for more than 30 per cent of GDP.

“A further decline in oil and gas-related revenue may significantly limit the government’s capacity to support growth.”

On the regional front, AMRO said economic growth remains robust, reflecting the sustained expansion in domestic demand supported by expansionary macroeconomic policies as well as the stronger impulse from the global trade upcycle.

In most regional economies, financing conditions remain favourable amid resilient capital inflows, particularly into debt capital markets.

The positive outlook is expected to continue in the near term, although the risks of trade protectionism and tighter financial conditions have increased recently.

Boosted by favourable conditions in the global economy, regional economic growth is sustained, underpinned by resilient domestic demand and supported by expansionary macroeconomic policies and a stronger impulse from exports.

On the domestic demand side, private consumption remains resilient, underpinned by improving labour markets, higher earnings of commodity exporters from rising commodity prices, and to some extent, the easing of household debt in some economies.

In some economies such as Thailand, the start of mega-infrastructure projects is expected to provide additional impetus to growth in the period ahead.

On investment, the outlook remains positive, given the ongoing implementation of public infrastructure projects in some regional economies.

With strengthening domestic demand and a positive near-term export outlook, regional economic growth is projected to be sustained around mid-five per cent level in 2018-19, while inflation is expected to be largely stable at around two per cent level.

Most regional economies are in a mid-business cycle with a small output gap around trend growth. Some regional economies are in the late business cycle, with emerging signs of inflation and external imbalance.

AMRO’s baseline growth projection for the ASEAN+3 region is 5.4 per cent for 2018 and 5.2 per cent for 2019.

Notwithstanding, headline inflation in the region is expected to be largely stable at 2.1 per cent in 2018 and two per cent in 2019. Underlying inflation remains well anchored.

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

IN CONJUNCTION with World Breastfeeding Week 2018 celebration, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital yesterday held a Nursing Covers Presentation Ceremony to mothers who have just given birth.

The ceremony took place at the lobby area of the Women and Children’s Centre.

Spouse of Minister of Health Datin Dr Hajah Noraslinah binti Haji Ramlee was the guest of honour. Also present were Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Nik Hafimi binti Abdul Haadii, directors, Acting CEO of RIPAS Hospital, senior officers from the Ministry of Health and RIPAS Hospital.

The event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat led by Education Officer of the Religious Service Unit of the RIPAS Hospital Ustaz Ahmad Syuja’iee bin Mudim Matassim.

It continued with the distribution of nursing covers to the mothers of newborns by Datin Dr Hajah Noraslinah and Yang Berhormat Nik Hafimi. The event was part of the ministry’s initiative to support the welfare and protect infants and children’s health through breastfeeding.

The event also saw a demonstration on how to wear nursing covers led by the hospital’s staff followed with the ‘breastfeeding wave’ where mothers gathered to breastfeed their babies in an enclosed area for a minute witnessed by the guest of honour.

Such an event is hoped to encourage breastfeeding practices among new mothers as it provides comfort and privacy for them whenever they need to feed their babies, be it in an enclosed space or in the public area.

The theme of this year’s celebration is ‘Breastfeeding: The Foundation of Life’, which highlights the importance of breastfeeding as a healthy practice in ensuring that all infants have the best start in life.

Various sectors are encouraged to cooperate in protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding practices to achieve mutual benefits and to produce sustainable results with a much greater impact than a person’s effort.

|     Lyna Mohamad     |

A MEMORANDUM of Understanding (MoU) between Takaful Brunei Am Sdn Bhd (TBA) and Continental Yachting Sdn Bhd (Continental Travel) was officially signed at a ceremony at the Continental Travels office in Gadong yesterday.

Representing TBA was its General Manager Barudin bin Haji Kudil and Deputy General Manager Mohd Suffian bin Haji Mohd Salleh, while Continental Travel was represented by its Directors Haji Zainal Abidin bin Haji Mohd Daud and Haji Mohd Fawzi bin Haji Zainal Abidin.

