|     Ishan Ibrahim     |

A BRIEFING entitled ‘Agricultural Fertigation System’ was held at the Dewan Ta’limf of Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) on Saturday.

The briefing, organised by the Nadi Pertanian section of the college as an accompaniment to its ‘Agricultural Fertigation System’ project (participated by 41 undergraduates of the college), aimed to provide encouragement for the college’s undergraduates to enter into the world of agricultural entrepreneurship.

Facilitated by Manager of Syarikat Ameenfarm Haji Irwandi bin Haji Lois the briefing saw the students being introduced to practical agricultural concepts – including modern agricultural systems and fertigation – as well as agricultural issues, through an Islamic perspective.

The undergraduates will also undergo a practical session on fertigation techniques at the Brunei Agriculture Research Centre in Kampong Tanjung Bunut, Kilanas.

The Agricultural Fertigation System project is a result 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’s vision for Brunei to increase its use of modern agricultural systems to enhance its agricultural output and revenue, and to encourage more citizens to take up agricultural entrepreneurship as a means to reduce the country’s unemployment rate.

|     Izah Azahari     |

A PRESS conference for the Brunei Darussalam Mukim Penghulu and Village Head Services Scheme as well as the filling of mukim penghulu and village head posts throughout the country was held yesterday at the Multipurpose Hall of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) building in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Chairing the press conference was Permanent Secretary (Municipal and District) at the MoHA Salminan bin Haji Burut.

Others present at the press conference were the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Municipal and District) at the MoHA Abdul Walid bin Haji Matassan, district officers, acting district officers, senior officers at the MoHA, and invited media.

The permanent secretary explained during the event that the MoHA will begin filling in vacant mukim penghulu and village head posts in phases.

This will start with the advertising of the positions in the official government newspaper Pelita Brunei and other local newspapers from October 1 – 31; invitations to mukim penghulus and village heads who are approaching the end of their service to reapply as candidates; and invitations to eligible mukim and village residents interested in becoming mukim penghulus and village heads to apply for the posts.

Meanwhile, Abdul Walid briefed on the roles, duties and responsibilities for mukim penghulus and village heads as well as the application procedures for the scheme.

Interested individuals may obtain the candidacy forms from their respective areas’ District Offices. These must be completed and returned to the District Offices no later than October 31, he said.

The MoHA said that the mukim penghulu and village head job vacancy advertisements will exclude some villages or mukims.

These villages or mukims will be those whose village heads’ service are ending on June 22, 2019; villages whose village heads have been elected as Legislative Council members; and villages which already have their respective village head posts advertised on April 1, 2018, such as Kampong Amo, Kampong Bokok, STKRJ Kampong Sungai Buloh (Bukit Sibanging), Mukim Mentiri, and RPN Kampong Panchor in Mukim Mentiri.

Members of the public can obtain further information on the job vacancies in their mukims or village by visiting the Mukim and Village Institution Unit of their respective areas’ District Offices. The ministry added that it will continue to carry out further public familiarisation activities on the Services Scheme, such as disseminating information on the scheme through the mass media, and holding Muzakarah sessions on the scheme in the Brunei-Muara, Tutong and Belait districts beginning next week.

Roadshows on the Services Scheme and the filling of the mukim penghulu and village head posts will also be held in all four districts, starting with the Brunei-Muara District on October 1, followed by the Belait District on October 2, the Tutong District on October 3, and Temburong District on October 4.

|      Rokiah Mahmud      |

SUNSHINE School celebrated its Family Day Walkathon at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in the capital yesterday.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil officiated.

School principal, Naziancina G Wards said the activity themed Healthy Living Begins with a Single Step, aimed to promote the importance of leading a healthy life and quality time with family. It also sought to strengthen ties among participants.

The event began with a warm-up and aerobic session followed by a walkathon around the capital participated by around 400 people comprising teachers, staff, parents and students.

The event, enlivened with several family-oriented activities, concluded with a prize presentation ceremony.

|     James Kon     |

A DELEGATION of 32 senior golfers from the Brunei Darussalam Association of Senior Golfers (BDASG) will be teeing off against golfers from five ASEAN member countries at the 35th ASEAN Senior Amateur Golf Championships from September 24-26 at Pondok Indah Golf and Country Club Jakarta, and Rancamaya Golf and Country Club , Bogor Indonesia.

The Brunei’s delegation is led by BDASG President Pehin Orang Kaya Lela Pahlawan Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Mohd Jaafar bin Haji Abdul Aziz.

The format of play will be stroke play for senior competitive over 54 holes and stableford play over 36 holes for eight championships. A total of 256 senior golfers are expected to compete in the event and they are from Thailand Senior Golfers’ Association (TSGA), Indonesian Senior Golfers’ Society (ISGA), Federation of Philippines Amateur Senior Golfers’ Inc (FPASGI), Senior Golfers’ Society of Malaysia (SGSM), Singapore Senior Golfers’ Society (SSGS) and BDASG.

