His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to send a congratulatory message to Philippines President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr, the government and the people of the Philippines on the occasion of its 125th Independence Day yesterday.
His Majesty also consented to send a congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, the government and people of Russia on the occasion of Russia Day.
The Employees Trust Fund (TAP) announced that dividends for TAP and Supplemental Contributory Pension (SCP) accounts from 2022-2023 financial year ending March 31 is 2.5 per cent.
The dividends were credited into members’ accounts yesterday, according to a press release.
Some BND86,043,626.01 were credited into 182,585 TAP accounts while BND43,547,497.37 were credited into 177,683 SCP accounts.
Members can check the amount credited into their accounts by logging into e-Amanah via tap.com.bn or head to e-Info TAP kiosks, said the agency yesterday.
Participants of the Guardian Fun Run 2023 at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien
Lyna Mohamad
A ‘fun run’ event alongside a number of other activities to promote a healthy lifestyle was held at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien yesterday.
Runners of all ages participated in the Guardian Fun Run 2023 event organised by Guardian Brunei.
“As part of a larger initiative to promote healthy lifestyles in Brunei, the event aims to create awareness about the positive impact of physical activity,” said the company in a statement.
“By bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds, the event fosters a sense of community and encourages participants to prioritise their health,” it said.
On the sidelines of the race, other programmes included activities combining fitness, entertainment and community spirit.
Meanwhile, the Health Promotion Centre held a showcase on a healthy diet, focussing on salt reduction.
The centre also highlighted the dangers of tobacco and vaping, in conjunction with World No Tobacco Day 2023.
Yesterday, Guardian Brunei also made a BND2,500 donation to the Children’s Cancer Foundation (YASKA). Guardian Brunei General Manager Jennifer Yang presented the donation to YASKA Chairman Haji Mohd Suffian bin Haji Zainal Abidin.
Participants of the Guardian Fun Run 2023 at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali SaifuddienABOVE & BELOW: Guardian Brunei General Manager Jennifer Yang presents a donation to the Children’s Cancer Foundation (YAKSA) to YASKA Chairman Haji Mohd Suffian bin Haji Zainal Abidin; and activities during the Guardian Fun Run 2023. PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR, SIM YH & GUARDIAN BRUNEI
FROM LEFT: Jubin Eugene Malon and Rosdiman bin Haji Awang Lakim
Lyna Mohamad
The field at Taman Sir Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien was abuzz as Bandarku Ceria returned to the capital, with the Guardian Fun Run 2023 as the highlight of activities yesterday.
Hundreds of runners of all ages and backgrounds took part, including 52-year-old Jubin Eugene Malon, who turned up in traditional ethnic Sabah Dusun attire to join in the five-kilometre fun run category.
“I enjoy the activity,” Jubin told the Bulletin. “Back home I used to be a mountain guide, which I still do whenever I am home for the holidays or for our village’s eco-tourism.
“Sometimes I will bring hikers from Brunei to visit our area and engage in hiking activities.”
Jubin, who hails from Penampang in the Malaysian state of Sabah and has been working in the Sultanate since 1998, shared that he always enjoyed physical activities and regularly participates in events such as the one Guardian Brunei organised yesterday.
He takes pride in being a Sabah Dusun, and ran in the traditional marudu costume to promote his hometown, their traditions and culture. The marudu is usually worn during the Pesta Kaamantan, a harvest festival celebrated by Kadazan-Dusuns in Sabah and Labuan.
Jubin Eugene Malon during the event. PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIRGuardian Fun Run 2023 participantsFROM LEFT: Jubin Eugene Malon and Rosdiman bin Haji Awang Lakim
“It is important to be active in fitness activities for health and wellbeing,” said Jubin.
Meanwhile, Rosdiman bin Haji Awang Lakim, a 28-year-old local from Kampong Lambak Kanan, turned up in cara Melayu and ran the 10-kilometre category. “This is actually my second time joining a run activity wearing a traditional outfit,” said Rosdiman, adding that he also did a 10-kilometre run in a kurta.
“I had initially wanted to put on an Awang Budiman costume,” he said, but wasn’t able to get the material for the outfit in time.
As a concession, the studs on his cara Melayu was in the design of a keris, an accessory worn by the national mascot.
As a fitness trainer, Rosdiman shared that running in traditional outfits was neither uncomfortable or comfortable.
“It was okay,” he said. “There is no specific reason for me to wear this outfit.
“But it can be a way of promoting our costumes while at the same time it is to show that we can still run regardless what we wear,” he said.
“Running is in my DNA, hence I want to try wearing clothes aside from the usual running outfit just to feel the difference.”
MInister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha during the discussion. PHOTOS: MTIC
Lyna Mohamad
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha exchanged views and information on the growing trend of online scams and the counter measures introduced during the discussions at the Government to Government (G2G) Roundtable on Scams and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Singapore recently.
The minister, who is also Chairman of the National Cyber Security Committee, shared that 90 per cent of reported cases of scams and fraud in 2022 were via online while in 2018 it was only 40 per cent. The ministers who attended the roundtable discussion acknowledged the efforts at national and regional levels on regulating AI.
It was recognised that there are many useful applications of AI technology while the right balance between promoting innovation and protecting public interest is required.
The meeting also called for more international collaboration to ensure the technology’s development of technology while deployment is aligned with responsible and ethical practices.
The G2G Roundtable on Scams and AI was held alongside Asia Tech x Singapore (ATxSG) from June 6 to 9.
Singaporean Deputy Prime Minister and Singaporean Minister of Finance Lawrence Wong officiated the ATxSG, while Singaporean Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo chaired the ministerial roundtable.
Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary also made a courtesy call to Teo during which they exchanged views on current regional developments and key challenges.
MInister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha during the discussion. PHOTOS: MTICPengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary during a courtesy call to Singaporean Minister for Communications and Information Josephine TeoThe meeting in progress
They also discussed areas of mutual interest to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary also visited the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) for an in-depth discussion on cybersecurity trends and development.
The programme continued with a discussion with the Smart Nation and Digital Government Office (SNDGO) to explore the alignments and learning points from Singapore’s digitalisation journey.
The minister also visited IMDA PIXEL Innovation Hub, an innovation space in Singapore for corporates and start-ups to learn about latest technology and build user-centric digital products.
Joining the minister in the ATxSG were Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) Ir Haji Mohammad Nazri bin Haji Mohammad Yusof; Cyber Security Brunei (CSB) Interim Commissioner Shamsul Bahri bin Haji Khamis and Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) Chief Executive Ir Haji Jailani bin Haji Buntar.
ATxSG is Asia’s flagship tech event where technology intersects with society and the digital economy drives conversations only possible in Singapore across business, tech and government.
It was organised by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and Informa Tech, supported by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB).
ATxSG also hosted ATxSummit from June 6 to 7 which gathered governments, global enterprises and communities for in-depth discussion on the role of technology in digital future.
Also taking place was the ATxEnterprise from June 7 to 9, showcasing the hottest technology topics across its co-located events: BroadcastAsia, CommunicAsia, SatelliteAsia, TechXLR8 Asia and Innovfest x Elevating Founders.
Nine notices were issued by Health Enforcement Unit officers under Ministry of Health (MoH) to remind business premises to comply with Chapter 15 of the Tobacco Order 2005 during an operation at Kiulap commercial areas recently.
The operation aimed to enforce the Tobacco Order 2005. The failure to comply with Chapter 15 of the Tobacco Order 2005 is an offence.
The penalty for the offence upon conviction can be subject to a fine not exceeding BND1,000.
The MoH through the Health Enforcement Unit, will continue to curb illegal activities in the country.
A participant during the competition. PHOTO: DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND SPORTS
Izah Azahari
A total of 15 qari and 15 qariah showed their reading skills in the National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Youth for 1444 Hijrah/2023 semi-finals yesterday at the Silaturrahim Hall, Pusat Belia in Bandar Seri Begawan where 20 participants competed in the morning session while 10 competed in the afternoon session.
It was held by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) through the Department of Youth and Sports.
Acting Director of Youth and Sports Haji Mohamad Rosfazilah bin Haji Yusly was the guest of honour. Officers and staff of the Department of Youth and Sports were present.
National Al-Quran Reading Competition for Youth is an annual project of the ministry since the 1980s which has successfully produced high calibre youth qari and qariah.
It also serves as a platform for young reciters to test their abilities, especially in the field of Al-Quran recitation in song or tarannum.
Participants comprise of youth across the country.
A participant during the competition. PHOTO: DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH AND SPORTS
Some 12 students from the Faculty of Multimedia and Broadcasting at Kolej International Graduate Studies had an educational visit to Regalblue Production.
A Bachelor of Communication in Digital Media student Muhamad Luqman Wadihan bin Ramlan said they were able to familiarise themselves with the media industry and gained an overview of a possible career path in the future.
Luqman Wadihan said, “I am very grateful for the opportunity to visit Regalblue Production. From this visit, we learn about recording equipment and the process of film-making. The visit was very fruitful and insightful for me, as a media student.”
Accompanying lecturer Fatmah binti Haji Sulaiman expressed appreciation to Regalblue Production for hosting the visit and sharing their knowledge and experiences in multimedia and broadcasting.
She said, “The students received first-hand experience in broadcasting and production, which was very beneficial for them. They were lucky to have the opportunity to try some of the equipment.”
Volunteers collecting trash during a cleaning campaign in Rasau. PHOTO: DANIEL LIM
Daniel Lim
The Belait Mukim Consultative Council’s (MPM) cleaning campaign along the Rasau area yesterday saw 24 bags of rubbish collected by 70 volunteers.
Penghulu of Mukim Belait Haji Abdul Afiq bin Zainuddin, who led the campaign said members of mukim and village consultative councils (MPK) across the Belait District participated.
He said that the Rasau area was given priority during the clean-up, due to the large number of traffic in the area and hoped the public will do their part in maintaining the cleanliness of the surrounding environment and protect the wildlife.
“The cleaning campaign involved MPK of Kampong Mumong A, Kampong Mumong B, Kampong Sungai Teraban, Pekan Belait, Kampong Pandan ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’, as well as scout leaders and Belait District Scout Association (PPDB) members,” said Haji Abdul Afiq.
Haji Abdul Afiq said MPM Belait aims to conduct similar campaigns in other parts of the district.
Volunteers collecting trash during a cleaning campaign in Rasau. PHOTO: DANIEL LIM
Performing haj rituals in Makkah or circling the Kaabah is an extraordinary journey. It is a journey to strengthen faith as well as purify the heart to gain blessings from Allah the Almighty, said Head of Guidance and Training at Mosque Affairs Department, Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) Haji Fansuri Shariki @ Mansur.
For some, haj rituals is once-in-a-lifetime journey and through the journey, special privileges are bestowed on the pilgrims, he said at the ministry’s weekly Munajat talk titled ‘Facts about Haj’ from RPN Kampong Lambak Kanan Mosque.
Meanwhile, Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Haji Salleh Bostaman bin Haji Zainal Abidin led the recitation of Sayyidul Istighfar and Al-Fatihah from RPN Kampong Pandan, Belait.
