James Kon

Engage Minds Learning (EML) International School was officially launched by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd lsham bin Haji Jaafar during a ceremony at the school in Jalan Sungai Hanching yesterday.

Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health (MoH) Dr Haji Zuladi bin Haji Abdul Latif and Deputy Permanent Secretary of the MoH Haji Maswadi bin Haji Mohsin were also present.

The school began its operation in September 2020, with an aim to provide children with a learning environment that integrates educational elements through play and outdoor activities.

Director of EML International school Haji Rahman bin Haji Nawi said, “EML International School is a formal and inclusive kindergarten school. We cater to children aged three to six of various abilities.”

He explained that inclusivity “is a key component of our school. We have set up facilities that can help children, who face challenges in a traditional school setting. Our teachers and therapists are highly skilled in working within the early childhood years as well as early intervention”.

He said, “We opened the school to test the market in September 2020, and Alhamdulillah, our children enjoyed their time here. Each part of this school has been created with the children in mind, and we hope EML International School can be a magical place for them to play and learn.”

Meanwhile, EML Principal Cristina Gemanar said, “It has been a dream of my husband and I to establish a formal school that celebrates children the way they should be.”

“Central to my journey as an educator is the belief that children should be allowed to remain as children for as long as they need to be. This has also been my childhood experience. Encourage them to be curious, discover the world around them through their own eyes, play and be adventurous,” she said.

Gemanar, who has been an educator for over 20 years in the country, described the school as being able to encapsulate “the belief that children should remain children while they learn and study, discover… all while playing and interacting with the world around them. EML International School places great importance in connecting our children with the natural world and the larger community”.

She added, “Our children learn mathematical concepts as they construct and deconstruct structures. They learn science as they plant different vegetables or interact with water.

“They learn to read and write as they use their natural environment to create stories.

“They develop confidence and self-assurance as they dictate their own adventures for the day.

“Our children practise kindness and friendship as they interact with other children of different ages and abilities.

“Differently-abled children in this inclusive school get the time to understand themselves and find their potential with the support we have put in place for them.”

Gemanar expressed hope that EML can be a school for many children in the country, and that the school will continue to provide educators and therapists, with the continuous support from MoH, the Allied Health Professions Council of Brunei Darussalam (AHPCBD) and the Ministry of Education (MoE).

EML currently has 53 children with 46 per cent of them differently-abled. The school has 21 teachers trained in early childhood education.

Gemanar also revealed the school’s future goal of expanding to Year 3.

Following the launch, Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd lsham planted a tree in the compound and toured the school.

Borneo Bulletin Online

James Kon

Brunei Darussalam marked its second day without new COVID-19 cases in the country and no local transmissions for 269 days as of yesterday, keeping the national tally of confirmed cases at 180. Seven active cases are receiving treatment at the National Isolation Centre in the Tutong District.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has taken 260 samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing over the past 24 hours, with 91,574 tests carried out since January 2020.

A total of 534 individuals are undergoing mandatory self-isolation at government monitoring centres after arriving from abroad, while 12,214 have completed their stint since March 2020.

Healthinfo.gov.bn revealed that there have been 145 cases in the Brunei-Muara District, 29 in the Belait District and six in the Tutong District.

For updates, visit www.moh.gov.bn, contact Health Advice Line at 148 or the BruHealth app.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Aziz Idris

The Young Entrepreneurs Association Brunei (YEAB) held a charity drive targetting the underprivileged in the Belait District, in the run up to Chinese New Year.

Donations were presented to 10 families, helping them as they prepare to ushering in the Lunar New Year.

A total of BND3,380 was raised through personal donations and multiple partners including Progresif Sdn Bhd, ReadyMix Concrete (B) Sdn Bhd, New Dawn Company JCWE Sdn Bhd, Nexploit Services and Brunei Timber. MG Motors Brunei assisted with transportation.

YEAB contributed Raya baskets containing food and household items to 10 families in the Temburong District last year. Since 2008, YEAB has annually conducted charity drives to involve members in community work and to heighten social awareness.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Lyna Mohamad

The Brunei Darussalam National Council on Climate Change (BNCCC) launched the Protokol Hijau, or Green Protocol, yesterday as part of Climate Action Year, by planting 68 saplings at the recreation site of Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Bridge in Kampong Sungai Besar.

