|      Fadhil Yunus      |

DPMM FC’s chances of making ground to second place took a hit after a 2-2 draw to Geylang International FC in the Singapore Premier League at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas last night.

The Gegar Gegar men’s hopes of catching second-placed Tampines Rovers FC were made difficult after dropping points with their games in hand.

The Brunei-based outfit are now without a win in three games and must win their remaining game in hand to stay in contention for a runners-up finish.

The visitors took an early lead through Yeo Hai Ngee in the fifth minute before Adi Said drew his team level in the 18th minute for his 10th goal of the season.

DPMM FC centre back Brian McLean helped his side into the lead in the 43rd minute, but the hosts could not hold onto the lead until half-time as Geylang forward Fairoz Hasan struck.

The hosts won a corner as Volodymyr Pryimov and McLean took their positions in the box as Abdul Aziz Tamit’s advance was halted by the Geylang defence for another corner.

DPMM FC winger Azwan Ali Rahman, who came on as a substitute was handed set-piece duties on the left hand side but his cross was inadvertently cleared by a watertight Geylang defence.

The home side made a tactical switch by bringing on Azwan Ali and Abdul Azizi Rahman to allow Abdul Mu’iz Sisa a smoother transition.

DPMM FC fullback Helmi Zambin was also a busy figure closing down any Geylang threat.

Shafie Efenddy and Azwan Ali exchanged passes in a neat one-two play but the Geylang defence was quick to end their build-up play.

Geylang brought in fresh legs with Noor Ariff tasked to seize on any signs of tiredness as Fuad Ramli made way.

Hendra Azam had a chance for the hosts but his effort soared wide with Volodymyr and Adi also having a pop with the ball which unfortunately did not trouble Geylang’s goalkeeper Faris Danial.

|     Daniel Lim     |

A JOURNEY around the world on bicycle can be daunting, but that did not stop the Sakamoto family from taking up the challenge.

Their journey, part of a personal project titled ‘The Sakamotos Great Six-Continents Adventure’, brought them to Brunei Darussalam yesterday morning.

Starting the journey in Nepal, the four-member family of Tatsu Sakamoto, his wife and two sons reached Brunei for the first time, crossing the border from Malaysia.

The Sunday Bulletin was fortunate to catch up with the family and talk to Tatsu Sakamoto who shared that from Nepal, they made their way to Bhutan, West Malaysia, and Singapore. “From Singapore, we flew to Kuching where we continued our journey to Brunei,” he said.

He also explained that the journey is part of an eight-year- long family project, and this year marks the fourth year of the endeavour which began in July. “Previously, we had undertaken the journey in North America, the year before was in Europe, and the year before was in New Zealand where we started our journey,” he shared.

When asked why he and his family decided to tour across the world, he said he had taken part in similar journeys in his twenties, and he wanted to share the experience with his family. “Of course it is not easy to travel with kids, with many potential hazards out there in the world; but I believe that the experience gained will be most valuable for us.”

He shared that while he had visited Brunei some 20 years ago under the Ship for Southeast Asian and Japanese Youth Programme (SSEAYP), it is the first time for his wife and two sons.

“The journey would be difficult, if not for the friendly and supportive people in the visiting country,” he noted, recalling one such resident, Jeffrey Chong, an avid cyclist and a travel enthusiast who supported the Sakamoto family during their journey in the Sultanate.

“Previously, we didn’t know Jeffrey, but as we share the same passion in cycling, he as well as all those who share the same passion helped us in our journey.”

He said that many of the people that he met in Brunei, even thought it was for a short while, were very supportive. “It’s a unique opportunity for us to learn not only about the country but also the people and their culture.”

He also expressed his sincere gratitude to the Bruneian cyclist for supporting the family financially as well as in many other ways. He recalled that his family was treated to a morning meal and the residents in the Belait District offered to repair one of the bicycles.

When the Sunday Bulletin asked what advice he could give to those interested in conducting similar journeys around the world, Tatsu said that he could not have achieved the dream of travelling around the world without the support of his friends, families as well as residents of the countries that they visited. “While it is important to express your idea on what you want to do to others, to have the support of others and the will to do it are important. If you can dream it you can do it.”

The family is slated to continue the journey to the Brunei-Muara District in the coming days. They plan to travel by ferry to Labuan and to Kota Kinabalu where they will conclude this year’s journey.

|     Fizah HAB     |

VARIOUS products from the wider Halal industry in such areas as food and beverages, pharmaceutics, cosmetics and personal care, modest fashion and Halal services are being showcased at the second Brunei Halal Showcase (BruHAS) 2018 at the International Convention Centre, Berakas.

The five-day trade show, themed ‘Developing the Halalan Thayyiban Industry Towards Achieving the 2035 National Vision’, is participated by over 100 local MSMEs and international companies.

One such body is BIBD SEED, an initiative set up by BIBD to help single mothers grow their businesses.

Siti Hamdiah binti Haji Tuah, founder of Umi Ka CT, a product of the BIBD SEED initiative, shared with the Sunday Bulletin her delight at having the chance to participate in BruHAS 2018.

“Our first involvement in a similar event was at the recent Sabah International Food and Beverage Fair where, Alhamdulillah, we managed to draw positive responses from both local and foreign customers to our locally made and packaged rempah rendang, serunding, acar and rojak,” she said. “It’s been the same case with this BruHAS event.

“We have seen positive response from locals who have been impressed with our products, including the previously mentioned local condiments.”

Commenting on BIBD SEED, Muhammad Zanful Hanafi bin Haji Abdul Rahim, project manager for the initiative, explained that the initiative was incepted to provide support to single mothers in promoting and expanding their businesses.

The bank does this by helping the mothers promote their Halal-certified products in both local and foreign markets, as well as assisting them in building business networks.

“BIBD SEED helps businesses by raising public awareness on their products, and assisting single mother entrepreneurs in growing their businesses,” he said.

Another Halal brand being showcased at the expo is bruneihalalfoods. Several of the brand’s halal-certified products are on display, including its Mama’s Recipe Blueshrimp Crackers, its multi-flavoured CORDIA cordials, purified oxygenated water AYER, as well as a new canned food line.

