|     Azlan Othman     |

TEN Pre-U1 Biology students and two Biology teachers, Hayatul Fakhriah binti Mahari and Siti Dayanawati binti Awang Daud of Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College (MSPSBS) left for Singapore yesterday for a five-day School Twinning Programme (STP) to National University of Singapore High School (NUSHS) of Mathematics and Science.

The delegation was sent off by officer from the Department of Schools at the Ministry of Education (MoE), parents and families.

The delegation will be in Singapore for four days to participate in learning and research on Biology in NUSHS.

STP is a joint initiative by the MoE of Brunei and Ministry of Education Singapore in educational cooperation since 2006.

MSPSBS is one of the pioneer institutions of STP where each visit is represented by a focus subject group namely Physics group in 2006; Biology group in 2008; Mathematics group in 2010; Chemistry group in 2012; and Physics group in 2014.

MSPSBS will host NUSHS from June 11-15 to complete the 6th cycle of visit between the two institutions.

|     Fadhil Yunus    |

BRUNEI Darussalam national athletes expressed hopes to produce a good showing at the 81^st Singapore Open Track and Field Championships 2019 at the Singapore Sports Hub in Singapore to be held from March 28-29.

Brunei’s top sprinters Md Fakhri bin Ismail and Muhd Noor Firdaus Ar-Rasyid bin Haji Idris will return to competitive action since their efforts in the Asian Games in Jakarta last year.

Md Fakhri will compete in his pet event in the 100m while Muhd Noor Firdaus will run in the 100m and 200m events.

The pair will be joined by Abdul Aqil bin Abdul Kadir, Abdul Rahim bin Abdullah and Muhammad Faaizul bin Abdullah in the 100m event. The athletics team will be accompanied by Azmize Abdul Rahman as coach.

“It is our first international competition this year. We have not competed overseas for quite some time and we will do our best in the Singapore Open,” said Md Fakhri in an interview with the Bulletin after a training session at the Track and Field of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex last night.

“We will not set our target high but at least we can get closer to our personal bests or finding a season best this year. We hope to find confidence in this competition for the next tournament,” he added.

“Any athlete will target or want to achieve a personal best or national record. Nevertheless, in view that it has been a long time that we have exposure to any competition since the Asian Games last year, I hope to achieve a season best this year in the 100m and 200m events,” said Muhd Noor Firdaus Ar-Rasyid.

“I also hope to better our record from our previous competition in the 4x100m,” the national 200m record holder added.

Muhd Noor Firdaus shared that there is a variety of lessons learnt from his experiences at the Asian Games such as managing the right nutrition, how to rest sufficiently, how to control self-confidence and how to face athletes who are recognised at an international level.

The relay team had fond memories of the competition having scooped the bronze medal and then a national record at the 79^th edition couple of years ago.

With the relay team not seeing any competitive action overseas last year, the Singapore Open will mark their return especially at a venue where they tasted success.

“We are assembled as a team again after a long time out. Last year, Daus (Noor Firdaus) and I were the only ones who competed. The other two members (of the relay team) didn’t have a lot of game time,” said Md Fakhri.

Only Mohd Fakhri and Mohd Noor Firdaus, both of whom who had competed in the World Championships, took part in the Asian Games.

The relay team is also currently the record holders after their performances in the 2017 SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.

|     Wani Roslan     |

RELIGIOUS Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) through its Student Association, Student Representative Council held the Islamic Arts and Culture ceremony at its campus yesterday in conjunction with Brunei’s 35th National Day.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin was the guest of honour.

Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Putera Maharaja Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Ghani bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Dewa Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Rahim, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, Ra’es of KUPU SB Dr Haji Adanan bin Haji Basar, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Religious) at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Haji Mohd Serudin bin Haji Timbang, Acting Deputy Ra’es of KUPU SB Dr Abang Haji Hadzmin bin Abang Haji Taha, Acting Assistant Ra’es of KUPU SB Datin Dr Hajah Noor Hira bin Haji Noor Kaseh; representatives from Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Universiti Teknologi Brunei and Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali; as well as directors, acting directors, key officials, lecturers, staff and students of KUPU SB were also present.

The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Asma ‘ul-Husna led by Head Exco of Islamic Arts and Culture Mohd Faizzuddin bin Murni, followed by the singing of the national anthem and reading of Al-Quran verses.

In his welcoming remarks, President of the Student Association for 2018/2019 Abdul Nassir Saufi bin Hassan shared that the culture of the country is mostly influenced by Islam and Malay customs, with the most well-known Islamic influence in the field of arts being Jawi or calligraphy.

“In KUPU SB, we are emphasising on the arts and culture of Islam by wearing modest attire such as Baju Cara Melayu and Baju Kurung as our official attire and adopting Jawi as our main [Arabic writing system],” he said.

“It is desirable to hold firmly onto the aspiration for Brunei to be a prosperous country, increase solidarity among the people, improve the standard of living of the people, as well as uphold the Islamic Syiar and glorify Islam as the official religion of the country.”

The event saw poetry and calligraphy demonstrations and Silat, Syaer Al-Marhum, hadrah, archery and Pentomen performances by guests and students of KUPU SB.

