|     Azlan Othman     |

A MAJOR project, covering 55,000 hereditaments with over 18,000 residential and commercial lots, is currently being carried out until March 31, 2017, to gather data on three municipalities in Brunei Darussalam, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) yesterday.

In a press briefing, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the MoHA Haji Mohammad Sunadi bin Haji Buntar said that the ‘Property Inventory Database (PID)’ is intended as an information update to meet the ministry’s target of having a more organised and systematic database.

“We can access information on tax on property industry and Municipal Board plans through this data,” he said.

“We target five to six properties in a day and the task needs to be finished within the specific period. Public cooperation is required in order to facilitate the data gathering.”

MoHA Project Manager Hajah Rashidah binti Haji Ghani told the media that data collectors usually hand out appointment notices to property owners, which enables them to conduct inspections of houses, lands, buildings or tenements within the three municipalities.

“We interview the property owners but if they are not home due to work commitments, we will leave the form in their post box to be filled out and submitted during the next visit,” she said, adding that the data collectors are easily recognised by their authorised identification cards and uniforms when visiting houses and buildings.

Deputy Permanent Secretary at the MoHA Haji Mohammad Sunadi bin Haji Buntar, centre, at the media briefing. – PHOTOS: AZLAN OTHMAN

Officials carrying out the project are identified by their badges and vest.

“An estimated 55,000 hereditaments across the country are involved in this project,” she said.

“In the Bandar Seri Begawan municipality, we calculated around 40,000 hereditaments with 13,314 property lots, while in Belait and Seria, we identified around 15,531 hereditaments with 5,177 lots, and 255 hereditaments with 85 lots in Tutong.

Only the Bandar Seri Begawan, Belait, Seria and Tutong municipalities are covered in the project, with Bangar in Temburong being exempted since it does not fall within the boundaries of a Municipal Board.

The updating process began in the Tutong District in October 2015. Last June, 156 PID project staff members were appointed under the guidance of 10 supervisors of the Municipal Department.

Meanwhile, when asked about the latest developments, an official-in-charge said that many property owners had to be briefed on the procedures since many were uninformed about what the project involved, including the measuring and photographing of their houses or property.

Under Chapter 57 Section 20 (2) of the Municipal Board Act, anyone refusing to provide correct information regarding rental returns, or prevents appointed personnel from inspecting houses, lands, buildings or tenements shall be fined $3,000.

For more details the public is advised to call MoHA at 2232225, the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Department at 2244151, the Kuala Belait and Seria Municipal Department at 3337081, and the Tutong Municipal Department at 221232 during office hours from 8am to 12pm and from 1.30pm to 4.30pm.

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|     Danial Norjidi     |

BRUNEI’s location in the world offers great opportunities for local businesses, and the country has the potential to be the Dubai of tomorrow.

This was yesterday said by Ray Khabbaz, one of the owners and Director of Australian Wholefoods, while delivering a presentation at the Brunei Halal Showcase 2016.

Khabbaz is a highly successful entrepreneur who has 40 years of experience, and has owned and operated numerous businesses.

Khabbaz’s presentation carried the title ‘Hello Tomorrow: A transitional discussion on global trends in food and business, drawing on success stories from abroad.’

In his presentation, he began by speaking on global trends before going on to share how he achieved his success, continues to strive for even more. He also underlined the importance of being driven, and of having the determination to succeed.

Speaking on Brunei, he highlighted its well-placed connectivity.

“You are so well placed in the world,” he said, asserting that entrepreneurs need to look beyond Brunei’s borders and see the opportunity this connectivity offers them.

Ray Khabbaz. – PHOTO: AZROL AZMI

One such opportunity lies in the Asean market, he said, as it has a population of 626 million, all of which is within Brunei’s reach, as it takes around two hours to reach a number of major Asean cities by plane.

He also noted the opportunity presented by Brunei’s location in relation to China, as it gives Bruneian businesses access to China’s market of 1.3 billion people.

Khabbaz drew parallels between Brunei’s current situation in 2016 to Dubai’s in 1980. Back in 1980, Dubai had 275,000 people – 0.00061 per cent of the global population at the time. Brunei in 2016 has over 400,000 people, about 0.00057 per cent of the current global population.

Dubai has now developed substantially to become a hub, and he highlighted that Brunei can do the same.

He noted that Brunei’s current highest value export commodities are petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals and crude, as well as petroleum gases and other gaseous hydrocarbons.

He also noted that the government’s focus is to build progressive and sustainable economic growth through an increase of export-oriented industries. He reiterated that Brunei is well placed for access to export markets across Asean.

He added that it also holds strong guidelines for Halal food, as well as a favourable tax environment for personal, corporate and foreign direct investment into the country.

Khabbaz highlighted that new economic activity diversified from oil and gas revenue can lead to multiple benefits. These include: increase in local employment and strengthening of human capital; stronger ties between government and industry in building a sustainable food industry; growth to export revenue; enhanced market and trade access; opportunities for training and skill set enhancement for locals, as well as transfer of expert knowledge and technology; and increased value through research and development and innovation.

He then went on to share the “process of change” that entrepreneurs can carry out in their organisations, which he said requires a cultural shift.

In this process of change, entrepreneurs need to: start at the top and communicate the message; assess and address the cultural landscape; involve every layer – address the ‘human side’ and be inclusive; create ownership – empower people to make decisions at a local operating level; communicate clearly and often; create short-term wins; don’t let up – highlight achieved and future milestones; and make change stick – weave change into culture.

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|     Danial Norjidi     |

A WORKSHOP on small and medium enterprise (SME) engagement for the National Food Strategy Development was yesterday held as part of the Brunei Halal Showcase (BruHAS) 2016.

Held at the Design and Technology Building in Anggerek Desa Technology Park, the workshop was organised by the Global Halal Industry Development Division (GHID) of the Energy and Industry Department at the Prime Minister’s Office (EIDPMO) in collaboration with Ghanim International Corporation Sdn Bhd and DARE (Darussalam Enterprise).

The workshop was held as part of EIDPMO’s efforts to create awareness on the development of the local Halal industry, specifically in National Food Strategy. Most of the local SMEs invited to attend the workshop are from the local food industry.

