A Royal Brunei Armed Forces member from the Malaysian Battalion Contingent (MALBATT) 850-11 Contingent arrives at Subang Airbase, Malaysia. PHOTO: MINDEF
The final flight of the Malaysian Battalion Contingent (MALBATT) 850-11 for the peacekeeping mission of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), comprising 217 personnel, arrived at Subang Airbase, Malaysia on Wednesday.
Following the flight, the final two personnel from Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) are Head of Brunei Darussalam’s Contingent for MALBATT 850-11 Major Mohammad Hafizi bin Sabli and Captain (U) Mohammad Yusran bin Isak.
Chief of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Admiral Datuk Zulhelmy bin Ithnain, the guest of honour, welcomed their return.
Brunei Darussalam’s Defence Adviser to Malaysia Lieutenant Colonel Rudie Asmawi bin Haji Abidin, senior officers from the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and family members of the MALBATT 850-11 contingent also attended the event.
The parade ceremony commenced with a general salute from the contingent, followed by the MAF song and speech by the guest of honour. The chanting of ‘Gempur Wira’ concluded the parade.
The arrival of the final flight completed the return of all personnel from the MALBATT 850-11 contingent.
The disbandment ceremony for MALBATT 850-11 will be held on December 10 at MALBATT Village, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
The RBAF personnel from the MALBATT 850-11 contingent will return to Brunei Darussalam on December 11.
A Royal Brunei Armed Forces member from the Malaysian Battalion Contingent (MALBATT) 850-11 Contingent arrives at Subang Airbase, Malaysia. PHOTO: MINDEF
ABOVE & BELOW: Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar launches the 18th ASEAN Conference of Clinical Laboratory Sciences; and tours an exhibition. PHOTO: JAMES KON
Around 300 participants, including members of the ASEAN Association for Clinical Laboratory Sciences (AACLS), Brunei Darussalam Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (BAMLS), medical officers, nurses, allied health professionals, hospital and private clinic staff, as well as students from local and overseas higher education institutions, gathered in Brunei to attend the 18th ASEAN Conference of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (ACCLS), at a hotel in Jerudong.
Jointly organised by the AACLS, BAMLS and the Department of Laboratory Services at the Ministry of Health (MoH), the opening ceremony of the 18th ACCLS was attended by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar as the guest of honour.
The theme of this year’s conference, ‘Laboratory Medicine in Tomorrow’s Healthcare Landscape’, highlighted the various challenges and opportunities in the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0, particularly in the context of advancements in artificial intelligence, robotic process automation (RPA) and machine learning.
The conference aimed to bring together renowned experts and researchers in various medical laboratory disciplines; provide a platform to increase participants’ knowledge of the latest advancements in medical laboratory science; support Brunei Vision 2035 and the strategic plan of the MoH and Department of Laboratory Services; and share ideas, information and best practices among local and international experts.
AACLS President Dr Miswar Fattah, in a speech, emphasised the importance of this biennial meeting and scientific conference in celebrating innovation, collaboration and the pursuit of excellence in the field of clinical laboratory science.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham also officiated the trade and exhibition at the 18th ACCLS. – James Kon
ABOVE & BELOW: Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar launches the 18th ASEAN Conference of Clinical Laboratory Sciences; and tours an exhibition. PHOTO: JAMES KONPHOTO: JAMES KON
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar speaks at the event. PHOTO: JAMES KON
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar yesterday highlighted the significant impact of technological advancements on the healthcare industry, including clinical laboratory sciences, during his speech at the opening ceremony of the 18th ASEAN Conference of Clinical Laboratory Sciences (ACCLS). He emphasised that the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the transition towards Industrial Revolution 4.0, driving rapid transformation in the sector.
As healthcare demands evolve, with increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases and an ageing population, the minister stressed the importance of adopting new diagnostic testing methods and smart technologies. These innovations enable faster, more accurate and higher-quality results, leading to improved interventions and treatment outcomes.
Brunei, he said, is fortunate to have a progressive healthcare system prioritising innovation and patient-centric care. The Ministry of Health’s strategic investments in next-generation diagnostic tools, data analytics and digital health systems are crucial for delivering world-class healthcare services.
However, Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham also cautioned about the ethical implications, data privacy concerns and regulatory challenges associated with technological advancements. Striking a balance between innovation and responsible technology use is essential. To further accelerate the adoption of technological developments, the minister underscored the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs). These collaborations between the public and private sectors can leverage expertise, resources and agility to develop and deploy innovative laboratory solutions.
In line with Brunei Vision 2035, PPP initiatives aim to enhance the quality of life, create job opportunities and provide an efficient public service. The minister encouraged local companies to actively explore PPPs opportunities to improve not only laboratory services but also overall healthcare delivery.
By harnessing the strengths of both the government and private sectors, PPPs can significantly improve the quality, efficiency and accessibility of healthcare services, ultimately benefiting the community and driving economic prosperity, said Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham. – James Kon
Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar speaks at the event. PHOTO: JAMES KON
Meteorological Officer Mohd Noor’Arifin bin Haji Yussof presenting the weather briefing. PHOTO: JAMES KON
Brunei Darussalam is entering its Northeast Monsoon season, lasting from December to March 2025. This period brings higher rainfall compared to other months, with frequent rainy days, particularly in December and January. Unstable weather conditions can be expected with occasional heavy showers or thunderstorms, especially at night and early mornings.
The second half of the season (February to March) sees a shift towards more stable atmospheric conditions with less rain.
Following the Northeast Monsoon is the inter-monsoon period (April to May). While mornings are typically fair with chances of isolated coastal showers around midday, thunderstorms are more frequent during this time compared to other months. These afternoon thunderstorms, especially inland, may spread to coastal areas at night and persist into the early morning of the following day.
The La Niña phenomenon, expected to develop this month and last until early 2025, may further increase rainfall in Brunei.
This forecast was shared during a weather briefing held by the Brunei Darussalam Meteorological Department (BDMD) for some 100 representatives from government agencies, the private sector and the public.
Meteorological Officer Mohd Noor’Arifin bin Haji Yussof presented the briefing.
The initiative by BDMD serves to increase public understanding on the current and future weather conditions in Brunei. The information is crucial for agencies such as first aid and emergency responders as well as insurance and construction companies preparing for potential weather events. – James Kon
Meteorological Officer Mohd Noor’Arifin bin Haji Yussof presenting the weather briefing. PHOTO: JAMES KON
ABOVE & BELOW: Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman during the launching ceremony at the Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah yesterday. PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANI
A launching ceremony for eZakat Harta Wang Simpanan was held at the Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah yesterday.
Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, in his capacity as President of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB), launched the eZakat Harta Wang Simpanan. Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Mohd Tashim bin Pengiran Haji Hassan, in his capacity as Vice President of MUIB, was also present. The platform, launched by Datasteam Digital Sdn Bhd (DST), will make it easier to fulfil obligation to pay zakat (tithe) with the facility of an online zakat payment.
The launching ceremony featured a video showing the procedure using eZakat and a video on the obligation to make zakat payment and the benefits of paying zakat. The ceremony ended with a visit to the exhibition on eZakat platform by DST and Zakat clinic by the Zakat, Wakaf and Baitulmal Management Department.
The MUIB at its fifth meeting on June 10, considered a Meeting Paper number 11/2024 (Implementation of Online Property Zakat Payment Service for DST) and decided to agree to the service of an online payment of Zakat Harta for DST to be carried out in accordance with the conditions and regulations set for it.
The eZakat Harta Wang Simpanan platform is part of the initiative of the Ministry of Religious Affairs working hand in hand with DST in increasing the awareness of e-services to the public in achieving the strategic Digital Economy Master Plan 2025.
The eZakat service is available to Muslims in the Sultanate and without requiring any registration. Users only need to fill in all the necessary information in the eZakat service through the website.
Payment of zakat through eZakat can be made anytime and anywhere using Easi, Mobi or debit cards. It is necessary for zakat payers to ensure that there is sufficient balance for the use of debit, Mobi and Easi cards. – Fadhil Yunus
ABOVE & BELOW: Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman during the launching ceremony at the Balai Khazanah Islam Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah yesterday. PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANIPHOTO: MUIZ MATDANIThe minister delivers a speech. PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANI
The attendees in a group photo. PHOTO: BAIDURI BANK
Baiduri Bank, in collaboration with Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, hosted a seminar yesterday, to explore trends and working capital solutions in trade finance. The event catered to government-linked corporations and medium-to-large corporations operating in oil and gas, wholesale and construction sectors, was aimed to equip participants with strategies for trade finance management.
