|     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 and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam received a courtesy visit from His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong XVI (the 16th) of Malaysia, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah and Her Majesty the Raja Permaisuri Agong, Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah binti Al-Marhum Al-Mutawakkil Alallah Sultan Iskandar Al-Haj yesterday.

The ceremony was held at Cheradi Laila Kenchana, Istana Nurul Iman.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran Haji Salleh Ab Rahaman; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah binti Pengiran Haji Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah binti Dato Haji Nasir; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Norhayati binti Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess ‘Azemah Ni’matul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah; Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah; and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present.

Accompanying His Majesty the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and Her Majesty the Raja Permaisuri Agong were Yang Mulia Tengku Amir Nasser Ibrahim; Yang Mulia Tengku Suraiya Afzan; and Yang Mulia Tengku Puteri Jihan Azizah ‘Athiyatullah.

The ceremony was followed by a Royal Luncheon at Baitul Rahmah. The Royal Luncheon began with the recitation of Doa Selamat by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned.

Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah was sworn in as the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia on January 31 at Balairung Seri, Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur.

|     Daniel Lim & Hakim Hayat     |

THE Information Department through its Belait District Branch held a Nationhood Briefing Programme for the students of St Angela’s Convent School, Seria.

Held at the school’s library, the programme saw more than 21 Year 7 students of the school attending to learn about the history of the Brunei’s monarchy, the national flag and the national anthem with a series of briefing titled Raja Kita, Menghayati Bendera Dan Lagu Kebangsaan Negara Brunei Darussalam delivered by Head of the Information Department Branch in the Belait District Pengiran Haji Ahmad Fadillah Akhbar bin Pengiran Haji Sellahuddin.

Principal of the school Chea Wann Ching welcomed Pengiran Haji Ahmad Fadillah Akhbar and his team of officers.

Following the singing of the national anthem and a patriotic song, Pengiran Haji Ahmad Fadillah Akhbar briefed the students and encouraged participation by asking questions.

Video clips titled Kibarkanlah Dengan Megah Bendera Negara, Semarak Pengibaran Bendera Negara and Tatacara Menaikkan Bendera Negara were also screened.

To test the students, there were quizzes. The students that answered correctly received goodie bags from the Information Department.

|     Danial Norjidi     |

A REGIONAL training programme on the ‘Effective Project Management for TVET Institutions’ began with an opening ceremony yesterday at the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education and Training (Voctech).

The programme, which began yesterday and will end on February 22, involves 21 participants from nine SEAMEO-member countries and is being facilitated by course coordinator Dr Abbes Sebihi and resource persons Dr Willie Herrera Libunao and Ariffin bin Haji Yusof.

The main objective of the course is to equip participants with relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes in managing projects for TVET (technical and vocational education and training) institutions.

Specifically, the programme will enable the participants to discuss the issue of project management for TVET institutions; discuss the use and benefits of project management for TVET institutions; integrate organisational strategy with project development; identify, select and define projects; develop project plans; organise the scheduling of resources; manage and lead project teams; and develop and present an action plan. It was shared that the participants will have the opportunity to learn through various platforms, including: sharing of experiences and group workshops; lectures and discussions; group work, class practice and presentations; using software tools; as well as doing exercises, role plays and field visits.

At the end of the programme, the participants will be expected to develop an action plan reflecting their learning from the course, which can be applied in their respective workplaces.

SEAMEO Voctech Centre Director Dr Haji Mohd Zamri bin Haji Sabli in his welcoming remarks at the event said, “It is truly an honour, and a privilege for SEAMEO Voctech to host this regional training programme. I have no doubt in my mind, that this regional training programme will be a worthwhile experience.

“We have an opportunity before us to learn from experts in this field and I hope you all will all walk away from this regional training programme, enriched with a better understanding of contemporary issues in technical and vocational education and training or commonly referred as TVET.”

He said he was sure that through this programme, with the guidance of programme facilitator, Dr Abbes Sebihi, the participants will able to be equipped with a higher proficiency in preparing an effective project management.

“Through this training programme, I am confident that all of you will be able to make valuable contributions into the management practices at your institutions in your respective country.”

He noted that project management is the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements. “Project management is about knowing exactly what your goals are, how you’re going to achieve them, what resources you’ll need, and how long it will take you to reach that specific goal. In fact, project management’s goal is to make sure that everyone involved in a project knows these and is aware of the purpose of the project.”

The centre director highlighted that the value of project management lies in the appropriate allocation of resources to ensure that the project be completed effectively and efficiently.

“In the TVET sector, project management is important since it contributes to enhancing the development of support mechanisms and training programmes for modern labour market demands, which match the innovative economic development of the country,” he continued. “Nowadays, the ability to create innovation in educational institutions is the key in continuously improving the quality of training both towards the new requirements of learning and – particularly in TVET school practices – towards competencies needed in the labour market.

“If the skill system in TVET is to effectively deliver high-quality education and training in Southeast Asia; thus, the management of public and private organisations needs to be improved.”

