His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Dipertuan of Brunei Darussalam, has graciously given his consent for the release of four detainees for their involvement in circulating counterfeit Brunei currency in the sultanate.

The four Bruneians are Suhaimi bin Haji Khamis, aged 44 years old, Julaihi Aliasim alias Yasim, 50 years old, Ali bin Awang Abu Bakar who is 43 and Ibrahim bin Timbang, 51 years old. The four were detained under the Internal Security Act following their arrests for attempting to circulate counterfeit money.

The pledge of oath and loyalty for the four detainees was held Monday morning at the Sultan Sharif Ali Mosque in Kampung Sengkurong. They were released after undergoing several months of rehabilitation at the Detention and Rehabilitation Unit in Jerudong.

As a result, the four regretted and showed their remorse for their wrongdoings in attempting to distribute the counterfeited Brunei currency to the public. They also realised that their involvement in such activity could jeopardise the economic stability and security of the state.

The pledge of oath was held in the presence of the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Idris bin Haji Belaman in his capacity as Secretary to the Advisory Committee for Detainees, and the Brunei Muara District Officer, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Adnan.

RTB News Centre has received confirmation that two men believed to be Brunei citizens were injured in the bomb attacks in Songkhala, Southern Thailand. The News Centre initially knew of the injuries sustained by the two men through reports carried by the AFP news agency that said among the 75 people wounded were two men believed to be Brunei nationals.

A statement received from the Brunei Embassy in Bangkok at five o’clock Monday afternoon said it received a telephone call from the Klong Hoi Khiong Police Station in Hat Yai, Southern Thailand that two men, Awang Lim Tiong Hin and Awang Ang Sik Chuan, believed to be Brunei citizens, were wounded in the bomb attacks. Both men sustained slight injuries to their knees.

They were given first aid and allowed to go home after receiving medical treatment. According to the embassy statement, the Brunei authorities are currently keeping abreast of developments relating to the incident.

Police said three bomb blasts took place at about the same time in three public places in Songkhala Province, Southern Thailand. According to the Governor of Songkhla, two people were killed in the explosion at Hat Yai airport. General Bhaiyasit Shinawatra, the Thai supreme military commander said the airport bomb had been left in a bag by an unidentified man in the waiting area. Two more bombs exploded at about the same time. One in a department store and the other in a hotel located near the Gulf of Thailand. According to the police all three explosions took place within 30 minutes, but the governor said he had no reports of casualties there. No one claimed responsibility for the blasts.

His Majesty's government, in its concern over the welfare of the public, has allocated a substantial sum of money in providing basic services and infrastructural facilities for the sole comfort of citizens and residents of the country. The Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office pointed to this during a Symposium on Public Service Integrity for the Belait District.

The daylong session took place Monday at the Kuala Belait Municipal Hall. Pengiran Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Hamid bin Pengiran Haji Mohamad Yassin reiterated that the Public Service has been entrusted with the task to provide such a service to the public on behalf of the government and that task, he stressed, should be implemented with trust and efficiency.

Pengiran Dato Paduka went on to say that the Public Service is a catalyst for the development and prosperity of the nation. Seven working papers were tabled during the symposium that was also attended by the Belait District Officer, Dato Paduka Haji Mohamad Yusuf, representatives of government agencies and the private sector. The session was a follow-up to a similar programme that was held in August last year. The symposium aimed to instill awareness and understanding of the public service in the importance of upholding integrity in the service.

The Royal Brunei Police Force has taken another strive forward in enhancing security at the borders, especially in the Temburong District. The Police Force Monday opened three more control posts in the Temburong District. The check points are located at Kampung Selapon, Kampung Ujung Jalan and Kampung Temada. They were officially opened by the Acting Commissioner of Police, Yang DiMuliakan Pehin Datu Kerma Setia Zainuddin bin Jalani.

Apart from enhancing related regulations at the cross-border, the posts are also designed to provide convenience to the public. Police personnel at the control posts are ready to serve round the clock for those who wish to make a complaint or call for assistance. Two officers are posted 24 hours a day at the Kampung Selapon and Kampung Temada check points. The Kampung Ujung Jalan check point meanwhile is manned by two police officers who are working in two shifts.

The installation of portable cabins at the three control posts are taken following a visit by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Dipertuan of Brunei Darussalam to the Temburong District in March last year. The cost of building the portable cabins is estimated to be around 125-thousand dollars. They were fully assembled in February this year. The facility is equipped with a telephone line and radio for communication.

The Brunei Association for Science Education - BASE- Science and Technology Week 2005, is an annual extravaganza to showcase the association's activities, and highlight the innovative creativity of schoolchildren. It also provides a meeting point for science teachers to discuss current teaching trends through exhibition and seminar towards promoting science and technology in Brunei Darussalam.

The theme of this year's BASE Science and Technology Week is Harnessing Science and Info-communication Technology for All. The BASE Rekacipta or Creative poster and writing competitions have drawn the interest of more than one hundred pupils from thirty primary schools including His Majesty's grand daughter, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Raheemah Sanaul Bolkiah who represented the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Primary School.

The school's project is entitled "History of Info communication Technology, Communication of Brunei and the World".

The Young Entomologist Badge Award Scheme Competition involving primary four to six pupils is another programme in the event. Their project will be judged on the Best Booth, Most Involved School, Best Young Entomologist and Best Ant Farm award. The winners in both categories will be announced today at the official closing and prize and certificate presentation ceremony.

Senior government officers representing four ASEAN countries who are attending a development programme in the country, Monday visited the Tourism Development Unit of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.

During the visit, the four senior officers from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam heard a briefing about public and administration policies on tourism. It was delivered by the Director of Tourism Development, Sheikh Jamaluddin.

The officers are on an eight week development programme with the Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

The badminton championship between ministries in conjunction with the Eleventh Civil Service Day was officially opened Monday night at the Hassanal Bolkiah Indoor Stadium. It was officiated by the Permanent Secretary at The Prime Minister's Office, Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Hamid Bin Pengiran Haji Mohd Yassin.

A total of eleven ministries are taking part in the three week competition, which is divided into Group 'A' and 'B'. Monday night, three games were played. In group 'A', the Prime Minister's Office played against the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, while the Ministry of Finance met the Ministry of Health. In group 'B', the Ministry of Development played against the Ministry of Defence.

This year's competition is hosted by the Ministry of Health. The competition will continue Thursday night.