|    James Kon    |

THE Brunei-Muara District Office and the BSB Municipal Department in collaboration with the outside activities unit of the Department of Schools, Ministry of Education is holding its enforcement roadshow on the ‘Minor Offences Act Chapter 30 Section 12 (1)’ at selected primary schools in the Brunei-Muara District.

This is being held in an effort to instil a mindset of keeping the environment and surroundings clean among children from an early age.

The Minor Offences Act, Chapter 30 Section 12 (1) pertains to the violation of “disposing rubbish in public places”.

The year-long roadshow, which will be held at 12 schools in the district, kicked off at Pintu Malim Primary School yesterday, attended by 60 students.

In the previous years, the roadshows were conducted for civil servants and selected inter-government agencies. The direction of the roadshows has been changed in recent years to focus on providing basic knowledge on the importance of keeping the environment clean for students aged seven to 12.

Facilitating the talk yesterday at Pintu Malim Primary School was a representative from the Law Enforcement Unit of the BSB Municipal Department and Head of the Licensing and Enforcement Unit at the Brunei-Muara District Office, Special Duties Officer II Pengiran Kamal Ariffin bin Pengiran Haji Md Yassin.

The roadshow ended with a question and answer session for the students.

|    Danial Norjidi    |

OVER 70 bags of waste were collected during a clean-up organised by Green Brunei at Kampong Sungai Kebun yesterday in conjunction with International Day of Action for Rivers.

From the bags of waste collected, the waste ranged from everyday items like plastic bags and bottles to junk food wrappers and styrofoam containers.

The clean-up event brought together around 40 volunteers comprising students, local residents, personnel from Sungai Kebun Fire Station and members of Green Brunei.

Legislative Council member and Co-Founder/Community Engagement Director of Green Brunei Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari and Village Head of Kampong Sungai Kebun Haji Marali bin Matzin were also present.

Speaking to the Bulletin, Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa shared that she was happy with the turnout of volunteers for the clean-up.

She highlighted the importance of rivers in Brunei Darussalam and affirmed that taking care of the environment is everyone’s responsibility. “That’s why today we have volunteers from different sectors. It’s not just the locals themselves, but we also brought in volunteers from schools and from the community so that everybody can take part in what today is all about, which is celebrating the International Day of Action for Rivers.”

She added that Green Brunei will organise more activities while they are always open to having more volunteers participating.

Green Brunei’s Kampong Ayer Clean-up Project involves youth in cleaning campaigns along the Brunei River. It is part of a series of clean-ups conducted by Green Brunei that hopes to create awareness on conserving cultural heritage, environmental sustainability and nurturing volunteerism.

A press release from Green Brunei noted that yesterday’s cleaning campaign was made possible through the support of Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (JASTRe), Sungai Kebun Fire Station and Al-Muhtadee Billah Mosque in Kampong Sungai Kebun. The event was also supported by Q-hanz Café.

BANK Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD), the nation’s largest Islamic financial institution, has amassed an asset size of over BND10 billion, a figure comparable among the region’s best Islamic bank.

The bank also posted a record profit of BND147.9 million in 2018.

These statistics were shared during an annual dinner hosted by the bank for its staff.

During the event, the bank celebrated the success of establishing itself as Brunei’s First Choice Bank.

BIBD’s Managing Director Mubashar Khokhar highlighted the bank’s achievements in recent years and acknowledged the contribution of everyone involved in its success.

BIBD attributed the success to the past and present staff and stakeholders of the bank, which was determined from key achievements with its employees, customers and stakeholders.

The bank’s internal employment survey revealed that over 83 per cent of its staff are happy and proud to be the bank’s employee with over 74 per cent saying that BIBD is a great place to work.

BIBD currently dominates the domestic market position. This is supported by the fact that it accounted for 61 per cent of Brunei’s banking profit before tax in 2018.

The bank’s ability to retain its A- S&P rating since 2015 also signifies the bank’s robustness and stability of its corporate governance, risk assessment and management adoption of best international practices.

|    James Kon    |

SOCIAL media users worldwide, including those in Brunei, were left in a bind yesterday as Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp went down for at least two hours.

The tech glitch, which began around 6.30pm local time according to Downdetector.com, resulted in users being unable to load their news feeds or send and receive messages on all three platforms.

