|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam’s national pencak silat athlete Norleyermah binti Haji Raya returned to the scene evoking wonderful memories in her stellar career at the 18th Asian Games, seven years after claiming bronze in the team artistic event at the 2011 SEA Games in Jakarta.

The national athlete is setting her sights for a repeat of the success in the women’s artistic singles event at the Padepokan Pencak Silat Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) today.

Norleyermah first took up the sport in 2000 when she was around 13 or 14 years and revealed that the artistic singles event was not her main practice in pencak silat, having made the switch from tanding during the formative years of her colourful career.

“I was not involved in the artistic singles because I was a fighter before. Due to my physical stature, it is natural to move from tanding and the coaches saw that I have talent in the artistic event,” said Norleyermah in an interview with the media recently.

Norleyermah’s development in the sport saw her being absorbed into the Brunei-Muara Pencak Silat Scheme and the coaches advised her to take up the artistic event.

“After that, the first time they saw me in the artistic event, I caught up with everything they asked me to do. In 2003 or 2004, they put me in the triple team because they needed people to replace.”

Norleyermah was considered as one for the future at that time while her sister Norleydiana binti Haji Raya is also a gold medallist in the 2003 SEA Games in Hanoi.

“At that time, we trained by looking at videos for two weeks, especially when it came to memorising the moves. We tried to replicate what we watched at home. We needed to learn quickly and I learnt from there. My sister helped me as well which made me better.”

In 2007, Norleyermah was installed into the team after one of the athletes was withdrawn after being enrolled as a recruit just two weeks before an event in Singapore.

“They wanted me to replace the athlete. I had to learn within two weeks to go before the competition. They knew that I could learn faster than everyone so they offered the role to me.

“During that two weeks, I learnt the movement and I went to Singapore where I was awarded bronze and was selected for the World Championships in Pahang,” she added.

In 2012, Norleyermah was placed fourth in the World Championships in the artistic singles in Chiang Rai but won bronze with her artistic triples team.

Norleyermah was selected in a singles event in the SEA Games in Myanmar where she finished fourth in 2013 and also fourth again in the World Championships in Bali.

The 31-year-old said that a number of countries in the region are catching up, including Thailand and the Philippines, adding that she could not tell her chances as there are a lot of good competitors in the field.

“They can do what we do which was unlike before. Before this, these countries were not strong but now they are getting better. Their standard has gone up and even India has brought athletes in the singles event,” said Norleyermah.

“That means there is a lot of people from outside who learn pencak silat,” she added.

“It will be tough since it (the Asian Games) is bigger than the SEA Games. I hope that I have a smoother route to go to the final.”

Pencak silat has been put on the map for the first time at the Asian Games after being endorsed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).

Asked about her thoughts of being selected to represent the country, she replied, “Alhamdulillah, I was happy especially when it is the first time that pencak silat has been included at the Asian Games.

“Before this, we have participated in the Beach Games, but now it is the most important game for us. I am really nervous as the pressure is on right now but hopefully I can do my best,” she added.

Norleyermah clinched silver in the Road to Asian Games back in February, a mock event to the real competition and she said that her accomplishment there partially helped her in terms of being familiar with the atmosphere which she thinks should be similar to the Asian Games.

The experienced national exponent, who made her mark in the 2007 SEA Games, is one the country’s most decorated athletes having bagged silver twice and bronze three times in the team’s event.

Meanwhile, Norleyermah’s pencak silat teammates Anisah Najihah binti Abdullah, Nur Azimatunnaemah Simat and Qistina Athirah binti Zainal will take part in the team event.

|     James Kon     |

ELEVEN graduates of the Laksamana College of Business (LCB) received first-class honours from the University of Chester on Thursday.

During the LCB graduation ceremony at The Rizqun International Hotel some of the recipients shared their personal journeys and challenges on the road to success.

One of them was Olivia Huey Tyng Liaw, who graduated with a BA (Hons) in Accounting and Finance.

In her speech at the graduation ceremony, she said, “As many of you know, I struggled to get a degree for seven years. After a string of constant failures, I grew disappointed. I felt embarrassed, depressed and fearful. I disconnected myself with anyone associated with me at the time.

“Three years ago, I gave up all attempts and decided to look for a job. With some assurance from my parents, I decided to make a final attempt. It was then that I found out what LCB has to offer, and something told me that I had another chance to get a UK-certified qualification. Now, here I am today, standing before you, with a first-class honours degree in Accounting and Finance,” she added.

Meanwhile, Ivan Ninan, who graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Computer Science, recalled in his speech, “I first Joined LCB four years ago where I was doing my Higher National Diploma in Computing. I still recall my first day quite clearly – I was nervous as most new students would be, but I was very anxious, because I knew I would be older than most of my classmates. However, on my first day of class, I surprisingly managed to make some friends who are still with me to this day.”

Joanne Yen, who took a two-year break from studies and returned to obtain her BA (Hons) in Business Management, said, “I am really happy that my hard work has really paid off.”

Recalling her journey, she said, “Actually I wasn’t a very hardworking student. I took a hiatus for two years, which reshaped my attitude, and then I worked really hard for everything by putting 100 per cent effort into my studies.”

Her approach to success is very simple: “Try to pay attention in class and revise before the exams. You don’t need to study 24 hours a day. Just pay attention in class.”

On her choice of LCB, she said, “I like what they have to offer, they have good facilities and lecturers, as well as good support system.”

Muhammad Syauzi bin Haji Suhaidi, who also graduated with a BA (Hons) in Business Management, admitted, “My journey was not an easy one. While in my first year, I actually failed my second semester. It was an eye-opening experience, and I felt that I had let down my parents, but my mother provided positive encouragement. From that point, I started to study harder and stay focussed.”