The event was jointly officiated by Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Ir Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar and Minister of Energy Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussien, as Co-Chairmen of BNCCC.

Cabinet Ministers, deputy ministers, foreign diplomats in Brunei Darussalam, permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretaries also participated in the tree planting ceremony.

Green Protocol is one of the initiatives spearheaded by the government in promoting a sustainable lifestyle in efforts to reduce carbon emissions in the country, which is in line with the Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Policy (BNCCP) of paving the way for the country to become a sustainable nation.

It outlines a set of guidelines that can contribute significantly to the reduction of carbon footprint, through the adoption of efficient technologies and conservation measures in a number of areas – energy; water; paper and plastic usage; waste disposal management; official events management; and tree planting.

The launch of the protocol serves to further strengthen existing initiatives and to enhance awareness within the government sector.

Most measures introduced under the protocol have already been initiated in most government buildings.

Tree planting is one of the most significant elements under the protocol; it emphasises that for every tree cut during the development of any government project, one new tree must be planted to compensate for the loss of carbon removal capacity, in line with Strategy 2 (Forest Cover) of the BNCCP, which seeks to increase the national carbon sink through reforestation and afforestation.

With forest coverage of 72 per cent, Brunei was carbon neutral in 2018. However, the carbon emissions were slightly higher due to the recent economic development, thus mitigation measures under the protocol have been put in place to bring down the carbon emissions.

These measures require a whole-of-nation effort to ensure the transition to a low-carbon and climate resilient nation will be successful.

Among the highlights of yesterday’s event was the collaborative effort of sapling planting by Cabinet Ministers. The gesture served as a symbol of their commitment and determination in leading the action to address climate change.

This year, 26,000 trees are expected to be planted across ministries as the government acknowledges that it is crucial to preserve the country’s forest to maintain the carbon sequestration capacity.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Izah Azahari

Some 1,000 houses will be erected in the latest project by the Ministry of Development (MoD) under the 11^th National Development Plan.

The MoD signed a contract agreement for the RPN Kampong Lugu Phase 2 project with contractor Swee Sdn Bhd at the Betabur Hall of the MoD yesterday.

Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Ir Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar witnessed the signing.

Acting Director of Housing Development Haji Shaharuddin Khairul bin Haji Anuar signed for the Housing Development Department while Swee Sdn Bhd was represented by Pengiran Haji Mahalee bin Pengiran Damit.

Consulting on behalf of the wholesalers are Eco Bumi Architect and Petar Perunding Sdn Bhd.

Valued at over BND108 million, the project is built on a 165-hectare site, and is expected to reach completion in 24 months, including basic facilities such as water, electricity and roads.

Meanwhile, the MoD is also overseeing other projects such as the construction of some 750 units of terrace house in RPN Kampong Tanah Jambu Phase 7 (under the 11^th National Development Plan) which is currently in the process of supporting offers; repair works on 140 units of terrace house in RPN Kampong Rimba, expected to start in the near future; and the allocation of 254 units of terrace house in RPN Kampong Bukit Beruang, Tutong, which have been completed fiscally and expected to be finalised in the near future.

Ten units of terrace house in RPN Kampong Rimba completed repair works last year and were presented to qualified applicants of the National Housing Scheme, while 20 units of terrace house in RPN Kampong Bukit Beruang have also been distributed.

Deputy Minister of Development Dato Seri Paduka Ar Haji Marzuke bin Haji Mohsin, Permanent Secretary (Planning, Land Use and Environment) at the MoD Dr Nor Imtihan binti Haji Abdul Razak, Permanent Secretary (Infrastructure, Housing and Professional) at the MoD Ir Haji Amer Hishamuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Zakaria, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Corporate and Legal) at the MoD Sr Hajah Norhayati binti Haji Mohd Yaakub, heads of department and MoD’s senior officers were present.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Fadley Faisal

Chief Syar’ie Judge Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Salim bin Haji Besar encouraged a moderate wedding setting after the positive feedback from the public who got married during the COVID-19 outbreak with the Syariah Court offering to conduct the ceremony intimately at its premises during the early days of the epidemic’s outbreak.

