|     Lyna Mohamad     |

EXPANDING its existing repertoire of programmes and keeping abreast with relevant needs of the nation, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) is offering new programmes for prospective local and international students.

The Master of Science (MSc) in Petroleum Geoscience by the Geological Sciences Programme of the Faculty of Science is intended to develop the human resources required for the development of the oil and gas sector.

Designed for graduates of geosciences or other relevant studies seeking to acquire a broad, applied technical background, the programme prepares them for a professional career in Petroleum Geoscience or may act as a springboard for those planning to embark on a research degree in Petroleum Geoscience.

It addresses the needs of scientists who have worked in the industry, aiming to enhance their technical skills and qualifications.

The MSc in Petroleum Geoscience is a coursework-based programme which includes classes distributed into two semesters.

In the 2nd semester, students are required to undertake a graduate research project based on an industrial case study.

The programme’s duration will be 12-24 months for full time study and 12-48 months for part-time study.

Admission into the programme will only be for August of every year.

The core modules in the programme include Petroleum Geochemistry, Seismic Interpretation, Petroleum Exploration, Formation Evaluation, and a Graduate Research Project. Students can select option modules from Petroleum Sedimentology, Petroleum Structural Geology, Seismic Acquisition and Processing, Introduction to Organic Petrology, Petroleum Geology of Southeast Asia, Petroleum Subsurface Mapping, Unconventional Energy Resources, Production Geology, Sequence Stratigraphy, Reservoir Modelling, Petroleum Economics, Basin Analysis, and Introduction to Petroleum Engineering.

The minimum requirements include at least, a lower second class honours Bachelor degree in Geology/Geophysics or equivalent earth science related or in other related discipline (Chemistry, Physics, Materials Science and Engineering) from a reputable university.

Work experience in relevant fields will also be taken into consideration provided the candidate received a BSc in Science or Engineering with at least third class honours.

UBD’s School of Business and Economics (UBD SBE) also started offering its new Master of Applied Economics, which is designed to provide students a strong foundation in economics and enable them to upgrade their skills in quantitative methods and economic analysis.

The three-semester programme was adopted from the previous Masters of Economics module, a two-semester programme.

The extra semester is intended to provide students sufficient time to complete and submit a good quality research paper.

In addition to coursework, students are expected to undertake independent research as a core module (Research Project) to showcase their ability to integrate theoretical and practical knowledge in economics for real world problems.

It is also an opportunity for them to acquire and enhance skills such as literature review, model solving, project management, organisation, software application, and report writing. Core modules in the programme include Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Applied Econometrics, Research Methodology and Academic Exercise. Students will also choose from a list of option modules such as Financial Economics, Issues in Economics Development, International Trade Theory & Policy, Islamic Economics & Finance, Emerging Issue in Applied Economics, Labour Economics, Environmental Economics, Energy Economics, Money & Banking, Time Series Analysis & Forecasting, Game Theory, Public Sector Economics, Tourism Economics, Resource Economics, and Advanced Statistics.

This programme equips students with the skills needed to practise as a professional economist or relevant positions in the business world in banking, insurance and investment to those in academic settings, government agencies and consulting organisations. It also provides a foundation to undertake further study at the PhD level.

Duration of the programme will be 12-24 months for full time study and 12-48 months for part-time study. Admission will only be for August of every year.

For admission to the Master of Applied Economics, candidates must have a second class honours Bachelor degree in Economics or a related discipline from UBD or a recognised institution.

Subject to the possession of a Bachelor degree, this condition could be relaxed for experienced applicants after determining that they posses the skills to successfully complete the programme.

Undertaking a technological leap, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) offered by UBD SBE has also undergone some improvements.

Starting in August 2019, the programme is now made even more competitive with flexible teaching and learning, using Blended Learning where students experience both online and face-to-face classes.

To suit working professionals, evening classes are also available which enables students to improve their knowledge and skills without taking them away from their working and professional commitments. In this new structure, MBA classes will commence from 6.30pm to 10.30pm whereas online classes take place every alternate week.

This allows professional students the opportunity for more in-depth understanding through self-paced virtual learning and face-to-face classroom interaction without compromising the MBA quality. Its improved structure includes two new core modules, Business Research for Managers and Leadership.

Combinations of optional modules can be created to form streams or specialisation. Six new option modules have been added which include Social Marketing, Human Resource Development, Consultancy Paper, Product and Brand Management, and Employment Relations.

In addition to the new and improved Master programmes, UBD SBE has included the Entrepreneurship major as part of the Bachelor of Business degree.

It is aimed at equipping students with the key skills in entrepreneurship, innovation management, entrepreneurial finance, starting up new ventures, venture growth strategies, and the key skills needed to be self-employed or for taking up employment as entrepreneurial or innovation managers within larger private or public sector organisations.

The programme’s learning objectives will improve the career prospects of the students as innovative entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial managers, acquiring skills that will enable them to move from the idea generation stage to fully creating businesses and innovation projects based on strong understanding of starting, financing, marketing, managing and operating successful entrepreneurial businesses.

Students will study key entrepreneurship modules such as Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation, Innovation Management, Entrepreneurial Finance, Venture Growth Strategies, Social Entrepreneurship by Design, Environmental and Sustainable Entrepreneurship, Incubation, and develop retail skills through the Startup Growth and Sustainability Project. Students will also study several business modules that exist in a business degree such as Introduction to Accounting, Principles of Business & Management, Principles of Economics, Business Information System, and Business Ethics.

This undergraduate programme is important, given Brunei Darussalam’s aim of becoming a central hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia as part of its strategy of economic diversification.

UBD currently leads Brunei Darussalam’s premier initiatives for boosting entrepreneurship in the country.

The National Entrepreneurship Agenda (NEA) and the Entrepreneurship Village (EV) also has a growing track record of incubating startups both within and outside the university.

Other programmes that might be of interest to graduate students include PhD in Public Health, Asian Studies, and Islamic Governance; as well as Master in Environmental Studies, Material Science and Counselling among many others.

|     Aziz Idris     |

THE establishment of the National Mental Helpline Talian Harapan 145 is one of the Ministry of Health’s (MoH) strategies to provide support to the public on issues relating to mental and emotional health.

Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohammad Isham bin Haji Jaafar highlighted this during a press conference to launch the helpline on Tuesday.

He said there is “no health without mental health”.

Based on this, the MoH places great emphasis on mental health in Brunei and strives to strengthen the mental healthcare system and makes it more innovative, proactive and effective, not just to respond to the current needs of the people but also to ensure that it is prepared to address challenges that lie ahead, he said.

“These efforts (correspond to) the policies highlighted at the 66th World Health Assembly Resolution in May 2013, including the Comprehensive Mental Health Action Plan 2013-2020 which recommends member countries to ensure the provision of services, policies, legislations, plans, strategies and programmes to protect, promote and respect the rights of people with mental disorders,” the minister said.

He added that the Talian Harapan 145 helpline is also a product of the country’s Mental Health Order, 2014, which aims to provide for the care, treatment, rehabilitation and protection of the mentally disordered.

The minister called for the public’s cooperation to support individuals with mental health problems and treat them with respect, especially those who are at risk of suicide.

“All stakeholders should cooperate and work together in addressing mental health and reducing suicides in Brunei Darussalam,” he said.

“For example we can do our part by offering assistance to family members, friends or colleagues,” he said. “We can hear their concerns, ask what we can do to help or offer to accompany them to see a doctor or psychologist, or encourage them to call the 145 helpline. (Every little bit of support) can make a lot of difference to stressed individuals.”

The new hotline will be handled by mental health professionals on a daily basis from 8am till 11pm, with privacy ensured for callers.

For information, contact the helpline directly at 145, the Darussalam line at 123, or visit the MoH website at www.moh.gov.bn.

|     Danial Norjidi     |

CONSTRUCTION is one of the bottom-two sectors in terms of embracing digital technology, Legislative Council (LegCo) mem-ber and  Institution of Surveyors, Engineers and Architects (PUJA) Brunei President Yang Berhormat Siti Rozaimeriyanty binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Abdul Rahman highlighted yesterday, citing a study on the industry.

She was delivering a presentation entitled ‘Developing Digital Culture, Mindset and Capacity in the Construction Industry’ during the Joint ASEAN Chartered Professional Engineer Coordinating Committee (ACPE-CC) and ASEAN Architect Council (AAC) Roundtable at The Empire Hotel & Country Club.

Yang Berhormat Siti Rozaimeriyanty added that while other industries are radically modernising their workflow processes, construction “remains one of the most stagnant major industries in the world”.

“The industry is still using many of the methods first deployed in the 19th Century,” she said. “If construction companies run their back office operations in an outdated and pre-digital way, productivity will continue to be hampered. “For businesses to thrive, they need to be properly managed, using modern tools. Again, training our workforce is another thing that we have to look into, because [the industry environment] is ever-changing.”

Speaking about future technology in the construction industry, she said, “The first one is data analytics. Data analytics is basically applied to determine the indication of any changes. This is one of the tools being used in Western countries as well, especially for complex buildings. So this will enable people to identify the risks.”

She said augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) can help engage stakeholders, noting that instead of using animation to present buildings, by using VR, people can actually walk through the building, allowing for engagement with clients and stakeholders.

Yang Berhormat Siti Rozai-meriyanty moved on next to real-time monitoring, highlighting that “it is always important to have real-time data”.

“In terms of monitoring during the construction stage, the use of drones, Internet of Things (IoT), sensors and real-time communication, all these are coming up in the construction industry,” she said.

She highlighted the impor-tance of a tripartite of strategic partners – government, the private sector and education – in understanding the barriers to change in the sector and to develop workforce strategies.

Yang Berhormat Siti Rozaimeriyanty began her presentation speaking about the four industrial revolutions, noting that the first occurred in the 18th Century with water and steam, the second in the late 19th Century with electricity, and the third in the late 20th Century with automation.

“Now we’re actually embarking on the fourth industrial revolution, a [digital revamping of the world we live in],” she said, sharing that this includes technology such as the IoT, artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality, augmented reality and 3D printing.

Touching on digital culture, she said that it is ideal to prepare for the advancement of this digital era, and that the pace of industry transformation is currently unprecedented.

“Digital culture has changed the way we live, the way we work, the way we play, and also how we socialise,” she said.

“Moving forward from digital to contextual intelligence and grasping the power it represents, developments such as AI, 3D printing and many others do not exist on their own, but actually build upon each other and amplify one another. Together the interactions between the technological, socioeconomic, geopolitical and demographic developments will generate new categories [of work].

“These developments will change the skillsets required of all occupations in most industries.”

She continued, “The jobs that exist today might not have existed [for a long time], and even in five years some of these jobs will not be [in existence] anymore.”

She pointed out that governments will need to entail innovation in education, adding that “we cannot build jobs just for today”, and “have to think of jobs for tomorrow”.

She also noted the trend of companies becoming more specialised and operating with smaller numbers of staff.

“In order to meet the new talent and skills challenges brought about by this prospective business model disruption, companies need to pursue a range of innovative workforce strategies providing employees with wider exposure to roles across their firms,” she said.

She cited information from the World Economic Forum (WEF) on the most needed hard and soft skills in 2019.

The WEF stated that the top five hard skills are cloud computing, artificial intelligence, analytical reasoning, people management and UX design, while the top five soft skills are creativity, persuasion, collaboration, adaptability and time management.

Yang Berhormat Siti Rozaimeriyanty, citing information from Forbes, also highlighted the five characteristics organisations should embrace to create a digital culture: customer-centric; collaborative; responsive and agile; transparent and open; and risk-taking and innovation.

Relaying some words of advice to conclude her presentation, she said, “Your business won’t digitally transform until your people do. Train students for the jobs of tomorrow as training them for the jobs of today is no longer relevant.”

|     Aziz Idris     |

TURMERIC (kunyit) commonly found in Bruneian dishes is an ingredient highlighted as part of the special menu for this year’s Brunei Gastronomy Week.

This was announced by Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Apong, who is also the Chairman of Brunei Tourism Board during the launch of Brunei Gastronomy Week 2019 at Setia Pahlawan Hall yesterday.