He also revealed, “My initial plan was to look for a job but I feel that it may be tough. I hope to start my own business.”

Wan Nor Amirah binti Haji Wan Mohd Asri, who graduated with a BA (Hons) in Computer Science, said, “It was tough in the first year, because I didn’t have many friends. Fortunately in my second year, I had more friends thanks to team projects.”

She has words of advice for future graduates, “Try to finish all the projects and assignments on time.” Wan Nor Amirah is currently undergoing the final phase of the application process at the Officer Cadet School (OCS) under the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).

|     James Kon     |

A GRUESOME accident which took place just after midnight yesterday claimed the lives of two locals, a 29-year-old man and a 37-year-old woman. The duo was killed after the car they were travelling hit a tree at Jalan Menteri Besar area in Berakas.

According to a statement from the Royal Brunei Police Force, the Berakas Police Station received an emergency call at its hotline 993 at around 12.37am, alerting about the fatal accident.

According to the initial investigation report, the car driven by one of the victims crashed into a tree on the road divider.

The mangled vehicle was seen wedged into the tree’s trunk.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

The Royal Brunei Police Force reminded the public, especially road users, to always drive cautiously, comply with speed limit regulations and make sure that the vehicle is in good condition.

AUTORITI Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD) said that it has come to the attention of the authority that United Formula Company (UFC) has allegedly been making false representations to potential and existing clients that their business or products are approved by AMBD.

Members of the public should be aware that UFC has been listed on the AMBD Alert List since January 10, 2018, it informed in a press statement yesterday.

AMBD said it has received an increasing number of complaints and queries from members of the public who have incurred losses from participating in unregulated financial investments, and reiterated its advice to members of the public to be extremely cautious when participating in any scheme or financial transaction that are not regulated under the laws administered by AMBD or are listed in the AMBD Alert List.

The authority also advised the public to only deal with persons or entities that are regulated by AMBD. “AMBD’s regulatory framework aims to safeguard the interests of investors by ensuring that only competent and qualified persons may provide financial services,” the statement noted. “The public should exercise caution when they come across what appears to be an investment opportunity that promises high returns with representations or assurances of negligible risks or even being risk free. The public should also be wary of schemes that focus on attracting new clients to make investments.

“These are most likely to be financial scams or even Ponzi schemes that fall outside of AMBD’s regulatory protection,” it added.

“Members of the public may check on the AMBD Alert List available on the AMBD website at www.ambd.gov.bn for the list of individuals, companies and websites which are neither authorised nor approved under the relevant laws and regulations administered by AMBD or whose activities raise a suspicion of illegal financial activity,” the authority urged.

The list of persons and institutions licensed by AMBD can also be found on AMBD’s website; or on the AMBD app downloadable at App Store and Google Playstore.

|     Azlan Othman     |

BRUNEI Darussalam has the eighth fastest 4G network in the Asia-Pacific with 17.48Mbps speed, according to a report by Open Signal, a UK-based wireless technology company.

The report compares 4G performance across 88 countries worldwide.

Singapore has the fastest 4G network followed by South Korea, Australia and New Zealand in the Asia-Pacific. Singapore is also the fastest 4G country in the world.

In Australia, Vodafone has jumped ahead of Telstra in the 4G speed metric, averaging LTE downloads of 40Mbps.

Taiwan’s operators are quickly joining the global elite in 4G availability with the fifth fastest network speed in Asia.

It is followed by Japan and Vietnam at 25.39 and 21.49Mbps respectively.

As per the report, Japan’s 4G network speed is by no means slow, but it is still well away from matching the LTE speeds of the elite countries.

It is followed by Myanmar and Malaysia. Other countries below 15Mbps are Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Pakistan.

According to the report, through improved smartphone technology and new spectrum, mobile operators have elevated average 4G speeds first beyond 20Mbps, then beyond 30 Mbps, and in the last two years, beyond 40Mbps.

“However, now the industry seems to have reached a limit to what current technology, spectral bandwidth and mobile economics can support on a nationwide level. The LTE average download speeds have stalled at just over 45Mbps, as per the report.

“Speeds, though, remained stagnant, could soon change as the wave of consolidation clears the way for new high-capacity networks,” the report noted.

In last year’s Akamai State of the Internet Report, Brunei’s overall average speed stood at 7.4Mbps, with Telekom Brunei Berhad’s (TelBru) own average speed gauging significantly higher than this due to its Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) infrastructure that can comparatively carry higher load.

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

HUMAN trafficking is becoming more prevalent and has become the second largest type of criminal activity, after illegal drug trade.

This was stated by member of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Yang Berhormat Iswandy bin Ahmad, while delivering a speech as guest of honour at the opening of the ‘Combating Trafficking in Persons’ conference (CTIP 2018) organised by Youth Against Slavery Brunei (YAS Brunei) at the ICTC2 Galley of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) yesterday.

“We have seen an increase in the occurrence of trafficking in persons in recent years in every part of the world. It has become a global trend which our region is not immune to,” he explained.

“Trafficking in persons is an insult to human dignity and is a heinous crime as it exploits human vulnerability for the purpose of servitude, slavery, forced labour, sexual exploitation and other forms by means of fraud, deception, abuse of power, coercion and abduction.

“The United Nations estimates that human trafficking has victimised 21 million men, women and children around the world. Between 600,000 and 800,000 victims are trafficked across borders globally each year.

“According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), 79 per cent of human trafficking falls in the category of sexual exploitation, followed by forced labour at 18 per cent,” he said.

“Perpetrators make more than USD20,000 a year from each victim of commercial sexual exploitation and about USD4,000 from forced labour exploitation. An International Labour Organization (ILO) report estimates that the Asia-Pacific region leads the world in annual profits of forced labour at USD51.8 billion dollars due to the high number of victims,” he continued.