The aftermath was a mishmash affair of anger, comedy and irony as Internet users took to Twitter to vent their frustrations on the outage and Mark Zuckerberg (the tech entrepreneur acquired Instagram and WhatsApp in 2012 and 2014).

“I was trying to send messages around 7pm but couldn’t get through,” lamented Jenny Lim, a local shop attendant.

“I also couldn’t receive any messages. I thought that there was something wrong with my phone. I tried to use Facebook to find out what happened and it didn’t load my news feed.

“I got to know what happened through a friend who called me after they couldn’t reach me on WhatsApp,” said Juma’at, another social media user from Brunei.

“The problem is quite a big deal, as more and more people depend on social media to get information and communicate with each other.”

The suffering of netizens was thankfully short-lived, as the apps resumed normal functions by 9pm.

|    James Kon    |

MORE than 300 people gathered at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien yesterday for the Reintegration Run 2019, running in support of former inmates and their journeys to be reintegrated into society.

The event was organised by the Prisons Department to mark its 65^th anniversary with the cooperation of the Aftercare Brunei Darussalam committee, Brunei Darussalam Athletics Federation and a number of other non-governmental organisations.

The event also saw the participation of Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong and 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, who took part in the cycling segment.

Acting Director of the Prisons Department Haji Muhammad ‘Ishamuddin bin Abdullah Juna and senior officials from various ministries also participated.

Themed ‘Change for Better’, Reintegration Run 2019 aimed to raise public understanding and awareness on the struggles of former inmates in reintegrating into society and transitioning back into everyday life with their families.

Its goal is to reduce social stigma against ex-prisoners when they return to the community and their families, as well as to  reduce the rate of recidivism among former inmates.

Prior to the run, the Minister of Home Affairs as the guest of honour participated in a warm-up session together with the other participants and representatives from the prison departments of Miri and Limbang.

The Minister of Home Affairs then sounded off the 11km Open Run Category, 11km Veteran Run Category and Fun Run, the latter of which he participated in.

Following the run, the minister toured the event’s side activities at the Taman. Activities included miscellaneous games, a ‘strongest man and woman’ contest, an exhibition, as well as pop-up sales of handicraft made by prisoners.

Deputy Director of Limbang Prison Superintendent Hamad bin Seman was complimentary about the event.

“This is a very good project of the Brunei Prisons Department. It is a very interesting and also challenging event. I managed to finish the 11km category,” he said.

“The event is very good for promoting a healthy lifestyle through exercise and proper bonding between family members.”

Speaking on the cooperation between the Brunei Prisons Department and Limbang Prison Department, he said, “We always share information and exchange views for better cooperation and improvements in our respective operations.”

|    Rokiah Mahmud    |

THE Department of Youth and Sports of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) has reopened the Youth Centre Hostel after the completion of a five-month upgrade works.

Officiating the revamped hostel was Permanent Secretary at the MCYS Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil as a personal representative of 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.

The ceremony commenced with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by Haji Abdul Halim bin Haji Fuad, and continued with a speech by Youth Centre Supervisor Haji Mohammad Sofian bin Haji Amit in his capacity as the chairman of the organising committee.

It continued with the recitation of Selawat by students of Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and attendees. The permanent secretary later toured the hostel.

The hostel is divided into two areas: The male hostel has 13 rooms (accommodating 44 beds) and one family rooms, while the female hostel has three rooms accommodating 20 beds. The revamped hostel aims to provide facilities for youth.

The Bandar Seri Begawan Youth Centre will notch its 50^th anniversary this year. Plans and initiatives have been lined-up by the ministry, including ‘Ruang Belia Kitani’ and the reopening of Dapur Belia and Youth Café in collaboration with DARe (Darussalam Enterprise).

The reopening of the hostel will help generate the country’s economy, with its affordable price rate. Other facilities will also be upgraded, to be carried out in phases.

Legislative Council members Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari and Yang Berhormat Naim bin Haji Kamis, Permanent Secretary (Administration, Finance and Estate) at the MCYS Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Youth and Sports)at the MCYS Colonel (Rtd) Pengiran Haji Maiddin bin Pengiran Haji Said and Acting Director of Youth and Sports Haji Zafri bin Haji Mohamed also attended.

|    Lyna Mohamad    |

THE Muslimah Affairs Division of the Department of Mosque Affairs at the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) in collaboration with the Takmir committee members of Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque jointly held a special religious talk for the Brunei-Muara District Muslimah Guidance Class at the mosque in the capital yesterday.