This is the second time the marque, the flagship brand of state-owned Ghanim International, is taking part in the expo.

Speaking to the Sunday Bulletin, bruneihalalfoods Sales Account Officer Faizal Rosli shared that the brand has been garnering positive responses from the public.

“Our locally made products have been receiving positive responses from both local and foreign customers. One example is our Mama’s Recipe Blueshrimp Crackers – our recently launched Chilli and Chinese Celery flavours have been a hit among customers.

“We are even getting reports of tourists from China buying the Mama’s Recipe Blueshrimp Crackers in bulk to be brought back to their countries as souvenirs,” he said.

“Our CORDI cordial on the other hand is unique from other cordials available on the market, we offer two types of cordials: a 50 per cent less sugar and a zero per cent sugar version.

“Both of these are suitable for diabetics, people with high blood pressure, as well as the health-conscious.

“We are also introducing new 350ml and the 1.5L bottles to add to our existing 600ml bottle for our purified oxygenated water AYER line,” added Faizal.

“Our latest product, the canned food line, is available in three flavours: Beef Stew, Beef Black Pepper and Corned Beef.

“These are crowd favourites – our customers especially enjoy the Beef Stew flavour. We are looking to add new dishes to the line in the near future.”

MSME Mee Kilang Enterprise meanwhile, is looking to use BruHAS 2018 as a stepping stone to promote its products, notably various locally produced noodles.

Company Manager Sabirin Othman shared that despite seeing the expo as being a competition between the other vendors, the local entrepreneurs are willing to work together to share opinions and business experience, build networks, and promote its products on the local market.

“We started a year ago and are looking to promote our locally made products. We have engaged several methods to improve our products, such as refining our recipes, taking steps to ensure the quality of our products, as well as bringing in consultants to monitor our machineries to ensure quality and hygiene,” he said.

“We are also actively promoting our products by distributing them to the local supermarkets and minimarts such as Hua Ho, SKH and Leong Wui, to name but a few. We are also providing our products as souvenirs for traditional occasions such as weddings and Tahlil ceremony.

“We have notably distributed our products to some mosques during Ramadhan as part of our initiatives to reach out to the community through charities.”

“Alhamdulillah through our participation in this event, we’ve managed to draw a good response from visitors who have tried out our products at our booth.

“This was made possible with the assistance of Zuk’s Noodle Station, who helped with the cooking of our products [to be served to visitors as samples],” he added.

“It’s quite interesting as we have also managed to engage with fellow entrepreneurs, build new connections, and share opinions and knowledge with one another.”

The expo also featured a few companies offering special ‘Halalan Thayyiban’ Halal consultation services. The label is given to products or services which are judged to have exceeded standard technical Halal requirements and have gone above and beyond in terms of “wholesomeness and quality”.

Among these are Avertu Management Services Sdn Bhd and WGM’s Management & Consultancy Services.

Both firms are offering services to assist new businesses in Halal applications, guidelines, standards and business analysis.

The Halal expo, which is open from 9am to 9pm, comes to a close today.

|     Ishan Ibrahim     |

HASIMAH binti Haji Ali Aziz could hardly believe her luck after picking the winning letter to the grand prize of shopping vouchers worth BND2,000 during the ‘Shop and Win’ prize presentation ceremony held at the First Emporium & Supermarket, Seri Complex, Jalan Tutong yesterday.

‘Shop and Win’ is a contest hosted by Baiduri Bank in collaboration with First Emporium & Supermarket (Branch).

Despite her excitement at winning the grand prize, Hasimah still managed to come up with a few words for the Sunday Bulletin when pressed for comments. “I wasn’t expecting to win the grand prize, but yet at the same time I was feeling quite confident about my chances of landing the big one,” she said.

During the contest period from May 14 to July 14, participants received one chance to enter the ‘Shop and Win’ draw and win shopping vouchers for every BND50 they spent and paid using a Baiduri Bank credit or debit card at First Emporium & Supermarket (Branch) in Seri Complex.

In total, 30 customers were shortlisted for the final draw. The first/grand prize was a stash of shopping vouchers worth BND2,000, the second prize was vouchers worth BND1,000, while the third prize was vouchers worth BND500.

Consolation prizes worth BND100 each were also presented to the remaining 24 shortlisted winners.

Presenting the prizes on behalf of Baiduri Bank was Manager of the Merchant Acquiring Unit Davern Lim and Manager of the Card Development Section Pengiran Hajah Rodziana binti Pengiran Haji Muhidi.

Prizes were also presented to contest winners on behalf of First Emporium & Supermarket (Branch) by General Manager of First Emporium & Supermarket (Branch) Yong Chee Seng and Chairman of First Emporium Group Lim Koh Phai.

|     Fizah HAB     |

WITH the consent 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 Syariah Court of Brunei Darussalam announced that the country will start Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration on Wednesday, 10th of Zulhijjah, 1439 Hijrah, corresponding to August 22, 2018.

The moon sighting was verified by Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar, and broadcast last evening over Radio Television Brunei (RTB).

The moon sightings were held at DST Headquarters in Tungku Link, Tanjung Batu and Bukit Agok in the Brunei-Muara District, Bukit Ambok in the Tutong District and Bukit Lumut in the Belait District.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) also held the moon sighting event yesterday at the Multaqa Hall, MoRA Building in Jalan Menteri Besar.

Attending the ceremony were Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong; Minister of Religious Affairs and President of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman; 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; Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs and Vice President of MUIB Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar; Chief Syar’ie Judge and MUIB member Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar; Syariah Court of Appeal Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Setia Raja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Suhaili bin Haji Mohiddin; Legislative Council members Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Imam Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Hamid bin Bakal and Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Hamid @ Sabli bin Haji Arshad; and Permanent Secretary at the MoRA Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Mohd Yusof – who deliberated the results of the moon sighting.

|     James Kon     |

AFTER cars and bikes, the policemen in Brunei will now be seen riding bicycles while on patrolling duty.

To start with, the Bandar Seri Begawan Central Police Station under the Brunei-Muara Police District yesterday launched the Police Bicycle Patrol at the Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas, in a bid to increase the presence of police personnel around the heart of the capital.