The event saw talks presented by two invited speakers, the first of which was on ‘Australian Northern Territory Government Experience & Approach to Industry Development’ by Anthony Cheng, a representative of Northern Territory Government, Australia.

Based in the Austrade Office in Singapore, Cheng is the Northern Territory’s representative for Singapore, Malaysia and Brunei. The Office of Asian Engagement, Trade and Investment spearheads Northern Territory Government’s international engagements by working with foreign governments, the private sector and community organisations to market and advance the Northern Territory’s interests overseas.

The second presentation was delivered by Ray Khabbaz, the Director of Australian Wholefoods, and was entitled, ‘Hello Tomorrow: A transitional discussion on global trends in food and business, drawing on success stories from abroad.’

An overview of the workshop. – AZROL AZMI

Khabbaz is a highly successful entrepreneur who has been self-employed for 40 years and has owned and operated numerous businesses during this period of time.

In an EIDPMO press release, it was stated that through the sharing of knowledge and experiences from food industry experts invited from Australia, it is hoped that the workshop will increase local SMEs’ capability and growth in the food sector and further develop and sustain the food industry.

EIDPMO wishes to continue its efforts to support local SMEs in their business venture to be more competitive and become global players in the food sector through facilitating local SME discussions with the Australian experts.

EIDPMO hopes that this will create further support on the national economic diversification programme.

“By increasing awareness on the local Halal industry, EIDPMO also aims to further increase regional and global awareness on Brunei’s strategy on its Halal industry, making Brunei an investment destination for the Halal industry not only in the food sector but also in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical sector,” the press release added.

General comments from local SMEs at the event were positive. The talks were found to be inspirational and informative, especially on topics of how to sustain a business and how to successfully develop new products.

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|     Azaraimy HH     |

AIMING to further bolster the already existing strong security alliance, Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Technology Cooperation yesterday.

Based on the principles of equality, mutual benefits and respect for the sovereignty of both nations, the MoU aims to promote cooperation in key areas of defence technology, including research and development, sharing of knowledge and best practices in defence acquisitions, and cooperation and collaboration in technology management, the Ministry of Defence said in a press statement.

Signing on behalf of Brunei was Datin Paduka Hajah Suriyah binti Haji Umar, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, while Republic of Singapore was represented by Ng Chee Khern, Permanent Secretary (Defence Development).

The signing was witnessed by Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence, Republic of Singapore and First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, Deputy Minister of Defence.

Dr Ng Eng Hen and his delegation comprising the Chief of Defence Force of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Lieutenant General Dato Paduka Seri Perry Lim, Ng Chee Khern and a number of senior officers from the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Singapore and SAF, arrived in Brunei for a two-day working visit yesterday.

The minister and his team are here to commemorate the 40^th anniversary of bilateral defence relations between Brunei and Singapore, which began in 1976. Signing of the MoU at the Bolkiah Garrison, Ministry of Defence was part of the commemorative event.

Photo shows Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Defence, Republic of Singapore and First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, Brunei’s Deputy Minister of Defence. – PHOTOS: DEAN KASSIM

The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Technology Cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore by Datin Paduka Hajah Suriyah binti Haji Umar, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence and Ng Chee Khern, Permanent Secretary (Defence Development), Singapore.

The delegation is scheduled for royal audiences on August 30 with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam at Istana Nurul Iman and His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, at Qashr Al-Meezaan.

Before witnessing the signing ceremony, Dr Ng Eng Hen was welcomed to the Ministry of Defence with a guard of honour mounted by the personnel of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

He then called on the Deputy Minister of defence of Brunei Darussalam and discussed matters of common interest.

After the signing ceremony, the Minister and the Deputy Minister toured a mini gallery depicting images of the four decades of defence interaction between the two countries.

Another commemorative activity planned is a fly-out visit on today to KDB Darulehsan, to observe the 35^th series of Exercise Pelican, which has been ongoing since August 24.

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|     Hakim Hayat     |

THE Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday assured the public that there have been no reported Zika cases in the Sultanate.

However, it agreed that there is a “small risk of importation of the Zika virus into the country” from affected countries and urged the public to collectively take precautionary measures to avoid the spread of the disease here, following the recent emergence of the mosquito-borne disease in Singapore that affected some 41 individuals.

Singapore’s Health Ministry said the locally transmitted cases were reported in a neighbourhood in the city state, the largest local cluster to be identified so far as the mosquito-borne disease spreads in Asia.

More cases of Zika are likely to be diagnosed, the Singapore Health Ministry said on Sunday. Most of those affected so far were foreign building workers. Seven are in hospital and the remaining 34 have recovered.

Zika has affected 67 countries since last year, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) latest count issued on Friday. They include every country in the tropical America.

MoH on high alert

“The MoH will continue to implement measures for monitoring, prevention and control, including conducting entomological surveillance and vector control,” senior health officials said in a press conference chaired by Permanent Secretary Haji Zakaria bin Haji Serudin at the MoH Building in Commonwealth Drive yesterday.

Given the ongoing situation in Singapore and the extensive travel by people between Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, Medical Superintendent of Public Health Dr Justin Wong said that there is a small risk of importation of the virus through an infected individual into the country.

“Brunei Darussalam’s preparedness to manage imported cases of Zika virus is based on strengthening our capacity to prevent cases, detect cases early and control transmission to prevent an outbreak. This is aligned with the core principles of the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005). Ongoing risk assessment of the emerging situation continues and clear guidelines are in place to ensure that we are prepared to handle introduction of the virus,” he said while calling for cooperation from people of all levels in the country to help prevent the virus.

Dr Justin stressed that the support and cooperation of all stakeholders is vital. “Members of the public must engage fully and share responsibility in preventing outbreaks of Zika virus in Brunei Darussalam by taking preventive measures against mosquito breeding.”

