|     Hakim Hayat     |

SQ STONE Sdn Bhd yesterday officially launched into service new tipper trucks for transportation in the quarry industry, hoping to pave the way in expanding the transportation service industry in the country.

The new tipper trucks were launched by the guest of honour, Minister of Energy, Manpower and Industry Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein in a ceremony at The Empire Hotel & Country Club.

Also present was Chairman of SQ Stone Sdn Bhd Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Indera Negara Pengiran Anak Haji Puteh ibni Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam.

SQ Stone Sdn Bhd is an established company that is heavily involved in the quarry industry here, and has been bridging the importation of crushed stones to Brunei on a daily basis since 2000.

Director of SQ Stone Sdn Bhd Pengiran Haji Mohd Isman Hisham bin Pengiran Haji Othman in his welcoming remarks expressed gratitude for the continuous support 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 in providing assistance and advice on pursuing their efforts to be actively involved in the transportation service industry.

With the launch of the new Howo model tipper trucks from China, Pengiran Haji Mohd Isman Hisham said that it will add more opportunities both in the transportation service and also technical support for young Bruneians in the industry.

“We are here to start and expand extensively in this field of transportation service industry and look forward to create more employment opportunities for young Bruneians in this industry,” he added.

A cake was also jointly cut by the guest of honour and Chairman of SQ Stone to mark the launch of the new tipper trucks.

|     Hakim Hayat     |

THE outgoing Chief of Army of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Zulkiple bin Haji Kassim on Monday called on Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Major General Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud.

During the call at Berakas Garrison, both sides reaffirmed the long-standing close relationship between the RBAF and the MAF, and noted the good progress made in elevating the relationship, bolstered through a multitude of interactions such as exchange visits, cross-attendance courses, professional exchanges, trainings, as well as bilateral and multilateral exercises.

General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Zulkiple was in the Sultanate for a farewell visit from August 4-6. He also visited the Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF) Headquarters and was accorded a guard of honour, comprising personnel from the Third Battalion (3Bn) RBLF led by Lieutenant Md Affandi bin Juna.

He also called on the Commander of RBLF Brigadier General Dato Seri Pahlawan Khairul Hamed bin Haji Lampoh, where both sides assured that the excellent and warm relations between both land forces will continue to be enhanced in the future.

General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Zulkiple and his delegation participated in interactions with senior military officers from the RBAF and also attended a dinner hosted by the RBLF Commander.

|     James Kon     |

DIRECTOR General of Road Transport Department Malaysia Dato’ Sri Shaharuddin bin Khalid proposed the formal establishment of a steering committee for bilateral cooperation and a technical committee from both countries yesterday to better address issues of movement in cross border transportation.

He also proposed that the steering committee could host meetings twice a year; once in Brunei Darussalam and once in Malaysia.

The proposal was raised during a bilateral meeting between Road Transport Department Malaysia with Land Transport Department (JPD) of Brunei Darussalam at the JPD Headquarters in Beribi.

Dato’ Sri Shaharuddin, who is leading a delegation of officials from the Road Transport Department, Malaysia, said, “This is our first formal working visit to Brunei Darussalam to further boost cooperation between Road Transport Department, Malaysia and JPD.

The aim of the visit is to align and share information on the procedure on traffic enforcement practised between both countries.

“This is a universal issue between Brunei and Malaysia because both countries are connected through Sabah or Sarawak.

“The visit is also to forage strategic cooperation between Brunei and Malaysia as well as to build regional cooperation in the spirit of ASEAN member countries,” he added.

In the current global trend, Dato’ Sri Shaharuddin noted that there will be continuous changes in the future and one day, there may be autonomous vehicles on the road.

“Toward this, Malaysia and Brunei needs to think of how to address the on the road technology.”

Meanwhile Acting Director of Land Transport Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud said, “The transportation sector has entered a challenging era. The department and Ministry of Communications need to undergo transformation to be competitive and more effective to facilitate in Ease of Doing Business, to be relevant in the regional and global stage as well as to achieve Brunei Vision 2035.

“We will be able to share the best practices implemented by JPD and Road Transport Department Malaysia, to share latest development in the field of transportation like public bus, taxi, electric car and others, enforcement affairs, vehicle mobility between both countries and discussion to strengthen the administration system of transportation sector,” said Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal.

Also present from the Road Transport Department, Malaysia were Director of Vehicle Licensing Division Dato Mohd Rusdi bin Mohd Darus, Deputy Director of Enforcement Division Dato Ahmad Nasir bin Abdul Gani, Director of Sarawak’s Road Transport Department Malaysia Mohd Syafiq Anas bin Abdullah, and Director of Sabah’s Road Transport Department Malaysia Haji Sadim bin Haji Abdul.

|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

THE Brunei Young Leaders Convention (BYLC) 2018 officially kicked off yesterday at the Goldstone Ballroom of The Centrepoint Hotel, Gadong.

