|     Lyna Mohamad     |

THE Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) at the Ministry of Communications (MinCom) held a Doa Kesyukuran ceremony at the Brunei International Airport (BIA) Surau yesterday to mark the International Civil Aviation Day 2018 that falls on every December 7.

Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications Dr Haji Supry bin Haji Awang Ladi was the guest of honour. Senior officials from DCA and MinCom also participated.

The ceremony began with mass Sunnat Hajat prayer and Asar prayer led by Imam of the BIA Surau Pengiran Haji Md Ismail bin Pengiran Haji Tuah.

This was followed by the recitation of Surah Yaasiin and Tahlil, and the recitation of Doa Kesyukuran by Imam Pengiran Haji Md Ismail to seek blessings from Allah the Almighty for the safety and prosperity of the air services and passengers.

The International Civil Aviation Day is celebrated to raise awareness on the role played by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), as the body responsible for setting the international standards for the safety of air transport.

This year’s celebration carries the theme ‘Working Together to Ensure No Country is Left Behind’ and it reflects the initiatives of ICAO to assist member countries in implementing Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs) in civil aviation.

|     James Kon     |

ATHLETES competing in the 10th BIMPNT-EAGA Friendship Games gathered at the Pedestrian Mall of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex in Berakas for the flag-hoisting ceremony yesterday.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil was the guest of honour in her capacity as the Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the 10th BIMPNT-EAGA Friendship Games.

This year’s competition will see around 814 participants representing 11 contingents from five countries. Hosts Brunei Darussalam is represented by Brunei Team ‘A’ and Brunei Team ‘B’; Indonesia by South Sulawesi, North Sulawesi and West Sulawesi; Malaysia comprises Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan; the Philippines has Mindanao and Palawan; while Northern Territory of Australia has one.

The opening ceremony will be held today at the Indoor Stadium at 8.45am, and the closing ceremony on Sunday at 4pm.

The sporting events include aquatics, lawn bowling, karatedo, athletics, pencak silat, sepak takraw, taekwondo and wushu.

Members of the public are encouraged to watch and support athletes at the games.

BIMPNT-EAGA stands for Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Northern Territory of Australia East Asia Growth Area.

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

THE HAFAZAN Camp exposes children in learning Al-Quran through the concept of Neurophysiology, knowledge gained through brain functions as it receives, processes, stores and releases information, according to Ustaz Ahmad Rashidi bin Haji Ansanawi, a teacher from the Nadi Quranic Learning Centre (NQLC) Beribi yesterday.

The method is capable of producing high-quality Hafazan in line with NQLC’s theme Bukan Sekadar Hafazan Biasa, he said.

In an effort towards instilling love for Al-Quran and Al-Quran memorisation among the young children, the NQLC in collaboration with the mosque youth members of Pengiran Muda ‘Abdul Malik Mosque of Kampong Tungku held the Hafazan Camp for young children at the mosque yesterday.

The Hafazan Camp was held as part of the school holiday activities and the first time the programme was conducted outside the centre, Ustaz Ahmad Rashidi added.

“Although it was held for the first time, the response was very encouraging and it is hoped that the camping programme will be continued in the next school holiday,” he said.

The camp saw great response from parents and guardians of young children living within the village area, with 20 children participating in the programme for Category ‘B’ (aimed for children aged between seven to 12 years).

Ustaz Ahmad Rashidi added that the programme did not solely focus on Hafazan but that other fun activities were also held for the young participants. The programme’s objective is to deliver information and knowledge on Surah Adh-Dhuha and Surah Al-Buruj including the name of the Surah and its meaning, the sequence of its Juzuk, sequence of the Surah in Al-Quran and others. It also aimed towards teaching the children to perform Doha prayer and appreciate its benefits.

The programme was divided into two categories. Category ‘A’ was conducted last Tuesday for children aged between four and seven where they were taught about Surah Adh-Dhuha.