The MoH urged the public to collectively take steps such as to destroy places where mosquitoes breed and to spend about 10-30 minutes, at least once a week; check residences or buildings to ensure that the surroundings are free from places where mosquitoes can breed; ensure that all drains are clean, functioning properly and not blocked; ensure that all rubbish are disposed of properly and there are none left over that can collect and hold water; wear long-sleeved clothing and long trousers and avoid wearing dark coloured clothing as dark colours will attract mosquitoes; use insecticide sprays, mosquito coils or electronic mosquito repellents, and use insect repellent especially for outdoor activities as needed.

In addition, travellers to affected countries, especially pregnant women, are advised to take all precautionary measures such as described above.

Dr Justin said the MoH will also continue to conduct monitoring at high-risk zones identified with mosquito breeding in the country and take appropriate measures such as fogging and spraying insecticides to prevent the virus’ spread.

MoH said entomological (insect) surveillance has indicated the presence of a native population of Aedes mosquito in Brunei Darussalam. This species of mosquito often breed in containers that can hold water such as empty tins, drip-trays for flower pots, old tyres and rubbish left strewn about.

It has been found that the breeding of these mosquitoes will increase many-fold after a rainy season. Typically, they are most active in the early morning and late afternoon.

There are currently no travel restrictions being imposed to Singapore and other countries affected.

The WHO has not advised any travel or trade restrictions for the affected countries, or any screening or isolation of travellers at points of entry.

However, it is important that individuals who have visited affected countries or are travelling from affected countries and subsequently develop symptoms, to get assessed at the nearest health facility, Dr Justin said.

Zika virus infection is caused by a virus carried by the mosquito ‘Aedes Aegypti’, similar to dengue fever and chikungunya. Aedes mosquitos are routinely identified in tropical countries including Brunei Darussalam.

Deadly virus

Zika virus belongs to the Flavivirus genus in the Flaviviridae family. It is transmitted from infected to healthy individuals through the bite of the Aedes mosquito. Additionally, there is a small risk of transmission through sexual contact.

Most cases of Zika infections do not show any signs or symptoms. However, a small percentage of patients may experience symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, joint pain, headache, conjunctivitis (red eye) and rash. The infection may also be associated with neurological symptoms and microcephaly in newborns.

There is no specific treatment or vaccine for Zika virus infection. Treatment is focused on supportive care for the alleviation of symptoms when deemed necessary.

Responding to a query on the risk impact on the recently introduced Self-Certified Medical Leave (CSDS) for public servants that will take into effect September 1, Dr Hajah Roslin binti Haji Sharbawi, Head of Maternal Health and representative for the Medical Superintendant of Community Health, recommended those who experience the above said symptoms should see their doctor immediately and not rely on over-the-counter medicines.

The MoH said it will continue to monitor evolving events in collaboration with the WHO and will implement any necessary measures, including informing the public of any further developments.

Risk high in Singapore

Singapore’s Ministry of Health said it could not rule out further transmission of the virus beyond the 41 cases confirmed on Sunday.

Of the 41 Zika cases confirmed on Sunday, 12 have been taken to hospital. The Ministry of Health said 36 were foreign workers, out of 118 workers who were tested at a construction site. The first case in the city state was that of a 47-year-old Malaysian woman.

The outbreak in Singapore highlights the risk of wider transmission of Zika across Asia. Authorities in the city-state said sporadic cases of Zika have been reported across Southeast Asia including Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines. About 100 cases of Zika have been reported in Thailand this year.

Hilmi Yahaya, Malaysia’s Health Minister, said at the weekend that health screenings at land and air borders with Singapore would be stepped up.

According to an AFP report, Singapore on Monday confirmed new Zika infections, bringing the total number of cases to more than 50.

For further information on the Zika virus and mosquito-borne diseases, the public can visit MoH’s website at www.moh.gov.bn or call Darussalam line 123.

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|     James Kon     |

TO CATER to the needs of local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and those looking for affordable computers, Acer Malaysia together with its Brunei partner, Concepts Technologies inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday to introduce the Acer Extensa desktop series to Brunei.

The signing of the MoU that took place in The Rizqun International Hotel. Representing Concepts Technologies were Manager Adoni Siregar and Senior Sales and Distribution Executive Azalinah binti Tuah. Acer Malaysia was represented by Branch Manager Simon Soo and Acer Product Manager Andy Tan. The signing was witnessed by Concept Group Manager Vincent Pao.

“Acer is very pleased to partner with Concepts Technologies to bring the latest computing solutions for business segment in Brunei,” said Andy Tan.

He added, “With these new solutions being marketed by Concepts Technologies, we are confident that customers will find convenient points of purchase and also be assured of unrivalled after sales support.”

Adoni Siregar said, “Concepts Technologies always strives to be at the forefront of the Information Technology industry in Brunei. With the trust and support of a brand such as Acer, we look forward to bringing the latest technologies to Bruneians especially for SMEs and businesses looking for value for money business computing solutions.”

The exchange of signed MoU between Concepts Technologies Manager Adoni Siregar and Acer Malaysia Branch Manager Simon Soo while Concept Group Manager Vincent Pao looked on with Acer Product Manager Andy Tan and Concepts Technologies Senior Sales and Distribution Executive Azalinah binti Tuah. – JAMES KON

The Acer Estensa desktop series are packed with all the essential performance as well as security and management features crucial for daily business computing tasks. It comes with the 6^th Generation Intel Core processors, Nvidia GeForce Graphics GT705 up to 16GB DDR4 memory. The 16 DVD Super Multi R/W drives and up to a massive 2TB HDD storage allow for space and options for storing work data.

Other features offered by Acer Extensa series include enhanced security level with Trusted Platform Module (TPM) which adds encryption keys to valuable data and the Acer Control Center that provides easy monitoring of the health of different components.

The Acer Extensa series being introduced to the Brunei market consist of two models namely the EM2610 and EX2610. Both models offers similar features with a difference in size. EM2610 is additionally equipped with magnetic and washable Acer dust filter to protect the desktop from dust clogging fan.

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|      Aziz Idris      |

A TOTAL of $13,388 was raised for the National Welfare Fund during the ‘Batman Vs Superman Run 2016’ that was recently held at the Jerudong Park Playground.

The funds will be channelled to the Community Development Department at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), with the objective of assisting permanent residents who are barely able to support their family members on a single-parent income.

