Azlan Othman

Foreign expatriates working in Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) who refuse knowledge sharing with locals, officers who use RB as a stepping stone for one’s interest by taking advantage of the coronavirus relief package and management misconduct were some of the issues raised in a titah by 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 during an unscheduled visit to the RB Campus in Jalan Kustin yesterday.

His Majesty also raised the wage gap issue between foreign expats and local workforce in the same position.

“Why does this matter continue to happen? Foreign workers were recruited to guide the local workforce. However at RB, foreign workers’ experience and skills are not shared with the local workforce. They were instead asked to do foreign workers’ job without guidance. If this is the case, it is meaningless for management executives in RB to be held by foreign workers,” the monarch said.

His Majesty also raised the issue of mismanagement where the management forced the local workforce to take leave and hires foreign workers to work in RB at the same time. “Could this be a way of showing off power? I don’t see the good in this kind of attitude; it will only bring harm. Hence, any parties involved in this malpractice should immediately acknowledge it,” the monarch said.

On another note, the monarch said COVID-19 pandemic has led to travel restriction measures impacting the aviation industry globally which has led to a drastic dip in air travel demands.

His Majesty said, “This situation is definitely a bitter challenge for RB and truly test the credibility of all parties, especially board of directors and management executives. It is crucial to implement steps to mitigate the losses. Executive officers, headed by the chief executive officer, should lead the way in steering RB.

“Don’t let officers use RB as stepping stone in advancing one’s interest, such as taking advantage of the coronavirus relief package to gain perks and privileges as well as the facilities offered by the national carrier.”

His Majesty expressed his surprise to learn that RB’s management executives do not get along with the board of directors in terms of planning, human resource management and aircraft purchases matter.

The monarch noted that RB staff had been warned against sharing information regarding the company’s situation, such as the slashing of annual bonus, salary and stagnant job positions to the media.

His Majesty said, “In administration and management, concerned parties in RB should have relevant and clear direction and not merely executing plans without reason, such as booking new aircraft for the sake of getting rid of old ones.

“In my opinion, strategies must be reviewed based on suitability and current trend. To uphold the good name of RB, I advise all parties involved, from the board of directors to executive and administrative officers to other staff at RB, to work as a team and serve with the Bruneian spirit and Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) etiquette while being transparent and sincere to the people and the nation. With this practice, I am convinced that RB will further shine on the global stage.”

His Majesty also said the national carrier has been operational since its establishment on November 18, 1974.

“In its almost 50 years of history, RB has accomplished a lot, most notably when clinching World’s Leading Cabin Crew last November 27.

“The achievement shows that RB is an international-class airline and possesses its own special characteristics that should be upheld.”

The monarch added, “Amid the pandemic, RB was able arrange special flights to bring home Brunei students from countries such as the People’s Republic of China, the United Kingdom (UK), Malaysia and the Arab Republic of Egypt”.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Azlan Othman

A signing between the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Royal Brunei Technical Services Sdn Bhd (RBTS) was held at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital on Monday for an outsourcing project of supply chain management for medicines and medical consumables.

The ceremony was witnessed by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar, 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, and Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy (Fiscal) and Chairman of RBTS Board of Directors Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman.

Deputy Permanent Secretary (Policy and Management) at the Ministry of Health Haji Maswadi bin Haji Mohsin signed on behalf of the MoH, witnessed by Director of Pharmaceutical Services Wong Wai See present as witness.

Signing on behalf of RBTS was Senior Chief Administrative Officer Hajah Rapiah binti Haji Mat Daud, witnessed by Senior Business Development Officer Mohd Ammar Norfakhri bin Kharin.

The MoH’s outsourcing project includes procurement services, management of the State Medical Store (SPN) and logistics services for the delivery of medicines and medical consumables from SPN to hospitals, clinics and health centres in stages.

The project is aimed at improving the quality and efficiency in supply chain management, and saving cost for the government in the long run. It will also provide employment opportunities in certain areas within the supply chain. The period for the implementation the contract is six years, from October 1, 2020 to September 30, 2026.

Permanent Secretary at the MoH Haji Abdul Manap bin Othman; members of the RBTS Board of Directors; the Chief Executive Officer of RBTS; and the heads of departments, senior officers and officers from the MoH and RBTS were also present.

Borneo Bulletin Online

James Kon

Brunei Darussalam marked its 14 days without any new COVID-19 cases yesterday, and 230 days without any local transmissions, keeping the national tally of confirmed cases at 152.

There are also no active COVID-19 cases receiving treatment. The Ministry of Health (MoH) has taken 191 samples for SARS-CoV-2 virus testing over the past 24 hours, and has conducted 81,657 tests since January.

A total of 679 individuals are undergoing mandatory self-isolation at government monitoring centres after arriving from abroad, while 9,803 have completed their stint since March.

Healthinfo.gov.bn revealed there have been 117 cases in the Brunei-Muara District, 29 in the Belait District and six in the Tutong District.

For information, visit the MoH website at www.moh.gov.bn or contact the Health Advice Line at 148 or through the BruHealth app.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Rokiah Mahmud

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) launched its Strategic Plan of 2020-2024 and the National Framework on Child Protection (NFCP) books yesterday.

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

Permanent Secretary (Administration, Finance and Estate) at the MCYS Pengiran Mohammad Amirrizal bin Pengiran Haji Mahmud said, “Preparations for the framework of the Strategic Plan Book was carried out in early 2018, which involved the gathering of data and discussions with departments and divisions under our ministry.

“The plan is based on references to previous policies and strategies, the National Youth Studies 2018 and Youth Development Index (YDI), to ensure that the strategic plan will be more in consonance and comprehensive.