The ceremony aimed to realise Brunei Vision 2035 and instil the spirit of patrio-tism and Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) among the youth through the showcase of local arts and culture.

ELEVEN participants from the Innovative Visionary Youth Programme (PIBB) have begun the Phase Two of the ‘21st-Century Skills Basic Training’ programme at Politeknik Brunei (PB), which ends on April 27. The induction day event was held at One Stop Centre, Politeknik Brunei.

The PIBB is a collaboration between the Community Development Department (JAPEM) of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, and PB. The programme aims to strengthen the identity and minds of children of monthly welfare assistance recipients, and to improve their skills so that they have a better chance of gaining employment and better equipped to face life’s challenges.

In PB, the youth will learn skills such as Microsoft Office skills, communication skills, entrepreneurship and other modules. The participant are paired with a PB student who will assist as a mentor.

Guest of honour was Head of Academic Programme of Politeknik Brunei, Pengiran Haji Muhammad Sufri bin Pengiran Haji Ali.

The event began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by Ustaz Awangku Jamaluddin bin Pengiran Haji Zainal.

Also present during the event were the heads of departments and heads of schools, PB staff and officers from JAPEM.

It is hoped that the youth participants will be able to use the skills they have gained to become part of a visionary generation.

|     Daniel Lim     |

FEMALE students from across the country took part in the Oil and Gas Discovery Centre (OGDC) Women In Science Boot Camp that ended yesterday.

The boot camp’s objectives were to strengthen female students’ involvement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education, encourage them to be more aware of current issues and develop their fourth Industrial Revolution projects.

The boot camp was held to select teams for a competition to be held in June this year.

The boot camp was organised at the multi-purpose hall of Chung Ching Middle School. It saw participation of 25 students from schools in Brunei-Muara District, Tutong District and Belait District.

There was a creative thinking workshop dubbed the NXplorers Workshop with an introduction to the sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Participants were introduced to tools such as Perspective Circle, Ripple Effect and Persuasion Pyramid.

Also conducted during the boot camp were team-building activities and challenges to leadership skills and teamwork. The activities included Atoms Smashers and Diamonds In the Rough.

Guest speakers were from Brunei Gavel Club to teach public speaking and leadership skills.

Head of Exhibition for OGDC Nur Karnina binti Karim presented certificates during the closing ceremony.

The students will pitch their project ideas to a panel comprising a representative from Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP) Suriani binti Garip, a representative from Brunei Darussalam Teachers Academy (BDTA) Hajah Rosinah binti Haji Sabli and representatives from OGDC Nur Karnina and Nurul Fathien binti Amirul who is also the project manager for Women in Science Boot Camp.

|     Aziz Idris     |

THE United Kingdom (UK) Royal Navy ship HMS Montrose concluded its two-day visit to the Sultanate with joint naval exercises alongside KDB Berkat of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) yesterday.

The Type 23 frigate arrived in Brunei last Saturday to foster the longstanding bilateral defence relationship between the UK and Brunei through exchange visits and drills.

During an interview with local media, Commanding Officer of HMS Montrose Commander Conor O’Neill said that the main purpose of the visit was to stock up on supplies as its crew will be deployed to the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific for many years.

“This particular visit is focussed around logistics supply and we are grateful for the support of the RBN, the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam, and the British Garrison for making it possible,” he said.

“As we set sail and leave Brunei waters, we will conduct a sea exercise with KDB Berkat of the RBN.”

HMS Montrose will then head for Bahrain where she will be based for the next three years. There, she will conduct patrols and swap her entire crew with her sister ship HMS Monmouth every six months.

HMS Montrose’s stop in Brunei is the fourth visit of a UK Royal Navy ship to the country in the past 12 months, following the visits of the Royal Navy flagship HMS Albion, and HMS Argyll.

HMS Montrose is currently operating as part of the UK’s Joint Expeditionary Force, which requires her to be ready to respond to National and Coalition Tasking. Her forward deployment to the Asia-Pacific region is a demonstration of the UK’s commitment to maritime security across the globe, and of the UK’s regional engagement in building regional maritime capability.

HMS Montrose has also been monitoring the enforcement of UN sanctions against North Korea, preventing illegal ship-to-ship transfers of banned goods as part of the international pressure campaign against North Korea’s illegal nuclear programme.

The vessel is also involved in the global campaign against plastic pollution in the oceans, doing its part by recording pollution at remote islands under the British Overseas Territories: the Pitcairn Islands of Pitcairn, Dulcie, Oneo and Henderson.

Commander O’Neill personally conducted an aerial survey of the masses of debris on the shorelines of the islands, in particular Henderson Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and dubbed “the most polluted island in the world”.

|     Danial Norjidi     |

BANK Islam Brunei Darussalam’s (BIBD) branchless banking initiative allows anyone to have access to financial services without the need to physically go to a banking branch, as well as have digital payment capabilities.

This was highlighted yesterday during a press conference organised by BIBD, which took place at the Royal Brunei Recreation Club and was led by BIBD Chief Operating Officer Dr Gyorgy Ladics and BIBD Head of Retail Banking Hajah Nurul Akmar binti Haji Mohd Jaafar.

