|     Fizah HAB & Ishan Ibrahim     |

PERBADANAN Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (Perbadanan TAIB) held mass Sunnat Hajat prayer and Doa Kesyukuran in conjunction with its 27^th anniversary on Thursday evening at the Jefri Bolkiah Mosque in Kampong Batong.

The guest of honour was Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof in his capacity as the Chairman of Perbadanan TAIB’s Board of Directors.

Also in attendance were Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar in his capacity as the Chairman of Perbadanan TAIB’s Syariah Advisory Committee; Legislative Council member and Village Head of Kampong Limau Manis Yang Berhormat Haji Muhimin bin Haji Johari @ Jahari; members of Perbadanan TAIB’s Board of Directors and its subsidiaries; members of Syariah Advisory Committee; and employees of Perbadanan TAIB, Insurans Islam TAIB Holdings Sdn Bhd and Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd. The Board members and guests were greeted by the Acting Managing Director of Perbadanan TAIB Hajah Noorrafidah binti Sulaiman.

The event began with a mass Maghrib prayer and Sunnat Hajat prayer led by Imam of Jefri Bolkiah Mosque Rozaime bin Haji Bunal, followed by the recitation of Surah Yaasiin and Doa Kesyukuran.

The event also saw the guest of honour handing over the Sumbangsih Dana Amal Maslahah Umum Perbadanan TAIB in the form of a portable Public Address System (PA System), an ACER desktop, a four-in-one HP Printer and two sets of equipment used for the management of Jenazah to the Imam of Jefri Bolkiah Mosque.

The event concluded with a mass Isyak prayer, followed by the Dikir Marhaban for an employee of Perbadanan TAIB David Mikael bin Abdullah Imeran, who embraced the Islamic faith on September 21. David Mikael also received donations in the form of a prayer mat and an Al-Quran from the guest of honour.

|     Hakim Hayat     |

NATIONAL carrier Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) is poised to expand its business to greater heights following an overhaul of its entire business pillars that sees enhanced fleet of aircrafts, customer appeal and networks through new markets.

This will in turn boost the nation’s tourism growth.

In an exclusive interview with the Weekend Bulletin following the launch of its new fleet of Airbus A320neo recently, RB’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Karam Chand said significant improvements have been made over the last five years in its transformation journey which saw many memorable events including the evolution of RB’s brand and the people-centric approach in the development of its staff.

With the delivery of the last of the seven Airbus A320neo by the end of November and its current fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners, RB will be the owner of one of the youngest fleet in the world with an average fleet age of two years.

This allows it to leverage on new destinations and an enhanced network with unparalleled customer service experience.

Chand said RB’s fleet renewal programme, which started in 2013, is aimed at providing better appeal for its guests.

The programme also gives the airline a more reliable and better fuel band which would ultimately bring down operating costs especially as added costs become inevitable for a legacy business like RB that is over 43 years old.

“First was the wide-body Boeing 787 Dreamliners and then it is the single-aisle A320neo, which offers a better fuel burn with (about 15 per cent reduction), less noise and environmental pollution, and better maintenance cost.

“And because we own these aircraft, it is generally better than leasing them, allowing us to take advantage of a better cost structure,” added the CEO.

Chand said the new fleet will play a vital role in maintaining and improving RB’s operational reliability which is extremely important as it has a national role to play. The airline also provides close to 80 per cent of all seats to and from Brunei.

The CEO said the new technology fleet will play a key part in RB’s long-term development and allows the airline to create value for the Brunei economy through tourism, trade and increased direct connectivity.

Keeping guests’ perspective in mind, Chand said the new A320neo has been customised and targetted to not only fly into the short-haul sectors but also medium-haul sectors to markets in north Asia, Korea and Japan.

“They have been designed to make sure that guests don’t feel them much different to the Boeing 787 Dreamliners, giving the guests similar experience and level of comfort.

“The new A320neo gives the seat comforts, entertainment systems and experience that provide our guests the feel no different from the other aircraft,” he said.

Chand said the new A320neo has also allowed RB to expand frequency of flights to its existing markets such as Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur that are seeing greater demand and requiring larger capacities.

The CEO last week announced that RB is further strengthening its network with the introduction of Haikou by the end of October, and Taipei and Changsa from December this year.

On top of its current scheduled flights to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Hangzhou and Nanning, RB is seeking to add further capacity into China, by operating flights to seven cities, by the first quarter next year.

“This will significantly expand the airline’s strong footprint in the very important Chinese market and further assist the development of the tourism sector. It is one of the fastest growing markets, with the number of Chinese visitors to Brunei doubling in three years to over 52,000 in 2017,” he said.