“The plan shall unite the ministry’s initiatives in achieving a clearer and systematic direction to meeting its vision of Bangsa Brunei Cemerlang (Brunei an Excellent Nation).

“The MCYS Strategic Plan of 2020-2024 Book aims to achieve five visions within four sectors, as well as the governance of the ministry through its mission of building a cultured society that is resilient, competitive, responsible and caring.

“Another book is also launched as a stimulus for the strategic plan – the NFCP – which serves as a guideline and reference in the further reinforcement of this country’s existing ecosystem for child protection in the next four years.”

The framework was based on the documents which form the integral components of Brunei Vision 2035; the Action Plan for the Welfare of Children under the National Council on Social Issues (MKIS): the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC); and the Regional Plan of Action on Violence Against Children (2016-2025) under the ASEAN Commission on the Discrimination and Protection on the Rights of Women and Children.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Rokiah Mahmud

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) has been entrusted to work as one team, particularly in preserving and protecting youth’s self-esteem, community welfare, local traditions and the Malay Language.

The ministry has also been tasked to prepare the country for international sporting events, along with the obligation to protect the welfare of every employee working under the ministry.

This was said by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin during the launch of the MCYS Strategic Plan of 2020-2024 Book yesterday.

“In the aspects of development, empowerment and the well-being of the community, the National Welfare System (SKN) was introduced to ensure that there will be no omissions among assistance applicants.

“Efforts have continued to be made to ease the burdens of target groups such as the Senior Citizen Care Project in terms of looking after the elderly’s well-being and health, providing a complimentary shelter for a number of Temporary Shelter Centre residents and facilitating free space for people with different abilities (OKU).

“The incubator programmes and courses at the Youth Development Centre (PPB) are being expanded for youth and targetted groups as platforms to encourage entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency. There are also plans to upgrade Pusat Bahagia.

“In the aspects of shaping and empowering youth, more platforms are being established, such as the National Youth Congress, Youth Townhall and those carried out by non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

“In managing the COVID-19 pandemic, we are very proud of the volunteers involved, especially youth volunteers, for lending a helping hand to the frontliners.

“With the launch of the National Youth Policy and Strategy 2020-2035 (DBNS), the youth played a critical role as a check-and-balance mechanism towards the execution of DBNS initiatives, along with the setting up of a Youth Advisory Group and Youth Advocates.

“In the aspects of cultural preservation as a mark of our civilisation, we are proud of the efforts undertaken by the Language and Literature Bureau (DBP), Museums Department and Brunei History Centre, which have led to a significant increase in the number of visitors.

“The achievement will continue with the rebranding of DBP’s libraries, along with the continuing initiatives to further uphold the Malay Language as the country’s official language.

“Let us also not forget the successes of the Senior Citizen Activity Centre (PKWE), Senior Citizen Association, Women’s Council, the Council for the Welfare of Persons with Different Abilities (MKOKU), as well as the Brunei Youth Council.

“As a whole, the Strategic Plan 2020-2024 takes into account changes in the public sector, socio-economy, socio-culture and the needs of stakeholders to achieve Bangsa Brunei Cemerlang (Brunei an Excellent Nation) in realising Brunei Vision 2035.”

The minister also announced the MCYS’ launch of the National Framework on Child Protection Book, with the aim of further strengthening the country’s protection ecosystem for children and young people, especially in terms of monitoring and coordination between agencies that are responsible for the safety and well-being of children.

“We are honoured and proud of the involvement and strong cooperation from agencies, through the whole-of-nation approach,” he said, adding, “Our thanks to our strategic partners and government and non-government agencies, especially Baiduri Bank, in the publication of this book.

He said, “We are confident that the framework will be able to meet its aspirations and act as a medium of social responsibility 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 in ensuring that every child in the country can lead a safe and quality life.

“Towards this, Insya Allah, a complete database of the Register of Children and Young Persons in Need Of Protection will also be established, to ensure more efficient monitoring of the child protection system with agencies, by coordinating intervention and protection for those at high risk.

“We are also pleased with the presentation of a microgrant to Siege Pollyfox Enterprise, owned by youth-running vehicle bodywork enterprises. In line with the goals of the MCYS Strategic Plan 2020-2024, the presentation of this microgrant is another effort to empower the youth who have been designated to run their own enterprises.

“I am confident that these initiatives will provide guidance to the public on relevant matters, but more importantly, in accordance with His Majesty’s vision.

“It also serves as an extension of the MCYS Strategic Plan of 2020-2024 which will continue to provide added value towards improving the well-being of the people and target groups, preservation of culture, and realising the desired vision of an inclusive and sustainable Bangsa Brunei Cemerlang.“

Borneo Bulletin Online

Lyna Mohamad

The first batch of lamb from Indonesia arrived at the Brunei International Airport Cargo Centre last Saturday. The 370 heads were part of a consignment for 1,200 heads for December. Another 1,300 heads are already on the order for the January 2021 shipment.

The flock is of two variants from the crossbreeding of dorper sheep with a local breed, featuring several traits including adaptability and favourable meat content.

The sheep have been collected from farmers working in areas of Central and Eastern Java known for high-quality feed stock as well as ideal weather and favourable altitude for cattle rearing.

The consignment is made available through a contract between PDS Abattoir Sdn Bhd of Brunei and Koperasi Cita Berdikari of Indonesia, a cooperative supported by the membership of over 100 farmers strewn across the Java island.

