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.
Thai rescue workers carry the body of a victim from the site of an explosion at a fireworks factory in Suphan Buri province, Thailand. PHOTO: AP
MUEANG SUPHAN BURI (AP) – Rescue workers carried out the grim task on Thursday of recovering the remains of the 23 apparent victims of a fireworks factory explosion in central Thailand.
Only part of the building frame stood at the site of the devastated factory in an otherwise-empty rice field in rural Suphan Buri province the day after the blast.
The damage to the site and the condition of the bodies made the number of victims difficult to determine.
Families and friends of the victims gathered at a temple where remains were being stored, to report missing loved ones and provide DNA samples to help identify the remains, but uniformed local officials sought to keep reporters from speaking with them. Several of the bereaved openly wept.
The province’s deputy governor, Don Samitakestarin, said the death toll was 23 and not expected to rise. National police chief Torsak Sukvimol, who travelled to Suphan Buri to oversee police operations, said 22 bodies had been found and one more person was considered missing but presumed dead.
Thai rescue workers carry the body of a victim from the site of an explosion at a fireworks factory in Suphan Buri province, Thailand. PHOTO: AP
The cause of the blast has not been determined.
“There are no survivors from the site at all, so there are no eyewitnesses to tell us what happened,” Torsak said. “We can only use forensic science to discover the cause.”
Don said it will take time to investigate the cause as there were no survivors to tell what happened. He said the area was sealed off as officers were not done clearing hazardous materials.
The factory marketed small fireworks to scare away birds, a common practice for Thai farmers to protect their crops.
Its products looked like what are sometimes called cherry bombs, but it did not appear that the factory manufactured fireworks for entertainment, which would be in high demand to celebrate the Lunar New Year next month.
Don said the factory had met the requirements for operating legally.
It experienced an earlier explosion in November 2022 that killed one person and seriously injured three others, but Don said there was no regulation that could prevent it from obtaining a new permit.
“This business operation complied with all the regulations from the Interior Ministry, so we had to give it a license,” he said.
The remains of the victims were taken to Wat Rong Chang, a temple in the province capital, Mueang Suphan Buri, where they were being kept in a refrigerator truck pending confirmation of their identities.
The government will pay maximum compensation of THB300,000 per affected household, Don said.
The 16 women and seven men presumed to have died in the blast included the workers and the wife and son of the factory’s owner, Don said.
Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz launching of the Complete Ecosystems for Electric Vehicles in Malaysia. PHOTO: BERNAMA
PORT KLANG (BERNAMA) – Electric vehicle (EV) sales in Malaysia are expected to grow exponentially this year, said Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
He said that the projection is in line with the rising number of EVs sold last year, which went up by 200 per cent compared to 2022, and based on industry players’ confidence in the rising interest in high-tech vehicles.
Malaysia recorded more than 100,000 registered EVs as of December last year.
Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz launching of the Complete Ecosystems for Electric Vehicles in Malaysia. PHOTO: BERNAMA
“This projection hinges on holistic efforts to ensure that the EV ecosystem is ramped up and complete, such as charging stations, besides sales,” he told the media after officiating the launch of the EV assembly plant owned by Tron Bradbury Energy (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd in Port Klang on Friday.
Meanwhile, Tengku Zafrul said the country has more than 1,500 EV charging stations and that number needs to be increased to provide comfort to people, especially those living in multi-storey residences or high-rise buildings, to ensure there is no “range anxiety” for long-distance driving.
He also said that the provision for the Electric Motorcycle Use Promotion Scheme (MARiiCas), which was launched last December and offers a rebate of up to MYR2,400 for the purchase of electric motorcycles had been fully taken up.
“We will apply to the Ministry of Finance to continue the MARiiCas scheme and increase its allocation because many people are now open to buying electric motorcycles,” the minister said.
A woman dressed in the Puak Tutong traditional attire. PHOTO: BORNEO BULLETIN
Tutong District’s colourful mosaic of ethnic cultures
Tutong, one of the Sultanate’s four districts, stands out as the most ethnically diverse, as primary races represented in this district include Tutong, Kedayan, Dusun and Murut, complemented by other ethnic groups such as Chinese, Bisaya and Iban.
The district is known for its cultural mosaic, given the diverse ethnicities living within it, and celebrating that vibrant diversity within showcases is something often held to highlight its community’s richness.
