Civilisation of a nation or a race and the progress of an ummah is built on vast knowledge. A race that rapidly progresses and develops is the one that is widely knowledgeable, so that education can be regarded as the manifestation of a race.

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Retired Major General Pehin Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Mohammad was speaking at the launching of 2006 Book Festival, Saturday. The Minister said to compete in this new era requires a community - built on knowledge through reading. , Thus he said, it is imperative to change the community’s mindset to get friendlier with libraries and books. The Minister also launched a number of newly published books and presented tokens of appreciation to the authors. Among the recipients were Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran Dr. Haji Mohd. Yusof, the Minister of Religious Affairs, Pehin Dato Seri Utama Dr. Ustaz Haji Awang Mohd. Zain the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Pehin Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin, Pehin Dato Seri Utama Dr. Haji Mohd. Jamil Al-Sufri and Pehin Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Yahya.

85 book stalls selling all kinds of books are on at the festival. It’s open to the public until the 6th of March from 8.30 in the morning until 10 at night, at the Indoor Stadium of the Hassanal Bolkiah Sports Complex in Berakas.
 

Leadership qualities such as courage, strength and bravery are a must for an individual who is responsible for those he led. A Muslim leader must also lead with the guidance of the Al-Quran - for the holy book is one of the important elements in Muslim leadership.

The State Mufti, Pehin Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Abdul Aziz stated this at the official launching of the ASEAN Varsities Muslim Student Leaders Conference 2006, Saturday. Pertaining to the theme of the conference, “Empowering the Professionalism of University Muslim Student Leaders in the Era of Globalization”, the Pehin said that Muslim leaders will not be strong if neglecting the Al-Quran.

The State Mufti added attaining strength and professionalism require strong determination and effort. It is imperative for Muslim students to have their own identity and personality. Fifty Muslim students’ leaders from ASEAN universities such as Brunei Darussalam, Philippine, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are attending the two-day conference.

A key note address on the Concept of Khalifah as Leader and Leadership in Global Era was delivered by the Deputy Minister of Education, Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Doctor Haji Mohammad. The conference aimed at strengthening the leadership qualities of Muslim student leaders in ASEAN universities & to integrate leaders within ASEAN universities through leadership and intellectualism. The function took place at UBD. 

The Public Service Department has announced that a number Senior Government Officer have been promoted and confirmed in their posts. The Acting Director of Planning and Estate Management of the Ministry of Education, Awang Haji Talipuddin has been confirmed as the Director of the department. The confirmation took effect as the 1st of September 2005.

Meanwhile four other senior officers at the Ministry of Education have been promoted and their posts confirmed. The Secondary School Principal at the Ministry of Education, Awang Arsad bin Haji Adis is now the Ministry’s Director of Co-Curriculum Education;

Universiti Brunei Darussalam’s Senior Lecturer Doktor Haji Mohd Kassim bin Haji Mohd Daud is promoted and confirmed as the Director of Brunei Institute of Technology; The Deputy Director of Brunei Institute of Technology, Awang Haji Suhaila bin Haji Abdul Karim is now the Director of Curriculum Development and the Assistant Director at the Department of Schools Inspectorate, Awang Lim Jock Cheng has been promoted as the Department’s Director. The promotions and confirmation of posts are effective as the 1st of October 2005.

Meanwhile the Deputy Chairman of the Kuala Belait and Seria Municipal Board at the Department of Kuala Belait and Seria Municipal, Pengiran Haji Mohd Ali bin Pengiran Haji Othman has been confirmed in his post as from 2nd November 2005;The Ministry of Health’s Director of Policy and Planning, Awang Yusof bin Amba is promoted as the General Director of the Ministry of Health;

The Director of the Laboratory Service at the Ministry of Health, Dayang Hajah Nor’alia has been confirmed as the Ministry’s Director of Policy and Planning Pengarah Dasar;The Chief Scientific Officer at the Ministry of Health, Doktor Haji Mohamad bin Haji Kasim has been promoted and confirmed as the Director of Laboratory Service Department. All the three promotions and confirmation of posts took effect as from 1st December 2005.

The Deputy Surveyor General at the Survey Department Awang Haji Mohd Jamil bin Haji Mohd Ali is promoted Surveyor General as from the 1st of January 2006. And the Managing Director at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources Pengiran Hajah Mariana has been promoted as the Director of Agriculture as from the 1st of March 2006.