Throughout the two-day Hafazan Camp programme, the young participants were guided by NQLC teachers Ustaz Abdul Razzah bin Abdul Latiff and Ustazah Siti Rubiah binti Raya for both Category ‘A’ and ‘B’.

|     James Kon     |

TELEKOM Brunei Berhad (TelBru) made a donation of BND10,000 to the Sulawesi Disaster Humanitarian Fund in a ceremony held at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) 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 received the donation from TelBru Chief Executive Officer (CEO) David Holliday.

Special Senior Duties Officer at the MCYS Haji Zakaria bin Haji Serudin, TelBru Head of Corporate Communications Haji Ideris bin Haji Ali and Community Development Department (JAPEM) Acting Director Abdul Rahman bin Haji Apong were also present.

The fund also received donations totalling BND10,000 from the Ministry of Defence (MinDef) and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), and BND500 from Volkswagen Brunei on November 25 during the recreational cycling event held in conjunction with the RBAF’s 57th anniversary.

A contribution of BND1,620 was also presented to the fund by the RBAF Golf Club on December 2. The donations were handed over to the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.

The Sulawesi Disaster Humanitarian Fund will be open for donations until January 6, 2019.

Donations can be handed directly to the fund’s Secretariat Office at the Finance and Administration Division on the second floor of the MCYS building during office hours, or via online transfer to the fund’s Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) account at 00-001-01-0076007.

Donations can also be placed in collection boxes located in banks, shopping complexes, government buildings, mosques and suraus across the country.

|     Azlan Othman     |

DEPUTY Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) Haji Halidi bin Haji Mohd Salleh launched the new cookbook titled Flowers & Fruits in Cooking at the Wasan paddy plantation site in Mukim Pengkalan Batu yesterday.

Deputy Permanent Secretary (Management, Cooperatives and Industry) at the Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry (MEMI) Hajah Tutiaty binti Haji Abdul Wahab, Director of Agriculture and Agrifood Hajah Aidah binti Haji Mohd Hanifah and senior government officers from the MPRT were also present.

The book’s author, Siti Zaleha binti Kaprawi, is a renowned event organiser and dedicated home cook. The book highlights innovative cooking styles using an abundance of local ingredients and flowers.

The event was hosted by Syarikat Pakatan Mekar Hijau Sdn Bhd, the sole producer and supplier of certified paddy seeds in Brunei Darussalam.

|     Izah Azahari     |

THE Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam hosted a Statement of Intent (SOI) signing ceremony between Panasonic Corporation, a leading Japanese electronic consumer appliances company, and two local higher education institutes, Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) and Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) at the embassy yesterday.

Present to sign on behalf of Panasonic Corporation was Director of the Intellectual Property Centre of Panasonic Corporation Yoshiaki Tokuda, while UBD Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) Pengiran Dr Mohammad Iskandar bin Pengiran Haji Petra and UTB Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Industry and Services) Haji Ady Syarmin bin Haji Md Taib signed on behalf of the universities.

Japanese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Motohiko Kato witnessed the signing ceremony along with Bruneian stakeholders of the pilot project such as Brunei Economic Development Board’s (BEDB) Farah Atiyah binti Zainal, Head of Enterprise Programme at DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) Lim Hang Ping and Director General of Brunei Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO) Shahrinah binti Yusof Khan, as well as Director of Intellectual Property at Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) Singapore Yutaka Niidome.

At a press conference following the signing ceremony, the Japanese Ambassador and the Assistant Vice-Chancellors of UBD and UTB explained that under the pilot project, Panasonic and the two universities will explore the possibility of utilising Panasonic’s patented technology to develop product prototypes for Bruneian start-up companies.

The underlying idea is to combine the profitable business models of Bruneian entrepreneurs, the developing potential of the universities, and the advanced technology of the Japanese company to create new and competitive products.

The pilot project will also consider ways to create an innovation ecosystem in Brunei.

Panasonic and the universities will commence the pilot project immediately, hoping to find the best scheme for collaboration to boost the competitiveness of Bruneian start-ups and contribute to the empowerment of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Brunei.