“People enjoy travelling and they want new experiences and we felt that Brunei has a lot to offer. We are entering into one of the largest tourism markets in the world and a lot of them are from north Asia, Korea, China, Japan and Taiwan.

Chand also announced an exciting new route – Tokyo – that RB will fly to beginning March 15, 2019.

It will be an important capital city to capital city connection with thrice weekly flights, and will be increased in line with market growth, he said.

Chand said offering direct flights to and from these destinations is a significant advantage in terms of stimulating demand because guests prefer as little hassle as possible when travelling.

Another huge game-changing innovation is the commencement of non-stop flights to London (Heathrow) from October 28 this year, he said.

This, he added, will be the quickest way to and from London flying on RB’s Dreamliner aircraft.

“We will also be offering one-stop service between Australia and the United Kingdom (UK) and with one of the shortest elapsed time of any competitors on the ‘Kangaroo Route’.”

Meanwhile, Chand said RB’s infrastructure plays a very important part in its transformation journey.

“We upgraded our previous head office – the RB Plaza in Bandar Seri Begawan, and our Customer Service Centre, Customer Call Centre and Royal Skies,” he added.

“We also invested heavily in our facilities for our people at our new head office – Simpur Building and our entire RB Campus at the airport precinct. These facilities reflect our ethos and the forward-looking nature of our people,” the CEO said.

RB had introduced its flagship Business Class Lounge and revamped the Sky Lounge at the Brunei International Airport.

“The RB Business Class Lounge takes on board the needs of our business class guests and Royal Skies members. Features that take care of guest’s comfort, relaxation, fine dining and entertainment are provided in the new lounge.

“RB’s upgraded Sky Lounge is open – for the first time in Brunei – to walk-in guests,” Chand added.

The new RB A320neo fleet’s cabin facilities – especially its in-flight entertainment – have exceeded guests’ expectations; they are considered as the ‘best in class’ with ‘five-star’ for regional services.

As the airline partners with Thales, RB’s A320neo offers guests unmatched levels of in-flight entertainment.

It is the world’s first single-aisle aircraft fitted with Thales Avant (Gen 5) in-flight entertainment system.

Chand also mentioned RB’s partnership with Brunei Tourism and Singapore’s M&C Saatchi. This led to a large-scale global digital marketing campaign for Brunei.

“We had over 250,000 tourist arrivals into Brunei last year and we would like to see that double by 2021.

“We believe we can achieve this, for example, with the launching of RB’s Aircraft Livery that will fly around our network,” he said.

RB’s Aircraft Livery is a strong tool to create awareness of Brunei with the support of the influential social media marketing, the CEO added.

The RB, Brunei Tourism and M&C Saatchi partnership, Chand said is unique because this is the first time that a national carrier is given the lead in destination marketing.

Although Brunei faces fierce competition from neighbouring destinations, Chand said the new marketing campaign is a 100 per cent capable of giving significant impact.

The CEO highlighted that the key to RB’s success – and continued success – is its people.

“We continue to invest heavily in our people programmes. Our cadet pilot programme started in 1975 and every year we have sent young Bruneians on extensive training to become pilots.

“Ninety-eight per cent of our senior first officers and nearly half our captains are Bruneians. All management pilots are locals,” he said.

“We also have a very successful engineering apprenticeship and graduate trainee programmes that have helped us develop our engineers and provide a middle management pipeline,” he added.

Chand shared that last year the airline started a special initiative – a young entrepreneur programme that involved its youthful high performance staff who undertook formal and informal training including projects and mentoring.

“We don’t know of any similar programmes anywhere. Our succession planning programmes have yielded very positive results with the localisation of a number of ‘C’ level roles and achieving a high degree of Bruneian participation in senior management roles.”

|     Fizah HAB     |

A NATIONAL flag handover ceremony to the Brunei contingent participating in the 3rd Asian Para Games to be held in Indonesia from October 6-13 was held at the Green Room of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas yesterday.

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 handed over the national flag to the contingent’s Chef de Mission Haji Rosmadee bin Haji Md Daud.

Also present were Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Brunei Darussalam Dr Arko Hananto Budiadi, members of the selection and evaluation committee, senior officers of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and guests.

Leaving on Tuesday, the Bruneian contingent comprises 16 members including eight athletes and eight officers including the Chef de Mission, Head of Secretariat, medical officer, coach and assistant coach.

The contingent will compete in two categories – athletics and 10-pin bowling.

|     Fizah HAB     |

THE Museums Department and the Brunei Darussalam National Spinning Top Association (PERGAB) is hosting the ‘Promoting the Game of Spinning Top’ exhibition at the Sports Gallery of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

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 launched the exhibition.

