✰ Brunei Darussalam ~ NEWS & HILITES ✰

TheHawk

BIBD, DST Ink Deal To Launch SMS Banking
By Aemy Azlena

Bandar Seri Begawan - Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam Berhard (BIBD) and DST Communications Sdn Bhd (DST Com) have come together to launch SMS Banking services that will provide complete banking needs of customers whenever and wherever they may be.

The signing ceremony was held between DST Com and BIBD at the DST Headquarters, yesterday, with Dr Haji Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DST Group, as the guest of honour.

"With this new SMS Banking feature, BIBD is offering its customers comprehensive banking services and transactions while on the move.

"This service will forever change the way our customers can manage their finances with the convenience of accessing their complete banking needs from wherever they are," said Haji Muhammad Syaippudin bin Haji Abdullah, Managing Director of BIBD, during his speech at the Mobile Banking Signing Ceremony. Also present were the management and staff members of DST and BIBD, as well as invited guests.

The Memorandum of Agreement was signed by Dr Awang Hj Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah and Hj Muhammad Syaippudin bin Hj Abdullah. Witnessing the signing were Hj Marsad bin Hj Ismail, Chief Operating Officer of DST Group, and Hj Mohd Rozaiman bin DSLJ Hj Abd Rahman, Corporate Secretary of BIBD and Head of Legal and Advisory Division.

After the signing, Dr Haji Amin Liew Abdullah and Hj Muhammad Syaippudin bin Hj Abdullah exchanged the contract. The signing signifies the joint partnership between DST Group of Companies and BIBD in providing Mobile Banking services to BIBD customers.

After the signing ceremony, Amiruddin Dato Talib of BIBD gave a brief presentation on BIBD SMS Banking followed by a live demonstration by Mohd Shahrol bin Hi Mohd Jaafar, Executive Officer of Value Added Services.

"This Mobile Banking service is facilitated by DST Premium SMS Wiz@d 8885555 Information on Demand Platform which could be accessed by both DST Prima and Easi subscribers," explained Hj Marsad bin Hj Ismail, Chief Operating Officer of DST Group of Companies.

Customers can now carry out their banking transactions easily through their mobile phones wherever they are as SMS Banking is very user friendly. SMS Banking also allows customers to perform transactions such as fund transfers to registered users and enquire account balances at their convenience without having to visit the bank's branch or head to an ATM machine.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

TheHawk

Prince To Attend OIC Meeting
By Sonia K

Bandar Seri Begawan - His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, will attend the 34th Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers to be held in Islamabad.

Foreign ministers from Islamic countries will meet in the Pakistani city next week to review the performance of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). The 34th session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers (ICFM) will be a regular annual session which will also discuss the performance of OIC's subsidiary and affiliated institutions, according to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry, the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

The participants of the session would also form a speciall thematic session to discuss issues on Islam.

The session will be held in Islamabad from May 15 to 17.

Last month, participants of the preparatory meeting in Jeddah which was chaired by Pakistan's Additional Secretary of United Nations and Economic Coordination, Tariq Osman Hyder, finalised the agenda for the 34th ICFM session, as well as the draft resolutions to be presented by OIC member states on political, humanitarian and legal issues, a press release from the OIC stated. The draft resolutions, which will be tabled before the ministers in Islamabad, will be on political affairs, Muslim communities in non-OIC member states, legal affairs, statutory issues and information affairs.

On a separate issue, Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz reportedly said that Pakistan is supportive of giving an observer status to Philippines in the OIC and would welcome its entry into the fold as it seeks greater engagement with the Asean countries that will be beneficial to both sides, Muslim World News reported last month.

These views were expressed while Pakistan's prime minister was meeting with Philippine's President Gloria Arroyo on the sidelines of Boao Forum forAsia last month. Both the leaders agreed to forge closer economic links with special focus on enhancing trade and investment between the two countries, besides sharing best practices in the field of education, culture, science and technology.