In a statement, BIBD shared that in creating an “Infinity of Possibilities”, BIBD through its BIBD NEXGEN platform supports Brunei Darussalam’s smart nation initiatives and Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD)’s digital roadmap to encourage and utilise a digital payment ecosystem to embrace a digital transformation that provides benefits to both users and payment service providers.

The statement includes comments from BIBD Managing Director and CEO Mubashar Khokhar, who echoed this commitment. “Whilst we have placed efforts into encouraging the adoption of a digital Bruneian economy via our own technologies that resulted in over 140,000 BIBD NEXGEN banking users, we remain cognisant we need to go further and evolve if we were to create more impact for a truly digital economy.

“In this belief while embracing our Bruneian at Heart ethos along with Brunei’s Whole-of-Nation approach, we started our collaborations with Progresif last May to launch Progresif Pay,” he said. “Today, we are taking branchless banking to another level by allowing anyone to have access to financial services without the need to physically come to a banking branch. This mobile convenience creates further inclusion for the expansion of a larger digital audience via partnerships with industries beyond the banking sector.”

“This first for Brunei is a collaborative effort that delivers on our commitment as Brunei’s economic partner of growth and empower other technologies with banking and payment capabilities for better financial inclusion through our branchless banking collaboration with telco partnership,” he added.

“This way, we are able to assimilate Brunei’s economy faster into the global digital economy that is expected to be worth over USD20 trillion by 2025.”

It was shared that BIBD’s branchless banking initiative will facilitate for enrichment of the wider customer experience, and will open up and make available the technology to all mobile users to allow for the improved adoption of a robust local digital ecosystem that will allow increased de-cashing with secure, innovative and documented digital payments.

BIBD also took the opportunity to introduce its latest innovation, BIBD NEXGEN Wave, which is aimed at narrowing the gaps towards a fully digitised and cashless society.

Using Near Field Communications (NFC), BIBD NEXGEN Wave will be able to interact with other international wallet and payment solutions such as Apply Pay and Google Pay in a global payment economy that is expected to be worth USD20 billion by 2020.

Dr Gyorgy Ladics said, “I’m happy to see the growth of the BIBD NEXGEN Wallet ecosystem that has grown to more than 14 million transactions in 2018 alone. This reflects the digital-readiness of the Brunei Darussalam public that has embraced the digital revolution at a very remarkable pace.”

“In taking this success further, our branchless banking proposition through our collaboration with telcos such as Progresif will seek to replicate this success onto a larger audience to benefit the wider public,” he said.

“Through branchless banking, our partnerships with telcos will extend and create a larger and more capable digital financial ecosystem that will provide the economy with a convenience that connects and unifies the customer base using multi-platform acceptance, benefit merchants with lowered set-up costs and reduced barriers of entry, and also safer and more secured transactions that are digitised and real-time.”

The Chief Operating Officer further added in the press conference, “We all believe that this is a platform and a success we need to ensure can be wider shared through a collaboration, especially with Progresif, we have the means and we have the ways to actually share this success to a wider audience, and we all believe that this partnership will make more success and more products available to all in Brunei.”

Speaking on branchless banking, he said, “It means that you don’t have to come to a BIBD branch to have access to basic financial services, and having digital payment capabilities. You can work with your telcos, you can work with Progresif, and everybody can have access to financial services and basic digital payment capabilities.”

Meanwhile, Hajah Nurul Akmar reiterated BIBD’s commitment towards its customers by saying, “We understand that in order to provide a richer customer experience, we need to go beyond providing our customers with the capabilities to digitally transact.”

“While our collaboration with our telco partners such as Progresif will enable any member of the public holding a mobile phone to have access to a full suite of banking and transactional services, we will need to also ensure that we have a marketplace for them to utilise these services and capabilities.”

She highlighted that BIBD’s partnership with DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) in the upcoming MSME Festival to be held at the BRIDEX International Conference Centre on March 28 “is part of our efforts to create a larger digital marketplace for our customers to engage and better understand the benefits of the services under our BIBD NEXGEN platform”.

“Over 100 merchants will have access to BIBD’s QuickPay and other payment solutions that will enable cashless transaction capabilities.”

Additionally, in further support of the event, BIBD will be showcasing its revised MSME account, which will focus on including more entrepreneurs to better understand and manage their business financials and also banking requirements.

This will also further reduce the challenges to entry into the business sector, whilst empowering local business to take control of their capabilities to maximise their growth potential.

It was also shared that the minimum opening of BND50 for MSME accounts is hoped to ease businesses in maintaining and managing their business costs and finances via a business account that will also facilitate their business transactional requirements.

|     Fadhil Yunus     |

BRUNEI Darussalam under-23 forward Naziruddin bin Haji Ismail missed a last-gasp penalty during a 2-1 loss to Indonesia in a dramatic finale of their Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Under-23 Qualifiers campaign at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi yesterday.

The youthful Wasps were denied their first point in the competition having lost their opening two games.

Brunei were trailing 2-0 when a retaken penalty from Md Azim Izamuddin bin Haji Suhaimi – their first goal of the competition – coupled with Indonesia being reduced to 10 men gave them renewed hope of an unlikely comeback.

The comeback seemed to be on the cards when Md Azim Izamuddin won his side a penalty but Naziruddin could not make the opportunity count for a late point in the 94^th minute.