The ceremony was held in conjunction with the Israk Mikraj 1440 Hijrah / 2019 celebration.

Spouse of the Permanent Secretary at the MoRA Datin Hajah Norliyana binti Haji Arif Lim was the guest of honour.

Female officers and staff of the MoRA and the Brunei-Muara District Muslimah Guidance Class members were also present.

The ceremony began with mass recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by Head of Muslimah Affairs Noraini Yanti binti Haji Hussin, followed with the special talk delivered by lecturer at the Syariah and Law Faculty of Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) Dr Widad binti Haji Abdul Aziz.

Apart from enlivening the Israk Mikraj 1440 Hijrah celebration, the religious event also served as a joint participation in spreading Islam as well as to reminisce the history that occurred during Israk Mikraj along with taking lessons from it. To bless the ceremony, a Doa Peliharakan Sultan dan Brunei Darussalam was read by teaching staff member of the mosque’s Muslimah Guidance Class Hajah Halimah binti Haji Mohd Said.

The ceremony aimed to strengthen sisterhood among the Muslimah Guidance Class members and provide an opportunity for Muslimah to remember the history of Israk Mikraj and take examples from it in becoming pious Muslimah.

|    Hakim Hayat    |

THE Borneo Bulletin Yearbook (BBYB) hosted its Business Networking event yesterday, connecting industry leaders at the Royal Brunei Recreation Club (RBRC) in Berakas.

The event – the third of its kind – saw representatives from the energy, banking, communications, automotive, business services, healthcare and other sectors, as well as members from the government and government-linked companies (GLCs) converge to exchange ideas and form partnerships as Brunei steps up its economic diversification efforts.

Permanent Secretary (Investment) at the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE) Haji Khairuddin bin Haji Abdul Hamid was present as the guest of honour.

In her welcoming speech, Brunei Press Sdn Bhd Acting General Manager Hazizah Osman shared that since its inception in 1993, the BBYB has evolved into a publication with a circulation of over 50,000 today, with its digital version registering 2.2 million page views and receiving 6 million hits last year.

She also noted that the yearbook has received excellent response since undergoing a rebranding exercise three years ago to focus more on business, showcasing industry leaders in the various fields, foreign direct investment (FDI), local businesses, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

Shedding more light on the theme for the BBYB 2019 – ‘Building Bridges, Gateway to ASEAN’, Hazizah said this year’s edition focusses on the government and private sectors’ efforts in transforming the country into a physical and digital business gateway to ASEAN and beyond.

“The success of the Borneo Bulletin Yearbook for the past 26 years is attributed to the demand for a comprehensive guide to Brunei. As we evolve further, we look forward to your continuous support,” she concluded.

First held in 2017, the networking event has been well-received over the last three years. This year’s edition features a mini exhibition to provide more opportunities for information sharing among participants.

The BBYB 2019, which can be redeemed for free through vouchers in Borneo Bulletin and Media Permata from the April 15 and 16, features key information on Brunei with a special focus on the halal industry, innovative technology, banking and finance, business services and energy.

It is available in all hotel rooms throughout the country, Brunei foreign embassies worldwide, and high commissions based in Brunei. A digital format is also accessible through borneobulletinyearbook.com.bn.

|   Daniel Lim    |

THE pouring rain yesterday morning could not dampen the spirits of a group of Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) servicemen as they journeyed to the Belait District to carry out their community duties as part of the RBAF Community Service Programme marking the RBAF’s 57^th anniversary.

The programme, conducted as part of RBAF’s mission to foster and strengthen its rapport with the community, was held at Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam in Kuala Belait, with the soldiers working together to clean up the premises, carry out repairs on its facilities, clear the compound of overgrown brush and give wayward trees a much-needed prune.

Joining the activity as the guest of honour was Commander of the RBAF Major General Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Aminan bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud.

Welcoming the RBAF Commander to the venue was Senior Trustee of Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Alimin bin Haji Abdul Wahab and Branch Manager of Pusat Ehsan Kuala Belait Hamimah binti Sapar.