The first-of-its-kind event, organised by Al-Huffaz Management and Generasi Berkarih and launched by Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, will continue until tomorrow.

The convention’s objective is to gather youth development agencies and youth between the ages of 18 to 40 in a common setting, where they will be provided with updated information on Brunei Vision 2035 and given the opportunity to plan projects or programmes in support of the long-term development plan.

Some 200 youth of various backgrounds will participate in the convention, including representatives from 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, local NGOs, as well as specialists and professionals from various fields.

The event’s theme, ‘Believe, Empower, Lead, Inspire and Act’ or ‘BELIA’, serves to highlight a paradigm shift or mindset change that is required among the youth to achieve Brunei Vision 2035.

Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Iswandy bin Ahmad, who is also the convention leader said that the event will focus on three main objectives: Producing well-educated and highly skilled citizens; creating a high standard of living among Bruneians; and realising a dynamic and sustainable economy.

The launching also saw the minister presenting certificates of appreciation to the event sponsors and supporters.

This was followed by a keynote presentation on Brunei Vision 2035 delivered by Administrative Officer Special Grade of the Sekretariat Tetap Wawasan Brunei 2035 Muhammad Aziman bin Haji Awang Nasir.

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports then facilitated a sharing session called ‘Youth Snapshot’, where a number of youth speakers shared their experiences in pursuing their goals and dreams.

A session titled ‘Be the Change’ was held later in the afternoon by the Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies (CSPS), followed by a networking session for the convention’s youth mentors and all participants.

|     Danial Norjidi     |

AS A precautionary measure against the entry of bird flu into Brunei Darussalam, the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood has announced a temporary ban on imports of live poultry, chicks, ducklings, fertilised eggs, fresh eggs, chicken meat and chicken feed in to the country from Sabah, Malaysia.

According to the department, the decision to freeze imports was taken following an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which was confirmed to have occurred in the Tuaran District of Sabah on August 3 through the Department of Veterinary Services of Sabah.

In a press statement, the department explained that the HPAI is a type of zoonotic disease that can infect not only poultry but also humans.

It was shared that the bird flu epidemic can lead to bad implications for the poultry industry in this country and that the spread rate of this disease is very high and can cause “up to 100 per cent” death of poultry.

This temporary freeze is being enforced immediately until a date that will be announced later.

The withdrawal of the temporary freeze is subject to confirmation of being free of the bird flu by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). However, imports from Sarawak in Malaysia and Kalimantan in Indonesia are unaffected.

Commercial importers are also advised to get supplies for the above commodities from other exporting countries that have a status of being free from avian flu.

In this regard, as a precautionary measure the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism advised the public to cooperate and not to carry animals or livestock goods to the country without permission from the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood.

The press statement added that members of the public are also advised to watch out for smuggling activities, particularly of live poultry, chicks, ducks, fertilised eggs, fresh eggs, chicken meat and chicken feed in the country, in together dealing with the entry of avian flu into the country.

“COMMEMORATING ASEAN Day is an opportunity for us to reflect on the achievements of our association as well as a chance for us to celebrate how much our region and its people have grown over the past 51 years,” said 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 in the monarch’s ASEAN Day message 2018.

The message: “Throughout during this period, ASEAN has experienced significant economic progress and technological advancements as well as growing support from external partners for ASEAN’s community-building process.

Our region has benefitted from these developments through improvements to our education and health systems as well as the expansion of infrastructures that have raised the living standards for our people.

Nevertheless, developmental challenges to the region still remain and coupled with other issues of the 21st Century such as disruptive technology, climate change and the threat from terrorism and violent extremism, require the collective efforts of countries to overcome.

In this regard, ASEAN continues to provide a platform for its member states and partners to cooperate and work with each other to achieve common goals.

With the ASEAN Community Vision 2025, we are committed to realising a region that is politically cohesive, economically integrated and socially responsible for its people.

This involves a broad range of cooperation including addressing cybersecurity, promoting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), protecting the natural environment and developing our youth for the future.

At the same time, ASEAN will continue to enhance cooperation with its regional and international partners to ensure peace, security and prosperity in Southeast Asia and the wider region.

We fully support Singapore and their work as ASEAN Chairman in 2018 under their theme ‘Resilient and Innovative ASEAN’. Brunei Darussalam will continue working with Singapore as well as with other ASEAN members and regional partners in achieving our common goals for the benefit of all its people.

My best wishes for a very happy ASEAN Day and our continued hope for a bright future for ASEAN and its people.”

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

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 paid a surprise visit to the Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (ITQSHHB) at Jalan Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha.

The visit was a follow up to the monarch’s visit to the Female Hostel of ITQSHHB at Jalan Ong Sum Ping on August 4.

Upon arrival, His Majesty was greeted by Acting Principal of ITQSHHB Pengiran Haji Amiruddin bin Pengiran Haji Damit as well as teachers, officers, staff members and students of the institute.