‘’I appreciate the Brunei Government’s continued support which made it possible for Indonesian farmers to play their part in fulfilling the market demand for lamb in the Sultanate,’’ said Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Brunei Darussalam Dr Sujatmiko.

‘’It is not business per se, but it is about our people sharing the sentiments in these difficult times, and extending help to each other. The recent delivery of lamb will immediately be used to meet the needs of Brunei which experienced supply disruption due to COVID-19.’’

He said this is a new milestone that exemplifies the close friendship and the common resolve to not let the COVID-19 disrupt progress.

At the same time, it is viewed that a better Indonesia-Brunei direct connectivity and a reduction in transport costs for sea and air cargo are key to expanding the trade, the ambassador said, calling on relevant parties in Brunei Darussalam to continue their support.

“Indeed, the embassy will always be ready to help pave the way for businesses in both countries to connect and work collaboratively for greater mutual benefit,” he said.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Izah Azahari

In conjunction with this year’s Day of Action (DOA) that celebrates volunteers’ contribution across the country, imagine Sdn Bhd organised a blood donation campaign in collaboration with the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha (RIPAS) Blood Donation Centre and McDonald’s Brunei at McDonald’s Jerudong on Monday.

The corporate social responsibility (CSR) event collected 69 pints of blood donated by imagineers and the public.

The blood donation initiative, a first for imagine and as part of a series of volunteering activities throughout the month of December, was aimed at inculcating the spirit of giving among staff while providing the company an opportunity to engage with the public to better understand their telecommunications needs.

Donors were gifted either complementary McDonald’s meal vouchers or merchandise sponsored by imagine, as well as sundae cones and cappuccinos sponsored by McDonald’s.

imagineers have also been engaging in other volunteering activities including spending time with, and sponsoring school holiday activities for, children from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s Welfare Home Complex, planting 100 trees and a beach clean-up at Berakas Forest Reserve.

The company also dedicated its A-Dollar-A-Cheer SMS donation portal for the provision of school supplies to support families in need in preparation for the upcoming school year.

The project will run until December 26 with proceeds going to imagine’s Back-to-School programme. imagine post-paid and pre-paid customers may donate by typing ADAC [space] 1/5/10/15/20/50/100 to donate either BND1, BND5, BND10, BND15, BND20, BND50 or BND100 and send to 39998.

Borneo Bulletin Online

James Kon

Major Mohd Hishamuddin bin Haji Marzoki, who led 30 Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) personnel under the United Nations Interim Forces (UNIFIL) peacekeeping mission, advised future deployment members to be mentally prepared for being away from their family in a new environment.

“Physical fitness is also important, as is being up-to-date with global issues,” he said.

The 30 RBAF personnel, who were part of the Malaysian Battalion 850-7, returned to the country on December 4, after completing a 13-month peacekeeping mission.

Major Mohd Hishamuddin said, “The most memorable experience for us was working alongside the Malaysian troops, getting to know them and developing better rapport between us.

“We were also able to work with armed forces from different regions, learn new skills and share experiences in operational activities, allowing us to gain better insight into peacekeeping in the United Nations (UN).

“I am personally satisfied with us completing this mission. Despite the challenges in view of the high number of COVID-19 cases in Lebanon, all of us came home safely.”

“We express our gratitude to Allah the Almighty for blessing us with good health throughout our operation, the Brunei government, and our family for keeping us in their prayers. l speak for us all when I say we are elated to be home, back in the arms of our family. It is definitely a happy reunion,” Major Mohd Hishamuddin said.

Joint Force Commander Brigadier General Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Abdul Kadir received the Brunei contingent at a welcoming home ceremony at the multi-purpose hall of the Bolkiah Garrison yesterday.

Deputy Permanent Secretary and Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence (MinDef), RBAF Chief of Staff, directors, deputy service commanders and commandants, senior officers, and officers from the MinDef and RBAF, as well as representatives from the Malaysian High Commission in Brunei Darussalam also attended.

The event started with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Doa Selamat, followed by a detachment of badges.

The RBAF personnel were awarded medals of National Service of the United Nations, presented by Chief of the Defence Forces Malaysia General Tan Sri Dato Sri Haji Affendi bin Buang at the Army Basic Training Centre in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan on December 3.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Azlan Othman

Brunei’s fisheries industry is set to increase production by 2035 and boost the contribution of fisheries exports to the national economy, following an agreement signing between the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) and Muara Port Company Sdn Bhd (MPC) at The Empire Brunei yesterday.

Representing the Department of Fisheries was Acting Director Noraini binti Haji Anggas, while MPC was represented by Chief Financial Officer Lyu Guoli.

Witnessing the signing were Deputy Permanent Secretary at the MPRT Abdul Halidi bin Mohd Salleh and MPC Chief Executive Officer Zeng Caili.

Under the agreement, MPC will develop modern and high-tech facilities at the Muara Fish Landing Complex to ensure high-quality and environmentally-friendly services. The modernisation of the complex will also introduce modern terminal equipment for the unloading of catch from fishing vessels and inshore and offshore fish cage farms, as well as the efficiency to load and unload basic supplies on fishing vessels departing from the jetty.

Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Apong told the local media, “These facilities will help to advance our Key Performance Indicator (KPI) in the fisheries sector production from 100 million in 2019 to 175 million in 2022.”

Speaking on the sidelines of the agreement signing, the minister said, “MPC will start the project in January 2021. During the first phase, MPC will put a total of over BND14 million into the project.

“This is a public-private partnership (PPP) project, which once completed, will also generate over 200 job opportunities for local employment to fill the positions of manager, factory worker, complex jetty supervisor, maintenance officer, technical assistant, salesman, assistant worker, driver, cleaner, premises controller, storekeeper and so on.”