The launching of the patrol was officiated by Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Mohd Jammy bin Haji Muhd Shah Al-Islam and witnessed by Deputy Commissioner of RBPF Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Mohammad Irwan bin Haji Hambali; Acting Officer Commanding Police District (OCPD) of Brunei-Muara Superintendent of Police Pengiran Haji Abdul Salam bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Ghani as well as senior police personnel.

Several members of the Legislative Council and Muhd Nazrul Hadi bin Kamis, the local boy who was bestowed with the ‘Honorary Policeman’ certificate by RBPF earlier this year also attended the ceremony.

The Police Bicycle Patrol team comprises eight police personnel who will patrol around the capital on bicycle 24-hours in shifts and cover Jalan Masjid Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien, Jalan McArthur, Jalan Residency, Jalan Kianggeh, Jalan Bendahara, Jalan Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien-Jalan James Pearce and Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas.

“Actually, the bicycle patrol was in existence long ago but it became inactive over the years. The Royal Brunei Police Force has revived the system in view of the rapid developments in Bandar Seri Begawan as well as Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas,” Dato Paduka Seri Haji Mohd Jammy told the media following the launching ceremony.

“The main aims of the new system are to further increase public safety and prevent crimes. In addition, the police personnel on bicycle can present themselves as ambassadors of Brunei to foreign tourists. Any tourist needing help or information can approach them for assistance,” he said.

The personnel have designated routes, however, they could also respond to incidents close by, he added.

The commissioner also revealed that the Police Bicycle Patrol will be extended to all districts and bicycles would be provided to police posts in rural areas as well.

“With the Police Bicycle Patrol, members of the public will feel more comfortable to approach police on bicycle than those in patrol cars.

“This is because personnel on bicycle can easily stop on their track and provide assistance. This will also enhance the partnership and closeness between members of public and the police force,” he said.

During the launching ceremony, Dato Paduka Seri Haji Mohd Jammy also inspected the police bicycles and mingled with the personnel of the bicycle patrol.

|     Azlan Othman     |

BRUNEI Darussalam sees its elderly people as critical stakeholders who strive for the development of the nation, said 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.

“We don’t paint a pessimistic picture of our ageing population, rather we see them as knowledgeable and experienced people working with us to realise the Brunei Vision 2035,” he noted at a forum titled ‘New Frontiers in Social Research on Ageing: Implications for Brunei Darussalam’, held at the Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Advancement (ILIA) Building of Universiti Brunei Darussalam yesterday.

“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 always been looking at national social issues including the ageing population in the context of a whole-of-nation approach.

“The National Council of Social Issues led by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports reflects this commitment, in collaboration with other government and non-government agencies as well as relevant stakeholders,” the minister said.

“Our world today is changing fast which has led to many new emerging issues and old ones resurfacing. Like many countries, Brunei Darussalam is also experiencing growth in the number and proportion of older people in its population.”

“According to statistics from the Department of Economic Planning and Development in 2016, the age group of those over 65 is approximately six per cent of the total population, an increase by 0.1 per cent from the previous year.

“This is in line with the United Nations Development Programme’s Asia-Pacific Regional Human Development report of the same year that placed Brunei Darussalam “in the middle of transition”. The report said that the Sultanate will continue to see a large jump in the working-age population until 2020, after which the increase will slow down and move towards an ageing population. In other words, the demographic landscape of Brunei Darussalam is going to change soon,” the minister said.

“We note that often, many tend to attach a stigma in describing and categorising the growing numbers of the elderly. Moreover, we see that much of the incredibly valuable work that we are undertaking is focussing on the development of the youth, who are undeniably our important assets in building and shaping the future of our country.

“But, we also need to acknowledge and attach the same importance for the development of our ageing population. We recognise that the knowledge, experiences and skills of the ageing population are valuable and irreplaceable. These are the real vital assets for the social progress of Brunei Darussalam, he noted.

“We have established Bestari Community Centre and Senior Citizens Activity Centre to establish a knowledge-based network between the young and the elderly. There is much potential for this and we hope to expand it further with the involvement of other stakeholders,” he added.

“The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, supports those in the ageing population to develop an active, contributing and healthy lifestyle through arts and sports. We also encourage them to be volunteers and take care of each other.

“All these efforts are continuous in nature. Our main hope is that whatever programmes and activities that are being undertaken, with collaborative efforts of everyone, will have a lasting impact on the future of our country. This is where the importance of this forum lies,” the minister added.

Meanwhile in his welcoming remarks, Director of Centre for Advanced Research (CARe) at UBD Associate Professor Dr Hoon Chang Yau said the ageing of the population looms large as a social challenge in Asian societies.

“Japan was the first country that started to feel the pressure in East Asia, and in the coming decade, other countries in the region such as Taiwan, China, Korea, Singapore as well as Brunei Darussalam will all face similar challenges.

“The elderly population in Brunei Darussalam is projected to increase by 7.8 per cent in 2021. This will qualify Brunei as an ageing nation where older persons are in excess of seven per cent of the total population.

“Population ageing is poised to become one of the most significant social transformations of the 21st Century, affecting nearly all sectors of society, including labour and financial markets, the demand for goods and services such as housing, transportation, healthcare and social welfare as well as family structures and intergenerational ties,” he noted.

Meanwhile, quoting UN’s World Population Prospects (2017 revision) in her paper presentation, Director of the Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing, Universiti Putra Malaysia Professor Dr Tengku Aizan Hamid said that Brunei’s population aged 65 years or above will double from seven per cent to 14 per cent in less than 15 years (2023-2036).

“While adding years to life is now a certainty, societies in the region are still adapting to the implications of rapid ageing and longevity. Social research is not only needed for evidence-based policymaking, but also to understand the multi-faceted consequences of ageing societies on the individual, family and community issues on poverty and social protection, health and long-term care, intergenerational relationships, housing and living arrangements as well as work and retirement.”

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to present the championship trophy to Pasukan Olahraga Dayung Seluruh Indonesia Kalimantan Barat, the winner of the 30-Rower Traditional Boat Race Marathon of the Brunei Darussalam Regatta 2018 in conjunction with the 72nd birthday celebration of His Majesty.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, presented trophies to the winning teams in the morning session of the regatta which was held along the Brunei River.