The chief Syar’ie judge said this at the Syariah Court Annual Assembly for 1442 Hijrah/2021 yesterday.

He cited the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) where a moderate wedding ceremony is encouraged, and if followed, will ease financial difficulties, especially during a pandemic.

Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Salim shared the encouraging number of marriages at 1,413 between April and August 2020, compared to 846 within the same period in 2019, while 1,044 solemnisations were conducted at the Syariah Court between March and September 2020.

The Syariah Court Annual Assembly was attended by Syariah Court members, who were greeted with an opening address from Syariah Appeal Court’s Chief Registrar Haji Muhammad Bahrin bin Haji Alias, during which he shared about the developments of the Syariah Court in the past year.

A video on Syariah Court’s services during the epidemic was screened along with slides of the Syariah Court’s activities.

The chief Syar’ie judge presented certificates of appreciation to officers and staff of the Syariah Court pursuing a career outside of the court, Service Excellence Awards to staff for 2020 and Special Appreciation Award to Dayangku Nurqistina binti Pengiran Hasanan.

Wedding Loka Director Dayangku Nurqistina set up a wedding dais free of charge at the Syariah Court for couples getting married during the epidemic.

Speaking on the Syariah Court’s developments until 2020, the chief Syar’ie judge said the court’s findings in the established Chapter 217 of the Islamic Family Law, provides solutions to problems involving alimony.

The chief Syar’ie judge also reminded Syar’ie practitioners to be diligent and selfless in a whole-of-nation approach to achieving Brunei Vision 2035.

The Syariah Appeal Court chief registrar, in his address to the chief Syar’ie judge, iterated the publication of Brunei’s Syariah Law Journal (2008-2009) containing case laws for reference in future judgements of the Syariah High Court and the Syariah Appeal Court.

“Soon, the Syariah Court will publish its annual report to include achievements, developments and activities as well as statistics from 2018 to 2020,” said the Syariah Appeal Court chief registrar.

He also said Syariah Court officers have developed their knowledge and skills aided by the Internet.

“The Syariah Court has also undertaken a practice direction from a ruling by the chief Syar’ie judge for cases to be completed, and the duration of proceedings within 180 days (six months), provided the adherence of procedures and proceedings run smooth,” the Syariah Appeal Court chief registrar added.

The Syariah Appeals Court chief registrar said the court completed 60 per cent of the cases in 2020, all within six months.

“The Syariah High Court has recorded 813 mal cases and 289 criminal cases, all of which reached completion within six months at the rate of over 70 per cent, while the Syariah Subordinate Court records over 80 per cent of mal and criminal cases completed within six months,” the judge said.

Borneo Bulletin Online

James Kon

Ambassador of France to Brunei Darussalam Christian Ramage, Ambassador of Thailand to Brunei Darussalam Wanthanee Viputwongsakul, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Representative Andrew Lee, United States Embassy in Brunei Darussalam Charge d’Affaires Emily Fleckner, National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Brunei Darussalam (NCCIBD) President Haji Mohammad Hanafi bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Diraja Dato Laila Utama Haji Abdul Rahman, Brunei Darussalam BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BD BEBC) Chairman Pengiran Haji Haris bin Pengiran Haji Duraman and local business leaders visited Golden Corporation Sdn Bhd (GC) and its shrimp farms recently.

GC Managing Director Richard Chuang invited them to take a closer look at the company’s operation.

After savouring seafood dishes featuring shrimps and fish sourced from GC, the guests watched a presentation before touring the facilities.

Chuang said the integrated seafood company was established with the support of the government of Brunei.

He said the farm’s shrimp output in 2020 was 2,800 metric tonnes, compared to 500 metric tonnes in 2019.

It is expected to reach more than 6,000 metric tonnes this year. The produce is sold locally and exported to Australia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and China.