Panasonic Corporation is a major supplier to the Intellectual Property market with over 180,000 granted patents and 690,000 patent applications.

|     Daniel Lim     |

RECOVER and Green Brunei launched the nation’s first Green Depot at No 1, Simpang 24-29, Jalan Panglima, in Kuala Belait yesterday as part of the continuing initiative to provide a simplified platform for recycling.

Legislative Council (LegCo) member and General Manager of RECOVER Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari welcomed the guest of honour Deputy Managing Director of Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP) Yap Kong Fah.

Acting Belait District Officer Ridzuan bin Haji Ahmad, mukim penghulus and village heads from the Belait District and representatives from the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (JASTRe) were also present.

The Green Depot will enable the local community to bring in recyclable materials to be weighed and recorded in an easy-to-use online system, which enables users to view the total amount of recycled materials sent to the depot, as well as the monetary value received from recycling.

Nurtured by BSP with the support of Daikyo Environmental Recycling Sdn Bhd, the project will hopefully become an essential platform for the local community to do their part in protecting the environment, while also reaping the financial benefits that come with the recycling of materials.

Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa told the Bulletin that first-time visitors to the facility will be required to fill in an online registration form which will enable them to track the frequency, weight and financial rewards gained through recycling.

“For children, who are able to see how much they have recycled and earned, it is similar to the act of saving money; over a period of time, these financial gains add up, which will serve as a challenge for them to maintain the consistency of their finances and recycling,” she said.

Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa also said that the facility will be hosting various recycling drives and activities to spur more environmental initiatives in the local community.

This sentiment was shared by Yap Kong Fah, who said that the Green Depot is an extension of BSP’s drive to protect the environment.

He gave a brief outline of the online system implemented for the Green Depot, which was developed by Nextacloud Technologies, saying that it is easy to use and ensures that no paper is wasted during the process of collecting recyclable materials.

“This will help to motivate people to resolve their recyclable waste issues, and also provide them with some financial incentive for recycling,” he said.

|     Fizah HAB     |

HIS Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel officiated the launching ceremony of the Environmental Tree-Planting Initiative at the Jerudong International School (JIS) yesterday.

His Royal Highness joined 14 Middle Years students at the tree-planting ceremony held at the JIS Middle Years Garden, where 166 trees were donated to the school by the Forestry Department under the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism.

Principal of JIS Barnaby Sandow, Head of Middle Years Richard Bourbon, Director of Enrichment Justin Harris, and Assistant Head of Middle Years Marinka Gnaden were present.

The school has a thriving and proactive group, the Eco-JIS that is involved in many aspects of environmental education, to inspire the younger generation to create a healthy sustainable future. In addition, the work of the team feeds into the school’s Environmental Management Policies.

As part of the school’s commitment to education for sustainable development, the Eco-JIS team has set up the award-winning Outdoor Discovery Centre (ODC) in the school grounds. The ODC is an outdoor classroom, located in an area of tropical heath forest managed by a team of students under the guidance of dedicated teachers.

The ODC is used by classes and co-curricular activities on a regular basis, allowing students to learn more about the natural environment, apply concepts and skills that they learn from a range of subjects, while also enabling students to practise teamwork and leadership skills.

Richard Bourbon added, “At JIS, we are committed to sustainable education and to fostering an appreciation of the natural environment. Our Year 7 students, the newest students in the Senior School, will take great pleasure in watching these trees grow as they continue their journey through the school.”

Head of Education for Sustainability Yvonne Follows-Smith and Outdoor Discovery Centre Leader Gwendoline Sandow added, “We are presently developing a sustainability policy for the whole school. This will help us to drive sustainability and environmental issues across the school and in our community. With the support of visiting speakers and the enthusiasm of the teachers and students, we hope to be certified as an Eco-School in the near future.”

Barnaby Sandow said, “The enthusiasm of the student leaders and environmental groups in our school is a really inspiring change. By challenging themselves, our teachers and pupils are taking on new projects to develop our JIS community. This initiative is the start of over 166 trees being planted across our school campus. We would like to thank the Forestry Department under the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, for its support and generosity.”

|     Ishan Ibrahim     |

A TALK on ‘Capability Beyond Capacity: Acceptance for Nurturing an Inclusive Society for Everyone’ took place at the Caffe Bene at The Airport Mall in Berakas.

