Cyber crime is not new in Brunei Darussalam and reports of its occurrence is undeniable. This was noted by a participant at the two-day Cyber Crime Investigation Course.

Assistant Superintendent of Police, Pengiran Abdul Salam bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Ghani said the course was held as an initiative of the Royal Brunei Polis Force to curb cyber crime in the country. Course participants had gained many knowledge on investigation methodology and other offences related to cyber crime. He admitted that the Police Force are not handling the problems of cyber crime alone but are also receiving assistance from other agencies.

Another participant, the Deputy Public Prosecutor, Awang Haji Afif Daraina bin Pehin Dato Haji Badaruddin said at present, there is initiative from the government through enforcement agencies at handling cyber crime. Like any other laws, such regulations of its kind should be renewed to deal with the increasing of cyber crime in neighbouring countries as well as in Brunei Darussalam.

The Legal Section imposes such laws called Computer Misuse Act 2000 to handle cyber problem, the Cyber Crime. The laws have so far shown success to be utilised to prosecute any crimes which can be classified as cyber crimes.

The Ministry of Health is actively taking effort in maintaining food safety and the cleanliness of the eateries. The effort becomes more crucial with the rapid and intensive current national development especially in the construction industry which brings along with it growth of eating outlets everywhere in the country.

Such emergence has somewhat changed the lifestyles of the Bruneian people, especially in the eating habit where more Bruneians prefer to eat out. The new trend has underscored the importance of food safety and healthy food which need to be given a serious attention in order to maintain the health of the people in the country.

According to the statistics issued by the Ministry of Health, the reported cases of food poisoning has shown an increase. Last year alone, some 191 food poisoning cases were reported, compared with only 69 cases in 2004.

The Health Ministry also identified more than 250 cases of food-borne diseases which can cause diarrhoea, cholera, hepatitis A, botulism, food poisoning and even death. The Minister of Health, Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Suyoi pointed out recently that the most common problem is the dirty state of kitchens where the storage, preparation and disposal of food remains can be contaminated by bacteria, dusts and insects.

This aside, there have been discovered cases where the preparation of food does not meet the personal cleanliness code such as by wearing aprons and head covers to which managers, operators and owners of food outlets must give serious attention.

Meanwhile, the Brunei Darussalam National Convention on Health Promotion in 2004 made several resolutions which include giving due concern to food security and cleanliness, and being alert on food-related matters from farms to the dining table.

The resolution also underlined the important role and responsibility of consumers in the food safety aspects and the need to avoid and prevent obesity being given high priority in order to save the high cost of treatment.