His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, left Bali, Indonesia, Thursday after attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat. At the two-day informal retreat, the ten ASEAN Foreign Ministers discussed concrete policy programs and cooperative endeavours to confront regional challenges and ensure ASEAN remains a major player in East Asia.

His Royal Highness attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Retreat at the Presidential Villa in Ubud, Bali. During the Retreat, His Royal Highness together with fellow ASEAN Foreign Ministers and the ASEAN Secretary-General exchanged views in a wide-range ASEAN concerns as well as assessed current progress in ASEAN's major cooperation programmes.

The ASEAN Ministers later attended a luncheon at Tampak Siring Palace, about 20 minutes from Maya Ubud Resort. It was hosted by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, His Excellency Doctor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for the Foreign Ministers and Members of the Eminent Persons Group, EPG, on the ASEAN Charter.

Residents in the Tutong District will be able to better perform their welfare, and social activities and sport events when the new Serambangun Multipurpose Hall is completed at the end of this year.  The construction of the new multipurpose hall in Kampung Serambangun is progressing well. 

A foundation laying ceremony for the infrastructure was held Thursday.  It was led by the Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Adanan.  Also present was the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Dani.  The hall is being built on a piece of land covering 0.8 hectares and when completed, would be able to accommodate about eight hundred people.  The project under the 8th National Development Plan is estimated to cost nearly one million dollars.  The multipurpose hall will be the centre for welfare, social, sports and economic activities.  It is also for community leaders in the district to hold meetings or welfare and activities with the villagers.  

Following the foundation laying ceremony, the Minister of Home Affairs toured a nearby project for the new tamu or open air market and wet market complex.  The minister dan his the Deputy Minister also had a closer look at the progress of the projects.  The Government of His Majesty allocated nearly 8.4 million dollars for the construction of the wet market complex and the open air market in Kampung Serambangun under the 8th National Development Plan.  The projects cover an area of 4.22 hectares.  The complex, which will be completed in two months time, will centralise all open air and wet market activities in Tutong central area and to maximise resources.

In the latest development of the Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease, HFMD, in Brunei Darussalam, FOUR cases were reported on the 18th of April, all in the Brunei Muara District.

No case were reported in the Belait, Tutong and Temburong districts.  Since the first of March, 645 cases of HFMD were reported. There is a downward trend of infections at the moment. Nevertheless as an on-going precautionary measures towards preventing the spread of the disease, the Ministry of Health has  advised members of the public  to observe self-cleanliness and practise good hygiene at all times such as by using soap and clean water when washing hands. The cleanliness of public utilities such as toilets too should be observed and upgraded. 

Anyone with inquiries pertaining to the Hand, Foot And Mouth Disease should contact 2-2-2-7-7-85 or 2-2-4-2-4-2-4 extension  393.

Another attempt to smuggle contraband goods into the country was rendered futile when officers of the Royal Brunei Custom and Excise successfully intercepted the illegal activity.  A total of 241 tins of tiger beer and 40 bottles of white wine were confiscated by the authority and five foreigners were detained.  Officers of the Royal Brunei Custom and Excise trailed a car suspected of smuggling the contraband goods from the Kuala Lurah Control Post.  The five foreigners also committed the offence of misusing their permits by selling the prohibited goods and storing them at their rented house in Kampung Bengkurong.

Beside the alcoholic drinks, the law enforcement agency also found 30 packets of cigarettes.  The goods were believed to have been brought in illegally from neighbouring country.  All the goods including the car used in the smuggling were confiscated and the five suspects were detained for further investigation.  The department has once again called for the public’s cooperation and to report any smuggling activities to its officials through telephone lines: 2382422 or 8714422.