Organised by Brave, a youth movement under the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), the talk was attended by guest of honour Acting Director of the Special Education Unit, and member of Brave Haji Ali Yusri bin Haji Abdul Ghafor.

The invited panel speakers were Muhamad Haziq Shafiq bin Haji Aisha and Pengiran Salimatul Sa’ada binti Pengiran Mohd Saleh.

The highlight of the programme was the launching of the video series officiated by Haji Ali Yusri.

A coffee talk session was also held which focussed on ‘Different Abilities’ and bullying.

According to the Brave team, it is hoped that the implementation of this programme can help society understand those with different abilities.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam ‘A’ athlete Muhammad Haziq bin Junaidi will contest the men’s singles final against Northern Territory of Australia after completing the group with a 21-9 win over Brunei Darussalam ‘B’ Danish Fakhrur Rizqi bin Zufli at the Lawn Bowls Centre of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex.

The lawn bowl athlete also chalked his fourth victory in five preliminary matches having also triumphed against Federal Territory of Labuan, Sabah and Sarawak.

Muhammad Haziq, who is guaranteed at least silver, will hope to exact redemption against his rival tonight, whom he lost 21-15 in the preliminary round.

The gold medal contender stamped his authority after leading 5-2 in the early stages before pushing another gear and exerted control in the match.

Meanwhile, Brunei Darussalam ‘B’ athlete Shelvie Elyana binti Haji Sallahuddin emulated her exploits in her previous match against Northern Territory of Australia with a 21-13 win over Brunei Darussalam ‘A’s Siti Amal Aqilah binti Haji Zairul Asrin in the women’s singles event.

Brunei Darussalam ‘A’ defeated Brunei Darussalam ‘B’ 18-8 and 14-10 in the men’s fours and women’s fours events respectively.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

A SHOW of unity and friendship was on display at the opening ceremony of the 10th BIMPNT-EAGA Friendship Games 2018 at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex 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 was the guest of honour.

The ceremony began with the march-past of all contingents who are taking part in the 10th BIMPNT-EAGA Friendship Games led by the marching band of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

This was followed with the national flag carriers of BIMPT-NT EAGA and the logo flag comprising the alumni from the National Service Programme.

The first march-past was from the Indonesian contingent which included South Sulawesi and West Sulawesi followed by the contingent from Malaysia comprising Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan; contingent from the Philippines which included Mindanao and Palawan; contingent from Northern Territory, Australia; contingent from Brunei Darussalam comprising Brunei Darussalam ‘A’ and Brunei Darussalam ‘B’ and followed by the technical officers.

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, in her capacity as the Chairperson of the 10th BIMPNT-EAGA Friendship Games Executive Committee 2018 in her welcoming remarks said: “It is a privilege for us to host these games. I believe hosting these games teaches us the true meaning of cooperation, commitment and relentless effort towards making this occasion a reality.

“We are all here to serve a common goal towards continuing the legacy of sports collaboration and to the advancement of sports as well as the strengthening of our friendship in this BIMPNT-EAGA region.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of the BIMPNT-EAGA Sports Council Datok H Jufri Rahman stressed the importance of holding the BIMPNT-EAGA Friendship Games.

“The purpose of holding the BIMPNT-EAGA Friendship Games is none other than to increase harmony and friendship between the nations.

“Therefore it should be reminded that we are all here for the good purposes of this event that is not only to increase the sport competitiveness and achievement between countries, but also to strengthen the cooperation among sport institutions,” he added.

He also conveyed his appreciation to Brunei Darussalam for being an amazing host.

The highlight of the ceremony was when the minister declared the opening of the 10th BIMPNT-EAGA Friendship Games.

The ceremony continued with the minister being introduced to the heads of contingent and exchanging of souvenirs

The hoisting of the BIMPNT-EAGA flag followed after it was brought by six athletes who excelled in past BIMPNT-EAGA competitions.

