The Daily Brunei Resources

NURHAMIZA HJ ROSLAN BRUNEI-MUARA Sunday, April 26, 2015 IN THE early 1990s when Hj Wahab Jumat was at his peak as a pemukun providing traditional entertainment at weddings, he at one time earned almost $2,000 in one month. “Every week we would be invited to perform at a wedding. There were so many requests we had to decline sometimes,” he says. That was back in the day when memukun, a form of entertainment that involves the exchange of poems between a male and a female performer, was still popular in Brunei. These days, 74-year-old veteran pemukun Hj Wahab no longer gets as many invitations and when he does, it is normally to perform at a cultural event organised by a government agency. The pemukun, usually the elderly people who exchange pantun poems while traditional music is being played, have been pushed to extinction by modern-day forms of entertainment, including karaoke sessions at weddings. It is not an easy feat as those exchanging pantun poems have to be spontaneous

RACHEL THIEN KUALA LUMPUR Monday, April 27, 2015 HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha last night joined Southeast Asian leaders for a gala dinner, ahead of their meeting today. Malaysian Prime Minister and ASEAN Chair Najib Razak and his spouse hosted the dinner at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre’s banquet hall. In his speech during the dinner, the prime minister said with this year’s theme, ‘Our People, Our Community, Our Vision’, the focus is on the creation of a ‘people-centred ASEAN’ to translate that into a tangible reality. “A people-centred ASEAN is about the realisation of our peoples’ dreams and aspirations – for more effective and responsive governance; for higher standards of living; for strengthened environmental protection; for further empowerment of women and youth; and greater opportunities for all.” He went on to say that

KB’s old market building gets facelift Posted date: April 16, 2015 | Faza Suraj | THE old market building along Jalan McKerron of Kuala Belait under the jurisdiction of Kuala Belait-Seria Municipal Department has got a facelift with new painting which highlights a more attractive theme. The weekly Night Market has been ongoing at the ground floor of the building every weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) since September 24, 2011. Various food items are available at the market such as cakes, fried noodles, soto, burger, nasi katok, and grilled food among others. During the revamp, repair works have also been done including cleaning of the area. The Kuala Belait-Seria Municipal Department informed that it wishes to fulfill the public’s wish for more daily choices and will strive to support local entrepreneurs by providing appropriate places for them. Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

NURHAMIZA HJ ROSLAN BRUNEI-MUARA Saturday, April 18, 2015 TRADITIONAL instruments such as guriding, tangkong and gandang sadaman have lost their appeal among the younger generation, but veteran musician Hj Nayan Apong has not given up on them. The 86-year-old from Kampung Kulapis reminisces how the sound of these instruments used to resonate in paddy fields across the sultanate. The Kadayan Malays used to play them while they tended to their farms, Hj Nayan says. It’s a forgotten art, but he still enjoys playing them and crafting them by hand. “I learned by looking at other people and because I was interested, I tried and slowly learned (how to play the instruments) myself.” One of the earliest instruments he learned to play was the guriding. “I began playing the guridingwhen I was very young, in my early teens,” Hj Nayan says. It is small and thin, a flat piece of wood not more than 10 inches long. It is made from the frond of the Bengkala palm tree. To p

Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha (5th L), Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah (4th L), Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hjh Zariah (6th R), Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Bini Hajah Faizah (3rd L), Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi’atul 'Adawiyyah (5th R), Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah (2nd L), Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bolkiah (4th R), Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna (L) and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam (3rd R) together with the Minister of Health (2nd R) and spouse (R) in a group photo during the official opening of the new Women and Children's Centre. BT/Zaim Kasmat Her Majesty signs a commemorative plaque to mark the official opening of the new centre. BT/Zaim Kasmat Her Majesty touring the facilities available at the new centre. Infofoto Her Majesty (2nd L) visiting one

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bokiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, delivering a titah during the plenary session of the Asian African Summit 2015 at the Jakarta Convention Center yesterday. Infofoto His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam (L) waves to journalists and other onlookers upon his arrival at the Jakarta Convention Center to attend the Asian African Summit yesterday. BT/Sally Piri His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam (R, front row) attending the Asian African Summit 2015 and the 60th Asia-Africa Commemorative Conference at Jakarta Convention Center in Jakarta, Indonesia, yesterday. Infofoto His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah (R) chats with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (C) as Indonesian President Joko Widodo (L) and Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha (2nd R) look on during a photo session on the sidelines of the

