His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, President of the Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council during the 9th World Junior Wushu Championships at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Sports Complex yesterday.
Royalty graces get-together ceremony
Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Commandant of the Women’s Police at the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) graced a get-together organised by the Women’s Police of the RBPF at the Officers’ Mess Banquet Hall, RBPF headquarters in Gadong yesterday.
Her Royal Highness was welcomed by Assistant Superintendent of Police Masni binti Haji Jamil, the advisor of the ceremony along with organising committee members.
The ceremony served as an appreciation to Her Royal Highness and was attended by some 250 female police officers. – James Kon
Religious ceremonies mark 31st Civil Service Day
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) held a mass Asar prayer and the recitation of Surah Yaasiin and Doa Khas yesterday in conjunction with the 31st Civil Service Day.
The main event at the Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque in the capital was led by Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof and Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah as co-chairman of the Executive Committee for the 31st Civil Service Day celebration.
Accompanying them were Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad.
Meanwhile in the Belait District, the ceremony was held at Mohammad Jamalul Alam Mosque, where Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha attended.
Deputy Minister (Security and Law) at the PMO Dato Seri Paduka Haji Sufian bin Haji Sabtu and Legislative Council member and Kampong Bukit Sawat Village Head Yang Berhormat Mohammad bin Abdullah @ Lim Swee Ann were also present. – Azlan Othman & Daniel Lim
60 attend sermon delivery workshop
Some 60 people participated in an effective sermon delivery workshop organised by the Mosque Affairs Department through the Guidance and Training Division at Jame’ ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah in Kampong Kiarong yesterday.
The workshop, led by the Head of the Guidance and Training Division at the Mosque Affairs Department Pengiran Ahmad Faris Ramadhani bin Pengiran Haji Sellahuddin, focused on understanding the Arabic texts of sermons and provided practical training on aspects like tempo control and voice intonation. – Azlan Othman
Law society welcomes 21 new lawyers
The Law Society of Brunei Darussalam hosted a high tea ceremony for newly admitted lawyers to the Brunei Bar at a restaurant in Kampong Kiulap.
Some 21 newly admitted former pupils and their pupil masters participated.
The annual event aims to congratulate the new members on their admission to the Brunei Bar and foster good relations between the new members and senior members of the Bar.
President of the Law Society of Brunei Darussalam Nur ‘Azizah binti Dato Seri Paduka Haji Ahmad was also present. – Fadley Faisal
Training crucial to maintain court efficiency, says judicial commissioner
Judicial training and capacity building is important for young judicial officers as continuous learning maintains court efficiency, said Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam Judicial Commissioner Haji Abdullah Soefri bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin.
He said this during the inaugural Brunei-Singapore Joint Webinar for Junior Judicial Officers recently.
“The joint webinar is a testament to the strong bilateral ties between the Brunei and Singapore judiciaries,” he added. He also expressed hope that the webinar would become an annual platform for education and collaboration between the two nations.
In her closing address, Senior Registrar Hajah Noor Amalina binti DP Haji Alaihuddin highlighted the value of the webinar as a platform for young officers to connect and learn from one another. She also acknowledged the demanding nature of judicial work but noted that having a community of peers facing similar challenges can provide significant support.
Hajah Noor Amalina expressed her hopes for the continued success of the joint initiative in the coming years.
The webinar, jointly organised by the judiciaries of Brunei and Singapore, saw 32 young judicial officers with less than seven years of experience participate. Participants engaged in discussions on essential topics, such as courtroom control, communication, decision-making and judgment writing. The event followed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Supreme Courts of Brunei Darussalam and Singapore in July 2023, aimed at enhancing collaboration in judicial education and professional development.
The success of this inaugural webinar sets the stage for ongoing judicial exchanges, further strengthening the ties between Brunei and Singapore in the years to come. – Fadley Faisal
Community leaders learn more on Ozone layer protection efforts
Some 40 community leaders from across the Belait District gained a better understanding and appreciation on the efforts to protect the world’s ozone layer as part of a national briefing held yesterday at a hotel in Kuala Belait.
This year’s theme focuses on the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer, an international treaty ratified in 1989 to phase out the production of numerous substances responsible for ozone depletion.
Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation’s (JASTRe) environment officer Hajah Suryanti Jurinah binti Haji Mohammad Jumin and ozone officer from the National Ozone Unit Mohammad Ali Wafee bin Zainee delivered an introductory talk on the Montreal Protocol to the attendees, comprising penghulu and village heads as well as mukim and village consultative members.
Meanwhile, ozone officer Nur ‘Atiyah Hana binti Kaflee discussed the best practices in using flammable gases, while Zulfadli bin Abu Bakar from the Energy Efficiency and Savings Unit of the Department of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office spoke about various standards and labelling related to energy efficiency.
