The Daily Brunei Resources

The list of Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretaries in the Brunei Government as of September 2018 with several new appointments: +++++ PERMANENT SECRETARIES Prime Minister's Office (PMO ) Pengiran Datin Shazainah bte Pg Dato Paduka Shariffudin (International)* Tuan Md Riza bin Dato Paduka Hj Md Yunos (Media and Cabinet) Lt Col (R) Pengiran Sazali bin Pengiran Yakob (Security) Tuan Haji Mohd Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim (Law and Welfare) Tuan Haji Roslan bin Haji Tajaah (Corporate Affairs and Civil Service) Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) Capt (Rtd) Abdul Rahman bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Shahril Anwar bin Haji Ma'awiah Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE) Puan Norliah bte Haji Kula (Policy & Fiscal)* Pengiran Hajah Zety Sufina bte Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Sani (Performance & Corporate)* Tuan Haji Khairuddin bin Haji Abdul Hamid (Investment) Dr Hajah May Fa'ezah bte Haji Ahmad Arif

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently did a report on Brunei. The report's link is here . But the text can be read in this blog. +++++ IMF Executive Board Concludes 2018 Article IV Consultation with Brunei Darussalam October 10, 2018 On September 17, 2018, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation [1] with Brunei Darussalam. Brunei Darussalam’s economy has been adjusting well to lower oil prices since 2014, with the authorities undertaking wide-ranging reforms. The decline in oil and gas (O&G) prices led to large budget deficits and narrower current account surpluses. In response, the authorities in 2015 launched a reform program aimed at: (i) ensuring long-term fiscal sustainability and intergenerational equity and (ii) fostering economic diversification by improving the business climate. These reforms have started to bear fruit, as growth has begun to rebound and inflation has returned to positive territ

UTB now a five-Star university August 15, 2018 UNIVERSITI Teknologi Brunei (UTB) has been recognised as a five-star university based on the Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Star Rating System after achieving five Stars overall and five Stars in six out of the seven categories, namely, Teaching, Employability, Internationalisation, Facilities, Social Responsibility and Inclusiveness. QS has upgraded UTB from a four-star rated university, making it the only university in the Sultanate with five Stars for overall excellence. QS Stars is an international rating system that provides institutions with a broader range of criteria that allows them to stand out in particular areas of excellence. A total of 208 universities were star-rated this year; 11 universities including Nanyang Technological University (NTU) were rated 5+ Stars and 43 universities including UTB were rated five Stars. Other universities which also achieved five Stars include Boston University in the US; Aston University, the Uni

The list of Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretaries in the Brunei Government as of August 2018 with several new appointments: +++++ PERMANENT SECRETARIES Prime Minister's Office (PMO) Pengiran Datin Shazainah bte Pg Dato Paduka Shariffudin (International)* Md Riza bin Dato Paduka Hj Md Yunos (Media and Cabinet) Lt Col (R) Pengiran Sazali bin Pengiran Yakob (Security) Haji Mohd Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim (Law and Welfare) Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) Capt (Rtd) Abdul Rahman bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar Ministry of Finance (MOF) Norliah bte Kula (Performance)* Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) Datin Tan Bee Yong* Dato Paduka Haji Matnor bin Haji Jeludin Emaleen bte Abdul Rahman Teo* Hajah Siti Norishan bte Hj Abd Ghafor* Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) Md Amir Hairil Bin Awang Haji Mahmud (Safety, Welfare and Law) Salminan bin Haji Burut (Municipal and District) Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA) Dato Seri Setia Haji Abd A

  BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Sabtu, 7 April. - Pada tahun 2017, jumlah ketibaan pelancong antarabangsa ke Negara Brunei Darussalam melalui Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Brunei telah meningkat sebanyak 18.3% daripada 218,809 pelancong pada tahun 2016 kepada 258,955 pelancong yang mana kenaikan ini telah melebihi pencapaian yang disasarkan pada tahun 2017 iaitu sebanyak 10%. Pencapaian ini telah merekodkan ketibaan pelancong antarabangsa melalui udara yang tertinggi sejak tahun 2011 iaitu seramai 242,061 pelancong. (Jadual 1 : Ketibaan Pelancong Antarabangsa, 2016 and 2017) Dalam tempoh tiga tahun yang lepas, pertumbuhan ketibaan pelancong telah menunjukkan kesan positif yang berterusan dalam industri pelancongan di Negara Brunei Darussalam dengan catatan yang mantap berakhirnya tahun 2017 sebanyak 18.3 peratus (y-o-y). Ini terutamanya disebabkan oleh permintaan perjalanan (travel demand) yang tinggi dari pasaran-pasaran utama sejak bulan Januari 2017, pengenalan da