Museums Department Acting Director Haji Mohamad Jefri bin Haji Sabli and PERGAB President Dato Paduka Haji Puasa bin Orang Kaya Seri Pahlawan Tudin, the co-presidents of the exhibition, were present at the launch.

The exhibition aims to showcase and promote the traditional game of Gasing (spinning top) to members of the public. PERGAB members were present to demonstrate how to properly throw a Gasing and play the game.

The exhibition details the methods to create gasing, including the type of wood used to create it. Visitors will find on display a variety of Gasing, including Gasing Tradisi (Gasing Besar), Gasing Borneo Disiut, Gasing Borneo Gurau Ditanah, Gasing Pangkah Banyak Uri, Gasing Lunjong and Gasing Ubah Suai Di Tunggol.

The exhibition is open to the public from Saturday to Thursday from 9am to 11.30am and from 2.30pm to 4.30pm; and from 9am to 11.30am and 2.30pm to 4.30pm on Fridays.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

DPMM FC’s hopes of finishing as runners-up of the Singapore Premier League evaporated after a goalless draw with Balestier Khalsa FC at the Toa Payoh Stadium in Singapore yesterday.

Shahril Ishak rescued a point for Home United five minutes after conceding through a Khairil Amri’s penalty for Tampines Rovers to seal second place and with it entry to the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League.

The Stags currently hold on to third spot but DPMM FC still have a chance to pip them if they emerge victorious against Young Lions in their final home game on October 9.

Azwan Salleh sent a tricky cross into the middle which Balestier Khalsa goal-keeper Zaiful Nizam pushed away but only to the path of Adi Said whose tame header signalled an abrupt end to the danger.

On the other end, Vedran Mesec hit the side-netting with his favoured right foot as they marked their first noteworthy effort in the first half before finding space to release a fine effort which arrowed wide in his next opportunity.

Helmi Zambin did well to manufacture a cross from the by-line for Volodymyr Priyomov but the 17-goal striker scuffed his shot and allowed Zaiful to clear the ball to safety.

Azwan Salleh then had a crack from distance which hit the side-netting as the Gegar-Gegar men looked to breach the opposition goal late in the first half.

The Tigers received a colossal blow after Keegan Linderboom was forced off the pitch through injury with Noor Akid Nordin taking his place just before half-time.

Azwan Salleh then tried his luck from a more central position compared to his earlier attempt in the opening minutes of the second half but his shot was well gathered by Zaiful.

Adi Said, who enjoyed a vast collection of assists this season, floated a ball into the middle but Volodymyr could not apply the touch as Zaiful was alive to the threat.

The visitors also have worrying signs of injury as DPMM FC forward Abdul Azizi Rahman left the field on a stretcher and he was replaced by Shafie Effendy.

With little highlight of note, Abdul Hariz Herman nearly pulled off a spectacular strike with his shot from range.

Volodymyr’s curling free-kick skidded off the near post as the striker looked to close the gap on leading scorer Shuhei Hoshino.

Brian McLean sets up Najib Tarif but he was closed down by three Balestier players as the visitors looked for a late winner.

|     Achong Tanjong     |

THE Postal Services Department of the Ministry of Communications is making efforts to improve the quality of the department’s services and products. These efforts include the introduction of the ‘Facilitator Application’ and the ‘Customer Management Systems’ to provide value-added feedback and services to customers.

This was revealed by Acting Postmaster General Haji Hairul Mohd Daud bin Haji Abdul Karim at a press conference at Brutrack Room, Block D of the General Post Office in the capital yesterday.

He said the department introduced the BruTrack Application System, a postal tracking app system, in early January allowing customers to know if their items have arrived at the Mail Processing Centre (MPC) Berakas.

The types of postal products that can be tracked through the App are – Registered Properties (R), Parcel (C) and EMS SpeedPost (E).

He added that to improve the efficiency of BruTrack, the public is advised to download the BruTrack App from the AppStore or Google Play Store.

Over a thousand subscribers have downloaded the application since it was introduced. “It is hoped the number will increase in the near future,” he said.

The department advised customers to provide their telephone numbers on their postal items and correct address to ensure postal delivery at the designated time.

The department also provides the Customer Relationship system through Services Counter at MPC where customers can make enquiries or complaints through its Customer Service Centre at 2380481, call or WhatsApp at +673871102, email cscpost@post.gov.bn or through Instagram at @post_brunei during office hours.

The department also announced that card or letter duplication of goods is no longer issued at the Customer Service Centre. Customers can now collect their items based on information from BruTrack.

Another product is the ‘Installation of Post Box’ at home or building through post office branches.

Private Post Box (PO Box) or Locked Bag makes it easier for the public and companies to collect their mail at any time.

Corporate Mail and EMS SpeedPost for international and local express mail ensure speedy delivery of Premium Mail Express.

