|     Bahyiah Bakir     |

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday afternoon received in audience Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu.

Accompanying the minister was Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Brunei Darussalam Mehmet Suat Akgun and Special Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Ali Onaner.

Also present at the audience ceremony were Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof; and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hajah Siti Norishan binti Haji Abdul Ghafor.

Diplomatic relations between Brunei Darussalam and Republic of Turkey were established on June 27, 1984. Since then, the two countries have been cooperating extensively in various fields including defence, trade and investment, education as well as tourism.

The audience ceremony took place at the Istana Nurul Iman.

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

AROUND 40 teachers and staff of Pengiran Kesuma Negara Bukit Beruang Primary School participated in an outdoor activity at Wasai Teraja in Labi recently.

The activity aimed to promote team work and enhance ties among participants.

School Headmistress Hajah Kostinah binti Haji Garif also participated.

The trip began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat by Md Fakhrul Akmal bin Haji Abu Bakar followed by a safety briefing by Secretary Committee of Teraja Longhouse in Labi Gaung anak Jamit.

Participants enjoyed the 45-minute trek through pristine rainforest to Wasai Teraja.

Upon arrival, participants went for a picnic and viewed the waterfall. They took a dip in the crystal clear waters before heading back to the longhouse.

|     Daniel Lim     |

SURI Seri Begawan (SSB) Hospital, Kuala Belait celebrated its 46th anniversary with a religious ceremony at the multi-purpose hall of the hospital yesterday, Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar was the guest of honour.

Welcoming the minister was Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SSB Hospital Haji Abdul Khalid As’ari bin Haji Azahari.

The ceremony began with a mass recitation of Surah Lazim followed by the reading of Doa Khatam and Doa Kesyukuran led by Head Religious Teacher of the hospital Ustaz Mohd Ali Omar bin Haji Mohd Yusof.

The event proceeded with the mass recitation of Dikir Marhaban and a mass Asar prayer.

A gift was presented to the guest of honour by the CEO of SSB Hospital as a token of appreciation.

Also present were Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health Haji Abdul Manap bin Othman, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional) at the Ministry of Health Dr Haji Zulaidi bin Haji Abdul Latif, directors and senior officers from the ministry, as well as officers and staff members from the SSB Hospital.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

FIVE cyclists of Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) Cycling Team competed in the annual Varsity Cycling Challenge (VCC 2018) held at Technical University of Malaysia Malacca (UTeM) Main Campus, Durian Tunggal recently.

The team comprised Dr Haji Fahmi Ibrahim, Zainidi Abdul Hamid, Dr Haji Khairul Jaafar Masri, Hamdani Haji Ibrahim and Syazwi Azhar.

The 45km meet attracted more than 200 participants from various universities in Malaysia such as UTeM, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP). Univeristi Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA), Universiti Tenaga Nasional (Uniten), Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris (UPSI), Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) and Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM).

“It was tough with a few steep climbs along the way that made the race hard. Furthermore, there were headwind, along some section of the race route such as sharp corners that provided extra challenge. It was far different from the road we trained in Brunei which is pretty flat and straight,” said Hamdani Haji Ibrahim who had his first experience in VCC.

Dr Haji Fahmi Ibrahim finished in second place where he lost to the winner who broke away from the peloton in the early part of the race.

“I am a bit disappointed not to achieve my target to win the race but I must be happy with the team performance as we were racing as a team and they put me in a good position to stay out of trouble and launched a decisive attack to break up the front group dominated by UTeM and UIA team. They had sacrificed themselves using their energy to pull me in the peloton, ” said Dr Haji Fahmi.

The team finished in the top 10 respectively with Zainidi Haji Hamid (7th), Dr Haji Khairul Jaafar Masri (8th) and Hamdani Haji Ibrahim (9th). Meanwhile Syazwi, the team’s sole representative for student category, managed 18th place.

“The race was quite fast where my average speed was 41 km/h. It was not easy as most Malaysian University students are national riders and have more experience. Basically I am racing against top riders who dominate most domestic races in Malaysia,” Syazwi remarked, whose field totalled 80 entries.

Their participation in the event two years in a row has brought a good and positive image and reputation for UTB. The event has full media coverage where UTB’s presence was noticed and acknowledged by the host UTeM Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Shahrin Sahib and UTeM Assistant Vice Chancellor of Students Affairs Associate Professor Dr Nurul Fajar.