Around 1,500 individuals, dressed as their favourite superheroes, took part in the first charity run in Brunei to have its runners racing among some fun-filled obstacles.

Among the participants was Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah, who ran in the 3.8-kilometre run.

According to Aaron Goh, the Managing Director of Heroes Management and Armtrix Enterprise, the charity run would not have been possible without the support of several agencies, including the MCYS, Ministry of Home Affairs, the Royal Brunei Police Force and Ministry of Health.?

Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah also took part in the 3.8-kilometre run. – PHOTOS: AZIZ IDRIS

Aaron Goh, the Managing Director of Heroes Management and Armtrix Enterprise, with the 9.5km Male Open winner Irfan On.

Some of the participants during the ‘Batman V Superman Run 2016’ at the Jerudong Park Playground.

“It was indeed nice to witness Bruneians in support of giving back to the community, as well as creating bonds through running, and then joining in the after-run activities with family and friends,” he commented.

The winner in the 9.5km Male Open was Irfan On, followed by the first runner-up, Shafiee bin Kassim, and second runner-up Abdul Qayyum bin Abdul Kahar.

The first-place winner for the 9.5km Female Open was Vanessa Gomez, followed by Suzie binti Samat and Jessamine Yee in second and third place respectively.

Coming first place in the 9.5km Male Veteran category was Matnarudin bin Ibrahim, followed by Yeoh Eng Koon in second and Peramli Dongglah in third place.

For the female category, the winners were King Siew Tan and Marcela Linares Colburn.

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|     Aziz Idris     |

TWO Bruneians have been awarded the prestigious Chevening Scholarship for the 2016 to 2017 session at distinguished universities in the United Kingdom.

The British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, David Campbell to hosted a farewell reception yesterday for Azizul Azri bin Haji Majit and Khairunnisa Ash’ari who will be pursuing their postgraduate studies.

Azizul, who is an Administrative Officer 1st Grade at the Youth and Sports Department, will be pursuing an MSc in Sustainability and Management at Royal Holloway, University of London. Common to members of the Brunei Administrative Service (BAS), he has been rotated around government agencies, and previously was attached to Tutong District Office and Temburong District Office.

“To be awarded the Chevening Scholarship is truly the defining moment in my life and it is nothing short of surreal. I am extremely honoured and privileged to be accepted into the Chevening community, to be a member of an international network of leaders and exceptionally outstanding individuals.

“I will be studying MSc Sustainability and Management at Royal Holloway, University of London which is recognised as one of the UK’s leading research intensive universities.”

The British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, David Campbell in a group photo with the recipients of the Chevening Scholarship for the 2016 to 2017 session. – AZIZ IDRIS

Azizul added, “Upon returning home from my Master’s degree, I also see myself to be heavily involved in advocating and developing policies that gear towards social and economic sustainability, particularly via entrepreneurship among the youths of Brunei.

“This can be achieved by laying out the foundations of policies in my department that encourages investments on entrepreneur projects and facilitations that are in line in the realisation of the Brunei Vision 2035.”

Khairunnisa Ash’ari, Co-Founder and Community Engagement Director at Green Brunei, will be pursuing an MA in Environment, Politics and Globalisation at King’s College London.

“My work with Green Brunei has always been a result of experiences I had from conferences and training abroad. The opportunity to strengthen my knowledge in the field of environment can contribute towards better actions and better results in the future.

“The impact of climate change is becoming more apparent and there is a need for stronger regional efforts in combating this issue.

“The course I am undertaking will also have a strong focus on politics and globalisation, which would contribute a lot towards our advocacy efforts in this field.”

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|     Azlan Othman     |

BRUNEI is scouting for companies that can introduce high-yielding varieties of paddy in a bid to augment the country’s rice output and reduce reliance on imports.

“We are open to any companies that can ensure higher paddy production,” said Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism yesterday.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the paddy harvesting activity by PT Biogene Plantation from Indonesia held in cooperation with the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) at Wasan fields.

“Currently there are is about 500-700 hectares of land open for paddy cultivation and soon another 160 hectares will be made available at Panchor Murai in Tutong. This site is open to farmers who can produce at least eight tonnes per hectare which is set as a requirement. Infrastructure is already in place at Kampong Panchor Murai like flat land and irrigation facilities,” the minister said.

“Our target is simple, which is to produce higher yields. This will augment the overall rice production in the country, thus reducing the importation of rice. Our mission is every farmer plants high-yielding paddy on every piece of land and making maximum yield with top-end technology and collaboration with our counterparts in the region.”

Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, and Nurul Qomar, the Ambassador of Indonesia to Brunei Darussalam, in a group photo with Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism and PT Biogene Plantation officials. – AZLAN OTHMAN

Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali also said that we need large scale paddy planting through cooperatives or companies so that we can buy manure or pesticides in bulk, thereby reducing cost. If such manure or pesticide is bought individually, it would be expensive.

Local farmers need to use high yielding varieties of paddy so as to increase the country’s rice output and reduce imports from abroad, the minister urged.

“We now have the ‘Titih’ paddy that can produce eight tonnes per hectare compared to the Laila paddy which only produces three to four tonnes. Brunei’s target is to develop a new variety that can produce up to 12-13 tonnes per hectare. This can cut the production cost and give more profit to the farmer, the minister added.

“The Indonesian firm (PT Biogene) is conducting trial on a new paddy variety which can produce up to 13 tonnes of paddy per hectare back in Indonesia. But on average, they (Indonesians) produce 11 tonnes per hectare,” the minister noted.

“Three paddy varieties have been introduced on Brunei soil, one of which can produce nine tonnes per hectare. But this is their first trial. After two or three trials, then we will know exactly how much such variety can produce on average.

“But we are yet to get a paddy variety that can produce 12 tonnes. It still needs research. Such varieties are available outside the country but they may not grow in Brunei as the soil here is acidic.”

Meanwhile, Nurul Qomar, the Ambassador of Indonesia to Brunei Darussalam, said Indonesia’s cooperation in agriculture is the first of its kind, adding that he hopes such cooperation would continue to bolster bilateral ties.