He further emphasised that traffickers now have become more refined in their use of information and communication technology (ICT) as a tool for recruiting and exploiting their victims.

ASEAN has 689 million mobile subscriptions, exceeding its population of around 660 million and the largest Internet users are people aged 15 to 24, followed by the 25-34 age group.

Yang Berhormat Iswandy highlighted that Brunei is ranked to have the highest usage of ICT and social media, adding that ICT opens up opportunities and also vulnerabilities for both youth and exploiters.

“Social media, as identified by UNODC, is a platform to prey on children for the purposes of sexual exploitation, drug trafficking and child labour,” he said. He further noted that given the popularity of social media use in Asia, communications technology can be an amazing tool to empower individuals and communities to practise positive behaviours that protect them from human trafficking. The LegCo member emphasised on the cooperation between the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which he said will play a significance role in addressing a multi-faceted problem such as trafficking.

“The government has to enforce existing laws and policies to properly and effectively combat trafficking; business sector has the responsibility to ensure clean supply chains; and NGOs have to promote awareness and provide assistance in protecting victims. Not to forget, every citizen, has a role to play in the campaign against trafficking,” he said.

He concluded the speech by saying, “We need to start from something small. If not us, who? And, if not now, when?”

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

THE Youth Against Slavery Brunei (YAS Brunei) yesterday launched a two-day conference titled ‘Combating Trafficking in Persons’ conference (CTIP 2018) at ICTC2 Gallery, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).

The conference was inaugurated by guest of honour of the event Yang Berhormat Iswandy bin Ahmad, a member of the Legislative Council. Also present during the event was the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Brunei Darussalam Air-Vice Marshal (Rtd) Mahmud Hussain.

The opening ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat followed by a welcoming remark from the Co-founder of YAS Brunei Amal Kasibah binti Bahari.

She highlighted that the annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report showed that Brunei has advanced from being only a transit country to being both a transit and destination country – in other words, “there are people that are brought to Brunei to be trafficked or exploited, adding that it is our ultimate goal to change this status for Brunei”.

According to her, the conference will focus on the most vulnerable groups of people such as children and young people and discuss how they are made more vulnerable by means of cybersecurity breaches.

“This conference aims to deliberate on how to safeguard these groups of people,” she added.

Amal Kasibah further highlighted that the conference is to shine more light on human trafficking and modern day slavery and take actions to end exploitation.

“Together, we will create a more aware generation that strives to eliminate human trafficking. If we collaborate, we can each contribute a strand to form a safety net for trafficking victims and a web in which to catch perpetrators,” she said.

The first day of the conference yesterday featured a plenary session attended by Air-Vice Marshal (Rtd) Mahmud Hussain; Acting Head of Human Trafficking Investigation Unit, Criminal Investigation Department of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) Assistant Superintendent Ivy Han; Project Coordinator of Young Health Programme at Lentera Anak Foundation in Indonesia Margianta Surahman Juhanda Dinata; and representatives from the Labour Department, Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA).

The two-day conference will see breakout sessions on topics including ‘Identifying Victims of Trafficking in Persons’ presented by the Human Trafficking Unit, ‘Awareness and Cybercrime’ by BruCert of ITPSS Sdn Bhd and ‘Combating Trafficking in Persons with Technology’ by Emancipate Indonesia, among others.

The second day will feature a plenary session on ‘Trafficking in Persons and Labour Law Violations’, led by panel speakers including members of the Human Trafficking Unit, Attorney General’s Chambers and the Labour Department, followed by a resolution presentation on the breakout session.

The guest of honour at the closing ceremony at Progresif Headquarters in Gadong today will be Acting Director of the Criminal Investigation Department of RBPF ACP Dato Paduka Haji Awang Mohammad Hassan bin Pehin Penyurat Haji Ahmad.

|     Hakim Hayat     |

EVERYBODY in the community plays an important part in identifying victims of human trafficking and should raise a red flag to the relevant authorities should they feel someone they know, or even themselves, is being exploited.

This was stated by Acting Head of Human Trafficking Investigation Unit, Criminal Investigation Department of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) Assistant Superintendent Ivy Han at the first plenary session of the ‘Combating Trafficking in Persons’ conference (CTIP 2018) hosted by Bruneian youth initiative Youth Against Slavery Brunei (YAS Brunei) yesterday.

In a session that focussed on identifying human trafficking victims, she shared that people should always be on the lookout for indicators of human trafficking such as forced labour including sexual servitude and prostitution, slavery as well as denial of basic rest, food and shelter.

Han said that many of the victims are trapped and being forced to work as well as face threats that also extend to family members of the victims. She further explained that human trafficking can be identified firstly through an “act” of recruitment and pre-planning, followed by the “means” of forcing, threatening and promise of money and cheating and finally “exploitation” where a victim is forced into labour, sexual services and even selling organs.

“We as a civil society should always be on a lookout, and if we feel or see that something is not right, we should raise them to the authorities, be it the police, the Labour Department or even the Community Development Department (JAPEM),” Han urged, while stressing that the police here take a very serious stance against human trafficking that can be brought up to the High Court for conviction.

Although human trafficking is not rampant in Brunei Darussalam, Han said that the multi-billion dollar industry is rampant worldwide, and is very common in lower-income countries and among lower educated and even highly educated individuals who are being tricked or just simply fall into the trap, and this poses a mounting challenge to law enforcement in the global landscape today.

Its prevalence, Han said, is mainly due to its highly profitable gains that require very minimum capital, which typically involves the movement of humans who are easily accessible. In “modern-day slavery,” she said there are cases of individuals being forced to work and exploited in industries such as fisheries and clothing manufacturing with low pay and squalid conditions, denying them their basic rights.

