BEBC Brunei Country Director Haji Alimen bin Haji Jaafar and delegation discuss with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s Deputy Minister and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Loong to enhance stronger trade in halal food and beverage products. PHOTO: BEBC
James Kon
The BIMP-EAGA Business Council (BEBC Brunei) trade mission recently travelled to Mindanao, Philippines for a five day official visit to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), Davao City and Zamboanga City.
BEBC Brunei Country Director Haji Alimen bin Haji Jaafar led the delegation accompanied by its heads of clusters Pengiran Haji Norhalik bin Pengiran Haji Ahmad, Haji Nasir Latif and Haji Mohd Khairur Rijal Salim.
The mission’s objective was to identify prospective business opportunities and establish partnerships between the two countries.
According to BEBC Brunei, during the first and second day visit to BARMM, the delegation paid a courtesy call on its Chief Minister Al Haj Ahod B Ebrahim. The meeting highlighted discussions on closer cooperation and collaboration between Brunei and BARMM with special focus on developing the livestock and agriculture industry as well as promoting Halal and financial services.
The collaboration will lead to mutually beneficial opportunities and contribute to the overall growth and prosperity of both economies. BARMM Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform Mohammad Yacob and BARMM Minister of Transport and Communications Paisalin Tago were in attendance.
The delegation also met Secretary of the Mindanao Development Authority Maria Belen S Acosta.
BEBC Brunei Country Director Haji Alimen bin Haji Jaafar and delegation discuss with the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao’s Deputy Minister and Deputy Speaker Benjamin Loong to enhance stronger trade in halal food and beverage products. PHOTO: BEBC
The discussions focussed on the promoting and developing trade, transport, and infrastructure, as well as Islamic tourism. The delegation also visited the Philippines oldest and third largest poultry farm Vitarich Corporation and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque in Cotabato City.
The visit’s intention was to identify sectors where both parties can leverage their strengths and create lasting partnerships.
The BEBC Brunei comprised of a group of people from various industries actively promoting economic ties within the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region. BEBC Brunei aimed to explore potential partnerships and engage in discussions with local businesses, industry leaders, and government officials during the visit.
On the third and fourth days of their visit, the delegation met with its BEBC counterparts in Zamboanga. The group also met with Tawi-Tawi Governor Yshmael Sali and Mayor of Turtle Islands as well as visited places of interest in Zamboanga including the pink beach of Santa Cruz Island and Permex Corporation, one of Philippines’ largest sardines and tuna canning factories.
The delegation also visited the Sadik Grand Mosque, currently under construction and is expected to be the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.
BEBC Brunei also promoted the BIMP-EAGA Trade Show and International Convention B2B Forum (BETSIC) which will be held in Brunei Darussalam in October.
The BETSIC event is held in conjunction with the 30th BIMP-EAGA Senior Officials and Ministerial Meetings.
The expo serves as a platform for businesses across the BIMP-EAGA region to showcase their products, services and investment opportunities.
Nepali guide Gelje Sherpa speaks during an interview. PHOTO: AFP
KATHMANDU (AFP) – A Nepali guide abandoned his client’s Everest summit bid to rescue a Malaysian climber in a deadly mountaineering season that has seen at least 12 deaths.
Gelje Sherpa was guiding a Chinese client to the 8,849-metre peak and planned to assist him to paraglide down.
Instead, only a few hundred metres from the summit, they came across a lone man clinging to a rope and shivering in the area known as the “death zone”.
The area above 8,000 metres has earned its name because of its thin air, freezing temperatures and low oxygen levels that heighten the risk of altitude sickness. It is also notorious for its difficult terrain.
“When I found him in that state, my heart did not let me leave him there,” Sherpa told AFP.
Many other climbers had walked past the man that day, but he declined to criticise them.
“It is a place where you have to think of your survival first,” he said.
Sherpa told his client – who will have paid at least USD45,000 to attempt Everest, including a permit fee of USD11,000 – to return without a summit. “When I decided to go down, my client did not agree at first.”
“Of course, he was there after spending a lot of money, it must have been his dream for years and he had to find time to come here to climb.
Nepali guide Gelje Sherpa speaks during an interview. PHOTO: AFP
“He got angry and said he wanted to go to the summit.
“I had to scold him and tell him that he has to descend because he was my responsibility and I couldn’t send him to the summit on his own. He got upset.”
He explained that he wanted to take the sick man down the mountain. “Then he realised that by ‘rescue’ I meant that I wanted to save him. He understood and then he apologised later.”