The minister said, “It will also provide facilities such as water, ice and oil for fishing vessels. In addition, selected companies will provide more efficient services for fish processing activities in the complex area.

“More vessels will operate through MPC international network, which will invite foreign investors to invest in aquaculture and fish processing, generating more job opportunities for locals.”

Among the special guests at the event were Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Apong; Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II and Chairman of MPC Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah; Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Ir Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar; and Minister of Transport and Info-communications and Chairman of the Maritime and Port Authority of Brunei Darussalam Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof.

Also in attendance was Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Brunei Darussalam Yu Hong.

MPC was selected through an open tendering process held earlier this year. It is a government-linked company (GLC) jointly owned by Beibu Gulf Holding (Hong Kong) Co Limited from the People’s Republic of China and Darussalam Assets Sdn Bhd under the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

The project is aimed at boosting the efficiency and safety of vessel navigation to depart, land and berthe at the fish landing jetty; accommodate the increasing numbers of vessel landings and berthing at the jetty; improve product flow efficiency and cleanliness from landing to processing plant; and ensure that products from commercial fishing vessels and inshore and offshore fish farming cages are in compliance with national quality control and food safety requirements and the requirements of the importing countries, including the European Union (EU), the United States (US), Australia, the People’s Republic of China and Japan.

It also aims to make the Muara Fish Landing Complex a safe working environment for all employees, staff members and users.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Aziz Idris

Moviegoers flocked to the Mahakarya Institute of the Arts Asia for the debut of Ilo Ilo as part of Singapore Film Appreciation Day on December 22.

Singapore High Commissioner-designate to Brunei Darussalam Heng Aik Yeow, senior officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Council of Women of Brunei Darussalam and members of the Diplomatic Corps were present.

Chargé d’Affaires ad interim at the Singapore High Commission in Brunei Darussalam Raymond Chow said, “We hope that films like Ilo Ilo can provide Bruneians with a window into the texture and rhythm of daily life in Singapore, and promote cultural exchanges between our countries. We would like to thank the Mahakarya Institute for this opportunity to showcase a little slice of Singapore.”

Ilo Ilo made waves in the global film arena when it premiered at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival as part of the Directors’ Fortnight and was awarded Camera d’Or award becoming the first Singaporean feature film to win an award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Ilo Ilo was also selected as the Singaporean entry to the Best Foreign Language film at the 86^th Academy Award.

The movie, directed by Anthony Chen featured an international cast including Singaporean actor Chen Tianwen, Malaysian actress Yeo Yann Yann, Filipino actress Angeli Bayani and debut child actor Koh Jia Ler.

The award-winning feature hits close to home to many, centering on life with domestic helpers and their relationship with the children they are hired to care for. The film is a close representation to middle class families in Singapore as they struggle through difficult times.

Brunei Film Blitz (BFB) Content Director Dr Alex Fischer said, “The entertainment factor of a film is important but so is representing national struggles and hardships. When characters grapple with difficult issues in a relatable way it is easier to sympathise and appreciate the culture.”

Brunei Film Blitz also screened Villa Dwellers, an Iranian movie directed by female director Monir Gheidi.

The family drama explores the themes during the Iran-Iraq war where families stayed at the villas near the frontline to get a chance to visit their loved ones.

Set in 1986, the film tells the story of the patience of Iranian women in managing a challenging situation. This screening goes in symphony of Iranian ladies for respecting the COVID-19 frontliners.

Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Brunei Darussalam Homeira Rigi Zirouki relayed the message by Vice President for Women and Family Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dr Masumeh Ebtekar about the important roles of Iranian women in the development of Iran in different fields to the audience. A variety of Iranian desserts were also served.

Meanwhile, four Indian films that took the audience beyond Bollywood, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Hawaa Hawaai, Mary Kom and Wazir were also screened during the Brunei Film Blitz. Each film shared a unique aspect of the diverse and vastly layered Indian screen identity.

High Commissioner of India to Brunei Darussalam Ajaneesh Kumar said Bollywood movies represent India as a nation.

Films such as Bhaag Milkha Bhaag and Mary Kom reflect upon India’s achievements on the international sports stage while Hawaa Hawaai embodies the heartfelt passion for life and through the struggles of boys limited by their social situation.

Wazir is perhaps most anticipated for its star, Amitabh Bachan, a living cinema legend. Interestingly, this film took almost 20 years to make and was highly anticipated among the BFB filmgoers.

Brunei Film Blitz encouraged the sharing of cultures through arts to expose local filmmakers to different stories, perspectives and outlook to find their voice in their films.

A jury panel comprising Dean of Mahakarya Institute of the Arts Asia Dr Alex Fischer – and two world renowned filmmakers: Film producer Sheila Timothy and Cinematographer Rain Yamson reviewed the entries. The winners of the Brunei Film Blitz Competitive Categories will be awarded on December 26.

Borneo Bulletin Online

James Kon

Fifteen selected Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) employees will work in Baiduri Bank early next year for six months following the signing of the secondment memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two organisations at the Baiduri Community Space, Baiduri Bank Headquarters yesterday.

An ‘open day’ for the selection of secondment candidates will be held at the RB Campus on Jalan Kustin sometime in January 2021.

Selected candidates will begin their secondment on February 1, 2021 until August 1, 2021.

Signing on behalf of Baiduri Bank was its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ti Eng Hui with Head of Group Human Resources and Administration Veronica Chong as witness.

RB was represented by its Acting Chief Executive Officer Captain Saiful Bahrin bin Bahar and witnessed by Manager of Performance and Engagement Shaarill Fred Teo.