Indonesia forward Muhammad Dimas Drajad played a starring role for his contributions on opposite ends of the pitch as goal-scorer and a penalty save, ensuring a solitary win in Group K.

Brunei Darussalam goalkeeper Haimie anak Nyaring landed into trouble after his clearance was blocked by Muhammad Dimas Drajad and his teammate Witan Sulaeman was quick to react and evade the sliding challenge of a defender.

The DPMM FC man elected to make a long kick from the ground as opposed to from his hands directly and by the time he launched one into the skies Muhammad Dimas had shut the space.

The forward succeeded in making the block as there was not enough elevation on the ball with his error-strewn goal kick.

Witan reached the ball first and Muhammad Dimas was in the most ideal position besides him to be fed on a silver platter. With Haimie committed in no man’s land, the Indonesian youngster squared the ball to Muhammad Dimas who steered it into the empty net.

The tricky Witan had a chance to hand Brunei another blow at the stroke of half time but Haimie pulled a good stop in a one-on-one confrontation.

The introduction of Egy Maulana Vikri gave the Indonesians more attacking options and he proved a constant threat to the Brunei defence.

In search of a second goal, Nurhidayat Haji Harris unleashed a decent volley wide from a Witan corner.

The Garuda needed a shot from distance to double the advantage as Muhammad Raffi Syarahil rifled a low left-footed strike from outside the box.

Brunei got the better of the Indonesian defence after they beat the offside trap with substitute Awangku Md Azreen Eskander bin Pengiran Haji Sa’oda all alone with only the goalkeeper to beat.

The forward was fouled by Indonesia goalkeeper Muhammad Riyandi to claim a chance from the spot.

Brunei’s Muhammad Nur Asyraffahmi bin Norsamri stepped up but missed the spot-kick and subsequently the rebound but almost instantaneously the referee showed Muhammad Riyandi, who had already been booked for his foul which led to the penalty, a second yellow card.

The most plausible explanation to his dismissal on closer inspection was for stepping ahead of his line.

Indonesia had used all their substitutes, so goal-scorer Muhammad Dimas was sacrificed to occupy the goalkeeper role.

A change of penalty takers saw Muhd Azim Izamuddin making no mistake from the spot with an emphatic finish.

Indonesia makeshift goalkeeper Muhammad Dimas kept his side in the lead after a display of bravery when he stormed out of his line to claim a loose ball with a Brunei attacker ready to pounce.

Brunei tried to make full use not just because of numerical advantage but also the goalkeeper not playing in his natural position as Naziruddin struck over the bar.

The youthful Wasps were presented an opportunity to recover from a defeat deep into injury time as Indonesia conceded a second penalty in as many minutes after Egy barged into Muhd Azim Izamuddin.

However, Naziruddin’s penalty attempt was too central for Muhammad Dimas who became the hero with a match-winning save.

|     Daniel Lim     |

THE Information Department continued its two-day ‘Informed Community’ programme for residents of the National Housing Scheme (RPN) of Panaga, Seria at the multipurpose hall of Panaga Primary School yesterday.

Prior to the start of the programme, Head of the Information Department, Belait District Branch Pengiran Haji Ahmad Fadillah Akhbar bin Pengiran Haji Sellahuddin explained that the programme represents a platform for the Information Department to deliver official information on the current policies and intentions of the government to achieve Brunei Vision 2035.

“The programme will not only consist of briefings and dialogue sessions conducted to disseminate the relevant information to the participating residents, but also visits to various key locations to provide the residents with first-hand information on the ongoing efforts in realising the Brunei Vision 2035,” he said.

He hoped that the participating residents will make full use of the opportunity to gain beneficial information to ensure the communities are armed with the most relevant and up-to-date information with regards to Brunei.

The guest of honour Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Hamid bin Haji Mumin was welcomed by Pengiran Haji Ahmad Fadillah Akhbar.

The programme saw over 70 participants comprising residents of RPN of Panaga listening to a briefing on the development and effort made by 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 to further enhance the livelihood of the citizens in the country.

Also present were Acting Director of Information Hajah Noorashidah binti Haji Aliomar, Acting Penghulu of Mukim Seria Haji Saidin bin Haji Ibrahim, and Education Officer at the Ministry of Education Desmond Lim King Wee as well as Hajah Jeriah binti Haji Duraman, Hajah Zaiton binti Haji Damit, Mohd Hatta bin Haji Suhaili, and Norfaezah binti Haji Masri from the Department of Schools.

Among the activities included briefings and talks by speakers from a variety of background.

Some topics discussed include the role of a community in achieving the Brunei Vision 2035, mandatory education acts, drug abuse, and domestic violence.

The programme will continue today with a briefing on the unemployment issues and visit to Golden Corporation Sdn Bhd in the Tutong District.

|     Hakim Hayat     |

TOTAL E&P BORNEO BV yesterday celebrated the return of five Bruneian students from the first batch of scholars who completed their Master’s degrees in France under the Total Education Scholarship Scheme (TESS).