The minister added that the featured ingredient is in line with the objectives of the annual event to create an awareness on local cuisines, while encouraging local hoteliers and eateries to serve and improve Bruneian dishes that provide unique gastronomic experiences to visitors within or outside Brunei.

A total of 10 hotels and restaurants including the national carrier Royal Brunei Airlines and culinary students from Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) including Anjung Saujana Restaurant and The Horizons Seafood Restaurant of Royal Brunei Catering, Eco Ponies Garden, Radisson Hotel, The Rizqun International Hotel, Sumbiling Eco Village, The Brunei Hotel, The Empire Hotel & Country Club, and The Longhouse Training Restaurant, School of Hospitality and Tourism of IBTE Sultan Saiful Rijal Campus are participating in the Gastronomy Week.

The event is held in conjunction with the 35th National Day celebration whereby the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism has collaborated with several hotels and restaurants including Royal Brunei and the Association of Travel Agents to further promote the turmeric-based dishes.

Members of the public are encouraged to experience the Brunei Gastronomy Week starting from February 23 to March 10 to try the signature dishes such as the De-constructed Laksa by Radisson Hotel, Trio Duck served with turmeric sauce by Anjung Saujana Restaurant or the Udang Sambal Kunyit by the Longhouse Training Restaurant.

Participant shared their experience with members of the media on the challenges creating mouth-watering dishes using turmeric.

Executive Sous Chef at The Rizqun International Hotel Rizal Othman said he encouraged his team to think outside the box and create a dish based on turmeric without losing the Bruneian identity.

He also said that the most important part in food creation must be the taste accompanied by its presentation. “We need to find the right balance between these two elements,” he added.

Head Chef at The Brunei Hotel Samuel Sak described the character of turmeric being bitter in taste which is a challenge to cook and find the right balance when it comes to creating western-infused dishes.

“We try to create a dish based on the given ingredient and make it familiar to local taste but combine with western influence for presentation. Making it taste good while looking good is already a challenge.”

Head of School of Hospitality and Tourism Mohd Kamarul Izzudin bin Haji Kamaluddin said participating in Brunei Gastronomy Week has been a valuable lesson for his culinary students.

“We take this not as a challenge but a learning process for our students to explore the wide range of potential dishes with a tumeric as a base ingredient”.

The day also saw the presentation of awards for Brunei Gastronomy to the winners of 2018 by the minister. The winners are The Rizqun International Hotel for the Best Taste and Best Wholesomeness; The Empire Hotel & Country Club won the Best Presentation; Most Creative went to Radisson Hotel; the Most Innovative was won by The Brunei Hotel.

The minister also presented certificates of participation to representatives of participating agencies.

Guests during the launch sampled some of the dishes yesterday.

Senior officials from the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, foreign dignitaries, travel agencies as well as local restaurants and hoteliers were also present.

|     Daniel Lim     |

DISCUSSIONS with the local authorities participating at the symposium organised by the Royal Military Police (RMP) of the British Military Garrison Brunei will help lay the foundation for cooperation during any incident, said RMP Detachment Commander WO2 Donna Longhurst.

The RMP Symposium was successfully held with representatives from local authorities and agencies in the surrounding areas of Kuala Belait and Seria as part of an initiative to provide a platform for the RMP to disseminate information regarding their roles and capabilities in the country with local authorities and vice versa.

The symposium was held at the surrounding premises of the Medicina Lines at Seria yesterday. It was organised to provide an understanding to local authorities and agencies the position of the RMP within the British Army, as well as their roles and responsibilities as a legal policing body while in Brunei Darussalam.

The symposium was attended by over 40 representatives from various departments under the Royal Brunei Police Force from Kuala Belait and Seria, as well as personnel from the religious department, health department, and Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP).

“Today’s symposium was about showcasing who we (the Royal Military Police) are, what our roles in Brunei are, what capabilities we have, and what we can potentially share with regards to the best practices with local departments in Kuala Belait and Seria,” said WO2 Donna Longhurst.

She added that the sharing of best practices between the RMP and local authorities was also intended to work both ways, as it encourages participation from attending representatives in sharing their own stories and experiences to provide a better understanding of various situations normally encountered by the RMP and local authorities in the country.

“We don’t solely come up with the best ideas. By having the symposium and continuously working with local authority figures, we can work more smoothly together in the future,” she said.

As the first symposium of such calibre held by the RMP in Brunei, she said the symposium will not only help build and strengthen the relationships between the RMP and the local authorities, but also disseminate knowledge to form an understanding and to learn various capabilities of RMP and local authorities operating in the area.

She hoped that this engagement between the RMP and local authorities will continue to help ensure a solid relationship and communication is properly maintained.

Attendees listened to a briefing on topics that included the introduction of the RMP and its capabilities, the laws and regulations adhered by the RMP in addition to the local governing laws and regulations.

The attendees also interacted with the RMP members along with their equipment.

Attendees learnt about the RMP during the symposium by asking questions of the capabilities and equipment used by the RMP.

They also shared their stories and experiences with regards to situations or incidents encountered along with the best practices used to resolve them.

|     Azlan Othman & Fizah HAB     |

THE Pertiwi Association of Brunei Darussalam received a four-day goodwill visit from its Sabah counterpart, Tindakan Wanita Islam Association (PERTIWISA), to strengthen closer ties and to get to know more about their activities.

A dinner to welcome the 25 PERTIWISA members was hosted by Chairperson of Pertiwi Association Datin Paduka Hajah Jusnani binti Haji Lawie at Serikandi Restaurant, RBA Golf Club, Berakas on Tuesday.

“The Brunei Pertiwi Association visited Sabah two years ago and was welcomed by another non-governmental organisation (NGO), PAWASA. Our visit to the Sultanate is to reciprocate such a visit,” PERTIWISA Chairperson Hajah Zaleha binti Dato Seri Panglima Haji Mohd Kassim told the Bulletin on the sidelines of their visit to Pertiwi Nursery School in Jalan Ong Sum Ping near the capital yesterday.