The eight championship trophies for the tournament are Sallahudin Challenge Trophy for the Best Gross Individual over 54 holes; Mondonedo Challenge Trophy for the Best Net Individual over 54 holes; Henry HS Lee Challenge Trophy for the Team Gross over 54 holes; Zakir Challenge Trophy for Team Net over 54 holes; Toh Shung Chee Trophy for Best Stableford Score Individual over 36 holes; Individual Stableford Age-Group Events; the Chamnian Pongpairojana Challenge Trophy and the Lela Pahlawan Overall Champions Challenge Trophy.

The ASEAN Senior Amateur Golf Championships is an annual event that every ASEAN member country association will take turn to host. Indonesia last hosted the event in 2013.

The opening ceremony will be held today at Pondok Indah Golf and Country Club and Rancamaya Golf and Country Club respectively.

|      Syazwani Hj Rosli      |

THERE is a need to promote awareness on dementia and reduce the stigma among Bruneians while highlighting practical and innovative ways to make a difference, said guest of honour Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Siti Rozaimeriyanti binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Abdul Rahman.

She made the statement during the ‘Memory Walk and Fun Run Brunei 2018’ at Menteri Besar Recreational Park yesterday.

Newly launched association ‘demensia Brunei’ (dB) in collaboration with the Health Promotion Centre, Ministry of Health and Fitness Zone Brunei organised the event in conjunction with World Dementia Month (WDM) 2018.

“Two out of every three people have little or no understanding of dementia in their countries. The impact of World Dementia is growing but the stigma surrounding dementia remains a global concern, requiring global and local action,” said Yang Berhormat Siti Rozaimeriyanti. “Every three seconds, someone in the world develops dementia. In terms of population percentage, Brunei is ranked among the top with dementia in Asia. Let’s help this country to be among the healthiest in Asia and work towards making Brunei an active ageing and dementia-friendly nation by 2035.”

“The association has local trainers delivering workshops using the curriculum from Alzheimer’s Disease International Dementia Care Skills ‘Train The Trainers’ programme,” said dB President Dr Teo Shyh Poh. “By improving the public’s understanding of dementia and their skills to manage this condition, we aspire for Brunei to be dementia-friendly.”

“A dementia-friendly community means inclusion. There is a need to engage persons with dementia in community activities,” said Honorary Advisor of the association Datin Jacqueline Wong. “The Atria Shopping Gallery in Petaling Jaya (Malaysia) demonstrated a guiding principle by initiating a joint CSR collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Disease Foundation Malaysia to pilot the first dementia-friendly community corner.”

“As the population increases and ages, we as individuals and organisations need to be aware of these changes and adapt the way we relate to these members accordingly,” she added.

Meanwhile, local entrepreneur and celebrity Wu Chun will bring dementia to the attention of the people in Brunei as dB’s ambassador.

“I am honoured to be dB’s ambassador. I want everyone to be aware of dementia,” he said. “It is very important that we unite against dementia and work together to create a positive change. We need to change the way people think, act and talk about the condition.”

“There is no prevention and there is no cure – for now. But, we can all take ownership of our own health, by choosing and deciding to live better and make better meal choices,” he added.

Based on the estimates of Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), there are up to 2,000 people with dementia in Brunei.

The World Health Organization and ADI projected that there will be approximately 11,000 people with dementia in Brunei by 2030. This requires collaborative support and collective action to affect change. The walk/run is an initiative to raise the profile of dementia and the importance of leading an active, healthy lifestyle to reduce risk of developing dementia.

Physical activity, mental stimulation and social interaction have been shown to reduce the risk of developing dementia and to slow down the progression of cognitive decline.

dB was officially registered in March 2018 with a mission of having a dementia-friendly community.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

DPMM FC Head Coach Rene Weber expressed confidence of meeting a higher target in the business end of the Singapore Premier League season after their 2-1 victory over Tampines Rovers assured them of a top-four spot on Saturday night.

The ‘Gegar-Gegar’ men met their top-four target which Weber initially sets at the start of the season as a win against a direct rival allowed them to stretch their unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions.

Victory against the Stags cut DPMM FC’s gap to two points with two games of the season remaining. Tampines have one game left and must win their final fixture against Home United, who also share a similar ambition of snatching the runners-up spot.

“We are trying to finish third or even second in the league. We have two games to go in the league against Balestier Khalsa and Young Lions, and if we beat these two teams we can reach our target,” said Weber in a post-match interview with the Bulletin.

“They are strong teams but I am happy about Saturday’s result. It is important for us to get the three points,” he added.

“We could take more off the ball with two more players than them and I also know that when the opponent lose one or two players, it’s like die or survive,” added the former Brazil under-20 team manager.

When asked about his thoughts of Azwan Ali’s sending off which meant he is likely to miss the league clash against Balestier Khalsa this coming Saturday, he replied, “I think any referee around the world at that moment will be giving two red cards to them (Tampines Rovers) and send off another from the opponent.

“We took three points and now we must rest because we have so many games. Every three days, we have a game and we go to Singapore now to play on Wednesday, and after that on Saturday against the same opponent, and then next Wednesday.”

