Eight abandoned illegal stalls along Jalan Mulaut and Jalan Limau Manis were dismantled during a joint operation involving the Ministry of Development (MoD) through the Road Department, the Public Works Department (JKR) and the Department of Town and Country Planning, as well as the Royal Brunei Police Force.
The MoD reminded stall owners to only operate in areas authorised by the government, and that building any structure on the road or roadside without approval is an offence under the Road Traffic Act. Those found guilty can face fines of up to BND2,000.
According to the joint statement by the Road Department, the JKR and the Department of Town and Country Planning has the authority to remove structures or stalls as well as claim back the expenses incurred from the owners of the structures or stalls. Stalls operators or owners must comply with the regulations and shared responsibility to improve the environment and public welfare.
Those with information on abandoned stalls that may cause danger to road users can contact Darussalam Line 123 or email to info@123.gov.bn. – James Kon
ABOVE & BELOW: Photos show the dismantling of abandoned stalls. PHOTO: MODPHOTO: MOD
The number of domestic visitors who have booked the Kenali Negara Kitani (KNK) packages increased significantly, with 12,720 visitors in 2023 compared to 6,255 in 2022, said Acting Director of the Tourism Development Department at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) Salinah binti Haji Mohd Salleh.
She said this while delivering welcoming remarks for the launch of Brunei Coffee Trail yesterday at The Mall, Gadong, in conjunction with the KNK Carnival 2024, which runs until Sunday.
The acting director added that the increase in KNK package bookings has contributed approximately BND2 million in 2023, an increase from the BND567,000 generated in 2022.
“The number of staycations among locals has also risen annually, with 295,437 people staying in local hotels in 2023, an increase from the total of 293,432 in 2022,” Salinah said.
She also said that in recent years, “the Sultanate’s coffee scene has shown positive development, not only due to the increasing number of cafes, but also the active involvement of youth in the ‘art of coffee brewing’, as well as the organisation of events and activities that highlight the coffee brewing culture in the country”.
ABOVE & BELOW: Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Hajah Tutiaty binti Haji Abdul Wahab at the event; and acting director of the Tourism Development Department Salinah binti Haji Mohd Salleh delivers welcoming remarks. PHOTO: SIM YHPHOTO: SIM YHThe permanent secretary in a group photo. PHOTO: SIM YHABOVE & BELOW: Attendees at the event; Hajah Tutiaty launches the Brunei Coffee Trail guidebook; and tours the carnival. PHOTO: SIM YHPHOTO: SIM YHPHOTO: SIM YH
The carnival, the fourth being organised by the department since KNK’s rebranding in 2022, not only serves as a platform to promote domestic tourism packages offered by travel agents, hotels and tourism service providers, but also serves as a medium to enhance public knowledge on tourist spots available in the country through interactive activities.
The carnival, organised by the Tourism Development Department with support from the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) through Darussalam Enterprise (DARe), features 30 participating agencies and companies, where the public can join in various activities such as scuba diving workshops, interactive quizzes and photo scavenger hunts, with the chance to win prizes such as vouchers.
More than 70 KNK travel packages are available for families to enjoy during the upcoming school break, including the Brunei Tour Island Discovery, Cultural Heritage of Brunei, Rainforest Discovery, Let’s Explore Temburong, and School Holiday Staycation Promo at various hotels.
The Tourism Development Department will continue to promote KNK’s tourism packages, while also collaborating with relevant tourism stakeholders to introduce new, unique and interesting tourism products and activities.
The department also hopes that the efforts will encourage people to spend and enjoy domestic vacations to contribute to the country’s economy.
Permanent Secretary at the MPRT Hajah Tutiaty binti Haji Abdul Wahab attended the opening event as the guest of honour. – Rokiah Mahmud
The Ministry of Education is currently holding a two-day Lifelong Learning Centre (L3C) Open Day at the centre’s multipurpose hall.
The open day will conclude today at 4pm.
Yesterday’s opening ceremony began with opening remarks from Acting Director of the L3C Dr Sheikh Lukman bin Sheikh Abdul Hamid, followed by briefings from training providers for the visitors.
Seventeen agencies participated in the exhibitions, including the L3C, Pejabat Perancangan Tenaga Manusia (PPTM) at the Prime Minister’s Office, JobCentre Brunei (JCB), the Safety, Health and Environment National Authority (SHENA), the Centre for Lifelong Learning (C3L) from Universiti Brunei Darussalam; the Youth Development Centre, Megamas Training Company Sdn Bhd, and Rhymin and Partners Sdn Bhd.
Through exhibitions and briefings, visitors get to learn over 100 lifelong learning or short-term training programmes (including upskilling and reskilling programmes) in fields such as information and communications technology, finance, health, safety and environment (HSE), management skills, and entrepreneurship and construction.