Acting Managing Director of Syarikat Takaful Brunei Darussalam Sdn Bhd (STBD) Haji Shahrildin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Lela Utama Dato Paduka Haji Jaya witnessed the signing as the guest of honour.

Through the MoU, TBA will provide Continental Travel clients with the new and improved Takaful Musafir (travel insurance) for their Haj and Umrah packages.

TBA will also become Continental Travel’s official Takaful provider for the Umrah and Haj pilgrims for the next three years.

Takaful Musafir was recently upgraded with more coverage and benefits providing two comprehensive Individual Packages (Naim and Firdaus) and Family/Group Package, essential Takaful protection and benefits for travelling needs.

Thirteen coverage benefits were added on top of the existing 11, including coverage for medical expenses, loss of credit card, loss of travel documents, medical evacuation and repatriation, and baggage loss or damage while being abroad.

|     Azlan Othman     |

FROM the total of road accidents resulting in fatalities to date this year, it was found that four deaths were caused by either the driver or passenger failing to fasten their seatbelts during the mishaps.

These findings were made from preliminary reports of the accidents, visits to the accident sites, autopsies on the victims and analysis of damage suffered by the vehicles, as well as other related observations.

Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications Dr Haji Supry bin Haji Awang Ladi highlighted this at a media press conference yesterday.

Dr Haji Supry added that the report and results from the visits revealed that drivers or passengers using seatbelts survived the accidents and only sustained injuries.

The Brunei National Road Safety Council (BNRSC) urged all drivers and passengers to use seatbelts when on the road, even for short journeys.

Citing empirical evidence to highlight the importance of seatbelts, Dr Haji Supry said, “World Health Organization (WHO) and New Car Assessment Programme (NCAP) studies have shown that wearing seatbelts in an accident situation will increase the safety level up to 50 per cent for drivers and passengers at the front, and 75 per cent for rear passengers.”

“Road safety campaigns,” he added, “have been carried out before and will continue to be held. However, from our monitoring since the beginning of the year, it appears that there are still drivers or passengers who do not wear seatbelts. We need to take this issue seriously if we are to save lives and reduce the number of road accident mortalities.”

Meanwhile, Acting Director of the Traffic Control and Investigation Department (JSKLL) of the Royal Brunei Police Force Senior Superintendent Husaini bin Haji Matzain noted that 1,373 cases of drivers and passengers not fastening their seatbelts were recorded in 2017, while from January till July this year, 381 cases were registered.

Acting Director of Land Transport Pengiran Mohd Amirizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, also pointed out that from the Land Transport Department (JPD) Enforcement Division’s ‘On the Move’ operation, 22 drivers were compounded and given Drive Safety Practice Systemt (SiKAP) demerit points from April to July 2018.

He added that drivers failing to comply with the acts and regulations specially stipulated for not wearing seatbelts while driving will be handed compound fines and demerit points as follows:

For the first offence, a fine of BND150 and nine SiKAP demerit points will be imposed. For the second offence, a fine of BND300 and nine SiKAP demerit points will be imposed, and for new drivers, their licence will be revoked for one year.

For the third offence, the driver will be slapped with a fine of BND500 and nine SiKAP demerit points, and have their driving licence suspended for three months. For the fourth offence, the driver may be summoned to the courts and handed a greater fine.

Dr Haji Supry said it was imperative that the public understand the importance of fastening their seatbelts while on the road, not just to avoid being fined and demerit points, but more pertinently to safeguard their own lives during accidents and as a civic embrace of their responsibility in road safety.

“The best gift for your family is when you get home safely,” he said.

|     James Kon     |

NATIONAL Wushu athlete Ang Guat Lian from Universiti Brunei Darussalam bagged the bronze medal in the Taichijian event at the 2018 FISU World University Wushu Championship currently taking place in Macau, China.

Ang Guat Lian finished with 9.05 points to take third place outscoring her nearest rival Megan Tsang of Canada who claimed fourth place with nine points.

Hong Kong’s Juanita Mok won the gold medal after scoring 9.27 points followed by Lituhayu Kamilia of Indonesia with 9.25 points.