He added, “We have no complaints and I want to congratulate the players because it means we keep our target on track (third or second place finish) and I hope we can take that.”

Meanwhile, Tampines Rovers Head Coach Juergen Rabb seemed content with most aspects of his team’s performance apart from the determination to get the goals.

“I think we played well in the first half. We have it all under control which for an away match, it was really good. We create some chances but there’s a little bit of the problem with our determination which is necessary to score,” said the head coach.

“The other things were good, the build-up and other things. I said we must continue and we will create the chances.

“In the second half, it was too easy how the opponent can score. Losing the ball in a dangerous area is too easy. For the first goal, we have to clear the ball but we cleared it to their number 10 (Volodymyr), and he was free.

“The second was the same. The ball was in the midfield, and under no pressure we gave them the ball.”

He added, “These problems and the red card for Farra (Fahrudin Mustafic) were too easy. But the reaction from the players when they were down was fantastic.”

|      Fizah HAB      |

STARTUP Weekend Brunei: Women Edition, held at the iCentre, Anggerek Desa Technology Park (ADTP) in Berakas, officially came to a close yesterday after three days of intensive business idea pitching by five teams – Creativate, InTurn, The Creative Core BN (TCCBN), EICO Enterprise and Fundnel – all incubatees of the park’s iCentre and Knowledge Hub (KHub).

Winning the final pitch and the chance to represent Brunei Darussalam at Startup Weekend Asia Pacific (APAC) in Bali, Indonesia later in October this year was the team that conceived REACT, an online gateway aimed at providing connection for social enterprises, communities and like-minded partners.

Coming in second and third place were the teams which came up with the event-planning app BOOKSYS and Feat.in, an online platform connecting local SMEs to consumers.

The idea for the KalorieKu watch, which is supposed to monitor calories consumed, meanwhile, won an honourable mention.

The teams’ final pitches were judged based on their business models, customer validation, execution and design.

The judging panel comprised In Country Value Manager at Brunei Shell Petroleum Co Sdn Bhd (BSP) Hajah Rosita Hassan, Executive Director at Arkitek Ibrahim Lisa binti Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim; and Head of Innovation at Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) Yazid Azahari.

The top three teams received prizes sponsored by BSP, Tyne Solutions and the Young Entrepreneurs Association Brunei (YEAB).

The three-day workshop also featured a panel discussion where a number of invited speakers shared their experiences and thoughts in running a business.

Partners and sponsors of Startup Weekend Brunei: Women Edition included Progresif Cellular (Strategic Partner), DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) (Ecosystem Partner), BSP (Sponsor), Tyne Solutions, YEAB, YSEALI Women’s Leadership Academy (WLA) (Community Partner) and Wafa Hotel and Apartment (Accommodation Partner).

Further support was from Eco Bumi Arkitek (EBA), Q-Hanz Cafe, Royal Brunei Catering (RBC), Ah Mit’s Delicacy Cafe, Tuppylove @ The Loft and Little Gourmet.

Leading the event were Charlotte Lim from TCCBN (Lead Organiser), Chai Roslin from InTurn, and the team from Creativate (Project Manager).

|      Ishan Ibrahim      |

UNDERGRADUATES from the Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) visited the Al-Huffaz Management at the iCentre, DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) recently.

The group, led by lecturer of the Education Faculty of KUPU SB and coordinator of the Nadi Iqra programme Haji Roslan bin Haji Untong, was welcomed by Al-Huffaz Management founder Haji Mohd Loqman Al-Hakim bin Haji Hamdan.

The group toured the facilities of the iCentre.

Haji Roslan said the visit aimed to provide exposure to students as part of their Nadi Iqra programme.

He said the founder of Al-Huffaz Management is an educator in the reading of Al-Quran and other religious principles, and these qualities are assets to the students in learning how to be good teachers in the religious education with respect to Al-Quran.

The Al-Huffaz Management will also present students the knowledge and skills needed on how to become entrepreneurs, an important segment in the road to nation-building and the diversification of the national economy, said Haji Roslan.

The Nadi Iqra programme is a concept identified as the quickest and most efficient way to assist children in learning in the reading of Al-Quran in a competent and proper manner.

The programme entails several core modules as guidance for the utilisation of religious educators to conduct religious teaching and learning in the classrooms.

|      Ishan Ibrahim      |

THE Post-Graduate Civic Village Programme provides a better understanding and vital information on the philosophy, aspiration and aims of the nation to gain a balance between academic knowledge and current developments, said Acting Director of Information Hajah Noorashidah binti Haji Aliomar.

“An example is job opportunities that are more challenging,” she said.

She made these comments at the Post-Graduate Civic Village Programme hosted yesterday for the second time this year by the Information Department at the Prime Minister’s Office through its Nationhood Unit, Nationhood and Community Division.

The event held at the auditorium of the Information Department was attended by 50 post-graduates from various institutions of higher education, local and abroad, and was given a detailed presentation.

Hajah Noorashidah emphasised that the participants are future leaders and survivors of the race and nation.