Lieutenant Colonel (L) Pengiran Mohammad bin Pengiran Haji Damit, Fleet Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy and RAN Wing Commander Michael Cawley, Deputy Defence Advisor to Singapore and Brunei, exchanging souvenirs Lieutenant Colonel (L) Pengiran Mohammad bin Pengiran Haji Damit, Fleet Commander of Royal Brunei Navy; Lieutenant Commander Philip Draper, Commander Officer of HMAS Armidale; RAN Wing Com-mander Michael Cawley, Deputy Defence Advisor to Singapore and Brunei Darussalam as well as RBN officials in a group photo Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN) personnel at the opening ceremony. – PHOTOS: JAMES KON Brunei and Australia set to boost military ties Posted date: April 21, 2015 | James Kon | MILITARY ties between Brunei Darussalam and Australia are set to be enhanced following the launch of Exercise Penguin 16/15, a bilateral exercise conducted biennially between Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) and Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Lieutenant Colonel

The Oxford Business Group on 17 April 2015 reported the following: +++++ Brunei Darussalam’s banks weather oil price volatility Brunei Darussalam | Financial Services Economic News Update 17 Apr 2015 Banks in Brunei Darussalam have so far weathered the impact of falling oil prices, winning plaudits from credit rating agencies for their resilience and stability. Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s (S&P) said in early March that the Sultanate’s strong economic base had dampened the effects of the drop in oil prices on the banking sector, echoing the view of the central banking authority, the Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD), earlier in the year. “In our view, the low loan-to-deposit ratio and strong net external creditor position of the Brunei banking system mitigates [oil price-related] risks,” said S&P. Speaking about oil exporters more broadly, the agency noted the decline in global prices would result in lower government revenues and exports, reducing b

REBECCA OI BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Sunday, April 19, 2015 LOCATED at the famed and historical water village of Brunei Darussalam is the Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery. This unique gallery — with an enclosed area of 565 square metres — was established to provide visitors and locals a glimpse into Kampong Ayer’s celebrated past while preserving part of Brunei’s heritage as well as to assist in rejuvenating the cottage industries in the area and diversify the local economy. The $3 million centre was inaugurated by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office in August 2009. The gallery is built in the style of a grand house and is managed by the Tourism Development Department, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resource. The historical reminders of Kampong Ayer are exhibited in five mini galleries within the building stretching back to the 10th century and this also incl

NORLIHA DIN BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Monday, April 20, 2015 “PRACTICE makes perfect”, was an old adage emphasised by Siti Aishah Salleh, 52, the manager of Syarikat Aisma Aishah, when she gave The Brunei Times an insight into the songkok-making craft. Songkok is a traditional headgear worn by males, primarily in Malay community, to complete a customary attire, especially during formal occasion or any religious events. The headgear is also part of the school uniform worn by male students. Siti Aishah, who was the overall winner in the Compulsory Sinjang (traditional woven cloth worn around the waist for males) and Creative Sinjang Category at the Making and Wearing of Dastarand Sinjang National Competition last year, saw a niche in the local market that was worth investing for its uniqueness. According to her, she was inspired to learn the craft by her cousin, who she spent some time observing making the songkok, when she was young. However, the

The Birmingham Post, UK reported on 13 April 2015: +++++ Brunei's halal industry centre targets Midland businesses 05:45, 13 April 2015 By Enda Mullen The Asian nation, which is located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, is creating what is set to be the largest concentration of firms producing halal products in the world through its Brunei BioInnovation Corridor Sabri MD Taha, head of the Halal Industry Innovation Centre, Hajah Normah SH Jamil, permanent secretary Brunei Darussalam's Ministry of Industry & Primary Resources and Gary Ho, MD of SQW China Midland businesses in the food, pharmaceutical and fast-growing biotech sectors are being urged to explore opportunities in Brunei as the country seeks to position itself it the centre of the halal products industry. The Asian nation, which is located on the north coast of the island of Borneo, is creating what is set to be the largest concentration of firms producing halal products in the

Royals & heads of states attend ‘Istiadat Persantapan Pengantin Diraja’ Posted date: April 13, 2015 | Azaraimy HH | THE week-long glittering celebration of the royal wedding ceremony between His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and YAM Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah binti Pengiran Haji Bolkiah concluded last night with a dazzling royal banquet (‘Istiadat Persantapan Pengantin Diraja’) ceremony at the Istana Nurul Iman. Gracing the event were His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha. Also gracing the event were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, and Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah; His Royal Highne