The Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs said village headman plays an important role in leading his village especially in efforts to maintain peace, harmony, tranquility and prosperity. Dato Paduka Haji Adnan was speaking at the presentation of a certificate of appointment to the village headman of Kampung Tanjong Bungar in Mukim Batu Apoi in the Temburong District. He said it is the responsibility of a village headman to always observe the well-being and welfare of his people under his leadership through consultations.

Awang Janlita @ Jonlita Anak Minggan, 48, was appointed as Ketua Kampung Tanjung Bungar. He previously held the post of Ketua of Tanjung Bungar Longhouse from March 1999 to March 2004. Kampung Tanjung Bungar has more than 2-hundred residents.
 

In a separate ceremony held at Kampung Batang Tuau, Dato Haji Adnan spoke on the effectiveness of mukim and kampung’s institution which can be enhanced through the consultative councils in their respective vicinity. He also advised penghulus and ketua kampungs to hold meetings and discussions to find ways and means in overcoming problems of their residents. They too need to exchange ideas that would help smoothen the implementation of beneficial programmes for their villages.
 

Awang Jainih @ Zaini bin Haji Tahir, 54, previously served with the Electrical Services Department in Temburong. He was appointed as Ketua Kampung of Batang Tuau on the first of July this year. Kampung Batang Tuau has a population of three hundred and ninety people.

The earthquake victims in Pakistan are in dire needs of assistance in view of the coming snowfalls and severe storms in the affected areas. The Acting High Commissioner of Pakistan to Brunei Darussalam, His Excellency Syed Abrar Hussain disclosed this in an interview with the Acting Deputy Director of RTB, Johari Achee. According to His Excellency, the bad weather has also hindered the relief works in the affected areas. Cold weather sometimes reached eight to ten Celsius below freezing point, apart from frequent snow storms and gust winds.
 

His Excellency Syed Abrar Hussain said officially 73 thousand people have died from the earthquake and between one hundred thousand to two hundred thousand more are still missing and presumed dead. Some four million people have also been displaced by the earthquake. His Excellency also said most of the affected areas are in the mountainous terrain and are inaccessible by roads and they can only be reached by helicopters.

Within five years period beginning year 2000 until 2004, the registered number of cooperatives saw a slight increase of only 1 point 8 percents that is from one hundred 79 to only one hundred 95. The slow increase is due to the step taken by the Brunei Industrial Development Authority known as BINA in controlling the registration of cooperatives. The move was taken based on past

experienced where most of the registered cooperatives were not operational and weak. In this regard, BINA has taken a new approach of prioritising quality than quantity. The increase however is considered encouraging and showed that Brunei community still holds confidence towards the cooperative roles.

In all types of cooperative businesses in this country, consumer cooperative plays the major role. Almost 80 percent of all consumer cooperatives comprise of mini marts. Such kind of businesses are among the long-lasting businesses. And even though some have closed down or facing business problems, others however still survive. Contributing factors to the problems are competition from

the ever growing mini shops run by foreigners, unpaid debts, lack of support from members, management problem and expensive cost of wholesale goods while supplier of basic necessities are controlled by foreign businessman.

According to BINA, it is estimated that only 6 percent of all cooperatives in Brunei uses professional services in their businesses. These cooperative were successful as they possessed wide knowledge and experience in businesses and applying business-oriented management compared to those businesses managed in an old-fashion way or part-time.

Brunei Darussalam will soon have its new Information Technology and Communication Building at Universiti Brunei Darussalam. The revolution in Information Communication Technologies, ICT, has opened up opportunities in ICT Content Development which are an important factor in the development of e-government, e-business, e-society as well as e-education.

Construction works on the ICT building started last August and is expected to be completed in July 2007. The project costs more than seventeen million dollars.

Brunei DPMM FC collected three full points after defeating Pulau Pinang NTFA, one nil last night. The match took place at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas. Present to watch the game were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Malik.
 

Brunei DPMM FC dominated the first half of the game and created many chances of scoring despite heavy rain and poor field conditions. Rodrigo Antoniov Lombardo Tosi scored the only goal for the home team in the 3lst minute.

On the second day Sunday, Brunei Darussalam collected a gold medal through Tenpin Bowling. It was contributed by Awangku Mohamad Aizat bin Pengiran Abu Samah in the men’s single category. While in the women’s single category, Bruneian athlete was placed fifth.

In top spin events, Brunei won three matches in the single category against Labuan, Sarawak and Sabah respectively. In the double category, Brunei Darussalam was placed second. In tennis, all matches between Brunei and Sarawak were called off due to downpour.