The seminar addressed the evolving landscape of trade finance solutions essential for businesses navigating today’s complex market.
The event’s objective was to provide insights into supply chain and receivables financing, enabling participants to stay informed on current trends and challenges, optimise cash flow management and accelerate cash conversion cycles. “Baiduri Bank is committed to enhancing our corporate banking solutions by delivering knowledge-sharing initiatives that empower our clients,” said Baiduri Bank Head of Corporate Banking and Trade Finance Leonard Lee.
“The seminar reflects our dedication to serving as a trusted partner for our clients, offering tailored trade finance solutions that meet the demands of an increasingly sophisticated market.”
The seminar featured Director of Trade Finance, International Trade and Transaction Banking at Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank Desmond Lim, who shared insights from his 30-year career in international trade and transaction banking.
The attendees in a group photo. PHOTO: BAIDURI BANK
Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) organised a Startup Induction Grant Pitching Competition at their premises recently.
The event provided a platform for UBD’s incubates, researchers and entrepreneurs to present their business ideas to a panel of industry experts. The pitching competition featured participants selected through internal assessments during INCUFEST 2024, held earlier this month. These included students from the Discovery Year Incubation programme, students from the School of Digital Science and academic-researchers from various faculties.
The competition featured two categories. The Pre-Seed category awarded six grants of BND300 each to Hijrah, Hasil, BlueWave, SmartFresh, NetJaga and HyperChain. Meanwhile the Seed category awarded three grants of BND1,000 each to SmartFresh, Netjaga and Hasil. The competition represents the university’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurial talent and innovation.
QAF Brunei Group Chief Executive Officer Albert Lau and QAF Auto Sdn Bhd General Manager Alisa Khoo with the overall champion in the BMW Golf Cup National Final 2024 Bryan Chiew Chun Hao. PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANI
Local golfing star Bryan Chiew Chun Hao emerged overall champion in the BMW Golf Cup National Final 2024 after registering 39 points at the Pantai Mentiri Golf Club in Kampong Mentiri on Sunday.
The talented golfer will represent the country in the BMW Golf Cup World Final to be held at Alpine Golf Club in Bangkok, Thailand in March 2025.
The newly-crowned winner said, “It’s one of the best tournaments especially in terms of hospitality and experience.
“It is very hard to compare the hospitality with other events,” he added.
Meanwhile, QAF Auto Sdn Bhd General Manager Alisa Khoo said, “At BMW, we strive to elevate every experience, and the BMW Golf Cup embodies our commitment to excellence.”
ABOVE & BELOW: Photos show Alisa Khoo presenting tokens of appreciation to sponsors and partners. PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANIPHOTO: MUIZ MATDANIPHOTO: MUIZ MATDANIPHOTO: MUIZ MATDANIPHOTO: MUIZ MATDANIPHOTO: MUIZ MATDANIPHOTO: MUIZ MATDANIPHOTO: MUIZ MATDANIPHOTO: MUIZ MATDANIPHOTO: MUIZ MATDANIQAF Brunei Group Chief Executive Officer Albert Lau and QAF Auto Sdn Bhd General Manager Alisa Khoo with the overall champion in the BMW Golf Cup National Final 2024 Bryan Chiew Chun Hao. PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANIAlbert Lau and Alisa Khoo with winners in the men’s category ‘B’. PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANIA representative from imagine Sdn Bhd presenting a prize to the winner of the Hole 10: Nearest To Line. PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANIA representative from Golf Nation presenting a prize to the winner of the Hole 8: Longest Drive . PHOTO: MUIZ MATDANI
She added, “This National Final is not just a tournament; it’s a celebration of the BMW community in Brunei, powered by the support of our customers, partners and colleagues.
“The BMW Golf Cup World Final is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, where passion for golf meets world-class experiences that only BMW can offer,” she said.
The golfing tournament, which celebrates the spirit of sportsmanship, camaraderie and passion for the sport, brought together over 80 of Brunei’s best amateur golfers.
A non-competing social category was also played among corporate partners, fostering networking and camaraderie.
