ABOVE & BELOW: A group photo of delegates to the China-SEA Partnership Workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; and Haji Mohammad Ja’afar during a courtesy call to Director of SEAMEO Technical Education Development (TED) Dr Songheang Ai. PHOTO: PB
A delegation from Politeknik Brunei (PB) recently attended the China-SEA Partnership Workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, which aimed to strengthen international collaborative efforts in technical and vocational education and training (TVET).
The workshop was attended by senior officers and prominent figures in TVET from Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) member countries and China.
During the workshop, various institutions from participating nations presented and explored a broad range of topics, with emphasis on international collaboration, talent cultivation and the instrumental role of partnerships in career pathways and technical education.
The delegation from PB was led by its Acting Principal Haji Mohammad Ja’afar bin Haji Johari, who also delivered a presentation on the impacts of industry-integrated learning.
The presentation highlighted the transformative potential of partnerships with industries in TVET, as well as showcased good practices from PB.
On the sidelines of the event, Haji Mohammad Ja’afar made a courtsey call to Director of SEAMEO Technical Education Development (TED) Dr Songheang Ai.
The discussions focused on the integration of smart technologies for teaching and learning, management, research collaboration and the facilitation of people exchanges.
The delegation also attended networking sessions with representatives from Bina Insani University (BIU) Indonesia, the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Singapore, Sultan Idris Education University Malaysia, and the Higher School of Information Management and Computer Science Cirebon Indonesia.
The delegation also paid working visits to the Institute of Technology of Cambodia and the Royal University of Phnom Penh.
ABOVE & BELOW: A group photo of delegates to the China-SEA Partnership Workshop in Phnom Penh, Cambodia; and Haji Mohammad Ja’afar during a courtesy call to Director of SEAMEO Technical Education Development (TED) Dr Songheang Ai. PHOTO: PBPHOTO: PBActing Principal of Politeknik Brunei Haji Mohammad Ja’afar bin Haji Johari during a presentation. PHOTO: PB
Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin with other ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly member country representatives in a group photo during the meeting. PHOTO: LEGCO
The Legislative Council (LegCo) recently attended a task force meeting to update guidelines for the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) engagement process with external parties.
The guidelines covered cooperation of AIPA with parliaments outside the ASEAN region that are AIPA observer countries, including cooperation with parliamentary organisations, non-governmental agencies and others.
The meeting also discussed coordination for the establishment of a digital library of laws of AIPA member states, proposed by Cambodia during the 43rd AIPA General Assembly in Phnom Penh in 2022. The library is expected to be launched in the middle of the year.
LegCo member Yang Berhormat Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin attended the meeting as the LegCo’s representative. – Azlan Othman
Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin with other ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly member country representatives in a group photo during the meeting. PHOTO: LEGCO
A Employees Trust Fund (TAP) roadshow on the National Retirement Scheme (SPK) will be held at Supa Save Seria in the Belait District from January 23 to 25, 9am to 4pm.
The roadshow will share information on the process of naming an administrator to manage the administration of SPK members’ savings after they pass away.
The process will speed up the payment of their SPK savings to heirs and dependents.
Members are allowed to appoint no more than three nominee administrators consisting of their spouse, children (aged 18 and above), parents, siblings or lawyers/Syar’ie lawyers.
If SPK members wish to appoint nominee administrators during the roadshow, they must bring original supporting documents.
If the individual appointed is a spouse, the supporting document needed is a copy of the solemnisation certificate. If the individual is one of their children (aged 18 and above) or a sibling, a copy of the birth certificate is required.
If the individual is a registered adopted child, a copy of the adoption certificate is needed, and if a lawyer/Syar’ie lawyer is appointed, a copy of the agreement between the parties is required.
Members will receive clarification on the complete process and responsibilities borne by the administrator, who is responsible for receiving and administering the SPK savings of members who have passed according to Syara’ law or according to a will (if the deceased is not a Muslim) and not as single heir. – Rokiah Mahmud
Canadian photographer Chris Collacott with local shutterbugs at the event. PHOTO: LYNA MOHAMAD
Some 40 photography enthusiasts attended a digital photography workshop yesterday conducted by Canadian landscape photographer Chris Collacott.
The workshop, conducted at the Taman Mahkota Jubli Emas in the capital, had two sessions. The first was for amateur photographers and the second session was for veterans in the field.
Participants were shown how to make use of their smartphones and digital cameras to produce high quality and meaningful shots during the workshop.
Persons with disabilities also took part in the workshop.
Saifulizam and Rudolf were among the professional photographers in the second session.