The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) is an inter-governmental organisation grouping 57 states established on September 25, 1969.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

TheHawk

Parents Call For Privately-Run Vocational Schools
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - Parents are hoping for the private sector to create vocational and technical schools to produce skilled people for the labour market as well as to train secondary school leavers who are unable to enter sixth form education.
They said, there is a real need for the private sector to build privately-run vocational and technical schools to complement the institutions run by the government, which unfortunately cannot absorb all secondary school leavers.
"We cannot continue asking our children to take the 0' levels privately. They simply cannot get the required results.
"Our children can be skillful with their hands. But, unfortunately, they cannot get places at government-run vocational or technical institutions. This is because these places are filled with school leavers who were able to achieve good O' level results," parents lamented .
"We are unable to send our children to vocational or technical schools overseas due to financial restrictions. "We are hoping the private sector would take the opportunity to train the secondary school leavers. I am sure many parents could afford to send their children to study craft and technical education in this country," they said.
The only way for the country to reduce unemployment and overcome the acute skilled labour shortage is to train its own- workers, they added.
"Otherwise, we will see thousands of our young secondary school leavers being unemployed on an annual basis as they do not possess the necessary skills needed to work as mechanics and technicians," they added.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

TheHawk

His Majesty to launch Bridex 2007 on May 31

Husin Ismail
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
08-May-07

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di- Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Minister of Defence and the Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, will officially launch the Brunei Darussalam International Defence Exhibition and Forum 2007 (Bridex 2007) on May 31, 2007 the Ministry of Defence announced yesterday. The event, the first of its kind to be held in the country, will take place from May 31 to June 2, 2007 at the International Convention Centre. More than 90 exhibitors from 17 countries namely Australia, Austria, Brunei, Canada, China, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Sweden, United Kingdom and the United States of America are taking part in the three-day exhibition. According to the official statement, the exhibition, to be launched on May 31, has the main aim of providing ``a venue for interaction for defence manufacturers and suppliers, regionally and globally, to exhibit and promote their latest products and to explore the potentiality of establishing defence business ventures and the development of the local defence industry as well as an opening to establish networks among relevant defence counterparts''. Meanwhile, in the forum-half of Bridex 2007, 13 international speakers from renowned international defence conglomerate, including Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics, BAE Systems, Defence Export Service of United Kingdom, SAAB; Kestral Holdings of Pakistan; Vosper Technologies; Lockheed Martin; Stemcor; and Blenheim Capital Services, are expected to present their talks. The forum, aimed at creating an interactive discussion and exchanges of knowledge and experiences among experts, government officials, academicians, and private sector on selected topics related to defence and security, will be launched on May 31, after the official opening of the exhibition. Divided into separate sessions, the first will discuss the issue of Economic Enhancement Programme on defence development, while the second session during the following day will be dedicated to discussing the concept of C4ISR (Command, Control, Communication, Computer, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle). In the afternoon, there will be a discussion on the concept of homeland security, before the closing of the forum. More details about Bridex 2007 can be obtained from its official website at www.bridex.org. The Brunei Times

[ Last edited by  TheHawk at 9-5-2007 10:46 AM ]

holmes

Originally posted by TheHawk at 9-5-2007 10:22 AM


Balum ada info kali berapa kenaikan nya! Tapi yg hairan nya tambahan channel2 atu bukan nya kemahuan pelanggan2, tau2 ada saja, nda jua berapa, dorg sendiri jua tu yg menambah. Sepatutnya, s ...

Hawk...hom setuju...sepatutnya mana bisdia bulih mencaj sekana2..

lagipun channel tambahan atu bkn tani yg mau..bisdia yg menambah2...tapi hom dangar lawa2 channel baru ani

Hawk tau bkn tani sja yg merungut ani...org msia sendiri pun komplen...

liat sja tia dlm thread ani [bod MISCELLANEOUS].. .>>> http://forum.cari.com.my/viewthr ... &extra=page%3D2

holmes

Originally posted by TheHawk at 9-5-2007 10:25 AM


Awal jua membari hadiah atu holmes? Bukan 13th May kah Mother's day ani? Bah suruh tia ur mom tinggal d empire hotel for d weekend. Jgn saja krg sudah kana bawa masuk lift, d ucap nya bilik  ...

Awu 13th ani Hawk... tapi tekuduhung hom udha mambali hadiah atu masa hom outstation hari atu..

so hom bagi awal lah...sama jua tu...

Empire? hmm... liat tah dulu...mun ia mau jua...  my mom atu lagi bkn nya kan jauh dari cucu...

TheHawk

Quarrels Leave Most Marriages On Rocks
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Misunderstanding and frequent quarrels are the main reasons behind break-up in marriages in Brunei.