“Indonesia has the technology that can be utilised here in Brunei Darussalam despite the differences in soil which requires extra efforts to make it fertile. The trial of paddy planting in Kalimantan which has similar soil has proved successful,” the envoy said.

Meanwhile an Agronomist from PT Biogene Plantation, Nasikin, said three varieties were introduced in Brunei, namely SEMBADA B9, SEMBADA 168 and SEMBADA 989. The first trial is to find out how the production could be enhanced. In Indonesia, these paddy varieties could produce 13 tonnes per hectare.

“We have not reached the maximum yield in Brunei due to the acidic soil as well as diseases. But these three varieties have good production potential and are hoped to produce better results in the next season,” she said.

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HIS Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and General of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) yesterday morning received in audience Dr Ng Eng Hen, the Republic of Singapore’s Minister for Defence.

Dr Ng Eng Hen is in Brunei Darussalam for an official visit commemorating the 40^th Anniversary of bilateral defence relations between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore. Among others, the purpose of the visit is to discuss bilateral defence relations and exchange views on regional and international matters.

Accompanying Dr Ng Eng Hen were Lim Hong Huai, Singapore’s High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam; Lieutenant General Dato Paduka Seri Perry Lim, Chief of Defence Force, Singapore Armed Forces; Ng Chee Khern, Permanent Secretary (Defence Development); and Rear Admiral Lai Chung Han, Chief of the Republic of Singapore Navy.

Also present were First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, the Deputy Minister of Defence; Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, the Commander of the RBAF; and Datin Paduka Hajah Suriyah binti Haji Umar, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence.

The audience ceremony took place at Qashr Al-Meezaan.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and General of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces with Dr Ng Eng Hen, the Republic of Singapore’s Minister for Defence. – INFOFOTO

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|     Azlan Othman     |

STUDENTS of the Sultan’s Scholar scholarship of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (Yayasan) presented their findings of a recent development programme during a get-together held at the Horizons Seafood Restaurant, Bandar Seri Begawan yesterday.

Present for the event was Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, Minister of Education and Chairman of Yayasan Board of Directors and the Steering Committee Co-Chairman of the Sultan’s Scholar.

Also present were Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Home Affairs; Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi, Minister of Health; Datin Seri Paduka Hajah Hayati binti Pehin Orang Kaya Shahbandar Dato Seri Paduka Haji Mohd Salleh, Attorney General; and other members of the steering committee.

The event saw the attendance of around 16 students of Sultan’s Scholar scholarship who have recently completed the programme.

The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat followed by a speech from Nurul Hani binti Haji Mohd Tahir, a student representative.

Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Home Affairs; and Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, Minister of Education and Chairman Yayasan the Board of Directors and the Steering Committee Co-Chairman of the Sultan’s Scholar. – AZLAN OTHMAN

The ceremony was followed by a briefing presented by Rasyiqah Azimah binti Muhd Nuraiziz and Muniratussafiah binti Haji Johar on the ‘8^th Brunei-Singapore Defence Scholars 2016′ development programme.

A briefing on the development programme of the Sultan’s Scholar was then delivered by Khong Yu Neng and Hajah Andi Diinah Kiasatinah binti Haji Alliasim.

The programme under the Sultan’s Scholar recently held in early August saw 14 students take part in Brunei Darussalam from August 6-12 while two other students participated in the ‘8th Brunei-Singapore Scholars 2016’ programme in Singapore from July 29 to August 5.

The development programme was conducted under the Sultan’s Scholar in 2015 which is designed to equip graduates of the Sultan’s Scholar with knowledge and experience to be outstanding individuals of the next generation and to be future leaders who will lead the country by preserving the Bruneian way of life that is devout and loyal to the ruler and leaders in line with the philosophy of Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB).

The scholarship is one of the initiatives of Yayasan in conducting human capacity building programmes to lead to the progress and development of youths in accordance to the National Vision 2035 – to produce citizens who are educated and highly skilled.

The Sultan’s Scholar is a prestigious scholarship awarded to students, identified by Yayasan, the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Religious Affairs, who excel in academics and school activities, to further their studies in various fields to a degree level or its equivalent in institutions of higher learning authorised by Yayasan and recognised 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.

The post Students present findings of recent programme appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Lyna Mohamad     |

IN A move to further support local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with their entrepreneurial endeavours, Baiduri Bank officially launched its latest service, the Merchant Suite, yesterday.

Officiating the launch at a ceremony held at the Radisson Hotel was Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office.

In his welcoming remarks, Pierre Imhof, CEO of Baiduri Bank, noted that the bank’s strategy is to always partner with the best, most reputable names in the world to ensure they design and distribute the best products available in the market and the most suitable for the local Brunei environment.

Under the care of the Business Banking Unit, the Merchant Suite is a suite of solutions to enable SMEs to elevate their businesses by providing an affordable online platform to conveniently issue invoices and accept card payments where it complements an SME’s social media presence.

The service does not require the setup of a website, which may be costly for entrepreneurs starting a business.

Aariz Patrick Ng, Head of Branch Network-Sales Management and Business Banking of Baiduri Bank, noted that Merchant Suite is user-friendly and convenient and it will greatly benefit SMEs who are seeking to expand their business by offering card payment options for their customers.

“The service will be able to accept payment from any credit or debit card bearing the Visa, MasterCard, American Express logo.”

Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Pierre Imhof, CEO of Baiduri Bank, during the launch of Merchant Suite. – AZROL AZMI

In addition to allowing users to accept card payments securely, which is in line with Baiduri Bank’s commitment to providing the highest industry standard in data security, Merchant Suite complies with the globally-recognised PCI-DSS.

PCI-DSS requires stringent security standards during processing and transmission of cardholder data, thereby assuring the users of better protection from credit card data leak.

To register for Merchant Suite, customers will need to set up and maintain a company account in Baiduri Bank and once set up, a simple online registration is required, with four tier options available.

The available tiers are Bronze (US$60 per year), Silver (US$120 per year), Gold (US$500 per year), and Platinum (US$1000 per year) while those who would like to register for a trial account may simply do so for free.