“I am really happy with her performance. She did better than the previous Tajiquan event because she was a bit nervous during the first competition,” said national wushu coach Li Hun.

Mohd Sufi Shayiran bin Roslan will compete in the Nanquan event today.

|    Fadhil Yunus    |

FU ZHOU Shiyyi Association will join YTE in the final of the YOU-C 1000 Basketball Cup after eliminating Teo & Sons in the last four with a 116-102 victory at the Brunei Basketball Association Court in Batu Bersurat last night.

Teo & Sons were dealt a severe blow early in the first quarter after foreign import Rashad Ali was handed two technical fouls which resulted in the player not having any part of the match.

Fu Zhou Shiyyi Association slowly built a 12-point lead as Kevin Tay set the tone with a delightful three-pointer and Mike Fey racking up the free throws.

The Group ‘A’ winners turned on the style punctuated by an excellent combination which initially started with a pass from Don Mordeno who supplied the ball to Fey before his quick release set up Darrel Dela Cruz for a fine team move.

Josh White, who featured for large periods of the game, was also instrumental in another link-up play after combining well with Fey who provided another assist for a three-pointer.

Fu Zhou were raining three pointers with White and Tay running hot as Frederick tried to pick his team Teo & Sons with a three pointer of his own.

Fey also demonstrated his defensive abilities with an emphatic block though shortly after Frederick Jones trimmed the lead to 19 points with his free throw.

Fu Zhou ensured that they finished the first quarter carrying a lead of more than 20 points after RJ Lucida managed to make a two-point play with virtually the last second.

Josh White dropped a three-pointer to continue his good run of points as his side’s lead grew as wide as 25 points but Teo & Sons managed to cut it down to 19 at the end of the second quarter.

Then, a good start from Teo & Sons in the early period of the third quarter laid the foundation of a stunning comeback as they rallied to see their deficit reduced to a manageable 12 points.

Fu Zhou Shiyyi Association endured a setback after Darrell Dela Cruz was forced off the court due to an injury.

Fu Zhou had brought on Don Mordeno from the reserves in the start of the second half and he helped bring calm to his side by extending their lead to 15 points.

Josh White delivered another three-pointer as Fu Zhou started to pull away before his strong drive in the box helped his side to regain a healthy lead that they had built in the first half.

Fu Zhou’s Lim Liang Wei also had an impressive display after a 25-point game in the second half helped his side clear of a possible resurgence from Teo & Sons.

|     Aziz Idris     |

MD ZAKWAN bin Dr Haji Airwan of St Margaret’s School, Seria talked his way to the hearts of the judges to emerge as champion of the 11th Oratory Competition organised by the Brunei English Language Teachers Association (BELTA) yesterday.

Managing Director of Insurans Islam TAIB Holding Sdn Bhd Haji Osman bin Haji Mohd Jair, as the guest of honour, handed over the prizes.

First-runner up was Ampuan Amirah Farahiyah binti Ampuan Haji Mohammad from St Angela’s School, Seria followed by Syasya Sahira binti Yusop from Sports School.

The champion walked home with the coveted Pehin Rahman Taib Trophy along with book prizes worth BND500 while the first runner up received book prizes worth BND400 and the second runner up received book prizes worth BND300.

All top winners also received book vouchers and certificate of participations.

Other finalists received book prizes worth BND100, competition trophies, book vouchers and certificate of participation.

The 11th Oratory Competition began on July 20 with the qualifying rounds and saw students from 20 secondary schools presented speeches on various topics and issues.

However, only eight schools managed to go into the finals.

A pre-competition workshop was held on July 31 during which the eight finalists were briefed on public speaking skills to prepare them for the final round.

During the final, each participant was given five minutes to speak. Judges gave points for the use of public speaking skills; stance, delivery, clarity and the construction of the speech.

In his welcoming remarks, the President of BELTA, Abdul Wafi Sia bin Abdullah Sia said that every year, each finalist were given one topic based on a theme and this year, the theme was to honour and commemorate the 72nd birthday of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

He hoped that all participants of the 11th BELTA Oratory Competition will “help enthuse confidence and develop their ability to research, reason and to express themselves through the articulation of constructive, positive views as well as hopefully inspiring ideas”.

