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Brunei Sultan congratulates new Indian PM BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Brunei - New 2 Borneo

Brunei Sultan congratulates new Indian PM

Posted: 26 May 2014 08:49 PM PDT

Posted on May 27, 2014, Tuesday

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah has sent a message of congratulations to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Xinhua news agency reports citing Radio and Television Brunei on Tuesday.

In his message, the Sultan wished Modi success in his new post and looked forward to working with him to strengthen long-standing ties of friendship and cooperation between both countries, including through work in the Commonwealth and the Asean-India Dialogue.

Modi was sworn in as India's 15th prime minister on Monday. –BERNAMA

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Water use decreased but still the highest compared to other ASEAN countries

Posted: 26 May 2014 06:03 PM PDT

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Continuous studies carried out from last year show that the daily water usage in the country has decreased from the rate of four hundred and fifty litres per person, Brudirect reported.

According to the Minister of Development, leakage control and water conservation management programmes on water awareness carried out by the Ministry on efficient use of water has shown a positive impact on the people in the country.

However, the Minister of Development Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Suyoi Hj Osman lamented in an interview at the World Water Day observation ceremony recently that water usage in the country is still at all time high compared to other countries of the ASEAN region.

The minister reminds the people that water, if not used prudently, can directly contribute to significant wastage of resources for which more facilities such as dams and water treatment plants are needed and these would incur unnecessary expenditure.

The Minister of Development therefore urged members of the public to always monitor and keep a close watch for any leaking pipes and inform the authorities concerned especially the PWD (Public Works Department), as leaking pipes too can contribute to water wastage; at the same time, the public should always make it a habit of using water sparingly and to have spoilt taps quickly repaired or replaced so as not to waste water.

Although World Water Day falls every 22nd of March, it is observed throughout the year in different ways all over the world. According to the United Nations Organisation, the theme this year is "Water and Energy", symbolising the close link or inter-dependency between water and energy.

According to the Acting Director of Water Services, Public Works Department, Ms Alice Lim Sui Kau, the PWD aims to raise public awareness on the limited source of water and that its use is not only for us today but also for the future.

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New policy to limit recruitment of foreign workers

Posted: 26 May 2014 06:00 PM PDT

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Five new policies on employing foreigners will be introduced soon. The implementation of the policies will be made in stages commencing on June 30, Brudirect reported.

The first phase will be implemented on wholesale businesses, restaurants, retail shops, supermarkets, department stores and automobiles.

The matter was disclosed by the Minister of Home Affairs at the Appreciation Dinner for Exemplary Employee and Employer last night. The first function of its kind was organised by the Department of Labour. It took place at the Chancellor Hall of University Brunei Darussalam (UBD). Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Badaruddin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Awg Othman said the procedure is aimed at bringing down the number of unemployment and encouraging private firms to employ locals. It also enables employers to hire the most-needed foreign workers.

The five policies are; continuing the suspension of working permit and employment of foreign workers for the posts of cashier, driver, supervisors, salesperson, baker and butcher as well as taking the same step in other posts by phase in the retail market, information technology and others; decreasing the quota used on the current working permit and employment of foreign workers on the renewal date; limiting the new miscellaneous license that is considered branch out except for businesses that attract local employees; limiting the number of new license for conventional restaurants such as coffee shop; and not to produce license for businesses in the housing area except those carried out by its own applicants or local residents.

The minister also stated that the policy imposes additional levy to the recruitment of foreign employees for wholesale and retail, transportation, hotel and restaurants and support services sector. However, according to Yang Berhormat Pehin, ninety two thousand seven people from the figure was not included employees in the private service sector was based the quota used.

Eleven recipients comprising five employers and six local employees received the appreciation awards. Appreciation for employers and employees is based on specific criteria. Amongst others, for employers is number of the local employees at the company, while, for local employees, they should work not more than ten years at the company. This year, five sector categories that have been selected to given the appreciation award were restaurant, fast food catering, and automobile, wholesale and retailed sector and cleaning sector.

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HRH Joins Asian Games Fun Run

Posted: 26 May 2014 10:38 AM PDT

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council (BDNOC) in collaboration with the Youth and Sports Department of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) yesterday organised the Asian Games Fun Run which saw 780 participants comprising of students from the Sports School and other selected primary schools, athletes, paralympic athletes as well as sports associations joining the event that was held at the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar 'Ali Saifuddien in the capital, ©BRUDIRECT.COM reported.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of BDNOC, officiated and participated in the run and joined by his son, YAM Pengiran Muda 'Abdul Aleem.