Also present were Legislative Council member and Penghulu of Mukim Liang Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Hamid bin Haji Mumin, Acting Belait District Officer Ridzuan bin Haji Ahmad, service commanders, commandants and senior officers from the RBAF; as well as staff and students of Pusat Ehsan KB.

In an interview with the Bulletin, Commanding Officer of the Recruit Company at the Training Institute of RBAF726 Major Shahrul Amirul Iqbal bin Haji Sharbini noted that the annual community activity is aimed at lessening the burden of those in need.

“We hope that programmes such as this will help enrich the lives of those who are using the surrounding area, in this case, the students with special needs at Pusat Ehsan KB,” said Major Shahrul Amirul Iqbal, who was acting as the chairman of the programme at the centre. “Hopefully such charitable works will help inspire more people to do the same for other agencies in need.”

Following the spring clean and touch-up works at the centre’s compound, the programme continued with Major General Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Aminan handing over a plaque commemorating the occasion on behalf of the RBAF to Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Alimin, who represented Pusat Ehsan KB.

In return, Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Alimin handed Major General Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Aminan a token of appreciation as a show of gratitude.

The RBAF Commander also participated in a tree planting ceremony, planting a seedling in the front yard of the centre to commemorate the occasion.

|    James Kon    |

THIRTY participants of the 11^th ASEAN Emergency Response and Assessment Team (ASEAN-ERAT) induction course, including eight from Brunei Darussalam, are ready to respond to any disasters in ASEAN.

Yesterday they received their certificates and ASEAN-ERAT jackets after completing the eight-day course.

The certificates and jackets were presented by Acting Permanent Secretary (Security, Welfare and Law) at the Ministry of Home Affairs Ajman bin Haji Meludin in an event held at the Games Village of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex.

Ajman, the event guest of honour, said of the course in his remarks, “The comprehensive scope of the programme has ensured that the participants have covered a lot of areas spanning theoretical, practical and technical areas such as coordination, logistics, information management and leadership, among others. There was also a module on dealing with the media, which I believe is very important in this age of digitalisation and social media.”

He continued, “The range of issues dealt with in the course ensures that participants have a solid foundation of skills and knowledge needed to succeed in fulfilling the objectives and targets of any future ASEAN-ERAT deployment.”

Ajman added that he hopes the participants have managed to get a taste of what a potential emergency deployment might entail.

“[The participants] had to face a grueling 48-hour exercise where they were constantly bombarded with incidents and situations designed to test their will and endurance. Because in the real world, this is what the participants will be facing,” he said.

“When the participants graduate, they know that they will officially have taken on the duties and responsibilities only 274 other people (the total number of participants under ASEAN-ERAT, excluding the 30 who received completion certificates yesterday) in the Southeast Asian region have been given.”

The acting permanent secretary noted that “the road does not end here”, just because the induction course has been completed. “I am confident that this is the start of several beneficial and productive working relationships that advance the ASEAN Declaration on One ASEAN One Response,” he said.

The ASEAN-ERAT was established by the ASEAN Committee on Disaster Management and is comprised of heads of national disaster management organisations in each of the 10 ASEAN member countries. Its team consists of individuals who have experience in and are trained in handling disaster in the region.

The ASEAN-ERAT falls under the management of the ASEAN Humanitarian Assistance (AHA) Centre, which functions as a coordination hub to move resources to areas affected by disasters in the region.

|    Azlan Othman    |

BRUNEIANS should look after their diets and carry out more exercise to prevent cancer – even simple activities such as walking can be beneficial.

This was the main advice given by two overseas cancer experts who were in the country for the 1^st Borneo Medical Oncology Conference held from April 14 to 15.

The conference, organised by the Pantai Jerudong Specialist Centre (PJSC), saw industry experts sharing the latest developments in the field of oncology.

“The cancer scene here is similar compared to anywhere in the world,” said Professor Karol Sikura, one of the two cancer experts the Bulletin spoke to. “People should stop smoking to tackle lung cancer. The PJSC and hospitals have lovely gymnasiums and swimming facilities for people to use. Any sort of exercise will do. We can take the stairs instead of using the lift.”

Professor Angus Dalgleish, meanwhile, noted that one should practise an anti-inflammatory diet and consume more vegetables and fruit.