“The spirit of competition and desire for good and excellent results from our riders can be seen from this event and that is the most important,” Dr Haji Khairul Jaafar Masri said.

“Furthermore, the participation of the event has built up teamwork and togetherness among us which are the main values towards the university’s aspiration,” he added.

The team plan to return next year with better training and preparations to win the race. The team also expressed gratitude to Vice Chancellor of UTB Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah binti Sulaiman who supported the team to participate in the event for two consecutive years.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam’s national under-23 football team have been drawn in Group ‘K’ in the East Zone of the 2020 Asian Football Confederations (AFC) Under-23 qualifiers in Thailand to be held in March 2019, at a ceremony at the AFC House in Kuala Lumpur recently.

The group features an all-ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) ensemble namely Thailand, who qualified automatically to the 2020 finals as hosts, 2018 finalists Vietnam and Indonesia.

Brunei will begin their campaign against hosts Vietnam on March 22 next year before facing Thailand on March 24 and Indonesia on March 26.

Vietnam finished as runners-up in the previous edition in 2018 in China after only losing the final hurdle 2-1 against Uzbekistan, who clinched their maiden title.

The Wasps finished fourth in Group ‘F’ during the previous edition of qualifying at the Thuwunna Stadium in Yangon, Myanmar last year after recording three losses.

The AFC Under-23 qualifying draw saw 44 teams split into two zones namely West Zone with 24 teams and East Zone with 20 teams.

Divided into six groups of four teams, West Zone features teams from West Asia, Central Asia and South Asia while the east zone which is split into five groups of four teams includes teams from East Asia and ASEAN.

During the draw, each participating country was allocated a pot number based on its overall classification during the previous finals, for instance Uzbekistan as winners were seeded first.

Having not qualified in the 2018 finals, Brunei Darussalam are among the least ranked in pot number 4 alongside Mongolia, the Philippines, Chinese Taipei and Macau.

Teams from the same pot will not meet but they will instead find themselves drawn alongside one of the countries from Pot 1, 2 and 3.

Each team will fight for one of the 15 qualifying spots available including all group winners and the four best second-place ranked teams.

In the event that Thailand, who joined the qualifying stage despite already cementing a berth as hosts, finish among the qualified teams, then the fifth best second-place team will earn a ticket to the 2020 finals.

The group matches also serve as the first stage of the AFC qualifiers for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games men’s football tournament in Japan. The top three teams of the AFC Under-23 Championship will qualify to the 2020 Summer Olympics.

AFC Head of National Team Competitions Department Avazbek Berdikulov conducted the draw.

|     Fizah HAB and Daniel Lim     |

DIKIR Syarafil Anam ceremonies were held in mosques, suraus and religious halls across Brunei last night, with Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque in the capital providing the main focus for the opening of the nationwide celebrations of Maulidur Rasul for 1440 Hijrah.

Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman was the guest of honour.

Also present at the opening ceremony were Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar; Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Yussof; Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the MoRA Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang; and Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) Acting Ra’es Dr Haji Adanan bin Haji Basar.

The religious event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by the guest of honour followed by a special lecture on Dikir Syarafil Anam by Al-Minhaj Centre Co-Founder Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ajak and the mass recitation of Dikir.

The ceremony continued with the recitation of Dikir Assalamu’alaika by officers and staff of Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque Dikir group; and the recitation of Dikir Khairuman Sambas by the Kampong Belimbing Dikir group and the Kampong Subok Dikir group.

The recitation of the Dikir Tanaqal Indara was then conducted by the Perangkap Dikir group of Kampong Burung Pingai Berakas and the recitation of Dikir Badat Kopi by the National Anti-Drug Association (BASMIDA) Dikir group, while the recitation of Dikir Asyraqal was performed by officers and staff of the Islamic Studies Department of the MoRA.

This was followed by the recitation of Doa Dikir by Mudim Haji Amran bin Haji Md Salleh and the recitation of Doa Peliharakan Sultan dan Negara Brunei Darussalam by Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Haji Emran bin Haji Kunchang.

In the Belait District, meanwhile, an opening Dikir ceremony in conjunction with Maulud Nabi was held at the RPN Kampong Pandan Mosque, Kuala Belait yesterday.

Acting Belait District Officer Ridzuan bin Haji Ahmad was the guest of honour.

Also present during the ceremony were Head Religious Officer in the Belait District Haji Asminan bin Haji Chuchu and a representative from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).

