Developing and training human resources should not be simply about producing better skilled workers, but also positive members of society as well. The need is to mould and train highly skilled workers while imbuing them with certain moral and ethical values, such that they can positively contribute towards the society as a whole. The Minister of Education, Pehin Dato Awang Haji Abdul Aziz, outlined this in a keynote address on the second day of the Brunei International HRD Convention and Exhibition Wednesday.

Yang Berhormat Pehin who spoke on the base of "Building the New Human Resource Base, the Brunei Perspective", said while preparing the youth with future careers, emphasis must also be placed upon their moral and ethical makeup. Basic values such as honesty, integrity and compassion, he added, have long been taken for granted. He said for these reasons, Brunei seeks to fully integrate a system that prepares its youth with the skills and tools required for workers of the future, while at the same time being instilled with Islamic learning and values - knowledge and values that espouse honesty, truthfulness, integrity, accountability and compassion.

Brunei Darussalam's integrated education curriculum, commonly referred to as 'Kurikulum bersepadu', is design to bring together elements of these values from an Islamic prospective into the regular school curriculum, alongside other academic subjects. The Minister went on to say that the education of the nation's future generation should be holistic, considering the spiritual, mental and physical development as a whole package rather than compartmentalised.

Delegates attending the first Brunei International Human Resource Development, HRD, Convention and Exhibition were Wednesday night entertained to a gala dinner. Among those present was the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Abd Hamid.

The gala dinner among other things aimed to showcase the local culture of Brunei, especially to the international delegates, as well providing opportunities for them to share ideas of the current issues and topics on HRD.

Today the convention will continue with a number of mega sessions pertaining to several HRD related topics. The overall aim of the convention is to contribute to the ASEAN-EC Management Centre's strategies to strengthen the regional economy's demand in seeking a competent workforce.

The national carrier, Royal Brunei Airlines, which transported Brunei's tsunami relief donations, arrived in Medan, Indonesia Wednesday. The flight was carrying items collected and contributed by the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation, the Ministry of Health and the Brunei Armed Forces to survivors in Indonesia's tsunami hit province, Aceh. It was the first humanitarian flight operated by Royal Brunei Airlines and the third batch to be sent by the foundation.

The mercy flight landed at Polonia Airport, Medan at 12.50 in the afternoon with some 17 tonnes of relief items that comprised medical supplies and materials as well as foodstuff to help save the survivors from disease and hunger. Joining the mercy flight mission are RBA's Chairman, Pehin Dato Haji Hazair and a member of the board and management of the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation, Dato Paduka Haji Zakaria bin Haji Jeneh as well as a medical team from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, the foundation's officers and its volunteers.

At the airport, Dato Paduka Haji Zakaria handed the contribution from Brunei to an Indonesian Government Representative at the Department of Communication, Bapak Benny K Sirait S-S. From Medan, the relief donations and volunteers will be flown to the foundation's relief base in Sabang, Northern Acheh, that accommodates all humanitarian personnel from this country. The items will later be distributed to identified locations by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces' Black Hawk.

Syarikat Petrel Jaya and Syarikat Telnet Communications each donated a sum of two thousand dollars, Commverge Solutions J V contributed 3 thousand dollars, Syarikat Sapuri two thousand dollars, Syarikat Mach Telecommunication, three hundred dollars and the Nursing Services Department of the Ministry of Health contributed one thousand dollars. The donations were received by the Chairman of the Foundation's Board of Directors, Pehin Dato Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin.

The killer Tsunami that demolished many parts of Aceh province and Nias in Northern Sumatera last month have left many children orphaned. The fate of these children is a grave concern, says a local religious leader who spoke to the RTB crew that covered the relief operation at Banda Aceh's Masjid Raya Baiturrahmah. The man who spoke to RTB's Head of News, Current Affairs and Sports, Haji Johari Achee, says that Bruneians’ could adopt the orphans and send money for their sustenance in Aceh which would be around 35 Brunei dollars per child per month, although, taking an orphan for adoption to Brunei is not feasible.

The religious official adds assistance is needed for the children because there's fear that they could be taken by non-Muslims who reside in Aceh. He hopes for the message to be conveyed to relevant authorities in Brunei and also be well received by ordinary Bruneians’. On another issue, the religious official highlights the need for a helicopter to transport aid to areas where international relief teams have not been able to reach due to the massive damage on communication facilities and other infrastructures.

The total donation received from various organisations and the public to the Brunei Darussalam National Relief Fund for the Tsunami Victims currently stands at more than 1 million 6 hundred and 90 dollars. The amount includes more than 62 thousand 5 hundred dollars of pledged donations.