In his opening remarks, Ti Eng Hui said, “We are proud to be the first bank in Brunei to seal this secondment agreement with RB. I believe both organisations will benefit greatly from this collaboration.”

As part of the agreement, secondees will be deployed in customer service-related roles for six months and Ti Eng Hui is confident that their “knowledge, international airline industry training and award-winning customer service will add tremendous value to our continuous efforts in enhancing customer experience”.

As successful and established Brunei brands, both Baiduri Bank and RB “have done well in our respective industries, achieving success on a number of fronts and are synonymous with innovation and customer service”, he added.

With the outbreak of COVID-19, “the world has changed drastically and industries, in particular banking and aviation, have faced unprecedented challenges”, the Baiduri CEO said.

Despite this, Baiduri Bank is committed to help individuals, businesses and communities during these uncertain times. The bank has come up with several initiatives in financial relief such as loan deferment and fee waivers.

The bank’s commitment to the secondment programme with RB is also part of its contribution to support each other during difficult times and “I am glad that we can play a positive role and contribute in a very meaningful way to assist RB in handling their challenges”, Ti Eng Hui said.

The RB secondees will also gain exposure in a different industry which offers unique challenges and development opportunities.

“They will undergo training specific to the banking industry; broadening their skill sets and opening up more career opportunities in the near future,” said Veronica Chong.

Meanwhile, Captain Saiful Bahrin said, “RB and Baiduri Bank are two strong and proud Brunei brands with a strong track record in product innovation and service excellence. Through this momentous partnership, both RB and Baiduri Bank have established a commitment to venture into building and expanding the scope of our people through this secondment programme.

“As one of the brands in Brunei well-known for our award-winning services, we have continuously encouraged the learning and training of our people to help them achieve an even higher standard for their personal and professional development. It is hoped that through this secondment, it will improve their proficiency and level of skills while broadening their knowledge in a new industry,” he added.

Also present at the signing ceremony were management and staff from Baiduri Bank and RB.

Borneo Bulletin Online

James Kon

Crowds gathered at the Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas on Tuesday night to view the Moon, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

The event dubbed ‘Above and Beyond’ was organised by the Survey Department under the Ministry of Development to raise awareness on astronomy and view Jupiter and Saturn after the great conjunction on December 21 when Saturn and Jupiter appeared closest to each other.

After December 21, the gap between Jupiter and Saturn widens each evening.

The 2020 great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn was the closest since 1623 and the closest observable since 1226. This year’s extra-close Jupiter-Saturn conjunction will not be matched again until the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction of March 15, 2080.

Stargazers were in awe looking through the telescope to find Jupiter and Saturn side by side.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Aziz Idris

Unified National Networks Sdn Bhd (UNN) welcomed 20 Legislative Council (LegCo) members to their offices at Anggerek Desa Technology Park and Sumbiling yesterday.

The visit, organised by the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC), aimed at briefing LegCo members on UNN’s latest developments since its formation two years ago.

The visit began with opening remarks from Permanent Secretary (Investment) at the Ministry of Finance and Economy and UNN Deputy Chairman Haji Khairuddin bin Haji Abdul Hamid, followed by a welcoming speech from UNN Chief Executive Officer Dr Steffen Oehler.

“UNN is a very young company with a set of challenging objectives. They are set to position the Bruneian telecommunications industry and services offered on the level with the leading countries in the region. We are honoured by the visit from LegCo members as recognition of the role of telecommunication we have in the economic development of Brunei Darussalam,” Dr Oehler said.

The LegCo members were given an overview of UNN, expectations set since it formed, how much it has achieved to date, and plans for 2021 and beyond.

The strategic areas of development of the infrastructure and services were explained, including the full modernisation of the mobile and fixed networks, full deployment of fibre in the country, and the support UNN provided during the fight against COVID-19.

The development of Brunei Darussalam as an ICT hub in the region is a high priority for UNN and important projects are under way or have been implemented to contribute to this target. This includes the launch of the Borneo IX, an international Internet Exchange, the implementation of the Cyber Defence Centre and other long reaching measures.

According to UNN, the transformation of the industry is already showing results and benefits for the public, with the broadband penetration rate increased significantly and now above 65 per cent, over 20,000 customers connected in the past 11 months and fibre deployed in areas not covered previously.

However, there are challenging projects ahead for UNN, including the deployment of infrastructure and fibre in rural areas.

To achieve this, UNN is focussed on developing the skills required for new technology and efficient operational approaches.

Steps are in place to create an environment of continuous learning and improvement within the company, creating tailored learning and training programmes for the vast majority of UNN’s employees.

The senior management team from UNN, who were present during the briefing session, provided insight to the developments from their domains.

The visit provided LegCo members an opportunity to learn the progress of UNN achievements, as most work carried out by the telco are done in phases and not all of them are visible to the public.

The visit ended with the LegCo delegation touring the UNN Telephone House (TelHouse) in Sumbiling.

The building was inherited from TelBru during the transformation period and is undergoing its own transformation under the care and guidance of UNN.

Renovation and refurbishment of TelHouse is expected to be completed by March 2021 and will house some 400 UNN employees from the technical and engineering teams, cybersecurity team, and Data Centre team.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Izah Azahari

Fifteen orphans from the Brunei-Muara District received donations in hopes of elevating their burden in purchasing school supplies for the upcoming school season at ‘Food Fest 2020’ organised by AIZ Management with the support from the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT), held in conjunction with the Brunei December Festival 2020.