His Majesty began the visit by taking a closer look at the condition of the institute’s facilities for the teaching staff and students to ensure that their welfare is well taken care of. Among the facilities included classrooms, administrative office, surau, dining area, kitchen, examination hall and dormitories.

Later, His Majesty held a two-hour-long closed-door session with the senior officers, officers, teaching staff and students of ITQSHHB.

After the session, His Majesty consented to a Junjung Ziarah from the teachers, officers, staff as well as students of institute who also took the opportunity to take selfies with the monarch.

Also present during the visit was the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud.

The unscheduled visit provided an opportunity to the monarch to ensure that all strategies and initiatives related 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.

ITQSHHB currently accommodates 348 students comprising 173 males and 175 females.

Students living in the hostel are allowed to visit home once a week every Saturday and during public holidays.

Living in dorms makes the students independent, and disciplined, and helps them adapt themselves to different environments.

|     Danial Norjidi     |

THE Commonwealth’s collaboration with its member countries sees their governments and institutions deliver inclusive progress and beneficial reforms for the welfare of all their citizens, and Brunei plays a very full part in adding to the benefits of this Commonwealth collaboration.

Reaffirming this was Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland while delivering her public lecture on Tuesday at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).

The lecture was part of the secretary-general’s itinerary for her first official visit to Brunei Darussalam, the first leg of an 11-day tour to three Commonwealth countries.

Among the attendees at the event were Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Datin Paduka Tan Bee Yong, UBD Vice-Chancellor Datin Dr Hajah Anita Binurul Zahrina binti Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Aziz, as well as Legislative Council Members Yang Berhormat Nik Hafimi binti Abdul Haadii and Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari.

The secretary-general spoke on the Commonwealth, its initiatives and the results of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018 that took place in London last April.

In her address, she said, “The international affairs of the world right now are in a state of flux, and it’s more apparent that we can no longer depend on the certainties of the past. So it’s a pleasure to have this opportunity of considering with you the ways in which the Commonwealth collectively, and the cooperation amongst our members, helps to bring a greater degree of certainty, stability and inclusiveness to a world which is increasingly fractured and divided.

“The affinity and deep roots of the Commonwealth connection provide the foundations on which we build towards a common future. The continuing ability of the Commonwealth to respond to the needs of people in all of our member countries is the product of systems and mechanisms that adapt and revolve, remaining true to our fundamental values and principles, yet ready and equipped to pioneer fresh approaches to emerging challenges.”

The secretary-general continued, “We have large countries, small countries, landlocked countries – all of us are a section of the global community, and therefore if we, the Commonwealth, can come together and agree, it creates a pathway for others perhaps to agree also.”

She added that youth and sport are important areas of Commonwealth focus and cooperation, particularly with 60 per cent of the combined Commonwealth population of 2.4 billion being under the age of 30.

“In this respect, I acknowledge the immensely important contribution made by this university and other academic institutions in this country through the Brunei Darussalam Commonwealth Third-Country Training Programme,” Scotland said.

“The programme has been particularly valuable in building the capacity of Pacific Island member states, and is a fine and most commendable example of how Commonwealth countries can work collaboratively towards our shared objectives.

“This includes performance management of effective implementation of our Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and I understand that the university’s motto translates in English as ‘Towards Human Excellence’, and this noble aspiration relates closely to our 2018 Commonwealth theme, which was ‘Towards a Common Future’. This was also a theme in the CHOGM meeting in April with paid special attention to working for a fairer, more secure, more prosperous and more sustainable future.”

One of the initiatives, the secretary-general highlighted, was the Commonwealth Innovation Hub.

The Commonwealth Innovation Hub, launched on the opening day of the CHOGM 2018, is a digital platform designed to tap and unleash the ideas and innovation potential of the Commonwealth.

Addressing the youth at the event, the secretary-general said, “The inspiration that I gain from just being around our Commonwealth young people is just extraordinary, because within your purview I see all our hopes for a peaceful and better future. Having the privilege to study in this university is just a start, but I know that what you will achieve, not just for Brunei but for our Commonwealth, is going to be quite extraordinary.

“So may I as secretary-general, on behalf of the 2.4 billion members of our Commonwealth, just say thank you to each and every one of you, but also thank you to your vice-chancellor, because these are the years when futures are shaped, and what you shape here will help to shape our future Commonwealth, and through it, the world.

“So I’m thanking you for what you have already done, but I’m thanking all the young people for what I know you will do in the future.”

UNIVERSITI Teknologi Brunei (UTB) and Osaka University (OU) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday in Osaka, Japan. Representing UTB was Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman, while President of OU Professor Dr Shojiro Nishio signed on behalf of the university.

Also present during the signing ceremony were OU Executive Vice-President of Global Engagement and Student Support Professor Dr Kawahara Genta and OU Collaborative Professor Hajah Normah Suria Hayati binti Pehin Dato Haji Jamil.