Recognising the colourful cultures within this district and with the aim of fostering solidarity and unity among the diverse ethnicities present, the Tutong District’s Mukim Institutions Division passionately takes the lead in organising such cultural showcases.
As a collaborative effort involving the various mukim and village councils across Tutong District, these activities give a sense of solidarity within its residents through culture, with the hopes of maintaining care and cooperation at all levels towards the district’s progress.
In a captivating sequel to its debut last year, the Tutong Ethnic Cultural Night returned for its second edition with the compelling theme ‘Kebudayaan untuk Kedamaian’ (Culture for Peace), to serve a dual purpose – as a vibrant showcase of the district’s diverse cultural tapestry and as a means of fundraising for the National Humanitarian Fund for Palestinians in Gaza 2023.
A woman dressed in the Puak Tutong traditional attire. PHOTO: BORNEO BULLETIN
The initiative was driven by a collective aim to raise awareness and demonstrate the solidarity and compassion of the local Muslim community, particularly towards the challenges faced by the Palestinians in Gaza. The night unfolded with a spectacular display featuring nine groups, each representing a distinct ethnic race.
Despite cultural showcase not being entirely new to Tutong District residents, the performers succeeded in gripping their audience, infusing each act with an impressive fusion of skill and artistry that left a lasting emotional impact, while also underscoring the community’s commitment to global humanitarian causes through the power of cultural expression.
Among the captivating performances, one that truly stood out was presented by the young talents from Chung Hwa School Kiudang, Tutong District. Specifically dedicated to the Tiong Hua Community, their showcase featured the mesmerising dunhuang dance and mulan dance, adding a vibrant and culturally rich dimension to the event.
The mulan dance was familiar to many watching the show, retelling the story of Hua Mulan.
According to Liong, the students’ supervising teacher, Hua Mulan was unwilling to let her brother face peril, she courageously donned men’s clothing, joining the army where she displayed remarkable bravery and adept skills in the art of war.
Her outstanding performance in battle earned her promotion to the rank of general, a testament to her talent and exceptional contributions on the battlefield.
Dunhuang dance, on the other hand, emerged from the careful observations of modern choreographers and scholars in the Dunhuang area, studying the murals in the Mogao cave.
They transformed numerous postures, paintings, and statues on the cave walls into a dance, inspired by the rich, graceful, and beautiful gestures depicted.
This unique and artistic dance has since captivated audiences worldwide, becoming a celebrated performance in China and around the globe.
“Events like this play a crucial role in fostering mutual understanding among various ethnicities, promoting respect for each other’s cultures, and building a strong sense of community,” said Teacher Liong.
Adding a captivating touch to the event, the kajat dance, performed by both male and female dancers from the Iban community, seized the attention of guests. Much like the enchanting display by the student dancers, the kajat performers adorned themselves in the distinctive traditional Iban costume, radiating a uniqueness that resonated emotionally.
Photos show Chung Hwa School Kiudang students during their performances.
PHOTOS: LYNA MOHAMAD
This dance, a customary feature of their festive Gawai Day and a frequent highlight at weddings, welcomes state dignitaries (particularly in Sarawak), and serves as a warm embrace for guests or tourists visiting a longhouse.
Teacher Chugot, the guiding force behind the Iban dancers, passionately expressed that the kajat dance serves as a profound symbol of the Iban community’s deep respect for their guests. Beyond its entertaining aspects, this dance is a cherished tradition passed down through the ages, still embraced with fervour today.
In alignment with Teacher Liong’s sentiments, Teacher Chugot emphasised the profound significance of cultural events like this. He underscored their pivotal role in preserving the rich heritage of the district, ensuring its authenticity stands resilient against the tide of modernisation.
As a fervent advocate for cultural continuity, he stressed the importance of practising and passing down these traditions to future generations, safeguarding them from being lost in the march of time.
There was also the Tamarok dance, a cherished tradition of the Dusun community, which is a captivating portrayal of their villages, performed with rhythmic grace and enriched by each group’s unique style. Rooted in animistic beliefs of the past, the Tamarok was a ritual of gratitude in the old days.
Today, this dance offers a glimpse into the Dusun’s ancient world, where female dancers played a significant role in expressing thanks.
