His Royal Highness Prince General Haji Al Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, the Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office on Thursday made a working visit to the Directorate of Intelligence at the Ministry of Defence at Bolkiah Garrison. The working visit is a follow-up of His Royal Highness' recent visit to the Ministry of Defence last month.

The visit began with a briefing on the structure and organisation of the Directorate delivered by Leftenant Colonel Raemi Malek Bin Haji Abdul Wahab.

His Royal Highness's working visit to the Directorate of Intelligence has shown His Royal Highness's keen interest and concern on the implementation of the Directorate's roles and functions as one of the vital defence agencies under the Ministry of Defence, and will serve as a catalyst in encouraging government servants including the military and civilian personnel of the Ministry of Defence to discharge their duties and responsibilities with more commitment, dedication and efficiency. At the end of the visit, His Royal Highness Prince General Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince then
consented to sign the royal parchment to mark the working visit.

Yang Berhormat Pehin also urged restaurant managers to take into account on environmental cleanliness for the convenience of their customers such as in ensuring that the premises are free from cigarette smoke. According to the Minister, such matters should be given attention by restaurant managers who should protect customers from being affected by cigarette smokes and smokers. The 2005 Tobacco Order which was published last year, will soon be enforced. The Order forbids smoking in public places including restaurants and food stalls.

Meanwhile, a Health and Safety Food Guide Book was also launched by the minister and this will become guidelines and reference to restaurant managers, caterers and food operators. The book among others contain guidelines such as basic needs of food premises, food operators, prevention of food poisoning, insects control, cleanliness and safety at restaurant premises and healthy recipes.

Up to July 2005, more than three and a quarter million dollars were raised in aid of Tsunami victims. This was disclosed by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports ,Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Retired Major General Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Haji Mohammad at a meeting of the National Committee of the Tsunami Humanitarian Aid Fund in Bandar Seri Begawan.

He said, out of the total donation collected, nearly two million and 300 thousand dollars are to be donated to Aceh, with Maldives and Sri Lanka each receiving nearly half a million dollars. The Minister said about 7 hundred and 40 thousand dollars has so far been given in various forms through either UNICEF or the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation. The Foundation also helped in the reconstruction of Banda Aceh's Baiturrahman Mosque's library.

The Minister of Culture Youth and Sports also said that the money had been raised through the National Humanitarian Aid Fund for Tsunami Victims and The Tsunami Aid Fund launched by the Foundation, which were merged last July.

Customs revenue for over the last year has increased to 12 million dollars or 11 point 5 percent compared to 2004. Last year the Royal Customs and Excise collected more than 15 million dollars in custom tariff compared to 103 million dollars in 2004.

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Metassan, was speaking at the 2006 International Customs Day. He had called on customs officers and staff be more self reliance in curbing the importation of prohibited goods, to exercise restraint against terrorism, and control over chemical waste, unauthorised food and medicine. The capability of customs officers and staff are also put to the challenge in a world that is rapidly advanced in sophisticated technology that is not easily to be parallel with. He also urged the Royal Customs and Excise to keep abreast of latest development for the implementation of procedures recognised internationally in upgrading control on importation of goods without impeding the flow of commerce and other matters relating to customs.

Rice production in the Temburong District over the last year increased about 150 metric tonnes compared to the previous year. Last year, the district harvested almost 620 metric tonnes of rice compared to 470 metric tonnes in 2004. The growth is attributed to the increase in the number of rice farmers and the opening of more rice fields.

The extended rice fields are in Pradayan, Lekiun and Negalang Unat and another additional one thousand hectars have been earmarked in the vicinity by the authorities. The Pradayan/Lekiun rice field is the largest in the country. Statistics issued by the Agriculture Department showed that the number of participants involved in the Rice Pricing Scheme for the 2004 and 2005 season in the district have increased to 184 farmers compared to 122 for the 2003 and 2004 season. There is also a marked increase in rice production at 252 thousand kilogrammes worth at four hundred three thousand dollars. At present Temburong District boasts of more than three hundred and forty hektars of rice fields.

The increase in rice production in the Temburong District is attributed to the growing demand from year to year of quality local rice namely Bario, Pusu and Adan. Significant factors in the availability of infrastructure such as good connecting roads to the rice fields, assistance for the utilisation of machinery and good farming management attribute to the increase in rice production.