A waiver on the annual fee of US$120 per year will be given as an added incentive to the first 180 customers who successfully signed up for the Silver package.

Yesterday’s launching event continued with a tour of the showcase of products and services offered by the Business Banking Unit, Baiduri Bank by the guest of honour and other guests present who comprise mainly of SMEs.

The Business Banking Unit under Retail Banking also provides other services besides Merchant Suite such as support and services to SMEs, such as the Baiduri Internet Gateway System as well as the Business i-Banking to assist businesses in paperless transactions and assist them in SME credit facilities where eligible.

For more information on Merchant Suite, the public can contact Baiduri Bank or log on to their website or find Baiduri Bank on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

The post Baiduri launches easy payment gateway for SMEs appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Lyna Mohamad     |

IT IS important for the banks to work closely together with the government and DARE (Darussalam Enterprise), to enable better understanding on how to both encourage lenders and to provide targeted, but accessible, financing to promising micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), said Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, the Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office.

“This would also lead to a more open dialogue in exploring alternate forms of financing for MSMEs and how to achieve a better allocation of risk and compensation between the government and the bank. This knowledge transfer should not only be seen as a complimentary by-product of the working relationship, but also a cornerstone to its success, he noted while officiating the launch of Baiduri Bank’s Merchant Suite, its latest easy to use payment gateway for SMEs.

“We now live in a ‘connected’ world. With the uprising of the digital revolution, the business of MSMEs has grown to be more complex, and therefore will require more assistance and support in various components of their business. With internet and technology, MSMEs are now able to conduct their business in a faster manner, reach out to a wider market, trade across borders.”

This, added the minister, allows them the opportunity to work with international partners-all without the need to travel physically. In short, the entire global marketplace is now within a MSMEs reach.

There is no longer just the global economy, but we now live in parallel with the digital economy.

Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, the Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office delivering his speech. – AZROL AZMI

The minister further pointed out that “an economy which is developing quickly and seeing more and more businesses everywhere, including Brunei Darussalam, going online and embracing this digital and technological change — known as the “Fourth Industrial Revolution” — one of the key agendas at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland this year. This was also one of the main agendas of the US-Asean Summit held earlier this year where US and Asean leaders, including 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, particularly emphasised the development of MSMEs and the digital economy as both sectors together serve as the economic backbone of Asean.

“As a business, no matter the scale, it is key that you are provided with the right support to ensure that your business continues to grow and sustain. I am very happy to see how our local banks are keeping up with the evolution of our local businesses and the needs of MSMEs today.

“It shows that our banks are agile, up-to-date, and more importantly, are eager to play their part in supporting His Majesty’s Government’s efforts and goals in creating and realising a more pro-business environment and improving the ease of doing business in Brunei Darussalam,” said the minister.

“As you may already know, ease of doing business is very important if we want to sincerely help MSMEs to start and grow – from micro to small, small to medium-and from medium to large.

“The Government of His Majesty under the stewardship of His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office as Chairman of PENGGERAK, has pushed government agencies to ensure that the processes, procedures and regulations in Brunei are following international practices.

“We have seen positive development based on direct feedback from the MSMEs. Yet, there is still a lot to do to equip MSMEs with the right skills and vision and this is where DARE plays a crucial role. This signifies a comprehensive partnership to drive economic growth between private sector, government agencies and relevant stakeholders.”

The minister highlighted that through the ease of doing business initiative to facilitate credit for MSMEs, the Government His Majesty through Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD) is also introducing and setting up the Collateral Registry System, which will be ready by December this year.

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|     Azrol Azmi     |

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday afternoon received in audience Dr Ng Eng Hen, the Republic of Singapore’s Minister for Defence.

Dr Ng Eng Hen is in Brunei Darussalam for an official visit commemorating the 40^th anniversary of bilateral defence relations between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore. Among others, the purpose of the visit is to discuss bilateral defence relations and exchange views on regional and international matters.

Accompanying Dr Ng Eng Hen were Lim Hong Huai, Singapore’s High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam; Lieutenant General Dato Paduka Seri Perry Lim, Chief of Defence Force, Singapore Armed Forces; Ng Chee Khern, Permanent Secretary (Defence Development); and Rear Admiral Lai Chung Han, Chief of the Republic of Singapore Navy.

Also present were First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit, the Deputy Minister of Defence; Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah, the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces; and Datin Paduka Hajah Suriyah binti Haji Umar, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence.

The audience took place at Istana Nurul Iman.

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 with Dr Ng Eng Hen, the Republic of Singapore’s Minister for Defence. – AZROL AZMI

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THE Brunei ICT Awards (BICTA) is an annual ICT competition that was first introduced in 2004 by the Ministry of Communications.

Organised with the support of Authority for Info-communications Technology Ind-ustry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) and InfoCom Federation Brunei (IFB), this year’s awards ceremony will recognise the very best of the best among the overall winners through the Royal Patron Award, which is held every alternate year.

In order to discover and encourage the best and brightest minds to participate in this year’s BICTA, the BICTA Working Committee undertook a series of roadshows in March 2016 aimed at various educational, private and government institutions at various events and venues throughout Brunei Darussalam.

These roadshows were aimed to generate interests for participation by giving an overview of BICTA and a better understanding of the selection and judging criteria.

In order to assist registered participants of this year’s BICTA competition in preparing for the judging phase, the BICTA Working Committee also organised a series of workshops aimed at equipping the participants with additional knowledge and skills which they can use in their final submissions.

During one of the workshops.

The first workshop was attended by over 100 participants, titled ‘Global ICT Trends: Opportunities for Brunei’, and was facilitated by TelBru’s Chief Marketing Officer, Lim Ming Soon. He spoke about global ICT trends and solutions, and gave an insight into TelBru’s perspectives on innovative technologies and solutions in demand.

The second workshop on Market Validation, highlighted the importance of market validation and gave valuable tips on how to ensure that a product concept meets the potential target markets.

The final workshop on Pitc-hing and Presentation Skills was designed to prepare participants for the BICTA competition parti-cularly in enhancing participant’s presentation and pitching skills to successfully articulate and convince the judges on their proposed innovative digital products.