The participants were also given a briefing on the Post-Graduate Civic Village Programme by Head of Nationhood Unit, Nationhood and Community Division Hajah Hamsah binti Datu Kerna Haji Jaya.

The informative briefing included the programme schedule, introduction of the programme, its objectives and contents, and the sharing of a video clip on the first session of the civic village alumni 2018.

The participants will be placed at the Kampong Sungai Kebun Sports Complex for six days and five nights, where they will undergo a series of lectures, briefings, dialogue sessions, exchange of ideas and viewpoints, group activities, sports and recreational activities, religious sessions and a cleaning campaign that will give them a better insight and detailed knowledge on the aims and objectives of the programme.

The ice-breaking and team building sessions at the Kampong Sungai Kebun Sports Complex will be organised by the Outward Bound Brunei Darussalam (OBBD).

The participants are also scheduled to visit various government departments and private companies as well as small and medium-sized enterprises that will provide an invaluable exposure and experience for them.

The Post-Graduate Civic Village Programme acts as a platform in the effective dissemination of information on the policies and essence of the government so that citizens can fully understand and support the Brunei Government’s aims while embracing the culture of information within the society.

It is also hoped that the programme can produce a generation of youth that are marketable and dynamic with the ability to work independently as entrepreneurs to help contribute to the nation’s economy.

|      Danial Norjidi      |

THE topic of building a profitable business with zero capital was discussed during a session on ‘Lessons from the School of Hard Knocks’ during the Local Business Development (LBD) Forum at the Radisson Hotel on September 19.

The session featured Azman Manap, the founder and Managing Director of Azil Engineers based in Singapore.

In the session, he shared how, with no money, no business knowledge and experience, he successfully built a business that is not only profitable but continuously growing to become an established company in the construction industry in Singapore and Malaysia.

He has published two books on entrepreneurship, the first- 12 Lessons to Build a Profitable Business with Zero Capital, which came out in 2010, was well received and translated to Malay Language.

His second Book- How to Grow Your Business: Enduring Setbacks and Crisis to Achieve Business Growth and Success recognised his abilities to navigate the ups and downs of building a successful business.

The discussion was moderated by Principal Trainer at the Articulation Training Centre Stuart Lee.

When asked from Azman about how to be sure about moving in the right direction with one’s business, he answered, “There are only two types of business that you should do: first, something that you’re very good at; second, something that you are very passionate about. Those to me, personally, are the only two things if you want to start a business.”

“At the end of the day, the business is about bringing the idea to the market,” he said, adding that while his passion is actually in music as a drummer, he saw more of a market in engineering.

“We have to be realistic. If I want to be a drummer, I can, but there’s a limitation to what you can do. That’s a fact. The market is like that, so you have to understand what the market requires.”

“The easiest business to do is to actually solve a problem. The hardest businesses to do are luxury businesses, because the market is smaller. But when you have a solution to solve a problem in any industry, you are actually on the right track. So whatever you are good at, find somebody that needs your solution.”

In response to a question about maintaining self-confidence, Azman said, “Basically, because I was an engineer, I know what I can do.

“Regardless of money, you know that someone needs what you have, so I focussed on what they need. It’s not about me, it’s about what the client needs, so I’m actually fulfilling what the client requires.”

“Of course, some clients will just shoot you down. Out of 10, probably five will say ‘you’re wasting my time’. That’s where I would feel down. So as I said just now, what’s the worst that can happen? You just move on.”

In terms of lessons he’s learnt with regards to dealing with challenges, he said, “For me, it’s always about what’s next. I just move on.

“It’s not easy, but when you look at the issue that you have today and the potential that you have in front of you, there’s a lot more potential. So I would rather focus on the positive rather than the negative.”

“I honestly believe that the market is more vibrant now because of the Internet. Simple as that,” he said. “Effectively, your clients are limitless.”

Asked if he had advice for budding entrepreneurs, he shared, “If you actually start reading books about all these successful entrepreneurs, a lot of them actually started from the school of hard knocks. In fact, I enjoy reading all of these things, and it actually inspired me.”

“Personal development is one of the things that you must do,” he affirmed.

With regards to how people should get started, he said, “First and foremost, you have to decide what you will do. I think a lot of people are tech savvy, with Facebook and Instagram.

“That’s basically where you should start, because you have to tell people who you are, you must tell people what you have. If you are selling a product, no matter how good your product is, if nobody knows what your product is, there’s no use. You have to strategise who is your target audience.”

The Brunei LBD Forum was convened by Asia Inc Forum in collaboration with Baiduri Bank as major partner, Borneo Bulletin and Media Permata as print and digital partners.

|      James Kon      |

STRESSING the importance of strong family institution through bonding, 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 said that Family Day should not only be celebrated in the month of May but throughout the year.

The minister highlighted this during the fun-filled National Family Day 2018 event yesterday at the Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas, where he was the guest of honour.

Also present were wife Datin Hajah Norhayana Janis binti Abdullah Lim and their two children.

Welcoming the minister and his family at the event were Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Ong Tiong Oh Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin and Chinese Chamber of Commerce Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB) President Malcolm Lim Tiong Han.