Pasukan Olahraga Dayung Seluruh Indonesia Kalimantan Barat (PODSI Kalbar), captured the prestigious title in a time of 19:33:79 with MS ABDB finishing in second place with a time of 20:31:41 and Leila Ceteria settling for third place in a time of 22:16:05.

The marathon, which covered a distance of 5,000 metres, was the grand finale of the day-long event which began from Pulau Sibungur and ended in front of Dermaga Diraja.

The Indonesian team won the marathon in style despite limited preparation and also made their debut in the competition after being invited as one of the international teams which also included teams from Malaysia and China.

“We didn’t have a target because of the limited time since the invitation. Honestly, we only had three days of training so we had no targets of winning the marathon,” said the head of the team Abdi Nurkamil in an interview with the media.

Abdi indicated that the sport which is steeped in tradition and heritage is held with great interest in Brunei Darussalam.

“This is a traditional sport and it is clear that it is still preserved in Brunei Darussalam. We also have this in our country (Indonesia) but not like this. We only have eight rowers while in Brunei it is up to 30 rowers,” he said.

“We would like to convey our thanks for the invitation and Insya Allah we will come back next year.”

The head of the team added that they were using the boats in Brunei for the first time but as they are already familiar with this kind of traditional boats, elements of patience and calm proved to be significant tools for them.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Dr Sujatmiko reaffirmed that it is the first time that PODSI Kalbar joined the marathon category of the competition.

“For the first time, we have a team competing in the marathon category. We also won an event in the 2,000-metre,” said Dr Sujatmiko in an interview.

“This shows evidence that relations between both Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia is close especially with Kalimantan Barat,” he said.

He said that the team comprised 53 people from Pontianak and expressed his hopes that the team will return to further enliven the event.

“We are very delighted but what is important is not the victory but the spirit and togetherness to enliven His Majesty’s birthday celebration. Through increased participation, we can help foster the ties between Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia,” he added.

Asked about his expectations for the young rowers, he said, “The rowers did not have any training and they arrived in Brunei on Friday. My hope is that they should have train one month before the competition,” he said.

Pasukan Olahraga Dayung Seluruh Indonesia Kalimantan Barat also emerged victorious in the 20-Rower Under 30 Youth Fibreglass Boat Race category after they finished with a time of 6:37:39 ahead of Nanjing, China with a time of 6:41:14 and Pasukan Tamoi Bersatu with a time of 7:14:56.

“I am very proud of winning the competition and it is also the first time that we won the event,” said Andi Yuyus Adianto, team manager of PODSI Kalbar.

Prior to their historic win in the marathon event, Andi expressed his hopes of gaining success in the grand finale to emulate the feat achieved in the 20-Rower event.

He added that their training was very minimal having only prepared for 10 days in Pontianak.

Andi said that the team have actively featured in Malaysian regatta as well as domestically to represent provinces.

Setia Protective Security Services (SPSS) further built their reputation as the top team in the division after replicating their success from another national-level competition last November by winning the 20-Rower Inter-Private Company Fibreglass Boat Race category.

Other winners included Pasukan Tamoi Bersatu in the 20-Rower Youth Open Fibreglass category, Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien College in the 15-Rower among Colleges and Secondary Schools Fibreglass Boat Race category and Universiti Teknologi Brunei in the 15-Rower Fibreglass Boat Race Among Higher Learning Institutions category.

The biggest winner in the morning session was Laksamana Seri Sinampuan Lawas after capturing the 30-Rower Traditional Open Boat Race and the 25-Rower Traditional Open Boat Race categories.

The Temburong District reigned supreme in the districts category while the Ministry of Defence took top honours in the inter-ministry category.

Tamoi Bersatu shrugged off the likes of local powerhouses Saba and Leila Ceteria as well as a pair of international teams to win the 15-Rower Under 30 Youth Fibreglass Boat Race category.

|    Danial Norjidi    |

A SIGNIFICANT new development recently took place in the country as a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the first fertiliser factory in Brunei Darussalam at the Sungai Liang Industrial Park (SPARK) in Kuala Belait.

As was reported following the ceremony, which took place on August 1, the fertiliser plant seeks to utilise Brunei’s abundance of natural gas to further develop the country’s downstream activities in petrochemical industry.

The plant is a collaborative effort by the Brunei Fertilizer Industries (BFI) and Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions AG (tkIS), a Germany-based worldwide engineering and construction services provider, and is slated to be completed in 2021.

It is envisioned to be fully integrated with a state-of-the-art fertiliser complex capable of producing 2,200 tonnes of ammonia and 3,900 tonnes of urea per day. It will use part of Brunei’s large natural gas reserves as feedstock to produce high-quality nitrogen fertiliser mainly for the export market.

Thyssenkrupp will lend their expertise in engineering, equipment supply, construction, supervision of construction and commissioning as well as provide various off-site services to fully realise the project.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of tkIS Brunei Joerg Schiemann, in his speech at the ceremony, said that the groundbreaking marks a major milestone for both BFI and tkIS. “Thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions is honoured to have the opportunity to work and team up with the people of Brunei in this endeavour, and we look forward to working over the course of three years to fully realise this project and beyond and mark this occasion in both of our history books,” he said.

Meanwhile, CEO of the Fertilizer and Syngas Technologies Business Unit at tkIS Ralf Richmann said that tkIS is proud to work with BFI to realise the state-of-the-art fertiliser production facility which will help support the country’s transformation into a diversified industrial economy.

“This fertiliser project is the start of a new era of sustainable fertiliser production in Brunei which will further strengthen the country’s key industry – oil and gas,” he noted, adding that Brunei’s position as one of the largest producers and exporters of natural gas will help the facility operate efficiently.

He noted how Brunei is committed to innovation and how new technologies are being promoted, adopted and implemented.

“The Brunei government is hard at work to develop new economic opportunities and create better employment opportunities for its people,” he said. “As such, Thyssenkrupp is committed to partner with Brunei in the journey by bringing in more than 90 years of expertise and technologies to realise the visionary project and provide support in accelerating the nation’s economic growth in a sustainable way.”

“Brunei Fertilizer Industries and Thyssenkrupp will continue to work closely together to achieve our common goal that this plant starts in time, and BFI becomes an important high-quality nitrogen fertiliser exporter,” he added.