Konsep tadbir urus Islam, sistem padu dan holistik​ Oleh : Hajah Siti Zuraihah Haji Awang Sulaiman / Foto : Dk. Nur Hafilah Pg. Osman BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Sabtu, 7 April. - Simposium Tahunan Tadbir Urus Islam (Islamic Governance Symposium) Keempat anjuran Institut Kajian Dasar (IPS) Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), antara lain mengongsikan beberapa langkah dan cadangan yang boleh diambil tindakan untuk memanfaatkan tadbir urus Islam sebagai sistem penting untuk pengurusan konflik yang berkesan. Simposium tersebut merupakan lanjutan daripada siri simposium yang telah diadakan sebelum ini, yang membincangkan ciri-ciri sistem tadbir urus Islam, objektifnya, peranan dan tanggungjawab individu dan kumpulan dalam rangka kerja tersebut. Simposium tahun ini membawa tema 'Konflik Tadbir Urus (The Governance of Conflict)' menggariskan terhadap konflik-konflik yang mungkin tidak dapat dielakkan yang timbul pada pelbagai peringkat sosial, politik, dan ekonomi. Dala

B$5.3B budget passed March 21, 2018 | Azlan Othman | THE Legislative Council (LegCo) yesterday unanimously passed the national budget of B$5.3 billion for the Financial Year 2018/2019, which takes effect on April 1, 2018. With the passing of the budget, the 14th LegCo session came to a close after 12 days of deliberations. The budget for the new financial year was announced by Minister of Finance II YB Dato Seri Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah on the third day of the LegCo session on March 7, 2018. It was discussed over the past 12 days by the Cabinet Ministers and appointed LegCo members and approved without any amendment. In his closing remarks yesterday, Special Adviser to 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 Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, YB Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Diraja Dato Laila U

For the first time the villagers walk ashore MARCH 15, 1958 – A new picture of Brunei Mosque taken from the staging of what will be a pier to extend several hundreds of yards into the Water Village. The villagers were not slow to connect their house to the staging with planks and so, for the first time ever, they have been walking ashore instead of going by perahu. Soon, a large semi-circular mole is to be built which will embrace the pier and serve to form two artificial lagoons. Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin +++++ Special issue of stamps will commemorate opening of mosque MARCH 8, 1958 – To commemorate the opening of Brunei’s new $6M mosque, which is expected to take place some time in September this year, a special issue of stamps has been ordered, and these will become available at all post offices in the state from the opening day. It is stressed, however, that the issue will be a limited one comprising three denominations only: eight, 15 and 35 cents. Proofs from the de

His Majesty names new grandson February 27, 2018 BY COMMAND of 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, the office of His Majesty announced that His Majesty with great pleasure has named His Majesty’s grandson and the son of Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah, and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Haji Muhammad Ruzaini bin Pengiran Dr Haji Mohd Yakub as Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak ‘Abdul Hakeem bin Pengiran Anak Haji Muhammad Ruzaini . His Majesty and Her Majesty Duli Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam as well as other members of the royal family sincerely thanked all those who were involved during the birth and who had conveyed their messages of congratulations and greeting on the birth of Their Majesties’ grandson on Monday, 3rd of Jamadilakhir, 1439

Permainan kanak-kanak zaman dahulu February 3, 2018 Oleh Haji Mohd Daud Abdul Rahman MENGINGAT kembali zaman kanak-kanak dahulu yang tinggal di darat, kehidupan mereka sememangnya jauh berbeza jika dibandingkan zaman sekarang. Kanak-kanak pada zaman dahulu suka bermain dengan rakan-rakan sebaya dengan mereka. Antara permainan kegemaran yang sering dimainkan mereka – kanak-kanak lelaki – melastik burung punai, main sorok-sorokan di kawasan rumah atau di kawasan jiran dan juga permainan simban bagi kanak-kanak perempuan. Selain daripada itu, penulis masih ingat bahawa kanak-kanak yang berada di kawasan pedalaman pada masa itu sangat sukar untuk mengunjungi bandar. Ini kerana kenderaan seperti kereta belum banyak dimiliki oleh masyarakat pada ketika itu. Untuk datang ke bandar, mereka perlu merentasi sungai dengan menggunakan perahu pengalu. Mereka juga kadang-kadangnya turut bermalam di rumah pengalu pada ketika itu. Kanak-kanak yang tinggal di darat sudah sebati tentang pant

Nostalgia jurugambar lama December 9, 2017 Oleh Haji Mohd Daud Abdul Rahman MENGINGAT kembali zaman nostalgia lama pada tahun 1950-an dan 1969-an, belum ramai belia-belia tempatan pada masa itu yang berpengalaman sebagai seorang jurugambar. Salah seorang jurugambar pada ketika itu ialah Haji Mohd Yaman bin Besar. Beliau menggunakan filem hitam putih dengan kamera jenis Yashica. Beliau gemar mengambil gambar-gambar di sekitar kawasan Bandar Brunei dan juga luar bandar. Begitu juga pemandangan jambatan feri yang membawa penumpang ke Daerah Belait pada tahun 1957 iaitu Jambatan Kuala Abang, di Daerah Tutong. Menurut cerita Haji Mohd Yaman, antara jurugambar tempatan yang ada pada tahun 1950an dan 1960an ialah Pengiran Haji Kamaludin bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahim, Haji Sharbini bin Haji Ibrahim, Haji Bakar bin Ahmad, Haji Shamsuddin bin Ideris, Haji Mohd Yusof bin Haji Mohd Yasin dan ramai lagi. Manakala kedai atau studio gambar yang ada pada masa itu ialah Kong Hwa Photo St