Over 100 attendees comprising officers and staff members from various government departments, committee members, mukim penghulus, village heads, representatives from private companies in the Belait District, the mosque’s Takmir Committee members and residents from the surrounding area attended the ceremony.

The event began with the mass Maghrib prayer and mass Sunnat Hajat prayer followed by the Dikir ceremony, which started with the mass recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by the guest of honour. This was followed by the mass recitation of Dikir Assalamu’alaika and Dikir Syarafil Anam.

The ceremony continued with the mass Isyak prayer followed by the recitation of Dikir Asyaraqal before concluding with the recitation of Doa Dikir, all of which was led by Assistant Mosque Affairs Officer Imam Haji Julazni bin Haji Zaini.

The Dikir Maulud ceremonies will be observed for 12 consecutive nights in all mosques, suraus and religious halls across Brunei to commemorate the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), starting on the 1st of Rabiulawal, 1440 Hijrah corresponding to November 9, 2018 until the 12th of Rabiulawal, 1440 Hijrah corresponding to November 20, 2018.

|     Wani Roslan     |

A TOTAL of 248 retired officers and staff of the Ministry of Education (MoE) were feted at the Retired Officers and Staff of MoE 2018 celebration ceremony at the Songket Ballroom of The Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong yesterday.

The guest of honour was Minister of Education Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman. Deputy Minister of Education Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh was also present.

The retired officers and staff included officers, teachers and staff who worked at primary and secondary schools, colleges, Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) and higher education institutions.

In his speech, Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the MoE Dr Haji Azman bin Ahmad underlined that the ceremony was to celebrate the retirees as a sign of appreciation, recognition, remembrance and respect for the contributions.

“The contributions given in a collective view or as a result of a team work effort, it brings a significant impact to the development and progress of education, in line with the Brunei Vision 2035,” he said.

The ceremony also saw a speech by one of the retiree representatives, Haji Rahman bin Haji Nawi, former director at the Curriculum Development Department.

The main highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of certificates and souvenirs to the retired officers and staff by the guest of honour.

The ceremony was aimed to celebrate retired officers and staff of the ministry as an appreciation and recognition of their service in serving the government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. In addition, it aimed to strengthen ties among the retired officers and staff with those who are still working at the ministry.

The ceremony was organised through Higher Education Division and Secretariat of Brunei Darussalam National Accreditation Council (MKPK).

|     Fizah HAB     |

AL-MUKARABIN of Mukim Sengkurong and Al-Amirah of Mukim Mentiri emerged overall champions in the male and female categories in the final of the qualifying rounds in Dikir Syarafil Anam competition among mukim and village consultative councils held at the multipurpose hall of the Fire and Rescue Department Headquarters in Berakas.

The guest of honour Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong and spouse, Datin Paduka Hajah Zahrah binti Haji Mohamad were present.

An-Nur team from Mukim Labu, Temburong and Al-Muflihun of Mukim Kuala Belait won second and third places in the male category.

Team Khairunnisa of Mukim Bokok and Team Soleha of Mukim Kuala Belait clinched second and third places in the female category. Ten teams from all four districts participated.

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

|     Danial Norjidi     |

THE sectors of oil and gas, skill accreditation and financial services are some of the areas in which the trade relationship between Brunei Darussalam and the United Kingdom (UK) can be further developed.

UK Trade Envoy to Brunei Darussalam Paul Scully shared this while speaking in an interview yesterday.

On the current state of the trade relationship between Brunei and the UK, the trade envoy said, “I think it’s very positive. We have got a deep and special relationship that goes way beyond trade, but trade is really at the heart of it.”

Asked about the specific areas in which the trade relationship can be further developed, he said that there are particular sectors that they have looked at, and that they have asked what Brunei is looking for and how they can help.

“For example, in the oil and gas sector, we’ve got some really specialist companies that are used to decommissioning and restoring oil platforms in the North Sea. We can bring that over here, because that’s really needed over here, and waste management in that area.

“In terms of skills and increasing the skills of Bruneians so that they can increase their exposure in multinational companies, we can help them accredit the skills that they’re picking up and the courses that they’re doing here in Brunei, accredit them here in Brunei, so actually they can get it done so much quicker to an international standard.”

“I think the third thing, as well, is financial services, as one of Brunei’s priorities is to have an Islamic finance centre and that’s something we’ve been working on in London, which is the financial capital of the world. We’ve been working on that for a good few years now, so again, there are a lot of things that we can share.”