The inaugural competition was held in 2007 and has since become one of the most anticipated English Language competitions among secondary schools in the country.

The 11th BELTA Oratory Competition 2018 is sponsored by Insurans Islam TAIB and fully supported by the Brunei Darussalam Teachers Academy (BDTA), Ministry of Education.

|     Azaraimy HH     |

A DELEGATION from the Brunei History Association (PESEBAR) is participating in the ‘ECU-Tourism with an International Conference’ in Bandung, Indonesia. Joining the Brunei group are delegations from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

The event, held from August 1-5, is an educational tour and international seminar themed ‘Politics of Education and Its Implications towards Social, Cultural and Human Resources Development in Asian Countries’.

It is jointly organised by the Association of Indonesian Scholars of History Education (ASPENSI), Indonesia and BRIMAN Institute, Brunei Darussalam.

The conference is meant to be a platform for the participants to engage in discussions and share ideas on the latest political developments and issues within East Asia. During the seminar, the Brunei delegation contributed a working paper titled Dibalik Tersurat, Apa Tersirat: Pentafsiran Sejarah Alam Melayu Menurut Hamka.

The paper, delivered by Honorary Secretary of the PESEBAR and Senior Lecturer at the Department of History, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Professor Dr Haji Hasbol bin Haji Mail, notably covered the contributions of Haji Abdul Malik Karim Amrullah – more widely known among history scholars as Hamka – in the interpretations of historical studies in the Malay world.

In his presentation, Professor Dr Haji Hasbol touched on Hamka’s accounts on Tun Jana Khatib and the legends of Anggun Che’ Tunggal. He also discussed Brunei’s historical literatures through traditional texts such as Syair Rakis.

In a statement, PESEBAR said that their members’ participation in the conference is part of its objective of spreading to the outside world understanding and awareness of Brunei’s history, heritage, and socio-cultural and political makeup, in addition to creating regional and international cooperation – particularly in the fields of education and historical studies.

|     Aziz Idris     |

IN CONJUNCTION with National Savings Day 2018, Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD) yesterday launched the Financial Fun Fair at the Jerudong Park Colonnade aimed at promoting financial literacy and green initiatives.

Carrying the theme ‘Financially Literate Generation’ the two-day event was launched by the Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong in his capacity as the Deputy Chairman of AMBD Board of Directors.

The objective of the fun fair was to provide an entertaining environment to learn financial management concepts such as saving, budgeting and debt management.

Local financial institutions Baiduri Bank, Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD), Employees Trust Fund (TAP), Takaful Brunei Keluarga Sdn Bhd (TBK), Great Eastern Life Assurance Company Limited, Standard Chartered Bank, Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB), Insurans Islam TAIB along with the Ministry of Education participated in the event.

The family-oriented event offers games and activities suitable for all.

These include Escape Room, upcycling tips from UPSYKL Enterprise, doodling with Skethone, and Guess the Price competition.

Members form the Royal Brunei Police Force and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Cadet band also performed at the event.

As part of the National Savings Day 2018, AMBD will also organise a Financial Showcase at The Mall, Gadong on September 1-2.

|     James Kon     |

FOLLOWING growing concerns over the increase in suicides or and attempted suicides in the country, the Ministry of Health (MoH) is developing a national helpline to help those thinking of suicide or those in need of advice to help a person with suicidal thoughts.

The ministry will provide an update to the public once this national helpline is available, Director General of Medical and Health Services Pengiran Dr Haji Md Khalifah bin Pengiran Haji Ismail said during a press conference at the Ministry of Health yesterday.

He also revealed that the ministry is currently seeking assistance from overseas experts on the best practices of effectively setting up the helpline and hoped that the helpline will be up and running this year.

The director general also urged members of the public to be cautious about unauthorised individuals or entities that claim to provide professional mental health or suicide support through any websites, unverified telephone numbers or mobile applications in the country.