He affirmed that the ‘Effective Project Management for TVET Institutions’ regional training programme takes advantage of planning competencies as an important factor in making the management of education innovations a success for involvement and collaboration in any project.

“The programme will undertake discussions on theories, principles and practices of project management in TVET institutions of Southeast Asia, including the identification and selection of projects, development of project plans and resource schedules, and the management of project teams. The development of an action plan is expected to help improve their respective institutions’ systems and operations.”

Concluding his remarks, the centre director said, “To the participants, I wish all to have a fruitful and memorable training here at SEAMEO Voctech and be able to use the knowledge gained during this training programme at your respective institutions in your respective countries.”

|     Izah Azahari     |

THE Embassy of the State of Kuwait in Brunei Darussalam yesterday presented a brand-new vehicle to Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam in Kampong Bengkurong.

Pusat Ehsan Executive Trustee Pengiran Datin Hajah Noraini binti Pengiran Dipa Negara Laila Diraja Pengiran Haji Abdul Momin and Pusat Ehsan Senior Trustee Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Alimin bin Haji Abdul Wahab were on hand to accept the gift from the newly appointed Ambassador of the State of Kuwait to Brunei Darussalam Salah Mubarak Musleh Al-Mutairi.

In his address, Al-Mutairi said that community support actions are also an integral part of being members of the diplomatic community, while also noting that both Kuwait and Brunei have a renowned reputation of constant engagement in providing humanitarian assistance to those in need.

“The handover ceremony is another hallmark of the strong level of support, collaboration and cooperation between the State of Kuwait and Brunei Darussalam,” he said.

|     Khairil Hassan     |

TWENTY-FIVE players signed their official contracts to play for Brunei DPMM FC in the Singapore Premier League 2019/2020 season during a ceremony at the Red Jade Conference Ballroom of The Centrepoint Hotel in Gadong 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 witnessed the ceremony.

The club was represented by Manager Pengiran Haji Muhd Waslimin bin Pengiran Setia Jaya Pengiran Haji Abdul Momin and Team Manager Ali bin Haji Momin.

The 25 players are – Haimie anak Nyaring, Muhammad Wafi Aminuddin, Abdul Mu’iz bin Sisa, Awangku Mohd Fakharrazi bin Pengiran Haji Hassan, Charlie Clough, Azwan bin Muhammad Saleh, Muhd Azwan bin Ali Rahman, Mohd Hendra Azam bin Mohd Idris, Abdul Azizi bin Ali Rahman, Andrei Varankou, Mohammad Najib bin Haji Tarif, Muhammad Ishyra Asmin bin Mohd Mohd Jabidi, Suhaimi anak Sulau, Mohammad Helmi bin Zambin, Hazwan bin Hamzah, Md Azim Izamuddin bin Haji Suhaimi, Muhammad Shafie bin Haji Mohd Efenddy, Razimee bin Ramli, Md Nur Ikhwan bin Othman, Blake Ricciuto, Abdul Aziz bin Tamit, Mohammad Shah Razen bin Said, Awangku Yura Indera Putera bin Pengiran Yunus, Muhammad Hanif @ Abdul Hadi bin Hamir and Md Wardun Yussof.

One of the club’s new imports Charlie Clough said the team have undergone preparations to reach the required fitness level for the upcoming season. He said he had been doing hill runs, strength exercises and gym with the coach.

“Everyone looks bigger, stronger and fitter than when I first arrived. Hopefully, during the season, we can match with other teams like Albirex who we know are fit and strong, and we want to match them physically and this is the best chance to beat them,” he told the Bulletin.

Senior goalkeeper Wardun shared that the club’s new goalkeepers are still trying to find their beat, which is good to identify during pre-season.

“We will be having solidarity matches soon and maybe it can patch up any deficiency in a team play. I have confidence that they will try their best,” Wardun said.

A signing ceremony between Brunei DPMM FC and sponsors were also held. Pengiran Haji Muhd Waslimin and Marketing Manager Haji Awang Momin bin Haji Md Ja’afar represented Brunei DPMM FC for the signings.

DST Communications Sdn Bhd, represented by Acting Chief Executive Officer of DST Radin Sufri bin Radin Basiuni and Assistant General Manager of DST Group IT Services Amir bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Bijaya Colonel (Rtd) Dato Paduka Haji Hussin, signed first, followed by Mitsubishi Corporations, represented by its Deputy General Manager Takeshi Hirakoba and Project Coordinator Hajah Rohayati binti Haji Damit.

Brunei Shell Marketing Company Sdn Bhd was represented by Managing Director Pengiran Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha and Commercial Executive Haji Mohammad Faisal bin Haji Osman.

Baiduri Bank Berhad was represented by its Group Treasure and Head of Institutional Banking Awangku Nur Muhd Nizam bin Pengiran Haji Tengah and Head Group Corporate Communications Department Dorothy Newn.

Royal Brunei Airlines was represented by Head of Digital Marketing James Millet and Marketing Manager Alirahim bin Haji Abdul Rani.

Hui Huang Enterprise (Brunei) was represented by Khalid bin Nasar and Siti Nur Salwa binti Abdullah.