The athletes were Muhammad Noor Firdaus Ar-Rashid bin Haji Mohd Idris, an athlete who won gold in the 100m and 200m events at the 9th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games in Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia in 2016; Muhammad Alifuddin bin Jamaludin, a sepak takraw athlete who won gold in the men’s regu event in the 9th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games; taekwondo athlete Hyde Nachman Hijium, the holder of the bronze medal in the poomsae mixed pairs in the 19th Malaysia Games in Perak in 2018; Maziah binti Mahusin, an athlete who won 400m gold in the 8th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games at the Federal Territory of Labuan in 2014; Nur Azimatunnaemah binti Simat, a pencak silat athlete who won gold in the women’s regu event at the 9th BIMP-EAGA Friendship Games and Rodhyatul Adhwanna binti Bakar, a taekwondo athlete who won bronze in the women’s individual kata event at the 19th Malaysia Games.

The ceremony proceeded with the reading of the sports oath led by Awangku Rafidi Adi Hamizal bin Pengiran Nasir. He represents taekwondo and won gold in the poomsae event in the 8th Princess Cup Championship in Thailand and gold in the poomsae individual event in the 5th Annual Poomsae Championship in Brunei Darussalam.

Meanwhile, the reading of the technical officers’ oath was led by Harjimey bin Haji Zainal, a representative from the Brunei Amateur Swimming Association (BASA) and also a FINA swimming official.

The ceremony was further enlivened with a welcoming athletes’ performance and a martial arts demonstration by a group of Brunei Darussalam youth.

This edition of the BIMPNT-EAGA Friendship Games features eight sports events – aquatics, lawn bowl, karatedo, athletics, pencak silat, sepak takraw, taekwondo and wushu.

Altogether, there are 795 participants comprising athletes, officials and coaches from 10 contingents.

The multi-sporting showpiece has 272 medals up for grabs including 87 gold, 87 silver and 98 bronze.

The first edition of the championship was held in the Philippines in 1996 followed by Sarawak a year later. The championship returned in 2003 with the Philippines playing hosts.

The fourth edition of the championship was held in Sabah in 2004 followed by Indonesia in 2006. Brunei Darussalam played host in 2008, the Philippines in 2012, the Federal Territory of Labuan in 2014 and Kalimantan in 2016.

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

FIVE individuals who have recently completed their training in the UnikLearn programme were celebrated in the ‘Graduation Ceremony of UnikLearn: Vocational Training and Internship Programme for Young Adults with Autism and Other Developmental Delays’ at The Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong yesterday.

Guest of honour at the event was Chairman of An-Nur Harapan Sdn Bhd Pengrain Haji Salleh Ab-Rahaman bin Pengiran Haji Damit.

The event began with the recitation of Doa Selamat and a welcoming remark by Queenie Chong from StartUp Brunei.

“Our challenge is to ensure that Bruneians with autism, especially those that are willing to learn and acquire skills are given a fair job opportunity,” she said.

The event saw the presentation of certificates to the trainees by the guest of honour. All five trainees are currently doing their internships at Noice Café, Royal Brunei Catering (RBC) at the Ministry of Finance and Economy and Project Ice Cream.

Partners and sponsors of the UnikLearn programme and donors to An-Nur Harapan charity foundation also received certificates of appreciation.

UnikLearn is a fee-paying vocational training and internship programme designed by professional therapists to empower young adults with autism to be independent and contributing members of the community. It is a collaboration between An-Nur Harapan, StartUp Brunei and Spark Lifeskill.

|     Izah Azahari     |

YAYASAN Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah yesterday awarded certificates to 96 participants of the 6th Mahabbah Lillah Hijrah Youth Camp Programme during a ceremony at Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA).

Legislative Council member cum guest of honour Yang Berhormat Iswandy bin Ahmad attended the event in his capacity as committee member of the Yayasan Strategic Plan.

Director of Centre for Promotion of Knowledge and Language of UNISSA Dr Adam bin Haji Jait attended as a representative of the UNISSA Rector.

The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah followed by a welcoming speech by Co-Chairman of the event Mohammad Waqiuddin bin Haji Ralif.