The Ministry of Health is aware and concerned that there have been recent reports of suicides or attempted suicides in our community and wishes to provide advice and reassurance to the public, he said.

“Suicide is a major public health issue with wide-ranging consequences encompassing social, emotional and economic outcomes. One in five people are likely to experience a mental health problem in their lifetime. The factors that lead an individual to suicide are usually multiple and complex; these include mental disorders such as depression, addiction problems such as drug abuse and socio-economic problems such as debt, financial and relationship difficulties,” he said.

“Effective suicide prevention requires participation from multiple government and non- government sectors as well as the community as a whole. Public awareness and understanding about suicide play significant roles in suicide prevention, and may encourage those at risk of suicide to seek help. It is strongly advised for individuals to seek immediate help if they are experiencing thoughts of suicide. Speak to a friend or family member that you trust and seek professional help from a doctor or a psychologist,” Pengiran Dr Haji Md Khalifah added.

He said the Ministry of Health offers walk-in psychology clinics that provide counselling and ‘Talk Therapy’ during office hours.

In emergency cases where one is seriously at risk of suicide, and if it is out of office hours, individuals are advised to attend the Accident & Emergency Department of the nearest hospital to be assessed and treated. On-call mental health doctors are available 24 hours a day to assess patients when needed.

In non-emergency cases, members of the public can also seek assistance from health professionals at any of the health centres.

Doctors will be able to make an assessment and provide patients with suitable treatment. Additionally, the patient may also be referred to a mental health specialist or a psychiatrist.

“The Ministry of Health would also like to emphasise the importance of providing support to individuals who are at risk of suicide and to treating him or her with respect. Offering help to a family member, friend or colleague, such as listening to their concerns, asking the person what you can do to help or offering to accompany them to see a doctor or a psychologist can make a lot of difference. This may also include calling up an ambulance or the police for assistance if the person is at serious risk of suicide.”

Superintendent of Police Pengiran Haji Abdul Salam bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Ghani, Acting Officer Commanding Police District (OCPD) of Brunei-Muara said 46 suicide cases were recorded in the country from 2014 to August 2018 – six cases in 2014, eight cases in 2015, eight cases in 2016, 13 cases in 2017 and 11 cases from January to August this year. The 2017 figures showed an increase of 62.5 per cent compared to previous years.

Of the 46 suicide cases, 31 victims are foreigners – nine Philippine nationals, eight Bangladesh nationals, seven Indian nationals, two Thai nationals, four Indonesia nationals and one Chinese national.

He also disclosed that there were 43 cases of attempted suicide from 2014 to August 2018 comprising five cases in 2014, 11 cases in 2015, 11 cases in 2016, nine cases in 2017 and seven cases from January to August 2018.

“The numbers are worrying despite the fact that the rate of suicide and attempted suicide is still low in Brunei compared to other countries,” Superintendent Pengiran Haji Abdul Salam said.

According to him, investigations have revealed that the victims committed suicide due to stress in life like debts, household problems, unstable mental condition and anxiety. There are also some cases where the reasons are unknown.

“The Royal Brunei Police Force would like to urge family members and friends to always care for their loved ones and be aware of any sudden change in their behaviour. They should immediately seek assistance to solve the problem through counselling services or appropriate treatment,” he said.

|     Lyna Mohamad     |

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 made a surprise visit to the Female Hostel of the Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (ITQSHHB) at Jalan Ong Sum Ping yesterday.

Upon arrival, His Majesty was greeted by Deputy Students Affairs Officer of ITQSHHB Haji Md Khairil Faisal bin Haji Abu Bakar; Head of Hostel Hajah Hasni binti Haji Md Salleh; Welfare Officer at ITQSHHB Hartini binti Haji Hassin and Hostel Supervisor Noramalina binti Haji Jumat.

Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud; Permanent Secretary (Law and Welfare) at the PMO Haji Mohammed Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim and Acting Principal of ITQSHHB Pengiran Haji Amiruddin bin Pengiran Haji Damit were also present.