Negligence on the part of husbands in providing financial support to their wives and abuse are also among the reasons, a senior Universiti Brunei Darussalam lecturer cum family law expert told the Bulletin. A total of 288 complaints relating to broken marriages were reported last year to the Syariah Affairs Department of the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Misunderstanding and quarrel between married couples was the highest with 87 cases (30 per cent), followed by negligence by husbands in providing financial support to their wives with 61 cases (21 per cent).

Complaints relating to abuse by husbands totalled 25 cases (nine per cent), Datin Dr Hjh Saadiah Datu Derma Wijaya Hj Tamit, senior lecturer at the Academy of Brunei Studies, said.

Reasons for break-up for the remaining 40 per cent of the cases are not known. She said counselling, undoubtedly, could reduce the number of divorce cases in the country. Such services are key to enhancing understanding among all married couples. "Counselling services should not be viewed as appropriate only for troubled marriages as they are also useful for couples to further consolidate the husband and wife relationship. "Through counselling, every couple could openly raise doubts and questions faced in living as a family. Sometimes, problems raised were due to misunderstanding and could only be settled through counselling," she said.

"The usefulness of counselling is seen as appropriate with the Syariah Affairs Department setting up such a division and offering services free-of-charge for troubled marriages," Datin Dr Hjh Saadiah added.

She quashed claims that couples getting married at an early age are not the main reason for divorces in Brunei as couples, who got married at a mature age, have also separated. "It could be said that early marriage is only part of the reasons for divorce.

This was evident based on statistics in 2005. Based on the divorce figures among married couples aged between 15 and 19 years, only one man and seven women were divorced compared to those aged between 20 and 34 years that involved 150 men and 155 women," she said.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

TheHawk

Prince Leaves For Pakistan
By Amin Hosni

Bandar Seri Begawan - His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah yesterday left for Islamabad, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, where His Royal Highness will attend the 34th Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers from May 15 to 17.

The conference, according to the Pakistan Foreign Ministry, will be a regular annual session, which will also discuss the performance of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference's subsidiary and affiliated institutions.

At right, HRH Prince Mohamed shakes hands with the High Commissioner of Pakistan to Brunei at the Brunei International Airport.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

[ Last edited by  TheHawk at 10-5-2007 11:13 AM ]

TheHawk

I-Centre To Support 'Technopreneurs'
By Kartika Rahman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei Darussalam is moving with the times in redirecting entrepreneurial instinct and effort into technological ventures instead of the more traditional areas of entrepreneurship.

The Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) has brought forth its initiative, the I-Centre@anggrekdesa (ICentre), to help support and promote the local SMEs in the national ICT industry.

I-Centre will be a platform for existing businesses and start-ups to gain access to facilities and assistance that will help them develop their ideas into up and running businesses. Expected to be fully operational by August this year, the already completed building has 16 offices for selected SMEs and aspiring technopreneurs, meeting rooms, a conference room, lecture hall and to showcase their innovative ideas an exhibition area has also been made.

"The establishment of the I-Centre is part of the BEDB strategy to encourage and develop Brunei young people and small businesses who have good ideas in ICT and software development. Through the I-Centre, we hope to sow the seeds for a Brunei ICT industry that is internationally competitive," commented Dato Paduka Timothy Ong, Acting Chairman of the BEDB.

The I-Centre is set up as a centre to support the development of new stream of economic growth from ICT, in particular software development industrial activity. It offers services to the selected potential companies such as skills workshops, mentoring and guidance, networking sessions, linkages with organisations and incubation facilities.

To manage the I-Centre, KR Consulting has been appointed by BEDB. KR Consulting is a spin-off company from National University Singapore (NUS), and operated by members of its personnel who have years of experience in managing incubation centres as well as producing successful entrepreneurs. Their role will be to design an incubation programme that will be customised to the local environment.

The programme will, amongst others, include activities such as seminars, workshops as well as various incubates. In addition, "incubates" will have access to networks such as financial institutions, industry associations and other relevant stakeholders to ensure a comprehensive approach in addressing all the requirements and needs of the incubates. Last year, BEDB signed a Memorandum of Understanding with two potential technology collaborators, Skali and Sun Microsystems. Currently, both parties are finalising detailsof the activities and technical support that will be provided by these collaborators towards assisting the incubatees while complementing the activities and programmes designed by KR Consulting.