Fire and Rescue Department station officer Ali bin Haji Amlee gave a short briefing on fire safety certification and the fire safety order.
Organised by JASTRe, the briefing was held in conjunction with World Ozone Day observed annually on September 16 highlighting the commitment and responsibility of each United Nations (UN) member nation to protect the Earth’s ozone layer.
The event aimed to celebrate more than three decades of commitment and efforts made by nations including Brunei Darussalam to protect and restore the ozone layer and preserve public health and the environment from the effects of increased ultraviolet light exposure.
In addition, the talks also equipped community leaders with essential knowledge on ozone-depleting substances and their effects, guiding community leaders towards better alternatives. – Daniel Lim
New course launched for aspiring bird watching tour guides
The Tourism Development Department under the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism yesterday announced the launch of a comprehensive new course on ‘Basic Bird Watching Specialised Tourist Guide Course’ designed to equip participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to lead bird-watching experiences.
Starting in November at Laksamana College of Business (LCB), students will receive combining classroom instruction with hands-on field training.
Participants will gain an array of skills including identification skills to recognise local bird species through both sight and sound, understanding local bird habitats and how environmental factors influence bird behaviour and migration patterns, field techniques such as the art of using binoculars and spotting scopes, as well as how to position oneself for the best vantage point to optimise viewing.
The course also focuses on developing guiding skills, training participants to enhance their communication and leadership abilities and learning how to create engaging narratives and share their passion for birds with clients.
Renowned local bird watching expert Daud Abdullah emphasised the multifaceted benefits of the hobby.
“Beyond its therapeutic qualities, birdwatching enhances observational skills and patience,” he said.
For Daud, the passion has also evolved into a fulfilling career, generating income through tours, workshops and speaking engagements.
He added, “Clients are often willing to reward guides who can spot rare or sought-after birds.
This aspect of the job not only incentivises guides to hone their identification skills but also emphasises the importance of creating memorable experiences for clients.
“A successful tour that leads to remarkable bird sightings can lead to enthusiastic recommendations and repeat business, further enhancing income.”
According to a market analysis report, the global birdwatching tourism market size was estimated at USD62.73 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow.
The Sultanate with its diverse ecosystems and rich biodiversity, is a hidden gem for birdwatching enthusiasts worldwide. Home to over 400 bird species, the country offers a unique and rewarding experience for visitors seeking to connect with nature.
Birdwatching tourists often spend money on accommodation, transportation, guided tours, equipment and other related services, in addition to the indirect economic impacts, such as job creation in local communities.
17 families receive financial aid
Some 17 heads of families affected by flooding, fire and house collapse received financial assistance from the Government of 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, through the Community Development Department under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) at Citra Budaya Hall of the MCYS building yesterday.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad presented the aid to the recipients.
Of the recipients, three families were victims of house fires, one of house collapse, five impacted by flooding and eight affected by strong wind.
All victims did not sustain any injuries during the incidents. – James Kon
Teacher’s Day bowling tournament crowns champions
The 10″ Pin team from Cluster 6 clinched the championship title in the male team category of the Ten Pin Bowling Tournament, held in conjunction with the 34th Teacher’s Day celebration, after knocking down a total of 1,888 pins.
C2 Bowlerz from Cluster 2 secured the second spot with 1,835 pins, while JPKK A from the Department of Co-Curriculum Education came in third, recording 1,809 pins.
The tournament, held at The Airport Mall on Friday, was organised by the Ministry of Education as part of the sports and recreational activities for this year’s Teacher’s Day celebration.
Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Dr Haji Azman bin Ahmad, the guest of honour, presented the prizes to the winners.
The competition featured four categories: male VIP category with 24 participants; female VIP category with six participants; male team category with 47 teams; and female team category with 40 teams.
Participants included officers, staff and educators from both the MoE and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, including the Islamic Studies Department (JPI), Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan (KUPU SB) and Institut Tahfiz Al-Quran Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.
Consolation prizes were also awarded to the top 15 teams in the male team category – SR DRHMJ Kiarong Bowlers from Datu Ratna Haji Muhd Jaafar Primary School; the Incredibowls from the Department of Planning and Estate Management; UNISSA A from Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali; BK Bowlers from the Counselling Division at the MoE; JPIA from the JPI; The Head Pin from Cluster 6; The Kulirs from Sengkurong Sixth Form Centre; Lightning Bowlts from the Department of Planning and Estate Management; CHMS Dragon from Chung Hwa Middle School, Bandar Seri Begawan; Gigabowl from the Department of Information Technology and Communications; Strike On The Way 4.0 from the Department of Higher Education; and Dax Bowlerzzzz from the Department of Administration and Services.
The event aimed to foster camaraderie and promote active sports participation while celebrating the contributions of educators in the nation. – Fadley Faisal