Also joining the run was the Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Datin Paduka Hajah Adina binti Othman.

The event began with welcoming remarks from Jeremy Brett Walker, a representative from the Olympic Council Asia (OCA), and Lee Ilhee, a representative from the Incheon Asian Games Organising Committee (IAGOC).

The 3km fun run saw participants making their way along the designated roads in the capital before heading to the finishing line at the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Shopping Complex.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah also toured a mini exhibition which highlighting on anti-doping through an interactive counter.

The Asian Games is held every four years and this year, it is expected that some 20,000 athletes, officials and media are involved in the big sports event, the 17th Asian Games in September 2014.

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MoRA: Do not consume tainted Cadbury chocolate products

Posted: 25 May 2014 05:40 PM PDT

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) has advised the public, especially Muslims in Brunei Darussalam, not consume two Cadbury chocolate products namely the Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond for the time being until analysis of the product is completed, Brudirect reported.

This follows by the recent reports in several media articles from neighbouring countries stating that the two Cadbury chocolate products were reportedly positive for containing traces of porcine DNA.

The two tainted product were Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut (batch number 200813M01H I2 which expires on November 13, 2014) and Cadbury Dairy Milk Roast Almond (with batch number 221013N01R I1 which expires on January 15, 2015). Any development regarding the analysis of the product and action taken will be announced later.

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Crown Prince visits key development areas in Tutong District

Posted: 24 May 2014 10:22 PM PDT

Brudirect reported that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince first consented to tour the Jalan Telisai-Lumut Project Site. On arrival, His Royal Highness was greeted by the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, Dato Paduka Awg Hj Ali Hj Apong; and the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, Dr Hj Abd Manaf Hj Metussin who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB).

A briefing on the Jalan Telisai-Lumut project was presented by Dr Hj Abd Manaf Hj Metussin. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince consented to sign the Royal Parchment.

Work on the Jalan Telisai-Lumut project commenced in February 2010. The BND$138 million project, once completed, would further facilitate travel between the Brunei-Muara and Tutong Districts and the Belait District; reduce traffic congestion along Jalan Lumut-Telisai, thereby improving road safety in the area; and in general, provide a dual-carriageway service linking the Brunei-Muara, Tutong and Belait Districts.

The Jalan Telisai-Lumut project, which is run by BEDB, is one of the government projects implemented with the purpose of alleviating the heavy traffic congestion that normally occurs in the area. The road is currently being constructed approximately three kilometres south of the existing Tutong-Seria main road, and stretches through the areas of Telisai and Labi, before rejoining at the Lumut Highway. In addition, a 3.2-kilometre link road to Sungai Paku is also being built, as well as 5 bridges along the new route.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince then proceeded to the Aquaculture Research and Development Centre, Fisheries Department project at Sungai Paku. Accompanying His Royal Highness at the site was the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar. A briefing on the project was presented by the Senior Fisheries Officer, Dyg Hjh Rosinah Hj Yusof.

The Aquaculture Research and Development Centre includes a ten-hectare area that is equipped with fifteen ponds; each with an area of 0.25 hectares and two ponds with an area of 0.7 hectares each. These ponds have been purpose-built for farming Giant Tiger Prawns. The project, which was implemented in 2007 by the Fisheries Department in collaboration with American-based Integrated Aquaculture International, is geared towards advancing the latest technologies in the production of Giant Tiger Prawns.

His Royal Highness later consented to visit the site of the Fish Farming Industry Project, also at Sungai Paku. This forty-hectare area has been specially prepared for the breeding of high value fish in isolation. The site also provides basic facilities such as a sea water supply system, access roads and an electrical power substation. Preparation of the site is being carried out in stages. The first stage, covering 1.289 hectares has already been completed and offered to Myinvesco Hi-Q Biotech Company Sendirian Berhad, a company that breeds fish of the "red grouper" type for export, with a targeted output of fifty metric tonnes.

The second stage of development covering a four-hectare area has been advertised and is in the tendering process for successful companies. The area is meant for the breeding of eels for export to South Korea by Jindo Company Sendirian Berhad, which is expected to produce a total of one hundred and fifty metric tonnes by 2017. The third, fourth and fifth stages will be carried out in view of the recently approved allocation of BND$6.4 billion dollars through the Department of Economic Planning and Development for the Financial Year 2014-2015.