Chuang briefed the guests during a tour of the factory and offices including highlighting the adaptability of the new production system and new feed and health products. The final leg of the tour was at the shrimp farm to see farm upkeep activities and shrimp collection using nets.

GC is a foreign direct investment (FDI) company established in 2002. The company started as a hatchery for shrimp and fish fry before expanding into shrimp farms, fishmeal and feed mill plants, and in 2012, set up the first integrated seafood processing plant in Brunei.

With over BND50 million invested to develop the seafood industry in Brunei, GC employs over 200 local employees manning three shrimp farms in the Tutong District as well as three processing plants in Tutong and Brunei-Muara districts.

GC’s success makes Brunei one of only two countries that successfully cultivate blue shrimp.

GC also invested in fishing vessels capable of operating in Brunei’s deep marine zone to catch Yellow Fin Tuna, Skipjacks, and other marine fish that can be turned into value-added products such as surimi.

Because of GC’s vast potential, Oman Brunei Investment Company (OBIC) – a joint venture between the State General Reserve Fund of Oman and Brunei Investment Agency – acquired 50 per cent of GC in November 2019. With OBIC’s investment, GC increased aquaculture production for more export opportunities.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Daniel Lim

Non-government organisation (NGO) The Last Straw held a beach clean-up along the shores of Belait District yesterday, where its volunteers collected over 100 bags of trash.

Beginning at the Panaga Beach Shelter of Panaga Club, the campaign reached as far as the Billionth Barrel Monument and E1 Beach front in front of the Officer’s Mess Hall along Jalan Maulana.

The campaign aimed at ensuring the cleanliness of the beaches are maintained by frequent visitors to the beaches, especially those who are a part of the Adopt-a-Beach programme implemented two years ago.

Volunteer Zafirah Morshidi said the Adopt-A-Beach programme “aims to inspire action in keeping the beaches clean as groups can voluntarily ‘adopt’ a section of the beach in the Panaga area to maintain its cleanliness in their own time”.

She added that the organisation also discourages the use of single-use plastics in favour of reusing to reduce waste. The trash collected were mainly plastics, which she explained if left intact, can become micro-plastics which are invasive to the ecosystem and health.

“We also aim to conduct frequent cleaning campaign to remind the public on the importance of keeping our beaches clean for all to enjoy,” said Zafirah.

Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP) Managing Director Agnete Johnsgaard-Lewis also participated. She was accompanied by volunteer Marie McCredy and founding member of The Last Straw Ramon Van Dijk.

Johnsgaard-Lewis expressed delight in the initiative and hopes the event will inspire more initiatives of its kind in the future.

Borneo Bulletin Online

As one of the Smart Lifestyle privileges, Baiduri Bank held a stand-up comedy night exclusively for Baiduri Smart Executive Programme (SEP) members on Saturday.

The event in collaboration with local comedy group BruHaHa, was held at the Baiduri Community Space, Baiduri Bank Headquarters.

The event was to show appreciation to its SEP members for their loyalty and support by treating them to a night of fun and laughter.

The SEP members were treated with light refreshments and a comedy show hosted by Kevin Cheong, with performances by popular and up-and-coming stand-up comedians; Zainal Bostaman, Tibby Ibrahim, Ahmad Aiman, Najib Ja’afri, Loh Latiff and Nazihah Nooradin from the group.

Head of Retail Banking Lim Kian Chiong explained that through events like these, the bank has a platform of fostering stronger partnerships with their existing members while also getting to know the newer ones.

He said, “We believe our Smart Executive members are an inquisitive generation of customers with an evolving and dynamic set of needs and wants.

“As you become more financially discerning, we hope that your relationship with the bank grows as well so that we are able to understand you better and help you navigate through the various life stages you will find yourself in.”

He added that the event was one of the ways Baiduri Bank supports the local budding creative industry and is also one of the many causes that the bank champions in their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

The Smart Executive Programme is tailored to meet the financial and lifestyle needs of young professionals.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Lyna Mohamad

Twenty-six youth, who enrolled into the GAIA Youth Series Model, began their six-month mentoring programme following its launch at Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex in the capital yesterday.