The MoU followed the signing of the Letter of Intent between UTB and OU on February 22. Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah in her speech at the ceremony shared that the international collaboration will address holistic and comprehensive programmes involving student exchange and improving the capability of Bruneian researches to be equivalent to the international benchmark.

She also said she believed the collaboration will allow the universities to produce first class researchers.

She added that the MoU was an opportunity for UTB and OU to offer joint or dual Master programmes and MSc by Research in relevant areas. Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah highlighted that UTB is motivated to contribute to technological collaboration between Brunei and Japan, as well as to develop teams for collaborative research and provide opportunities between Bruneian and Japanese students.

Meanwhile, a group of academics from UTB, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) and Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), led by Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah, attended OU’s second joint symposium with higher educational institutions of Brunei Darussalam at the university in Osaka.

The symposium’s theme was ‘Innovation in Science and Technology’, and the first symposium was held on February 21.

The symposium began with a welcoming address by Professor Kawahara Genta, followed by a plenary address by the Vice-Chancellor of UTB. Also present were Professor Hajah Normah Suria Hayati and Professor Kazumasa Hirata of OU.

The symposium was divided into three scientific sessions. The first session focussed on the area of Bioresource and Biodiversity (BB), facilitated by Professor Kazumasa Hirata. The speakers were Professor Hajah Normah Suria Hayati; Professor Masayoshi Arai from OU; UTB’s Dr Aida Maryam Haji Basri; Dr Fairuzeta binti Haji Muhd Ja’afar from UBD; Associate Professor Dr Kazuo Harada from OU; and visiting Associate Professor from Collaborative Laboratory of Saraya Co Ltd, OU.

The second session, facilitated by Professor Eiichi Tamiya, OU, was on Nano Technology and Advanced Materials (NAM).

The speakers included Professor Dr Yasushu Inoue from Photonics Centre, OU; Dr Maziyar Sabet from UTB; Dr Mohammad Hilni Harun Sani from UBD; and Dr Fumitaka Fujita, Visiting Associate Professor from the Collaborative Laboratory of Mandam Co Ltd, OU.

The final session of the symposium focussed on Halal Science and Technology (HST), and was facilitated by Professor Quamrul Hasan from OU. The speakers were Associate Professor Nurdeng Deuraseh from UNISSA, Dr Syazana Abdullah Lim from UTB and Dr Lim Lee Hoon from UBD.

|     James Kon     |

ON A noble mission to save the natural environmental from destruction, Andreas Bussinger is running across the island of Borneo to raise awareness on conservation and raise funds for environmental projects.

The 28-year-old German arrived in Brunei Darussalam yesterday en route to Miri, Kuching and final destination Pontianak covering a distance of 1,700 kilometres.

Passionate about saving the natural environment, Andreas, who is also called Andi, started his journey from Kudat, Sabah on July 15 and ran 30 kilometres daily to reach Brunei Darussalam after crossing the border post of Kuala Lurah around 11am.

In an exclusive interview with the Bulletin, he recalled, “There are numerous environmental and climate change issues around us. This Transborneo Run is to raise awareness on more to done in environmental and social projects.”

He added, “We humans are not only here to survive on earth. We can do much more to help other people and preserve the environment.”

Through the Transborneo Run, he also said he hoped to raise USD10,000 for five different projects, namely the Reforestation Project, Orangutan Project, Orang Asli Project, Plastic Recycling Machine Project and Ocean Conservation project. He said, “We have a website to collect donation at transborneo.org/donate.”

Asked how he came up with the idea, he explained, “After travelling the world in my caravan for more than three years, we drove from Germany to Turkey and then Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Laos, Cambodia. We have seen many countries and lot of environmental destruction in some countries. “

He continued, “We arrived in Borneo and you have this great rainforest, there is so many wildlife here. Brunei has protected its pristine forest while other countries like Sabah and Sarawak have many logging and palm oil plantations.

I am not sure what the effect is in the long-term.

“The travelling has made me think that some places have harder life and less nature while in Borneo, there is ample beautiful nature and people need to protect it for the future.”

Andreas would like to see more public action to preserve the nature and not having to wait for the government or companies to lead first.

He commended the Brunei Government’s exemplary efforts in preserving the rainforest.

He said, “I wish that the whole Borneo is like Brunei. In Brunei, the forests are protected and in healthy conditions. The air and surrounding environment is so clean.”

On the most memorable incidents in his journey so far, he said, “People in Borneo are so kind to me, as some came out to run with me.”

Andreas will meet the public today at 4.30pm at the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Silver Jubilee Park and will have a two-kilometre fun run.

He will resume his run to Sarawak on August 13. Members of the public can follow Andreas’ updates through his Facebook page (Transborneorun).

|     Hakim Hayat     |

THE Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday alerted members of the public to two cosmetic products which were tested by the Pharmacy Section of the Department of Scientific Services and found to be adulterated with undeclared potent western medicine.