British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Richard Lindsay said, “Part of the objective is to have a broad perspective of what Brunei’s priorities are in its diversification and its attempt to develop its economy further, all in part of delivering Brunei Vision 2035.”

He explained that the trade envoy’s visit here “is to assess that, take it back to where the UK has comparative expertise and experience, and what we can bring and contribute to Brunei’s future economy”.

Elaborating further on the opportunity for the two countries in capacity building, Scully said, “One of the key things that Brunei is looking at, as they described it with Brunei Vision 2035 is Bruneianisation, so getting more Bruneians involved in key industries at a higher level.

“Clearly, in order to do that we know that many Bruneians go to the UK for their university education, but so much of it is about skills and experiences, and so what we can look at doing is helping skill up people through the existing network of training courses but also actually making sure that they get accredited here – they don’t have to go somewhere else and work on a different basis – quickly, and to international standards as well.”

“So it’s that sort of exchange of standards, of information and training that we’ve doing,” he said, noting that the UK has been doing apprenticeships since the 15th century. “So that’s the sort of experience that we want to be able to share.”

Speaking on his four-day visit, he said, “It’s been hugely worthwhile. Right from the moment of seeing the benefits of the nonstop flight from London to Brunei through to seeing what more I can do, the takeaways that I can go back to the UK and say, ‘actually this is why you need to come to Brunei, let’s increase our investment and our exposure in Brunei for the betterment of both countries’.”

Sharing his impression of the country based on this visit, Scully said, “What I have loved about Brunei is the people. It’s been absolutely fantastic. The serenity, the smiles, but also actually the energy of the tech startups that I met at DARe (Darussalam Enterprise), the ideas that young people are coming up with, and the partnership, the way that Bruneians are really ready to pick up new experiences and learn new things as they diversify their economy to other areas.”

Adding on, the trade envoy said, “It’s been a fantastic experience to meet the people, to see the energy and tech startups, to see the opportunities and the appetite for building on what is already a really successful relationship.”

The high commissioner also gave closing comments, saying, “Building on the numbers of people that have a very close affinity to the UK, this is a place where UK business should be doing lots of work, because it’s an easy place to do business,” he said, noting that Brunei’s score in the World Bank’s rankings for ease of doing business is improving.

|     James Kon     |

WITH the recovery in global oil prices, Brunei has seen an encouraging increase in its gross domestic product (GDP), and is hoping to maintain this positive momentum by stepping up its various economic diversification initiatives.

Notable efforts include implementing FDI projects focussed on sectors that hold huge potential for growth, such as the technology and creative industries, tourism, downstream oil and gas, business services, and Halal manufacturing.

This national diversification drive was highlighted by Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah in his keynote address as guest of honour at the 48th ASEAN Banking Council Meeting held at the Empire Hotel & Country Club yesterday.

“Brunei Darussalam,” the minister pointed out, “is blessed to be part of an emerging and vibrant economy bloc that practises cohesion and solidarity for the purpose of prosperity.”

He added however that this well-reflected spirit of cooperation between the member states “must trickle down, bridge multiple borders and grow industries so that it benefits not only governments or businesses, but also bridge borders to reach consumers and start-ups so those on the ground share the benefit of being people of ASEAN”.

The minister highlighted that to ensure sustainable growth for one united ASEAN, each member country must continue working hard to deliver on their individual and collective commitments.

“We must progress together as individual nations within one economic bloc. This will allow us to contribute to the competitive growth of a dynamic and resilient ASEAN,” he said. “We will need the cooperation of everyone at all levels – including the ASEAN Banking Association (ABA) – to build and strengthen relationships and to ultimately achieve true best practices and governance, to champion the original ideals of the 1967 Bangkok Declaration of peace, freedom, social justice and economic wellbeing.”

Earlier in his keynote, Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew pointed out that ASEAN’s vast young population gives the bloc a powerful foundation to realise its economic and social aspirations.

“Our region is home to more than 600 million people, a population larger than that of the European Union or North America, which holds the third-largest labour force in the world, trailing only China and India. More importantly, almost half the population is aged below 30,” he said.

“Put this all together and we have the right ingredients – the economic capabilities and this big melting pot of diversity – to materialise our enormous potential and opportunity to grow and for ASEAN to continue succeeding as an economic bloc.

