Baiduri Bank Group last night hosted an appreciation banquet “Malam Silaturrahim 2005”, for its customers and business associate. Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah, the Chairperson of the Baiduri Bank Group was present. The banquet was also graced by the presence of other members of the royal family.

The bank’s manager, Mr. Pierre Imhof in his address among other things said that the bank will try to remain innovative, creative and professional and continue to deliver consumers need as it has done over the years.

At the function, the bank also contributed donations in the form of money totaling fifty thousand dollars to the Pusat Ehsan in Bengkurong, the Child Development Centre, Association of Autism Management in Educational Training and Resources or SMARTER and the Association of Disable Children, KACA.

Yang Termat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah presented the contributions. More than five hundred Muslim customers and associates of the bank attended the banquet that was held at the Jerudong Park Polo Club.

Brunei Liquified Natural Gas, BLNG, is committed to promote local business development. In collaboration with the Brunei Refinery, BLNG Wednesday signed five contracts with a total value of 32-million dollars with four local contractors. The signing took place at the BLNG premises in Lumut.

The first contract was between BLNG and Sahid Sendirian Berhad. The contract covers maintenance, shutdown and small projects at BLNG and the Refinery. Adinin Works and Engineering Sendiran Berhad signed two new contracts for work in the BLNG Plant and the Brunei Refinery.

Another local contractor, Pembangunan Negara Sendirian Berhad signed a contract for the provision of mobile cranes, forklifts and low bed trailers. The final contract for office cleaning and related services was awarded to P.D Enterprise.

It is the government’s aspiration to see the existence of proper and systematic cultivation of herbal plants, in order to ensure sufficiency in meeting the demands for local production of traditional medicines.

Realising Brunei Darussalam’s richness in herbs and trees with medicinal value, the Agriculture Department has taken steps to identify the botanical treasure, which has the potential to be used in medicines, pharmaceuticals and traditional flavourings in local cuisine. Brunei Darussalam’s diversity of flora and fauna are also the sources of its wealth. The country has some five thousand species of native plants including herbs and trees. More than three hundred and fifty species of herbs have already been recorded through the ASEAN’s Committee on Science and Technology. Of this number, about one hundred and sixty plants have been positively identified as usable.

The Agriculture Department is making efforts to promote a traditional medicines industry by encouraging entrepreneurs to engage in the industry, and develop a market for local consumers, even perhaps overseas market in the long-term. Among the local entrepreneurs is Dayang Saadiah binti Minggo, who is actively nurturing her herbal botanical garden at Luahan Jerudong.

Her business started as a small concern pioneering in growing traditional herbs in 1985. The botanical garden that she established in 2002 has developed into an Herbal Research Institute and producer of medicinal herbs health food. Currently, some thirty herbal plant species are collected from Dayang Saadiah’s four-hectare botanical garden where she also does her own research and cultivate her herbal plants.

The search is still on for two men who have been reported missing since Sunday afternoon, while out on a fishing trip. One of the men is a Royal Brunei Navy personnel and the other a civilian. The search and rescue efforts which entered the fifth day today are mounted by personnel of the Royal Brunei Navy, Royal Brunei Air Force, Royal Brunei Police Marine and Brunei Shell Petroleum, family members as well as members of the public.

Sopihan bin Haji Tamit, an RBAF personnel, and Said bin Chuchu, both in their mid thirties, reportedly left Jerudong Beach early on Sunday morning aboard an engine-powered boat. An army personnel told RTB that around that time, the sea was rough with between three and four metres-high waves.

The police said they received a report from a relative of one of the two men after the relative himself received an SMS text message from the pair that their boat has capsized in waters around an oil installation, some twenty-six kilometres out at sea from Jerudong Beach. Wednesday’s search effort centered around Jerudong and Muara Beaches and the coastal waters in the area.

Brunei DPMM FC suffered a two-nil defeat at the hands of Kelantan in an away match that took place last night at the Sultan Mohammad the Fourth Stadium in Kota Bharu.

Kelantan scored their first goal in the 16th minute and again in the 35th minute of the second half.

Brunei Darussalam’s contingent to the 3rd ASEAN Para Games in the Philippines arrived home Wednesday. The Para Games in Manila which started on the 14th of this month ended Wednesday. Brunei athletes bagged seven gold, six silver and four bronze medals from the games. One of them had achieved new ASEAN Para Games records this year.

Awang Rosli bin Haji Hastan, an athlete with physical disability on his foot, is a three times gold medalist in this year’s game. He also set new records in shot putt, discus and javelin throwing events. According to him, despite facing stiff challenges by participants from other countries, he still managed to outperform his opponents. Meanwhile, another disabled athlete who shone at the Para Games was Dayangku Norol Afizah binti Pengiran Osman. Despite her intellectual disability, she achieved one silver medal in the 400 metres and two bronze medals for 100 metre and 200 metre runs.

Greeting the national contingent at the Brunei International Airport was the Minister of Development, Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Abdullah who is also Acting Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, as well as the athletes’ families.

A total of 23 athletes representing the country competed in three events namely athletics, swimming and chess. Such a gathering of disabled athletes from ASEAN member countries will certainly give them the opportunity to cement friendship and goodwill among themselves. It was also to help promote better understanding and cooperation towards the development of sports especially those for the special members of the community.