“I’ve been a local photographer for over a decade, facing the challenges that come with it. Attending an advanced photography class recently had been crucial for my growth,” said Saifulizam.
“No question. he is on the top of his trade. I am sure the attendees learned something from the workshop. It was a brief but knowledgeable session,” said Rudolf.
A BIG SHOT FOR 40
Collacott, an award-winning photopgraher, is in the country to work on BN40, a gigapixel photography project to celebrate Brunei’s 40th National Day.
The BN40 project, co-founded by local entrepreneur Keeran Janin, will see hundreds of photos stiched together digitally to form a gigapixel photo that will commemorate Brunei’s 40th National Day celebrations.
The High Commission of Canada in Brunei Darussalam partially sponsored the participation of the Canadian photographer as part of celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations between Canada and the Sultanate.
Canadian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Ambra Dickie said, “We are delighted to be involved in this project. Involving local photographers and persons with disabilities is one way the high commission can contribute to the BN40 project, reflecting the diversity and inclusion efforts prioritised by the High Commission in 2024.
“We hope that the participants have gained useful knowledge and confidence in taking shots by learning from Chris, a world professional photographer,” said the Canadian high commissioner.
She added, “It is not often we have Canadian artists like this in Brunei, so we really wanted to take advantage of that and give back to the community that is very supportive to the high commission and the work that we do here.” – Lyna Mohamad
Canadian photographer Chris Collacott with local shutterbugs at the event. PHOTO: LYNA MOHAMADPHOTO: LYNA MOHAMADPHOTO: LYNA MOHAMADPHOTO: LYNA MOHAMADPhotos show Canadian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Ambra Dickie with workshop participants. PHOTO: LYNA MOHAMADPHOTO: LYNA MOHAMADPHOTO: LYNA MOHAMAD
In the past month, my neighbourhood has seen a lot of door-to-door salesmen knocking on their doors.
Just the other day, my husband opened the door to a man who asked if we had a water filter and if he could take a look at it. Alarmed, he refused the request and left it as that.
However, from the window, we could see the salesman taking photos of the water pipe connected to our filter.
We immediately felt uncomfortable with the whole encounter. If he were a salesmen as he claimed, why was he so insistent on taking photos of our filter or the pipe? At one point, he was even too pushy, as though he had the authority to inspect our home.
Looking back, I wonder if the man was even a legit salesman. What if it was a cover to get inside and scout the homes of unsuspecting public members with plans to break in later on?
If the man was indeed a salesman, then his conduct should still be called into question.
Pushing to get inside someone’s home is not exactly what I would consider ethical. My husband had repeatedly told him that we had a water filter and that we were happy with it.
He should have left it at that. But instead, he kept trying to get through the door and take photos of our filter.
I hope this letter would be enough to alert the authorities on salesmen going around residential areas and harassing the dwellers.
As residents of Simpang 201, Jalan Jerudong, we are at our wit’s end when it comes to the state of the roads.
We made a complaint to the authorities through our village head but the response was that it was the responsibility of the developer. So we approached the developer only for them to say that the project finished two years ago, so the roads is no longer their responsibility.
We feel like we have exhausted all possible channels while the roads continue to deteriorate. So such, we would like to call on the authorities – any authorities – to look into the matter. There are at least 70 households that use the roads daily, and the stress of dealing with the bad road condition is weighing us down.
ABOVE & BELOW: A student receives a prize; and the briefing in progress. PHOTO: INFO DEPT
Twenty-three Year 7 students from St Angela’s School, Seria attended a nationhood briefing programmed titled ‘Our Monarch, Appreciating the National Flag and National Anthem of Brunei Darussalam’ on Thursday.
The programme, organised by the Information Department, aims to cultivate love towards the monarch and the nation as well as inspire solidarity and patriotism among the students.
Head of Information in Belait District Musa bin Mohidin delivered the talk, which included topics such as the monarch, procedures in hoisting the national flag and the history of Brunei’s national anthem Allah Peliharakan Sultan.
There were also video presentations on Kibarkanlah Dengan Megah Bendera Negara and an animated clip on Tatacara Menaikkan Bendera Negara.
The briefing concluded with a presentation of prizes to winners of a nationhood quiz. – Rokiah Mahmud
ABOVE & BELOW: A student receives a prize; and the briefing in progress. PHOTO: INFO DEPTPHOTO: INFO DEPT
Universiti Teknologi Brunei Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Dr Hajah Ena Kartina binti Haji Abdul Rahman and KEMUDA Institute Managing Director Alice Sim during the signing
Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) and KEMUDA Institute recently signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) at the KEMUDA Institute premise in Kampong Beribi for the UTB-Satellite Partners (SP) Bridging Programmes.