Pertiwi Nursery School’s Chairperson Datin Paduka Hajah Zahrah binti Haji Idris, Datin Paduka Hajah Jusnani and senior members welcomed the delegation.

The delegates were also hosted at the residence of Vice-President of Pertiwi Association Datin Hajah Fatimah binti Dato Seri Abang Haji Razali yesterday afternoon. The delegates viewed a mini exhibition and the sale of products made by their local counterparts as well as a meeting session with members of the association from the Brunei-Muara, Belait, Tutong and Temburong districts.

The PERTIWISA members also made courtesy visits to the Youth and Sports Department of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Islamic Da’wah Centre and toured places of interest.

PERTIWISA has four branches – Kota Belud, Sandakan, Tuaran and Beaufort – in Sabah.

“Our activities mostly drive towards religious matters like sharpening Al-Quran reading such as Tajwid and Arabic classes to guide the mothers with half of them pensioners. But we are attracting young members to take part in the religious and social activities.

“Our regular project is visiting orphans to assist them with basic necessities and clothing. We regularly contribute to new converts in religious schools in Tambunan, Sabah. We also make contributions to Sudan, Syria and Palestine,” Hajah Zaleha added.

They also assist flood and fire victims in Sabah. The Brunei NGO also renders assistance to Pulau Banggi in north of Kudat, Sabah.

|     James Kon     |

THE 95 cases of crocodile encroachment attended by Fire and Rescue Department in 2014-2018 showed a significant increase of incidents in the last two years, with 29 recorded in 2017 and 26 in 2018.

According to data compiled from newspaper reports and monitoring carried out by the Wildlife Division at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT), there were 28 cases of human-crocodile conflicts, during which four people were killed and two were injured.

The increase in human-crocodile conflicts was raised yesterday by Head of the Wildlife Division Mardani bin Haji Mahadi, in a presentation titled ‘Overview on the Status of Crocodiles’ at the Fish Landing Complex in Muara.

The two-day training course on how to manage the threat of wild crocodiles in Brunei Darussalam was officially launched by Deputy Permanent Secretary at the MPRT Haji Abdul Halidi bin Haji Mohd Salleh.

In his presentation, Mardani highlighted a number of areas where crocodiles have been sighted: the coast of Pulau Muara Besar; Muara Beach; the fish farms at Pengkalan Sibabau, Sungai Bunga and Buang Tawar; the Mentiri fisheries industry; the Damuan, Bengkurong, Paku, Birau and Lumut rivers; Kampong Ayer; Kampong Keramut; Kuala Tutong; Kampong Danau; Pekan Tutong; Lubok Pulau; Sungai Dua; Rampayoh; RPN Kampong Pandan in Kuala Belait; and Batang Duri in Ulu Temburong.

Mardani pointed out that the increase in incidents is likely caused by the threat to the crocodiles’ habitat from rapid development, which has led to a disruption in their food source.

There are two types of crocodiles in Brunei Darussalam, namely saltwater crocodile and freshwater crocodile. The crocodiles are not listed in the 34 protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1978 (amendment 1984) Chapter 102; however, they are listed in Appendix 1 in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and international trade is fully controlled by the Wild Flora and Fauna Order 2007.

In raising public awareness, Mardani said that warning signboards have been installed at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Silver Jubilee Park, Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas, Pekan Tutong, the Kuala Belait Recreational Park, Kampong Sungai Teraban and Pekan Bangar, with yet more signboards to be installed in the future.

No proper study or research on crocodiles has been conducted in Brunei Darussalam, in terms of species distribution, habitat, status and trends, population size and structure. However preliminary surveys conducted in 2006 at Selirong Island and other parts of Brunei Bay, stated that the relative density is 0.33 individuals crocs/km as part of its habitat is undistributed (Ibrahim and Cox, 2006).

In his summation, the Head of the Wildlife Division expressed his hope for the implementation of an action team comprising relevant government agencies, as well as educational programmes through roadshows, dialogue and media, talks from crocodile experts, and capacity-building.

He also highlighted the need for a population study of the Crocodylus Porosus (saltwater crocodile) and the Malayan False Gharial (freshwater crocodile) in Brunei Darussalam.

The training is being facilitated by Programme Director of Crocodile Research and Conservation of Crocodylus Porosus Philippines Inc Rainier Manalo.

|     Fizah HAB     |

HIS Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik graced the finals of the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults 1440 Hijrah as it entered its second day yesterday at the Plenary Hall of the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas.

Four Qaris and four Qariahs displayed their recitation skills at the competition.

Upon arrival at the ICC, His Royal Highness was received by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar, the 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 and the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults 1440 Hijrah, together with other committee members.

The event commenced with a mass recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by Syariah Court of Appeal Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Setia Raja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Suhaili bin Haji Mohiddin.

The competition then began with the recitation of verses from Al-Quran by two Qaris and two Qariahs.

Following a break, the event continued with a special Al-Quran recitation by three local Qariahs: Hajah Aminah binti Haji Abdul Manaf, a teacher at Pengiran Anak Puteri Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah Religious School in Berakas, champion of the 2002 International Al-Quran Reading Competition in Kuala Lumpur and recipient of the lifelong incentive allowance worth BND2,000 since 2012; Hajah Jamilah binti Haji Abdul Manaf, a Religious Schools Inspectorate at the Department of Islamic Studies and third-place winner of the 1992 International Al-Quran Reading Competition in Kuala Lumpur; and Hajah Siti Ara binti Haji Idris, a former religious teacher and third-place winner of the 1978 International Al-Quran Reading Competition in Kuala Lumpur.

The competition then resumed with recitation by two other Qaris and two other Qariahs.

The participants in the competition for the second day were Haji Nasrul Fakhri bin Haji Yahya, Dayangku Amal Zahirah binti Pengiran Haji Jofri, Ahmad Zul-Waqar bin Haji Suhaili, Hajah Nurul Akmalina binti Haji Yahya, Haji Muhammad Albi bin Haji Ibrahim, Hajah Norfaizah binti Haji Emran, Haji Hazwan bin Haji Salim and Dayangku Fauziah Nadhirah binti Pengiran Haji Jofri.