The event was officially launched by guest of honour Deputy Permanent Secretary (Tourism) at the MPRT Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali on Tuesday.

The Food Fest is open to the public until January 3 at the Open Arena Ground Floor of The Airport Mall.

Visitors can enjoy the Candyland Theme and shop from a wide variety of local food, souvenirs, services, and dine at the open area from 10am to 10pm.

The event aims to provide opportunities for local micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to be active in the food and beverage and tourism industry.

The event acts as a benchmark to conduct domestic tourism as an annual activity.

It is also hoped that MSMEs gain confidence, grow from pop-ups into brick and mortar, expand their business branding and presence alongside encouraging youth to nurture professional skills and reduce poverty in the nation.

It is also an avenue for tourists to see Brunei Darussalam’s culture and diversity, at the heart of Bandar Seri Begawan itself – adding value to the country’s tourism industry and economy.

Visitors can expect several fun-filled activities including local exhibitions on reptiles showcase, kites and spinning top competitions, children’s activities, Beyblade Tournament and mini trains among others.

Visitors are encouraged to bring reusables such as non-disposable straws, shopping bags, containers, cutleries, bottles to reduce the use of plastics and keep the environment clean.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Izah Azahari

Opportunities are being explored on the concepts of how environmental practices can be applied to the aviation industry, starting with going paperless.

Legislative Council member and Young Professionals Network Brunei representative Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa binti Haji Ash’ari made these comments during the Civil Aviation Forum 2020 held in conjunction with the International Civil Aviation Day 2020 at the Datastream Digital Sdn Bhd (DST) Headquarters yesterday.

“This is one of our approaches to reduce expenses in terms of paper production and so on,” she said. “For aviation itself, this carbon offset is one of the opportunities that we can explore,” she said.

Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa touched on how airline tickets are still widely used in Brunei upon check-in, as opposed to other countries that have adopted mobile check-in.

Several initiatives have been adopted by other airlines that enable its customers to contribute to the carbon offset programme which will help support environmental initiatives such as tree planting in conservation areas. A matured tree can absorb approximately 21.8kg of carbon dioxide.

One of the country’s targets in the recently launched Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Policy is to plant 500,000 trees by 2035. Hence, opportunities can be explored to enable customers support the target.

“This area of innovation and climate change is something the youth are quite involved and interested in,” Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa added.

The first session of the forum discussed ‘Innovation in Aviation World’, which also saw the presence of DST Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Radin Sufri bin Radin Basiuni, Norshahrul Nizam bin Othman from the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI), Angela Ng from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) and Captain Chua Hong Tad from the Royal Brunei Airlines (RB).

Radin Sufri entailed how the introduction of the Unified National Networks (UNN) enabled DST to identify a new system called Business Support System (BSS) that not only supports their customers, but also the automation of their branches from the back-end up to the front-end.

He said that after almost a year, digitalisation has come within customers’ experience.

“Most organisations here, especially DST, exist to serve our customers and all the digitalisation is to automate all our customers’ experience,” he said, adding that digitalisation would also enable the enhancement of customers’ experience at the Brunei International Airport.

Meanwhile, RB’s Captain Chua, who boasts 25 years of flying experience, said flying schools have now changed significantly with the introduction of various innovations that have now become the norm, such as the auto-pilot, auto-trim, air-car, weather radars and the like.

Captain Chua said, “To supplement those kinds of innovations, the most important thing is the way we train as it has changed to support that. One of the things that has come up now is VR (Virtual Reality) training for pilots and training crew.”

The RB pilot added there are several benefits to the new training methods as they centred towards thinking, which enables dynamic reality. He also noted that innovation has enhanced several safety aspects.

Norshahrul Nizam of AITI said that mobile technology has changed since its beginnings in the 1990s. There were around 11 million global subscribers at that time, and has risen to about 8.8 billion global connections now. Out of that, about 5.1 billion are human connections, while the remainder is whether they’re connecting their devices such as iPads, homes or IoT (Internet of Things) at about 2.7 billion connections.

“Connected drones are one of the things benefitting from IoT in the aviation industry,” said Norshahrul Nizam.

He added that the prospects of moving on to 5G saw AITI set up a 5G fast-course earlier this year to bring together 44 different agencies, with one working group looking to explore the use of 5G in specifically looking into oil and gas using drones. In terms of innovations for the aviation industry, he said there is a need for a closer collaboration between several sectors but not limited to only the aviation and the telecomm industries.

Meanwhile, sharing on Singapore’s digital transformation in safety regulation, Angela Ng shared a presentation on digitalisation efforts; going online to reduce work duplication and cut waste; streamlining business processes to ease paperwork burden internally; clean data, diverse sources and strong data visualisation and analytical skills as pillars critical for their vision to be a data-driven regulator; participation in regional safety data analysis efforts; training framework for staff; one aviation approach to safe air travel; little and big innovations; and process innovation.

“Digital transformation is gaining momentum especially during the COVID-19 situation. It requires collaboration and change management among users and partners in integration between operations and technology, buy-in from users, process owners and sponsors, and embrace of new working modes,” Angela said. “In crisis, innovation is a necessity.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has dampened negative impacts on the aviation industry. Comparing 2020 to 2019, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) estimated overall reduction of air passengers ranging from 59 to 60 per cent; the Airport Council International (ACI) estimated loss of approximately 60 per cent of passenger traffic; and the International Airlines Transport Association (IATA) estimated 54.7 per cent decline of revenue passenger kilometres (RPK).

In the effort to recover, risk management approach is required to protect passengers and aviation workers form COVID-19. Mitigation measures such as general hygiene, physical distancing, face coverings, routine sanitation, health screening, health monitoring, contact tracing, and health declaration are now the new normal to aviation.