The event was organised in recognition of their achievements and also in appreciation to the support given by all stakeholders such as authorities and regulators including Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry (MEMI), Ministry of Education (MoE), the Embassy of the Republic of France in Brunei Darussalam, PetroleumBrunei and Alliance Francaise as well as the partners who contributed to the scholarship programme – Petronas Carigali Brunei Limited and Murphy Oil.

Permanent Secretary (Manpower) at the MEMI Haji Zolkiflee bin Haji Abdul Karim was the guest of honour at the event held at The Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong.

He praised the capabilities of Bruneians in learning using a different education system and language.

Stressing the importance of the recruitment and development of Bruneians especially since the issuance of the Bruneianisation Directive in June last year, he also praised Total and its partners for their commitment and effort in supporting the government’s vision to continuously develop highly competent Bruneians to lead the oil and gas industry.

“A strong public-private partnership and collaboration is very important especially in achieving a common goal towards realising Brunei Vision 2035,” he added.

Meanwhile, General Manager of Total E&P Borneo BV and Total E&P Deep Offshore Borneo BV Vincent Dutel shared that the TESS was part of their commitment in Brunei to contribute towards the development of competencies, knowledge and skills of young Bruneians in the oil and gas industry.

He said each accepted scholar receives a full scholarship to study in France up to Master’s degree level, approximately seven years including a 14-month pre-university programme designed to help the students with the French Language as well in understanding the French educational system. Prior to this, the students are also provided with an intensive French Language programme supported by Alliance Francaise in Brunei.

All the returning scholars are now integrated in Total and are contributing towards the development of the oil and gas industry in the country.

Abdul Malik bin Mahyuddin graduated with a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Grenoble and is currently working as a field engineer while Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering specialising in geoscience graduate from University of Pau and Pays d’Adour Chantelle Phung is now working as a junior geophysicist.

Chua Yi Sern who graduated with an Engineering Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from National Institute of Applied Science in Rennes is working at the Total Onshore Processing Plant in inspection while Muhammad Aizat bin Hamidun who graduated with a Masters of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from Polytech in Lille is working as a field engineer.

Heather Lim who now works as a process engineer graduated with a Masters of Engineering in Chemical and Process Engineering from ENSIACET Toulouse.

At present, Total said there are five more students under the TESS in France. Two will complete their studies and graduate in 2020 while the remaining three will graduate in 2021.

The TESS was introduced in 2012 and offered by Total E&P Deep Offshore Borneo (Operation of Block CA1) together with its CA1 Partners Petronas Carigali Brunei Ltd and Murphy Oil to Bruneian students who have completed their GCE ‘A’ Level to give them the opportunity to pursue their studies at internationally recognised French universities and higher education institutions up to Master’s degree level in oil and gas related fields.

|     Hakim Hayat     |

A WIDE selection of delicacies prepared by local food vendors from small to prominent names in the food industry are being offered in the week-long Charity Food Fest 2019 launched yesterday evening at the Dermaga Diraja in the capital.

Guest of honour Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong officially launched the event.

The event held at the bank of Brunei River with a scenic view of Kampong Ayer is hoped to help spruce up the atmosphere of the capital especially during the school holidays and also provide a platform for local vendors to showcase their food and beverage products.

With the participation of over 30 local vendors who have the skills and capabilities to produce good quality and tasty food products, the event also serves to encourage them to emerge and promote their businesses and later push for further expansion in the future, as many are online-based businesses.

Apart from the food fest, several activities such as a cat showcase, reptile showcase, archery contest, colouring contest, live auditions and cultural and religious performances are lined up in the event that will conclude on March 31.

During the launching ceremony, the guest of honour presented certificates of participation to all vendors and also donations to selected orphans through proceeds collected from the event.

Charity Food Fest 2019 is jointly organised by AIZ Event Management and Nur Badiah Event Management with the support from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and opens from 10am to 10pm daily.

|     Danial Norjidi     |

THE Cloud Study Jam held by Google Developers Group (GDG) Brunei, Women Techmakers Brunei and Entrepreneurship Innovation Community and Outreach (EICO) yesterday aims at capacity building, said President of GDG Brunei and Founder of EICO Enterprise Afiq bin Mohammed.

Cloud Study Jams are community organised hands-on workshops that educate participants on Google Cloud technologies, providing community-run study groups for developers.

This two-day edition of the study jam, which is the latest in a series to have been conducted by GDG Brunei, takes place at Regus at the PGGMB building in the capital and is set to continue into its second and final day today.

According to the organisers, the workshops are conducted using the Qwiklabs platform that provides online learning environments called ‘labs’.

The training, it was shared, gives community members specific skills they can use for personal development or career advancement.

With Cloud Study Jams, participants learn the fundamental tools and capabilities of Google Cloud. Attendees receive free access to online labs, with recommended tracks to run such as Machine Learning, Kubernetes, Certification, Internet of Things (IoT) and Security.

In addition, following the session, participants can continue taking ‘labs’ to earn Google Cloud badges.

Another major component is the Product Camp – a user-driven ‘unconference’ that brings together passionate people to share about products and insights, with potential for collaboration.

As the organisers explained in a press release, an ‘unconference’ is a full-day conference organised, structured and led by the people attending it. Instead of a passive listening presentation style, all attendees and organisers are encouraged to become participants with discussion leaders providing moderation and structure for attendees.