The programme has three phases and the first being Camp Wira Challenge pushing the youth’s mental, physical and emotional limits. The second phase involved a Youth Leadership Summit equipping them with skills and tools. The third phase is the mentorship programme to equip the youth with skills to build resilience and self-determination.

The first two phases were conducted in partnership with Projek Bina Ukhwah and the Society for Community Outreach and Training (SCOT).

Dayangku Ayesha binti Pengiran Haji Mohd Salleh leads the mentorship programme held in collaboration with Young Professionals Network (YPN) Brunei. It connects youth with industry experts from various fields.

Dayangku Izma Fatin Farhana binti Pengiran Adi Kamarulzaman said mentorship has a big learning curve for both the mentees and mentors. However, they managed to pool 30 mentors for the programme.

Finance Director Hajah Salma binti Haji Abdul Latif said the programme initially had 30 youth participants but some left and 26 stayed. The selection process is based on government recommendation and from the public.

Hajah Salma said the programme is funded by sponsorship and the organisers’ personal contributions.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Aziz Idris

Porsche Brunei, represented by QAF Eurokars Sdn Bhd as the authorised importer and dealer, officially opened the brand new, purpose-built state-of-the-art Porsche Centre Brunei on Saturday.

Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Abdul Mu’min, guest of honour, was joined by other members of the royal family.

German Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Gerda Winkler and QAF Brunei Group CEO Albert Lau also attended.

The integrated facility includes a spacious showroom that can display up to eight cars concurrently.

It incorporates the latest technology for maintenance and repairs, optimised for highly qualified Porsche-certified technicians and a more seamless and efficient workflow.

The new Porsche Centre Brunei houses a showroom and aftersales centre, occupying a built-up area of 4,398 square metres, providing ample space to display up to eight display cars, offering visitors a remarkable view of the Porsche model range.

A virtual showroom website offers a 360-degree tour of the facility, and provides online booking forms for new car inquiries and service appointments.

The cutting-edge service workshop is the first air-conditioned workshop in Brunei Darussalam, and serves as a one-stop hub for vehicle inspection, repairs and maintenance with six operational service bays.

Customers can also browse and purchase Porsche equipment accessories to enhance and customise their vehicles. The Porsche Driver’s Selection ‘Shop-in-Shop’ is built to bring the dynamic Porsche lifestyle to homes, offices, and weekends. It features the latest accessories that captures the unique appeal of the Porsche driving experience, an extensive collection including clothing, luggage, watches, model cars and leather products.

Porsche Brunei General Manager Lahiru de Silva said, “Since the first Porsche Centre opened in Brunei 24 years ago, we have been dedicated to providing a standard of excellence to our customers and growing customer base that reflects our brand.

“Porsche is more than just a car. It is a synonym for high-end thinking, a sporty driving experience, elegant design, powerful functionality and superior service, and we’re thrilled to welcome our customers to experience the brand in a refreshing way at our new Porsche Centre.”

Porsche Asia Pacific Managing Director Arthur Willmann also joined the launch via a video call from Singapore, during which he said, “Being the first to introduce an electric vehicle-ready dealership exclusive and sporting mobility in this market is a considerable achievement for Porsche Brunei.

“It’s a testimony of the excellent work being done by the team, and it underscores our ambitions to provide a dream car for every type of customer, as we are committed to shaping the future of mobility.”

Borneo Bulletin Online

James Kon

A covid-19 patient recovered yesterday, bringing the number of cases receiving treatment at the National Isolation Centre (NIC) to six.

Brunei Darussalam also entered its third day with no new covid-19 cases, keeping the national tally of confirmed cases at 180. The country recorded no local transmission for 270 days.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) shared the information on latest Covid-19 situation in the country as of noon yesterday.

Meanwhile, the MoH obtained 305 samples for SARS-CoV-2 virus testing over the past 24 hours while and 91,879 tests have been carried out since January 2020.

Five hundred individuals are undergoing mandatory self-isolation at government monitoring centres after arriving from abroad while 12,248 have completed quarantine since March 2020.