Managers of Nazmi Textile Mall Mohamed Nazim bin Nazeer Ahmad and Nazrul bin Nazeer Ahmad signed for Nazmi Textile Mall.

Hertz was represented by Group General Manager Sheikh Jamaluddin bin Sheikh Mohammed and Sales and Marketing Manager Andy Yap.

Chief Executive Officer of Golden Tree Sdn Bhd Hakim Chen and Siti Nor Hafizah binti Dato Paduka Haji Suhaimin signed for Golden Tree Sdn Bhd.

Sports Partnership Pte Ltd was represented by its Business Development Manager Muhammad Fauzy Rajab and Public Relations Officer Haji abdul Rahman bin Haji Tamit.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between DPMM FC and AKK Design as the official publisher for Brunei DPMM FC MatchDay Magazine 2019 represented by the AKK Design Chief Executive Officer Sazali Mohammad Ariff and Head of Design Marketing Nurul Adibah binti Haji Hamdani.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports presented mementoes to all sponsors and also received one from the club.

|     Azlan Othman     |

THE Mukim Sengkurong Volunteer Group (SUMUS) yesterday made a goodwill visit to the rural settlements of Ulu Belait to donate basic necessities to residents of the Kampong Melilas Longhouse.

The donation was handed over to Acting Penghulu of Mukim Melilas Haji Mat Yassin bin Haji Abdul Rahim Sap by Penghulu of Mukim Sengkurong Haji Musa bin Haji Tahir, who is also a SUMUS advisor. Located 59km from the Jalan Labi – Merangking junction, Mukim Melilas is home to 250 Iban residents, nearly all of whom have converted to Islam.

The volunteer group also visited Datu Maharaja Setia Dian Primary School in Kampong Sukang to donate educational material to six students. The donation was handed over by Haji Musa to the Headmistress Rosnah binti Datu Maharaja Setia Dian.

The delegation made a visit to the Kampong Sukang Longhouse, where they were received by Acting Penghulu of Mukim Sukang Haji Muhd Noh bin Datu Maharaja Setia Dian.

The visits aimed at strengthening ties with the residents of rural Belait and expose the younger generation to domestic tourism.

SUMUS is among the local volunteer organisations actively involved in cultivating close ties with other mukims and villages in the country.

SUMUS was set up on August 7, 2015, and officially launched on November 1, 2016, with the mission of producing excellent mukim presence with a mission to produce a compassionate and cooperative society.

|     Aziz Idris     |

THE Embassy of Iran in Brunei Darussalam celebrated the 40th anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution last night at The Rizqun International Hotel.

Present at the event as the representative of the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was Minister of Transport and Info-communications Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof, along with his spouse.

The reception began with the playing of the national anthems of Brunei Darussalam and Iran, followed by a recitation of verses from Al-Quran.

The minister and his spouse then took part in a cake cutting ceremony together with the Charge d’Affaires at the Embassy of Iran in Brunei Darussalam Dr Mahmoud Rahimi.

In a speech, Dr Mahmoud Rahimi praised His Majesty’s leadership in ensuring peace and stability within Brunei Darussalam, also noting that Brunei’s active membership in ASEAN plays a significant role in the foreign policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He closed his address by expressing his sincere wishes for the progress, prosperity, success and happiness of the people of Brunei.

|     James Kon     |

BANK Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) yesterday received ISO 9001:2015 certification in recognition of retail customers’ onboarding and personal financing service, making it the only bank in Brunei Darussalam to be awarded the certification consistently across all its branches.

The certification awarding was officially announced in a ceremony held at BIBD’s headquarters in Bandar Seri Begawan.

British Standards Institution (BSI) Malaysia Managing Director Poon Cheong Yuen and BIBD Managing Director and CEO Mubashar Khokhar, as well as staff and senior management executives of BIBD were present to witness the landmark occasion.

BIBD Deputy Chief Operating Officer Haji Minorhadi bin Haji Mirhassan expressed his delight at the awarding of the international quality standard certification, “Alhamdulillah, in our vision to become a regional benchmark institution that proudly carries the Bruneian flag, we have obtained ISO certification which has allowed for a number of turnaround time improvements across the board.

“These include a faster, more responsive customer experience while mitigating any potential risks to build and maintain a service delivery that does not lack in quality, creating cohesiveness in our communication, and an adherence to regulations and compliance to provide an unparalleled customer experience.

“This instilled discipline demonstrates our ‘Bruneian at Heart’ ethos that truly reflects a commitment that is unmatched.”

He added, “In line with Brunei Vision 2035, the ISO certification further propels Bruneian institutions (onto a status where they are) global benchmarks that reflect Brunei’s well-educated and highly skilled people.

“At the same time, (the awarding of the certification) echoes national strategies to enhance good governance with high-quality and efficient services that seek to benefit the Bruneian financial ecosystem. Moving forward, Insya Allah, we will be looking to expand our ISO accreditation to more of our services so that we embody our values of integrity, customer focus, unity and excellence.”

Poon Cheong Yuen highlighted in his speech BSI’s pleasure at being appointed as the certification body for BIBD’s ISO 9001 improvement journey.