The open day is an initiative organised by the centre to promote a culture of lifelong learning.
ABOVE & BELOW: Photos show visitors at the exhibition. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF EDUCATIONPHOTO: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
Ensuring that every member of society has access to digital financial services not only enhances individual empowerment, but also fosters economic growth and stability.
This was said by Progresif Sdn Bhd Chief Executive Officer Hajah Nurul Haniah binti Haji Jaafar yesterday during the launch of Progresif’s new cashless payment feature, Ding!, which is integrated within the Progresif Care+ app to enhance financial inclusion and empower micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) as well as individuals.
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha also attended the launch at OneCity Shopping Centre.
Progresif’s Chairman Mohammad Harris bin Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Haji Ibrahim was also present.
Hajah Nurul Haniah said, “Our vision is to deliver connectivity and innovative services to drive an inclusive Bruneian digital economy and beyond.”
She said the launch is a step towards “generating growth in cashless transactions through various platforms to create a conducive business ecosystem”.
She added, “As we pave the way for a connected and digital economy, its crucial to recognise that the foundation of this future is built on the principle of financial inclusion.
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha in a group photo at the event. PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANI & JAMES KONABOVE & BELOW: Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary officiates the launch of Ding!; and the minister watches a transaction being made through Ding! at a vendor. PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANI & JAMES KONPHOTO: MUIZ MATDANI & JAMES KON
“The initiative we are launching today is designed to bridge gaps by providing accessible and secure financial tools for our customers and partners regardless of their economic background.”
According to Progresif, Ding! offers a seamless and secure payment solution that enables users to perform digital transactions without the need for a traditional bank account.
Ding! allows users to top up their wallets with prepaid credit or by charging to their postpaid bill, supports instant scan and pay transaction via a global QR standard and ensures ease of use, including new digital payments.
For merchants, Ding! offers a comprehensive dashboard that consolidate all business data in one place.
The feature enables merchants to track their sales activities and transactions efficiently. The app also supports multi-user roles allowing businesses to identify and monitor different performance metrics.
Ding! is currently conducting a roadshow until Sunday featuring a pop-up market with selected merchants.
The roadshow is open to the public and includes a lucky draw offering one entry per every BND5 spent with Ding! wallet.
The public can learn more about Ding! at the roadshow.
Meanwhile, Progresif is awarding the first 1,000 Ding! wallet activations with free BND5 cash into their Ding! wallet.
In addition, a lucky draw campaign running until end of September will see 16 winners walking away with various prizes, including BND100 Ding! cash and the grand prize of the latest Apple iPhone. – James Kon
Deputy State Mufti Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Japar bin Haji Mat Dain @ Maidin left for Jakarta, Indonesia yesterday as a representative of the State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, to attend the 8th International Annual Conference on Fatwa MUI Studies.
Accompanying him was Senior Istinbat Officer at the State Mufti’s Office Haji Muhammad Ahmad Roza bin Haji Daud.
The conference, organised by the Majelis Ulama Indonesia (MUI), will be held until July 28 in conjunction with the anniversary of MUI’s establishment.
The conference, themed ‘The Role of Fatwa in Creating the Nation’s Interests’, gathers scholars, academics and researchers to discuss the role and impact of fatwa in shaping a religious and civilised Indonesian society. – Azlan Othman
Deputy State Mufti Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Japar bin Haji Mat Dain @ Maidin and Senior Istinbat Officer at the State Mufti’s Officer Haji Muhammad Ahmad Roza bin Haji Daud. PHOTO: STATE MUFTI’S OFFICE
The Crown Prince Creative, Innovative Product and Technological Advancement (CIPTA) Award 2025 Competition held a roadshow in the Belait District yesterday to raise awareness about the competition’s rules and guidelines.
The roadshow, organised by Universiti Teknologi Brunei in partnership with Brunei LNG Sdn Bhd (Brunei LNG) as the main sponsor, marks the 20th anniversary of the biennial competition.
The roadshow comprised technical briefings from the CIPTA 2025 technical committee Dr Nor Asiah Muhammad and Muhammad Khaliq Syafie bin Mohd Don, who spoke on the importance of nurturing creativity and innovation. Meanwhile, Dr Sharina binti Yunus gave a presentation on the CIPTA 2025 Bootcamp, outlining its structure, objectives and the hands-on training and mentorship participants would receive. She also highlighted essential workshops such as idea generation, project planning, and prototype development.
Themed ‘Green Innovations’, the competition features three main categories: ‘Local’, ‘Smart Junior Competition’, and ‘ASEAN’. It is open to all schools, technical and tertiary academic institutions, government and private organisations as well as the public.
Registration is open until January 27, 2025, with documents available at cipta.utb.edu.bn.