The competition will conclude at the same venue tonight, where the results will be announced.

|     Daniel Lim     |

THIRTY-FIVE volunteers from Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP) conducted a cleaning campaign at the Centre for Children with Special Needs (KACA) in the Belait District yesterday.

The clean-up was part of BSP’s ‘90 Acts of Kindness’ project, organised in conjunction with the company’s 90th anniversary.

BSP has conducted a series of charitable activities over the year in collaboration with stakeholders in the Belait District, helping the company foster closer relations with the public and also to give back to the community.

BSP Senior External Relations Advisor at the Communications and External Affairs Department Haji Suffian bin Haji Zainal Abidin led the volunteers for the clean-up, that included the trimming of trees as well as painting the KACA Centre.

The campaign at KACA was the second volunteer work held under the ‘90 Acts of Kindness’ project. The first was held last month at the Muhammad Alam Primary School.

BSP will continue to hold similar activities throughout the year.

With focus on the Seria and Kuala Belait areas, the ‘90 Acts of Kindness’ project activities include grass-cutting, cleaning campaigns at schools, environmental protection and support for the underprivileged.

Brunei-Muara District

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

ONE must show patriotism for the country by waving the national flag to realise the meaning of independence, Special Duties Officer at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and Co-chairperson of the working committee for the hoisting and lowering of the giant-sized flag Haji Amer Hamzah bin Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Zakaria said.

He made these comments at the table flag distribution programme main event, held in conjunction with the 35th National Day celebration, at the Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien College (SOASC) in the capital yesterday.

Around 2,400 table flags were distributed among schools across the nation.

Guest of honour Grand Chamberlain and Chairman of the working committee for the hoisting and lowering of the giant-sized flag Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Penggawa Laila Bentara Istiadat Diraja Dalam Istana Pengiran Haji Alauddin bin Pengiran Paduka Tuan Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar was welcomed by Haji Amer Hamzah.

The event began with the hoisting of the national flag at the school’s assembly area followed by remarks from Haji Amer Hamzah.

He said the waving of the national flag may seem easy but should not be taken for granted as there are proper procedures in safeguarding the value of sovereignty and glory of the national flag which citizens should acknowledge.

He reminded citizens to hoist and wave the national flags to show love towards 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 the nation.

The guest of honour presented flags followed by a video on hoisting the national flag aimed at promoting patriotism among youth at grassroots level. The event was enlivened with a choir performance.

Meanwhile, in the Temburong District, the event was held at the Batu Apoi Primary School.

Flags were distributed by guest of honour Permanent Secretary (Industry) at the Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry Pengiran Haji Mohd Hasnan bin Pengiran Haji Ali Hassan.

The ceremony was organised by the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Information Department and district offices.

Belait District

|     Daniel Lim     |

MINIATURE flags were distributed among students during a ceremony at the Multi-Purpose Hall of Chung Hua Middle School, Kuala Belait yesterday.

The event, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, aimed to promote patriotism in line with the 35th National Day celebration.

Guest of honour Permanent Secretary (Law and Welfare) at the Prime Minister’s Office Haji Mohammed Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim was welcomed by Principal Jaime Lim Siew Lee.

Legislative Council members, Penghulu of Mukim Liang Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Hamid bin Haji Mumin and Village Head of Kampong Labi 1 Yang Berhormat Hanapi bin Mohd Siput, Chairman of the school’s Board of Governors Lau Shiew Yuen along with members of the school’s Board of Governors were present.

The guest of honour presented flags to over 200 students from Years 4 to 9 from five schools.

The schools are Chung Hua Middle School, St John’s School, St James’ School, Ahmad Tajuddin Primary School, and Kuala Belait Primary School.

The event was enlivened with a performance from the school’s choir group and champion of the Inter-Mukim Patriotic Song Choir Competition for the Belait District Permata 2.0.

Tutong District

|     James Kon     |

THE national flag is the official symbol of the country’s sovereignty and citizens should honour and properly maintain it, Headmistress of Pengiran Anak Puteri Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah Religious School Hajah Nekmah binti Haji Mohamad said.

She made these comments at the table flag distribution ceremony at Pengiran Anak Puteri Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah Religious School yesterday.

A total of 300 miniature national flags were presented in the Tutong District.

Guest of honour Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Pengiran Haji Kamalrudzaman bin Pengiran Haji Mohd Ishak presented the flags to students.

The ceremony began with the singing of the national anthem Allah Peliharakan Sultan followed by the recitations of Sayyidul Istighfar, Surah Al-Fatihah, Doa Selamat and Doa Peliharakan Sultan dan Negara Brunei Darussalam.

The event was enlivened with a choir performance by the Telisai Harmonics group from Mukim Telisai who won the patriotic song competition among mukims of Tutong District as well as a choir performance from Pengiran Anak Puteri Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah Religious School.

HENGYI Industries Sdn Bhd recently conducted a scholarship signing for 12 Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) students, at its office at The Empire Hotel & Country Club. The signing was for the sixth batch of students.

Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education (MoE) cum guest of honour Dr Haji Azman bin Ahmad witnessed the signing, and Chief Executive Officer of Hengyi Industries Sdn Bhd Chen Lian Cai delivered the welcoming remarks.

Fourth Batch Hengyi Scholars representative Dayangku Iffah Haziqah binti Pengiran Mohamad delivered a speech, followed by a video presentation.

Hengyi Industries established a joint Chemical & Process Engineering Scholarship Programme with UBD and Zhejiang University to sponsor students to undertake part of their academic studies and industrial training at Zhejiang University for one-and-a-half years.

The scholars will gain first-hand experience of working in a real life production plant by undergoing six months of internship at Hengyi’s petrochemical sites in China. Upon completion, the 12 scholars will be offered positions at Hengyi Industries.

Hengyi Industries has 68 scholars from Batch 1 to 5.

|    Fadhil Yunus    |

DPMM FC Head Coach Adrian Pennock praised the work ethic of the players and the good atmosphere within the squad ahead of the much-anticipated Singapore Premier League season next month.

“The work ethic of the players is absolutely fantastic. I cannot complain at all,” Pennock told the Bulletin in an interview after a warm-up match against Kasuka FC on Tuesday.

