His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Dipertuan of Brunei Darussalam left Perth Sunday afternoon after concluding His Majesty's State Visit to Australia. Before leaving for the airport, a doa selamat was read by the State Mufti, Pehin Dato Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned.

This visit which was upon invitation of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, marked another milestone in the history of bilateral relations between Brunei Darussalam and Australia, as this was the first state visit since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1984. Present at Perth Airport to bid farewell to His Majesty were Squadron Leader, Geoff Roberts, Honorary Aide De Camp, representing the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Mr. Kevin Skipworth LVO, Official Secretary to His Excellency the Governor of West Australia, and Mr. Frank Leverett, Australian Visit Director, representing the Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Also present at the airport were Brunei Darussalam's High Commissioner to Australia, Her Excellency Pengiran Datin Paduka Hajah Masrainah binti Pengiran Haji Ahmad and Australian High Commissiner to Brunei Darussalam, His Excellency Mr. Christian Bennett.

During the State Visit, His Majesty visited Canberra, Sydney and Perth. In Canberra, His Majesty met with Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and held discussions with the Prime Minister, John Howard and the opposition leader, Kim Beazley. Whilst in Sydney, His Majesty met the Governor of New South Wales and Premier Bob Carr and in Perth, His Majesty met the Governor of Western Australia.

During this visit, His Majesty also met Brunei students studying in New South Wales University as well as students studying at various education institutions in Western Australia.

A joint press statement was also issued, highlighting the discussions between His Majesty and the Prime Minister, which covered a broad range of bilateral and regional issues. Both leaders welcomed the close bilateral links existing between the two nations in the fields of education, defense, security, economy, trade and investment. His Majesty and the Prime Minister also acknowledged the close partnership of both countries shared in regional and international organisations. The statement further highlighted the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism, seen as a mutual effort to strengthen cooperation on security.

With the aim of encouraging entrepreneurship and trade in Brunei Darussalam, whilst commemorating the 21st National Day Anniversary, the Sponsorship Committee for Brunei Darussalam's 21st National Day Anniversary organised an International Trade Exhibition at the Mall in Gadong.

Officiating at the launch was the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Dato Doctor Haji Awang Hussain, who is also Chairman of the Sponsorship Committee for Brunei Darussalam's 21st National Day Anniversary.

The week long exhibition, which opens from 10 in the morning to 10 in the evening, will have as many as 17 booths, ranging from car displays, electronics, food and drinks, home decoration, fashion accessories, and exhibits from various departments, as well as sideshows which include a 'Murtabak' making show, a National Day quiz, a colouring and drawing contest, safety campaigns and cultural performances as well as a special Tea Tarik show by the Malaysian famed "Tea-Tarik King".

In order to show concern and to raise public awareness of children who are born with Cleft Lip and Palate Deformity, the Ministry of Health Sunday held a Family Day for Children born with Cleft Lip and Palate Deformity. In this first ever gathering, parents and the public were briefed with the treatment options and facilities available at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital.

The Minister of Health, Pehin Dato Haji Awang Abu Bakar in his speech said Treatment for cleft lip and palate deformities remain a global challenge. Every hour he said, cleft lip and/or palate defect child is born around the world. In Brunei, for every 600 births, approximately one cleft child is born and there are approximately 20 clefts per year.

Yang Berhormat Pehin said that cleft lip and palate deformities if untreated will produce not only the psychological effects such as the self esteem of one's appearance but also the functional defects that affects one's speech. Cleft Lip and Palate Deformity begins in the mother's womb, at about four to eight weeks into the pregnancy. The exact reason or mechanism why such defect occurs is not known and may be a combination of many factors. It may be caused by genetic or familial defects, which were passed on through genes from parents, medication, and age of parents or lack of nutrition.

The Hokian Association Brunei Darussalam Sunday raised a further ten thousand and eighty-eight dollars for the National Tsunami Relief Fund during the Chinese New Year dinner. The Chairman of the association Mr. Lim Seng Kok handed the contribution to the Acting Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Paduka Awang Haji Adanan who then presented it to the Director of Community Development, Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport, Datin Hajjah Adina. Sunday's function also witnessed the presentation of scholarship and appreciation certificates to two hundred and seventy-six excellent students from the Hokian Association.

Meanwhile, The Brunei Women's Council Sunday also organised a fundraising for survivors of the December 26 tsunami. It took place at the Jerudong Park Polo Club, several performances such as the reading of poems and singing of songs regarding the Tsunami were among the hightlighted programmes.

Proceeds from the reception will be donated to the National Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund Committee of the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports. The President of the Brunei Women council Datin Hajah Masni binte Haji Mohd Ali in her fundraising speech noted that the reception aimed to unite volunteers among members of the twelve associations’ affiliated to the Council. She added that by holding the welfare activity members of the Council could help the victims of Tsunami by contributes aids such as cash, clothing and foods.

On board the M.V SEAFDEC TWO research vessel, officers and staff in training from the Fishery Department along with the Southeast Asian Fisheries Center-SEAFDEC set sail on a week-long voyage to explore Brunei's ocean.

The second ever exploration of deep water covers a distance between three nautical miles to two hundred nautical miles. Brunei Darussalam as the member of the "The Southeast Asian Fisheries Organisation" through this voyage aimed at collecting and compiling data information to benefit the fishing industry within Brunei Darussalam's water bay.

The vessel is fully equipped with sophisticated equipment, such as scientific echo sounder and mapping sonar, fishery research and environmental survey facilities such as CTD system, thermosalinaograph and several fishing gear such as bottom and pelagic trawl gear, pelagic longline gear, deep sea port and trap as well as squid jigging.