It was reported that the fertiliser plant will enable the country to create further value for its natural gas resources by developing downstream industries in the oil and gas sector beyond the existing production of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and methanol while the ammonia and urea produced from BFI will also be able to create further downstream opportunities, including the production of urea formaldehyde and melamine. It was shared that these by-products also present potential for spin-off industries such as in the manufacturing of fibre board, wood furniture and tableware.

|     Daniel Lim     |

ABDUL Muim bin Haji Yuzaini was the champion of the open category in the Mountain Bike Racing competition held yesterday morning in conjunction with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s 72nd birthday celebration.

Haji Muhd Nabil bin Haji Azri, Hanny Lim, Muhammad Habri bin Ibrahim, and Kamarul bin Haji Kadir were placed second to fifth place respectively.

The competition, conducted by the Belait Cycling Club in collaboration with the Forestry Department, and Belait District Office, saw five winners in six categories, which included the open, women, heavyweight, veteran, elite and master.

The winners in each category also received prizes.

The women’s category only saw four participants, with Angie Chyi placing first, followed by Noorhasniti Juin, Rina Juanna binti Haji Johari, and Noorasbah binti Omar, in second to fourth place respectively.

In the heavyweight category, Suzieme bin Lima secured first place. Muhd Rafie Fakhrullah bin Abdullah Bayoh was placed second, while Muhammad Danial Lee bin Abdullah, Addie Erwan bin Haji Muhd Azman, and Pengiran Redzaini bin Pengiran Ahmad were in third to fifth place.

Jeffri bin Lamat won first place in the veteran category, followed by Rozaine bin Haji Ratu, Zainal Afran bin Dato Paduka Haji Ahmad, Pengiran Zaman bin Pengiran Haji Matasan, and Haji Osli bin Md Noor in second to fifth place respectively.

The elite category saw Muhammad I’maadi bin Abdul Aziz being placed first overall, while Mohammad Waie bin Abdullah, Jamri Johari, Muhammad Al-Qayyum bin Haji Aini, and Abdul Hafiz Surwadi bin Md Tamin were in second to fifth place.

In the master category, Mohammad Radzi Tamat won first place, followed by Haji Hamdani bin Haji Basar, Bia Arifin bin Abi, Ali Mustapa bin Haji Abdul Hamid, and Aiman Abdullah in second to fifth place respectively.

The 7am race, held for the first time in the district at the surrounding area of the Forestry Department in Sungai Liang, Kuala Belait, aimed to enliven the district’s atmosphere in celebration of His Majesty’s birthday and promote the hobby of mountain biking.

The competition was also an opportunity for cyclists across the country to showcase their skills and talents in mountain biking.

The competition saw 99 participants competing over the course of four hours as supporters cheered them.

While all the cyclists had the same route, comprising 40 per cent of a road tarmac path and 60 per cent off-road dirt trail, the number of laps taken by the participants differed for each category. The competition was hoped to help develop the skills of the cyclists further, and provide a platform for participants to interact with those who shared the same interest and passion in mountain biking.

|     Izah Azahari     |

LOCAL comic book artist Dr Malai Yunus bin Malai Yussof (better known as Noh) yesterday released his sixth comic book Apa Ada Noh? during an official book launch at The Coffee Bean Brunei, The Centrepoint Hotel branch in Gadong.

The event was organised by Creative Space Art Gallery and Studio.

The launch began with a press conference, followed by a book signing and a live demonstration of the work by Dr Malai Yunus.

Speaking to the Bulletin, Dr Malai Yunus noted that the book is very Bruneian and popularises some of his works from the 1990s as well as new ones (due to high demand from his followers).

“My sincere advice to those wishing to pursue the same path is to not think of the money first, but to establish yourself and most importantly, have fun doing it because either way, you’ll never lose,” Dr Malai Yunus said.

Dr Malai Yunus has been a cartoonist since 1990, and is known for his stories based on his experience in Kampong Ayer.

His comics today also consist stories on current local traditions and culture, and critiquing social behaviours in a humourous manner.

Written in a Brunei dialect with a slight mixture of the Malay and English languages, Apa Ada Noh? can be enjoyed by the young and the old. Ultimately, the production of the book is to show Brunei’s creative and innovative side in incorporating products with a local identity, while still being accepted internationally.

The book took four months to complete, he said, adding that he has been quite productive this year. Another book will be launched towards the end of the year, which will be in English language.

For the book launch, Dr Malai Yunos worked closely with Creative Space Art Gallery and Studio, who are supporters in promoting local art to the public.

From this book and the launch, they hope to contribute to sustaining the Bruneian identity and contribute to contemporary culture.

Tokens of appreciation were also presented to Creative Space Art Gallery and Studio for organising the event, The Coffee Bean Brunei for being the collaborative partner and supporter, Diki Kurniawan for the layout and graphics of Apa Ada Noh? and Tillah Nasrum for the book cover artwork.

Apa Ada Noh? will also be available in bookstores nationwide and online at Bruvera.

|     James Kon     |

BRUNEI had an estimated 2,000 people with dementia, said Vice-President of support group Demensia Brunei Irnawati binti Haji Mahir, citing reports of 2016.

Irnawati said, “There were 46.8 million people around the world living with dementia in 2015, and the numbers will almost double every 20 years.”

She added that dementia is a disease rather than a natural part of ageing.

She made these comments during a recent forum titled ‘New Frontiers in Social Research on Ageing: Implications for Brunei Darussalam’ at the Institute for Leadership, Innovation and Advancement (ILIA) building at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).

The 10 warning signs of dementia are memory loss; difficulty in performing familiar tasks; problems with language; time or place disorientation; poor or decreased judgement; problem with keeping track of things; misplacing things; changes in mood and behaviour; trouble with images and spatial relationship; and withdrawal from work and social activities.

With the increasing number of people suffering from dementia, Demensia Brunei aims to promote more awareness, raise the standards of care for patients, advocate on behalf of dementia patients, their families and caregivers, along with providing information endorsed by the Ministry of Health.

Among the association’s employed strategies are early detection along with diagnosis and educational sessions, while also advocating for the involvement of inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations.