“The management and staff of BIBD have worked diligently as a team and succeeded in taking up the challenge of getting the quality management system established, implemented and eventually being certified to ISO 9001,” he said. “During the certification journey, all of BIBD’s staff demonstrated high commitment and positive response towards the whole assessment process.”

The certification, Poon added, “Fulfils the international standards requirement and assures BIBD’s customers that we care about delivering the best and consistent service quality with utmost focus on customer satisfaction.”

He said the bank’s strategic direction of getting certified to ISO 9001 is aligned with the BSI credo ‘Making Excellence a Habit’.

“We work closely with our partner to ensure that they achieve excellence in their fortes and propel their management system according to the subscribed standard certification, which will then help the organisation adhere to the relevant values beyond the standard requirements,” Poon said.

Auditor at BSI Lim Tuan Chee, meanwhile, praised BIBD for the excellent quality management system it has in place and its awareness of all levels of the certification process.

“During the bank’s certification journey, all of the BIBD staff were cooperative and positive towards the whole assessment process,” he said.

“Filing for the quality management system records and their traceability was good and easy to retrieve. This demonstrates the commitment of BIBD’s senior management, as well as the bank’s systematic and process-driven approach to quality performance, execution, service consistency and the will to meet the needs of stakeholders and employees.”

|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

A FULL-DRESS rehearsal to ensure the smooth running of this year’s National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults was held at the International Convention Centre in Berakas yesterday. The competition will run for three consecutive nights until February 14.

On hand to witness the 12 finalists perfecting their Tarannum (melodic) recitation were Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar, Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara and Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Executive Committee for Major Islamic Events for 1440 Hijrah.

The six female finalists are Hajah Norfaizah binti Haji Emran (defending champion), Hajah Nurul Akmalina binti Haji Yahya, Dayangku Fauziah Nadhirah binti Pengiran Haji Jofri, Dayangku Siti Ummi Syazana binti Pengiran Haji Marjuki, Siti Zahrina binti Abdul Wahab and Dayangku Amal Zahirah binti Pengiran Haji Jofri.

Meanwhile, the six male finalists are Haji Muhammad Fikri bin Haji Awang Metussin (defending champion), Ahmad Zul-Waqar bin Haji Suhaili, Haji Hazwan bin Haji Salim, Haji Muhammad Albi bin Haji Ibrahim, Muhammad bin Ali and Haji Nasrul Fakhri bin Haji Yahaya.

Also present at yesterday’s rehearsal was the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar and the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Yussof, in his capacity as the Chairman of the Working Committee for the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults 1440 Hijrah.

|     James Kon     |

A TALE of heroism by a group of local firefighters has emerged from the aftermath of the massive fire that broke out at a furniture shop in Chuchu Plaza, Jalan Tutong last Thursday.

Firefighters from the Fire and Rescue Department managed to whisk to safety six residents trapped at the ledge of the uppermost floor of the building, the residents forced to take such measures after trying unsuccessfully to escape the building as the stairways were filled with smoke.

Recounting the incident, one of the trapped residents who wished to stay anonymous told the Bulletin the story of Dayang A, a 47-year-old Bruneian mother and her 23-year-old daughter Dayang B who have been staying for almost 10 years at the rented apartment on the third floor of the building.

“At the time of the fire, I was performing Zohor prayer when I heard noises, as if someone had a fight downstairs,” she said. “A few minutes later I overheard the staff working at second floor shouting ‘get out, get out’.”

She added that after going out of her room to check what was happening, she noticed that smoke has risen to the upper floors from the burning furniture shop on the ground floor.

“Dayang A then went back inside her room and alerted her daughter of the situation and told her to keep all her cats inside the cage,” she said.

“We were trying to escape through the stairway, but thick black smoke had already accumulated there and visibility was bad. I told Dayang A’s daughter, who was suffering from asthma and anxiety, to go to the ledge of the building to get some fresh air.

“Our neighbour, a Briton and his Bruneian wife and their seven-year-old grandson, as well as a worker from India followed us – the latter initially went to his room in the second floor to get his passport and documents, but was forced to go up to the third floor as he couldn’t go back down due to the thick smoke.

“Eventually firefighters arrived and provided us with breathing apparatus to help us breathe as the smoke was very thick. We were led safely out of the building where we were given treatment by paramedics.”

|     Fizah HAB     |

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, has consented to attend several major events in conjunction with the 35th National Day celebration, together with members of the royal family.

The events include the Kesyukuran ceremony together with congregational prayers and recitation of Surah Yaasiin, the Grand Assembly for the 35th National Day, and the Riadah Berbasikal Semangat Kebangsaan cycling event.

This was highlighted by Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, in her capacity as Co-secretary of the Executive Committee for the 35th National Day celebration, during a press conference at the MCYS’ Citra Budaya Hall in Berakas yesterday.

Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila shared information on the main celebrations as well as side events and preparations for the 35th National Day event.

“The theme ‘Accomplishing the National Vision’ (Menjayakan Wawasan Negara) will be retained, with the celebration scheduled to begin at 7.30am on February 23 at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in the capital,” she said.