During the prize presentation dinner, tokens of appreciation were also presented to the sponsors and partners namely Baiduri Bank; National Insurance Company Berhad; Chang Ein Hong; imagine Sdn Bhd; Golf Nation; Brunei Shell Marketing Company Sdn Bhd; Gintell Brunei; Brunei Press Sdn Bhd; Supa Save; Feynlab; Aifa Brunei Sdn Bhd; Radisson Hotel Brunei; The Abode Resort and Spa; Peak Club Sdn Bhd; YouC1000; Royce Chocolate; D’Sunlit Sdn Bhd and Pantai Mentiri Golf Club.
QAF Brunei Group Chief Executive Officer Albert Lau presented the prizes to the winners. The BMW Golf Cup is currently the largest international amateur tournament series that has hosted more than 800 qualifying tournaments and over 100,000 participating players in more than 40 countries.
QAF Auto, the official distributor of BMW in Brunei, concluded the BMW Golf Cup National Final 2024. – Fadhil Yunus
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) registered a 0.8-per cent decrease in October 2024 compared to October 2023, according to a press release from the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics (DEPS) of the Ministry of Finance and Economy.
This was driven by a 0.8 per cent decrease in both food and non-alcoholic beverages and non-food indices. The decrease in the food and non-alcoholic beverages index was mainly attributed to the fall in processed meat prices under the meat category (1.6 per cent); and the decrease in the prices of vegetables (3.4 per cent).
For the non-food index, lower price of air fares was the primary factor in the decline of the transport category (1.5 per cent). In addition, the decline in garment prices in the clothing and footwear category (4.5 per cent) also contributed to the decrease in the non-food index.
For a month-on-month comparison, the CPI in October 2024 decreased by 0.3 per cent from September 2024. This was due to reductions in both food and non-alcoholic beverages; and non-food indices by 0.1 per cent and 0.3 per cent, respectively.
The decline in the food and non-alcoholic beverages index was primarily driven by lower prices of fish and seafood (0.4 per cent); and meat (0.2 per cent). As for the non-food index, the decrease was mainly influenced by the prices of clothing and footwear (5.8 per cent); and transport (0.2 per cent) categories.
The CPI is a measure of price changes of basket of goods and services paid by the consumer in a specified period and compiled on a monthly basis. The list of goods and services in the CPI is based on the average expenditure per household from the Household Expenditure Survey (HES).
The CPI full report for October 2024 is available from the DEPS website.
ABOVE & BELOW: Permanent Secretary (Core Education) at the Ministry of Education Dr Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati binti Haji Tajuddin with Mohd Rayyan Hadi bin Haji Mahadi and Anaa Sumayyah binti Muhammad Azya Azrine; and a performance during the event. PHOTO: JAMES KON
The Language and Literature Bureau (DBP) concluded its annual story-telling competition yesterday. The competition, themed ‘Aku Anak Brunei’, aimed to instill a love for the nation and local culture in young participants. Mohd Rayyan Hadi bin Haji Mahadi won Category A (Malay Language) with Ahmad Harith Irfan bin Haji Umardani and Ahmad Muhammad Al-Ameen bin Abdul Rahman as first and second runners-up.
Anaa Sumayyah binti Muhammad Azya Azrine won Category B (English Language) with Nurul Airah Dania binti Muhammad Desmon Danish Ezwan and Md Noor’syafi Aqil bin Md Noorisma Rudy in second and third places.
Dayangku Nurul Sarah Atikah binti Pengiran Omar won the best costume and prop award.
Permanent Secretary (Core Education) at the Ministry of Education Dr Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati binti Haji Tajuddin attended the final rounds of the competition and presented prizes to the winners.
Acting Director of DBP Hajah Haireni binti Haji Awang Damit, in a speech, highlighted the importance of reading in developing childrens ‘minds and characters. She emphasised that reading is not only a basic skill but also a gateway to knowledge, imagination and creativity.
The competition encouraged participants to explore stories, create original work and develop public speaking skills, fostering confidence and knowledge in young minds, said Hajah Haireni. – James Kon
ABOVE & BELOW: Permanent Secretary (Core Education) at the Ministry of Education Dr Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati binti Haji Tajuddin with Mohd Rayyan Hadi bin Haji Mahadi and Anaa Sumayyah binti Muhammad Azya Azrine; and a performance during the event. PHOTO: JAMES KONPHOTO: JAMES KONPHOTO: JAMES KON