To reduce the risk of dementia, Irnawati advised, “A healthy lifestyle is essential. Look after your heart, be physically active, follow a healthy diet, challenge your brain and enjoy social activities.”

For inquiries, Demensia Brunei can be reached by email at demensia.brunei@gmail.com.

|     Lyna Mohamad     |

FOUR BHSc (Medicine) students from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) in collaboration with the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital Blood Donation Centre collected 41 pints of blood from donors who visited the Times Square Shopping Centre yesterday through a project based on community.

The project, titled UNIT (Understanding Need of Individuals with Thalassemia), was a part of a module under the medicine programme at Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSB IHS), UBD.

The supervisor of the project, Senior Lecturer at PAPRSB IHS Dr Hajah Fazean Irdayati binti Haji Idris in an interview with the Bulletin noted that the third-year students were assigned to do a group project to serve the community.

The students chose to raise awareness on Thalassemia, by teaching how to support patients with the disease, including providing provision of blood and creating a support group for patients and their families.

“Unfortunately, Thalassemia Major brings a lot of medical complications, so we want others to recognise those who have it as they need attention and support, especially in terms of blood donations,” she added.

The project, she said, was important in getting the community to help people who have health or social issues, and also giving the patients a sense of belonging in society.

Highlighting on the disease, Dr Hajah Fazean Irdayati said patients usually feel tired, fatigue, and joint pains. They may also get complications after regular blood transfusion, such as ion overload, where the ion in the blood can sometimes affect the organs leading to other diseases such as diabetes, kidney failure and heart disease in the long term.

“There is a 25 per cent chance of a child getting Thalassemia Major if both parents have carrier genes,” she explained.

She also expressed pride for the students’ hard work in planning the project, including looking for sponsors as well as collaborating with Times Square Shopping Centre and the Ministry of Health.

“The students are also organising a session for Thalassemia patients and their families next week,” she said.

According to Dr Hajah Fazean Irdayati, the session, which will take place at the Health Promotion Centre, will see a psychologist and a dietician presenting a talk addressing issues such as emotional depression and a healthy diet.

BAIDURI Capital rolled out the Baiduri Capital Investment Challenge (BCIC) in October last year in its efforts to cultivate and raise awareness on investments and capital markets services, according to a press release from Baiduri Capital.

Open to final year students from the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) School of Business and Economics, three teams of three students were each given BND5,000 as start-up capital to invest into any of the securities listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange (SGX), Malaysia Stock Exchange (BURSA), Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEx), China A-Shares (SSE-A) or the US Stock Exchange (NYSE MKT LLC, NYSE and NASDAQ).

General Manager of Baiduri Capital Peng Eng Soon speaking about the investment challenge said, “The investment challenge provides a platform for the students to apply what they have learnt in the classroom in a practical way and are able to see the results of their decisions in real life. Besides providing a general understanding in financial investments and capital markets services, we are providing these business students with real-life trading experience.”

Assistant Manager of Trading and Investment Services Yeo Kun Yu said, “Through the BCIC, we are able to show first-hand how investments are conducted and help them through the challenges and obstacles that they will face along the way.”

The three teams participating in the BCIC are JEC, Kelupis and the Young Economists.

Team leader of JEC Carmen Gan Ai Cheng said, “The investment challenge has been a great stepping stone for us to the world of stock trading.” She elaborated that the idea of investing has always been an interest and that the BCIC has been the perfect platform to venture into the world of investing.

Siti Khairunnisa binti Haji Damit of Kelupis on her team’s experience in participating in the BCIC said, “The investment challenge has been a wonderful learning experience for us. Through our extensive research when deciding on which stocks to invest in, we have a greater awareness and understanding on how specific events, which were previously irrelevant to us, now have an impact on the market.”

Goh Fui Tze of the Young Economists said, “Baiduri Capital has helped to increase our awareness on the various facets of investing as well as the different tools and services that Baiduri Capital provides for investors. Their consultation service has been of tremendous benefit for us as new investors.”

Peng Eng Soon presented the certificates of participation. Also present were Assistant Manager at Baiduri Capital Yeo Kun Yu, licensed dealers and senior financial planners.

The Young Economists were also presented with a congratulatory plaque for making the most profit in the competition.

Baiduri Capital is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Baiduri Bank, specialising in securities trading and investment products. Through its secure, web-based, online securities trading portal, the first in the country, customers can trade in SGX (Singapore), HKEx (Hong Kong), China A-Share, Bursa Malaysia, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ Stock Market and the NYSE MKT LLC (AMEX).

On top of securities trading, unit trusts, Exchange Traded Fund (ETF), Bonds and Investment Linked Life Insurance plan are also part of the Baiduri Capital portfolio.

|     Fizah HAB     |

ROTARIAN Klaus Tomalla was elected President of the Bandar Seri Begawan Rotary Club (BSB Rotary Club) during the organisation’s 54th installation ceremony at The Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong on Saturday.

District Governor 3310, RY 2015-16, Phillip Chong was the guest of honour.

Tomalla will be assisted by BSB Rotary Club Honorary Secretary Boon Wu Wai together with BSB Rotary Club Vice President and Assistant Sergeant at Arms Kenneth Ling.

Lam Soon Meng will be Immediate Past President while Jimmy Chung will be President-elect.

Leonida Lim will be the Honorary Treasurer with Alan Saikawa the Club Administration Chair. The post of Membership Chair is held by Muthukrishnan Balasundaram while the Public Relations Chair is Daniel Thien.

The Service Projects Chair post is taken up by Christina Wong and the Vocational Service Chair by Clement Yong. Taking the Community Service Chair position is Joe Choo while the International Service Chair is Ricky Ng.

In his speech, the newly elected BSB Rotary Club President said, “We encounter people who lack the basics of normal life. We meet people who are struggling and thinking how they can get clean water or enough food to eat every day.

“We see people who are suffering and need medical treatment which they can’t afford, and we meet families who are worried on how to provide a good education for their children. The most important feature of Rotary is to help those in need and to save our environment and planet.”

Recalling his own experience in joining the Rotary Club, Immediate Past President Lam said, “Ten years ago, I was indirectly invited to a weekly Rotary meeting in Moscow, Russia. That’s how I got started with the organisation.