The cosmetic products, manufactured by Phillipines-based Brilliant Skin Essentials, are the Rejuvenating Facial Toner and Rejuvenating Cream. They were found to contain hydroquinone and tertinoin.

The MoH said that the adulterants found in these products can cause adverse effects to people using them.

“Both Hydroquinone and Tretinoin are prohibited in skincare cosmetic products under the Medicines (Cosmetic Products) Regulations, 2007.

The 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.

Inappropriate use of Tretinoin could lead to redness, peeling and scarring of the skin.

The MoH has not issued any approval for the importation and/or Cosmetic Notification Acknowledgement Letter for the sale of these products.

Following these findings, these 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, and should also consult a medical practitioner should they feel unwell or experience any undesirable reactions as a result of using them.

The MoH also reminded 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 also called for public cooperation in reporting to the Compliance and Licensing Section, Department of Pharmaceutical Services if they find these products in the market.

For further information and communication, contact the Compliance and Licensing Section, Department of Pharmaceutical Services, MoH at 2392398/2393301/2393230 (ext 208), send an e-mail to pharmacy.enforcement@moh.gov.bn or go directly to Pharmacy Compliance and Licensing Section, Department of Pharmaceutical Services Building at Simpang 433, Rimba Highway, Kampong Madaras, Mukim Gadong ‘A,’ or call Darussalam line at 123.

|     Izah Azahari     |

TO ACCOMPLISH the goals of Brunei Vision 2035, 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 has given top priority for the education sector, to produce a highly-educated and skilled generation for the continuing economic development and stability of the nation.

This was stated by Acting Minister of Education Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh in her speech as the guest of honour during the Micronet International College Graduation Ceremony yesterday, at the Indera Samudra Grand Hall of The Empire Hotel & Country Club.

The acting minister also urged all agencies, including private higher education institutions, to ensure that their programmes and initiatives are relevant and industry-driven, to meet the objectives of His Majesty’s Hari Raya Aidilfitri titah of July 5, 2018, which called on the private sector and graduates to contribute towards the implementation of the country’s economic development.

“I hope that, after receiving the certificates and diplomas, the graduates will be able to continue their education or apply their skills in the world of employment that they will be joining, as the field of computing is a universal and competitive one,” she said.

Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah further explained that in keeping with the current and future global development path, Brunei Darussalam is no exception in revitalising its development process by focussing on high-tech industries and services.

“Graduates need to realise that the country is very much in need of a young generation that dares to lead its development, and so they should avail themselves of this opportunity to increase their individual abilities through programmes offered locally or abroad,” she said.

“Youth are usually rich with new ideas, so they need to be brave enough to face various challenges.”

She added that the widespread use of information technology has shifted the focus to a wider digital economy.

“We should be proud that Brunei Darussalam is capable of generating products which enhance the development of home-grown infrastructure and telecommunications,” she said.

Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah called upon graduates to uphold the national value system of the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB), stating that every graduate is an asset who plays a role in determining the country’s direction.

|     Ishan Ibrahim     |

STUDENTS should equip themselves with proper skills and the right attitude to gain employment, said Principal of Central Campus at the Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) Campus Dr Sheikh Lukman bin Sheikh Abdul Hamid.

Employers nowadays give priority to people with the right attitude and commitment, he said.

He made these comments in his welcoming address at a ceremony when IBTE entered into an apprenticeship partnership with 13 companies with the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday at the Lecture Theatre of the School of Aviation, IBTE Sultan Saiful Rijal Campus at Jalan Utama Berakas.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Acting Commissioner of Labour at the Ministry of Home Affairs Zulhilmi bin Haji Abidin.

Dr Sheikh Lukman and CEO of IBTE Dr Chin Wei Keh signed on behalf of IBTE Sultan Saiful Rijal Campus.

Thirteen representatives from Ams-oil Pro Auto Services Sdn Bhd, Bee Motors Sdn bhd, Bengkel Kereta Berakas Sdn Bhd, Boustead Sdn Bhd, GHK Motors Sdn Bhd, Grand Motors Sdn Bhd, Hock Siang Hin Automotive Parts and Service Centre, Jati Transport Sdn Bhd, NBT (Brunei) Sdn Bhd, Premier Motors Sdn Bhd, QAF Auto Sdn Bhd, Setia Motors Sdn Bhd and TCY Motors Sdn Bhd also signed the agreements at the event.

The apprenticeship programme aims to help foster a long term partnership between IBTE and the industry to help train students and develop their skills as technicians needed by the industry.

Dr Sheikh Lukman said the cooperation between IBTE and the relevant parties has helped in the development of the curriculum and bridged the gap in skills and expertise.

The cooperation also presents students the opportunity to gain invaluable experience and training in terms of practical and theoretical aspects, he added.