The second session’s topic ‘Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic to Aviation Industry and How Innovation Help to Mitigate the Pandemic’ saw panellists comprising Department of Civil Aviation’s Muhammad Emmy Shamdy Khairul bin Haji Kadir, RB’s Deogenes Ancheta Oriel, Ministry of Health’s Dr Justin Wong and Tourism Development Department’s Haji Zulzalani bin Haji Osman discussing the implementation of the measures.

Both sessions were moderated by Sheikh Idham bin Sheikh Abas.

Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof was the guest of honour.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Hakim Hayat

Datastream Digital Sdn Bhd (DST) in collaboration with Sparks Co launched the DST Winter Wonders at the Jerudong Park Playground last night with a dazzling show, promising visitors a unique year-end holiday experience in Brunei.

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 officiated the launch.

With the borders still shut, DST Chief Executive Officer Radin Sufri bin Radin Basiuni said they hope the Winter Wonders can bring a different experience for all to enjoy during the holiday season.

Four themed areas will be on showcase – Snow Village, Vendors Lane, Street Food Marketplace and Urban Dining.

The 10-day family-oriented winter-themed celebration includes a variety of activities and fun carnival games. Visitors to the Snow Village will be greeted with winter-themed decorations including snow fall special effects, a synthetic skating rink, winter-inspired food and beverages and carnival games. It is held from December 23-27, and December 30 to January 3, from 2.30-10pm on weekdays (Wednesday to Friday) and from 10am to 10pm on weekends (Saturday and Sunday).

DST is bringing their DST Pavilion to DST Winter Wonders at the Vendors Lane. At the DST Pavilion, DST’s latest products and services are on offer. Those who subscribe to DST products and services during the event will stand a chance to win lucky draw prizes, which include an iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, Apple Watch SE and more.

DST revealed their latest Easi Everything Campaign promotion, the Easi Bundle which is specially made for Easi subscribers. Customers can register for the Easi Bundle by purchasing an Oppo A31 or Oppo A53 to get up to 100 per cent worth of Easi Credits back. The Easi Bundle is available at DST Winter Wonders and at selected exclusive dealers. The list can be found on their website at www.dst.com.bn.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Rokiah Mahmud

The Land Transport Department (JPD) under the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) is seeking the cooperation of accredited companies appointed in the manufacture, supply and installation of vehicle registration plates with small-sized figures and letters, according to the specifications which came into force in 2011.

The accredited companies or representatives are required to use high-quality materials, to ensure the durability of the white colour used for the letters and numbers.

In a press conference at the JPD headquarters in Beribi yesterday, JPD Acting Director Md Aizam bin Haji Abdul Hamid said, “Members of the public are urged to have their vehicle registration plates made by these accredited companies, and to replace their faded vehicle registration plates.

“At this point, JPD has appointed six companies for the manufacture, supply and installation of small-sized vehicle registration plates. They are: BKB Sdn Bhd (BKB), Hock Motor Company (HMC), Syarikat Shalim (B) Sdn Bhd (SSB), Bayu Ilham Motors Sdn Bhd (BIM), CKM Transportation Services (CKM) and New Zen View Company (ZEN).”

“Several businesses have been appointed as representatives for the accredited companies. Representing ZEN are Tat Lee Company, Hook Siong Hin Sdn Bhd and Ban Lee Hua.

“BKB is represented by MNP Enterprise, Kah Huat & Brothers Workshop, Roshjaya Motor Sdn Bhd, Systemair Enterprise and Seng Hoe Huat.”

The JPD Acting Director said, “The replacement of faded vehicle plates that are still under warranty will be free of charge.

“This is one of the efforts being undertaken by JPD, in carrying out its social responsibility. At the same time, special discounts are being offered by these accredited companies for a period of three months, starting from January 1 to March 30, 2021.

“Bayu Ilham Motors Sdn Bhd, Seng Hoe Huat, New Zen View Co and Hock Sing are all offering a 20 per cent discount; Ban Lee Hua Co Sdn Bhd a 33 per cent discount; CKM Transportation a 50 per cent discount; and Hock Motor Sdn Bhd BND15, to replace faded vehicle registration plates.” Meanwhile, JPD is setting up an action team to carry out studies on faded plates. The team will also conduct technical tests, so that vehicle registration plates will meet the required specifications.

JPD will take action to terminate or suspend any company which does not adhere to the regulations in the manufacture, supply and installation of vehicle registration plates according to the required specifications.

According to the Road Traffic Act Chapter 68, Road Traffic (Identification Marks), Regulations, 2008, “Every letter and figure shall be 65 millimetres high; every part of every letter and figure shall be 10 millimetres broad; and the total width of the space taken by each letter and figure shall be 45 millimetres, except for the figure one, which shall be 28 millimetres wide.

“Every plate shall be made of aluminium and the identification mark shall be embossed thereon. The ground of the plate shall be black and the identification markings shall be white, and shall conform to the diagrams in the schedule.”

Borneo Bulletin Online

Hakim Hayat

It had always been a lifelong dream of Hajah Norsiah binti Abdul Rahim, 87, to publish a collection of her recipes garnered from decades of cooking experience whether at home, or during her time as a home science teacher.

Her dream became a reality with the launch of Resipi Bonda at the Tarindak D’Polo Restaurant in Jerudong yesterday, joined by her close friends and family.

Hajah Mumtazah binti Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti, the eldest grandchild of Hajah Norsiah, said with her sincerity and generosity, she has bequeathed her knowledge and experience to students and housewives through culinary art in school.