Through the Space Rental Services, the department offers empty space, building and potential lands for rent for Insurance Counter Service, installation of ATM machine or for the setting up of public-private-partnership (PPP) companies.

|     Hakim Hayat     |

TWO local companies have been awarded government tenders for projects aimed at boosting the country’s rice production, the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood announced recently.

Yaz & Wyn Enterprise was awarded a tender to develop 110 hectares of land in Kg Panchor Murai ‘A’ and ‘B’ into large-scale commercial paddy production site. The project that was offered through open tender in May 2017 is expected to increase national paddy production rate up by 1,150 metric tonnes (690 metric tonnes of rice) per year.

During a contract signing ceremony at the Headquarters of the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood in Old Airport, Berakas, the department’s Director Hajah Aidah binti Haji Mohd Hanifah signed on behalf of the department while Yaz & Wyn Enterprise was represented by its proprietor Ezwyn bin Haji Abdul Bakar.

According to the department, encouraging commercial-scale paddy production is one of its efforts to boost national paddy production in the long run. “With its implementation in a large-scale, it will generate economies of scales for the purchase of farming input materials such as fertilisers, pesticides and machineries at a lower cost, thus reducing the cost of production and giving higher rate of returns.”

The contract is for five years and is renewable subject to the performance of the company in developing the land.

Another tender was awarded to Preston Geocem (B) to find alternative and cost-effective groundwater resources to supply water to agricultural sites with insufficient or no irrigation systems.

Signing the contract on behalf of the department was its director, while Preston Geocem (B) was represented by its Managing Director Amalina binti Abdul Khalid. The project was offered in open tender in April this year.

Preston Geocem (B) is tasked to explore and analyse groundwater samples at Bebuloh Agricultural Development Area, Limau Manis and Junjongan in the Brunei-Muara District; Lot Sengkuang Agricultural Development Area in the Belait District and Perdayan and Lekiun Agricultural Development Area in the Temburong District.

The department said these projects are part of the efforts of Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) through the Department of Agriculture and Agrifoods in boosting paddy and rice production.

|     Wani Roslan     |

IT WAS a moment of great pride and joy for 461 of graduates of Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) yesterday, as they finally received their degrees and diplomas after years of intense hard work and academic toil.

Azyan Izzati binti Haji Masri, one of the graduates who received her certificate during the university’s convocation ceremony at the Plenary Hall of the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas, told the Sunday Bulletin that she was elated to have completed her studies and expressed her gratitude to all who have supported her in her journey.

“Alhamdulillah, throughout my studies at the university, I learnt a lot from my lecturers. I’d like to express my gratitude to Allah the Almighty for the opportunity to further my studies at the Master’s level and to my parents, friends and lecturers for all their support,” said the Master of Science (Coursework) in Management and Technology graduate.

Giving words of advice to other students, she said, “To attain success, there need to be more effort on your part – one shouldn’t be over reliant on the lecturers. We need to be independent, but seek the opinions of the lecturers or supervisors when needed.”

“I hope that I can have the opportunity to work either in the government or private sector and practise the knowledge I’ve gained during my studies,” she added.

Awangku Nor Muhammad Nizam bin Pengiran Haji Tengah, a Bachelor of Business (Hons) in Business Information Technology graduate, shared that the main challenge for him was allocating time to study while juggling his career commitment at Baiduri Bank.

“The hard thing for me was trying to achieve top academic performance without jeopardising my work at Baiduri – I did this for four years. My work experience did facilitate my studies but new unfamiliar areas such as IT posed new challenges for me. I had to put in additional effort and invest more time to digest the study material while duty-bound in my career,” he said.

“I have to convey my gratitude to Allah the Almighty for enabling me to complete my degree. I would advise everyone that we must always enhance our commitment, passion and enjoyment of learning in the spirit of striving for excellence and commit to completing what we’ve already started pursuing,” Awangku Nor Muhammad Nizam added.

Muhammad Ahsanuddin Naqib bin Rosli, an upper-second class honours Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronics) graduate, also expressed his gratitude to Allah the Almighty for his success.

“Without doubt, four years at UTB has been very challenging for me. One of the tricky things was time management as I had to juggle my studies alongside my co-curricular commitments as one of the members of the university’s Student Representative Council,” he said.

Also expressing his joy at graduating was upper-second class honours Bachelor of Business (Finance and E-Business) graduate, Mohammad Naqiuddin bin Mohd Salleh.

“Part of the challenges throughout my studies was understanding and adapting to a dynamic and competitive university system. We had to complete several analyses and research work in a short period time for each module, as well as apply the findings of the research,” he said.