“But our potential will only be met if we channel our investments in the right places, be they investments of capital into the right infrastructure, the right economic projects or into our efforts to work cohesively together. This is where the banking industry plays the pivotal role to offer opportunities for us all to invest in our future.”

Speaking on infrastructure spending, the minister explained, “ASEAN Secretary-General Dato Paduka Lim Jock Hoi pointed out recently that the prevailing global political, economic and social shifts confront us with non-traditional challenges and opportunities. One of these challenges was highlighted at the recent Asian Banking Association General Meeting, where the required infrastructure investment in Asia is estimated at USD1.7 trillion annually for the period from 2016 to 2030, to prop up current infrastructure to support rapid urbanisation and regional connectivity to stimulate further economic activity and trade between nations.”

The minister also highlighted the importance of supporting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). “Investing in our future also means investing in our MSMEs, which make up almost 90 per cent of business activity in the region. Southeast Asian-listed companies with annual sales of USD100 million or less have a total combined earnings of almost USD10 billion, an increase of more than 20 per cent compared to 2012,” he said.

“With the right support from the banking industry, we can nurture these MSMEs so that one day they can grow into the multinational conglomerates of our region. This is the sort of ASEAN dynamism and diversity that we want to project onto the world.”

Elaborating on the steps Brunei is taking in embracing the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the minister said, “In his titah at the recent Universiti Brunei Darussalam convocation, 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 stated that in order for Brunei to develop technologically to change the lives of its citizens, there must be an honest effort from all stakeholders to shift the nation towards a knowledge-based economy and place greater emphasis on life-long learning.

“We want to embrace the changes brought about by this digital revolution. With Internet penetration already at 58 per cent, Southeast Asia is home to the world’s fastest growing population of Internet users, with over 125,000 new users forecasted to come online daily by 2020. The bulk of this growth will come via mobile use. In Brunei, we anticipate significant growth in mobile data usage and aim to provide better coverage in the coming years.”

ASEAN’s digital economy, Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew said, has the potential to add an incremental USD1 trillion in GDP by 2025. Because of this, ASEAN needs to jump fully onto the digital bandwagon, the minister added.

“There needs to be financial mechanisms and solutions in place for cross-border trade for ASEAN goods and services offered. And we need to ensure we are investing in our people to give them the skills to be flexible and adaptable in the ever-changing business environment,” he said.

“This is where our leading financial institutions can play their part in supporting the growth of our industries, our countries and our people.”

A TOTAL of 194 students and 13 teachers from Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Primary School visited Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF) at Berakas Garrison.

Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Raihaanah Hanaa-Ul Bolqiah binti Pengiran Anak Khairul Khalil, the granddaughter 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, was present.

Pengiran Anak Adriana Haziqah Jaida Bulqiah binti Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul ‘Ali Yil-Kabier, the granddaughter of His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah, and Mohammad Ashraf As-Seddiq bin Yusrin, the grandson of Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were also present.

The tour started with a briefing, followed by a tour which showcased a variety of military equipment and vehicles such as military radios, Armoured Personnel Carrier and military fire trucks.

The tour also included activities such as riding military vehicles and learning how to put out fires using a fire hose.

The units that were involved during the visit were Company ‘A’, Mortar Platoon, Special Task Platoon, Armoured Personnel Carrier Platoon from First Battalion of RBLF (1Bn RBLF) and Combat Service Support consists of medical, dental, fire services, land engineering, Signal Squadron and Logistics Depot.

The visit gave the students the opportunity to take a closer look at the military equipment used by RBLF and provided useful knowledge and experience to students and teachers.

The visit concluded with light refreshment and an exchange of mementos.

|     James Kon     |

AROUND 700 students of Jigsaw Primary School showcased their musical talents at the school’s End of Year Production at Jerudong Park Amphitheatre recently.

The event themed ‘Jigsaw x Disney’ saw students acting, singing and dancing to popular Disney musicals on stage in front of their parents and family members.

The performance began with the singing of the national anthem, school song and a photo session followed during the curtain reveal.

The production saw the performances of the kindergarten pupils in the first act and the primary students during the second act. Live drum and guitar solo performances were also showcased by two Jigsaw Primary School alumni.

Certificates of appreciation were presented to the performers during the intermission.