“Rotary has helped me to quickly get integrated in Brunei Darussalam and it opened doors for me in regions and environments I have never experienced and seen before. I have met wonderful people in and outside of Brunei Darussalam and from the whole of Borneo.”

The guest of honour commended BSB Rotary Club for their work in assisting people from the rural areas of Sarawak, Malaysia, as well as their involvement in charity and humanitarian service projects.

|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

THE Museums Department announced that there will be no entry charge to visit the Regatta Exhibition 2018 being held in conjunction with 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 72nd birthday celebrations.

The exhibition is being held at the Dermaga Diraja’s ‘C’ Gallery in the capital, and carries the theme ‘Sungai Brunei – Penghubung Budaya Warisan Brunei or Brunei River – Connecting Brunei Cultural Heritage.’ It is held from August 12 to November 12, and will be open daily from 9am to 4.30pm, except on Friday, when it will be open from 9am to 11.30am and again from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

The event looks to educate the public – particularly the younger generation – on the age-old Brunei tradition of boat races (regatta), while at the same time serve as a platform to increase awareness on the key role played by the Brunei River in connecting the community back in the olden days.

It will also showcase the involvement of His Majesty and members of the royal family in the regatta in 2016 and 2017 through video presentations and newspaper cuttings’ exhibits.

The exhibition also features 22 art collections made by students from Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah College (Maktab Duli), Kolej International Graduate Studies (KIGS), Sayyidina Othman Secondary School, Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Secondary School and the Special Education Unit of the Ministry of Education.

|     Hakim Hayat & Aziz Idris     |

THE waters of the Brunei River was once again transformed into a hive of activity and colour yesterday, as dozens of rowing teams battled against one another in the country’s biggest and most-awaited annual boat race competition, the Brunei Darussalam Regatta 2018.

The event, held at the Dermaga Diraja in the capital and drawing thousands of boating enthusiasts and visitors, was injected with that extra bit of excitement with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s participation in a special boat race category in the afternoon.

On hand to welcome His Majesty on arrival yesterday afternoon at the Dermaga Diraja were Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong; Minister of Communications and Acting Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Yusof; and 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 in their capacities as Joint Advisors of Brunei Darussalam Regatta 2018 Executive Committee.

Also joining His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel; and His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah.

The full-day event, organised in conjunction with His Majesty’s 72nd birthday celebrations, saw 12 boat race categories being contested – six in the morning and another six in the afternoon.

Among these were the 15-Rower Fibreglass Special Boat Race, 25-Rower Traditional Boat Race, 15-Rower Fibreglass Boat Race Between Institutions of Higher Learning, 15- and 20-Rower for Under 30 Youth Fibreglass Boat Race, and 15-Rower Colleges and Secondary Schools Fibreglass Boat Race. The races culminated in a grand finale event: a traditional boat race marathon involving 30 rowers.

Apart from members of the public, the participants of the races also comprised Cabinet Ministers, state dignitaries, members of Diplomatic Corps, heads of government departments, and guests from the private sector.

Displaying copious amounts of enthusiasm and energy, His Majesty captained a team of 15 rowers – team Rajawali – in the 15-Rower Fibreglass Special Boat Race category, vying against eight other VIP teams to kick-start the event’s afternoon segment.

Also taking part in the special category boat race were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, who led the Punai team, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik who led the Penjulong team and His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, who headed the Kitang team.

Under His Majesty’s stewardship, team Rajawali finished in second place, while the Punai team led by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah took third spot. Winning the race was the Kitang team led by His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah. Taking fourth place was the mukim penghulus and village heads team.

Following the race, His Majesty watched several other races held as part of the regatta, including the 20-Rower for Under 30 Youth Fibreglass Boat Race, 15-Rower Fibreglass Boat Race Between Institutions of Higher Learning, 15-Rower Colleges and Secondary Schools Fibreglass Boat Race, and the 20-Rower Youth Open Fibreglass Boat Race.

The monarch then boarded a boat from the jetty of the Dermaga Diraja to Pulau Sibongor in the Brunei River to flag off the 5km 30 -Rower Traditional Boat Race Marathon.

After this, His Majesty toured the Regatta Exhibition at the Dermaga Diraja Art Gallery. The exhibition, themed Sungai Brunei – Penghubung Budaya Warisan Brunei, features, among other exhibits, a gallery of pictures from the last year’s regatta held in conjunction with the Golden Jubilee Celebration of His Majesty’s Accession to the Throne, as well as a collection of special artworks made by students from selected schools and colleges.

At the event’s conclusion, His Majesty consented to present prizes to winners of each of the 12 race categories. A strong team of 30 rowers from Pasukan Olahraga Dayung Seluruh Indonesia Kalimantan Barat (PODSI Kalbar), emerged champions in the 30-Rower Traditional Boat Race Marathon category.

Meanwhile, earlier in the morning, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah flagged off the regatta’s 25-Rower Inter-Ministry Traditional Boat Race – which was won by the Ministry of Defence – before later presenting prizes to the winners of the different boat race categories.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah also witnessed several boat races in the morning segment, including the 30-Rower Traditional Open, 20-Rower Inter-Company Fibreglass, and 20-Rower Youth Open Fibreglass boat races. Also taking place in the morning were the 20-Rower District Fibreglass, 25-Rower Traditional Open, and 15-Rower Under 30 Youth boat races.

According to organisers, apart from enlivening the celebrations for His Majesty’s 72nd birthday, the regatta’s goal is to strengthen societal cohesion through sportsmanship within and outside the country, as well as to boost tourism to the country.

Besides local rowers, the major calendar event also saw the participation of international rowerteams from Malaysia, Indonesia and China.

Ever since its revival in 2012, the Brunei Darussalam Regatta has succeeded in rekindling the golden era of traditional boat racing along the Brunei River and stirring interest in the spectacle among the youth, as well as drawing crowds back to the capital.

His Majesty’s participation in the regatta demonstrates his enthusiasm for the traditional sporting event, which was popular during the golden era of the Brunei River back in the 1950s and actively partaken by His Majesty’s father, Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam.

|    James Kon    |

HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (NFABD) witnessed the signing of Memorandum of Sponsorship Agreements yesterday between NFABD and Ghanim International Corporation Sdn Bhd and Hui Huang Enterprise.