When asked about what he plans to do now after graduating, he said, “I want to further my interest in finance and investment by participating in seminars. At the same time I’m looking for a job in my field of expertise to help Brunei achieve our Vision 2035.”

|     Aziz Idris     |

UNIVERSITI Teknologi Brunei (UTB) presented Excellence Awards to 23 outstanding graduates in a congratulatory ceremony held in conjunction with UTB’s 6th Convocation ceremony 2018 yesterday.

Minister of Education Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman presented awards to recipients.

Deputy Minister of Education Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh, Vice-Chancellor of UTB Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman, senior officials from the Ministry of Education and UTB council members were also present.

The event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat followed by a welcoming speech by Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah.

Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah said the awards ceremony is a gesture of recognition for graduates who excelled in their academic programmes.

She urged graduates to take the lessons learnt to pursue something better for the community and continue to strive to become successful individuals and always provide support to UTB.

“In every success you gain, it’s the best example of our mission coming to fruition,” she said.

Meanwhile, Chin Xin Ying, a graduate from the Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Civil and Structural Engineering received three awards.

Chin Xin Ying received the Petrokon Utama Sdn Bhd Engineering Award, the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Local Network Prize and the PUJA Prestige 2018 Student Awards.

Chin Xin Ying advised future graduates to grasp the many opportunities that life has to offer and to make the most of them.

“Always be competent and gain as much industrial knowledge as possible,” she said.

She works at a design and consultancy company and hopes to gain as much experience before furthering her studies to become an engineer and contribute to the country.

The Excellence Awards saw various categories sponsored by organisations, including the University Award of Excellence, Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Local Network Prize, IMechE-Brunei Award, PUJA Prestige 2018 Students Awards, Petrokon Utama Engineering Award and BIBD Best Project Award 2018.

|     Fizah HAB     |

HER Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah attended the opening night of the Cinderella musical held at the Jerudong International School (JIS) Arts Centre last night.

Accompanying Her Royal Highness were Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Khairul Khalil bin Pengiran Syed Haji Jaafari, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Abdul Hafeez bin Pengiran Anak Khairul Khalil and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Raihaanah Hanaa-Ul Bolqiah binti Pengiran Anak Khairul Khalil.

The musical is based on the Rodgers & Hammerstein’s take of the classic fairy tale of a young woman forced into a life of servitude by her cruel stepmother and her dreams of a better life.

|     Wani Roslan     |

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 Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB), consented to present graduation certificates to 461 graduates yesterday at the UTB’s 6th Convocation Ceremony held at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.

Accompanying His Majesty was His Royal Highness Prince (Dr) Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Pro-Chancellor of UTB.

His Majesty was greeted by Minister of Education Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman, UTB Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman, and UTB Acting Registrar and Secretary Lim Chui Hua.

The ceremony commenced with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, followed by the Procession of the Chancellor into the Plenary Hall led by the macebearer holding aloft the Mushaf Al-Quran.

Verses 159–164 of Surah Al-Baqarah were then read by Awangku Yura Alif bin Pengiran Yusofe, a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering student, while its interpretation was read by Hamiz ‘Abdulhadi bin Haji Osman, a graduate of the university’s Bachelor of Engineering (Hons) in Mechatronic Engineering programme.

This was followed by a welcoming address from Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah, in which she highlighted the university’s landmark achievement of being rated a five-star university in the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings.

“As a 10-year-old university, the journey to reach this level has been very challenging, and UTB continues to believe in its potential to make changes to its higher education landscape. We are indeed proud of this achievement,” she said.

The Vice-Chancellor added that UTB will be implementing a number of strategic education improvement plans, one of which is an added emphasis on holistic education and full student development. The university will do this by enriching its curriculum and the learning experience of its students.

Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah said, “UTB is also emphasising collaboration and engagement with industry to enrich teaching and learning in the university, where academic programmes are developed and reviewed in close collaboration with industry and related stakeholders.

“Local and international industry practitioners are also involved as additional academic staff at the university, to share with the students their knowledge and valuable industry experience.

“UTB is also keen to pursue accreditation from the international professional bodies for our academic programmes to maximise our students’ marketability and for the good of their professional careers.”

After Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah’s speech, His Majesty consented to deliver the titah and present certificates to 29 Master’s degree graduates, 418 Bachelor’s degree graduates, and 14 graduates of the Higher National Diploma Level Five.

Among these graduates was the son of Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Jefriah, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Muhammad Abdul Qayyum bin Pengiran Sura Negara Pengiran Anak Haji Muhammad Bey Muntassir.

Before leaving the ceremony, His Majesty and His Royal Highness Prince (Dr) Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah spent time mingling with the fresh graduates and their parents. UTB offers undergraduate – including part-time degrees, Master’s and PhD degree programmes in business, computing, applied science and mathematics, design, and engineering.