YOU SAVED MY LIFE
Sherpa, 30, fitted the ailing climber with his supplemental oxygen supply, improving some of his symptoms, but he was still unable to walk.
The rocky uneven terrain meant that Sherpa, who is about 1.6 metres (m) tall and weighs 55 kilogrammes, had to carry the Malaysian in some sections.
“It is a very difficult task to carry someone and bring them down from there. But some sections are very rocky, I couldn’t drag him,” said Sherpa.
“If I did that, he could have broken his bones, he was already not doing well.”
Sherpa hauled the man down nearly 700m for almost six hours to Camp 4 by himself. “I’ve been a part of many search and rescue missions, but this was very challenging,” he said.
Joined by another guide, the pair wrapped the climber in sleeping mats and secured him with ropes, dragging him on snowy slopes and carrying him on their backs when necessary.
Finally, they arrived at Camp 3 at 7,162m and a helicopter using a long line lifted the stricken climber down to the base camp.
Sherpa was not able to meet the Malaysian climber again but received a message thanking him. “He wrote me ‘You saved my life, you are god to me’,” Sherpa said.
Nepali guides, usually ethnic Sherpas from the valleys around Everest, are considered the backbone of the climbing industry and bear huge risks to carry equipment and food, fix ropes and repair ladders.
Sherpa’s video of the rescue two weeks ago has been liked on his Instagram more than 35,000 times and shared widely over social media, many applauding his selfless decision.
“As a guide you feel a sense of responsibility for others on the mountain and you have to make tough decisions,” said President of Nepal National Mountain Guide Association Ang Norbu Sherpa. “What he has done is commendable.”
Nepal issued a record 478 permits for Everest to foreign climbers this season and about 600 climbers and guides reached the top.
Twelve climbers have been confirmed dead, and five more are still missing.
Gelje Sherpa has reached the world’s highest point six times and did not regret his decision to turn back that day.
“People just focus on the summit, but everyone can do that,” he said. “To bring someone from higher than 8,000m is a lot more difficult than to summit.”
Photo by young ASEAN storyteller Aung Chan Thar shows the Inlay Lake, the second largest inland lake in Myanmar and is famous for its floating villages and self-sufficient communities. PHOTO: ASEAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY
Danial Norjidi
Since 1973, World Environment Day has been marked each year on June 5.
As described by the United Nations (UN), World Environment Day is led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and is “the largest global platform for environmental public outreach and is celebrated by millions of people across the world”.
This year’s celebration, themed ‘#BeatPlasticPollution’, focusses on solutions to plastic pollution and aims to mobilise action from every corner of the world.
According to the official website for the occasion, “More than 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year, half of which is designed to be used only once. Of that, less than 10 per cent is recycled.
“An estimated 19-23 million tonnes end up in lakes, rivers and seas. Today, plastic clogs our landfills, leaches into the ocean and is combusted into toxic smoke, making it one of the gravest threats to the planet.
“Not only that, what is less known is that microplastics find their way into the food we eat, the water we drink and even the air we breathe. Many plastic products contain hazardous additives, which may pose a threat to our health.”
Photo by young ASEAN storyteller Aung Chan Thar shows the Inlay Lake, the second largest inland lake in Myanmar and is famous for its floating villages and self-sufficient communities. PHOTO: ASEAN CENTRE FOR BIODIVERSITY
In conjunction with the World Environment Day, Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) Dr Theresa Mundita S Lim issued a statement highlighted that in the ASEAN region, plastic pollution has increased tenfold since 1980, according to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
“About 20 per cent of the global plastic production is attributed to the region, causing severe impacts on its marine ecosystems,” shared Dr Lim. “In a study by two Japanese universities, about 40 per cent of seabirds surveyed around the world have ingested toxic substances derived from plastic waste.
“According to estimates, it is projected that there will be more plastics than fish in the oceans by 2050. Recent studies also suggest that the economic costs of marine debris is estimated at around USD10.8 billion for countries in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region, including to tourism, to fishing, and shipping.”
Dr Lim further noted that, despite being endowed with rich natural resources, Southeast Asian countries with fast rising urbanisation and population growth are considered significant contributors to the leakage of land-based plastic waste going into the seas.
She shared that more than 31 million tonnes of plastics, enough to fit in about 1,500,000 shipping containers, are generated annually in just six of the 10 ASEAN member states and most of these plastics are of single-use.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has added pressure to the growing problem due to the surge in the production of face masks, face shields, personal protective equipment, and online delivery packaging due to lockdowns,” said the executive director.