Lecturer from the Centre for Promotion of Knowledge and Language Dr Hajah Ummi Fa’ezah binti Haji Abdul Rahman delivered a motivational talk titled Hijrah Keluarga Menuju Syurga.

Following the Khatam Al-Quran ceremony, the guest of honour handed out the certificates. The event also saw a video presentation and a Doa Selamat.

The programme, carried out by Yayasan, is organised by the Al-Qudwah group made up of UNISSA students. The camp participants were aged between 14 and 17.

The camp aimed to enhance participants’ faith and identity by getting close to Al-Quran and As-Sunnah; instil responsibility and a trusting attitude in the participants; as well as promote their mental, emotional and physical abilities.

Motivational talks, spiritual workshop, leadership activities, cleaning campaign, sports and leisure activities were held at the camp.

|     James Kon     |

ALVIN Wang Kang clinched two return tickets to Japan after being picked as the first prize winner of the Lexus Experience Amazing Tokyo lucky draw yesterday, at the NBT Lexus Showroom. His win includes a four day-three night accommodation plus hotel transfer.

The Marine Deck Officer with Brunei Gas Carriers Sdn Bhd was unable to attend the lucky draw. Instead, he was represented by his aunt, Jennifer Wee Cheng Cheng, who said, “This is so incredible! I am so happy for Alvin,” Wee said.

When contacted, Alvin – who had bought a Lexus NX 300 to qualify for the draw – said, “My sincere apologies for not being able to attend the draw as I am in Singapore on offshore duty. I want to thank my aunt and my mum for representing me. Thank you Lexus for organising this draw. I am very thrilled to win. I am also very happy with my Lexus NX 300. I would like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a very happy and prosperous 2019 ahead – especially all NBT staff.”

Meanwhile, second prize winner Syazreen bin Kuan picked up two return tickets to Bangkok plus accommodation, Moksabah binti Haji Zainal Abidin won two return tickets to Singapore plus accommodation, Haji Ahmad Sulaiman bin Haji Junit Siti Maryani bagged two return Manila tickets plus BND500 and Nurul Wafaa’ binti Mohammad won two Kuala Lumpur tickets plus BND500.

NBT Lexus Brunei General Manager (After Sales) Lauro De Guzman conducted the draw. The special promotion was organised by NBT for Lexus customers who purchased their vehicles from October 1 to November 30.

Senior Manager for Lexus Sales and Marketing Muhammad Clovien bin Abdullah Timpoh noted, “On behalf of Lexus, I would like to congratulate all the winners. Thank you Lexus customers for choosing Lexus and NBT. Together with Lexus After Sales Service Centre and the Customer Relations Department (CRD), we will strive to deliver the high level of customer service and satisfaction that the Brunei community has learnt to expect from NBT and Lexus.”

|     James Kon     |

MINISTER of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong on Thursday visited the ‘Raja Julangan Kasih Rakyat’ (The People’s Most Revered Ruler) solo art exhibition by local artist Huifong Ng.

The exhibition runs until January 3 at the Art Gallery of the Dermaga Diraja.

The highlight of the art exhibition is the master portrait 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 delivering a sermon during the Sunnat Hari Raya Aidilfitri prayer at Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque to mark the end of the fasting month in 1992.

The minister also viewed 10 other paintings by Huifong, who spent eight months producing them. The collection of paintings is dedicated to showcasing the “historical and heartwarming moments that portray the love and close bond between His Majesty and the people.”

The paintings hope to inspire local artists to showcase their work.

The exhibition, officiated by 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 on December 3, is one of the events under the Creative Arts and Culture theme held in conjunction with the Brunei December Festival 2018.

|     James Kon     |

MINISTER of Communications Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof recently shared views for a more focussed approach on cybersecurity, highlighting the importance of close coordination among ASEAN Member States (AMS) during an exchange of views among ASEAN ministers at the 18th ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers Meeting (ASEAN TELMIN) and other related meetings at Ubud, Bali, in the Republic of Indonesia on December 5-6.