To date, the university has produced 5,141 BDTVEC HND, 295 Higher National Diploma Level Five, and 1,333 Bachelor’s and 99 Master’s degree graduates.

|     Azlan Othman     |

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 Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) yesterday congratulated UTB for reaching the 442nd place in QS World University Rankings and 57th position in Young Global University for universities below 50 years.

“The latest achievement is it obtaining a five-star rating in the overall assessment,” the Sultan said. “Without doubt, it is a very important achievement for UTB as a young university which is 10 years.”

Delivering a titah at UTB’s 6th Convocation at the International Convention Centre (ICC), His Majesty said the excellence of a university depends much on it successfully producing graduates and research that can contribute to economic growth and nation building.

His Majesty said in the era of Fourth Industrial Revolution, technology plays a crucial role in shaping the way of life and the way we work.

“As a technological university, I see that the present era brings challenges to UTB to equip such an institution with knowledge and skills,” said His Majesty.

“However I wish to remind UTB not to be complacent, but be pro-active in framing-out an action plan for teaching, including intensifying its research efforts. Another priority for UTB and to all tertiary level education institutions is to focus on their academic workforce,” the Sultan said.

“I hope all higher level institutions give a detailed provision to the human resources plan in line with the needs of the university and national development. I was made to understand that UTB’s planning and future direction in the next phase is to implement a strategic plan for the next five years with the new vision – A Global University Impacting Society,” the monarch added.

His Majesty also said UTB’s performance will always be assessed, among others, through the quality of its graduates, marketability and effectiveness towards the society and research.

“On research, I am pleased to note the success of the Innovative Engineering Centre at UTB which has received funds from ICT Virtual Organisation of ASEAN Institute and NICT (ASEAN IVO), which is an ICT Virtual organisation which has members from several research institutions, ASEAN universities and National Institute of Information and Communications Technology in Japan whereby UTB has been entrusted to lead the smart technology project based on computer-vision application and artificial intelligence in the tourism industry. Two other projects are aimed at integrating smart technology in the area of environment protection and agricultural industry,” said His Majesty.

Touching on the research field in agriculture, His Majesty welcomed the establishment of the Centre for Research on Agri-Food Science and Technology (CrAFT).

“I was made to understand that the centre plays a role in enhancing agricultural capability through the use of technology such as Internet of Things (IoT) in smart farm. The centre will also carry out research to support and broaden the food industry. I hope that CrAFT will cooperate with various government agencies, the private sector, institutions of higher learning locally and abroad,” the Sultan added.

His Royal Highness Prince (Dr) Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Pro-Chancellor of UTB was also present.

|     Daniel Lim     |

STUDENTS from Kindergarten to Year 11 from St James’ School sang a specially written song about the teachers’ effort and dedication at an event to mark Teacher’s Day recently. The event included a myriad of activities and performances.

Principal Haji Muhd Masa Masdi bin Md Sa’idun said with this year’s Teacher’s Day theme ‘Dedicated Teachers, Excellent Education’, teachers who give their best will see students excelling in education.

A Doa Hari Guru was led by Year 11 student Yadiy Ware Muminin bin Razalman to celebrate the event.

It was followed by students’ performances to show gratitude to teachers.

|     Daniel Lim     |

THE Night Walk conducted by Rosnah Yusof and Sons Entertainment (RYS Entertainment) in collaboration with the Kuala Belait and Seria Municipal Board drew hundreds of residents from the Belait District at the event’s first anniversary on Saturday night.

Held in conjunction with Kuala Belaitku (KBKu)Ceria, participants first gathered at the Silver Jubilee Park at Jalan Maulana to support the event and participated in a warm-up activity prior to the Night Walk.

Acting Chairman of the Kuala Belait and Seria Municipal Board Abdol Hazis bin Haji Ahad, Technical Director at Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP) Yap Kong Fah, Serikandi Group of Companies Chief Executive Officer Shaikh Haji Khalid bin Shaikh Haji Ahmad and over 150 participants comprising residents from the Belait District participated in the Night Walk.

Guided and escorted by the Royal Brunei Police Force, participants covered over four kilometres during the Night Walk, with the designated route taking them through landmarks in the surrounding area of Pekan Belait under the moonlit night.

Though the Night Walk is held in conjunction with KBku Ceria every month, this Night Walk was special as it marked the first anniversary of the event since it was first held earlier last year around the same time.

As such, RYS Entertainment issued a challenge titled ‘Night Walk KB Challenge’ for members of the public, which encourages those interested to download the smartphone app ‘Mark My Run Under Armour’, adding ‘RYS Entertainment’ as a friend and waiting for it to be accepted.