“With her effort, the cooking class that was established in Seria, Belait District was expanded to Brunei-Muara District, with help from her closest companions. Their tireless efforts were significant, with more students completing home science courses. Some have also become teachers or instructors in the subject.”

Hajah Mumtazah also shared that during Hajah Norsiah’s time with her family overseas, she had the opportunity to introduce Brunei culinary in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Iran, India and Jordan during events, classes or even television programmes.

She said Resipi Bonda’s publication means a lot to her family and expressed hopes that the wisdom from Hajah Norsiah would be passed down for many generations to come.

“Our elders’ knowledge is a valuable asset because it is also a part of our tradition that helps to shape the national identity,” she added.

Hajah Norsiah was one of the pioneers in teaching home science management and initiated a class at her home in Seria town in the 1950s. In 1957, she caught the attention of Muhammad ‘Alam Seria School’s headmaster who later incorporated home science into the school curriculum and offered her a permanent teaching position under the education department.

She inspired a great many teachers to specialise in home science education and appeared in countless television programmes produced by Radio Television Brunei.

Borneo Bulletin Online

James Kon

The public will get a chance to learn more about Chinese culture, food, games, martial arts, dances and many unique traditions at the China Day event from tomorrow to Sunday at the Indoor Stadium, Berakas in conjunction with the Brunei China Tourism Year 2020 and Brunei December Festival 2020.

The two-day event is hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Brunei Darussalam, organised by the Brunei-China Friendship Association and supported by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS).

On Sunday, the organiser will attempt to break into the Brunei Book of Records by hosting 2,020 individuals practising tai chi simultaneously. In adhering with current mass gathering restrictions, the tai chi sessions will take place in several locations.

Details of the event were shared by Deputy Permanent Secretary (Tourism) at the MPRT Wardi bin Haji Mohammad Ali, Counsellor at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Brunei Darussalam Wang Haitao and Brunei-China Friendship Association Chairperson Dr Muhammad Firdaus bin Abdul Rahman during a press conference at Chung Hwa Middle School, Bandar Seri Begawan.

The deputy permanent secretary said, “This is one of the events under Brunei December Festival 2020. Over 88 events have been listed for the festival and we are still receiving more events to be listed.”

Wang, meanwhile, highlighted that this is the first time that China Day has been held in the country.

“It is a Chinese cultural carnival in support of the Brunei December Festival as well as an important event of the 2020 China-Brunei Tourism Year,” he said.

China Day, he added, “is hosted by the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Brunei Darussalam, supported by the MPRT and MCYS and organised by Brunei-China Friendship Association. It will be launched tomorrow, and open to the public from noon until 9pm at the Indoor Stadium”.

He said there will be live performances of Chinese martial arts, traditional songs and dances, as well as an opportunity to immerse in tea ceremony, Chinese chess, calligraphy and table tennis.

In addition, he said, “the public can sample Chinese delicacies including dumplings, mooncakes and Zongzi. Hengyi, Huawei and other Chinese enterprises in Brunei Darussalam will also showcase their latest products and most advanced technologies.

“We hope that China Day can provide an opportunity for Bruneians to experience Chinese culture up close and to promote the friendly exchanges between our people, despite the COVID-19 pandemic. “

Meanwhile, Dr Muhammad Firdaus said, “Visitors to China Day can expect to see different performances every hour. We hope that this will give visitors a feel of China.”

He also revealed that a mass tai chi session will take place on Sunday in an attempt to make it into the Brunei Book of Records.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Brunei LNG Sdn Bhd held an Operative Technician Progression Scheme and Graduates Contract Signing Ceremony for 11 operative technicians and three graduates at Indera Samudra Grand Hall, The Empire Brunei recently.

Permanent Secretary (Energy) at the Ministry of Energy Haji Azhar bin Haji Yahya was the guest of honour.

Brunei LNG Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Hajah Farida binti Dato Seri Paduka Haji Talib, managing directors of Brunei Shell Joint Ventures and Brunei Gas Carriers, general manager of Brunei Liaison Office Mitsubishi Corporation and representatives from Brunei LNG Management, the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum Authority and Darussalam Assets were also present.

The three graduates will undergo a three-year Graduate Development Programme while the 11 operative technicians will participate in Brunei LNG’s Operative Technicians Progression Scheme. The Graduate Development Programme and Operative Technicians Progression Scheme are designed to provide the right mix of on-the-job learning with the aim of creating highly competent and professional employees.

Hajah Farida said family is the most important contributor to our success in life.

“Sharing from my personal experience, I am in this position today as the first female Bruneian MD/CEO of an important company that contributes to the economy and the people of Brunei Darussalam, in part due to the never ending support of my family. So, my thanks go out to all of our families. With their understanding and support, we are able to get where we are today,” she said.

Brunei LNG has introduced the Operative Technicians Progression Scheme for HND holders, and yesterday marked another milestone for Brunei LNG by recruiting the first batch of HNDs holders.

The operative technicians will undergo structured development levels under the Front-Line Barrier Management Competence Development and Assurance Scheme.

For Brunei LNG, the signing signifies the company’s pledge towards the vision of the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam of developing the country into a nation widely recognised for the accomplishment of its educated and highly skilled people.

Brunei LNG’s learning programme will ensure that every individual will have the opportunity to reach their maximum potential and join a productive workforce ready to meet the nation’s manpower needs, said the company in its press release.

Another opportunity that Brunei LNG is currently working on is to provide an opportunity for the operators to further their studies by providing in-service sponsorship to the technicians, it added.

Borneo Bulletin Online