The permanent secretary also announced that rehearsals for the on-field performances, involving 7,536 students and civil service personnel, are being actively carried out at schools and sports complexes, including the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

A full-dress rehearsal will be held on February 21 at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien.

This year, 147 teams involving a total of 24,143 participants have registered for the march-past, which is divided into the following clusters: national security, Bestari community, civil service, socio-economy, post-secondary education, secondary education, private education, mosque Takmir committee groups, professional organisations, youth movements, women’s associations, general associations and outstanding teams.

In the meantime, a miniature flag distribution ceremony will take place simultaneously at all primary, secondary and religious schools, including private educational institutions, in all four districts tomorrow.

Among the schools involved are Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien (SOAS) College with Grand Chamberlain Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Penggawa Laila Bentara Istiadat Diraja Dalam Istana Pengiran Haji Alauddin bin Pengiran Paduka Tuan Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar as the guest of honour in his capacity as the Deputy Co-chairman of the Executive Committee for the 35th National Day celebration, while in the Tutong District the ceremony will be held at Pengiran Anak Puteri Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah Religious School in Kampong Kupang with Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Pengiran Haji Kamalrudzaman bin Pengiran Haji Mohd Ishak as the guest of honour.

The hoisting of the giant-sized national flag, which will take place on Saturday at the open area of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex in the capital, will be witnessed by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman.

The Kesyukuran ceremony, together with the mass Maghrib and Isyak prayers and recitation of Surah Yaasiin and Doa Kesyukuran will take place on February 22 beginning at 5.45pm at Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan; the Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque in Pekan Tutong; the Mohammad Jamalul Alam Mosque in Kuala Belait; and the Utama Mohammad Salleh Mosque in Pekan Bangar.

To further enliven the occassion, several activities will be held throughout the celebration including the Riadah Berbasikal Semangat Kebangsaan scheduled for February 24 at 7am at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien.

Other activities include the Belia Cinta Tanah Air programme from February 19-24; a 35 Times Khatam Al-Quran ceremony on March 7; the National Day Run 2019 on March 17; and the Brunei Amazing Race on March 10 at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien.

Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila advised all agencies planning to organise celebratory side events to submit their requests to the 35th National Day Secretariat for further consideration.

She also called on members of the public and residents to participate in the Kesyukuran ceremony as well as in the Grand Assembly for the 35th National Day.

The press conference was also attended by members of the Working Committee for the 35th National Day celebration, which included Senior Assistant of Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara as Co-chairperson for the Invitation and Protocol Working Committee Razali bin Haji Badar; Secretary of the Transport Licensing Board as the representative of the Co-chairman of the Transport Working Committee Mohammad Syafien bin Yandol; Administrative Staff Officer of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces as the representative of the Parade Working Committee Commander Sarifpudin bin Matserudin; Superintendent of Police of Brunei-Muara District as the representative of the Co-chairperson of the Traffic and Security Committee Superintendent Pengiran Haji Abdul Salam bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Ghani; Information Officer at the Information Department as the representative of the Co-chairperson of the Working Committee for Media and Publicity Ali Tarmizi bin Hj Ramli; Acting Director of Youth and Sports Haji Zafri bin Haji Mohammad; and Secretary General of the Brunei Darussalam Cycling Federation (Persekutuan Lumba Basikal Brunei Darussalam) Omar Ali bin Haji Ibrahim as Co-chairman for the Working Committee of the Riadah Berbasikal Semangat Kebangsaan cycling event; and the Secretariat of the 35th National Day celebration.

|    Fadhil Yunus    |

DPMM FC have acquired the services of local players Razimie Ramlli, Hazwan Hamzah and Wafi Aminuddin as the three new additions in the 25-member playing squad for the upcoming Singapore Premier League season.

Razimie joined the Gegar Gegar men from DST Super League champions-elect MS ABDB while Hazwan, who joined from Indera SC, returned for a second spell since leaving the club at the end of the 2017 season.

Wafi, who captained the DPMM FC ‘B’ team, has been promoted to the senior side after he caught the attention of head coach Adrian Pennock with a series of stellar performances. At the age of 18, Wafi is the youngest member in the squad.

“I’ve been watching the DPMM FC ‘B’ side and Wafi was playing in the ‘B’ side. He has a good stature and he is strong. He is very young but I want to bring young players through from the ‘B’ side up to the senior side,” Pennock said in an interview with the Bulletin yesterday.

“He still has got to learn a lot but he has good tools. He is good on the ball and he reads the game well.”

The head coach also encouraged the teenager to be more vocal in the game, especially for a position which he plays in though he has no doubts about his abilities.

“He is still very quiet at the moment. As a centre-half you have to talk to everybody around you so that’s what he has to bring. Ability wise, he is very good.

“The future is bright with him, he still has got a lot to learn and it’s my job to hopefully teach him and be a better player,” he added.

Pennock also highlighted the qualities of Hazwan, who previously played under former coach Steve Kean.

“In pre-season, he has done very well and he has worked very hard. He is very good in the air. He is not the biggest player in the world but he has a very good spring. He is an aggressive defender which I like. He deserves his contract,” he said.