Many of these human trafficking victims are trapped because they have to pay off debts, support their family members, but in the process, they are being tricked, she added.

Han said this is why it is imperative for the public to be aware of human trafficking traits and always be wary of the legitimacy of job offers and they should check such offers through authoritative channels.

Over the last few years, a number of individuals, including locals, have been convicted for human trafficking crimes in the country – mostly for trafficking of individuals from outside the country to work in the country illegally or for denying their wages.

Han shared that in the Sultanate, several cases classified by the police as human trafficking crimes have not been charged in the court as the cases do not satisfy the requirement, or has not enough evidence to be charged under the Human Trafficking Order, or fall under other legislations such as the Penal Code, Labour Violation Order and Women and Girls Protection Act.

The conference is aimed at strengthening the network’s ability to combat trafficking in persons, including protecting the youth from exploitation and preventing Brunei from becoming a destination for trafficking in person and travelling sex offenders, easy access to online pornography, misuse of the Internet as well as other forms of human exploitation.

The conference puts particular attention to the importance of working with those most likely to come into contact with trafficking victims such as medical practitioners, national security forces, border patrol agents, teachers and those in the transportation and hospitality industries.

YAS Brunei said they are placing special recognition on the important role they can play in sharing their first-hand experience to strengthen the effectiveness of anti-trafficking policies.

YAS Brunei is a Bruneian youth initiative which is a product of Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) – a US government endeavor.

|     Syahmi Hassan     |

HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office watched Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim in action at the semi-finals of the Brunei Open Badminton Championship 2018 at the badminton court of The Centrepoint Hotel in Gadong last night.

Also joining His Royal Highness the Crown Prince in watching the semi-finals were Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman and Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah binti Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah.

At the semi-finals match, Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim put up a valiant effort before losing to Dessen Chung Min Ting.

Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim won the first set 23-21 before the opponent came back to draw the match at 1-1 by winning the second set 16-21.

Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim tried to rise up in winning the deciding tie-breaker but Dessen Chung Min Ting won the tie-breaker set 19-21.

Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim beat Mohd Daffa Dany bin Ali Hussin 21–9 and 21–18 a few days ago to earn his place in the quarter-final berth.

In the quarter-finals, Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim defeated Hung Wei Li in a straight set, 21-14, 21-17 win to advance to the semi-finals.

|     Hakim Hayat     |

TWO Bruneians, Cheong Kok Liang and Michelle Charlene Basir reached the summit of Stok Kangri, the highest mountain in the Stok Range of the Himalayas at 5.41am on August 21.

Stok Kangri, standing at 6,153m above sea level, is the highest mountain in the Stok Range. It is situated in the Ladakh region of north-west India.

Their eight-day self-funded expedition began in Leh, a high-desert city in the Himalayas, in India’s northern state of Jammu and Kashmir.

This is their fourth and highest mountain summit trip together so far. They previously summited Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m) in 2012, Mount Kinabalu (4,095m) in 2015 and Mount Rinjani (3,726m) in 2017.

Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

THE Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) and departments under it yesterday held a Korban ceremony, organised by Biodiversity Research and Innovation Centre (BioRIC) at the Setia Pahlawan Hall of MPRT at Jalan Menteri Besar, Berakas.

The guest of honour at the ceremony was Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong.

The event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Takbir followed with the distribution of the Korban meat by the guest of honour to 129 recipients.

This year, three buffaloes were slaughtered.

Also present at the event were Permanent Secretary at the MPRT, Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin; Deputy Permanent Secretary at the MPRT, Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali, heads of departments and divisions as well as senior officers, officers and staff members of MPRT and departments under it.

The event ended with the recitation of Doa Selamat.

Ministry of Health

|     Danial Norjidi     |

THE Ministry of Health (MoH) held a Korban ceremony yesterday in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha 1439H.

A press release said that this year, five buffaloes were sacrificed. The Korban meat was distributed to around 300 recipients comprising officers and staff of MoH during the ceremony at the ministry’s Al-‘Afiah Hall.

The proceedings began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Takbir Hari Raya, before continuing with the distribution of Korban meat.

The Korban meat was distributed by the Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Jaafar and spouse, Datin Dr Hajah Noraslinah binti Haji Ramlee.

The event concluded after a recitation of Doa Selamat.

Also present at the event were Permanent Secretary at the MoH Haji Abdul Manap bin Othman and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional) Dr Haji Zulaidi bin Haji Abdul Latif as well as directors, officers and staff from the ministry.

The press release noted that the Korban ceremony is an annual activity of the MoH aimed to obtain blessings from Allah the Almighty as well as to encourage individuals in the ministry to be generous in donating to those who are in need.

Ministry of Religious Affairs

|     Wani Roslan     |

THE Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) yesterday held a Korban ceremony at Multaqa Hall of the ministry.

The guest of honour Acting Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar distributed the Korban meat to the recipients.

This year, three cows and a buffalo were slaughtered and the sacrificial meat was distributed to 41 less fortunate individuals of Mukim Berakas who are registered under Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB).

The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by Assistant Religious Officer at the Haj Affairs Department Pengiran Haji Reduan bin Pengiran Haji Badaruddin and continued with the distribution of the sacrificial meat.

The ceremony is one of the annual religious activities of the ministry aimed to enliven the Islamic major event as well as to strengthen the ties among the officers and staff members at the ministry.

Also in attendance were Permanent Secretary at the MoRA Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Mohd Yusof and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the MoRA Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang.

Former Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien College hostel students

|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

A GROUP of former hostel students of Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) College yesterday organised a Korban ceremony at the residence of Chairman of the organising committee, Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Lahap.

In his speech, Haji Abdul Rahman explained that the ceremony was first of its kind to be organised by the group and it aimed to perform religious rituals as well as to commemorate the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration.