The applications criteria to be an incubate of I-Centre is that the business idea must be related to ICT, have market potential, have possible application in and/or outside Brunei, and is a Bruneibased company.

For more information, visit bedb.com.bn or email [email protected] for further queries.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

[ Last edited by  TheHawk at 10-5-2007 11:16 AM ]

TheHawk

BSP Deal Signed At TAIB's New Platinum Financial Centre
By Za'im Zaini & Amin Hosni

Bandar Seri Begawan - Tabling Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB) or Brunei Islamic Trust Fund yesterday opened its second TAIB Platinum Financial Centre in the country at Jalan Jaya Negara, Kuala Belait yesterday.

The event also witnessed the signing ceremony of the BSP Home Ownership Scheme between Perbadanan TAIB and Brunei Shell Petroleum Sdn Bhd. Pengiran Datin Paduka Hjh Urai Binti Pengiran Ali, the Managing Director of Perbadanan TAIB, said,

"Among the objectives of the scheme (signed yesterday) is to provide financial options that are based on a shariah concept, competitive and more attractive for personnel and staff of Brunei Shell to facilitate them to own a house of their own". The event also witnessed the launching of the 3rd Hijrah Roadshow aimed at generating public awareness of the products and services of TAIB.

Speaking on the Platinum Financial Centre, she said, "The centre is to provide a certain service to high net worth customers including offering a number of services and investment products, Naqad Financial product, housing, car and others.

"I am confident that through this (centre), the BSP Home Ownership Scheme and the roadshow, TAIB can provide services and Islamic financial products that are more effective and precise with the needs of TAIB customers and BSP itself in line with TAIB's new motto `progressive and main choice' in the country.

The agreement was signed by Awg Haji Zainal Abidin bin Haji Md Ali, Deputy Managing Director/Human Resource and-External Affairs Director of Brunei Shell Petroleum Sdn Bhd on behalf of Brunei Shell Petroleum, and Pengiran Datin Paduka Hajah Urai binti Pengiran Ali, Managing Director of Perbadanan TAIB.

Also present were the Board of Directors of Perbadanan TAIB, Insurance Islam TAIB and Darussalam Holdings Sdn Bhd, and guests from BSP subsidiary companies, senior government officials, prominent business leaders, professionals and clients of TAIB Platinum Financial Centre.

The BSP HOS with Perbadanan TAIB is said to be the right choice for BSP and its subsidiaries' employees. Moreover, it is Syariah compliant under the concept of Bai Bithaman Aajil.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

TheHawk

This is not a Brunei news but I post it here because I thought it is a very interesting news!



Outgoing British Prime Minister Tony Blair
waves to supporters after announcing his
resignation Thursday.