Healthinfo.gov.bn revealed that there have been 145 cases in the Brunei-Muara District, 29 in the Belait District and six in the Tutong District.

Visit www.moh.gov.bn, contact the Health Advice Line at 148 or check the BruHealth app for information and updates.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Hakim Hayat

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 joined his subjects for the recitation of Surah Yaasiin and 100 Days Tahlil ceremony for Al-Marhum His Royal Highness Prince Haji ‘Abdul ‘Azim at Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah in Kampong Kiarong yesterday.

The ceremony was held at selected mosques nationwide, to mark 100 days since the passing away of Al-Marhum His Royal Highness Prince Haji ‘Abdul ‘Azim on October 24, 2020.

His Majesty was greeted upon arrival by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar, Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara; Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong; Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman; Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar; Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud; 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 State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned.

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

Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Dr Abdul Fattaah, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Abdul Mu’min, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Omar Ali, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar, and other members of the royal family also attended.

His Majesty joined the mass Maghrib prayer led by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Salim bin Haji Besar, followed by Sunnat Hajat prayer.

The recitation of Surah Yaasiin and Tahlil was led by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Seri Utama Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Salim, followed with the recitation of Doa Tahlil by Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz.

His Majesty also joined the mass Isyak prayer led by Pehin Orang Kaya Paduka Setia Raja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Haji Awang Suhaili bin Haji Mohiddin, which concluded the ceremony.

Al-Marhum His Royal Highness Prince Haji ‘Abdul ‘Azim was born on Thursday, 8^th of Syawal, 1402 Hijrah, corresponding to July 29, 1982; and passed away at 10.08am on the 7^th of Rabiulawal, 1442 Hijrah, corresponding to October 24, 2020, at the age of 38.

Al-Marhum His Royal Highness received his early education at International School Brunei and went for further studies at the Raffles Institution, Republic of Singapore. He subsequently studied at Oxford Brookes University, United Kingdom.

In his lifetime, Al-Marhum His Royal Highness was awarded with the Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei (DKMB), the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS), and the Golden Jubilee Medal (Gold Medal).

Al-Marhum His Royal Highness was known as a virtuous person, who was actively involved in various charities associated with the arts, youth and welfare, especially in assisting the differently abled.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Yangon (ElevenMedia/ANN/AFP) – Myanmar’s interim President Myint Swe has transferred full authority in the administration of the country to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing – hours after the military has seized powers.

The announcement was made by military-owned media Myawady, citing the Constitutional Section 417, declaring a state of emergency and transfering power of law making, governance and judicial rights to the military as per by-laws of Section 418.

The announcement said the move to declare an emergency was needed to preserve the “stability” of the state, accusing the country’s election commission of failing to address “huge irregularities” in the November election.

The military said it would hold a “free and fair general election” after the emergency is over.

The news that the military had seized power broke early morning of 1st February, followed by widespread cuts in telecommunication lines as well as internet services.

The communication upheaval led to Myanmar Banks Association announcing temporary closure of all banks which also saw a run in cash withdrawals from panic customers in the morning.

There were also massive queues of panic buyers outside of supermarkets and vendors that sell essential foodstuff such as rice, oil and more.

The military has detained former President Win Myint, former State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as well as several state ministers who are top level leaders of the ruling party National League for Democracy (NLD). Their whereabouts cannot be confirmed.

It also comes after days of escalating tension between the civilian government and the powerful military that stirred fears of a coup in the aftermath of an election the army says was fraudulent.

The NLD said Ms Suu Kyi called on the public not to accept a coup by the military and urged them to protest.

“The actions of the military are actions to put the country back under a dictatorship,” the NLD said in a statement which carried Ms Suu Kyi’s name. “I urge people not to accept this, to respond and wholeheartedly to protest against the coup by the military.”

Phone lines to the capital Naypyitaw were not reachable and state TV went off air hours before Parliament had been due to sit for the first time since the NLD’s landslide election win in November, viewed as a referendum on Ms Suu Kyi’s fledgling democratic government.

Soldiers took up positions at the city hall in the main city of Yangon, and mobile Internet data and phone services in the NLD stronghold were disrupted, residents said.