  Suasana Bandar Brunei suatu ketika dahulu December 30, 2017 Oleh Haji Mohd Daud Abdul Rahman BANYAK kenangan dan sejarah lama sudah jauh berlalu meninggalkan kita yang kini hanya tinggal menjadi ristaan. Penulis masih ingat suasana ibu kota, Bandar Brunei pada zaman dahulu yang masih segar dalam ingatan. Pada ketika itu, masyarakat tinggal jauh dari bandar, terutamanya masyarakat di Kampung Lamunin, Sengkurong, Jerudong, Kilanas dan lainnya merasa sukar untuk turun ke bandar. Mereka ini biasanya datang ke Bandar Brunei menaiki bas seawal pagi lagi dengan membawa hasil jualan mereka. Antara barangan yang dijual pada masa itu ialah buah-buahan, sayur-sayuran, kuih-muih tempatan seperti kelupis beras kebun, wajid, tapai dan bermacam-macam lagi. Manakala ubat-ubatan asli puak Kedayan juga turut dijual di sana. Tempat berjaja masyarakat pada ketika itu adalah di kawasan lapang Panggung Borneo berhadapan dengan Kampung Sultan Lama selain daripada Pasar Tamu Hujung Minggu. Ba

Sejarah kenangan Kampong Ayer September 30, 2017 Oleh Haji Mohd Daud Abdul Rahman MENURUT cerita daripada orang-orang tua asal penduduk Kampong Ayer bahawa kampung ini sudah wujud lebih lima ratus tahun dahulu. Ini juga berdasarkan daripada sejarah lama dan warisan yang ditinggalkan oleh nenek moyang mereka suatu ketika dahulu. Dalam awal tahun 1950-an, sebahagian kawasan Kampung Sumbiling Lama dan Kampung Bukit Salat telah dipindahkan ke tebing sungai berdekatan dengan Jambatan Rangas Lama. Ini adalah kerana untuk memberi laluan kepada kerja-kerja pembinaan Masjid Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien pada ketika itu. Jambatan Rangas adalah jambatan terawal pada masa itu bagi kemudahan perhubungan menyeberangi Sungai Kedayan menuju Kampung Pusar Ulak. Manakala Kampung Ujong Bukit dan Kampung Sungai Kedayan (juga dikenali sebagai ‘Kampung Pandai Emas’) adalah kampung terawal yang mahir dalam bidang perusahaan tembaga asli Brunei. Menurut cerita orang-orang tua dahulu, tempat asal bidang pembuatan

Guest of Honour, Haji Mohd Rozan, local writer and Adjunct Professor at UBD receiving a souvenir Rich Brunei heritage offers good backdrop for writing February 15, 2018 | Danial Norjidi | IN BRUNEI’S rich heritage, there are many ideas, tales, stories and characters that can be used as a backdrop and background for writing. Haji Mohd Rozan bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos, a local writer and Adjunct Professor at Universiti Brunei Darussalam, yesterday said this while delivering a keynote address at the launch of the 1st Writers Conference. “Ever since the invention of printing, books have been the medium of choice, providing an opening into the imaginative world of others and enabling us to enrich ourselves with their creativity,” he said. “Books play a significant role in our life. They say that ‘When you open a book, you open a new world’. I believe that everyone would agree with this statement as books have become inevitable to mankind. For the majority of peo

Haji Mohd Rozan bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos, a local writer and Adjunct Professor at Universiti Brunei Darussalam, touring the exhibition. – DANIAL NORJIDI Writers Conference opens first chapter February 15, 2018 | Danial Norjidi | THE 1st Writers Conference was launched yesterday by the Cottage and Youth Initiative Programme (CYiP). The two-day conference features an exhibition, coffee chats, workshops and pop-up booths at the Knowledge Hub (KHub) Lobby in Anggerek Desa. CYiP Principal Mentor Captain (Rtd) Zailan bin Pehin Dato Mohd Don delivered welcoming remarks during the launch at the Design and Technology Building. Meanwhile, in her speech Norhayati binti Haji Abu Bakar, Senior Mentor of Social Economy at CYiP, shared that CYiP – established in November 2016 – aims to create market access for quality Brunei products to penetrate the global market, with the objective of producing successful business leaders by creating a business environment and influencing the e

His Majesty: Country comes first February 8, 2018 | Azlan Othman | 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 said yesterday that the Cabinet Ministers and government officials have to think about the long-term future of the country rather than focus on their own self-interest. In a hard-hitting titah delivered at a special meeting with the newly appointed Cabinet Ministers at the Istana Nurul Iman, His Majesty said to be a good leader, one must strongly stick to the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) principle and not be a leader who is ‘intoxicated’ with power, who does everything for self-interest and not for the country. His Majesty said among the signs of an ‘intoxicated’ leader is being cunning by setting up plans or strategies for selfish reasons such as cronyism and nepotism, and for the strengthening of position and pow