CIPTA 2025 welcomes innovative minds from Brunei Darussalam and ASEAN nations to showcase their ideas for a sustainable future, continuing to inspire and empower individuals to create a greener, more sustainable world. – Daniel Lim
ABOVE & BELOW: Photos show the roadshow in progress. PHOTO: DANIEL LIMPHOTO: DANIEL LIM
Some 35 participants of the AFC Match Commissioners (MC) received certificates at the closing ceremony of a seminar at FABD House yesterday.
Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD) deputy president Haji Mahrub bin Haji Murni expressed gratitude for the commitment of participants, who strived to deepen their knowledge on proper match organisation and laws. “I am confident that the three-day seminar will provide participants with experience and knowledge on match management,” he said.
He also hoped that the participants can put the knowledge into practice in the future.
The participants were guided by Sarawak Football Association president Abang Zulkarnain bin Abang Abdurahman, who has extensive experience in football administration, including being the head of International and National Affairs of the Malaysian Team Management in 2013 and becoming the assistant secretary general and director of matches for the Football Association of Malaysia from 2014 to 2022. – Azlan Othman
Standard Chartered Bank are holding a roadshow until July 30 at Supa Save Mabohai.
The bank is showcasing their latest promotion on personal loans with exciting rates and credit cards, which includes a three-year annual fee waiver.
Additionally, any successful sign-ups for the bank’s services and products during the roadshow will be rewarded with exclusive giveaways, including shopping vouchers and other bank’s merchandise.
As a well-seasoned casual gamer with an unhealthy obsession with Pokémon, JRPGs, and life sims, puzzle games are never my go-to for a relaxing night of gaming. However, Tetris Effect: Connected has always been on my radar.
It’s forever on sale at the Nintendo eShop, and whenever my cursor floats above the thumbnail, I’m drawn in by the kaleidoscope of heavenly visuals and stimulating sounds, along with a soundtrack that can be both heart-pumping and breathtaking.
Tetris Effect: Connected is a stunning evolution of the classic Tetris formula, blending mesmerising visuals, a captivating soundtrack and innovative gameplay mechanics.
Available on the Nintendo Switch, this version of Tetris not only brings the timeless block-dropping puzzle action to a portable platform but also enhances it with a unique sensory experience that’s both engaging and visually arresting.
From the moment you launch Tetris Effect: Connected, you’re immersed in a world where sight, sound, and gameplay converge into a harmonious experience.
The game’s presentation is nothing short of spectacular. Each stage is beautifully crafted, featuring dynamic backgrounds that evolve as you play.
The synchronisation of music and sound effects with your actions creates an almost meditative state, making each cleared line feel immensely satisfying.
The musical score ranges from soothing ambient tracks to energetic beats, each piece perfectly complementing the visual theme of the level.
With the constant deluge of sights and sounds, it can be a challenging time sink for some. I recall my first day playing, and I must admit, I had to resort to practice mode because I couldn’t even get through the first level on Journey Mode due to the sensory overload.
That experience made me step away from the game for a while; it was frustrating.
However, Tetris has now become a mini daily ritual for me, where I tackle a few levels each day. Once you’re familiar with a stage, all those distractions just slide off like water off a duck’s back.
Speaking of Journey Mode, this is one of the standout features of this modern tetris; a single-player campaign that takes you through a series of levels, each with its own unique aesthetic and soundtrack.
The difficulty gradually increases, offering a balanced challenge that keeps you engaged without becoming frustrating.
There is also a new “Zone” mechanic which allows you to stop time and clear multiple lines at once, adding a strategic layer to the classic gameplay.
The Switch version of the game takes full advantage of the console’s portability. The vibrant OLED screen (if you’re using the OLED model) and excellent sound quality make it an ideal platform.
Whether you’re playing in handheld mode or docked on a television, the game looks and sounds fantastic. The controls are responsive and intuitive, ensuring smooth and precise gameplay.
Multiplayer is where Tetris Effect: Connected truly shines. The “Connected” mode allows you to team up with two other players to take on AI-controlled bosses, adding a cooperative twist to the classic gameplay. This mode requires communication and teamwork, as you share a collective board and must work together to clear lines and defeat the boss. It’s a refreshing take on multiplayer Tetris that emphasises cooperation over competition.
For those who prefer traditional competitive play, there are also modes where you can go head-to-head with other players online.
The game also includes various other modes that cater to different playstyles. The “Effect Modes” offer a wide range of gameplay variations, from relaxing sessions where you can play at your own pace to intense challenges that test your skills.
These modes provide a great way to unwind or to push yourself, depending on what you’re in the mood for.
For now, my favourite stage is Ritual Passion, where Tetris blocks blaze with fire and humanoid figures engulfed in flames dance around a floating inferno.
The soundtrack is almost meditative, with fast beats and a South Asian-inspired melody that adds to the hypnotic experience. If you had told me I’d enjoy a puzzle game this much, let alone Tetris, I would have laughed in your face.
