The new executive committee of the Brunei Youth Council faces the powerful challenge of attracting and motivating young people in order to activate the youth associations in this country. This was stressed by the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports at the closing of the second Brunei Youth Council Representative General Congress.

Awang Haji Jemat bin Ampal said the departments at the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports held frequent discussions to find ways of making the association a culture of life. However, Awang Haji Jemat reminded the community that the role of motivating youth should not lie solely on the government. While an effective leadership is always expected of the goverment, the same should apply to the non-government institutions, NGO’s, since only with an effective leadership the Brunei Youth Council is able to motivate youths in Brunei Darussalam.

The day-long congress ended with the announcement on the MBB new executive committee members for session 2005 to 2007. The new president of the council is Professor Madya Doctor Haji Hashim bin Haji Abd Hamid.

Residents in Kampung Sinaut of Mukim Keriam in the Tutong District voted to nominate a new Ketua Kampung yesterday. It took place at the "Dewan Pusat Sumber Sinaut". Two hundred and fifty-three people cast their ballots for the new Head of Village.

Present at the ceremony was the Acting Tutong District Officer, Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Haji Muhammad Idris. Two candidates vied for the post. They are Awang Haji Sidek bin Haji Mesir and Awang Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Muhammad Yusof. 47-year-old Awang Haji Sidek, was a former employee of the Brunei Shell Petroleum Company for 26 years.

Meanwhile, 61-year old Awang Haji Abdul Razak worked at the Ministry of Defence for 17 years. Results showed Haji Sidek won the majority votes with nearly eighty-two percent, or two hundred and seven votes and forty- four votes for Awang Abdul Razak.

The Brunei Darussalam National Relief Fund for The Tsunami Victims continues to receive donations from various organisations and the public.

As of Sunday afternoon, the Fund had recorded a total amount of more than one million 600 thousand dollars. The amount includes more than 62 thousand dollars of donations pledged. Total amount of donations received was more than one million 570 thousand dollars.

Meanwhile, the amount of donations through the SMS Brunei Prihatin service now stands at more than 160 thousand dollars. The figure was quoted until 9:30 this evening.

Members of the public continue to raise money for the Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund. Earlier Sunday, a walkathon was held at the Jerudong Park Amphitheatre, sponsored by the Mukim Sengkurong and Mukim Pengkalan Batu Consultative Councils as well as the Ministry of Home Affairs and departments under it.

The morning's activities began with an exercise in preparation for the walk. The walkathon was not only aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle. Participants of the walk were also encouraged to donate to the tsunami relief fund.

The walkathon began and ended at the car park of the Jerudong Park Ampitheature. Joining the walkathon was the Acting Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Awang Haji Adanan; the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, Dato Awang Haji Yusoff bin Haji Ismail; officers and staff of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the various departments under it as well as members of the public.