Pennock is also impressed with the energy of Brunei international Razimie, who bagged a second-half brace during an 8-1 demolition against Kasuka FC in a warm-up match at the Jerudong Mini Stadium yesterday.

“He came here on trial so I took a look at him. He has good pace and he is a fox in the box. He has to learn his runs and keep the ball a little bit better but he has a lot of energy which is fantastic.”

|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

THE country will soon get a taste of the Sembada 188 hybrid rice, following the first harvest carried out yesterday, with 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 gracing the launching ceremony.

Meanwhile, in an interview with the Bulletin, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong said that Brunei currently has five to six per cent of self-sufficiency in rice production, which is very low.

“Therefore, our ministry has been implementing efforts and strategies to increase the country’s self-sufficiency through two methods: by using a high-yield hybrid variety and by developing more land for agricultural development,” he said.

“His Majesty has already consented to the opening of a new area for commercial rice cultivation in the Kandol area of the Belait District, covering 500 hectares of land; and it is hoped that this will further boost our country’s rice production, from six per cent to 15 per cent in self-sufficiency”. The minister also urged local farmers to exercise good management for their agricultural plots, including the use of water irrigation and fertilisers.

“We hope that the Sembada 188 will go on to produce another yield,” he said. “Right now, we are expecting a crop production of eight tonnes from the Titih variety.”

The Sembada 188 project was the result of a collaborative scheme carried out by the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) with PT Biogene Plantation of Indonesia.

Before deciding on the Sembada 188, the research project underwent three planting trials using the Sembada B9, Sembada 626 and Sembada 989 rice varieties.

Out of the four, the Sembada 188 was chosen for its capability to produce twice the yield compared to other varieties.

The rice seeds were imported from Indonesia through Yaz & Wyn Enterprise, a local company appointed as the sole distributor for Brunei Darussalam.

The rice field, located at the Wasan Agricultural Development Area (KKP Wasan), covers 38.2 hectares of land leased to 21 farmers from the Setia Kawan Cooperative (KOSEKA).

|     Wani Roslan     |

THE Arabic Language celebration in conjunction with the World Arabic Language Day was celebrated at the Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), with the theme Bahasa Zikir di Negara Zikir, yesterday.

The celebration was co-organised by UNISSA, Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) and Rabitah Antarabangsa Alumni Al-Azhar (Brunei).

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.

The minister underlined that this year’s theme is a great opportunity to realise His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s vision to make Brunei a Zikir Nation by understanding Al-Quran and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) as well as Islamic heritage books through the mastering of the Arabic Language.

“The importance in organising such a programme every year can help strengthen the love towards Al-Quran,” said the minister.

The minister urged the organisations to continue collaborating in programmes and activities that can help the children in the Sultanate develop their talents and skills in terms of academic, life as well as language.

The ceremony also saw the launching of the online Journal of Arabic Language Faculty followed by a visit to the Arabic Language Creativity Exhibition that showcased culture and civilisation of Arab nations.

A three-day seminar, which ends tomorrow, is also conducted along with activities including Tausyeh competition, Khat, Qiraah, Arabic Language Forum, Story-Telling competition and Arabic Language Workshop.

The objective of the celebration was to create a conducive environment for students to interact in Arabic Language with their friends, lecturers in UNISSA and KUPU SB.

The celebration was also aimed to promote the importance of Arabic Language as the language of Al-Quran, Ibadat language, language of knowledge and language of civilisation as well as to increase the sensitivity of the people to the Arabic Language by highlighting the initiatives and successes of related countries, institutions and individuals.

The concept of Zikir Nation can be realised by upholding the use of Arabic Language in Brunei Darussalam.

Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Aziz bin Orang Kaya Maharaja Lela Haji Yussof in his capacity as Ra’es of Executive Committee of Rabitah Antarabangsa Alumni Al-Azhar (Brunei), Rector of UNISSA Dr Haji Norarfan bin Haji Zainal, Ra’es of KUPU SB Dr Haji Adanan bin Haji Basar, as well as foreign dignitaries.

|     Hakim Hayat     |

HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office officiated the final rounds of the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults 1440 Hijrah yesterday evening.

His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik was also present at the event held at the International Convention Centre (ICC), Berakas.

Their Royal Highnesses were greeted by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman with the rest of the executive committee members.

Twelve Qaris and Qariahs will be competing in the three-day annual competition that concludes tomorrow.

The Minister of Religious Affairs in his speech said that slight changes were made in this year’s edition, where the competition began in the district and mosque levels and only those who attained at least 80 per cent in score qualified to enter the semi-finals.

He shared that 56 were eligible in the semi-finals including 10 participants selected from the finalists of last year’s competition and the champion Qari and Qariah from last year’s competition. They were later narrowed down in the semi-finals held in January.

The minister said one of the finalists was a participant of the Young Qari and Qariah Course organised by the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA). He said the course was incepted in 2015 to enhance the quality of Al-Quran reading in the country. One of them was a finalist in the Southeast Asian Youth Al-Quran Reading Competition in 2017.