At the ‘unconference’, event topics are not predetermined and panels are not arranged. Instead, the event lives and dies by the participation of the attendees. An attendee can run a full workshop or presentation, lead a Q&A, or lead or contribute to an open discussion.

The event yesterday began with an introduction to big data, machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI), before going into discussion. Participants then got to access Qwiklabs, going through two labs entitled ‘Introduction to SQL’ and ‘BigQuery Qwik Start’, before taking part in networking and wrap-up sessions.

Today will see attendees take part in a third lab, entitled ‘CloudML Engine Qwik Start’ followed by a session on Cloud Speech API. The proceedings will then conclude with the Product Camp.

Afiq shared that Cloud Study Jams are also taking place in other cities around the world at the same time. “Cloud Study Jam is a community-run event where we are all talking about developing tools. We talk about software and best practices within the tech industry.

“We see this as a form of capacity building for developers in Brunei,” he said.

“We see this not just as a classroom-style, but we want to get the insights of local developers as well.”

These insights, he said, include where these local developers currently stand within the industry, whether they’re there for the first time or if they perhaps have knowledge pertaining to the subject matter and can code, but don’t know where to go from there.

He explained that this is why the event features Lead for Women Techmakers Brunei and co-founder of Bruvera Saedah binti Hasnal to speak about how local developers can utilise their skills and where it can lead them.

“We’re sharing more about the tools and have the participants practise hands-on with the tools and the content provided by Google.”

He said that 30 participants are taking part in this study jam, and noted that they are mostly university students, some of who are still studying, while some are graduates. He also noted that some are experts and are currently working in tech companies locally or on a freelance basis.

Speaking on the ultimate aim of the event, Afiq said, “Firstly is capacity building. We want to train the locals more about machine learning and AI.

“The second thing is for them to talk and be more engaged with their own community, so for them to say, ‘OK, I’m not the only one who’s talking about machine learning and AI, and I can relate this to other people around me, so where do I go with this?’”

He said that it’s about whether they will come out as startups or whether they can come up with ways to put more value into the company or organisation they’re working with through these skills.

“Aside from that, I think the third point is that we want to highlight exposure on the communities, in this case, with tech and also women coders. So that’s the place where we have and we put emphasis on the Women Techmakers.”

He highlighted that Women Techmakers is an initiative by Google. “It’s to support the community of women coders and changemakers in Brunei, and also part of the region and internationally.”

On what skills he hopes to see the participants walk away with from the two-day event, Afiq said, “I would say that from our Qwiklabs training they will be able to utilise and understand more about the engines or maybe the various tools that we have, like communities, how they can start in terms of AI, how they start on machine learning, what language they use; a variety of things.”

The Cloud Study Jam event was sponsored by DARe (Darussalam Enterprise) and supported by Brunei Product Camp, with Regus as venue partner.

|     James Kon     |

DIRECTOR and Principal of Laksamana College of Business (LCB) and Kensington College of Business Ian Pirie said the private Culinary School will be the first of its kind in Brunei Darussalam, dedicated to providing training for students aspiring to become proficient in local and international cuisines.

He made these comments at the launching ceremony of the newly established Culinary School at LCB yesterday.

“This is a huge step forward for Brunei’s hospitality industry, especially because its Head of Department Luke Macann is internationally experienced.”

He added, “The school enables all students, both domestic and international, to access a wealth of hospitality opportunities and avenues worldwide. Its skills-based certificate and Diploma courses are awarded by the renowned City & Guilds, United Kingdom (UK), which provides internationally-recognised qualifications, awards assessments and support for individuals and organisations in the UK and across the globe.”

British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Richard Lindsay noted that the Culinary School is a mark of the continued growth of LCB and the deepening of its relationship with the British High Commission in Brunei Darussalam in the less than two years that he has been in Brunei.

“Part of this is (LCB’s) commitment to support ‘through life’ education – equipping your graduates for a future beyond LCB – either through pursuing their next phase of education in the UK, or preparing them for employment here in Brunei,” he said.

“It is also because you have such a focus on maintaining standards – not compromising to inflate grades or increase enrolment.

“I applaud your latest innovation – to introduce a culinary school. LCB’s initiative to offer a Culinary School fits directly into the element of Brunei Vision 2035 and the just-concluded 15th Legislative Council session’s focus on increasing employment opportunities for young Bruneians.”

Lindsay added, “It’s also smart business sense, both for Laksamana and for the students who decide to take (the courses), as there will always be a healthy demand for well-trained graduates from a culinary school such as this. You will be some of the first to pick up jobs.

“The higher the quality of your culinary expertise, the more you will be contributing to the attractiveness of Brunei as a tourist destination. I hope that you will each be playing your part in bringing more British tourists to Brunei – to appreciate the diversity of your food, to dispel any myths which may have been created by MasterChef UK about ‘crispy’ chicken rendang, and to enjoy the beauties of this wonderful country.”

The new Culinary School, located just beside the LCB building, underwent a thorough design and construction process. The result is a purposed-built facility designed to provide an authentic and professional culinary environment.

Intakes for the Culinary School are open in March and September, with 25 slots available for each.

|     James Kon     |

MINISTER of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong yesterday stressed the need for more chefs.