The minister in an interview with the Bulletin added, “Family Day is about the importance of bonding and we have seen that it touches people of all races. It is good to see Family Day expanded nationwide.

“It is very positive to see everyone making an effort to make Family Day an important platform. Today, the Chinese community has made use of this platform to celebrate together.”

The event was organised by the Chinese community (or Masyarakat Tionghua) of Brunei-Muara District led by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce BSB with Cityneon Displays & Construction Sdn Bhd as the event management.

It aimed to create a harmonious and strong family unit, to provide quality time for families involved as well as to offer space for families to interact, communicate and have fun in line with the National Family Day theme Keluargaku Harapanku.

Malcolm Lim in his welcoming remark said, “Everyone has heard the old phrase that says ‘there is no nation without homes’. Therefore, I believe that everyone recognises the importance of a complete family and its important role in our nation, in our economic development and in shaping of our future generation.”

He said a complete family with excellent and harmonised communicating environment for parents and children can combat and prevent many social problems such as drug abuse, domestic violence and school dropouts.

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce BSB President also highlighted how mobile devices have impacted the communications dynamics between parents and children.

“Educating your children from young the right way of using these devices is a must. It is also important to allocate time to take your children out to experience nature so that they know how to appreciate it. A balanced time spent with children is crucial,” he said.

The National Family Day 2018 main event involved a Fun Run/Walk covering 3km around the capital.

The minister with Yang Berhormat Ong Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh and Malcolm Lim officiated and joined the walk/run.

The other events comprised over 40 games and activities such as parent-child game, family game, selfie scavenger, mini rides, water bubbles, balloon twisting, balloon darts and spin-to-win.

|      Izah Azahari      |

BRUNEI, as a tourist destination, is a largely untapped market with huge potential. To successfully harness this potential, a coordinated and strategic effort is required by the government, tour agencies and other related stakeholders.

The country, by doing so, can deliver a product that its people can proudly say is uniquely Bruneian.

Making note of these points was Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah in his capacity as Chairman of the Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) Board of Directors while delivering his speech during the launch of the airline’s new Airbus A320neo fleet on Saturday at Hangar 3 of Brunei International Airport.

The minister added that RB, collaborating closely with Brunei Tourism, has created a marketing campaign to showcase what Brunei has to offer in terms of tourism.

“In this age of hyper connectivity, the holistic experience of both digital and physical touchpoints is vital for the sustainability of transforming Brunei into a tourism destination,” Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew said.

Highlighting Darussalam Assets’ key role in leading the country’s tourism drive and progressing RB as a company, the minister continued, “The evolution of RB’s brand and the transformation of its operations runs in parallel to Darussalam Assets’ vision to institute and inspire excellence within the portfolio of government-linked companies (GLCs) it oversees.

“As a shareholder in RB, Darussalam Assets endeavours to build a sustainable foundation to spur economic vitality in harmony with nation-building objectives. Part of its mission is to make sure that the GLCs are equipped with what they need so that they can reach their maximum potential to ensure optimal performance.”

The minister said that this is part and parcel of having strong corporate governance and best practises, and that RB’s journey up till now, culminating in its latest receipt and service launching of the new Airbus A320neo aircraft, is an important milestone to celebrate.

“This latest step of RB will hopefully lead to it creating many more success stories in the future. It is also reflective of how Darussalam Assets’ GLCs are economic catalysts,” said the minister.

He added that Darussalam Assets, a government-linked entity that works to spur economic development in Brunei, plays a crucial role in identifying and providing solutions to gaps found in the country’s tourism industry, by working with the government in improving industry structures and sector strategies and through accelerating innovation and generating healthy competition.

“Using the resources available, this is where GLCs come in, as a medium to provide and deliver cost-effective solutions that will yield better quality services for the Brunei population, and in turn, create a more conducive environment for foreign direct investments,” the minister said.

“With improved sectors and industries, such advancements pave the way for positive developments in other areas, such as job creation and gainful employment. These factors remain crucial as we work towards achieving Wawasan 2035.”

The minister noted that a successful destination marketing campaign will not only expand Brunei’s hospitality, leisure and tourism sectors, but will also open up the way for the involvement of Bruneian micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“To drive economic diversification within Brunei’s economy, we have to think about how these industries can be magnified and elevated. For example, with RB’s growing network of destinations, entrepreneurs and MSMEs have increased connectivity to the global market, with access to more opportunities,” he said.

“The possibilities from here are endless and unexhaustive. I believe that Brunei’s GLCs play an imperative role in this nationwide mission to diversify, improve and better the economy.”

|     Ishan Ibrahim     |

WITH the long road trip to Kota Kinabalu a taxing experience for Bruneians, many take the opportunity to stop by the sleepy, laid-back town of Sindumin.

Sindumin is located in Sipitang Sabah, Malaysia, and it is also a town near the Brunei Bay.

Just half an hour from the town of Sipitang, Sindumin is the entry point from Sarawak to Sabah, with few village shops and a small market providing daily necessities.