The event last night saw performances by finalists Qaris Mohammad bin Ali and Haji Awang Muhd Fikri bin Haji Awang Metussin and Qariahs Dayangku Siti Ummi Syazana binti Pengiran Haji Marjuki and Siti Zahrina binti Abdul Wahab.

The event was also further enlivened with a nasyid performance Learn the Al-Quran from the Sautul Barakah Nasyid Group that comprised youth involved in religious programmes by MoRA and a recitation of the Sayyidul Istighfar led by students from Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.

The contest, which carries the theme ‘Empowering Al-Quran Learning’ this year, will continue tonight with the recitation from the remaining four Qaris and four Qariahs, to determine the champion Qari and Qariah that will be announced tomorrow evening.

|     Hakim Hayat     |

HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday highlighted the importance of the family institution in instilling Islamic values among the current young generation, so that they have an excellent grasp of Al-Quran and are able to thrive in an environment that is guided by the Al-Quran and Hadith.

His Royal Highness made these remarks in a sabda delivered at the opening of the finals for the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults 1440 Hijrah, at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.

“The theme taken for this year’s competition, ‘Empowering Al-Quran Learning’, is timely, especially in our efforts of strengthening and enhancing Al-Quran skills, particularly among students and the public,” said His Royal Highness.

His Royal Highness also called on all parties to come together in enhancing Al-Quran recitation with a specific focus on its interpretation and wisdom, especially those closely linked to self-development and moral values for the youth, as well as their obligations towards the community and country.

His Royal Highness further said that a study of the Hadiths by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is essential, for a more clear understanding of the content in Al-Quran: “What we want to see is an Al-Quran and Hadith generation that can think, act and perform worship based on guidance from Al-Quran and Hadith.

“Firstly, this can be achieved by monitoring our food and drink sources, to ensure that they are Halal and not Syubhat (dubious). This is the role of parents and guardians in seeing to it that they feed their children and other members of the family with food from a Halal source that is nutritious and far from dubious. Ideally, all families are encouraged to eat together and practise good table manners as taught by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

“Secondly, parents and guardians must always observe the five daily prayers together with their families, whether at the mosque or in their homes. The practice is not only encouraged by Islam, but also fosters closer family ties, teaches time discipline and also instils good moral values, in addition to multiple rewards and blessings in performing congregational prayers as a family.

“Finally, parents should also emphasise and practise the learning, study and reading of Al-Quran by allocating time with their children and other family members through gatherings that enable them to enhance their skills collectively.”

His Royal Highness added that such religious gatherings would be more meaningful and beneficial if they could be expanded to include the interpretation of passages from Al-Quran, for a better appreciation of its wisdom and lessons.

“Such a practice is very effective if carried out consistently, whether in increasing one’s faith and also the spirit of family ties,” he said.

His Royal Highness concluded his sabda on the hope that more efforts would be made to strengthen Al-Quran recitation in Brunei, so that the country would be constantly blessed by Allah the Almighty.

|     Danial Norjidi     |

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 visited the Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) Agro-Technology Campus (IBTE ATC) yesterday after partaking in the harvesting ceremony for the Sembada 188 hybrid paddy at the KOSEKA paddy field in Kampong Wasan.

His Majesty was accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.

Upon arrival at IBTE ATC, the monarch was greeted by Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education Dr Haji Azman bin Ahmad and Acting CEO of IBTE Dr Haji Mohd Zamri bin Haji Sabli.

His Majesty proceeded to visit several sites at the campus, where displays showcasing the products of IBTE ATC – such as Roselle biscuits – and food tasting booths had been set up.

The monarch then stopped by IBTE ATC’s Crop Production Unit to take a closer look at its ‘Bruherbal Farm’ and herbal garden, before touring one of the campus’ greenhouses where he viewed a demonstration on cucumber and melon cultivation using fertigation technology and troubleshooting of the hydroponic structure at the polytunnel.

His Majesty also consented to tour a mini exhibition on the Agrobiz project, a collaborative initiative between IBTE and LiveWire Brunei initiated on January 23 involving paddy planting and the development of future young entrepreneurs in the field.

Next on His Majesty’s IBTE ATC itinerary was a tour of the veterinary clinic. Here the monarch was given a briefing by IBTE ATC students on the activities conducted by the clinic, and observed the specimens showcased in the school’s ‘Mini Skeleton Museum’.

His Majesty also visited the Agrometro incubator area at the Workshop Working Area, where he was greeted by the manager of the company and IBTE ATC alumni. His Majesty then listened to a briefing on the institute’s second year Crop Tech project and Green School Garden, a project initiated by STEP Centre of Ministry of Education.

His Majesty then consented to meet the various IBTE ATC alumni entrepreneurs (Syarikat Sinaran Suria, Agrometro Company, Syarikat Seri Asmah, and Znetic Enterprise & Znetic Detailing Solutions).

His Majesty concluded his visit by consenting to participate in group photo op and attend a luncheon at the IBTE ATC’s multi-purpose hall.

|     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 visited Ideal Multifeed Farm Sdn Bhd (IMF) in Kampong Bengkurong Masin yesterday as part of side activities to his officiating of the harvesting ceremony for the Sembada 188 hybrid paddy at the Wasan Agricultural Development Area in Mukim Pengkalan Batu.