In the old hierarchy, belian, considered priestesses, engaged in these dances and offerings. The Tamarok, now showcased as a cultural performance, reveals the intricate roles and hierarchy, reflecting the activities during thanksgiving.
The scale of Tamarok events varies, such as the grand Tamarok Padi held after the harvest season, lasting up to two days. Accompanied by instruments like the dombak, canang, gulingtangan, gandang, and gong, the dance, while not overly intricate, requires practice.
The evening’s performers hailed from various groups, including the Seri Budaya Tari Tutong, Dusun Cultural groups of Kampong Bukit Udal, Kampong Bukit, Kampong Long Mayan, and Kampong Ukong, as well as the Bisaya Cultural Body of Kampong Batang Mitus, Kampong Kiudang Cultural Body, and Kedayan Cultural Group of Kampong Lamunin.
Witnessing more of such cultural gatherings would not only be a significant educational experience but also a means to instil a sense of pride in the younger generations regarding the diverse cultural arts inherent to their respective ethnic backgrounds. – Lyna Mohamad
Hands together, closeup and support with team of people outdoor, help and mission with strategy. Hu.
A college in Brunei Darussalam, Kolej International Graduate Studies (KIGS), handed over donation to the Palestinian Humanitarian Fund during an event at the Department of Community Development (JAPEM) of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports on Friday.
The donation was proceeds from the college’s initiative to jointly ease the burden of Palestinians in Gaza. The college had put donation boxes at its premises from November 27, 2023 until January 17, 2024.
Head of Corporate Communication Haji Hasnul Hamdani presented the donation to Pengiran Md Najib bin Haji Mulek in his capacity as representative of the Palestinian Humanitarian Fund Secretariat. – Lyna Mohamad
Haji Hasnul Hamdani presents the donation to Pengiran Md Najib bin Haji Mulek. PHOTO: LYNA MOHAMAD
Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip. PHOTO: AP
JERUSALEM (AP) – Rifts are emerging among top Israeli officials over the handling of the war against Hamas in Gaza. A member of the country’s War Cabinet cast doubt over the strategy for releasing hostages, and the country’s prime minister rejected the United States’ (US) calls to scale back its offensive.
Only a cease-fire deal can win the release of dozens of hostages still held by militants in Gaza, and claims they could be freed by other means was spreading “illusions”, said former army chief Gadi Eisenkot, one of four members of the War Cabinet, in his first public statements on the course of the war.
Eisenkot’s comments late on Thursday were the latest sign of disagreement among political and military leaders over the direction of Israel’s offensive on Hamas, now in its fourth month.
Sparked by an unprecedented October 7 Hamas raid into Israel that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and saw about 250 others taken hostage, the Israeli assault has pulverised much of the Gaza Strip, home to some 2.3 million people. Israel has said more than 130 hostages remain in Gaza, but not all of them are believed to be alive.
Smoke rises following an Israeli bombardment in the Gaza Strip. PHOTO: AP
Israel’s offensive, one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in recent history, has killed nearly 25,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, and uprooted more than 80 per cent of the territory’s population.
Israel has also cut off all but a trickle of supplies into the besieged Gaza Strip, including food, water and fuel. Several dozen trucks with critical supplies now enter the territory each day, just a fraction of the pre-war volume of about 500 trucks. Both the US and United Nations have said more aid needs to be delivered.
A communications blackout in the territory was in its seventh day on Friday, the longest such blackout since the war began. The lack of communications hampers the coordination of aid deliveries and rescue efforts.
The US, Israel’s closest ally, has provided strong military and political support for the campaign, but has been increasingly calling on Israel to scale back its assault and take steps toward establishing a Palestinian state after the war – a suggestion Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has soundly rejected.
Speaking during a nationally televised news conference Thursday, Netanyahu reiterated his longstanding opposition to a two-state solution, arguing that a Palestinian state would become a launchpad for attacks on Israel.
Israel “must have security control over the entire territory west of the Jordan River”, Netanyahu said, adding: “That collides with the idea of sovereignty. What can we do?”
The US has said the internationally recognised Palestinian Authority, which governs semi-autonomous zones in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, should be “revitalised” and return to Gaza. Hamas ousted the authority from Gaza in 2007.
