Friday, 10th February 2006

NEWS:- Friday, 10th February 2006

His Majesty makes a working visit to several kampongs in Mukim Kota Batu

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izaddin Wadaullah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Thursday consented to make a working visit to several kampongs in Mukim Kota Batu in the Brunei Muara District to see first hand the well-being of His Majesty’s subjects and have a closer look at the facilities provided by the government in those communities. Greeting His Majesty were the Minister of Home
Affairs, Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Adanan and his Deputy, Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Dani.

The welcoming party also included Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretaries at the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Home Affairs, as well as the Brunei Muara District Officer, Dato Paduka Haji Yusof and the Penghulu of Mukim Kota Batu, Retired Major Haji Abu Bakar. The stops were at the residences of the Ketua of Kampong Kota Batu, Awang Haji Damit bin Haji Laidin, and the Ketua of Kampong of Dato Gandi, Awang Haji Putih bin Jukin. At the Dato Gandi Primary School, His Majesty was greeted by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Dato Paduka Sheikh Haji Adnan.

The Monarch moved on to a private school, the Riverside Primary School, in Kampong Sungai Matan, before proceeding to the residence of the Penghulu of Mukim Kota Batu, Retired Major Haji Abu Bakar. His Majesty also visited the Crab Breeding Farm owned by Syarikat H-T Enterprise in Kampong Serdang, and proceeded to the residence of the Head Village of Kampong Sungai Belukut, Awang Haji Zakaria bin Haji Ahmad. Taking a boat for a short journey to Kampong Sungai Bunga, the Monarch scrutinised the Police which was established in May 2000 to ensure the safety of the village. His Majesty subsequently turned his attention to the Sungai Bunga Primary
School and the Kampong Sungai Bunga Mosque.

As a caring monarch, His Majesty stopped at the house of a man who had passed away earlier in the morning and spoke to the widow to offer his condolence. His Majesty inquired about the deceased’s family comprising eleven children and grandchildren. The next stops was the Kampong Sungai Bunga Clinic, the residence of the Kampong Ketua of Sungai Bunga, Awang Haji Mohammad bin Lamit, the Kampung Ketua of Pudak, Awang Hj Sulaiman bin Hj Amit, and several other houses to interact informally with the residents. The Floating Fish Cage in Buang Tawar was also visited by His Majesty. Continuing on with the visit, His Majesty took a speedboat from the Pulau Berambang jetty to Kampung Menunggol. Pulau Berambang is one of the many islands dotting the Brunei River which is inhabited.

His Majesty continued his visit to the Nakhoda Abdul Rashid Primary School of Menunggol, the village Clinic, and the residence of the Kampong Ketua of Menunggol, Orang Kaya Lela Negara Haji Japar bin Kassim. His Majesty also took a closer look at the MAJRA Petrol Station at Pulau Sibungur, which is the only riverine filling station in the country. Returning to land, the Monarch stopped at the Pintu Malim Primary School, and sat down for a luncheon and a get-together with the teachers, students and residents of the kampong at the school hall.

The visit to Mukim Kota Batu was His Majesty’s second working visit to both the urban and rural communities this year. It comes only weeks after the monarch’s working visit to three outlaying mukims in Belait district. It enable the ruler to directly interact with his subjects from close quarters, and at the same time, avail His Majesty opportunity to see at first hand the various development taking place in the communities concerned.

HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah receives the Special Envoy from the
President Republic of Benin.

His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Thursday received the Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Benin at the Balai Penghadapan, Bukit Kayangan.

His Royal Highness welcomed Her Excellency Chantel De Souza and discussed relations between Brunei Darussalam and Benin. His Royal Highness was also presented with a letter from the President of the Republic of Benin to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. Her Excellency is in the country on a two-day visit.

Brunei Darussalam Methanol Project took another step forward.

The Brunei Darussalam Methanol Project took another step forward with the signing of a cooperation agreement etween the Brunei Economic Development Board, BEDB, and the Brunei Darussalam Methanol Consortium comprising of Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Brunei National Petroleum Company Sendirian Berhad and ITOCHU Corporation.