His Majesty first visited the classrooms at the female hostel building and then proceeded to tour the facilities provided at the hostel including the prayer hall and the dorms. After the tour, His Majesty was ushered into the Conference Room for a close dialogue session with the teaching staff and students of the institute.

Prior to leaving the hostel premises, His Majesty consented to a Junjung Ziarah from the teaching staff, officers and staff as well as students.

The unscheduled visit, part of the continuous efforts by the monarch to ensure that all strategies and initiatives relating to education are effectively implemented at education institutions in the country to the highest quality and are making positive impact on improving the quality of teaching and learning, provided His Majesty an opportunity to observe the hostel’s activities first-hand.

During the visit, the monarch took a closer look at the infrastructure of the hostel in ensuring that the building and the learning block are in good condition and the welfare of the institute’s teachers and students are well taken care of.

The female hostel is divided into four units and has 57 rooms including a living room, a prayer hall, an administration room and a students’ dining hall.

It accommodates 144 students of the institute of which 135 are secondary students and nine are ‘Aliyah Qiraat Diploma students. ITQSHHB has 178 students for the 2018 academic year (from Year 7 to Year 11 and Diploma ‘Aliyah Qiraat Year 1 to Year 3).

Students staying at the hostel are allowed to go home once a week and during public holidays.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

YTE emerged champions of the YOU-C 1000 Basketball Cup after a hard-fought 80-77 win over Fu Zhou Shiyyi Association in an enthralling final at the Brunei Basketball Association Court in Batu Bersurat last night.

YTE foreign import Udun Osakue started the points rolling for his side and his heroics was equally matched by Fu Zhou Shiyyi Association’s own foreign import Mike Fey.

Terrell Carter of YTE found the Fu Zhou defence tough to break but in the end managed to find a way to make a two-pointer before Lim Aik Hock extended his side’s lead.

Osakue cleverly left the ball behind with Carter behind in a move which took a few Fu Zhou players out of the equation who were defending the former allowing the latter with the simplest of tasks to guide the ball into the hoop.

He continued his individual brilliance with a fine assist for Eric Navarro before Fu Zhou responded with a two-point play through Lim Liang Wei.

Wei looked destined to bury a two-pointer but a crucial block denied him and subsequently a fast break occurred as Osakue ferried another wonderful assist which was gleefully accepted by E Requintin.

However, Fu Zhou finished strongly at the end of the first quarter as Josh White made a five-point play to ensure that both sides enter the second quarter locked at 20-20.

White had called for the ball which he accepted from a pass by Don Mordeno and his fine work resulted in another trey with virtually no time left on the clock.

Osakue started the second quarter in a similar fashion as the first after he was left with an empty court before winning a rebound at the other end of the court illustrating his all-around play.

Fey powered his way into the painted area to ensure his team draw level before Carter made two points amid pressure from Fey.

Carter won his side a free throw with the insurance of a two-point play to extend his team’s lead to four points.

YTE raced to a 14-point lead heading into the second half which was the widest margin that they had established all game after Osakue dropped a three-pointer.

However, that advantage was spectacularly wiped out following a combination of resurgence and high attacking intensity from Fu Zhou Shiyyi Association, who like YTE hold an unbeaten record in the final.

Wei was at the centre of action epitomising his qualities of enticing the YTE defence into giving away fouls as the margin slowly decreased.

The momentum clearly swung in the favour of Fu Zhou and despite Wei finding out that there is no access with Carter and Shim Jan Ting in his sights, his team received better news throw back-to-back three-pointers from White and Fey as their deficit withered down to just one.

It got better than that as Fu Zhou led the match for the first time as Fey dropped a three-pointer with YTE now in trouble.

Fu Zhou was awarded a penalty after Navarro was adjudged to have committed a foul on Mordeno who took maximum points to help his side into a one-point lead with 20 seconds of the third quarter to go.

Fey saw a three-pointer sink to ensure his side enter the final stanza carrying a four-point lead.