“We want to see more chefs, not cooks – chefs who can create an impact both locally and internationally,” he said at the official launching ceremony of the newly established Culinary School at Laksamana College of Business (LCB).

Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali highlighted the important role the school can potentially play in the domestic food industry.

“We have an interesting mix of cuisines here in Brunei Darussalam, from vendors selling traditional Malay fare to restaurants specialising in cuisines from all around the world such as the Middle East, Italy, China, Japan, Thailand, and Korea, to name a few,” he said.

“The food and beverage industry has grown quite significantly over the last five years.

“You can see new cafes and restaurants all over Brunei, with some incorporating Bruneian flavours and ingredients in their recipes and menus.

“As the industry continues to expand, businesses will need to know how to manage a more competitive market, and this will require them to become more aware of their strategies and increase creativity which can then lead to their success.

“It is therefore important to ensure that there is a continuous flow of culinary talent with high professional standards to serve Brunei.”

The minister said the Culinary School will “go a long way towards satisfying this need”, and “hopefully open doors for the students to rewarding careers”.

He noted that the School will be adopting syllabuses from City & Guilds, a reputable London-based vocational training provider, facilitated by highly qualified chefs with solid industry experience.

“I am hopeful that the Culinary School will become one of the region’s leading international culinary institutes in the near future,” the minister said.

“The school has what Brunei needs to produce talented and qualified professionals capable of creating world gastronomical delights, and most importantly, who don’t forget our own local Bruneian roots in the industry.” The public with aspirations of pursuing a career in the culinary arts can now enrol in the Culinary School at LCB.

The Culinary School, one of the first private culinary schools set up in Brunei Darussalam, offers students two City & Guilds culinary programmes: the Level 1 Certificate in Food Preparation and Cooking and Level 2 Diploma in Food Preparation and Cooking.

The Level 1 Certificate covers all the main elements of food preparation, while the Level 2 Diploma builds on the Level 1 Certificate course.

The programmes, recognised by employers worldwide, are ideal for a range of students, from those new to the kitchen to experienced professionals.

|     James Kon     |

LEAKAGE from an oil hose connected to the carburetor is believed to have caused a fire that engulfed a vehicle yesterday afternoon near the roundabout of the Limau Manis filling station.

According to the Fire and Rescue Department, a distress called was received at 2.41pm and three fire engines with nine firefighters from the Pengkalan Batu Fire Station were rushed to the scene.

The firefighters, led by Watch Commander of Team ‘C’ of the Pengkalan Batu Fire Station DSO Zulfefle bin Haji Ali brought the blaze under control within five minutes.

Also present was Commander of Pengkalan Batu Fire Station Assistant Superintendent of Fire and Rescue Haji Hassan bin Haji Jamudin.

Total loss from the fire is estimated at BND3,000.

In light of the incident, the Fire and Rescue Department reminded the public, especially road users, to ensure that the vehicles they are travelling in – particularly their wiring system – are in good condition and not faulty.

Owners of vehicles are advised that any modifications of their engine electric systems, including the wiring, must be carried out by accredited mechanics in accordance to the proper procedures, as faulty wiring can result in electrical current surges through the car, causing cables to burn. Road users are also urged to always be on the alert and comply with the traffic regulations, as well as to be aware of changes in their driving conditions (due to rain, slippery roads and limited vision especially at night).

For emergencies, the public can contact the Operation Centre of the Fire and Rescue Department at 995 and provide information on the incident.

|     Azlan Othman     |

INTERNATIONAL drug syndicates are resorting to the Internet and social media to recruit Bruneians as drug mules, said Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Education Officer Rahaman bin Haji Panjang yesterday, during a briefing session hosted by the Information Department.

“Bruneians have been used to smuggle drugs to Australia, Chile and China by air,” he said. “The (syndicates’) tactics involve luring them with free airfare, promises of marriage, lucrative payment and other rewards.”

He also advised those travelling abroad to secure their luggage with locks, and to be very cautious when approached by strangers.

The briefing session was held at the NCB Headquarters for the residents of RPN Kampong Panaga, who also heard a talk on domestic violence by Investigation Officer from the Women and Children Abuse Investigation Unit under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) Awangku Safajaya bin Pengiran Haji Ali.

The talk gave statistics of wife abuse, which were 122 cases in 2017, compared to 173 in 2016.

Meanwhile, there were three reported cases of husband abuse in 2017, compared to four in 2016.

On domestic violence perpetrated by family members, 20 cases were reported in 2017, compared to 27 in 2016.

Twenty rape cases were recorded in 2016-17, with 10 cases of rape being perpetrated by biological family members.

Forty cases of immoral acts were reported in 2017 compared to 48 in 2016, while there were two sodomy cases in 2017 and one in 2016.

On the issue of abandoned infants, two dead infants were found in 2017 compared to four in 2016.

One abandoned infant was rescued in 2016, with the same occurring in 2017.

Meanwhile, three cases of unruly adolescents were recorded in 2017, compared to two in 2016.

|     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, arrived in Hanoi, Socialist Republic of Vietnam yesterday for a State Visit.

Accompanying His Majesty is His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.