Under the agreement, BEDB and the Brunei Darussalam Methanol Consortium will collaborate to deliver quantifiable social and economic benefits to Brunei Darussalam. It is part of BEDB’s strategy to ensure that long term economic opportunities are available to local people and small and medium enterprises, SMEs that arise from new investments.

Signing for BEDB was the Acting Chairman of the Board, Mr Timothy Ong Teck Mong. The other signatories were the Director of Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company, Mr Shoji Uematsu; the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Brunei National Petroleum Company Sendirian Berhad, Mohd Reduan bin Hj Mohd Yusof; and the Managing Executive Officer
of Itochu Corporation, Mr Yosuke Minamitani who signed for the Brunei Darusaalam Methanol Consortium. It was witnessed by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Pehin Retired Major General Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Mohamad.

The Brunei Darussalam Methanol Consortium is currently in active discussion with various parties to finalise a number of essential pre-requisites towards achieving its final investment decision for the targeted commencement operation of the methanol plant by the second quarter of 2009.

The pre-requisites include supply of the necessary utilities for the plant, site preparation, marine infrastructure for the export of the product to the targeted markets and obtaining the necessary approvals from various government ministries and departments.

The plant, which is due to be constructed next year, is envisaged to be located in the Sungai Liang Industrial Park and is scheduled to commence commercial operation in the middle of 2009. The Sungai Liang Industrial Park itself will be developed and administer by the BEDB. Methanol is a highly versatile raw material used in the manufacturing of a large number of other products.

A Dusun family in the Tutong District embrace Islam.

A Dusun family of four in the Tutong District has embraced Islam. It brings the number of new converts in the district to 21 since January this year. The head of the family, Abdul Karim bin Abdullah Banda, is a staff of the Military Cadet Unit of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

The conversion ceremony was held Thursday night in the presence of the Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Pehin Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Halbi, and the family’s close relatives. According to the Tutong’s Islamic Dakwah Office, 89 people converted to Islam last year.

Public are advised not to purchase or consume any of the 5 types of
traditional medicine products.

The Pharmacy Enforcement Unit of the Ministry of Health has found that five types of traditional medicine containing controlled substances under the Poisons Act are sold in the local market. Following the discovery, members of public are advised not to purchase or consume any of the products.

They contain Sibutramine, Glibenciamide, Dipyrone and Phenylbutazone. Long term consumption of Sibutramine may lead to high blood pressure, heart palpitation and insomnia, and consumption of Glibenciamide may lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and jaundice.Unsupervised consumption of Dipyrone may lead to serious blood disorder, allergic reaction and difficulty in breathing, while ingestion of Phenylbutazone may lead to hearing disturbance, shortness of breath, swelling of face or lower legs and blood disorder.

The products are Arma Sin Gang San Langsing Ayu, Jamu Kenis Pil, Jamu Pegal Linu, Kapsul Asam Urat and Asam Urat Sangat Manjur. The Ministry of Health also informed the public that the neighbouring countries have banned several other types of traditional medicine in the form of granules or tablets. As such, the public is advised not to purchase or consume the products.

The ministry also reminded the public that it is an offence to import, sell or offer for them sale them, which carry a penalty of a fine of eight thousand dollars or imprisonment of six months. Members of the public who have the affected products are advised to destroy or surrender them to the Pharmacy Enforcement Section of BSB Health Centre in Jalan Ong Sum Ping.

Brunei waters are still affected by the Red Tide.

Some areas in Brunei waters are still affected by the Red Tide. Results from the analysis and monitoring carried out by the Department of Fisheries have shown an increase of red tides cells organism namely in Lubuk Simpur, Pelompong, Tugu Areas, Pulau Badukang, Ujong Sapuh, Serasa, Ujong Pelumpong, Pancang Merah, Pancang Hijau, Pilong-Pilongan, Meragang, Berakas and Jerudong Areas.

In this regard the department has banned all fishing activities or collecting dead fish from these affected areas. The department has again reminded the public to remove the guts, gills and other internal organs of fish before cooking. It also advised the public to abstain from eating small fish and molluscan shellfish. The department will keep the public informed on the current situation from time to time.

END OF NEWS

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