The event ended with the presentation of a bouquet of flowers to the school’s Principal and Managing Director, Helen Chin, to show the school’s appreciation for her role as the event’s Executive Producer.

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

WITH the aim to provide opportunities for single mothers and housewives to support their family, a sewing class at the Youth Development Centre in Kampong Tanah Jambu was launched by member of the Legislative Council Yang Berhormat Pengiran Haji Mohamed bin Pengiran Haji Osman @ Othman yesterday.

Head of the Community and Communication Bureau of RPN Kampong Panchor Mengkubau Village Consultative Council Fatimah binti Jamil in her capacity as the chairperson of the event said a total of 36 participants comprising single mothers and housewives from RPN Kampong Panchor Mengkubau, Kampong Serusop, Kampong Manggis, Kampong Perpindahan Rimba, Kampong Kiulap, Kampong Kiarong and Kampong Sengkarai, Tutong had registered for the class.

She added that the class will be assisted by three instructors and divided into Group A and Group ‘B’. Classes will be held every Friday and Sunday for three hours per session.

The sewing class is organised by the Community and Communication Bureau of the RPN Kampong Panchor Mengkubau Village Consultative Council with the assistance from the Brunei-Muara District Office and Youth Development Centre of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

|     Ishan Ibrahim     |

THE hall was packed at Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam for the ‘Sing Out: Disney’ show with colourful musical numbers and stage performances.

The event, held at the Bengkurong branch, was attended by Policy and Planning Trustee of Pusat Ehsan Haji Ahmad bin Haji Abdul Rahman, senior staff, parents and children from Pusat Ehsan.

The event aimed to highlight the abilities of special needs students in the area of performing arts.

The ‘Sing Out: Disney’ was organised by music volunteer Cecilia Corros in partnership with Pusat Ehsan.

An active participant was teacher Ging who has been a regular volunteer in the centre for more than three years.

This was the second year that the centre showcased a school performance.

This year, each class presented songs and dances inspired from Disney movies including Moana, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, Casper and a lot more.

Some students also played the piano pieces from Frozen and Beauty and the Beast.

More than 100 students participated in the performance with the assistance of the teachers and staff of the centre.

The centre also invited guest performers Dance Synergy from Seri Mulia Sarjana School and a music teacher Marietta Del Mar Tsen.

Pusat Ehsan appreciated the support and contribution of individuals, sponsors and supporters for making the event a huge success.

|     Fadley Faisal     |

BAIDURI Bank yesterday reaffirmed its commitment to educate its customers on financial planning by hosting a discovery workshop themed ‘Life Goals and Financial Success’ at the Seasons Restaurant of The Centrepoint, Gadong.

The workshop, organised annually by Baiduri Bank, showcased outstanding local individuals to share their expertise and experience on various topics from fashion to finance, health and fitness.

One of the invited speakers was Ajeeratul Abdullah, who is a Bruneian fashion stylist and a social media influencer with experience in the international fashion scene.

Another was Alim Roslan, who is a certified personal trainer, founder of Brunei Calisthenics and owner of Primal Tactical, a gym specialising in strength training and conditioning.

Bibiena Bong, a speaker from Great Eastern Life, was also on hand to deliver a talk on what it takes to achieve financial goals through effective planning.

Guests who consulted financial planners at the event were entitled to a coffee voucher.

Baiduri Bank’s Head of Wealth Management Centre Peng Eng Soon said, “Through discovery workshops such as this, we educate and inspire our customers to achieve their financial and lifestyle goals.”

The bank’s Head of Retail Banking and Branch Network Pengiran Azaleen bin Pengiran Dato Haji Mustapha in welcoming the guests hoped that the workshop would reignite their enthusiasm to achieve their life goals.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

TWELVE netball teams will battle for supremacy in the Thredz Netball Championship 2018 at the International School Brunei (ISB) to be held on two consecutive Sundays starting tomorrow.

A managers’ meeting and draw to determine the fate of the teams was held at the Meeting Room of the Multi-Purpose Hall at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex yesterday.

The teams are Majestique, SPSS Sdn Bhd, MOE, Tigersharks, Battlenet, Top Gun, JIS Lightning, Netfit BN, BKP Yayasan, Sakura, Phoenix Miri and Centre Stars.

“The objective of the netball tournament is to develop the sport in Brunei and to give a platform for everyone regarding the skill level, to get together and practice their skills in different levels,” said Kamal Flynn, one of the organisers of the tournament.