His Royal Highness also consented to observe the implementation of the Kg Bukit Beruang Fire Station and Housing project. A briefing on the project was presented by the Director of Fire and Rescue, Awg Hj Yahya Hj Abd Rahman. The project, which cost nearly BND $6 million, was built on a 0.8069 hectare site. Now at fifty nine per cent complete, the project comes with a multipurpose hall and a surau, and includes the construction of two semi-detached housing units and six units of Class 'F' housing.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also took a closer look at the implementation of Phase Five of the Kg Bukit Beruang National Housing Scheme. His Royal Highness was accompanied by the Minister of Development, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Suyoi Hj Osman. A briefing on the progress of this project was delivered by the Director of Housing Development, Awg Hj Md Zakaria Hj Serudin.

Phase Five of the Kg Bukit Beruang National Housing Scheme began in January 2012 and is slated for completion in November this year. The project is being carried out on a seventy five-hectare packet of land at a total cost of BND$85 million and provides seven hundred and fifty eight houses of the cluster and terrace types. The commitment and endeavour to provide public housing programmes and projects that could fulfil the needs and aspirations of the citizens in terms of quantity, quality and time factor constitute the prime focus of the National Housing Plan.

The Shrimp Farming Industrial Site at Sungai Penyatang in Kg Telisai also received the attention of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The two-hundred-hectare area is divided into three zones. Facilities provided include entry roads, a seawater and freshwater supply system, electrical power substations and embankments. The seawater supply system for Zones 'A' and 'B' has already been completed and put to use.

The addition of basic infrastructure to Zone 'C' will be carried out under a project newly approved through the Department of Economic Planning and Development in the 2014-2015 with a budget allocation of seven-point-five-four million dollars. As of now, sites in Zones 'A' and 'B' have been offered to Syarikat Golden Corporation Sendirian Berhad for shrimp farming using the latest technology. This area is expected to produce a total of two thousand nine hundred and forty metric tonnes of shrimp by the year 2017.

Prior to continuing the working tour of National Development Plan project sites in the Tutong District in the afternoon, His Royal Highness consented to attend a luncheon at the Tutong Civic Centre. His Royal Highness then performed the Zuhur prayer.

In the afternoon, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince continued his visit by viewing several more National Development Plan projects in the Tutong District.

At the Tutong River Estuary's Phase Three Beautification Project Site in Jalan Penabai, Kuala Tutong, His Royal Highness was presented a briefing on the implementation of the project by the Acting Director of Drainage and Sewerage, Awg Hj Md Salleh Hj Abd Karim.

The Tutong River Estuary Beautification Project in Jalan Penabai, Kuala Tutong aims to control erosion of the sandy beach so as to enable fishing boats to ply in the waters of the area which previously could not be used owing to low water level.

Meanwhile, the Tutong River Flood Management Scheme Project which began on June 9 2010 was fully completed on the June 8 2012. This pond which covers an area of 75.18 hectares can store up to four million one hundred and sixty thousand litres of water. Both projects are the proactive initiatives of His Majesty's Government for flood mitigation in Kg Bentudoh, Lamunin, Kuala Abang, Bukit Barun, Layong and its surrounding areas which of late are often exposed to the threat of flooding, which affects the local residents and causes damage and destruction to private properties and government assets.

His Royal Highness ended his working visit with a tour of the Bukit Barun Water Treatment Plant Project Site. The project involves Construction of Water Treatment Plant, Raw Water Station, Water Storage Tanks and Bukit Barun Clean Water Pump. During the tour, His Royal Highness also consented to take a closer look at the Membrane Technology Lining Supply and Installation Project at the Bukit Barun Water Treatment Plant. The briefing was delivered by the Acting Director of Water Services, Ms Alice Lim Sui Kaw.

The Bukit Barun water treatment plant, raw water station, water storage tank and clean water pump project comes under the 7th Phase, costing BND$27.8 million dollars. The project which began in June 2012 and scheduled for completion next month is expected to be able supply sixty million litres of clean water per day to meet the country's water requirement. Meanwhile, the Supply and Installation of the Membrane Technology Lining at the Bukit Barun Water Treatment Plant costing BND$9.2 million dollars is a pioneer study on the suitability of water treatment using the new method in the country.

This visit by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is the continuation of His Royal Highness' working visits for a firsthand look at the implementation of development projects under the National Development Plan in line with the Brunei Vision 2035 to achieve the status of a developed nation.

Towards that goal, solid support from ministries, government agencies, the private sector and stakeholders including all the citizens and residents of the country is imperative. It is by continuing their active role and enhancing cooperation in together upholding and achieving success as the result of the nations progressive and dynamic development agenda.