Tetris Effect: Connected on the Nintendo Switch is more than just a puzzle game; it’s an experience. The stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and innovative gameplay mechanics make it stand out from other Tetris titles.
It honours the legacy of the original game while pushing the boundaries of what Tetris can be. – Wardi Wasil
Drowning remains one of the most pressing public health issues worldwide, claiming an estimated 236,000 lives annually. It is the third leading cause of unintentional injury deaths, accounting for seven per cent of all injury-related fatalities.
Tragically, drowning is particularly devastating for children and young people aged one to 24 years, where it stands as a leading cause of death.
The impact of drowning extends across all regions and economies.
However, low- and middle-income countries bear the brunt, accounting for over 90 per cent of these deaths. The World Health Organization (WHO) Western Pacific and Southeast Asia Regions are the most severely affected, with drowning rates in these areas being 27 to 32 times higher than those seen in the United Kingdom or Germany.
A WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION REPORT
The Global Report on Drowning marks the first comprehensive attempt by the WHO to tackle this overlooked but preventable issue. This report aims to address the global drowning crisis through a strategic and evidence-based approach.
It outlines 10 key interventions designed to reduce drowning rates, offering a roadmap for non-governmental organisations, researchers, and policymakers to follow.
These interventions include practical measures such as installing barriers to control access to water, providing safe childcare facilities, and teaching swimming and water safety skills.
The report also emphasises the importance of public awareness and engagement in bolstering drowning prevention efforts.
PHOTO: ENVATO
WORLD DROWNING PREVENTION DAY: A GLOBAL REMINDER
World Drowning Prevention Day, established by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in April 2021, is observed annually on July 25. This global event serves to spotlight the profound impact of drowning on families and communities and to advocate for preventive measures.
Stakeholders ranging from governments and UN agencies to civil society organisations and individuals are encouraged to participate.
Key actions include installing water barriers, offering safe places for children, and training both bystanders and professionals in rescue and resuscitation techniques.
The UN General Assembly resolution also tasked the WHO with leading drowning prevention efforts, including producing advocacy materials and supporting global and local initiatives.
UNDERSTANDING THE SCOPE
In 2019, drowning claimed approximately 236,000 lives, reflecting its significant burden on public health. Despite this, global estimates may underestimate the true scale of the problem. Drowning is particularly prevalent among children, males and individuals with frequent access to water.
Several factors contribute to the risk of drowning:
Age: The highest drowning rates are seen in children aged one to four years. In the WHO Western Pacific Region, children aged five to 14 years old experience the highest drowning rates compared to other causes.
Gender: Males are at a higher risk of drowning, with twice the mortality rate of females. Riskier behaviours such as swimming alone and alcohol use contribute to this disparity.
Access to Water: Individuals with frequent access to water, including those in occupations like fishing, and children living near open water, are more vulnerable.
Flood Disasters: Floods are a significant cause of drowning, accounting for 75 per cent of flood-related deaths. The increasing frequency and severity of floods, exacerbated by climate change, heighten these risks.
Water Travel: Overcrowded and unsafe vessels used for commuting or migration also pose drowning risks.
PREVENTION STRATEGIES
Effective drowning prevention requires a combination of strategies:
Physical barriers: Installing barriers around water bodies and using playpens for young children can significantly reduce drowning risk.
Community-based childcare: Supervised childcare programmes for pre-schoolers can prevent drowning and offer additional health benefits.
Swimming and water safety education: Teaching children swimming, water safety, and rescue skills is crucial. However, these programmes must be properly designed and supervised to ensure effectiveness.
Policy and legislation: Enforcing safe boating regulations, improving flood risk management, and developing national water safety strategies are essential for long-term prevention.
Investing in these interventions can yield substantial returns. For example, funding day-care programmes and swimming lessons could save 774,000 children from drowning by 2050 and prevent severe injuries in 178,000 children.
Each dollar invested in drowning prevention can return up to nine times its value, potentially saving over USD400 billion in economic losses.
WHO: ROLE AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS
The WHO has been instrumental in addressing drowning as a global health issue. The 2017 publication, Preventing Drowning: An Implementation Guide, provides practical guidance for implementing prevention strategies.
The UN General Assembly’s 2021 resolution and the 2023 World Health Assembly’s commitment to accelerate action through 2029 highlight the importance of global and multi-sectoral coordination.
At the country level, WHO supports the development of national drowning prevention strategies and funds research in low-income countries. Regional efforts include training programmes and workshops to unite various stakeholders in combating drowning.
While drowning is a significant and often overlooked public health issue, comprehensive and coordinated efforts can make a profound difference.
Through effective prevention strategies, public awareness, and international collaboration, we can work towards a world where drowning is no longer a leading cause of death. – Borneo Bulletin Features Desk