Dr Lim highlighted that in this year’s World Environment Day, the ASEAN asserts its commitment to reduce plastic pollution and marine debris. “The ACB joins the global community in this campaign by intensifying regional and national cooperation; encouraging heightened collective action for the protection, restoration, and sustainable use of the coastal and marine environment; promotion of approaches and good management practices to address threats to biodiversity rich and ecologically-sensitive water bodies; and encourages knowledge sharing to manage transboundary pollution and waste issues.”
In her statement, Dr Lim also noted that the ASEAN member states have been implementing national policies and strategies to mitigate the impacts of marine debris.
“Although gaps have been identified, remediation measures have been incorporated in the National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) of the ASEAN member states.
New policies against pollution were refined and formulated, pollution status using standard quality indices were monitored, and measures to mitigate pollution and its impacts on biodiversity were implemented.”
The executive director further said that ASEAN has specifically dealt with marine debris through the Bangkok Declaration on Combating Marine Debris in the ASEAN Region and the ASEAN Framework of Action on Marine Debris (FAMAD) since 2019.
“It reiterated the regional commitment in dealing with the risks of pollution including threats to the marine and coastal environment and it is expected to significantly reduce impacts of marine debris and contribute to a more sustainable blue economy across the ASEAN.”
The statement noted that the ACB contributes to the region-wide efforts to better safeguard ecosystems, biological species, and genetic diversity from direct pressures such as plastic pollution through its flagship programme, the ASEAN Heritage Parks (AHPs).
She also mentioned that the ACB supported by The Pew Charitable Trusts recently engaged in a study titled Understanding the Circumstances towards Achieving the Marine Protected Areas Target in the ASEAN Region.
“This technical document provides a visual demonstration of how our marine areas in the ASEAN are interconnected, not just within the region but outside the region as well.
“This means that threats to marine biodiversity, such as plastic pollution, impact marine resources across national boundaries. Effective transboundary management and coordinated action will certainly benefit from taking into consideration biophysical data which include ecological dependencies, biological life cycles, and migration patterns that are significantly affected by the common threat of plastic pollution.”
In addition, the centre launched an awareness raising campaign called, ‘Oceans are fitter without our litter’, which Dr Lim described as “a call to combat plastic pollution in coastal and marine environments in the ASEAN region by avoiding single-use plastics while promoting reusable everyday materials such as ecobags and water tumblers.”
“In compliance with ASEAN’s Guidelines on Green Meetings, the Centre also discourages the use of disposable materials and excessive packaging materials in regional events, activities, and dialogues on biodiversity.”
The executive director highlighted that application of nature-based solutions as an integrated approach is also indicated in the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework 2020 and is a viable solution to address the plastic problem.
“Nature-based solutions are adaptation actions that fully utilise ecosystem services and biodiversity benefits, and addresses both social, economic, and environmental challenges effectively. With nature-based solutions, sustainable use and management of natural resources is ensured while providing for the needs of people.”
Sharing some examples, she noted that seaweed-based products can be alternative materials to plastic, while palm-based products can be used as a more sustainable packaging instead of styrofoams. In addition, research and technologies may also be explored for riverine plastic captures while instruments such as blue financing may be pursued with the help of non-government and private sectors in the region.
“Nature-based solution examples can be fully integrated in important sectors such as health, agriculture, infrastructure, biodiversity, tourism, and others,” she said. “Finally, marine species, including microorganisms, are important indicators of a deteriorating ocean system, it is therefore vital for us to protect and monitor these as part of our early warning mechanisms to deliver timely action before the damages from pollution become irreversible and catastrophic.”
“With ASEAN regional policies and instruments in place, it is hoped that marine debris will be properly addressed and plastic pollution reduction goals under the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework or the KM GBF will be achieved to fully bring biodiversity back,” she added.
Over 130 fans and supporters of Manchester United Supporters Club Brunei attended at V Plaza Hotel’s Lounge Cafe in Belait District to watch the FA Cup final match between Manchester United and Manchester City on Saturday night.
KYIV, UKRAINE (AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said yesterday that the war in Ukraine, now in its 16th month, has killed at least 500 Ukrainian children.
Zelenskyy provided the number hours after rescue workers found the body of a two-year-old girl who died in one of the latest strikes.
Zelenskyy said it was impossible to establish the exact number of children who were casualties due to the ongoing hostilities. Rescuers found the two-year-old’s body early yesterday while combing through the rubble of an apartment building in the suburbs of the central city of Dnipro.