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Tony Blair announced Thursday he would step down as Labour Party leader and British prime minister, defending his record during his decade in power, but adding "my apologies to you for the times I've fallen short."
Blair spoke at his parliamentary constituency in northeast England and said he would tender his resignation to Queen Elizabeth on June 27. He later returned to London.
"I've come back here to Sedgefield, to my constituency, where my political journey began and where it's fitting that it ends," Blair said.
"I've been prime minister of this country for just over 10 years ... I think that's long enough for me, but more especially, for the country.
"And sometimes the only way you conquer the pull of power is to set it down."
At times, the PM appeared choked with emotion, thanking the nation for supporting him during his time in office and apologizing for his shortcomings -- but not his actions.
"I give my thanks to you, the British people, for the times that I've succeeded and my apologies to you for the times I've fallen short," Blair said.
After announcing his departure, Blair defended his record.
"I ask you to accept one thing," he said. "Hand on heart, I did what I thought was right. I may have been wrong -- that's your call.
"But believe one thing if nothing else. I did what I thought was right for our country and I came into office with high hopes for Britain's future and you know I leave it with even higher hopes for Britain's future."
Blair arrived to a cheering crowd of local activists. Earlier, in London, Labour's longest-serving PM told his Cabinet of his decision.
His departure is expected to trigger a leadership election in the ruling Labour Party that will mean a new PM by the end of June. John Prescott, Blair's deputy prime minister since 1997, also resigned Thursday. (Watch how his announcement is one of the worst-kept secrets in global politics )
Speaking in Washington, U.S. President George W. Bush praised Blair as "a man who's kept his word, which sometimes is rare in the political circles I run in.
"I'll miss Tony Blair," Bush said. "He is a political figure who is capable of thinking over the horizon. He's a long-term thinker."
Blair's close alliance with the U.S. leader has been roundly criticized by Britons, who overwhelmingly oppose the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
Before his announcement, Blair showcased the charisma that helped get him elected in 1997, joking with one of his supporters: "When I was coming in (she was saying) 'Four more years!' ... and I was saying 'Maureen, that's not on message for today.'"
Moving forwardBut in his 20-minute speech to a crowd of enthusiastic supporters in his northeastern constituency of Sedgefield, Blair defended his record, both domestically and internationally. (More on his legacy)
"There is only one government since 1945 that can say all of the following: more jobs, fewer unemployed, better health and education results, lower crime and economic growth in every quarter," Blair said. "Only one government, this one."
He touted his decision to make Britain a country "that intervened, that did not pass by or keep out of the thick of it" when it came to human rights abuses in Sierra Leone and Kosovo.
But it was Blair's decision to support Bush and the U.S.-led war in Iraq that has caused his popularity among Britons to plummet.
The British leader acknowledged that in his speech, saying, "I may have been wrong, that's your call, but believe one thing if nothing else: I did what I thought was right for the country."
One prominent opponent of the war, Respect MP George Galloway acknowledged there were solid achievements during Blair's years in power, such as the power-sharing deal in Northern Ireland.
But, Galloway added, those gains were "drowned in the blood of the hundreds of thousands of people who have been killed in the war in Iraq, some of them our own soldiers. Far more of them, the soldiers of the United States Armed Forces." (Watch Galloway describe Blair's "political tombstone" )
Bush backs BrownBefore his speech, Blair met his Cabinet in London and confirmed his intention to step down.
Britain's powerful treasury chief, Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown, is considered the heavy favorite to succeed Blair as Labour leader and prime minister. Brown, 56, who is from Scotland, has been chancellor throughout Blair's tenure.
Bush said he looks forward to meeting with Brown, who he called "an open and engaging person" who "understands the consequences of failure" in Iraq.
The selection process -- which includes a vote of Labour lawmakers, party members and members of affiliated trade unions -- is expected to take six to seven weeks, with confirmation by a party conference at the end of June. At that point, Blair will formally submit his resignation to Queen Elizabeth II, clearing the way for Brown to take over as Britain's leader.
Given Labour's majority in the House of Commons, the change does not require an election.
Fewer wrinklesBlair, 54, has been at the helm of Labour since 1994 and led it to an unprecedented three straight election victories in 1997, 2001 and 2005.
CNN's Chief International Correspondent Christiane Amanpour said Blair began his career as a young, dynamic leader with a lot more hair and fewer wrinkles, who "made it cool again to be British, not just noble."
Amanpour highlighted Blair's humanitarian interventions in Kosovo and Sierra Leone as well as his commitment to peace in Northern Ireland, saying his achievements were "quite amazing."
But his political fortunes have been weighed down by Iraq and an investigation into whether Labour campaign donors were rewarded with political honors. In December, he became the first serving prime minister questioned as part of a criminal inquiry relating to the investigation.
Amanpour said Blair was arguably one of the most successful prime ministers in British history but added that his Iraq policy "is something that will dog him for many years."
"Nobody, perhaps least of all Tony Blair, could forsee Iraq as such a disaster," Amanpour added.
But even at the end of his political career Blair continues to defend his decisions, just as he did at the 2005 Labour Party conference.
"I know there's a bit of us that would like me to do a Hugh Grant in Love Actually and tell America where to get off," he said. "But the difference between a good film and real life is that in real life there's the next day, the next year, the next lifetime to contemplate the ruinous consequences of easy applause."

holmes

At last he is resigning...:clap::clap:

TheHawk

Originally posted by holmes at 11-5-2007 01:31 PM
At last he is resigning...:clap::clap:

Hi holmes! U don't like him kah hehehe!

TheHawk

Audience To Pakistan Naval Chief
By Aemy Azlena

Bandar Seri Begawan - His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Deputy Sultan, yesterday afternoon consented to receive in audience Admiral Muhammad Afzal Tahir, Chief of Naval Staff of Pakistan, at the Istana Nurul Iman.