Five buffaloes were slaughtered for the Korban ritual and distributed to 62 families living in Kampong Jangsak and its vicinity. On hand to distribute the sacrificial meat was guest of honour Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Hamid @ Sabli bin Haji Arshad.

Islamic Da’wah Centre

|     Hakim Hayat     |

THE Islamic Da’wah Centre yesterday marked Hari Raya Aidiladha with a Korban ceremony.

The event held at the centre’s complex in Kampong Pulaie, were attended by Acting Director of Administration at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) Mohammad Sofian bin Haji Basri and spouse Rahaya binti Haji Abdul Rahman as guests of honour. Sacrificial meat was presented to over 100 recipients comprising new converts and underprivileged in the Brunei-Muara District.

The event also saw the Takbir Hari Raya led by the Acting Head of Dakwah Development Section Pengiran Haji Jufri bin Pengiran Haji Hidop.

A Tausyeh performance from children of the Converts Guidance Class also enlivened the event. Three buffaloes were slaughtered in the ceremony.

The event was organised by the Dakwah Development Section and Converts Development Section of the Islamic Da’wah Centre with cooperation from the Nurul Islam Association and Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Society (BDRCS).

Also in attendance were Acting Assistant Director of the Islamic Da’wah Centre, Abdul Aziz bin Haji Abdul Kahar as well as representatives from the BDRCS.

Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Health Centre

|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

THE Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Health Centre in Kampong Sungai Asam marked the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration with a Korban ceremony.

Two buffaloes were sacrificed at the ritual ceremony and the sacrificial meat was distributed to 39 recipients comprising of orphans from Kampong Lorong Dalam, Kampong Sungai Pandan ‘A’ and Kampong Sungai Pandan ‘B’.

On hand to distribute the sacrificial meat was Head of Basic Health Service Section of the Health Services Department Dr Hajah Musjarena binti Haji Mulok.

Kampong Lamunin Mosque Committee

|     Azaraimy HH     |

KAMPONG Lamunin Mosque Committee recently held a Korban ceremony in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha 1439 Hijrah.

The annual Korban ceremony held at the mosque, saw three cows being slaughtered.

The ceremony continued with recitation of Doa Selamat and the distribution of the Korban meat by Head of the Village of Kampong Lamunin, Tutong Major (Rtd) Said bin Haji Tinggal.

MPK Kampong Pelambayan

|     Fizah HAB     |

THE Kampong Pelambayan Village Consultative Council (MPK) recently held its annual Korban ceremony for Kampong Pelambayan and Kampong Dato Gandi in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha 1439 Hijrah.

This year saw 14 Korban participants comprising members and family members of the MPK and two buffaloes were slaughtered.

The ceremony commenced with a recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat led by Bilal of Kampong Pelambayan Mosque Haji Rajeh bin Haji Muntol and it was followed by the distribution of Korban meat by the guest of honour Deputy Permanent Secretary (Municipal and District) at the Ministry of Home Affairs Abdul Walid bin Haji Matassan to Asnaf Zakat recipients and orphans as well as residents of Kampong Pelambayan and Kampong Datu Gandi.

Ministry of Education

|     Fizah HAB     |

THE Planning, Development and Research Department of the Ministry of Education (MoE) together with the Special Education Unit, held a distribution of Korban meat at the Multipurpose Hall of Pintu Malim Primary School yesterday, in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration.

Minister of Education Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman was the guest of honour.

Also present was Deputy Minister of Education Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh.

The celebrations commenced with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat, led by Awangku Mohd Khoiri Syauqi bin Pengiran Johari, Year 11 student from Sayyidina Abu Bakar Secondary School.

The guest of honour then distributed the Korban meat to 78 selected recipients from Mukim Kota Batu and Kampong Menunggol.

This year, five livestock were offered for sacrifice by 35 officers and staff members from the MoE.

Also present were Legislative Council member and Penghulu of Mukim Kota Batu Yang Berhormat Naim bin Haji Kamis, Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) Dr Haji Azman bin Ahmad, Permanent Secretary (Core Education) Dr Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati binti Haji Tajuddin, vice chancellors and university rectors, deputy secretaries, acting director of education and senior officers at the MoE.

Ministry of Communications

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

THE Ministry of Communications (MinCom) and departments under it held a Korban ceremony yesterday morning at the ministry’s Amar Pahlawan Hall in Jalan Menteri Besar in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidiladha celebration.

This year, the event was organised by the Civil Aviation Department.

Present as the guest of honour was Minister of Communications Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Yusof.

Also present were the Permanent Secretary at the MinCom Haji Azhar bin Haji Ahmad; Deputy Permanent Secretary Dr Haji Supry bin Haji Awang Ladi; Acting Director of Civil Aviation Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof; directors, heads of departments, officers and staff members of the ministry and departments under it.

The event began with mass recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah followed by the Hari Raya Takbir.

It continued with a remark from the Acting Director of Civil Aviation.

The event was further enlivened with a talk delivered by an invited speaker from the Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) Ustaz Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ajak.

The event also saw the distribution of the sacrificial meat by the guest of honour. A total of 56 participants sacrificed eight buffaloes.

The ceremony ended with the recitation of Doa Selamat.

The annual religious event aimed to ease the burden of those in need and strengthen the relationship between the officers and staff members of the ministry and departments as well as agencies under them.

State Mufti’s Office, RB and Mulaut Abattoir

|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

A TOTAL of 180 individuals from Mukim Gadong and Mukim Kianggeh received their portion of Korban meat at a ceremony yesterday jointly organised by the State Mufti’s Office of the Prime Minister’s Office, Royal Brunei Airlines Sdn Bhd (RB) and Mulaut Abattoir Sdn Bhd.