The regional governor, Serhiy Lysak, said five children were among 22 people injured by Saturday’s attack, which damaged two residential buildings.
The Russians launched more strikes with drones and cruise missiles yesterday, targetting multiple areas of the country, including the capital, Kyiv.
The Ukrainian air force said the country’s air defences downed three of the five Shahed self-exploding drones and four of the six cruise missiles fired.
Ukrainian air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said two missiles struck a military air base in Kropyvnytskyi, a city in central Ukraine’s Kyrovohrad province. He did not report what damage they caused.
Russia’s Defence Ministry said the military destroyed Ukrainian warplanes and ammunition depots in strikes on Ukrainian airfields, but didn’t give further specifics. The Russian military has reported a series of strikes in recent days on Ukrainian air defence batteries, air bases and troops depots.
CNA – Singapore and other ASEAN member states are not “disinterested bystanders” in ongoing tensions between the United States (US) and China, said Singapore’s Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen (CNA, pic below) yesterday.
Speaking to reporters on the third and final day of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Dr Ng added that Singapore and ASEAN have “a vested interest” in making sure that communication lines between the two superpowers are good.
The US and China do not want physical conflict but recognise they are a long way from an acceptable state of affairs, he noted.
Reiterating comments he had made to the media on Saturday after a ministerial lunch, Dr Ng said that lines of communication are especially vital between potential adversaries. “I think it’s like Formula 1 drivers on the same circuit, driving blindfolded. You better be careful – and bystanders, too,” he cautioned.
Dr Ng described US-China relations as being the “elephant in the room” at this year’s Shangri-La Dialogue – Asia’s top defence summit which is in its 20th edition this year. He said that Singapore’s bilateral meetings were “very warm” but there were concerns about where the US-China relationship was headed, as well as the Ukraine conflict.
“So there is no shortage of insight or will that some problems are just too big – even for many countries to come together, without the US and China coming together,” Dr Ng pointed out.
“They’re the first and second largest economies. You can’t solve any problem without both of them coming into solution-making or finding a path forward.”
He noted that Singapore’s neighbours – including Malaysia and Indonesia – have found ways to deconflict with Singapore.
But all countries, as well as American and Chinese leaders, are concerned about the deactivation of “guardrails” to keep the US and China from conflict, he added.
“And when you talk about the two largest economic and military powers, that’s not a good position,” Dr Ng said.
In a plenary speech yesterday, Dr Ng listed examples of how American and Chinese officials had conducted regular exchanges at all levels “as recent as a decade ago”. The US’ and China’s defence ministers last visited each other countries in 2018.
Dr Ng told reporters: “People can forget that they were at that, and I think that’s something that you can aspire to.
“I can assure you, if you put soldiers of two militaries together, they will click… it takes time. That’s the building of relationships. So we want (the US and China) to have that kind of relationship and we are confident that over time they will establish that.”
“We’re just observers, but we’re not disinterested bystanders as I said. We have a vested interest to make sure that the US-China communication lines are good.”
The road to fitness is never easy. The struggle is real and one needs total dedication along with strong willpower to succeed. Just ask fitness instructor Richard Chua, who said there are no short cuts to achieving the ultimate health goal.
Known to his peers as ‘Strive with Richard’, this civil engineer by profession realised he wasn’t as fit as he thought. It would be impossible for him to use the stairs without feeling any pain in his knees as his joints felt like it was giving up on him. Considering he was in his mid 40s, he felt it was too soon for him to suffer from any bone ailments.
He signed up for a gym membership but that did not do much as he found himself feeling lost in a sea of bodybuilders. Instead of losing weight, he gained some.
Life took a different turn for him when he met a French fitness instructor, who was interested in buying his motorcycle. He offered Chua one hour of personal training for free, to see if he was up for the challenge. Chua went along with the suggestion and that proved to be his wake-up call. The workout was gruelling.
After realising he needed the adrenaline rush that he had been craving for all these time, he signed up with the new coach.
The first few classes were quite an ordeal. Although his coach was very patient, Chua was feeling frustrated for not being able to accomplish some of the set goals for the day and realised he needed to put in extra effort.
Certified fitness instructor Richard Chua. PHOTO: RICHARD CHUA
“The hardest thing for me was to give up on my favourite snacks. I had to control myself from consuming unhealthy food and to control my diet intake,” he said.
He felt more motivated when he noticed that he actually had made some progress – shedding 15 kilogrammes in three months.