Medical Director of PJSC and Director of The Brunei Cancer Centre Dato Seri Laila Jasa Dr Babu Sukumaran from the PJSC echoed a similar view, calling on Bruneians to “look after their diet and fight the surging obesity rate by reducing meat and fat intake or eating food with preservatives”.

Among the topics covered at the conference include recent technological and therapy advances in cancer treatment at the PJSC.

Asked what he thought of the facilities at the centre, Professor Karol Sikura said, “The centre is impressive with its state-of-the-art chemotherapy, radiotherapy, diagnostics and CT scan facilities – these are all of world standards. The centre is 95 to 98 per cent able to treat cancer patients as it is well-equipped.

“Ten years ago, many cancer patients used to go to Singapore or Malaysia for treatment, and this is disruptive as cancer spreads quickly,” he added.

“The medical and nursing staff are great. The technology found at this centre is similar to those found in the West. The result is comparable with the best in the world. But the population here in the Sultanate is not enough for the state-of-the-art technology found at PJSC to be used to the full.”

For treatments such as bone marrow transplants which can’t be done in Brunei or the PJSC, Professor Dalgleish said he and Professor Sikura can afford the country assistance in the area.

Executive Director of PJSC Dr Haji Mazrul Adimin bin Haji Besar added his thoughts on the country’s cancer problem.

“Cancer is the number one cause of death in Brunei Darussalam, overtaking the heart problem,” he said. “There are so many ways to create awareness on cancer, including through education for the public. But one of the ways to tackle cancer is to reach out to experts and international colleagues who have more experience (in the area) and (draw their) opinions on the many complex cancer cases here in the Sultanate.”

“This is to ensure that we do the right things and (operate on an) international level,” added Dr Haji Mazrul Adimin. “We are on the right track with regards to the facilities at PJSC, we can do the same cancer treatment procedures as in other countries here.”

The first session of the Borneo Medical Oncology Conference took place last Sunday, with yesterday’s session seeing the invited cancer experts discussing the latest advancements in oncology.

This is the first conference held in Brunei linking local cancer specialists with their counterparts in Sarawak, Sabah and the rest of Borneo, part of the PJPC’s efforts to position itself as a leading cancer centre on the island.

Participants at the event include oncologists practising in Borneo as well as top cancer experts from the United Kingdom (UK).

Professor Karol Sikora is the Chief Medical Officer of Proton Partners International, which is currently creating the UK’s first network of Proton Beam Therapy Centres for the treatment of cancer.

Professor Angus Dalgleish is a fellow at the Royal College of Physicians of the UK and Australia. His research interests include the study of how viruses cause cancer, the immunology of cancer, and the development of immunotherapies in the management of cancer.

|    Hakim Hayat    |

THE role of the private sector remains vital in boosting Brunei’s economic diversification efforts and the government continues to push for more inward investments into the country by leveraging its strategic location and economic partnerships, Permanent Secretary (Investment) at the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE) Haji Khairuddin bin Haji Abdul Hamid said.

He made these remarks in his speech as the guest of honour at the Borneo Bulletin Yearbook (BBYB) Business Networking Session 2019 event held at the Royal Brunei Recreation Club in Berakas yesterday.

Haji Khairuddin also highlighted the strides made by Brunei as it moves forward to become more pro-business, adding that the record low oil prices in recent years have prompted the government to make extensive efforts to diversify its economy and encourage more foreign direct investment (FDI).

These efforts, he said, have proven to be fruitful as Brunei has successfully attracted interest from various international firms from Canada, China, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and Turkey, among others, in multi-faceted industries including food processing, manufacturing and tourism.

The permanent secretary also quoted a foreword message by Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah in the BBYB 2019 where the minister underlined the government’s commitment to actively promote Brunei as an investment destination, “leveraging on its strategic location within ASEAN and trade arrangements with other countries”.

Touching on the theme for the BBYB 2019, ‘Building Bridges – Gateway to ASEAN’, the permanent secretary said it aptly summarises Brunei’s important role in diversifying the economy and pushing economic boundaries.

He also highlighted the important role government-linked companies (GLCs) play in Brunei’s business landscape, noting that they provide employment opportunities and potential partnerships for local small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

“Other private companies play a big role in this as well,” he added.