The ceremony took place at the Darulifta building of the State Mufti’s Office in Jalan Pengiran Babu Raja.

The State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned distributed the Korban meat.

Also present were a member of the Legislative Council; members of the Board of Directors of RB; village heads, as well as senior officers and officers from the three institutions.

Five cattle, three buffaloes and two goats were sacrificed for the annual religious ceremony.

|     Azaraimy HH     |

THE Faculty of Usuluddin at the Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) held the opening ceremony of its annual Ukhuwah Islamiah Camp programme.

Held at Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam Mosque in Kampong Sengkarai, Tutong, the programme runs from August 24-26.

Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Wahab bin Apong officiated the programme as the guest of honour.

The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by Muhammad Zharfan bin Haji Ahmad and recitation of Al-Quran verses by Awang Mohammad.

The ceremony continued with a welcoming address by the Dean of Faculty of Usuluddin at KUPU SB Dr Mikdar Rusdi followed by the official opening of the Ukhuwah Islamiah Camp by the guest of honour.

The programme has been annually held since 2011 and is carried under the three concepts of Syiar, Salam and Silaturrahim.

The programme includes formats such as Qiyamullail; mass Subuh and Doha prayers; camping or spending a night at the mosque; lectures focussing on strengthening of Aqidah, Syaksiah Muslim, the importance of Ukhuwah; practical guidance on enhancing prayer and recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah; and community activities.

The programme aimed, among others, to instil responsibilities in Muslim individuals by strengthening the Ukhuwah Islamiah with village residents; introducing KUPU SB to the society and community; providing exposure and experience to students in interacting with the community; and to inculcate in them the concept of Ma’ruf Nahi Munkar.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam’s national equestrian Pengiran Mohd Nasir bin Pengiran Anak Haji Ja’afar expressed hopes to better the result he achieved in 2010 in the same major tournament in the jumping individual event of the 18th Asian Games in Jakarta tomorrow.

The national athlete finished in 11th place in Guangzhou that year and produced a perfect round in the finals of the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur last year.

“My hopes and expectations are to improve on my last results that I achieved at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games in China. I was placed 11th that year and I hope to break into the top 10 this time,” Pengiran Mohd Nasir said in an interview recently.

Asked about his preparations for the tournament, he replied, “I’ve been preparing and competing in various international competitions around Europe, including CSI2** Roeser in Luxembourg and CSI2** Knokke Belgium. These are highly ranked international shows with top, competitive riders.”

The Belgium-based rider also shared that his training involved working with his horses on a daily basis as well as working with a trainer and getting himself fit.

Pengiran Mohd Nasir is always proud to represent the country and will always strive to make his country proud evident with his heroic efforts in the last SEA Games where he was spared a medal by quicker times.

“No matter where, I’m always proud to represent my country. SEA Games last year will always be remembered as one of my best achievements, but I’ll always have to look forward.

“We say in the sport, you’re only as good as your last round. Tomorrow is a new day!” said Pengiran Mohd Nasir.

The 28-year old first took up horse riding as an after-school activity in 2000 while he was a student at Jerudong International School.

His first major tournament was the SEA Young Rider World Cup in Kuala Lumpur back in 2005, which was also the venue during last year’s SEA Games.

Pengiran Mohd Nasir produced one of his strongest performances in the venue which he has fond memories of.

The national rider has identified Arab nations such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates as the strongest in the field.

Illustrating the strength of Arab countries in the event, Pengiran Mohd Nasir affirmed, “Since the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, every gold medallist was from an Arab nation.”

Pengiran Mohd Nasir’s coach Lieven Devos has been a strong influence on him during his career.

“I see my coach more as family, and that is how much our relationship has developed since I began training with him in 2008. It’s either he trains me or I would prefer not to ride at all,” he said.

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

OVER 300 Years 4, 5 and 6 students of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (YSHHB) Primary School attended the night skywatching programme at 7pm at the YSHHB Secondary School parking area, concourse and main entrance yesterday.

The event was organised by the Science Department led by Head of Department Shanju Najumunniza Ammal in collaboration with the Survey Department, Ministry of Development.

Present at the event was school Headmistress Cikgu Hajah Mariam binti Haji Ladi. Teachers, staff, parents and guardians were also present.

The event began with the recitation of Doa by Ustaz Norhashim bin Haji Kassim.

Cikgu Hajah Mariam expressed appreciation to the Science Department for organising the programme. She also expressed gratitude to the Survey Department for the support.

Students were briefed on astronomy by Survey Department representatives before viewing the full moon, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

The event concluded with quizzes.

The event aimed to teach students about the solar system, provide a closer view of the full-moon and provide first-hand experience using telescopes. It also sought to encourage students to learn more about the solar system in line with SPN21.

|     Lyna Mohamad     |

WOMEN in the 21^st Century too face challenges as the current workplace culture designed by and for men is not working to ensure gender equality, said co-founder of Brunei Womenpreneur Network (BWN) Noorhafizah binti Haji Rashid.

In her welcoming remarks at an event to mark the Women Equality Day celebration, jointly hosted by BWN and Dilmah T Lounge yesterday, she noted that “there are different forces – from latent bias to blatant sexism – that hold women back from advancing up the ladder. Both women and men should come together in the fight for equality – as mentioned by Forbes ‘Equality is not a female issue, it’s a social and economic imperative’,” she said.

“Today in Brunei, majority of university graduates are women, many businesses are run by women and there are more women taking up senior level roles in the corporate world. Despite that, we still have a problem where women are not getting promoted to higher roles,” she added.

“Regardless of job or background, every woman has her own story,” said Noorhafizah, adding that one of the problems today is the lack of visibility for women doing remarkable things; some impactful stories don’t get shared at all.

