The Daily Brunei Resources

Minister of Energy and Industry at the PMO YB Pehin Dato Hj Mohd Yasmin (c) signing the Paris Agreement on behalf of His Majesty’s government on Friday, at the UN Headquarters in New York. Picture: Courtesy of Energy and Industry Department at the Prime Minister’s Office (EIDPMO) Rachel Thien BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Sunday, April 24, 2016 BRUNEI on Friday joined 174 countries as they convened to sign the Paris Agreement on combating climate change at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Signing on behalf of His Majesty’s government was Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Mohammad Yasmin Hj Umar. The Paris Agreement calls for countries to work towards limiting the rise of global temperature to well below two degrees Celsius, and to strive for 1.5 degrees Celsius. It will enter into force 30 days after at least 55 countries, accounting for at least 55 per ce...

Ikhwan Salleh BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Sunday, March 27, 2016 LOCALS are always on the lookout for new hype through social media, especially ones that are related to food. Just two months ago, photos of soto went viral on the Internet. What was special about a bowl of noodles soaked in flavourful soup topped with sliced chicken and garnished with herbs? Nothing out of the ordinary. However, what caught everyone’s eyes was the scenic view of Kampong Ayer in the background. People searched far and near for the eatery that is blessed with the breathtaking view of one of the nation’s heritage. Not long after, the location was shared and with the existence of GPS, it was not hard for anyone to discover Soto Pabo, which is situated in the nook of Pintu Malim. With only three months of operation, the new startup has garnered more than 15, 000 customers, who fell in love with the aromatic broth of soto as well as the scenery. Of course, the food choi...

A file photo of Kublai's Kahn, a 27-metre Chinese junk anchored in the Hong Kong Harbour. Chinese traders have been trading with Brunei since the early centuries. Picture: EPA Rozan Yunos Bandar Seri Begawan Sunday, April 24, 2016 THE Maritime Executive website on February 24, 2016, had this news headline “Brunei: Asia’s Newest Trade Hub” as the website reported about the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Brunei and China, and that the sultanate has voiced her interest in becoming part of China’s Maritime Silk Road as Brunei attempts to reduce its dependence on oil and gas revenue. The silk road refers to the ancient trade route with China dating back to the 14th century of which Brunei used to be a part of. The modern Maritime Silk Road is now officially known as the 21st Century Maritime Silk Route Economic Belt, a Chinese initiative to increase investment and foster collaboration across the historic Silk Road. What role did Brunei play in the maritime tr...

How Brunei and India deals with non-registered dental treatment: +++++ Story from Brunei Woman pleads guilty for selling, fitting fake braces Darren Chin BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Sunday, April 24, 2016 A WOMAN yesterday pleaded guilty to 22 counts of running unlicensed dental service from her house in Landless Indigenous Citizens Housing Scheme (STKRJ) Kg Tungku yesterday at the Magistrates’ Court. Hayimmah Bahri, 29, was initially reported to the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) by Dr Melanie Chin, a member of the Brunei Medical Board, after a number of patients had visited government dental clinics to repair or seek treatment for braces fitted by an online seller on Facebook accounts named ‘Sop Chery Chery’ and ‘Braces Orthodontics Brunei’ which caused damage to the teeth and its supporting tissue. RBPF then conducted investigations and surveillance of the suspected Facebook accounts which revealed the identity of the defendant who managed the ...

Adib Noor Bandar Seri Begawan Sunday, April 17, 2016 TAMU Gadong night market, more commonly known as Pasar Malam, is one of the sultanate’s unique treasures. It’s charm, quaint ambience and the friendly hawkers are a big draw. People who had experienced the tamu’s pleasant atmosphere are bound to visit it again. Located close to Gadong, one of Brunei’s busiest central business district, Pasar Malam, comes alive as early as 4.30pm with brisk business until its closing time at around 11pm. The market provides visitors with a wide range of choice — from authentic traditional Malay Kueh to the popular grilled favourites such as Ayam Golek, Ayam Salai, BBQ fish and many more. This apart, there are fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, toys and accessories among other things. “I love Pasar Gadong, all I need is $10 and I can eat like a king,” says Rafie Nasiruddin. “Sometimes I get so much into it I buy more food than I can ...

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II and Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office YB Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng (3rd R) with other officials in a group photo at the Brunei International Airport yesterday. Picture: BT/ Fazizul Haqimie Quratul-Ain Bandial BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Sunday, April 24, 2016 BRUNEI’S Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade is leading a delegation to Azerbaijan to attend the Seventh Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) which will take place from April 26 to 27. Themed “Living Together in Inclusive Societies: A Challenge and a Goal”, the forum will discuss the role of social inclusion in preventing violent extremism, echoing the respective Plan of Action that UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon released in January 2016. Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng will join 2,500 delegates from around the world to come up with solutions to advance the UN agenda...