Haji Khairuddin pointed out that in creating a more conducive business environment and increasing attractiveness for FDIs, Brunei continues to improve in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business ranking over the years, adding that the implementation of Brunei Darussalam’s National Single Window (BDNSW) system is one of the many initiatives made by the government to provide a digital gateway and platform to ensure a pro-investor and pro-business environment.

  To this end, he said, the BBYB highlights the country’s investment potential, business opportunities, entrepreneurship landscape, banking and finance industry, FDI initiatives, the energy sector and other important areas for investors considering starting a business in Brunei as well as existing businesses seeking comprehensive information on the country.

The BBYB, published by Brunei Press Sdn Bhd and first going into circulation in 1993, is the most comprehensive guide to Brunei Darussalam, offering key information on the country with special focus on its main and emerging industries.

THE 9^th Navy Day Regatta held at the Royal Malaysian Navy Yacht Club in Kota Kinabalu saw two invited Brunei sailors bagging gold and bronze medals in the sailing competition. The two-day event started on April 12.

Muhammad Fadzlin bin Hassan claimed top position in the Laser Standard category, while Nasiruddin bin Harun secured third place in the Laser Radial class.

Both sailors represented the Brunei Darussalam Yachting Association.

This event saw 60 sailors from the Kinabalu Yacht Club, Sandakan Yacht Club and Tawau Yacht Club participating in this regatta.

Sabah Sports Minister Datuk Poon Ming Fung and Sabah Assistant Minister of Trade and Industry Azhar bin Datuk Haji Matussin were the guests of honour at the closing ceremony. Admiral of Eastern Fleet Laksamana Madya Datuk Abdul Rahman bin Ayob and Navy First Admiral cum Commodore of the Navy Yacht Syed Ahmad Hilmi bin Syed Abdullah also attended.

It was the first ever Brunei participation in the Navy Day Regatta.

|    Aziz Idris    |

OVER 300 students attended the Rakan Remaja Penerangan (RRP) programme organised by the Information Department at Sayyidina Umar Al-Khattab Secondary School (SMSUA) in Lumapas yesterday.

The programme’s objective was to educate youth, especially school students on current developments aside from becoming a positive information dissemination agent for their peers.

It is also aimed at providing civic awareness and instilling a spirit of nationhood among the young generation.

Principal of SMSUA Sinasuria binti Haji Ibrahim, teachers and officials from the Information Department were also present.

Assistant Information Officer, Mohd Norakram bin Noraini @Bahrin delivered the nationhood talk on Brunei Darussalam’s national anthem and national flag. A video clip presentation on Kibarkanlah Dengan Megah Bendera Negara and Semarak Pengibaran Bendera as well as an animation video clip Tatacara Menaikkan Bendera Negara were also shown.

The students were also briefed on the Information Department’s mobile application ‘InfodeptBN’.

|    Rokiah Mahmud   |

AUTOMAGINATION Services, sole distributor for TEIN products and equipped with professional technicians and mechanics to help assist and assemble the EnduraPro series to customers’ vehicle, yesterday launched the TEIN EnduraPro Series.

Three representatives from TEIN Inc (Japan) namely Yasushi Furubayashi, Tomoaki Himeno and Ayumu Kikuchi are in the Sultanate to launch the new products.

The representatives highlighted that the technology is equipped with Hydraulic Bump Stopper (HBS).

The TEIN Inc (Japan) is a well recognised reputable manufacturer and distributor of high-quality automotive suspension parts.

TEIN EnduraPro products are recommended as they provide comfort, reliability, safety and enhances driving quality.

EnduraPro series is designed and built to be used in combination with original suspension components and to maintain the original ride height.

The product also caters to different vehicle brands such as Toyota, Suzuki, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Lexus and Honda, while Korean car brands like Hyundai and Kia are in the process of expansion for the EnduraPro Series.

THE Tatar Muslim community, which arrived in Poland over 600 years ago, continues to practise their traditions and religious beliefs until today.

This was shared by Director of Academic Studies / Operations at the Laksamana College of Business (LCB) Bogusia Mischke during the launch of the Tatars: Muslims in the Republic of Poland Exhibition at LCB on Monday.