He stressed that the relevant parties should prepare for the challenges in human resources in the 21st Century. IBTE has been successful in producing apprentices in various fields and the existing collaboration has been successful, he added.

With the current Dual Apprenticeship Scheme programme, it is hoped that the industry can assist in employment by providing guidance and the right platform, he said.

Twenty-five students are enrolled under the NTec Apprenticeship in Automotive Technician programme at the IBTE Mechanical Campus.

They will undergo an on-the-job training with the 13 companies.

|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

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 officiated the launch of the Open Office at the Youth Centre in the capital.

The Open Office is one of the facilities provided by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports as part of a follow-up of the Legislative Council meeting held on August 17, 2017 for youth to carry out programmes and activities based on culture, community, sports and youth.

It is hoped the youth will fully utilise and maximise its usage in conducting their activities.

Chairman of the organising committee Pengiran Anak Mohd Sofian bin Pengiran Anak Haji Ibrahim explained that the Youth Centre in the capital has undergone several rebranding processes since 2012.

The Open Office marked another milestone for the centre, providing a space for organisations, youth leaders and students to fill the facilities with fruitful discussions and meetings.

The Open Office is open daily from 7.45am to noon, except for Thursday, when it closes at 6pm. It is closed on Friday from 11.45am to 2pm and also on selected public holidays.

|     Wani Roslan     |

THE Ministry of Education (MoE) through the Co-Curriculum Education Department will organise a cycling and running event in conjunction with the national celebration for Teacher’s Day 2018.

The announcement was made by Acting Director of Co-Curriculum Education Mohamed Jais bin Haji Abdul Rahman during a press conference yesterday.

Also present were Acting Assistant Director of Co-Curriculum Education Haji Eady Sardi bin Pehin Datu Derma Sakti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Razak in his capacity as the deputy co-chairman and Head of Uniform and Community Service Unit and Jalil bin Pengarah Haji Kapitan in his capacity as the secretary of the executive committee of the event.

According to Mohamed Jais, who is also the chairman of the executive committee for the event, the event will be held on September 30 at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in the capital and start at 6am.

This year’s theme, Guru Dedikasi Pendidikan Cemerlang is aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle among the community as well as to support the government’s initiatives Bandarku Ceria and ‘Car Free Day’ while forging closer ties among members of MoE and Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA).

The event is divided into two categories – the 5km Fun Run and 11.5km Fun Ride (Cycling) open for officers and staff of MoE and MoRA, educational institutions and members of the public.

The registration begins today from 9am to 3.30pm at all branches of the Co-Curriculum Education Deparment in each district.

All participants are encouraged to purchase official T-shirts. For the Fun Run event, round neck T-shirts are priced BND13 (short sleeve) and BND16 (long sleeve), polo shirts are BND15 (short sleeve) and BND18 (long sleeve) and Fun Ride jersey at BND20 (short sleeve).

The form can be downloaded at www.moe.gov.bn and the completed form should be submitted by September 6.

A fundraising project will also be held as part of the event. Proceeds will be distributed to educational institutions, Co-Curriculum Education Department, Special Olympics Brunei Darussalam and MoE Welfare Fund.

Senior Education Official Pengiran Jusri bin Pengiran Haji Hassim in his capacity as the Sports Secretary of the event pointed out that there are sports activities that will be held to further enliven the event including badminton, netball, bowling, football and golf.

“The objectives of these activities are to address obesity among civil servants and it is part of the methods used by the MoE for them to be more active,” said Pengiran Jusri.

Mohamed Jais also urged both MoE and MoRA and its departments, schools, and institution as well as the public to participate and support the event as well as Bandarku Ceria programme.

The collection and distribution of the T-shirts will be from September 24 – 29 from 9am to 5.30pm at the Co-Curriculum Education Department in each district.

For more information, contact the event secretariat at 2333041/43/53/54 ext – 109/205/301.

|     Azlan Othman     |

MINISTER of Energy, Manpower and Industry Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein yesterday launched the Brunei Halal Showcase (BruHAS) 2018 which is being held from August 8 to 12.

BruHAS 2018 is a testament of Brunei Darussalam’s efforts in developing and expanding its local Halal industry, said Dean of the Faculty of Syariah and Law, Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), Dr Hajah Mas Nooraini binti Haji Mohiddin.

Speaking at the launching ceremony of BruHAS 2018 and the Second International Seminar on Halalan Thayyiban Products and Services III (SAPPHAT 3) 2018 at the International Convention Centre in Berakas, she said BruHAS aims to create awareness on the development of the local Halal industry, increase exposure of local Halal products and services, and support local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to become competitive global players.

Dr Hajah Mas Nooraini, who is also the Co-Chairperson of the organising committee of BruHAS 2018 added, “Insya Allah through BruHAS 2018, Brunei Darussalam will gain further prominence as a global Halal knowledge hub and also as a major producer and supplier of Halal products and services.”