Unique among many countries, Brunei's Judicial System uses British Judges as Judges in the Court of Appeal. This leads to impartiality and a sound judicial system. On 23 April 2016, Brunei appointed another British Justice to the Court of Appeal with the news as follows: +++++ BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Sunday, April 24, 2016 His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah (R), the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam being greeted by the newly appointed non-resident Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court, also one of the judges at the Court of Appeal, Justice Conrad Seagroatt (L) during the swearing-in ceremony at Cheradi Laila Kenchana, Istana Nurul Iman. Picture: Infofoto HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, yesterday presided over the swearing in ceremony of Justice Conrad Seagrott as the new non-resident judicial commissioner of the Supreme Court. The monarc...

J E B White, State Electrical Engineer, and members of his staff inspect some of the new equipment on arrival at Gadong Power scheme progress APRIL 2, 1966 – Hundreds of tons of machinery has arrived in Brunei for the state’s $16 million electrification scheme, which is now well under way. It has come from Britain, Belgium, Italy and the United States, with insulators from Japan. J E B White, State Electrical Engineer, told the Bulletin this week that everything is going according to plan. The scheme is expected to be completed towards the end of this year. It will be commissioned in stages. Power will be generated at the new gas turbine station, run on natural gas from the oilfield, at Seria. It will be sufficient to meet the whole of the state’s immediate needs. The station is designed so that extensions can easily be added as load increases. The power station at Gadong, three miles from Brunei Town, has 3MW Ruston diesel generators. This will act as a standby in the event of a ...

Istana Manggalela British North Borneo Company Board of Directors and Staff 1899 Rozan Yunos Bandar Seri Begawan Sunday, April 17, 2016 MANY people who had passed by Jalan Maulana to go to Kuala Belait would have seen Istana Manggalela right after the small roundabout. It is a beautiful small palace and despite it not being used for maybe decades, the palace continues to be well look after. The work on the palace, that was started in 1956 and completed in 1958, was originally designed to be the palace for His Majesty Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien whenever he visited Kuala Belait. In those days, the roads linking Brunei Town, the nation’s capital, to Kuala Belait were still in their infancy. In some parts of the journey, the roads would disappear and motorists had to drive their vehicles along the coast. At some places, you had to wait until the tide ebbed out before you could drive across. However, if the sand was too dry, one could not use the beach as a make-shif...

Hafiizah Maideen BELAIT Sunday, April 10, 2016 THERE’S no better place to experience Iban culture than a visit to Mendaram Besar Longhouse at Labi II. Located about 45 minutes to an hour from the Sungai Liang intersection in the Belait district, the longhouse – which was built in the early 70s and spans 93m in length – offers a glimpse of the residents, who still practise a number of the old way of life. It has 11 doors, half as entry points and the other half are for its rooms. Head of the longhouse Berandi Anak Jamau said in the olden days the longhouse only had two main entry points, located at each end. “Visitors, or people of the longhouse will enter the longhouse from one end to go to the different rooms, passing by the folks at the ruai (communal area). This way, we know who comes and goes,” said Berandi. “But now, the longhouse is built with many entry points for convenience.” Entry to the longhouse for visitors is priced at $3 for adults and $1...

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 and dignitaries during prayers for the late Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran Dr. Haji Mohd Yusuf bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahim. | PHOTOS: INFOFOTO 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 pays his last respects to Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran Dr. Haji Mohd Yusuf bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahim. Kg Sengkarai Tutong, 11 April 2016 - 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 paid his last respects to Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran Dr...

Brooke's and HMS Dido's forces attacking a pirate stronghold in the background. The destruction of Marudu in 1845 during the height of the British expansion through Rajah Brooke and the British North Borneo Company was instrumental in allowing those expansions to continue, according to the author. Rozan Yunos BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN Sunday, April 10, 2016 IN AUGUST 1845, a British newspaper, the Illustrated London News (ILN), reported a battle between Her Majesty's Ships – HMS Agincourt, HMS Vestal, HMS Dedalus, HMS Wolverine, HMS Cruiser and HMS Vixen – “in all twenty boats and near 500 men belonging to the squadron, under the command of Sir T Cochrane, Rear-Admiral and Commander-in-Chief, and the fort of Schriff Osman, a well known daring Arab pirate, whose terrible piracies have paralysed the commerce of the seas around the northern portion of Borneo”. The ILN reported that “the pirates were commanded by 10 Arabs, who had 100 men each, under their respective co...