Fridays and Saturdays, however, transform the quiet town market into a buzzing hub of activities as the village people converged in the hundreds, bringing with them local products, particularly local fruits.

The Friday Market is a recent addition to the traditional Saturday Market.

It begins early in the morning and ends at dusk with traders and sellers often taking turns occupying slots to sell their products.

On offer are udang galah, fresh and dried fish, ready to cook punai tanah, vegetables freshly plucked from the forest – like lamiding and pakis, and in-season fruits.

Of course there are also stalls selling food and drinks for hungry visitors.

Buyers come from all over Sabah, Sarawak and even Brunei.

Some are middle-men merchants buying items in bulk to be sold back in their own town, while others are hunters for more exquisite or unique local products such as the parang, tongkat and even semi-precious gem stones. The Saturday Market is even more unique. It begins at three in the morning and ends four hours later.

You would be lucky to find a parking spot anywhere near the market, with late-comers often having to walk over a kilometre.

|     Lyna Mohamad     |

RELATIONS between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Brunei Darussalam are based on mutual respect and brotherly ties at all levels, both the government and the people, said Charge d’Affaires at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Brunei Darussalam Hussain Mohammed M Al-Dajani.

He made this statement during the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s 88th National Day Reception at the Indera Samudra Grand Hall of The Empire Hotel & Country Club in Jerudong last night.

Present as representative of the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and guest of honour was Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, along with spouse Datin Paduka Hajah Jahrah binti Haji Mohamad.

The Charge d’ Affaires said the visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud to Brunei Darussalam last year was a historic turning point in the development of relations between the two brotherly countries and these brotherly relations shall continue to be stronger with the special grace of Allah the Almighty with the prudence of the leaders of both countries.

“While we commemorate the historical visit, we are also looking forward to the visit of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the near future,” said the Charge d’ Affaires.

“His Majesty King Salman, the Government and the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are proud to render their utmost services to the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors and the Kingdom has embarked on numerous service projects to ensure the comfort of the pilgrims, and to guarantee they perform the rituals with ease and convenience.

“One of the important key pillars in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 is to work assiduously to advance the facilities and develop the holy places for the convenience of Haj and Umrah pilgrims. The most recent of these developments is the ‘The Makkah Road’ initiative that was launched this year,” said the Charge d’ Affaires.

He said the initiative aimed to ease entry processes whereby the pilgrims would have completed them right from their respective countries of origin and prior to their arrival in Saudi Arabia.

“The first phase of this initiative has been implemented in Malaysia and Indonesia. Al-Haramain High-Speed Railway is also an important initiative which was announced to start operation on October 4, this year. It will link the Holy Cities of Makkah and Madinah through Jeddah with five stations via King Abdullah Economic City in Rabigh, Jeddah, connecting to King Abdulaziz International Airport (KATA) covering 449.2 kilometres.”

This, he added will be the largest transportation system in the Middle East and will facilitate, in no small measure, the movement of pilgrims and visitors in the Kingdom and beyond.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the last 10 years has served more than 150 million pilgrims from 160 nationalities and the government is projecting to reach 300 million pilgrims by 2030. In this year’s Haj, the kingdom hosted 2,371,675 pilgrims.

“I want to use this opportunity to thank His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and all the officials in the Brunei Government for all the facilitations received by the embassy and its staff in Brunei Darussalam.”

Last night’s ceremony began with the recitation of verses of Al-Quran by Abdul Aziz bin Haji Noor Nasran, a participant of the 39th King Abdulaziz International Competition for al-Quran Memorisation, Recitation and Interpretation in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Doa Selamat was recited by Sheikh Syed Zaghloul, a teacher at the Hassanal Bolkiah Arabic Boys Secondary School, and followed with welcoming speech by the Charge d’ Affaires.

This was followed with cake cutting ceremony by the guest of honour and the Charge d’ Affaires along with Ambassador of the Sultanate of Oman to Brunei Darussalam Sheikh Ahmed bin Hashel bin Rashid bin Hashel Al-Maskari and Ambassador-designate of the State of Kuwait Salah Mubarak Musleh R Al Mutairi. Souvenirs were presented to the guest of honour.

Spouse of Hussain Mohammed M Al-Dajani, Elham AA Shaladi presented a souvenir to Datin Paduka Hajah Jahrah.

The guest of honour toured the exhibition at the event.

|     Abdul Hakiim Yakof     |

THE finals of the National Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition 1440H/2018 organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) will be held on Thursday at 8pm at the Digadong Hall of the MCYS Building.

Eighty-six registrations from all four districts were received this year. Five Qaris and five Qariahs selected from the semi-finals will present their Al-Quran recitations at the finals.

The Qaris are Abdul Qawiyeel Azeez bin Haji Abdul Rajid, Abdul Wafiy bin Haji Ibrahim, Abdul Mu’in bin Haji Abdul Hamid, Haji Hazwan bin Haji Salim and Muhammad Sa’dun bin Suhaili.