The agreement will see the sponsorship of drinking water ‘Ayer’ and isotonic drink ‘YOU C-1000’ for NFABD related events and trainings until 2021.

His Royal Highness arrival at the NFABD house was welcomed by Acting Deputy President of NFABD Pengiran Haji Aliudin bin Pengiran Haji Tajuddin as well as members of the executive members of NFABD, with Chief Executive Officer of Ghanim International Corporation Dr Nur Rahman and Manager of Hui Huang Enterprise Katherine Hii.

General Secretary of NFABD Roslin bin Suhailee, in his opening remarks, lauded the signing as a significant milestone for NFABD.

“The signing today is yet another important milestone for NFABD as an organisation that welcomes partnership or cooperation which could directly or indirectly help in the planning and implementation of football development programmes in the country.

“NFABD would like to extend its appreciation and thanks to Ghanim International Corporation and Hui Huang Enterprise for their initiatives in the country’s football development through the sponsorship of ‘Ayer’ water drink and isotonic drink ‘YOU C-1000’.

“Under the Memorandum of Sponsorship Agreement, both companies will provide two types of drinks with significant value for officers and players during training sessions and tournaments as well as for footballs activities organised by NFABD,” he said.

He believed the sponsorships can help reduce the burden of NFABD in the need for refreshments.

“NFABD will give full cooperation to Ghanim International Corporation and Hui Huang Enterprise in promoting their brands in suitable platforms and events organised by NFABD,” the general secretary said.

In materialising the agreement, Dr Nur Rahman highlighted that both organisations share the same interests of both organisations.

“The National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam represents the most popular sport in the world and is the backbone of the football community in Brunei with the noble pursuit of nurturing home grown football talents to the international stage.

“bruneihalalfoods shares a similar aspiration to take Brunei products to the global market to show that the local food industry is capable of competing with global players.

“In the last few years, we have focussed our efforts in forming partnerships and collaboration with local businesses to develop, market and promote food products that are innovative, healthy and high quality products, putting Halal at the heart of everything we produce,” Dr Nur Rahman added.

“The team at bruneihalalfoods was excited to materialise this partnership as we are proud to be associated with the most important governing body of the most important sports.”

Katherine Hii believed the agreement will provide an opportunity for marketing their product immensely through football.

“NFABD is a great platform for us to target all ages of people who are active in football by exposing our drinks during their games. We are grateful that we are given the chance to be a part of the sponsor’s team throughout the events that will be hosted by NFABD.”

Also present at the ceremony were the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, as well as senior officials from the ministry and guests.

|     Danial Norjidi     |

AS PART of the recent Youth Business Talk (YBT) 2018 at Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), a plenary session was held on August 9 to discuss the topic of challenges facing youth in entrepreneurship and life, and setting ambitions.

The session was moderated by the Head of Youth Entrepreneurship Programme at the Youth Centre Pengiran Kamal Ghadafi bin Pengiran Haji Suhaimi, and featured a panel comprising DH-AW Sdn Bhd Director Dato Paduka Haji Hamdillah bin Haji Abdul Wahab, Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd Chief Marketing Officer Devin Edwards, Geotrax Chief Executive Officer Mohd Reduan bin Yusof and Mohd Ammirul Hakeem bin Rahimeey, a final year UTB student studying Computer Network and Security, who also has a business called MixBros.

During the session, Dato Paduka Haji Hamdillah highlighted the importance of seizing opportunities.

“Even in school, even in university, opportunities are abound,” he said. “All you have to do is keep your eyes open, keep your mind open and grab the opportunity, even if you have to do it alone.”

Meanwhile, Devin Edwards advised, “Never rely exclusively on a single idea or a single income stream, because as an entrepreneur you’ll have businesses that do well, you’ll have businesses that fail, you’ll have businesses that do well for a period of time and then fail, and ideally you always need to have things to fall back on or alternative revenue streams to actually help you to stay propped up in times of uncertainty, in times where one business model may fail.”

Mohd Reduan underlined the need for perseverance. “Don’t look back. Don’t listen to negative comments, just go ahead,” he said, highlighting that it is important to keep going and not simply stop after a few days or weeks. “You are all young, you still have energy. This is the time to manage your business.”

Mohd Ammirul Hakeem spoke on how he managed to start a business while still a student, and said, “It’s not impossible as a student to discover what you can do.” He said it is important for students to learn communication, management and leadership skills.

The plenary session concluded after a question and answer segment, where attendees were given the opportunity to pose questions to the panellists.

The YBT 2018 at UTB was the first to be hosted there, and it is an entrepreneurship programme jointly organised by the Entrepreneurship Unit of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) with UTB.

In addition to the plenary session, the two-day programme also put focus on positive mindset, identity, leadership, marketing and branding.

The programme involved 100 participants from UTB, including students from the UTB School of Business, School of Computing and Informatics, Faculty of Engineering, School of Applied Sciences and Mathematics, and School of Design.

|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

THE Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Brunei Darussalam, in collaboration with the National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brunei Darussalam (NCCIBD), Taiwan Business Association in Brunei Darussalam, Taiwan Graduates Association of Brunei Darussalam and Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Bandar Seri Begawan (CCC BSB), is organising a series of health talks by Taipei Beitou Health Management Hospital, a renowned Taiwanese medical centre, as part of efforts to promote Taiwan’s medical tourism industry.

The talks are running from August 12 to 16, taking place at Chung Hwa Middle School (BSB), the CCC BSB, and the NCCIBD.

Delivering the talks is the hospital’s Superintendent, Dr Ching-Piao Tsai, who will share the hospital’s various world class medical services.

During his time in Brunei, Dr Tsai will visit the Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC) to familiarise himself with the medical services available in the country.

The Taipei Beitou Health Management Hospital talks come amidst Royal Brunei Airlines’ (RB) decision to reinstate flights to Taipei beginning December 3 this year, providing a boost to the tourism and business relationship of Brunei and Taiwan.

Taiwan is long renowned for its advanced medical technology and services, attracting large numbers of international medical tourists seeking top quality, yet affordable medical care.