The minister also expressed the need to continuously develop expertise and talent, in order to keep pace with the trends and challenges of cybersecurity in this era of digital economy.

The Brunei delegation to the meeting comprised senior officials from the Ministry of Communications (MinCom) and the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI).

Also in attendance was Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Yussof bin Haji Abdul Rahman, the Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Indonesia.

The ASEAN TELMIN is an annual event that gathers ICT ministers from the AMS to discuss and decide on the direction of ICT cooperation within ASEAN and with dialogue partners.

The 18th ASEAN TELMIN proceeded with sessions on an exchange of views among the ministers, which focussed on four topics of emerging importance.

The ministers agreed on five priorities: Cybersecurity, Connectivity and Mobility, Smart City, Digital Economy, and Manpower and Society.

The key outcome of the meeting is the Ubud Declaration on Aiming the Future of Digital Ecosystem for ASEAN Prosperity, which encapsulates agreement on key areas of digital economy, by enhancing the digital ecosystem to improve ASEAN’s competitiveness.

Another outcome was the endorsement of the ASEAN Framework on Digital Data Governance, which aimed at strengthening the data ecosystem, achieving legal and regulatory alignment of data regulations and governance frameworks.

The IT ministers also held meetings with the People’s Republic of China, Japan, Republic of Korea and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU)where they appreciated the progress made in the cooperation with ASEAN’s dialogue partners.

Under the respective Work Plans agreed with the dialogue partners, more collaborative activities will be explored and implemented, particularly in areas of emerging importance such as 5G, Smart City, Internet of Things (IoT), Cybersecurity, ICT for disaster management and Universal Service Obligation (USO).

In addition, the MoU between ASEAN and China on Cooperation in Information and Communications Technology, and between ASEAN and ITU on Joint Cooperation in ICT Development were extended.

Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib also held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, to discuss initiatives for strengthening bilateral relations in info-communications technology.

The meeting was preceded by the 19th ASEAN Telecommunications and Information Technology Senior Officials Meeting (19th ASEAN TELSOM) and its related meetings on December 3-4.

Brunei Darussalam’s delegation to the 19th ASEAN TELSOM was headed by Pengiran Haji Mohammad Zain bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Razak, the Chief Executive of AITI.

|     Achong Tanjong     |

BANK Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) yesterday held a prize presentation ceremony for its Aspirasi Reward Programme, at the BIBD branch in Kiulap.

Two quarterly prizes of BND25,000 each were presented to Muhd Khairun Hazim bin Haji Mat Sani and Mohamad Afzal bin Rashid.

Meanwhile, 10 monthly winners received BND2,500 each for the first-month period. They are Shirley Wong, Haji Shazali bin Tan Sri Haji Sulaiman, Abdul Haadi bin Haji Ahmad, Muhammad Zaim bin Ramli, Norranellmi bin Siaran/Searan, Felix Loh Koah Woon, Raub bin Haji Samat, Marhamdi bin Mardeka, Haji Salleh bin Apong and Muhammad Hafiz bin Haji Jaafar.

The prizes were presented by BIBD Managing Director Mubashar Khokhar.

Also present was Dean of Faculty of Islamic Economics and Finance at Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) Dr Abdul Nasir bin Haji Abdul Rani, as member of the BIBD Syariah Advisory Body.

According to BIBD, the Aspirasi Reward Programme is unique as it does not have any closing date, which means that customers will still be eligible for any of the prizes which also include an annual grand prize of a life-changing BND250,000, as long as they maintain their participation in BIBD Aspirasi.

The BIBD Head of Retail Banking Hajah Nurul Akmar binti Haji Mohd Jaafar said, “Alhamdulillah, as it is our drive to ensure that we become the first choice for everyone as partner in progress, we are also enthusiastic to offer a platform that allows our customers to realise their aspirations while safeguarding their future through savings. We also want to embed a ‘wants-can-wait’ mindset as a financial discipline for better understanding of needs over wants, and that the long-term rewards of saving outweigh the short-term benefits of spending. “BIBD customers can still be part of the BIBD Aspirasi Reward Programme, which offers prizes for 117 more winners, including the grand prize of BND250,000, as long as they keep their funds in BIBD Aspirasi for a minimum of 90 days. I would also like to remind our customers to take this opportunity to increase their entries by saving more with BIBD Aspirasi.”