The players have responded well to their training regime which not only focussed on improving their physical fitness but also their nutritional needs.

Their pre-season training included hilly runs and swimming sessions which supplemented the existing gym work and field training.

Pennock added, “They have been working so hard and have been absolutely fantastic. Everyday, they came in and were always smiling. It’s a very good atmosphere in the changing room.”

All three foreign imports – Charlie Clough, Blake Ricciuto and Andrey Varankow – have been with the squad for most of pre-season training and have immersed in their new environment.

“The three overseas players have gelled very well with the local players. They are all very well-liked,” said the former Stoke City first team coach.

The Gegar-Gegar men are in their final weeks of preparations before they begin their campaign against Home United at the Bishan Stadium in Singapore on March 3.

Pennock concluded, “We still got a couple of weeks to go before the start of the season. There is still a little bit of work to be done but we are going in the right way.”

|     Hakim Hayat     |

THE homestay programme is a lucrative business only when there is full support from the community, Secretary of the Kampong Sungai Bunga Village Consultative Council (MPK) Zaini bin Muhammad Salleh said.

He made this statement during an interview with the Bulletin.

Zaini is one of the pioneers of the homestay programme, offered by the MPK Kampong Sungai Bunga.

The programme is part of an initiative under the One Village, One Product initiative introduced by the government to help improve socio-economic activities in village communities.

What initially started off with a homestay service provided by a family in Kampong Sungai Bunga in the iconic Kampong Ayer at the end of 2013 has today expanded into a village-wide initiative, with tourists being offered the opportunity to experience the Bruneian way of life whose roots can be traced back to the Brunei River.

Since its inception, the homestay received two awards from the ASEAN Tourism Standard Awards.

In 2016, the programme gained recognition under the Best Homestay category, while this year, it received accolades in the ASEAN Community Based Tourism Standard Award, while its Seri Tanjung Homestay won the ASEAN Homestay Standard Award.

Zaini said that when the initiative was realised in 2013, his house was used in the programme. Eventual support and assistance from government agencies enabled the MPK to further develop the project, with 12 homes with the capacity of accommodating 45 visitors added to the homestay programme.

Zaini pointed out that since then, their package offering has expanded beyond just the homestay, and they now actively receive international and domestic visitors who stay for a few nights at the homestay and go on daytrips to get an authentic Bruneian cultural experience, sampling the country’s culinary, handicraft, traditional arts, sports and other attractions.

Popular activities for guests include hands-on preparation of Brunei-Malay delicacies, experiencing prawn cracker production – which is one of the village’s main products – as well as kayaking along the Brunei River.

There are nine houses with rooms offered in the packages, allowing visitors to stay with friendly host families who will take them around the village to experience their unique everyday way of life. A village day-trip package is also available, offering visitors demonstrations of local traditional food being prepared, such as prawn and fish crackers, pais daging and ambuyat.

“The cohesion and solidarity among villagers in collectively providing services allowed us to thrive and receive good reviews and recommendations,” he added. “Our homestay programme helped the community a lot, not only those who offer their homes to tourists, but also those who do traditional performances and cooking demonstrations.”

With a well-organised promotion strategy, the homestay programme has the potential to become a prime tourist destination choice, Zaini said, adding that he is thankful for the support given by the Tourism Development Department and relevant government agencies in ensuring that that they can offer quality services.

“Going forward, we intend to expand the programme to more villagers and also diversify their products to offer more attractive packages,” he said. “All the stakeholders in the community who join the business will get a share of the profits, from water taxi drivers to fishermen catching shrimps in the river.”

|     Azlan Othman     |

THE Ministry of Health (MoH) rolled out its first comprehensive National Health Screening Programme for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol yesterday.

The goal of the programme is to bring about better control of the diseases and to detect them in their early stages so that treatment can be carried out more effectively.

Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar said previous surveys showed that there is a high rate of obesity, diabetes, cancer as well as cardiovascular and stroke diseases among Bruneians.

A STEPS Non-communicable Disease Risk Factor Survey – part of the STEPwise Approach to Surveillance Population Survey (STEPS) Adult Risk Factor Surveillance project by the World Health Organization (WHO) – conducted in Brunei in 2015/2016 notably found that among Bruneians, the obesity rate stood at 28.2 per cent, overweight condition was 62.8 per cent, high blood pressure was 28 per cent, high cholesterol was 51.3 per cent and high blood sugar level was 9.7 per cent.

“Organ failure can be prevented if such diseases are detected earlier,” he said at the press briefing for the programme launch at the Berakas Health Centre yesterday.

“Health screenings are a very effective and cost-effective method of dealing with NCDs. NCDs and the negative impacts that arise from them place heavy burdens on individuals, families, society and the country. Cancer, heart, diabetic, cardiovascular and stroke diseases are the major causes of death in Brunei Darussalam.”

Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham said the findings by the MoH showed that there is an increase in the diseases year to year, with the number of people dying from chronic illnesses and NCDs also increasing.

The main objectives of the National Health Screening Programme are to prevent and detect NCDs early, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, as well as to detect complications that may occur as a result of NCDs early and prevent them.

This is crucial before damage occurs to major organs such as the heart, kidneys, brain (causing stroke) and eyes (causing blindness), the minister said.

Other objectives of the programme include making the monitoring of diseases more systematic, and reducing the premature mortality rate for non-infectious diseases among people between the ages of 30 and 70.

Deputy Permanent Secretary (Professional) at the MoH Dr Haji Zulaidi bin Haji Abdul Latif meanwhile noted that health checks are an early detection method for people who have not yet shown signs of illness.

“(When we detect diseases early), it is easier to treat and control them, and prevent or reduce disease complications before they become harmful. Previous health screenings (were carried out on a small-scale basis) involving government servants,” he said.

The MoH said the programme is open to citizens and permanent residents of Brunei Darussalam aged 40 and above, and those who do not have follow-up appointments at the centre/clinic or specialist clinics in hospitals for problems related to NCDs, including conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

The screening programme will be implemented at all health centres in the country and administered by well-trained nurses. For the Temburong District, the health screenings will be carried out at Pengiran Isteri Hajjah Mariam Hospital in Pekan Bangar.