Present during the audience were Pehin Datu Lailaraja Majar General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Md Yussof, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, and Major General Syed Haidar Jawed, High Commissioner of Pakistan to Brunei. Also present were Dayang Hajah Salbiah binti Haji Sulaiman, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, and Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

TheHawk

Import Of Eggs Allowed To Tide Over Shortage
By Azaraimy & James Kon

Bandar Seri Begawan - To cope with the egg shortage, the Agriculture Department under the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources is taking steps to allow the import of eggs from the neighbouring country.

Permits have been issued to local companies to import 900,000 eggs. So far, 300,000 eggs have arrived and more consignments are expected to arrive in the coming days.

The department hopes that with the import of eggs, the supply in the local market will stabilise again. The recent worrying trend of the shortage of eggs and the resultant hike in prices of eggs and meat in the local market has prompted the Agriculture Department to issue a statement.

The department said it was aware of the shortage of eggs in the local market for over a week and attributed the shortage to technical problems, especially relating to the management faced by local egg producers at the moment.

The problem might continue to persist for another one or two weeks before normalcy returns, the department added. The depaituient urged the public not to panic and said the government will continuously take suitable steps to overcome problems such as these. Meanwhile, in connection with the rise in prices of eggs and chicken meat in the market, the department has found out that the rise in prices has been due to the hike in prices of chicken feed by as much as 23 per cent since 2006.

The rise in chicken feed prices has directly affected the price of eggs and meat because chicken feed constitutes 60 to 70 per cent of the production cost. The Agriculture Department also said that the rise in chicken feed prices has not only been felt in Brunei but also in neighbouring countries. Among the reasons given for the rise in poultry feed prices is a rise in demand for corn, which is the main ingredient in the production of poultry feed.

Currently, the increase in demand for corn has not only come from poultry feed manufacturing industry but also from the biofuel industry.

A small-time trader at Pasar Gadong, Mdm Yong, said she has been telling her customers, who complain about the rise in egg prices, that her supplier has hiked the price of eggs. She said since the last two weeks, the price at which she has been buying eggs from her supplier has increased from around $4.80 to $5.50 per tray.

A buyer, Mobil Rozman, said Bruneians love eggs and they have been an integral part of their diet. Eggs are even used during weddings and other ceremonies for gifts to guests called "Bunga Telur". The price of eggs has never been steady in Brunei and during festive seasons like Hari Raya, the prices go up due to a high demand. Bruneians, he added, are pretty used to increase in egg prices.

Another buyer at Pasar Gadong, Saiful, said, "Since chicken meat and eggs are a bit more pricey now, we may have to cut down on our consumption. So long as the price rise is not drastically high, it may not have an impact on the majority of people's liking to chicken, at least not in this part of the world."-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

TheHawk

Call To Revive Neighbourhood Crime Watch
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - The need to revive the neighbourhood crime watch, which of late has become less active, explanation of the task and scope of duty of the crime watch members and criminal cases occurring in villages were among the matters highlighted in a dialogue session between the Commissioner of Police, Pehin Datu Kerma Setia Awg Zainuddin Jalani, and village leaders in the Brunei/Muara District at the Officers Mess yesterday.

Ag Supt Pg Hj Roslin, Head of Police PRO as the Secretary of the crime watch, said, among the steps taken to revive the crime watch is to dissolve the committee of the crime watch and to form a new one.

He added that it was sad to note that the response to dissolve the committee was lukewarm as only six villages responded to the call.

There are 132 villages that have set up the neighbourhood crime watch with over 9,800 members. In the dialogue session, a village leader spoke of the need to have a checkpoint for every crime watch patrol. The police commissioner responded by sayng that there is no operational camp as such crime watch is only a voluntary organisation.

"However, there are police posts available for the crime watch members to report. The police have not come to the stage to set up checkpoints," he said

Pehin Zainuddin also stressed on the scope of-duty of crime watch members, which is to make arrests if crimes are committed in front of their eyes, called "an arrest by private person on offence". It is - stated under section 32 of the Criminal Procedure Court (CPC). "The aim of the neighbourhood crime watch is to relay information to the police. Crime watch members have no right to judge a criminal," the police commissioner added. Another village leader called on the need for the police to patrol the river beginning at Damuan recreational park to Kg Bebatik as he suspected criminal activities taking place along the river, especially at night.

Pehin Zainuddin said patrols are always being conducted 24/7 especially by the Marine Police but added that the frequency was not that high. However, the distribution of police resources and patrol depends on the rate of criminal activities in the area.