“How do we expect our next generation to lead if we’re not sharing with them our stories and journeys and inspiring them to take up leadership roles? When women help other women rise, we all shine,” she said.

Earlier in the speech, touching on the brief history of Women’s Equality Day, she pointed out that the event was first started on August 26, 1971 in the United States (US) to secure voting rights for women.

“It took 42 years for the US government to finally see that no one should be denied the right to vote based on their gender. The initiative’s success can be attributed to a group of passionate women – and some men – who worked for changing and rewriting old rules that were no longer working.”

Yesterday’s event began with sharing sessions, led by founder of BenchLab Wan Nurul Naszeera and a member of BWN Wina Hafizah binti Haji Sallehuddin.

This was followed by an ice-breaking session where each person had to introduce and tell three things about themselves, and explain why they were at the event.

The highlight of the day was a panel discussion, led by five inspiring women. The speakers at the event, mostly business owners operating in several male-dominated industrial sectors, shared their views on gender equality.

The discussion was participated by Managing Director of Flux Supna; founder of Ash Health & Fitness Sharimawati; ophthalmologist from Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital Dr Nooraffizan; and co-founder of Tyne Solutions Aimi.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman yesterday attended the prize presentation ceremony of the under-14 junior category in the Brunei Open Badminton Championship 2018 at the Multi-Purpose Hall of The Centrepoint Hotel.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah also received a pesambah from Indonesia badminton legend Taufik Hidayat.

Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah who finished in joint third place was presented with a prize by Taufik, who was invited on the final day of the championship as a guest.

Also present was Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Muneerah Madhul Bolkiah binti Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah.

Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Muntaqim put out a valiant effort in a closely-fought encounter against Dessen Chung Min Tin in the semi-final where his opponent eventually prevailed with a 21-23, 21-16, 21-19 win.

Mohd Hakem Rahimee bin Bakar emerged winner in the under-14 junior category after beating Dessen 16-21, 21-8, 21-10 in the final. The other third place finisher went to Ridhwan Ramdani.

Mohd Hakem lost the first set but never looked like surrendering the final after levelling the match with an impressive recovery in the second set.

He took the second set where he secured seven straight points en route to reaching the halfway point before making another run of seven straight points without reply.

The third set was a repeat of the second as Mohd Hakem closed in with victory by charging into a 8-3 lead. Dessen bravely battled back but Hakem found his winning touch to reach the halfway point with a 11-8 lead.

Mohd Hakem only lost two points after the interval and secured the title after standing on the brink with a healthy six championship points.

Meanwhile Taufik, a winner in the Olympic Games, Asian Games and World Championships, watched the remaining games in various categories in the championship.

The Brunei Open also witnessed the top shuttlers in both the men and women’s division.

|     Hakim Hayat     |

CONVICTING an individual in a human trafficking case is a complex task that requires multi-coordination from different parties in the country as well as cooperation beyond Brunei’s borders to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice, said Counsel and Deputy Public Prosecutor at the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) Hajah Rozaimah binti Haji Abdul Rahman.

She made the statement during the second plenary session on the final day of the ‘Combating Trafficking in Persons’ conference (CTIP 2018) hosted by Bruneian youth initiative Youth Against Slavery Brunei (YAS Brunei) yesterday.

Speakers from the AGC, Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) and Department of Labour discussed several issues including the Sultanate’s existing laws to protect individuals from human trafficking.

Hajah Rozaimah, who for many years presided over the prosecution of human trafficking cases, highlighted the strong stance of the Government of Brunei Darussalam in eradicating human trafficking with severe penalties including a lengthy custodial sentence. The 2004 Trafficking and Smuggling of Persons Order prohibits human trafficking and prescribes punishment of up to 30 years imprisonment.

Although existing Brunei human trafficking laws that follow international laws have led to the conviction of several individuals involved in human trafficking cases over the years, Hajah Rozaimah said that prosecuting a human trafficking case often comes with hurdles due to the high requirement of evidence or proof, and given the seriousness of the offence.

Over the last few years, a number of individuals, including locals, have been convicted for human trafficking crimes in the country – mostly for trafficking of individuals from outside the country to work in the country illegally, forced labour or for denying wages.

Acting Head of Human Trafficking Investigation Unit, Criminal Investigation Department of the RBPF Assistant Superintendent Ivy Han; Senior Labour Inspector, Head Unit of Operation, Labour Enforcement Division at the Department of Labour Md Zulfadhli bin Suhai; and Senior Labour Inspector, Head of Dispute and Investigation Unit, Labour Enforcement Division at the Department of Labour also comprised the panel of speakers.

YAS Brunei said the conference was held in line with the theme of this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons (TIP) – responding to the trafficking of children and young people.

The plenary sessions covered topics on the role of government actors and others in Combating Trafficking in Persons (CTIP), indicators of human trafficking crimes, cybercrime awareness, the protection of children’s safety in the digital world and regional youth advocacy on anti-human trafficking.

With high usage of technology in Asia, growing numbers of job seekers and increasing amount of movement between borders, the conference focussed on how and in what ways the governments, non-government actors and citizens of Asean can combat human trafficking.

The conference also aimed at strengthening the network’s ability to combat trafficking in persons, including protecting the youth from exploitation preventing Brunei from becoming a destination for trafficking in persons, misuse of the Internet and other forms of human exploitation.

The conference also highlighte the importance of working with those most likely to encounter human trafficking victims and the role they can play in sharing their first-hand experience to strengthen the effectiveness of human trafficking policies.

YAS Brunei is a Bruneian youth initiative which is a product of Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) – a US government endeavor.

|     Azlan Othman     |

THE Knowledge Convention 2018 will focus on the economy and take up agriculture as a key agenda. The second meeting of the Steering Committee of the Knowledge Convention 2018 was held yesterday at the Prime Minister’s Office to discuss latest developments regarding preparations for the programmes planned in conjunction with the event.