His Majesty was accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.

The 89-hectare site is used for broiler and layer poultry farming, employing both chicken coop and conventional systems for production.

There is also a slaughterhouse near to the farm, which began operations in 1975.

As of last year, some 1,921,729 chickens and 38,883,649 chicken eggs were produced by the farm.

Presently 66 foreign workers are employed at three areas of the site: the poultry farm, chicken eggs farm, and the poultry slaughtering house.

Upon arrival at the site, His Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses toured the viewing room of the slaughtering house and stopped by Ideal Multifeed Farm’s retail shop.

His Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses then viewed an exhibition and received a pesambah, before attending a santap (royal luncheon) and visiting the farm located nearby.

His Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses were earlier greeted upon arrival by Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, 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; Ideal Multifeed Farm Managing Director Haji Awang Ahmad Morshidi bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Diraja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Abdul Rahman; and other senior government officers.

|     Azlan Othman     |

MOHD Humaizi bin Haji Mohd Salleh, the co-owner of Perusahaan Haji Mohd Salleh bin Haji Ludin dan Anak-Anak, expressed his gratitude to 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 for consenting to visit his farm at the Batumpu Agricultural Development Area.

His Majesty was accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.

“His Majesty is delighted that more youth are enrolled in agricultural activities and has urged more Bruneians to follow in my footsteps,” he told the Bulletin after the monarch’s visit.

He said he is willing to do his part to develop the farming industry further if financial assistance and land are availed to him by the government.

“The industry has undergone considerable development since I first began agricultural operations, planting spinach, kangkong, sawi manis, sawi taiwan, cucumber and beans,” he commented.

The farm, which cultivates vegetables and fruits, sits on a seven-hectare site.

Conventional farming systems are utilised at three lots of the farm, while another lot employs a protective housing and fertigation system.

The farm, which commenced operations in 2006 and employs 11 staff, produced 463.72 metric tonnes of produce worth BND1.19 million last year.

It supplies produce to buyers such as the SETENAGA Cooperative Market in Kampong Selayun, SKH Supermarket in Sengkurong, as well as restaurants and private consumers.

|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

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 graced the first harvesting of the high-yield Sembada 188 rice variety at the Wasan Agricultural Development Area (KKP Wasan) in Mukim Pengkalan Batu.

Accompanying His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik; and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.

Upon arrival, His Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses were greeted by Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong; Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud; and Minister at the PMO and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah.

His Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses were also greeted by the permanent secretaries, deputy permanent secretaries and senior officials from the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT).

Shortly after arrival, His Majesty was briefed on the latest development of the Sembada 188 project and the Agriculture and Agrifood Incentive Scheme, by Head of Paddy and Crop Protection Section at the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood Khairunissa binti Haji Omar Ali.

His Majesty also listened to a briefing by Head of Agricultural Engineering Services Saidin bin Namit on the upgrading and deepening of the Imang Dam, which would increase its capacity by as much as 10 per cent or one million cubic metres in water supply to agricultural areas; the underground water exploration project to address irrigation problems; and the opening of the Kandol area for commercial rice projects on 500 hectares of land in the Belait District.

Later, the Manager of Yaz & Wyn Enterprise Ezwyn bin Haji Bakar, briefed His Majesty on the progress of the commercial rice production project on 110 hectares of land in Kampong Panchor Murai ‘A’ and ‘B’.

To bless the event, a recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat was read by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned.

Shortly after, His Majesty delivered a titah, urging for more resolute measures towards raising self-sufficiency for the country’s food supply.

The monarch was then invited to board the harvester vehicle, or Jentuai, to lead the harvesting of the fully matured crop at the Setiakawan Cooperative (KOSEKA) rice field in KKP Wasan.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also joined in the harvesting of the Sembada 188 rice crop.

The harvesting was accompanied with a Tausyeh Syukur, performed by 15 students of the Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB).

Earlier in the day, His Majesty visited a number of agricultural farms including Ideal Multifeed Farm (B) Sdn Bhd in Kampong Bengkurong Masin and Syarikat Perusahaan Haji Mohd Salleh bin Haji Ludin dan Anak-Anak at KKP Batumpu.

From KKP Wasan, His Majesty next proceeded to the Rice Mill Processing Centre for a view of the milling process under Syarikat Pertanian Tropikal Utama, with the packaging and sales being handled by the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood.

His Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses then visited Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) Agro-Technology Campus (ATC), for a closer look at the learning sites of the IBTE students.

Before concluding the visit, His Majesty consented to a group photo and a Junjung Ziarah from the students of IBTE.

In October 2018, His Majesty also took part in the planting of the first seedlings of the Sembada 188 hybrid variety.

The project is one of the many efforts being carried out by the MPRT to boost local rice production, while at the same time supporting His Majesty’s call for a national agricultural strategic plan to ensure food security for the country.

The Sembada 188, which has an average yield of five to six tonnes per hectare in one season, was the result of a collaborative research project conducted by the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood with the PT Biogene Plantation of Indonesia.