Members of the public interested in the programme and qualified for it can register via three ways. They can fill out the entry form at the reception counter of any health centre in the country. Completed forms must then be returned to the MoH customer box at the counter.

The form can also be downloaded from www.ppkk.gov.bn, with completed forms to be sent via email to health.screening@moh.gov.bn.

Registration can also be done online via www.ppkk.gov.bn using an e-Darussalam account (if available).

|     Aziz Idris     |

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, and Patron of the Temburong District Development Authority (AKDT) yesterday made a working visit to the construction sites of the mega-scale Temburong Bridge Project, while also visiting several other places in the Temburong District.

On hand to welcome His Royal Highness at the construction site of the Temburong Bridge Project in Kampong Kota Batu were Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Co-Chairmen of the AKDT Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud and 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.

Also present to greet His Royal Highness were Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar and Minister of Energy, Manpower and Industry Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein, in his capacity as Deputy Co-Chairmen of the AKDT.

To bless the visit, a Doa Kesyukuran was recited upon His Royal Highness’ arrival.

His Royal Highness was then invited to board a special boat to view the construction progress of the Temburong Bridge across the Brunei Bay, starting with the single tower cable-stayed bridge and the connecting bridge that links the northern and southern ramps of Kampong Kota Batu.

While cruising along Brunei River, His Royal Highness was briefed by the Minister of Development on the available facilities to be installed along the Temburong Bridge.

Upon reaching the pier deck near the twin tower cable-stayed bridge, His Royal Highness was then escorted up the pier deck of the marine bridge to have a closer view of the construction activities.

While there, His Royal Highness was briefed by two junior site engineers, Md Izz Rafiuddin bin Haji Amer Hishamuddin and Matius anak Belayan.

His Royal Highness also viewed the construction activities of the twin tower cable-stayed bridge at Pier Deck 167, before signing the commemorative parchment and consenting to a group photo, as well as morning refreshments at Pier Deck 208.

Shortly after observing the marine bridge, His Royal Highness then proceeded to have a closer look at the construction activities of the Temburong Bridge located at Jalan Labu in the Temburong District.

Upon arrival at the site, His Royal Highness was greeted by Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong and Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Haji Emran bin Haji Sabtu.

His Royal Highness then proceeded to Pier 1000, where he was briefed by assistant resident engineer Haji Abdul Hamid bin Haji Metusin, regarding the current status and ongoing activities at the site.

The working visit continued in the afternoon, where His Royal Highness visited the Labu Control Post, Immigration and National Registration Department at the Temburong District.

Here, His Royal Highness toured several control posts, including the Royal Customs and Excise Department, the Ministry of Health and the Royal Brunei Police Force.

The royal entourage then proceeded to Bukit Patoi Recreational Park, where His Royal Highness was greeted by Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong.

The visit began with a briefing on the background of the recreational park, presented by Acting Director of Forestry Noralinda binti Haji Ibrahim.

This was followed with a briefing on the luxury eco-tourism project in Kampong Perdayan, Mukim Labu, presented by Acting Director of Tourism Development Salinah binti Haji Mohd Salleh.

Next on the schedule was a visit to the National Service Programme (PKBN) Training Camp, where His Royal Highness was greeted 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.

Upon arrival, His Royal Highness was invited to view a mini-exhibition of the economic activities and development plans for the Temburong District, presented by Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) Javed Ahmad, alongside Chief Executive Officer of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) Soon Loo.

At the PKBN Camp, His Royal Highness proceeded to the meeting room at the PKBN building for a briefing session by the AKDT on the planned economic activities for the Temburong District.

Following the briefing, a Doa Selamat was read by Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti.

The visit continued with the signing of the commemorative parchment, before His Royal Highness proceeded to the Surau for the mass Zohor prayer with the PKBN trainees.

After the prayer service, His Royal Highness joined the current PKBN trainees undergoing the programme for a luncheon.

The final stop for the working visit was at the Bumiputera Main Complex in Pekan Bangar, Temburong, where His Royal Highness viewed a dozen booths showcasing ‘One Village, One Product’ (1K1P) goods and merchandise from the members of village consultative councils in the Temburong District.

To conclude the working visit, His Royal Highness boarded a Royal Brunei Armed Forces’ (RBAF) helicopter for an aerial view of the Temburong Bridge, Pulau Muara Besar, Serasa Casting Yard Construction Site and identified development sites.

The working visit is a reflection of His Royal Highness’ leadership and concerns in ensuring that the execution of the projects will meet the desired target towards achieving Brunei Vision 2035.

The Temburong Bridge, which is expected to be completed at the end of this year, will connect the Brunei-Muara and Temburong districts via the Brunei Bay.

HER Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam yesterday received in audience the newly appointed Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Brunei Darussalam Yu Hong.

Her Majesty also received in audience the newly appointed Permanent Representative of Brunei Darussalam to the ASEAN in Jakarta, Republic of Indonesia Hajah Kasmalati binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Mohamad Kassim.

Her Majesty also received Hajah Farhanah binti Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Setia Raja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Suhaili, the spouse of the newly appointed Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to the State of Qatar Mohamed Bahrin bin Dato Paduka Haji Abu Bakar.

The audience ceremony took place at the Istana Nurul Iman.

|     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 consented to grace the finale of the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults 1440 Hijrah last night at the International Convention Centre.

Upon arrival at the venue, His Majesty was greeted by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar, the Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara; Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman in his role as Chairman of the Major Islamic Events Celebration Executive Committee and Chairman of the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults 1440 Hijrah/2019 Executive Committee; State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned; and Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar; and other committee members.

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

The ceremony began with a recitation of verses from Al-Quran by Haji Dasrizal bin Marah Nainin, a Qari from Indonesia, Champion of the International Al-Quran Reading Competition in Kuala Lumpur 2013.

In his welcoming speech, the Minister of Religious Affairs outlined the various programmes provided by his ministry to improving the quality of Al-Quran reading among the participants.

The minister said several programmes were implemented, including the Tadabbur Al-Quran for Public programme hosted by UNISSA since 2016 and Understanding of Al-Quran Scheme programme organised by the Al-Quran Studies and Dissemination Division of Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah since 2008.