The Qariahs are Effa Surya Humyrah binti Haji Ali Bolkiah, Maizatun Nadzeerah binti Haji Md Daud, Dayangku Fauziah Nadhirah binti Pengiran Haji Jofri, Dayangku Nurul Sakinah Adawiyah binti Pengiran Ainolazhar and Dayangku Siti Ummi Syazana binti Pengiran Haji Marjuki.

The MCYS is inviting the public, especially youth who wish to witness the competition, to attend the finals to enliven the event.

Seats will be limited and members of the public are advised to dress appropriately (male in complete Baju Cara Melayu and female in Baju Kurung and headscarf).

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

TERAZZA FC booked their place in the next round of the Al Idrus FA Cup after defeating Mengellela Veteran FC 4-2 at the Bengkurong Field last weekend.

Haji Sahari bin Haji Tahir opened the scoring for Terazza in the 13^th minute before Ibrahim Noor bin Haji Ujan doubled the lead in the 37^th minute.

Haji Abdul Wahab bin Momin made it 3-0 in the 42^nd minute before they added a fourth through Ali Mustapha bin Haji Abdul Hamid in the 57^th minute.

Jaiman Kapal pulled one back for Mengellela in the 74^th minute and Shahminan Chamsudin scored a scant consolation in the 86^th minute.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

SURVEY Department emerged winners of the Ministry of Development and its departments under it 11-a-side Football Championship 2018 after defeating the Department of Administration and Finance 4-1 in an enthralling final at the Balapan Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex last night.

Department of Administration and Finance went in front through Lim Shen Quan in the 16^th minute but the lead was wiped out by Haji Md Subhi Abdilah bin Haji Bakir in the 22^nd minute before Safwan Amaliddin bin Sabli helped Survey into the lead in the 28^th minute.

Subhi netted his second of the game and Fakhri Ismail completed the scoring with the fourth goal in the 56^th minute while Abang Nor Sillmy bin Abang Haji Taha came close with a ferocious drive from range.

Department of Water Services came third after beating the Department of Drainage and Sewerage 5-3 in penalties after the score had been locked 1-1 in normal time.

Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar, presented the prizes.

Jointly organised by the Department of Drainage and Sewerage and Department of Administration and Finance, a total of 12 teams took part in the tournament.

|     Izah Azahari & Ishan Ibrahim     |

FIFTY participants of the Post-Graduate Civic Village Programme 2018, organised by the Information Department, visited the i-Centre to attend a briefing yesterday.

Participants comprised graduates from international higher education institutions.

Manager of DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) Dayangku Hajah Siti Normadinah binti Pengiran Haji Omarali delivered a briefing on the functions of DARe.

Special Duties Officer (Level II) at the Prime Minister’s Office Hajah Yuria Abyana binti Haji Ahmad delivered a briefing titled ‘Ease of Doing Business’.

Meanwhile, Acting Director of Information Hajah Noorashidah binti Haji Aliomar also delivered a talk on the need for youth to be competitive in hunt for job opportunities.

She said graduates must continue to enhance their skills and learn how to be independent in today’s society.

The programme is a project implemented through the department’s ‘Face-To-Face Communication’ work strategy, in line with the vision of the department as one of the leading government agency in delivering and disseminating official government information. The programme also serves to equip participants with competitiveness, ability to face challenges and seize job opportunities.

The participants began the Civic Village Programme for six days and five nights at the Sungai Kebun Sports Complex Hall and had the opportunity to take part in various types of sessions including briefing and dialogue sessions, group brainstorming sessions, teamwork activities, sports and leisure, religious activities, charity, and visits.

|     Abdul Hakiim Yakof     |

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam made a tour of the exhibition for the 28th Teacher’s Day celebration staged at the International Convention Centre (ICC) yesterday.

Accompanying 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; and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.

This year’s exhibition, themed Guru Dedikasi Pendidikan Cemerlang, showcased five fields of focus from 12 institutions of higher learning as well as departments and units under the Ministry of Education (MoE) and Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA).

These include the MoE’s Curriculum Development Department (JPK), Special Education Unit (SEU), Department of Schools (JSS), and Human Resource Development Division/Brunei Darussalam Teacher Academy (BDTA); Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE), Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD); Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB); the Islamic Studies Department (JPI), Ministry of Religious Affairs; Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB); Politeknik Brunei; Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE); and Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA).

The first field of focus ‘Upholding the Titah of Education’ set up by the Curriculum Development Department featured titah excerpts by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam where they espoused the importance of producing quality teachers and the importance of a knowledgeable society in a country’s development.

The second field of focus ‘Empowering Competency of Teachers’ set up by SHBIE, KUPU SB and the Human Resource Development Division/BDTA featured various teaching programmes to support and develop teachers.

The third focus field ‘Building Potential of Special Needs Students’ by the SEU shared the current statistics of the number of special needs students in primary schools and pre-vocational programmes in secondary schools nationwide. A learning assistance programme by the SEU for the visually impaired was also displayed at the booth.

The JPI, meanwhile, shared the procedures used in delivering religious teaching for special needs students. Demonstrations on religious teaching and learning through Braille were also carried out.