During the seminar, a keynote presentation on ‘The Stability of Halalan Thayyiban Industry as a Catalyst of Zikir State’ was delivered by Deputy State Mufti Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Japar bin Haji Mat Dain @ Maidin.

The presentation focussed on the administration of Brunei Darussalam to strengthen the Halalan Thayyiban industry and its initiatives to achieve the objective of creating a Zikir Nation.

“All parties should understand the true meaning of the Halal, Haram and Syubhah laws on food which will greatly contribute to the creation of a generation close to Allah the Almighty.

“In addition, Halalan Thayyiban industry consolidation needs to be supported and endorsed by all parties – consumers, entrepreneurs and enforcement agencies – to safeguard the welfare of the public. Besides, obedience to law and obedience to Allah the Almighty’s command will ensure security and prosperity of the nation and harmony in the life of the people,” he said.

“Furthermore, failure to strengthen the Halalan Thayyiban industry will be a major challenge to the country in achieving its desire to become a Zikir Nation as the people might not have received the attention from Allah the Almighty due to their many sins and vices,” he added.

Also in attendance at the event were Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar; Deputy Minister of Energy, Manpower and Industry Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Matsatejo bin Sokiaw; permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretaries at the Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry as well as foreign dignitaries and senior officials.

Themed ‘Developing the Halalan Thayyiban Industry Towards Achieving the 2035 National Vision’, BruHAS 2018 demonstrates the wider sphere of the Halal industry economy, including companies from the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic and personal care, modest fashion and services sectors.

Several sideline events are also being conducted during BruHAS 2018, namely, the 2nd Halalan Thayyiban Products and Services Expo, the 3rd International Seminar on Halalan Thayyiban Products and Services (SAPPHAT III), Halal Business Investment Seminar, BruHAS Clinic and the Business Networking and Matching Session.

SAPPHAT III is co-organised by the Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry and UNISSA.

Over a hundred local MSMEs and international companies representing various Halal industry sectors are participating in the 2nd Halalan Thayyiban Products and Services Expo.

Participating vendors will be showcasing their products and services at the ICC every day until August 12 from 9am to 9pm. They have also an opportunity to join the business networking and matching session, which will be held on August 11.

The Halal Business Investment Seminar will be held from 2.30pm to 4.30pm today, while the BruHAS Clinic will be on August 11 from 10am to 4.30pm. These events will be open to the public.

|     Aziz Idris     |

HIS Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel and Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah graced the Gala Night for the 5th ASEAN Children’s Forum (ACF) held at Serambi Suluh, Tarindak D’Seni last night.

On hand to welcome Their Royal Highnesses were 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 along with senior officials from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and representatives from the Senior Officials on Social Welfare and Development (SOSWD) Brunei Darussalam.

Following the arrival, Their Royal Highnesses consented to take a group photo with all members of the delegation of the recently concluded 5th ASEAN Children’s Forum and signed the guestbook in commemoration of the event.

Their Royal Highnesses then witnessed a traditional performance entitled Senandung Budaya from MCYS in-collaboration with Yippie Music School to begin the gala night.

In his opening remarks, Acting Permanent Secretary at the MCYS Haji Amer Hamzah bin Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Zakaria, who is also a representative from SOSWD Brunei, congratulated all delegates for a fruitful forum.

“For the past three days, our young delegates have shared their experiences on issues relating to their country, identifying root causes as well as the national initiatives that have been done in their respective countries,” he explained.

Haji Amer Hamzah also lauded delegates for raising recommendations that contained action plans which can benefit all sectors in each member state.

“I’m proud to say that our children have done very well in sharing their knowledge, they have shown enthusiasm and they came up with excellent initiatives and ideas that we can forward to our leaders and all sectoral bodies under ASEAN so that we can come up with better programmes towards securing our children and ASEAN’s future,” he added.

The night also saw a summary of the deliberation presented by ACF participant from Malaysia, Nurul Farah Nabilah binti Kamarudin followed by a video presentation showcasing the activities conducted by the delegation through the forum. The gala night was enlivened with cultural performances from the delegation of each member state.

Prior to the conclusion of the event, Their Royal Highnesses consented to receive a pesambah in the form of a painting from the ACF delegation.

Some 70 youth delegates from across the region were invited to debate on current issues at the 5th ACF which carried the theme ‘Our Children, Our future, Our ASEAN’.

The 5th ACF is a project under the ASEAN Strategic Framework on Social Welfare and Development 2016-2020. The forum is held every two years since 2010 by an ASEAN member state being the host country.

|     Wani Roslan     |

MEDICAL Year 3 students of Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS) of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) recently collected several donations for the SMARTER 5th Concert in September.

Donations were collected by 19 volunteers from August 1 – 4 at the main building of the institute. Items collected included clothing, accessories, toys, electrical items, books and others.