She added that living far from main Muslim centres, the community learn to adopt by building mosques decorated with Al-Quran verses preserved and handed down from generation to generations.

Deputy Permanent Secretary (Tourism) at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali was the guest of honour.

Ambassador-Designate of the Republic of Poland to Brunei Darussalam Professor Krzysztof Debnicki and LCB Director Haji Suhaimei bin Haji Awang Besar were also present.

Professor Krzysztof Debnicki noted that although the size of the Tatar society in Poland is small, the community have an important role in the history of the country and have their own unique culture, food and lifestyle.

He hoped the exhibition will provide an opportunity for locals to learn more about to the unique culture of the Tatar Muslim community and the history of Islamic civilisation in Poland which dates back from 14^th Century.

There are 4,000 Tatars living in Poland to date.

The exhibition at Level 2, LCB in Batu Satu until May 3 is free to the public. The exhibition is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

|     Daniel Lim     |

PIED Hornbill and Rhinoceros Hornbill advanced to the semi-finals of the Belait Under-10 7-a-side Football Tournament at the Arena Football Field in Seria.

Pied Hornbill will face Muhammad Alam FC in the first semi-final on April 21, while Rhinoceros Hornbill will compete against BSRC FC Youth Red.

Seven teams competed in the tournament’s group stages, with BSRC FC Youth Red, Pied Hornbill, and SR Panaga competing in Group A; while Muhammad Alam FC, BSRC Youth Blue, Rhinoceros Hornbill, and Ahmad Tajuddin FC competed in Group B.

In Group A, Pied Hornbill’s Prabhew Rai Mubarmy retained his good scoring form as he helped his team stay in the tournament with two goals, along with his teammates Yedim Limbu and Manojolo Veljic with one each.

BSRC Youth Red’s Abdul Haikal bin Herman and Abdul Quddus bin Irwan Rino scored a goal each, pinning the team in close second in the total number of goals scored during the group stages.

Harry Tomlin of Rhinoceros Hornbill in Group B leads the group’s scoreboard with four total goals under his belt. His teammate Nikeet Pun also scored two goals in the group stage, adding the firepower of Rhinoceros Hornbill for their upcoming semi-final.

Despite their strong performance, Rhinoceros Hornbill will need to watch out for the two strike forces of Muhammad Alam FC duo, Md Riyadh Fadlullah bin Md Redzuann and Md Qarin Qusyairi bin Md Sharin. They scored two goals each for their team during their matches in the group stages.

The tournament was organised by the Belait District Football Association (PBDB) and JCAD Enterprise.

THE Land Force Skill at Arms Meet (LFSAAM) concluded with a ceremony at Binturan Shooting Range yesterday.

The event, which began on April 8, was hosted by the Support Battalion, Royal Brunei Land Force (RBLF).

Commander of the RBLF Brigadier General Dato Seri Pahlawan Khairul Hamed bin Haji Lampoh was the guest of honour.

The Deputy Commander of the RBLF, senior officers, officers and guests attended.

The guest of honour was welcomed by Chairman of the LFSAAM 2019 Lieutenant Colonel Haji Rony Zai bin Haji Zaini.

The ceremony commenced with an overall briefing and a site visit to the Secretariat and Statistics Centre (STATS). The RBLF Commander also observed the Final Rifle Match 5 and participated in a Novelty Shoot.

The ceremony moved to the Grand Stand at Gallery 1, where the guest of honour received an honorary salute led by Major Mohd Shalleh bin Haji Ismail.

The event continued with an introduction to the contingent commanders, the prize presentation for the winners of the Novelty Shoot and challenge trophy for the winning teams, and closing remarks by the guest of honour.

The Support Battalion, RBLF emerged as the overall champion of the LFSAAM 2019, followed by the First Battalion, RBLF and Combat Service Support, RBLF. The ceremony concluded with the handing over of the LFSAAM flag and a group photo session.

The competition pits the participants’ marksmanship skills against each other, while also encouraging a healthy competitive spirit among the units within the RBLF. It is also part of RBLF’s preparation for the ASEAN Armies Rifles Meet (AARM) in 2020.

The next host of LFSAAM will be the Combat Service Support, RBLF.

|    Fizah HAB   |

A MINOR fire broke out yesterday on the fourth floor of Kota Mutiara Department Store in Bandar Seri Begawan, suspected to be caused by a lit cigarette butt thrown from the floor above.

