Saturday, July 6, 2024
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Brunei Town

Volunteers, frontliners seek clarification on monthly allowance

As a volunteer at one of the health centres in the country, I take pride in my line of duty by helping the government through the Ministry of Health in the fight against COVID-19.

The announcement made by 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 during a special titah delivered on April 14, 2020 on providing a BND400 monthly allowance for healthcare workers who have been on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic came as a huge blessing and a true form of acknowledgement on the role of critical workers.

However, it is disappointing to learn that volunteers like us have not been receiving the amount.

As a registered volunteer since the start of the second wave, I have been receiving a monthly allowance ranging from a low of BND280 to the highest amount of BND320. It would be fair if we were to get any form of explanation for the reason behind the inconsistency.

To make matters worse, the amount would vary among each of the volunteers even when everyone is doing the same fair share of work.

It would even get to a point where tension would arise when one starts to compare how much they earn with the other.

A fellow volunteer, who was assigned by a local job provider to be stationed at one of the medical facilities, even claimed that she has not received one single payment since August.

As volunteers, we know that we have signed up for this job on our own will and to not expect any form of incentives in return, but we are also entitled to claim our rights for the monthly allowance in accordance to His Majesty’s titah.

Curious Volunteer

New year discounts on offer

Progresif yesterday announced a deal for mobile and home Wi-Fi plans exclusively to new customer sign-ups, customers wishing to switch providers, or existing customers wishing to change plans or re-contract to Progresif.

The offer is available for a limited time.

This best-deal-in-town applies to the Postpaid Mobile MORE Plan with discounts up to 25 per cent for the first six months for any sign-ups with a 24-month contract. The MORE plan is also available in the denominations of BND12 for 6GB, BND 22 for 15GB, BND 28 for 20GB and BND49 for 35GB, with 30-day validity data, SMS, and voice on the plans.

Progresif is also offering discounts for its One Home Plus and ZOOM plans with up to 40 per cent on selected tiers, including a free BND100 installation fee and free fixed line rental on a 24-month contract.

The Progresif One Home Plus has a selection of plans that can fit every customer’s data needs, served to equip those who need data for work, online learning, online streaming, and gaming interests from 500GB with speed at 50Mbps to 2.5TB data speeds up to 200Mbps.

Customers can also opt for substantial savings with the ZOOM Home WiFi plan, with a choice of ZOOM 50Mbps or 100Mbps and not have to worry about data quotas.

In recent months, Progresif has shared its achievements in its net promoter scores, an international scoring board for customer service performance.

The Progresif Street Sales team has been proactively delivering purchases directly to the customers and increasing their ability to manage their accounts online, while also easing digital bill payments via the Progresif CARE app or using a self-serving kiosk machine at Progresif stores.

For every online purchase, Progresif also offers free SIM delivery nationwide.

A Progresif employee attending to a customer at its Times Square branch. PHOTO: PROGRESIF

Ryanair to close base at Germany’s Frankfurt Airport

BERLIN (AP) – Budget airline Ryanair said yesterday that it plans to stop serving Frankfurt Airport, Germany’s busiest, at the end of March, and close its base there.

Ryanair said it is closing its base in Frankfurt and reallocating its five planes there to other airports that “have responded with lower airport charges to stimulate traffic recovery”.

The airline complained that instead of providing incentives as the aviation industry struggles with the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic, Frankfurt Airport “has chosen to increase prices even further, making Frankfurt uncompetitive with European airports”.

The Ireland-based company said that all Frankfurt-based flight crew “can secure alternative positions within the Ryanair network” and that passengers affected by cancellations would receive notifications and refunds “over the coming days”.

Malaysia reports 3,381 new cases

PETALING JAYA (THE STAR) – Malaysia recorded 3,381 new Covid-19 cases yesterday, its Health Director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said.

The Health director-general said, in a tweet, that this brings the cumulative number of COVID-19 infections in Malaysia to 2,780,080 since the pandemic began.

He added that Selangor recorded the most cases with 879, followed by Kelantan (385), Johor (299) and Kuala Lumpur (271).

Dr Noor Hisham also said that there were five localities with less than 100 daily cases reported – Terengganu (94), Putrajaya (30), Sarawak (18), Labuan (14) and Perlis (14).

Doa as weapon most potent when facing difficulties

Azlan Othman

Religious officials called on Ummah to supplicate (Doa) which is a weapon that is most potent and effective, in addition to efforts to prevent and contain the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to revelations from Al-Quran and Hadith, in addition to medical and preventive efforts, we can also seek protection from Allah the Almighty through Doa or supplication, Imams said in the Friday sermon yesterday.

“Doa should be recited in every situation, whether in times of joy or in difficulty, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

“Let us intensify our Doa as it shows that we are servants who are loyal and remember Allah the Almighty particularly when the nation is grappling with difficulties”.

Imams also said we should be grateful to Allah the Almighty that we are able to welcome the new year in peace and prosperity.

“Last year was indeed very challenging as we were hit by the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. But as believers, we are obliged to look at it as wisdom and Tarbiyah (training of people in various aspects).

“Every provision from Allah the Almighty is the best for His servants and contains its own wisdom. We should have a good intention towards Allah the Almighty.

“Hence, should there be any calamity such as pandemic, disease, difficulties and so on, then such test is not a form of tyranny but as a lesson and a way for Allah the Almighty to add more degrees, when the person tested is willing to persevere to accept such test and obstacles.

“But to face such hardship, we should not be complacent or rest our laurels, but to strive to work hard and think of different ways, and approach to sort out such problem,” Imams added.

Senior citizen dies in Lumut Highway car crash

A 63-year-old man died following a car crash at the U-turn along the 84.1km mark of the Lumut Highway on Thursday night. The driver of the other vehicle, meanwhile, sustained serious injuries. More details in Saturday’s Borneo Bulletin.

Foreigner fined BND500 for selling telcom equipment without valid licence

A Bangladeshi national was issued a BND500 compound fine for committing an offence under S34(2) of the Telecommunications Order, 2001 by offering for sale and selling telecommunications equipment without a valid licence. More details in Saturday’s Borneo Bulletin.

Doa as weapon most potent when facing difficulties

Religious officials called on Ummah to supplicate (Doa) which is a weapon that is most potent and effective, in addition to efforts to prevent and contain the COVID-19 pandemic. More details in Saturday’s Borneo Bulletin.

RBAF officers receive warm welcome home

The Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) held a Doa Kesyukuran ceremony on Friday to welcome the return of 30 RBAF personnel who were deployed for 13 months as part of the Malaysian Battalion 850-8 (MALBATT) under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) peacekeeping mission. More details in Saturday’s Borneo Bulletin.