A total of 90 participants attended the workshop, which was facilitated by AITI’s Head of Corporate Strategy and Programme Management Unit, Mohd Reza bin Nazamuddin.

The post The Road to BICTA 2016: Roadshows and workshops appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

THE three-day youth seminar on the Heart of Borneo (HOB) concluded recently with a project pitching and certificate presentation at the Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery.

Twenty-nine youth participants from Brunei Darussalam, Indonesian and Malaysia took part in the event which aims to increase understanding of the Heart of Borneo Initiative and empower them to be the next-generation leaders in promoting sustainable development, a press release said.

Six project ideas were pitched by the teams, which include Eco Camp, the privatisation of the Meragang Biodiversity Centre and the Green Elixir.

Over the three-day event, the participants took part in a forum titled ‘Empowering Youth in the Heart of Borneo: How Can Youth Take Action’, delivered by Dr Henry Chan, Leader of the Heart of Borneo Initiative, WWF Malaysia and WWF Indonesia; Mahmud Yussof, CEO of the Heart of Borneo Centre Brunei Darussalam; Fahim Ibrahim, Vice President of BruWILD; and Jeffery Ong, Farm Manager of the Food Jungle.

This was followed by a session on Climate Change and Sustainability which was facilitated by Khairunnisa Ash’ari, the Co-Founder and Community Engagement Director of Green Brunei. The participants also had a ‘green’ debate over the benefits of ecotourism.

Some of the participants during one of the activities.

On the second day, the participants visited the Tropical Biodiversity Centre where they were briefed on the various rainforest types in Brunei and went for a 30-minute jungle trek behind the centre to learn about the various properties and benefits of the plants.

This was followed by a visit to the Eko Kampong Cuisine in Lamunin, a visit to the Marine Biodiversity Centre where the participants learned about the importance of marine biodiversity and finally a beach clean-up.

The event was organised by Green Brunei in partnership with the Heart of Borneo Centre, and supported by Progresif Cellular, MOC Sdn Bhd, Tien Sing Vegetarian Restaurant, Rentokil Initial, Ajwa Kitchen and Riza Printing.

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|     Danial Norjidi     |

THE implementation of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and Innovative Design initiative in schools is the starting point to establish a STEM-literate society.

This was said by Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, the Minister of Education while delivering a speech at the closing ceremony of the second National STEM and Innovative Design Challenge yesterday.

He highlighted that the implementation of the STEM and Innovative Design initiative in schools would help establish a society that is able to understand the basics of STEM and apply that knowledge to understand the world around.

“Additionally, it will help our communities to use the latest technology as well as mathematical and scientific principles in everyday life, particularly for communication, making things easier and problem-solving,” he said, adding that the programme is also the starting point and best platform to drive transformation in our country.

“I believe that through this programme we will be able to produce our own prototypes of local innovation that will boast our abilities to create ideas to develop the country’s economy.

“This will happen if a culture of innovation and creativity can be implemented in a planned and sustained way so that the result is long-lasting and effective,” he said.

In his speech, the minister asserted that the government puts great priority on the education of Brunei’s citizens.

“Various initiatives that are planned and carried out at all levels of education are geared towards strengthening the potential of each student,” he said. “Preparing a strong curriculum, teachers of high quality and adequate infrastructure are among the main factors in ensuring our success in educating our students to be people who are successful according to their respective potential.”

Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, the Minister of Education, delivering his speech. – DANIAL NORJIDI

This, he said, includes students who are inclined and possess a high proficiency in the subjects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

“The Ministry of Education (MoE) has made initiatives to upgrade the Design and Technology subject and other technical subjects such as Business, Art and Technology (BAT) by introducing the ‘Enhancement of Design and Technology and Other Technology Subjects for Government Secondary Schools and Vocational and Technical Institutions’, to polish the element of technology and innovation among the young generation.”

The STEM and Innovative Design Challenge presses on the concept of informal studies through approaches such as science, engineering, mathematics and innovation design and technology activities in a “hands on and minds on” way, he noted.

He said that this will give positive exposure and experience in the aforementioned fields. It is hoped to attract the interest of students to participate in these fields as a future option.

This goal is in line with the policy of the MoE to cultivate students’ interest in these fields towards the realisation of Vision 2035: to have people that are educated, highly skilled and successful measured by the highest international standards, he added.

The minister also noted that the Global Competitiveness Report 2013-2014 placed Brunei as the 26th most competitive out of 148 countries, a rise of two places from the previous year.

“That good achievement should convince us that we are capable of achieving and strengthening the country’s position in the Global Innovation Index and will certainly repeat the success again.”

Touching on the role of MoE, he said, “What is required is that the Ministry of Education, as the planner and implementer of education, must ensure the preparation of continuous education and practical work training and retraining of skills to the beneficiaries of the future, namely our students.”

The post STEM implementation seen to promote knowledgeable society appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

|     Danial Norjidi     |

WINNERS of second National STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and Innovative Design Challenge were presented their prizes yesterday.

The prize presentation took place during the closing ceremony of the competition at the Multipurpose Hall of Universiti Teknologi Brunei, and saw the attendance of Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, the Minister of Education.

The annual competition exposes students to basic skills such as problem-solving as a group, carrying out research, presenting a business plan, marketing products and others.

This year’s edition of the competition saw the participation of teams from 11 secondary schools and one from the Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE).

The competition saw teams design and build a miniature Formula 1 car. They were judged on car speed, verbal presentation, their marketing or ‘pit display’ and how the cars were engineered.

The National STEM and Innovative Design Challenge is an initiative by the Ministry of Education (MoE), and this second iteration of the competition was organised by its Curriculum Development Department though the Technology Studies Unit with the cooperation of Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB).

Prizes were awarded in various categories. The winners of Best Sportsmanship were the Rimba II Speedster team from Rimba II Secondary School, who also won Best Pit Booth Display and Best Dressed Team.

The prize for Best Attendance (Punctuality) went to Berakas Secondary School’s Super Legerra team, while Best Engineered Car went to team Speed Crown from Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Secondary School, Mentiri.

Tanjong Maya Secondary School saw its Falcon Team win awards for Fastest Car and Best Reaction Time, while Rimba Secondary School’s Elysian Vibe team won Best Verbal Presentation.

Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman, the Minister of Education, speaking to one of the teams during the event.

The Minister of Education and Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, Deputy Minister of Education testing out miniature F1 cars in a race. – PHOTOS: DANIAL NORJIDI

Some of the other participating teams during the event.

The Minister of Education in a group photo with the winners from Tanjong Maya Secondary School.

After the prizes were awarded for these categories, the top three teams and overall winner were announced.

The Falcon Team from Tanjong Maya Secondary School were named not only the Champions but also the Overall Winners of the competition. First runner-up went to Super Legerra from Berakas Secondary School while the 2nd runner-up was the Speed Crown team from Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Secondary School, Mentiri.

The guest of honour presented the prizes to the recipients.

As Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Nawi, the Director of the Curriculum Development Department shared in his welcoming remarks at the event, “The cooperation between the Curriculum Development Department and Universiti Teknologi Brunei is one of the strategies to enhance the quality and relevance in carrying out competitions such as this and as a step forward in enhancing innovation among students.”

He shared that the cooperation between the two is not solely for organising the STEM challenge, but also for UTB to be a training centre for teachers. “This cooperation is hoped to enhance teachers’ skills in using and leveraging tools and resources provided by the MoE to help students attain the necessary skills.”

“To strengthen further this field of cooperation, Insya Allah the Curriculum Development Department and Universiti Teknologi Brunei are planning to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to encourage and support the enhancement of the already established cooperation on an ongoing basis.”

He also said in his speech, “Twenty-eight government schools and two vocational and technical institutions as well as a higher learning institution have been and will be supplied with high-performance Denford machines to enable their students to create a number of products, including F1 model cars.”

Speaking on the National STEM and Innovation Design Challenge itself, he said, “Through this project, students can attain skills in a number of fields, including research & development, analysis, decision-making, test runs, sponsorship, promotion and marketing as well as teamwork.”

The competition carries the aim to enhance creativity, mental development, problem-solving and student innovation. It also has the aims of providing exposure and experience to students to compete with each other, as well as to expose them to careers in fields such as engineering and marketing.

The post National STEM, Innovative Design Challenge winners awarded appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.

THE maritime enforcement agencies caught two foreign fishing vessels along with 38 crew members yesterday morning for conducting illegal fishing in Brunei Darussalam Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

The vessels attempted to flee by cutting off their fishing apparatus and left them in the water. Despite that, the maritime enforcement agencies managed to board both vessels for investigation, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.

The boarding team then searched the vessels and discovered five crew on one of the vessels and 33 on the other, with fishing equipment.

Investigations revealed that the location of the fishing vessels was well within Brunei EEZ, according to the statement.

The foreign fishing vessels were escorted to the Marine Police Jetty and handed over to the Fisheries Department at about 7pm last night.

One of the foreign fishing vessels detained in Brunei’s Exclusive Economic Zone. – MINDEF

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|     Rokiah Mahmud     |

THE Halalan Tayyiban industry must aim to embody all aspects of quality and ethics, in order to appeal to both Muslims and non-Muslims on the world stage, said Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office yesterday, during the launching of an international seminar on Halalan Tayyiban products and services, hosted by Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA).

The minister said that global food trends of the past few decades have witnessed the rise of processed food consumption as an important public health issue.

“Some of these products may even be harmful, while others may just be of low nutritional value,” he said. “Several food companies are simply unprincipled about their ingredients, hygiene and safety standards, and it’s no wonder that many people are beginning to look for purer and natural alternatives.

“Food that is natural, healthy, organic and Halal has great benefits for both Muslims and non-Muslims. People do genuinely care about the quality of life, health nutrition and safety.

“It is hardly any surprise that we are now witnessing an increase in market value for global organic food, which is expected to reach $161 billion by 2018, with a compound annual growth rate of 15 per cent.

Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office, delivering his speech at the seminar. – ROKIAH MAHMUD

“I am hopeful that the outcome of the seminar will guide us to be more focused and well targeted. For example, the market for Muslim Food and Beverage in the United States alone is worth US$13 billion, while the US Organic Food Market is US$35 billion. In other words, if we want to spread the concept of Halalan Tayyiban products and services, we need to position our Halal brand at the premium end of the market to attract consumers of all cultures and faith, besides Muslims.”

He added that UNISSA’s position as an educational institution, grounded with Islamic principles, was an asset to the industry.

“It is in an ideal position to distinguish between Halal and Tayyiban, and I urge UNISSA students and graduates to strive to be multi-disciplinary, so that they can contribute to the growing Halal industry in Brunei Darussalam,” he said.

The minister also said that greater growth in the food industry, combined with the demand for Halal products, was likely to provide employment opportunities for graduates from UNISSA and other local religious institutions.

“In order to succeed, we should always return to the fundamental principles across the value chain,” he said.

“The Halalan Tayyiban concept has to be embraced by all. Hopefully, this will allow our Halal industry aspirations to be realised with the correct strategy and marketing propositions.

“If we are successful with our National Food Industry Strategy, the Halal food sector is slated to contribute at least $5 billion to Brunei Darussalam’s GDP by 2035 by tapping into the global Halal industry.

“This will have an impact on Brunei Darussalam’s economy and employment, The government’s role is to provide the strategic direction and enable industrial growth by creating a conducive and sustainable eco-system for the Halal food industry, including the entire Halal food value chain.

“As part of Brunei Darussalam’s commitment to the Halalan Tayyiban Industry, I am pleased to inform that Brunei Darussalam has so far published standards and guidelines for the Halal industry such as the GD24: 2010 for the manufacturing and handling of medicinal products, traditional medicine and health supplements.”

The minister also explained that the Energy and Industry Department at the Prime Minister’s Office, through the Global Halal Industry Development Division, will work closely with other stakeholders in pursuit of developing the local Halal industry including the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Health, Universiti Brunei Darussalam and UNISSA.

He concluded his speech with the hope that the seminar would help to advance Brunei Darussalam’s position as a leader in Halalan Tayyiban industry, through a mutual dialogue of the various possibilities that platform has to offer.

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