“Considering I workout three times a week (cheat day every Sunday) I felt proud of my personal achievement. I have my French fitness coach to thank for who was extremely pleased with my accomplishment,” he said.
Apart from the personal training, Chua also attended fitness classes conducted by his coach such as indoor cycling, circuit training, strength training and yoga.
“I was surprised when he called on me to run one of his circuit training classes as he had to attend to an urgent matter. Although I had little confidence, my coach’s faith in me gave me the push to step up and lead the class. It turned out a success which gave me the encouragement to try and become a fitness instructor. I signed up for a few training courses on health and fitness and succeeded in becoming a certified instructor,” he explained.
For the first time, he felt his life has a purpose. With a full-time job, he has to plan his time well to cater to his clients’ workout classes. Having been a body workout and indoor cycling instructor for five years, he said it is rewarding to see positive changes in his clients, seeing them reach their weight goals.
“It is also self-gratifying to know that I have played a significant part in their fitness journey and contributed to their success,” he said.
One of the highlights in his fitness journeys was his involvement in the Ministry of Health’s Workplace and Health (WAH) Programme in 2019 ,where he was assigned to be one of the leading instructors. The WAH programme is an initiative aimed at encouraging the workplace to provide supportive environments and action for employees to be active, eat healthy, be smoke-free and have a good mental well-being.
“It was quite an experience to lead groups of people from the Ministry of Development, Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications and His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam Royal Flight in a light workout. Most were enthusiastic and it was very encouraging to see the overwhelming response,” he said.
Most of Chua’s clients had weight issues.
“The obesity rate in Brunei is quite alarming with an expected average increase of 4.2 per cent a year, according to the Ministry of Health. It doesn’t do much to go for a five-kilometre brisk walk only to have roti telur and Teh Tarik right after the workout,” he said.
“There is no age limit when it comes to fitness. But you have to start somewhere. My advice for beginners is to ask around for gym recommendations. Sign up for your preferred class and make sure to inform the instructor that you are a beginner.
“You also need to enjoy your workout and not to see it as a form of torture. If you enjoy cycling, sign up for a spinning class or if you prefer movements, join a Zumba session,” he said.
Chua also suggested brisk walking for those who are too lazy for workouts. They can start slowly by aiming for five kilometres (KM).
Once they are comfortable enough, they can go for seven to even 10KM.
“It’s never too late to start a healthy lifestyle. Your body can do anything. It’s your brain that you need to convince!”
The speakers during the event . PHOTOS. IZAH AZAHARI
Izah Azahari
The Putra Seni Group in cooperation with the Language and Literature Bureau (DBP) organised the first Semarak Pusat Masyarakat Bestari Perpustakaan DBP on Saturday at the Bestari Community Centre in STKRJ Rimba, Mukim Gadong A.
Legislative Council member and Penghulu of Mukim Lumapas Yang Berhormat Amran bin Haji Maidin was the guest of honour.
Head of Putra Seni Group Mohammed Zefri Ariff bin Mohammed Zain Ariff in his capacity as the chairman said the event was held to introduce Bestari Community Centre to the public, preserve the art of Brunei while enriching the strength of language, literature and culture of the Sultanate.
The main event was the Pantaran Sastera DBP, where literary figures who have received recognition in the Southeast Asian Writers Award (SEA Write Award) – Professor Apuan Dr Haji Brahim bin Ampuan Haji Tengah, Pengiran Haji Aji bin Pengiran Haji Mohd Tahir, and Haji Abdul Aziz bin Haji Tuah served as the panel. Two other sessions featured established and young writers including Haji Mohd Firdaus bin Orang Kaya Haji Noordin, Hajah Aminah binti Haji Momin, Dr Shahrin bin Haji Metussin, Mohammad Khairol Nazwan bin Haji Karim, and Mohamad Fathullah bin Haji Rashid.
Performances such as Mari Bercerita and Berpantun were held.
There was also a presentation of prizes to winners of the recent DBP Ramadhan Poetry Recitation Competition.
The speakers during the event . PHOTOS. IZAH AZAHARIAttendees visit a booth during the event
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad with Ruzaini Mahadi. PHOTO: FADHIL YUNUS
Local runner Ruzaini Mahadi emerged winner in the 11 kilometre Men’s Open of the Volt Run: Apex after clocking a time of 39:18.47s at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien in the capital on Sunday.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad with Ruzaini Mahadi. PHOTO: FADHIL YUNUS
The event, in its sixth iteration, attracted over 300 runners. It was held in tandem with Bandarku Ceria.