One of the quarterly prize winners, Muhd Khairun Hazim, told the Weekend Bulletin,” I’m so happy because I didn’t expect to win BND25,000. I plan to save some of the money and use the rest for investment.”

|     Fizah HAB     |

BY THE consent of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), 68 RBAF officers were promoted to the next rank in a ceremony at the Officers’ Mess, Berakas Garrison.

Commander of the RBAF Major General Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud awarded the new insignias to the officers.

The 68 newly promoted officers included four senior officers promoted to the ranks of Substantive Colonel/Captain (RBN); comprising 380 Commander Norshahrinizam bin Haji Talib, RBN; 429 Lieutenant Colonel Azman bin Haji Bangkol; 514 Lieutenant Colonel Norhazalan bin Haji Abdullah; and 347 Lieutenant Colonel (U) Harmadi bin Haji Mamit.

In addition, one officer was promoted to Substantive Lieutenant Colonel; six officers were promoted to Acting Lieutenant Colonel; 19 to Substantive Major/Lieutenant Commander (RBN); five to Acting Major/Lieutenant Commander (RBN); 31 to Substantive Captain/Lieutenant (RBN) and two to Acting Captain.

Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof was also present along with service commanders, commandants, directors, senior officers and officers of Ministry of Defence and RBAF, as well as family members of the promoted officers.

|     Danial Norjidi     |

THE Brunei E-Sports Tournament (BEST) 2018, which began yesterday at the Royal Brunei Recreation Club put the spotlight on talented gamers in the country.

BEST 2018, which ends today, is organised by Game On Business Management and Services in conjunction with the Brunei December Festival 2018.

Speaking to the Sunday Bulletin, Founder of Game On Amar Agus Din highlighted that the second edition of BEST features free-to-play booths, retro gaming console sellers as well as food vendors.

“It’s a place for gamers to meet and share knowledge,” he said.

“Our objective is to create and develop the Brunei gaming community.

“We have the PlayStation 4: FIFA 19, Tekken 7, Gran Turismo Sport and Fortnite. Apart from that, we have Mobile Legends for mobile devices,” he added.

For FIFA 19, the 1v1 tournament offers a grand prize of a PlayStation 4 Pro, while the grand prize for the 2v2 tournament is BND300.

The Tekken 7 1v1 tournament offers a grand prize of PlayStation 4 Slim, while the Gran Turismo Sport tournament offers vouchers worth BND1,000.

In addition, the Fortnite solo tournament has a prize pool of PlayStation goodies, while the grand prize of Mobile Legends is BND250 cash and in-game currency of 10,000 diamonds.

Amar said that they are aiming to host and organise the Southeast Asian Games qualifier for e-sports with the support of government agencies and hoped to send e-athletes to the Philippines in 2019.

|     Fizah HAB     |

PRIZES were yesterday awarded to the six winners of the second monthly Pilihan FM Radio Quiz, held in conjunction with the Dettol Lucky Shopper promotion. The ceremony was held at Hua Ho Mall Tanjung Bunut.

Reckitt Benckiser (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd representative and Sales Manager Matthew Weng Teck Yong handed over Dettol goodie bags to the winners – Hairani binti Abdul Latif, Alice Bong Pit Yee, Chua Yee Ling, Ongkuo Hau, Ang Hock San and Umi Norfazilah binti Haji Hardy.

A total of 300 finalists have been selected for the grand draw set for January 2019, with the venue and date to be announced soon. The first prize winner will take home BND3,888, while two second prize winners will each win BND2,888, and two third prize winners will each bag BND500.

To enter the promotion, shoppers must purchase Dettol products (excluding hand sanitiser and wipes) and complete the entry form with a receipt attached as proof of purchase. Forms can be submitted at participating supermarkets.