Asked what they hoped to achieve at the end of the tournament, he said, “I hope all the players will get motivated to practice their skills more and develop their skills.

“Outside Brunei there are a lot of competitions. There are not many competitions here in Brunei, so outside, netball players have good opportunities to develop their skills to help them become national players.

“I’m hoping that through this netball competition, an environment will be created for more national players for Brunei Darussalam,” he said.

The tournament has attracted 156 players highlighting the popularity and the huge interest for the sport.

Six teams are divided into two groups with the top two winners of each group advancing into the knock-out stages and subsequently for a place in the final and a shot for the title.

The competition will be played in accordance with the official rules of the International Federation of Netball Associations.

A champion will be crowned during the prize presentation ceremony on November 18, after the conclusion of the final.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

SINGAPORE opened their ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup 2018 campaign with a stylish 1-0 win over Indonesia in Group ‘B’ at the National Stadium last night.

The Lions lie in second place behind Thailand, who thumped Timor Leste 7-0 with six goals coming from Adisak Kraison.

The Merah Putih enjoyed 68 per cent of the possession in the first half but the hosts fashioned the chances with four attempts compared to their opponents’ one.

And Singapore, backed by a strong 30,783 crowd, nearly grabbed the lead after midfielder Yasir Hanapi shot straight at Indonesia’s goalkeeper Andritany Ardhiyasa.

It was head coach’s Fandi Ahmad first competitive start as head coach of the national team since taking over the role earlier this year and Singapore looked promising with their attacks.

Singapore opened the breakthrough in the 37th minute after Hariss Harun connected a good ball from Gabriel Quak much to the delight of the home fans.

Faris Ramli missed two chances to double the lead first by hitting his shot straight at Ardhiyasa before his lob cleared the bar.

In the second half, the Indonesians again controlled the game with 67 per cent of the possession but the home side continued knocking their door with a flurry of attempts.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men after Putu Gede Juni Antara was sent off for a second bookable offence as Singapore held firm to see off the game with a fine win.

Singapore, who won the tournaments four times, will take on the Philippines in their next Group ‘B’ game away in Bacolod. They will play Timor Leste at the National Stadium on November 21 before concluding their group stage play against Thailand on November 25 at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

|     Danial Norjidi     |

UNIVERSITI Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) through the Centre for Postgraduate Studies (PPLI) concluded the 5th Inter-Universities Seminar for Post-Graduate Studies (SAPLI 2018) with the presentation of a seminar resolution on Thursday.

The event was held at the UNISSA Auditorium.

UNISSA Rector Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal was the guest of honour.

According to a press release, the seminar was organised in collaboration with Kolej Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Selangor (KUIS), Malaysia.

KUIS Rector Professor Dato’ Dr Ab Halim bin Tamuri was also present.

The two-day seminar carried the theme, ‘Contemporary Islamic Studies between Theory and Application’ and attracted the attention of scholars and researchers to share their views through presentation of working papers.

A total of 73 papers were presented, including two main papers. The seminar aimed to provide students with exposure to various research projects and activities to enrich their academic experience and a platform for them to present research findings.

The resolutions were presented by Seminar Chairman and PPLI Director Dr Hajah Sri Rahayu @ Hajah Nurjanah binti Haji Dollah.

The resolutions included emphasising the need to strengthen the teaching methods as one of the solutions to the challenges of the digital era, based on Islamic principles and ethics.

Controlling social media to check the transmission of negative content was also emphasised in the resolution as an alternative step for maintaining the well-being of mind and soul of the user.

Seminar Co-Chair and Director of the Centre for Graduate Studies, KUIS Dr Haji Mohd Farid Ravi bin Abdullah, the deputy rector, assistant rector and principal officers were also present.

Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

THE Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the departments under it held a Dikir Maulud in conjunction with the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) at Kampong Tanah Jambu Mosque yesterday.

Present was 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.

Also in attendance were senior officials, officers and staff members from the ministry and departments under it as well as youth and students from the Youth Development Centre.

The ceremony began with a mass Maghrib prayer followed by the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by the minister.

The event continued with a Dikir Syarafil Anam and concluded with a Doa Penutup Zikir.

Similar events will be held by the ministry in various mosques.

Ministry of Communications

MINISTRY of Communications and departments under it held the opening of Dikir Maulud at the Surau of the Brunei International Airport on Thursday.