Once accepted, participants can officially join the challenge and record how far they can run using the app.

The participant who records the farthest distance travelled on foot on the next Night Walk will receive a prize.

|     Daniel Lim     |

MUCH like its counterpart in the capital Bandarku Ceria, the Kuala Belaitku (KBku) Ceria event has been a huge hit among the Kuala Belait and Seria communities, adding that extra tad of colour and life to the otherwise quiet town.

And so it was the case on Saturday night and Sunday morning when the event was once again held in the Belait District.

Among the fun activities was the much-anticipated Night Walk on Saturday, an activity which saw participants taking a four-kilometre walk through the heart of Kuala Belait.

Sunday morning saw more activities held and booths set up by agencies in the Belait District to highlight the importance of healthy living.

One of the booths was an exhibit by the British Forces Brunei and Second Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles which showcased the health and fitness regimens personally used by the British Forces Brunei and Second Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles members.

Examples of items on display included training equipment used by the army officers to train to maintain peak fitness. There was also a layout of various injuries that can be sustained through over-exertion and steps to treat and prevent them, as well as a display of a variety of fruits, vegetables and healthy food vital in helping to build and maintain a healthy physique.

Second Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles Officer Subarna Gurung said, “Individuals who wish to start keeping fit should note that going to the gym is not the only factor in being healthy. Motivation plays a key role too, as does getting enough rest and consuming the proper healthy food that help the body develop its fitness over time.”

Sergeant Keshar Bahadur Thapa Magar, manning the Second Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles booth at KBku Ceria, was impressed with the public response to the event.

“It is great to see that people are concerned about their health. It motivates us to continue engaging with the public and local community on health matters,” he said.

The event also featured a Naindung Mekar audition organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports aimed at scouting singing talents in the Belait District, particularly children, for the traditional Brunei singing competition finals to be held in December.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

UNITED Kingdom rider Christopher Gallagher braved the scorching heat to win the elite category of the Royal Brunei Enduro 2018 in his first taste of Asian circuit at Tasik Sarubing yesterday.

The MTB specialist clocked 22.52 ahead of his compatriot Chris Hutchens who posted a time of 24:10 in second place and Norshahriel Haizat Ahmad Nazali of Malaysia with a time of 25.09 in third.

Christopher has been actively participating in the Enduro events this year especially in Europe and North America but the Brunei stint marked his Asian debut.

“This is my first time to Asia. It was a battle just to get through today and it is good to win,” said Christopher in an interview with the Bulletin on the sideline of the prize presentation ceremony and dinner at the Youth Centre in the capital last night.

Asked how he coped with competing under the Brunei sun, Christopher said, “Just drink a lot of water and a lot of 100Plus!

“I’ve been racing Enduro races for about four years now but I have been riding mountain bikes for over 10 years,” the Edinburgh rider further said.

Christopher, who has competed in 21 races this year which was predominantly in Europe and North America, called the competition level different than the ones he faced closer to home.

“It is a bit different because it is not the same competition level out here as you get back home. But it was a good battle with my good friend Chris (Hutchens) and the Bruneian guys.

“It is a lot less people racing here. Normally there will be at least 300 people in the race at home,” he said.

The newly crowned Royal Brunei Enduro Series winner also singled out praise on the race conditions of the track in his first Asian appearance.

“I thought the track was really good. Jason (Pickett) and his team had done a lot of work.

“It is just different in the jungle as it is dry and humid as supposed to home which is wet all the time.”

Other winners also included South Korea’s Junho Kim in the prodigy category and Brunei’s Liyana Zakaria in the femenino category.

Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong presented the prizes.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

DPMM FC Head Coach Rene Weber fixed his sights on finishing the Singapore Premier League in third place after the goalless draw against Balestier Khalsa at the Toa Payoh Stadium in Singapore on Saturday night meant that they moved out of contention for the runners-up spot.

Home United FC were guaranteed second place after a 1-1 draw with Tampines Rovers on the same night which also meant that they are automatically qualified to the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League.

“We are expecting to win the game because we are following the chase for the second position. The other game ended in a draw (Tampines Rovers and Home United),” said Weber in an interview with the Football Association of Singapore website.

“Anyway, we must take the third position. We are looking for that and we must win our last game against the Young Lions in the league. It will be difficult.

“It is tough to play today the same opponent after three days. It is not enough time for recovery and we will also be playing against them again next Wednesday.

“But we have three days to recovery. We have one extra day to recover too,” the former Brazil under-20 manager added.

“We have chances to score which we didn’t take them. But it was hot today and the game was not fast like before.”

The league interest will not only be entrenched in the minds of Weber and his charges as he is also in pole position of guiding the team to a first-ever Singapore Cup final following a 2-0 win against the Tigers in the first leg.