The fourth field of focus ‘Increasing Education Innovation’ showcased the implementation of pre-school learning inspired by the project approach adopted by the Early Child Education and Basic Skills Care Unit, JSS, which makes use of five main processes: Mind Mapping, Project Activity, Fieldtrip, Conclusion, and Mini Exhibition.

The booth also featured the website www.kluster2brunei.com, an online teaching resource for Cluster 2 teachers under the JSS, as well as other initiatives by Raja Isteri Girls High School (STPRI), Sports School, and Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah College.

The fifth focus field ‘Towards Nation Building’ set up by Politeknik Brunei exhibited an innovative and cost-efficient operation room simulation, a learning tool for the institution’s nursing course.

UBD’s setup meanwhile featured exhibits on various topics such as ‘A Pilot Geochemical Atlas for Resource Exploration and Environmental Management in the Brunei-Muara District, Brunei Darussalam’; ‘Contributing Factors for Childhood Obesity and Team-Based Tailored Health Education in Brunei Darussalam’; and ‘IoT for Knee Rehabilitation Using Intelligent Cloud Computing’.

UTB showcased its achievements and efforts in providing ‘Quality Education through Research’, while IBTE had a display on its AgroTechnology Campus, showcasing its agrotechnologies and organic herbal garden.

The exhibition also featured a video slide presentation of entrepreneurship activities carried out by the Faculty of Islamic Economy and Finance, as well as a display of food and beverage products by UNISSA and books published by the university.

|     Fizah HAB     |

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 presented awards to 19 educators in recognition of their contributions to Brunei’s education development in a ceremony held during the 28th Teacher’s Day Celebration at the International Convention Centre (ICC) yesterday.

Among the recipients were Dato Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Kassim bin Haji Lamat and Pengiran Datin Paduka Hajah Hairani binti Pengiran Maharaja Lela Pengiran Muda Abdul Rahman, who were bestowed with the Meritorious Teacher’s Award.

Dato Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Kassim began his career as an education officer in 1973, holding various key positions throughout his 30 years in service, before retiring in 2003.

Speaking to the Bulletin, he shared that teachers are now facing greater challenges as educators of society compared to teachers from 20 to 30 years ago. One of these, he said, is the instant availability of information which can be difficult to filter and can negatively affect students’ mental and social development.

Dato Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Kassim said, “I hold on to the principle that we are serving as an educators in service of Allah the Almighty and not to earn accolades and recognition. In line with national Vision 2035 and this year’s Teacher’s Day theme of Guru Dedikasi Pendidikan Cemerlang, it should be highlighted that educators play an important role in society.”

He added, “Developed countries are built on educated people and teachers should evolve together and play a more proactive role in contributing to the society.”

Pengiran Datin Paduka Hajah Hairani, meanwhile, began her career as an education officer in August 1976, taking up a position at the Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien College. She has served for more than 28 years in various positions in the Ministry of Education (MoE) until her retirement in 2005, and has been active in society work through several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) since then.

“To face the ongoing challenges, current and future educators must have both the passion and a strong work ethic born from the desire to do their best work. This sense of dedication comes from within,” she said in terms of giving advice to her fellow teachers.

“Teachers should constantly evolve to keep up with technological advancements, learn new skills and possess the desire to improve and be better teachers,” she added.

The Excellent Teacher’s Award, meanwhile, was presented to four education officers: Dr Lim Chee Ming from Universiti Brunei Darussalam; Pengiran Haji Mohd Wahab bin Pengiran Haji Abdullah from Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE); Naziancina Galarido Ward from Sunshine School; and Norliza binti Haji Zaini of Pantai Berakas Primary School.

A delighted Pengiran Haji Mohd Wahab said of being handed the award, “It is very humbling and a proud moment for me to receive the award from His Majesty. I have been teaching since 1993, and this award will definitely motivate me to work even harder to educate the children and help them excel.

“I would like to thank my fellow teachers and heads of departments at the MoE for continually providing strong support and advices. Together, we should be working sincerely with strong work ethics to develop students into becoming future leaders of Brunei Darussalam.”

A total of 13 educators, comprising instructors and teachers who have contributed to producing successful students in their respective subjects and have been active in conducting and implementing education programmes or projects, were also honoured with the Special Mention Award.

Farizan binti Haji Rosli, one of the Special Mention Award recipients, told the Bulletin that she has dedicated her life to the profession, and has been teaching at the primary level at Batu Marang Primary School, Cluster 4 for 12 years.

“Receiving this award was beyond all my expectations. To be selected as one of the recipients for the award is a true honour. I’m deeply grateful to His Majesty and the MoE for the recognition,” she added.

“I may not be the teacher my pupils most like or love, but I’ll always ensure that they will still receive my best knowledge and advices. For me, a child’s education begins from home and I would like to thank all parents, who I believe are the first teachers for their children, for their endless support in ensuring that their children receive the best education.

“Teaching might not be an easy job but it certainly is very rewarding. I’d like to say to my fellow teachers: don’t give up and do our job well. Be proud of your work as it is a profession that creates other professions, one which you can make an impact on your students’ lives.”