Another village leader asked the police to bring crime watch members on a visit to the neighbouring country to learn more about their way of doing things. Pehin Zainuddin said such a proposal is beyond the scope of the neighbourhood crime watch.

A village leader also inquired on the safety guarantee of the crime watch committee when conducting patrols or while catching a criminal. Pehin Zainuddin said crime watch is not like a police force and they are not expected to do activities like roadblocks.

"If a member comes across a criminal holding a parang, for instance, do not act. Take-the--person's-particulars-and call the police immediately," the commissioner said.

Pehin Zainuddin also highlighted that for a place to be ambushed on suspicion of being used for criminal activities such as gambling, surveillance is conducted on the place before action is taken. It may even take place sometime before the police raid the place. Another village leader asked about setting up a police station at Kg Perpindahan Rimba, Gadong that-hag over20,000 people. Pehin Zainuddin said we must be prudent in our spending. Thereare police posts available and Rimba is no exception.

The village leader also urged the police to patrol areas organising 慓ambus'- or to hold roadblocks on the eve of wedding days to curb activities like the consumption of alcoholic drinks in Perpindahan Kg Rimba. Pehin Zainuddin said at least four to five patrols are made in Rimba a day and it is the duty, of the public to call the police should they come across such activities.

"We could not expect the police to patrol every house organising a musical event on the eve of the wedding as other places also need their (police) service." Also present at the dialogue were the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department and OCPDs of Brunei, Jerudong, Muara and Berakas police districts, as well as high-ranking police personnel.

The gathering was a follow up to the dialogue session held in the past and such sessions will be extended to other districts.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

TheHawk

Brunei Steps Up Measures To Keep Bird Flu At Bay
By Za'im Zaini

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei Darussalam remains free of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) such as the H5N1 virus.

In an effort to keep the Sultanate free from HPAI, the Department of Agriculture under the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, as well as the Ministry of Health, continue to carry out monitoring and surveillance programmes.

This includes information dissemination and public awareness campaigns, continuous monitoring and surveillance programmes in farms and health centres, prohibition on poultry and poultry products from affected countries and strengthening vigilance at entry points.

A number of government depatments and ministries are involved in the fight to keep bird flu at bay. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture is currently upgrading its capacity and capability in highly pathogenic avian influenza diagnosis through laboratory services equipped with `Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction' equipment and trained laboratory staff

In its effort to improve the efficiency of the action plans that have been prepared in case of any avian influenza outbreak in the country, the Department of Agriculture has also taken part in two simulation exercises known as "Operasi Serama".

Among those who were involved in the simulation exercises were Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Development, Ministry of Home Affairs, Royal Brunei Armed Forces and other government agencies.

These exercises, which have successfully been carried out, follow the standard operating procedures of the action plan in combating avian influenza epidemics. The public is advised to maintain their personal hygiene and cleanliness of their surroundings, especially those who breed or keep poultry, ducks and birds.

They should wash their hands frequently after handling these animals and cook poultry products properly at a temperature of at least 70 degrees Celsius.

The public should not bring -in any birds or eggs from other countries without permission from the Department of Agriculture.

They should also inform the department if they come across anything suspicious such as mass deaths of birds. It is also important for people who keep birds as pets to register at the department.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

TheHawk

International Midwife / Nurse Day Year 2007 Celebration

Ministry of Health is organising International Midwife / Nurse Day Year 2007 Celebration on Friday, May 11 at 5.30 pm located at The Surau, Ministry of Health.
The guest of honour is Yang Mulia Dr Haji Affendy bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, Medical Chief Director, Ministry of Health.

TheHawk

Visit and Donation Handing Over Ceremony

Seri Siapsiaga is organising a Visit and Donation Handing Over Ceremony on Friday, May 11 at 10 am located at Pusat Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam, Simpang 66-38-60, Kampong Bengkurong.

TheHawk

Gasing Competition

PERGAB is organising Gasing Competition (1st Round) for Category 25-27 in conjunction with His Majesty Birthday Celebration on Friday, May 11 at 8 am located at Gelanggang Gasing SETANAGA, Selayun, Sengkurong.

• Group A : Prison Department 'C' & Kampong Kupang 'C'
• Group B : Prison Department 'D' & Sengkurong Bersatu 'B'
• Group C : Prison Department 'B' & Kampong Kupang 'A'