“The RHB Singapore Cup is our task now and after that we have a game at home,”he said.

Meanwhile, Balestier Khalsa Head Coach Marko Kraljevic said, “We are working very hard. There were not many chances in this game.

“I can say that a draw is a fair result. If we win the game, we could have moved into fifth position but it is okay. From now on, we focus on the second leg of the Singapore Cup on Wednesday and everything is focussed on the crucial game for us,” he said.

|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

AL-BUKHARI Textile Centre yesterday opened its 6th branch at Aman Hills in Sungai Tilong, Jalan Muara.

The ceremony was officiated by guest of honour Datin Hajah Kalshom binti Haji Suhaili, spouse of Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof.

Managing Director of Al-Bukhari Textile Centre Waheed Alam said the 6th branch offers affordable prices and thanked the customers for the supports.

The new textile shop gives BND100 vouchers to five lucky customers. Al-Bukhari is offering 60 per cent discounts today. Its business operation hour is 10am to 10pm daily.

|     James Kon     |

DIRECTOR of Pharmaceutical Services Hajah Rosni binti Haji Jair yesterday advised the public to be wary of adverse effects from retail medicines, supplements and cosmetics, during an interview on the sidelines of Pharmacy Day 2018, at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien.

The celebration of Pharmacy Day organised by the Department of Pharmaceutical Services was aimed at educating the public on the risks associated with unregulated medicines and self-care products.

Pharmacy Day 2018 was held in conjunction with World Pharmacists Day, which occurs annually on September 25, to highlight the impact of the pharmacy profession and its role in improving health of the general public.

The guest of honour was Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health Pengiran Dr Haji Md Khalifah bin Pengiran Haji Ismail, who joined a 20-minute aerobics session before touring an exhibition set up on the grounds of the Taman.

“Members of the public must be more aware about the side-effects of some medicines and cosmetics,” she said. “The consequences, especially for elderly, are dangerous. For instance, some traditional pain-relieving tonics are usually adulterated with western medicine, such as the Jus Al-Sunnah has been found to contain steroids. In the long run, steroids can cause harm to the body.”

She also cited another recent case involving two women who were admitted to hospital after developing adverse reactions to Dexteem Plus, bought from two different shops in Brunei Darussalam.

Dexteem Plus is not registered in Brunei Darussalam and the Ministry of Health has never issued any approval for its importation or sale.

Hajah Rosni also pointed out that in accordance with the Medicine Order 2007, any western-manufactured medicines and cosmetic products being marketed locally needs to be registered with the Department of Pharmaceutical Services. “But some people are doing it illegally, instead of going through the proper channels,” she said.

In terms of enforcement, she said, “Our enforcement personnel are working hard every day. It’s challenging, and we are collaborating with the other enforcement agencies, including the police.”

She also acknowledged that it is far from easy to keep track of online suppliers, “because they keep changing their online accounts, but we do monitor their social media platforms”.

“Patients who are taking medication for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, renal disease and hypertension need to take their medicines according to the prescribed amount. The public should also make sure that the labelling on their medicines is correct.”

On the issue of medicine shortage, she explained, “Sometimes we have problems with supplies, due to a global shortage. Some manufacturers were shut down because of non-compliance, so we need time to look for alternatives.”

Members of the public were also given the opportunity to consult with pharmaceutical personnel on general matters related to medication, traditional remedies, health supplements and cosmetics; the regulation of healthcare products; and the pharmacy profession.

|     Hakim Hayat     |

THE Pengiran Isteri Hajjah Mariam Hospital in Temburong District yesterday marked its 31st anniversary with several activities near the Belalong Community Hall in Pekan Bangar.

The celebration was attended by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar, who joined in a mass aerobics session, walkathon and clean-up activity, along with hundreds of local residents, district officials and hospital staff members.

A health exhibition and free health checks were held throughout the event, in addition to a 3.1km cycling and workout challenges to raise awareness on the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

Situated on 2.43 hectares of land, the Pengiran Isteri Hajjah Mariam Hospital was launched on September 3, 1987, and currently offers 30 health services with 50 patient beds in its wards, including a renal dialysis centre.

The hospital has 172 medical officers and staff in various professional disciplines, and also offers scheduled specialist clinical care with the assistance of the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital.

The first hospital in the Temburong District was opened in 1935, with a small and limited facility.

Decades later, its services have evolved along with larger and modern facilities, in line with the developments in the district.

Also present were Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health Haji Abdul Manap bin Othman, Acting Temburong District Officer Khairul Shahrul bin Haji Duahim and the Senior Administrator at the Pengiran Isteri Hajjah Mariam Hospital Abdul Mu’iz bin Haji Ibrahim.