Present was Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications Haji Azhar bin Haji Ahmad.

The event began with a mass Isyak prayer and the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by Imam of Brunei International Airport Surau Pengiran Haji Mohd Ismail bin Pengiran Haji Tuah and the recitation of Dikir Syarafil Anam followed.

The opening ceremony signified the start of the 12-day consecutive Dikir Maulud.

Brunei Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DPPMB)

|     Azlan Othman     |

PRESIDENT of Brunei Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DPPMB) and Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Hamid @ Sabli bin Haji Arshad organised a Dikir Maulud on Thursday.

It was held at his residence in Kampong Tanjong Nangka in Jalan Tutong.

Also present were Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Haji Mohimin bin Haji Johari @ Jahari, and other members of DPPMB – PHOTO: AZLAN OTHMAN

Ministry of Defence

THE Ministry of Defence (MinDef) and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) held the opening ceremony of Dikir Maulud celebration on Thursday.

The guest of honour was the Head of Inspectorate Unit Captain Pengiran Mohammad bin Pengiran Haji Damit of the Royal Brunei Navy.

Also present were senior officers, officers and staff of the Ministry of Defence and RBAF. The ceremony began with the recitation of verses from Al-Quran followed by mass Maghrib prayer, Dikir Marhaban and mass Isyak prayer.

The Dikir Maulud opening ceremony was held simultaneously throughout every surau within the military camps of RBAF including Surau Ad-Difa’ at Bolkiah Garrison.

Royal Brunei Police Force

|     Aziz Idris     |

THE Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) organised the opening of Dikir Maulud at the Surau of RBPF headquarters in Gadong on Thursday.

The event was coordinated by the Islamic Religious Body of RBPF.

The guest of honour was Commissioner of Police Dato Paduka Seri Haji Mohd Jammy bin Haji Muhd Shah Al-Islam. After the mass Maghrib and Sunnat Hajat prayers, the ceremony continued with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by Imam of the surau APO SM 6924 Pengiran Haji Ludin bin Pengiran Haji Mat Tahir.

The event ended with a Dikir Marhaban after the mass Isyak prayer and a Doa Selamat was read by the Imam.

|     James Kon     |

MINISTER of Communications Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof highlighted Brunei Darussalam’s ‘Sustainable Transport’ policies and strategies which included initiatives under the land and air transport sectors.

The minister made this remark at the 24th ASEAN Transport Ministers (ATM) Meeting held in Bangkok, Thailand.

For land transport, the Brunei Land Transport Master Plan (LTMP) outlines several strategies leading towards sustainable, equitable and efficient transportation and mobility in support of Vision 2035.

The 24th ATM Meeting and its related meetings were held on November 8-9. The Minister of Communications headed a delegation comprising senior officials from the ministry.

Also included in the delegation was Brunei Darussalam’s Ambassador to Thailand Haji Ismail bin Haji Manap.

Thailand Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha urged ASEAN member states to enhance transport connectivity within and beyond the region to boost trade, tourism and investment.

The ATM Meeting is an annual platform at which transport ministers from ASEAN member states gather to discuss and enhance cooperation within the region and with its dialogue partners.

Topics covered included projects and initiatives to improve connectivity and establish a transportation system which is efficient, safe and sustainable to support the goal of an ASEAN Economic Community.

For air transport, the meeting saw the signing of Protocol 4 under the MAFLPAS (ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on the Full Liberalisation of Passenger Air Services) on ‘Co-Terminal Rights between Points within the Territory of Any Other ASEAN Member State’.

This protocol extends the ASEAN Open Sky Policy to achieve the liberalisation and integration of air services.

With this protocol, airlines of the ASEAN member states are given the traffic rights to provide services to two or more destinations in another member state.

Other deliverables endorsed included the ASEAN Fuel Economy Roadmap for Transport Sector 2018-2025 with focus on light-duty vehicles, guidelines on sustainable land transport indicators on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

The transport ministers held meetings with ASEAN dialogue partners, namely China, Japan and South Korea where they appreciated the progress achieved in the transport cooperation with the three countries.

Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib attended a press conference along with the other transport ministers and dialogue partners upon the conclusion of the meetings.

The 24th ATM Meeting was preceded by the 46th ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting (46th STOM) and its related meetings, held on November 5-7.

Brunei’s delegation to the 46th STOM was headed by Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications Dr Haji Supry bin Haji Awang Ladi.