Announcing the results of the competition, the competition’s chief jury Haji Abdul Rajid bin Haji Mohd Salleh touched on achievements made by the Qari and Qariahs for this year compared to the previous years.

Haji Mohammad Albi bin Haji Ibrahim was announced as the champion Qari of this year’s National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults, while Hajah Nurfaezah binti Haji Emran emerged as the champion Qariah.

His Majesty presented the prizes to the competition winners and participants. He also presented souvenirs to the competition jury.

The champion Qari received a challenge trophy, Haj package, a cash prize of BND7,000, a pure gold bar weighing 40 grammes worth BND2,700 donated by Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB), Insurans Islam TAIB and Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd, an embroidered cloth donated by Little Ummi Company, as well as a participation certificate.

The runner-up Qari, Ahmad Zulwaqar bin Haji Suhaili, received BND5,000 cash, a plane ticket to Kuala Lumpur sponsored by Continental Tours & Travel, a prize and a certificate.

Third-place Qari Haji Awang Muhammad Fikri bin Haji Awang Metussin received BND3,000 cash, a plane ticket to Kuala Lumpur, a prize and a certificate.

The champion Qariah received a challenge trophy, BND7,000 cash, a pure gold bar weighing 40 grammes worth BND2,700 donated by Perbadanan TAIB, Insurans Islam TAIB and Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd, a Brunei embroidered cloth donated by Little Ummi Company, and a participation certificate.

Second place went to Dayangku Fauziah Nadhirah binti Pengiran Haji Jofri, who received BND5,000 cash, a plane ticket to Kuala Lumpur, a prize and a certificate.

Third-place Qariah Hajah Nurul Akmalina binti Haji Yahya received BND3,000 cash, a plane ticket to Kuala Lumpur, a prize and a certificate.

The champions of the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults will represent the country at the upcoming International Tilawah Al-Quran competition to be held in Kuala Lumpur.

To bless the ceremony, a Doa Selamat was read by the State Mufti.

|     Hakim Hayat     |

TO FURTHER enhance Al-Quran education in the country, 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 called for Al-Quran reading in religious schools to be extended to secondary schools nationwide.

In his titah delivered yesterday evening at the conclusion of the annual National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults at the International Convention Centre (ICC), His Majesty noted that the level of Al-Quran reading among Bruneians might be disparate, despite having a decent understanding of Al-Quran through the application of the subject in schools.

Formally, Al-Quran education is offered for the duration of at least six years in religious schools under the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA), while being a compulsory subject for the students enrolled in Arabic schools.

“I hope that Al-Quran education can also be extended to secondary schools under the Ministry of Education (MoE) and private schools. I would like to see students (in secondary schools) receiving Islamic Religious Knowledge, as well as specialised Al-Quran education,” said His Majesty.

The monarch expressed the hope that the relevant parties would come up with a practical initiative towards the constant development of Al-Quran reading skills, which he said is suited to the theme ‘Empowering Al-Quran Reading’ for this year’s competition.

In the titah, His Majesty also urged government ministries and departments to adopt an Al-Quran and Hadith-centric approach in its policies.

“To receive blessings in this life, we must return to Al-Quran. It is a book from Allah the Almighty and a guide to the right path. It is not enough to merely affirm the truth of Al-Quran. We must be willing to accept the direction, authority and laws of Al-Quran,” His Majesty said.

In this respect, His Majesty urged for efforts in national development to be based on the direction, authority and laws of Al-Quran while also calling upon government ministries, departments and sections to evaluate its policies, philosophy, mission, vision and goals as well as forming a strategic plan to run in accordance with the contents of Al-Quran and Hadiths.

“Hopefully with the initiatives and action from all parties, especially those concerned, everything will go as planned, and the task of empowering Al-Quran reading can be managed more effectively,” said the monarch.

|     Syazwani Hj Rosli     |

A DOA Kesyukuran ceremony was held to mark the opening of the Ct Asran Makeover at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex in the capital yesterday.

Present as the guest of honour to launch the new shop was Sharifah Amirah binti Malai Haji Hamir, along with owner of the shop Hajah Siti Rohani binti Haji Abdul Wahab.

Following the launching, the guest of honour took a closer look of the products at the shop and received a short briefing from the owner.

Apart from offering makeup services, the Ct Asran Makeover also sells its own cosmetics and make-up line.

|     Fizah HAB     |

HAJAH Nurfaezah binti Haji Emran told the Weekend Bulletin that regular participation as a contestant, plus a strong training plan, was a key factor in her performance throughout the recent National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults 1440Hijrah.

Hajah Norfaezah received a score of 89.42 per cent from the judges to win the Qariah category for the second successive year.

“I would advise aspiring Qaris and Qariahs to continue with their training and never stop, as it is not all about competitions, but a life-long commitment,” she said.

Coming in second place with a score of 89.09 per cent was Dayangku Fauziah Nadhirah binti Pengiran Haji Jofri, while Hajah Nurul Akmalina binti Haji Yahya took third place with a score of 84.42 per cent.

Meanwhile, Haji Mohammad Albi bin Haji Ibrahim, the newly crowned champion in the Qari category (91.01 per cent), expressed his thanks to all those who supported him, including his family, teachers and the Brunei Government.

The Head of International Affairs and MABIMS Division is also mentally bracing himself for the upcoming International Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

“In maintaining and improving one’s performance, there is no substitute for face-to-face training with a teacher,” he said. Coming in second was Ahmad Zulwaqar bin Haji Suhaili with the score of 90.58 per cent, while Haji Awang Muhd Fikri bin Haji Metussin came third with the score of 90.17.

The National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Adults 1440H/2019 ran for three consecutive nights at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.

Among the 12 Qaris and Qariahs participating in this year’s event were Dayangku Siti Ummi Syazana binti Pengiran Haji Marjuki, Siti Zahrina binti Haji Abdul Wahab, Dayangku Amal Zahirah binti Pengiran Haji Jofri, Haji Hazwan bin Haji Salim, Mohammad bin Ali and Haji Nasrul Fakhri bin Haji Yahya.