The Knowledge Convention 2018 is held in conjunction with the 72^nd birthday celebration of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong presided over the meeting in his capacity as the Co-Chairman of the Steering committee.

Present at the meeting were Co-Chairmen of the Steering Committee of the Knowledge Convention 2018 – Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud and Minister of Energy, Manpower and Industry Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein and State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned as the Advisor to the committee.

Also in attendance were Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Datin Seri Paduka Dayang Hajah Elinda binti Haji CA Mohamed as the Deputy Chairman of the Steering Committee; Deputy Minister of Education Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh; permanent secretaries, vice-chancellors, deputy permanent secretaries and senior officers at the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism and Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry.

The second meeting was a formal supervisory meeting to monitor the progress of all preparations and discuss on the working committee’s reports, to ensure the smooth running of the convention, the date for which is yet to be finalised.

The meeting began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat, followed by welcoming remarks by Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali.

|     James Kon     |

BRUNEI Darussalam takes the issue of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) very seriously and continues to uphold its commitment in combating human trafficking by raising public awareness and training frontline law enforcers to better detect TIP cases.

This was stated by Acting Director of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), Assistant Commissioner of Police Dato Paduka Haji Muhammad Hassan bin Pehin Penyurat Haji Awang Ahmad, in his speech at the closing ceremony of the ‘Combating Trafficking in Persons’ conference (CTIP 2018), hosted by Youth Against Slavery Brunei (YAS Brunei) at the Progresif Headquarters yesterday.

“The Sultanate’s efforts are reflected in the 2018 US TIP report in which Brunei Darussalam has maintained its Tier 2 ranking,” he said, adding that “the country is further looking for ways to improve its ranking through successful investigation and prosecution”.

Highlighting the various efforts undertaken by the police in combating human trafficking, he said, “After the establishment of Human Trafficking Investigation Unit, a specialised investigation unit under the Criminal Investigation Department in August 2011 and the constitution of the National Ad Hoc Committee to combat human trafficking, Brunei Darussalam has prosecuted and convicted four offenders involved in sexual exploitation under the TIP legislation.”

Commending on the conference, the acting director said, “The meeting has provided a solid platform for various sectors in Brunei to come together to strengthen our network’s ability to combat TIP by raising awareness.”

“A vast array of topics ranging from combating trafficking in persons, identifying victims of trafficking and labour violations, preventing human trafficking using technology, IT awareness and cybersecurity as well as child rights and their protection were deliberated during the two-day event. The initiative shows how crucial it is for us as a community to play our parts together to raise awareness on human trafficking and eliminate TIP and related crimes.

“Such efforts take us a step closer towards eradicating all forms of exploitation through enhancing awareness better detection,” he noted, adding that “law enforcement cannot do it alone, and through cooperation and partnership, we can fight TIP more effectively”.

On the second day of the conference, invited guests that included officers from the RBPF, members of the Diplomatic Corps and students heard presentations by three participating groups on challenges and future plans in combating human trafficking.

In line with the theme of this year’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, ‘Responding to Trafficking of Children and Young People’, the conference aimed at strengthening the network’s ability to combat trafficking in persons, including protecting the youth from exploitation and preventing Brunei from becoming a destination for trafficking in persons and travelling sex offenders, easy access to online pornography, misuse of the Internet as well as other forms of human exploitation.

The conference also highlighted the importance of working with those who are most likely to encounter human trafficking victims such as medical practitioners, national security forces, border patrol agents, teachers and those in the transportation and hospitality industries and the role that they can play in sharing first-hand experience to strengthen the effectiveness of anti-human trafficking policies.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Shell Joint Venture got off to a perfect start in the football event of the 4th Brunei Darussalam National Games (SKBD) after a rousing 5-1 victory over Brunei Darussalam Sports School Council (MSSSBD) at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex last night.

BSJV chalked three points in their first fixture in Group ‘A’ ahead of a likely tougher test against Brunei Muara in their second game.

Brunei Shell entered the break with a 3-1 lead through Herman bin Hasnal’s strike in the 20th minute and a quick-fire double from Azmil bin Maidin and it got more comfortable as they dictated the tempo for most of the second half.

It was interesting to note that given the dominant performance by a well-organised BSJV side it were MSSSBD who took the lead through Nurhwlmi bin Sahrin in the 15th minute.

There was the odd occasion where MSSSBD would switch play into the flanks but the lead was never in danger as the BSJV’s goalkeeper was rarely if at all tested in the second half.

BSJV had a shot early in the second half but was thwarted by a combination of a goalkeeper and a defender before Amy Amizan bin Gudang saw his shot brush against the post following an error from a MSSSBD defender.

Herman attempted a scissor kick but the ball went pass him following a cross from Zainol bin Mohd Helmi.

The attacking-minded player returned to devastating effect at his next opportunity after coolly slotting the ball with a fine finish having profited from an excellent service by Zainol.

Herman saw a lot of the ball and blasted his effort wide after Junaidi Brahim had seemingly lost the chance for a one-on-one confrontation with the

goalkeeper which clearance resulted in a loose ball.

MSSSBD were on the back-foot for most of the second half as Muhd Hafiy bin Effendy looked to cause more pain though the danger was averted.

However, there was little that the MSSSBD goalkeeper could do after Amy Amizan pulled out a screamer from distance to go 5-1 up.

BSJV looked likely to add a sixth as Zahor Zaidi fired wide from an acute angle after being played through by a teammate before Muhd Gadafy bin Salleh sliced his shot wide after darting into the final third.

Brunei Shell’s Md Azizi bin Saudi produced a good delivery and substitute Muhd Syafiq took the pace off the ball with a shot which ended wide.