The programmes under the agreement include the Bridging for Tomorrow’s Engineering (BriTE). Under the agreement, KEMUDA Institute will offer a 14-week undergraduate degree entry pathway to students who meet the university’s minimum entry requirements but fall short of points for admission to specific engineering and computing undergraduate degree programmes at UTB.
The programme is also offered to those who have been away from school the opportunity to upgrade their fundamental knowledge and skills required to further their studies in engineering and computing. On completion of the programme, the students will undergo their undergraduate studies at UTB.
Universiti Teknologi Brunei Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Dr Hajah Ena Kartina binti Haji Abdul Rahman and KEMUDA Institute Managing Director Alice Sim during the signing
A woman shops at a grocery store. PHOTO: RAFI ROSLI
Brunei Darussalam’s economy is forecast to grow 2.4 per cent this year, the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) said on Thursday.
The forecast was higher than last year’s which was at 0.2 per cent.
The Philippines’ growth is forecast to be the highest among ASEAN members nations at 6.3 per cent, ahead of Cambodia (6.2), Vietnam (six), Indonesia (5.2), Malaysia (five), Laos (4.7), Thailand (3.3), Myanmar (3.2), Singapore (2.6), and Brunei.
In its report on the Sultanate last month, AMRO said the growth this year will be led by the non-oil and gas sector.
Robust activities in the agri-food, finance, transportation, and tourism subsectors are expected to offset the slow activities in the upstream oil and gas production.
The report added that the non-oil and gas sector continuing to show positive performance driven by the services sector, reflecting the activity in the finance and transport subsectors, as post-pandemic recovery gains traction.
In contrast, rejuvenation effort in the oil and gas sector has proven to be more challenging thus far but is expected to contribute to an improved production in the near future. In the downstream industry, prospects remain positive, with planned diversification into other new products, lending support to growth in the near term.
A woman shops at a grocery store. PHOTO: RAFI ROSLI
In the longer term, the government remains committed to diversifying the economy towards a sustainable and low-carbon economy.
Meanwhile, AMRO maintained its 2024 growth forecast of 4.5 per cent for the ASEAN+3 region in its January quarterly update of the ASEAN+3 Regional Economic Outlook.
“Strong domestic demand amid moderating inflation and continuing improvement in trade will propel growth, despite uncertainties surrounding the global outlook,” the report said.
“The ASEAN+3 region is forecast to end 2023 with a full-year growth of 4.4 per cent, slightly higher than last October’s projection of 4.3 per cent. The upward revision reflects the higher growth of 5.2 per cent for China, up from last quarter’s forecast of 5.0 percent.
“Stabilising industrial and services activities in the Chinese economy are helping to provide additional momentum to the region in 2024, alongside gradual improvement in exports to other key markets.”
Meanwhile, AMRO Chief Economist Hoe Ee Khor said, “The recovery in the global tech cycle is starting to be felt in the region’s export performance, especially for electronics.
“But non-tech exports are lagging behind in terms of recovery, which is why recent manufacturing sentiment surveys are relatively mixed.”
Price pressures continue to recede across member economies, mirroring the trend in global commodity prices.
Inflation in the ASEAN+3 region – excluding Laos and Myanmar – is forecast to moderate to 2.6 per cent this year from an estimated 2.8 per cent for 2023. However, upside risks to inflation remain salient, and core inflation continues to be high in many economies.
“Spiking global commodity prices remains the key risk to growth, but there are several other wildcards. We still cannot rule out a United States (US) recession, for one,” Khor cautioned.
“The lead-up to the US election in late 2024 could also exacerbate policy uncertainty and volatility in financial markets.”
AMRO estimates that a recession in the US and euro area this year could potentially slash the region’s gross domestic product growth by half.
The negative impact on the region’s growth would be amplified if the momentum in China’s economic recovery weakens in tandem. – Azlan Othman
I applaud National Retirement Scheme (SPK) for allowing eligible members to withdraw a percentage of their retirement money early for housing or home renovation purposes.
However, I would like to highlight the presence of unscrupulous contractors who are taking advantage of SPK members by offering services such as providing fake quotations or projects for a cut of the funds in return.
These so-called contractors go as far as to advertise their services on social media, especially Facebook, to entice SPK members to withdraw their funds early.
I hope the authorities would clamp down on these crooked contractors by auditing their projects thoroughly.
