Timor-Leste President Dr José Ramos-Horta visited Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) Botanical Research Centre (BRC) yesterday.
Accompanying the president were Minister of Home Affairs Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman as the Acting Minister of Education and Minister-in-Attendance and UBD Vice-Chancellor Dr Hazri bin Haji Kifle.
Dr José Ramos-Horta planted a Dryobalanosps aromatica sapling, locally known as Kapur Peringgi, in the garden to commemorate his visit.
The tree possesses medicinal properties and is a source of camphor, and historically was Brunei’s main export. The species of Borneo Camphorwood used for incense and perfumes, attracted early Arab traders to Borneo, which at that time was worth more than gold. The Dryobalanosps aromatica tree can grow up to about 45 metres in its natural habitat.
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 launched the BRC in conjunction with the first international symposium on ‘Ethnobotany in the Quran and Hadith – An Exploration’ on February 3, 2018.
BRC lays on the natural Kerangas from the Iban idiom, also known as Heath Forest, and comprises 200 species inside the greenhouse and 100 around the trail with more species yet to be identified.
BRC aims to conduct translational research on the different medicinal plants currently growing in the garden, with findings useful for the public, herbalists and students.
The visit concluded with light refreshments at UBD’s Simpur Herbal Café adjacent to the BRC compound. – James Kon