Osakue again started the fourth quarter with the first points but Fey continued his hot streak with another three pointer as his side enjoyed a five-point lead.

YTE’s Shim Jan Ting was sharp with his shooting as he let go maximum free throws and another one in his next visit to keep his side in with a shout.

Mordeno turned on the style with a three-pointer to help his side regain a five-point lead but Osakue came back to remind them that they were still in the mood.

White then converted another three-pointer as Fu Zhou jumped into a six-point lead but Osakue found Carter with a nicely-crafted pass to end the consecutive run of points for their opponents.

Lim Aik Hock capitalised on a loose ball to put his side two points away from catching Fu Zhou but Wei came up with the goods to bring his team in front by four.

However, YTE finally found a route back into the match courtesy of a two-pointer by Osakue after being left wide open with an empty court having initially made two points for his team in his previous visit at the offensive end of the court.

Osakue made a crucial block to prevent Wei from making two points and in the other end Requintin helped his side to a five-point lead with the clock reading 00:39.

Wei made the last shot for Fu Zhou but it was too late as time ran out as Requintin got the ball on the other end of the court hence confirming YTE as champions.

Meanwhile, Udun Osakue of YTE scooped the Best Player award, while Teo & Sons defeated Easyway 90-87 to clinch third place in the tournament.

Managing Director of Hui Huang Enterprise Hii Hua King presented the prizes.

|     James Kon     |

THE Brunei Darussalam Go Association (BDGA) recently sent a delegation of three players, led by President Lim Chai Hui, to the first CiaoLink Vietnam International Invitational Team-Go Tournament 2018 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Organised by CiaoLink and Vietnam Go Club, this is the first time Vietnam Go Community has ever hosted an International Invitational Go Event.

The Brunei delegation comprised Sia Kao Xiang (2-dan), Tran Thanh Mai (3-dan) and Tran Quy Nhan (3-dan).

Eight teams took part in the competition, coming from Singapore, Brunei, Thailand, Malaysia and Korea. Vietnam sent three teams.

The tournament was split into two group matches of three rounds to decide the top two finalists from each group to compete in the semi-final and final.

The Brunei team failed to clinch the two top spots in the semi-final of the group matches against the Korea team, CiaoLink Vietnam team and Ho Chi Minh team.

Despite the defeat, the event provides good platform for future Go Development in Vietnam and tourism in Hanoi.

Lim and her team, who represented BDGA, found the Hanoi trip to be a fruitful experience, and look forward to the next event that Vietnam Go Community will organise next year.

|     Daniel Lim     |

ARIANNA Castanero binti Bakar won first place in the lower primary category of St Angela’s School (SAS)’s English story-telling competition with her story of ‘The Arrogant Swan’. Jermyn Messi Sandai Ak Jickson was in second place with the story of ‘The Boy Who Cried Wolf’, while Jasper bin Joseph with the story ‘The Just Ruler’ placed third.

Meanwhile, Jolin Chang Mei Tin placed first with her performance of ‘The Lion and the Clever Fox’ in the upper primary category. Zen Tay Xiang Yang, who presented the story of ‘Why the Sea is Salty’ and Yong Siaw Eah with the story on ‘The Elephant’s Trunk’ were in second and third places.

Principal of SAS Chea Wann Ching handed over trophies to the winners.

SAS held the competition at its parish hall on Saturday, showcasing the primary students’ presentation skills.

The competition aimed to boost the students’ self confidence in public speaking and help further develop their fluency in the English Language.

Present to witness the students’ performances were parents and guardians.

Twenty-one primary students participated as they told a variety of stories, ranging from fantasy, fairy tales and folklore. The students competed in two categories: lower primary (Years 1 to 3) and upper primary category (Years 4 to 5).

Thirteen lower primary students took part in the competition, while eight were in the upper primary category.

The participants were judged on the content of the story, how it was delivered, use of language and voice projection. The panel of judges comprised teachers from schools across the country, invited by SAS to invigilate the competition. The principal handed over a token of appreciation to the judges near the end of the competition.

Students also held dance performances to enliven the atmosphere.