Present at Noi Bai International Airport, Hanoi to welcome His Majesty were Chairman of the Presidential Office as the Minister-in-Attendance Dao Viet Trung, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs To Anh Dung, and Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to Brunei Darussalam Do Anh Tuan.

Also present to greet His Majesty were Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof and Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Pengiran Haji Sahari bin Pengiran Haji Salleh.

Upon arrival, His Majesty was presented with a bouquet of flowers. His Majesty then walked past a static guard of honour mounted by members of the People’s Army of Vietnam before boarding a motorcade to a leading hotel in Hanoi where His Majesty will reside throughout the State Visit.

Diplomatic relations between Brunei Darussalam and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam were established on February 29, 1992.

Since then, the two countries have enjoyed broadening cooperation in various areas including trade, energy, agriculture and fisheries, communication, education, defence and people-to-people exchanges.

His Majesty left for Hanoi yesterday for a three-day State Visit until March 28.

Prior to departure from Istana Nurul Iman, a Doa Selamat was recited by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned.

Present at His Majesty the Sultan’s Flight Hangar in Rimba to bid farewell to His Majesty and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen were His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Wakeel, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, Her Royal Highness Princess Ameerah Wardatul Bolkiah, and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Also present were Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran-Pengiran Cheteria, the Speaker of the Legislative Council, Cabinet Ministers, members of the Privy Council, deputy ministers, Acting Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, and Acting Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force.

|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

THE Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam (MPABD) held a ceremony at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Jetty yesterday, where 50 lifejackets were handed to boat operators working along the Brunei River.

The lifejackets were contributed by the Royal Brunei Technical Service (RBTS) as part of efforts to support the MPABD’s campaign in boosting safety standards for local water transport.

Safety leaflets were also distributed among the boat operators, passengers and the public.

The MPABD delivered a briefing on the importance of wearing lifejackets when boarding water transports.

The event was jointly organised by the MPABD and the Ministry of Transport and Infocommuncations (MTIC).

Permanent Secretary at the MTIC Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Transport, Research and Development) at the MTIC Pengiran Mohd Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Infocommunications, Cybersecurity, Strategy and Corporate) at the MTIC Haji Hairul Mohd Daud bin Haji Abdul Karim attended the event.

MPABD Chief Executive Haji Mohd Salihin bin Haji Aspar and several MTIC officers were also present.

For information on current safety regulations, contact the Shipping Unit of the MPABD Operating Building at 2771354 during office hours or email to info@mpa.gov.bn.

|     Fizah HAB     |

HIGH Commissioner of Bangladesh to Brunei Darussalam Air Vice Marshal (Rtd) Mahmud Hussain yesterday highlighted the strong relationship between Brunei and Bangladesh through the growth of bilateral relations including arts, culture, education, defence training as well as employment of skilled workers.

He made these comments at a dinner reception hosted by the Bangladesh High Commission at The Empire Hotel & Country Club’s Indera Samudra Grand Hall in Jerudong.

The event was held in conjunction with Bangladesh’s 49th Independence and National Day.

The guest of honour, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, was welcomed by the Bangladesh High Commissioner.

Members of foreign Diplomatic Corps, local dignitaries, senior government officials and guests were also present.

The event proceeded with a cake-cutting ceremony and the presentation of a token of appreciation by the high commissioner to the guest of honour followed by a cultural performance by a Bangladeshi artiste.

|     James Kon     |

MINISTER of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Retired) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, and Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Yusof are leading their delegations at the 15th Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA ’19) at the Mahsuri International Exhibition Centre in Langkawi from March 26 to 30.

The Minister of Defence II is attending LIMA ’19 at the invitation of Malaysian Minister of Defence Haji Mohamad bin Sabu while the Minister of Transport and Infocommunications is attending at the invitation of Malaysian Minister of Transport Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

The LIMA ’19 is co-organised by the Malaysian Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Transport.

Accompanying the Minister of Defence II are Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar bin Haji Ma’awiah, Royal Brunei Air Force Commander Brigadier General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat, and Royal Brunei Navy Deputy Commander Captain Haji Othman bin Haji Suhaili @ Suhaily.

The opening ceremony was officiated yesterday by Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, under the theme ‘Defence and Commercial Connecting Intelligence’.

This biennial event also features the participation of defence and commercial international exhibitors showcasing a range of maritime and aerospace military, as well as commercial products and technology. It also serves as a platform for defence forces to assess defence capabilities.

The Minister of Defence II held a bilateral call with Malaysian Minister of Defence which was also attended by Brunei Darussalam’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Dato Paduka Haji Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Awang Mohd Taha.

Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence held a bilateral call with the Malaysian Secretary General of Defence Dato Halimi bin Abdul Manaf.

During these calls, both sides acknowledged the close bilateral relations between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia, while also discussing potential areas for defence cooperation.

The Minister of Transport and Infocommunications also held a bilateral call with his counterpart, the Malaysian Minister of Transport.

The bilateral call was also attended by Brunei Darussalam’s High Commissioner to Malaysia as well as senior officers from the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications and the Brunei Darussalam High Commission in Malaysia.

During the call, both sides discussed on strengthening areas of cooperation relating to cross-border matters in the land, aviation and maritime sectors.