Sunday, 19th March 2006

NEWS:- Sunday, 19th March 2006

His Majesty grants audiences to two outgoing envoys

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, has consented to receive in audience two outgoing ambassadors of friendly nations to Brunei Darussalam.

His Majesty first consented to receive in audience the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Cambodia, His Excellency Ith Dettola. His Excellency served as his country’s envoy to Brunei Darussalam since May 2002.

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam then consented to receive in audience the High Commissioner of the Republic of Bangladesh, His Excellency M.A Hakim. His Excellency has held the post since July 2002.

Over 4 and half billion dollars of Consolidated Fund allocated for Financial Year 2006/2007

The First Meeting of the Second Session of the Legislative Council went into its third day sitting Saturday with members discussing the appropriations of a sum out of the Consolidated Fund for the Service of the Financial Year 2006/2007.

Cited as the Supply 2006/2007 Act, the fund is to be made effective on the first of April this year with the total amounting to more than 4.53 billion dollars. The Act was tabled by the Second Minister of Finance, Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Rahman. In presenting the proposal, the Minister said that an additional provision for a capital expenditure of 1.6 billion dollars, of which 900 million dollars will go for the National Development Plan and 700 million dollars for special expenditure. Another 130 million dollars is proposed for agencies and projects which can expedite the growth of the business sector, especially small and medium enterprises.

According to the Minister, as a public sector driven economy, the majority of businesses are still largely dependent on the government for assistance. In view of this, the government has initiated medium and long-terms capital expenditure projects and programmes as engine of growth to the country’s economy. The Minister believes that strengthening the private sector is a prerogative as a means of moving away from public sector driven economy. A strong private sector economy especially one generated by SME’s would open up more job opportunities and reduce unemployment. Furthermore, a strong private sector economy will also speed up the country’s effort to diversity its economy.

BSP contributes over 370 thousand dollars for this year’s partnership project with MOE

Over the years, Brunei Shell Petroleum, BSP, has made significant contributions to education in Brunei Darussalam. The support which is mainly in the form of financial assistance has helped the ministry in a number of educational programmes and activities.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Doctor Haji Mohammad stated this at the ‘Majlis Malam Silaturrahim’ between his ministry and Brunei Shell Petroleum. Pengiran Dato Doctor Haji Mohammad thanked the company on behalf of the Ministry of Education for its commitment in supporting the ministry’s goal of human resource development and hoped that such a worthwhile initiative will continue to be an important aspect of the company’s policy.

The gathering was held among other things to enhance the excellent relationship between Brunei Shell Petroleum and the Ministry of Education and to renew or foster networks among officials from the two organisations. The highlight of the function was the presentation of three hundred and seventy thousand dollars worth of contributions for various activities held by the Ministry of Education in partnership with BSP. The sponsorship covers programmes under the Science, Technology and Environment Partnership Centre, STEP, which gets one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, fifty thousand for Inforama 2006, another fifty thousand for XPLO-MATHS 2006 and one hundred and twenty thousand dollars for the forthcoming ASEAN Skills Competition to be held in September.

MABBIM & MASTERA concludes with signing of report on its 35 years of development

The Malay Language, a symbol of the Malay race existence, must be enhanced and widely spread in order to project the Malays as a race with strong identity albeit facing all the predicaments brought about by globalization. The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youths and Sports, Awang Haji Jemat bin Haji Ampal emphasised the matter at the closing of the 45th Conference of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia, MABBIM Council and the 11th Conference of the South-East Asia Literature Council, MASTERA, Saturday.

Awang Haji Jemat hoped that MABBIM will continue to play its role in developing the Malay Language by taking appropriate approach inline with current needs and era. He also urged other sectors which are also responsible in building and developing the nation not to be left out in this endeavour. For their involvement, he added, are greatly needed in making the Malay Language as an effective communication tool to be used in all fields and to minimise the gap in its usage in all sectors.

Earlier, the heads of Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia and Indonesia’s delegates signed a report on the conclusions of both conferences. In the report, all participants were in consensus to discuss all the works carried out by MABBIM during the last five years, the publication of a book pertaining to MABBIM’s development since its inception 35 years ago, and the theme of a seminar on Language and Literature, to be held in Malaysia, inconjunction with MABBIM’s 46^th Conference.

Brunei Darussalam beats Kedah one nil

The Brunei DPMM FC beat Kedah by one-nil in their home match at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas. His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince; consented to watch the final match. Also present was His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Malik.

The Brunei DPMM FC’s only goal was scored by Tiago Dos Santos Roberto in the early minute of the second half. The Brunei DPMM FC’s next home match will be against Sarawak on the 25th of this month.

END OF NEWS

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