Internet connectivity had also fallen dramatically, monitoring service NetBlocks said.

Borneo Bulletin Online

James Kon

The High Commission of Canada in Brunei Darussalam launched the Le Coin Canadien (The Canadian Corner) alongside a donation of books in a ceremony at the Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) Library yesterday.

Canadian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Jeanette Adele Stovel presented 41 books to UTB Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah binti Haji Sulaiman.

She expressed her gratitude to the High Commission of Canada for the books comprising a diverse genre of Canadian classics, history, poetry, biography, literature, fiction and culture that will be kept at the Le Coin Canadien, for UTB staff and undergraduates to learn about the history and culture of Canada.

Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah said, “These books are valuable additions.

“I believe the Canadian Corner can contribute in developing our students into global citizens who appreciate cultures, viewpoints and are sensitive to issues affecting the global community,” she said.

She shared that the UTB Library has a collection of over 33,000 volumes of books and a total of 1000 units of media collection, adding that “we invested significantly in acquiring two online databases: Scopus and Science Direct. Science Direct gives our staff and students access to 4,127 journals and 29,106 books as well as enables them to stay up-to-date on the latest high-quality research publications from all over the world.

“Even with the availability of wifi and online resources, the library remains an important part of student life on campus and attracts over 30,000 visitors each year,” said Professor Dr Hajah Zohrah.

UTB principal officers and staff as well as officers from the High Commission of Canada were also present at the event.

The book donation is hoped to offer additional value to the library’s growing foreign mission collection while fostering the love for reading within the UTB community.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Azlan Othman

The Federation of Miri Division Chinese Association has called on the Sarawak government to impose stricter travel ban to control the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, said its President David Goh in a statement yesterday.

He cited Brunei Darussalam as a good example of a country that is success in controlling the spread of the virus with strict travel ban, Malaysian media reported.

“I believe the Sarawak government can emulate similar restriction by banning those in Peninsula and Sabah from coming into the state, and to focus on flattening the infection curve,” said Goh.

He added that the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) should impose a longer quarantine period with 14 days’ compulsory quarantine and seven days’ home isolation, in ensuring thorough check on symptoms.

“Longer quarantine period is vital to observing those who may have contracted the virus, but show no signs in swab test or physical symptoms, preventing them from unknowingly infecting others,” he said, adding that practising self-discipline is a must during the critical period.

Goh also urged Sarawakians living outside the state, to stay put at their current location, instead of returning home.

“The government could save a huge amount of money used for quarantine, to rebuild our economy. The pandemic has hurt the economy and the longer it persists, the more the damage is unimaginable,” he said.

Brunei first detected a COVID-19 case on March 9, 2020, when a 53-year-old man tested positive. The first detection led the Brunei Government to immediately impose travel restrictions to control the spread.

Borneo Bulletin Online

James Kon

Nine residents of a house in RPN Kampong Lambak Kiri escaped unscathed after a fire destroyed their home on Saturday.

According to the Fire and Rescue Department (FRD), the whole concrete first floor and Spandek roofing of the house were on fire. Twenty-three firefighters from Lambak Kanan Fire Station, led by Acting Station Officer Haji Tarip bin Haji Ghani, doused the fire within five minutes, using water from five water hoses derived from the fire engine and fire hydrant.

After receiving an emergency call at 1.39pm, the FRD reached the scene 14 minutes later. They were supported by personnel from the Berakas Fire Station, FRD Women’s Operation Unit and Beribi Fire Station.

Commanding Officer of Operation ‘C’ Branch Senior Superintendent of Fire and Rescue Pengiran Azizul Rahman bin Pengiran Haji Yusop oversaw the operation. The causes of the fire are under investigation.

The FRD urged the public to get their homes insured and equipped with fire extinguishers and fire blankets.

The public is reminded to always switch off electrical appliances when not in use; avoid leaving cooking unattended; avail accredited companies to install wirings at home; and avoid overloading usage of electricity.