The events were part of the initiatives to collect funds for the Musical Concert Looking through Autism Wonderland, a charity event organised by PAPRSB IHS in collaboration with Society for the Management of Autism Related issues in Training, Education and Resources (SMARTER) Brunei.

“Our mission is to generate funds for the concert and it is an opportunity for medical students to apply professional and interpersonal skills and raise awareness on autism,” said Wardatul Ramzuna, a medical student and member of the ALICE team.

“ALICE team means Appreciating the Lives of Individuals with Autism and Celebrating Their Excellence, the first official representative team between PAPRSB IHS and SMARTER Brunei. This project is also part of our research module with the aim to create holistic future doctors,” she added.

Aqilah Zainudin, a medical student and member of the ALICE team expressed her appreciation to the public for donating items to be sold at a ‘Garage Sale’ on August 12 at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien and Tennis Brunei Club on August 19.

|     Daniel Lim     |

BRUNEI Darussalam yesterday marked World Breastfeeding Day with activities held across all four districts.

In the Belait District, the celebration was held at the Learning and Development Centre of the Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, with Datin Dr Hajah Noraslinah binti Haji Ramlee, the spouse of the Minister of Health, as the guest of honour.

Acting Director of Health Service Dr Hajah Rafidah binti Haji Gharif, hospital staff and mothers were also in attendance.

The celebration – which carries the theme ‘Breastfeeding: The Foundation of Life’ – began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, followed by verses of Surah Al-Quran by students of the Belait Arabic School.

In her speech, Suri Seri Begawan Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Hajah Riamiza Natalie binti Haji Momin noted that the celebration represents an opportunity to spread the word on the benefits of breastfeeding, in terms of nutrition and food security for growing babies.

“In describing the practice of breastfeeding, it represents a universal answer that it provides the essential base for not just the newborns, but also the mother in leading a healthy life,” she explained.

The celebration is an opportunity to appreciate mothers for practising breastfeeding, and to support the Ministry of Health’s commitment in promoting such practice.

The guest of honour presented nursing covers and plaques in a show of appreciation to nursing mothers.

A token of appreciation was also presented to a representative of HAWA, who detailed the steps taken as well as achievements made by the group in encouraging the practice of breastfeeding in the Belait District.

HAWA is a non-government association.

|     Aziz Idris     |

FREE registration for ‘Trail to TechXpo 2018’ is open for the public to join BAG Networks’ first of its kind community gamification challenge organised in-conjunction with the Brunei Technology Expo (TechXpo) 2018 to be held on August 18-21 at the International Convention Centre, Berakas.

Any teams of two participants are welcome to register starting today at the TechXpo official website, www.techxpobn.com.

This was announced by BAG Networks’ Head of Corporate Services Hajah Siti Rozana binti Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos during a press conference for TechXpo 2018 yesterday at D’Sunlit Sdn Bhd, Beribi.

The Trail to TechXpo 2018 is a location-based mobile app platform that uses popular tools such as Global Positioning System (GPS), Augmented Reality and Image Recognition to play.

Hajah Siti Rozana explained that registered teams will receive an email (within one working day) containing a set of instructions along with game guides to assist them through the first round of challenges.

“Participants can start going around the Brunei-Muara District only and identify the checkpoints where they need to solve fun challenges and gather clues,” she added.

She also hinted that seven local mastery tech organisations will be manning the checkpoints and providing clues to complete the challenges.

For the second round, players are required to visit the BAG Networks booth on the first day of TechXpo 2018 for an exciting tech puzzle-solving game to qualify for the final round.

Top 10 players will be selected to join the Final Challenge on August 21.

BAG Networks first introduced gamification as part of the 34th National Day celebrations in February, with the ‘Epidemic: Race to Rescue’ challenge, a location-based mobile app game attracting more than hundreds of players running around the capital finding clues and solving challenges.

Meanwhile, Chairman of InfoCom Federation Brunei (IFB) Sheikh Haji Abas bin Sheikh Mohamad emphasised on the theme ‘Innovative Technology For All’ which is set to attract large crowd of all ages, especially those who are experts or enthusiastic about technology.

Visitors will meet and interact with two humanoid robots flown from Belgium called Oliver and Zora.

The TechXpo Cyber Games Tournament 2018 will also be held with BND15,000 cash prizes to be won across the seven games namely PC games ‘CS:GO’, ‘League of Legends’ ‘DOTA 2’, ‘Console Games – Tekken 7’, ‘FIFA 18’ and mobile games – ‘Mobile Legends’ and ‘Rules of Survival’.

The TechXpo Cyber Games Tournament 2018 is jointly organised by D’Sunlit and Sigma Cyberspace as the cyber games event manager and Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd as the title sponsor for the event open to gamers from Sabah, Sarawak, and Brunei, except for CS:GO, which is open to residents of Brunei only.