Washington has also called for steps toward the establishment of a Palestinian state. The Palestinians seek Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem for their state. Those areas were captured by Israel in 1967.
Speaking Wednesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Blinken said the two-state solution was the best way to protect Israel, unify moderate Arab countries and isolate Israel’s arch-enemy, Iran. He said that without a pathway to a Palestinian state, Israel would not “get genuine security”.
A Palestinian woman flashes a V-sign towards Israeli troops during an army raid in the Tulkarem refugee camp, West Bank. PHOTO: AP
At the same conference, Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister said the kingdom is ready to establish full relations with Israel as part of a larger political agreement. “But that can only happen through peace for the Palestinians, through a Palestinian state,” he said.
A spokesperson for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who heads the Palestinian Authority, said late on Thursday that there can be “no security and stability in the region” without a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant have said the fighting will continue until Hamas is crushed, and argue that only military action can win the hostages’ release.
Hamas seeks an end to the war before discussing hostage releases, and has demanded the release of thousands of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel in exchange for those held captive in Gaza.
Commentators have begun to question whether Netanyahu’s objectives are realistic, given the slow pace of the offensive and growing international criticism, including genocide accusations at the United Nations world court, which Israel vehemently denies.
Netanyahu’s opponents accuse him of delaying any discussion of postwar scenarios in order to avoid looming investigations of governmental failures, keep his coalition intact and put off elections. Polls show that the popularity of Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, has plummeted during the war.
Eisenkot, whose son was killed in December in Gaza, told the investigative programme “Uvda” on Israel’s Channel 12 television station late on Thursday that “the hostages will only return alive if there is a deal, linked to a significant pause in fighting”. He said dramatic rescue operations are unlikely because the hostages are apparently spread out, many of them in underground tunnels.
Claiming hostages can be freed by means other than a deal “is to spread illusions”, he said.
In a thinly veiled criticism of Netanyahu, Eisenkot also said strategic decisions about the war’s direction must be made urgently, and that a discussion about an endgame should have begun immediately after the war began.
He also dismissed suggestions that the military has delivered a decisive blow against Hamas.
Gallant has said troops disabled the Hamas command structure in northern Gaza, from where significant numbers of troops were withdrawn earlier in the week, and that the focus is now on the southern half of the territory.
“We haven’t yet reached a strategic achievement, or rather only partially,” Eisenkot said. “We did not bring down Hamas.”
The militant group has continued to fight back across Gaza, even in the most devastated areas, and launched rockets into Israel.
The former army chief said he is examining every day whether he should remain in the War Cabinet, which includes Netanyahu, Gallant and former defence minister Benny Gantz. Eisenkot is a member of parliament in the opposition National Unity alliance headed by Gantz. Both joined Netanyahu to help lead the war.
“I know what my red line is,” Eisenkot said when asked at what point he would quit. “It’s connected to the hostages, that is one of the objectives, but it’s also connected to the way in which we need to run this war.”
Napoli's Italian defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo vies for the ball with Fiorentina's midfielder Riccardo Sottil during the Italian Super Cup semi final football match. PHOTO: AFP
RIYADH (AFP) – Napoli put aside their recent troubles Friday by reaching the Italian Super Cup final with a convincing 3-0 win over Fiorentina in Riyadh.
Giovanni Simeone opened the scoring in the 22nd minute at a sparsely-populated Al-Awwal Park before Alessio Zerbin ensured Napoli’s passage with two late goals, his first for the Italian champions.
The success was a rare bright moment in what has been a disastrous season for Napoli, who are 20 points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan and have won just five times since Walter Mazzarri replaced Rudi Garcia in November.
“I don’t know if this is a turning point,” said Simeone to Mediaset.
“What really matters is the attitude we showed today. We’re a team with heart and soul.”
Fiorentina had plenty of the ball but struggled to break down Napoli, and Jonathan Ikone’s missed penalty just before half-time summed up a bad night for Vincenzo Italiano’s team.
“When you lose 3-0 you can only tip your hat to the winners,” said Italiano.
“Unfortunately we’ve started getting a bit sterile again… but until the 84th minute we were in the running and I thought we could get back in it.”
Napoli’s Italian defender Giovanni Di Lorenzo vies for the ball with Fiorentina’s midfielder Riccardo Sottil during the Italian Super Cup semi final football match. PHOTO: AFP