Call 995 during an emergency.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Lyna Mohamad

Sixteen HNTec in Information and Library Studies students from Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) Sultan Saiful Rijal Campus visited the IBTE Nakhoda Ragam Campus Library last Saturday.

School of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Senior Technical Teacher Norliha binti Mohd Din led the visit that began with a briefing from Chief Librarian Azaman bin Menuddin.

Library Club Vice President Siti Nur’ Aliaa Fazeerah binti Haji Ali Mohamad also gave a presentation on library activities from recent years.

The day continued with the visitors taking part in an activity organised by the club.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Daniel Lim

Forty scout leaders, including Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association (PPNBD) Commissioners and Belait District Scouts Association (PPDB) Local Association members attended the Belait District Scout Council on Sunday.

The event at Ashraqal Hall, Sungai Tali Primary School was aimed at disseminating information on PPDB’s plans for the year.

A review of past activities was presented during the event that also saw the presentation of World Crest badge to four scout members.

Best practices and knowledge among the scout leaders were also shared during the meeting.

Borneo Bulletin Online

Lyna Mohamad

The Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam Advocating Life-Long Learning for an Aspiring Future (BIBD ALAF) programme is a manifestation of BIBD’s belief in the value of life-long learning, which meets the objective of Brunei Vision 2035; to develop a nation widely recognised for the accomplishments of its well-educated and highly skilled people.

This was highlighted by BIBD Deputy Managing Director Hajah Noraini binti Haji Sulaiman, in her capacity as the Chairperson of the BIBD ALAF Programme Board of Trustees, during the awarding of BIBD ALAF scholarships to 19 students yesterday.

“This programme also shows BIBD’s commitment as a ‘Partner in Progress’, taking a whole-of-nation approach to capacity-building by partnering with the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) and the Ministry of Education (MoE), along with support from local corporates and members of the public,” she said.

Hajah Noraini also expressed appreciation for the support and contributions to BIBD ALAF, which she described as “a positive impact to all students in the programme”.

The event marks a continuation of the bank’s commitment as a Partner in Progress, through their holistic and comprehensive educational support programme. Presenting the BIBD ALAF scholarships to the new recipients was Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, in his capacity as Chairman of BIBD and its Group of Companies.

Held at the BIBD ALAF Centre of Excellence and Empowerment (CEE) in the capital, the event also saw the presence of Assistant Mufti (Buhuth) Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mazanan bin Haji Yusof, in his capacity as Chairman of BIBD’s Shariah Advisory Body.

Other invited guests included deputy permanent secretaries, senior officials and personnel from the MoE and MoRA, and management and representatives from BIBD.

The BIBD ALAF programme currently supports 243 students comprising 43 currently in primary school, 162 in secondary school, 11 in pre-university studies, four studying for GCE A’ Level examinations, 10 enrolled in universities and polytechnics both locally and abroad, and 13 awaiting their GCE ‘O’ Level examination results.

As a programme that aims to produce students that are educated, well-rounded and equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to be industry-ready, throughout 2020, BIBD ALAF students were exposed to soft skills training such as public speaking.

This culminated in the BIBD ALAF Convention, where students were required to debate issues and ideas on topics such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality and Internet of things.

BIBD ALAF students sitting for public examinations, such as the GCE ‘A’ Level examinations and the Primary School Assessment (PSR) examinations, recorded excellent results with a 100-per-cent passing rate, despite the disruptions brought on by COVID-19.

The achievement rate at the highest levels, for example, the percentage of students who achieved 5As in the PSR exam and three ‘A’ Levels in the GCE ‘A’ Level exam, was either better or on par with the national rate, which is evidence of both the individual capabilities of the BIBD ALAF students, as well as the collective impact of BIBD ALAF’s support and capacity-building efforts.

Following the presentation, Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew and several invited guests were given a tour of the CEE, where they viewed an exhibition showcasing the BIBD ALAF students.

The CEE, which began operations in 2020, acts as a hub for the BIBD ALAF students and is equipped with a reading centre, computer labs, tuition rooms, discussions areas, and an IT incubator, along with a range of other facilities aimed at enriching the ALAF students’ educational experience.

Borneo Bulletin Online