The Daily Brunei Resources

On 7 October 2013, the Oxford Business Group reported the following on Brunei Darussalam: +++++ Economic Update Brunei Darussalam looks to its labs for growth Brunei Darussalam | 7 Oct 2013 Increased investment in research and development (R&D), combined with targeting niche markets, are two cornerstones of a strategy being rolled out by Brunei Darussalam aimed at encouraging economic diversification. The country has long had a commitment to expanding R&D, with the government announcing in 2011 that it intended to step up spending to 1% of GDP. At the time, the government identified the sultanate’s rich biodiversity and educated workforce as key factors in promoting domestic R&D and attracting overseas investors to partner in projects. Under the 10th National Development Plan, launched in 2012, greater emphasis was given to promoting innovation, with funding increased and a focus on using R&D to create marketable products. The state is moving to meet its commitments, ac...

In the 28 September 2013 issue of The Borneo Bulletin, my friend Haji Mohd Daud Abd Rahman wrote about the history of Kampong Parit. This is not the Kampong Parit in Limau Manis but rather Kampong Parit at Mile 2 of Jalan Tutong or now known as Jalan Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha. One of the photographs is that of the graves at today's Makam Kubah Diraja which in the 1950s were still uncovered. +++++ The History of Kampong Parit by Haji Mohd Daud Abd Rahman HAJI Ghani bin Bidal, aged 87, a resident of Kampong Sumbiling Lama, Kampong Parit shared the origin and history of Kampong Parit, which was initially located at Batu Satu, Jalan Tutong, along the road leading up to Kubah Makam Diraja. Haji Ghani also added that Istana Sultan and residences of the royal family used to be situated in Kampong Parit. In fact, the pillar of Istana Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin can still be seen at Kubah Makam Diraja. Prior to Brunei’s independence in 1984, the cliff area of Sungai Kedayan includi...

This article was published in The Borneo Bulletin on 27th July 2013.   +++++   Brunei TV in the 1970s   written by Haji Mohd Daud Abd Rahman TV BRUNEI began its trial broadcast in 1974 airing programmes to the whole country. It was the first to broadcast in full-colour in Asia and in 1975 after a one year trial, TV Brunei was officially launched. It began producing its own programmes which included entertainment, drama, and religious as well as programmes for children. One of the most fondly remembered programmes for children was the “Cerita Bersama Kanak-Kanak” programme. The show would feature stories about fasting in the holy month of Ramadhan.     Children from primary schools would be invited to the RTB studio for the recording. Among those that had been on the show included Pg Fatimah and her brother Ak Yusafry. Ak Yusafry recalled being brought to a room in Studio 1 to record his voice for the programme. The show was a...

This is an interesting piece of news from The Brunei Times published on 13th August 2013: +++++ Brunei youths prefer to work for gov't over entrepreneurship, research shows Debbie Too The Brunei Times Publication Date : 13-08-2013 A recent study conducted by three lecturers from the Universiti Brunei Darussalam showed that youth that were interviewed still preferred to work for the government than be entrepreneurial. A total of 1,051 students from eight secondary schools between the ages of 18 and 23 years old took part in the survey and found that 67.2 per cent of respondents preferred to work as government employees, while only 8.8 per cent of respondents wanted to work in the private sector. A total of 208 students, or 19.8 per cent, of respondents chose to become business owners. It was found that the option to work for the government was mainly because of the stable employment, fixed income and job security. Those who opted to become business owners said that they pre...

The Oxford Business Group had this about Brunei on 11th August 2013:  +++++ Brunei Darussalam takes steps to lessen rural digital divide Asia | 11 Aug 2013 Rural areas of Brunei Darussalam, which have long faced problems with information and communications technology (ICT) services, are set to benefit from a move to align the Sultanate’s bandwidth with that of its regional neighbours. The decision to replace mobile frequency bands comes as the Sultanate prepares to hand out 4G long-term evolution (LTE) licences. However, despite the wave of activity taking place across the telecoms sector, there are concerns that the joint roaming agreement could fail to produce results for the country, unless tariffs are revised downwards to levels nearer those of its regional peers. Brunei Darussalam, together with Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, sealed an agreement on June 19 to align itself with the Asia Pacific Telecommunity’s 700 MHz band plan. The deal will facilitate internatio...

The Oxford Business Group on 30 July 2013 reported this about Brunei: +++++ Economic Update Brunei Darussalam: Growing expectations Asia | 30 Jul 2013 An increase in oil and gas production is expected to boost Brunei Darussalam’s economy over the next few years, but international experts disagree on the magnitude and timing of this growth. In a statement issued in late June, the IMF said the Sultanate’s GDP would increase on average by 5.6% per year over the next five years, as new petrochemical and refinery projects come on-line. The developments are expected to contribute both directly to the economy as well as generate spill-over for related sectors, including transportation, retail and services. The economy slowed in 2012, growing by 1.3%, as hydrocarbons output declined due to scheduled maintenance activities. GDP contribution from the oil and gas sector, which accounts for about two-thirds of the economy, 98% of exports and 93% of government revenues, shrank by 3.2% last ...

As someone who is interested in the history of Brunei, I have bought a number of coins especially pitis which were issued during the past by the various Sultans of Brunei. I have also purchased coins from our neighbouring countries. The Brunei pitis which I have found so far and from what I have seen from the collection of other people who are into coins, are mostly made of from iron. From the other countries, most of them were also made from iron. However I have also found a number of gold and silver coins especially from the Acheh Sultanate. I have always wondered why is it that there has not been any gold coins from the Brunei Sultanate in the past. The answer to that is that apparently there is. Today, members of the online Brunei Numismatic Club or Kelab Numis Brunei went to visit Dato Suny Idris, a well renowned local coin collector. He probably is the longest coin collector in Brunei and his vast collection include many fine examples of the coins and notes that Brunei and it...