According to a security officer, the fire was first noticed by motorists passing though the area, who alerted the building’s security personnel.

The security officers with the assistance of a Bangladeshi worker extinguished the fire using a dry powder fire extinguisher.

The total damage from the fire is estimated at BND50.

In light of the incident, the Fire and Rescue Department issued a reminder that it is against the law to smoke in public spaces.

The department also cautioned the public on the dangers of overloaded electrical circuits and advised them to get their home electrical installations and wiring regularly checked and maintained by electrical companies accredited by the Department of Electrical Services.

Contact the Operations Centre of the Fire and Rescue Department at 995 to report a fire.

|    Azlan Othman    |

YAYASAN Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah has reduced the quantity of dates it has purchased for Ramadhan this year, after discovering that the total number of Muslims the dates were distributed to during the holy month last year is far higher than the recipient list figure provided by the Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE) of the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik as Chairman of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Committee of Governors highlighted this in a sabda yesterday at the launch of the distribution of the Kurma Kurnia Peribadi (personal gift of dates) for Ramadhan from 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 at the International Convention Centre, Berakas.

“In Islam, we are urged to be prudent in all aspects of life including spending to avoid wastage,” His Royal Highness said. “The same also applies to the purchase of dates, where I was made to understand that this year Yayasan has reduced its purchases of dates as the total number of Muslims receiving dates is far higher compared to the statistics provided by the JPKE of the Ministry of Finance and Economy.”

His Royal Highness said that he is pleased with the initiatives made by village heads to involve village consultative council members to assist in the distribution of the dates.

He urged village heads to ensure that workers entrusted to distribute the dates maintain proper records of the distribution to avoid wastage, also voicing his displeasure to hear boxes of dates being left at mosques without proper supervision.

“I am also disappointed to hear that boxes of dates are being placed at mosques without control or supervision,” His Royal Highness lamented. “Besides this, there are also parties who are given dates exceeding the total amount [originally provisioned]. These incidences should not happen and it must be improved immediately as it concerned with the issue of trust. Without trust, people will lose confidence on the integrity and guidelines in the distribution of the dates throughout the country.”

His Royal Highness said that he wants to see the management of Yayasan cooperate with the authorities to ensure that the distribution of the personal gift of dates from His Majesty is carried out properly and efficiently and free from the issues highlighted earlier.

His Royal Highness pointed out that this includes coming up with “guidelines or methods to distribute the dates better”, such as “through information technology”.

Yesterday’s ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah led by Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar.

This was followed by welcoming remarks from the Minister of Defence II and Chairman of the Yayasan Board of Directors, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, in which he highlighted that for Ramadhan this year, some 126 metric tonnes of Safawi dates – packaged in 420,000 small boxes each weighing 300 grammes – will be distributed to Muslims nationwide.

The dates, a personal contribution from His Majesty and reflecting the monarch’s concern and love for his subjects, were shipped from Saudi Arabia in eight chilled containers.

They will be distributed to every Muslim residing in the country regardless of age or nationality, including foreign workers.

Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi added that since 1995 Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah has been entrusted to manage the handling of dates and, till today, the distribution of the Ramadhan staple has been carried out with the cooperation of District Offices in the country through the village heads, while for the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) and Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF), the distribution is done through the officers in every branch and formation of the organisations.

His Royal Highness then presented the Kurma Kurnia Peribadi to the Commanding Officers and Commandants of the RBAF and Directors of Formations of the RBPF as well as mukim penghulus and village heads in the country.

The ceremony ended with the recitation of Doa Selamat by the Chief Syar’ie Judge.

To ensure that the Kurma Kurnia Peribadi are distributed properly and arrive in the recipients’ hands in good condition, special guidelines for their distribution have been set up by Yayasan.

Also present at yesterday’s event were Yayasan’s Chairperson and members of its Administrative Committee and Board of Directors; the Permanent Secretary and Deputy Permanent Secretaries at the Ministry of Home Affairs; Commander of the RBAF; Commissioner of the RBPF; district officers, village heads and

longhouse village heads nationwide; senior officers involved in the distribution of the Kurma Kurnia Peribadi; as well as representatives of village consultative councils across the country.