Imams urged the Ummah to self-reflect and determine to excel and become more pious and loyal followers of the teachings of Allah the Almighty as the nation ushers in the new year. More details in Saturday’s Borneo Bulletin.
DCA allows two at airport for send-offs
The Department of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications has issued updated procedures and preventive measures to be observed by public members and passengers that should be adhered to at Brunei International Airport (BIA). More details in Saturday’s Borneo Bulletin.
Online registration required for overseas-bound students: MoE
Students who are going to begin or resume studies abroad must register in advance with the Ministry of Education (MoE) through the Department of Scholarship Management using a web-based application at bit.ly/pendaftarankeluarnegeri, according to a press statement from the ministry. More details in Saturday’s Borneo Bulletin.
Drive-through donations for underprivileged students
The Ikhwanul Mahabbah Group of RPN Panchor Mengkubau held a donation drive at the residence of its member Shukrinah binti Haji Hanafiah, in Jalan Bukit Sinadur, to ease the burden of orphans at the Panchor Mengkubau National Housing Scheme ahead of the new schooling year. More details in Saturday’s Borneo Bulletin.
World rings in 2022 under COVID cloud
SYDNEY (AFP) – The world ushered in 2022 after another tumultuous and pandemic-ridden year capped by new restrictions, soaring case numbers, and a slight glimmer of hope for better times ahead. More details in Saturday’s Borneo Bulletin.
Death toll from Typhoon Rai crosses 400
MANILA (CNA) – The Philippine death toll from Typhoon Rai has crossed the 400 mark, the disaster agency said yesterday, as officials in some hard-hit provinces appealed for more supplies of food, water and shelter materials about two weeks after the storm struck. More details in Saturday’s Borneo Bulletin.
Suspect in fatal Japan clinic fire dies in hospital
TOKYO (AP) – The suspect in a fire in Japan that killed 25 people has died at a hospital where he was being treated for burns and smoke inhalation, police said yesterday. More details in Saturday’s Borneo Bulletin.
New Director of Islamic Studies named
The Public Service Department at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) announced yesterday that 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 has consented for Haji Shamshol bin Haji Omar to be promoted to Director of Islamic Studies at the Islamic Studies Department, Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA).
The appointment is effective December 6, 2021.
584 adolescents remain unjabbed: Acting minister
Adib Noor
Some 584 students, aged 12 to 17, have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, said Acting Minister of Education Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh at the daily press conference yesterday.
Among the reasons given, she said, were health concerns, parents not giving consent for their children to receive the vaccine and students not currently in the country.
The acting minister added that of the 584 unvaccinated students, 38 per cent are due to the lack of consent from the parents.
“We urge these parents to get their children vaccinated, so they can attend classes with their friends when school re-opens next week,” she said.
Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah also reminded parents that unvaccinated students are not allowed on school grounds. Instead they will continue to attend class remotely and through home learning packs.
Meanwhile, the acting minister said, more than 99 per cent of teachers are immunised against the coronavirus.
She said that “24 teachers at public schools have not been vaccinated, with 11 due to health reasons and five claiming they are not ready and eight stating that they do not wish to be vaccinated”.
Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah reiterated that it is mandatory for all staff at educational institutions to be vaccinated.
“On January 3, 2022, all schools will re-open to students Year 10 and above, and all teachers are expected to be there to support the resumption of physical lessons,” she said.
As such, the acting minister urged unvaccinated teachers to “sympathise with students who have taken steps to be inoculated to make up for the school experience missed due to the pandemic”.
Man to learn fate for robbing, assaulting woman at knife point
Fadley Faisal
A local man will learn his fate on January 15, 2022 for robbing a woman in her car and sexually assaulting her while armed with a pocket knife.
Thirty-three-year-old Mohammad Faizul Helmey bin Ahmad Umar yesterday pleaded guilty to the charges in the Intermediate Court, along with three other charges of robbery and theft.
Prosecutor Hajah Atiyyah Azzahra binti Pehin Dato Haji Abas revealed in court that on October 18, the defendant was riding his bicycle in Bengkurong when a 42-year-old woman stopped to ask for direction.
He offered to go with her and show her the way. After getting into the car and briefly giving direction, he pulled out a pocket knife and threatened the victim with it.
He then punched her in the stomach, slapped her across the face and ordered her to get out of the car.
The victim refused to comply, at which point the defendant took over the wheel and drove to a secluded area, where he lifted the victim’s dress and rubbed his private part against the victim’s genital over her underwear.
The defendant then left the victim by the roadside and drove off with her car along with her handbag.
The defendant was arrested on November 30.
The police recovered the car, which was dumped in a commercial area in Tungku Link. The colour of the car had been changed and the licence plates replaced with the ones he had stolen from a car at a workshop in Kampong Telisai, Tutong District in August.
Further investigation revealed that the defendant had offered an Indonesia woman a ride in his car at a bus stop in Kampong Tungku on October 20.
He claimed to be heading to the capital and offered to take her to her destination for BND1.
The defendant then drove to a nearby junction, restrained the victim and attempted to rob her.
On the discovery that the victim had no money, the defendant snatched a gold bracelet from her arm and took her mobile phone before dropping her off at a nearby convenience store.
Probes into the case also found that the defendant had stolen a car from a house in Jalan Pasir Berakas in November.
He saw that the car window was rolled down and came across a pair of scissors which he used to start the engine.
He drove off to Seria, during which he experienced problems with the car, prompting him to abandon it in Lumut.