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His Majesty sends congratulatory messages to Myanmar Leaders
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizaddin Wadaullah, the Sultan and Yang Dipertuan of Brunei Darussalam, expresses his satisfaction with the warm and friendly relations, as well as the deep understanding that have long been established between the sultanate and the Union of Myanmar. His Majesty hopes the cordial ties would be maintained and enhanced in the future for the good of the two countries and people. The message is contained in His Majesty's congratulatory messages to the Minister of the Union of Myanmar, His Excellency Lieutenant General Soe Win; and Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of The Union of Myanmar, His Excellency Senior General Than Shwe, on the occasion of the Independence of Myanmar.

In the message, His Majesty hopes that His Excellency Soe Win would always remain in good health and happiness, and for the people of Myanmar to always enjoy continued progress and prosperity. To His Excellency Than Shwe, His Majesty congratulates him and the Government and People of Myanmar on the special occasion.

Meanwhile, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, also sends a similar message to his Myanmar counterpart, His Excellency Major Ganeral Nyan Win, in conjunction with the Independence Day of The Union of Myanmar. In his message, His Royal Highness expresses happiness to have met His Excellency during the ASEAN Summit in Laos, and looks forward to working closely with His Excellency to strengthen the bilateral and regional cooperation.
His Majesty grants audience to outgoing Chinese Ambassador
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizaddin Wadaullah, the Sultan and Yang Dipertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Monday consented to receive the outgoing Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to Brunei Darussalam. The audience took place at Istana Nurul Iman.

His Majesty received His Excellency Wei Wei, who has been the Chinese Ambassador to Brunei since 2003 and will end his tenure this year. Also present during the audience was the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, Yang Berhormat Pehin Dato Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar.

His Majesty consents to the transfer of top government officials
By command of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Dipertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister's Office announced that His Majesty has consented to appoint a new Permanent Secretary and to transfer several Permanent Secretaries and a Deputy Permanent Secretary.

Under the command, Awang Haji Mohd Hamid bin Haji Mohd Jaafar, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is appointed as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.

Dato Paduka Awang Haji Idris bin Haji Belaman, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources is transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs as the Permanent Secretary.

Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yusoff bin Haji Ismail, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs is transferred to the Ministry of Home Affairs as the Permanent Secretary.

Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Mohiddin, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs is transferred to the Ministry of Religious Affairs as the Permanent Secretary.

Dato Paduka Awang Haji Md Yusuf bin Haji Md Hassan, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs is transferred to the Ministry of Communications as the Permanent Secretary.

And Awang Haji Mahadi bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Diraja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Abdul Rahman, the Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health is transferred to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as the Deputy Permanent Secretary.

All the appointment and transfers take effect from today.
Outgoing Chinese Ambassador is granted a Royal audience
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Mutadee Billah, the Crown Prince, Monday consented to receive in audience the outgoing Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China, His Excellency Wei Wei. The occasion took place at Istana Nurul Iman.

Also present during the audience was the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, Yang Berhormat Pehin Dato Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar.

Meanwhile, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, also received the outgoing Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China. His Royal Highness received His Excellency Wei Wei at the Balai Penghadapan, Bukit Kayangan.
Ceremony marks opening of the Naubat after mourning period
A ceremony marking the opening of the naubat or "Istiadat Membuka Naubat" was held Monday at the Lapau in the capital. The naubat was closed for twenty days following the demise of Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Maharajalela Lela Sahibul Kahar Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Yusof ibni Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam on the 13th December 2004 at the age of 56.

The opening of the naubat was conducted in the presence of Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz, Yang Dipertua of Adat Istiadat Negara. The bertahlil and tahlil prayer was led by Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Imam Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Awang Haji Abdul Hamid Bin Bakal.

Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Maharaja Lela Sahibul Kahar Pengiran Anak Haji Mohd Yusof was a brother of Her Majesty the Raja Isteri and the husband of Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Norain binti Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Saadul Khairi Waddien. For his services, the late Yang Amat Mulia was conferred the title of Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Maharaja Lela Sahibul Kahar in July 1968 by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Dipertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

The Doa selamat prayer was read by the State Mufti, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Aziz. There was also a mass maghrib prayer led by the State Mufti. Present at the ceremony were Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Cheterias, cabinet ministers, members of councils, deputy ministers, pengirans, yang dimuliakan pehins and senior government officials.
Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund collects over 300 thousand dollars
The Tsunami Disaster Relief Fund has so far collected more than three-hundred thousand dollars. The amount, which included pledges from donors, was raised shortly after the launching of the humanitarian fund by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.

The Relief Fund for the tsunami victims was launched Monday by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Yang Berhormat Pehin Dato Doctor Haji Awang Hussin, and the Minister of Religious Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pehin Dato Doctor Ustaz Haji Awang Mohd Zain. Both Ministers are the Co-Advisors for fund's Committee.

Prior to the launching of the fund, the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, in his address said that Brunei also shares the grief of the victims of the disaster which has recently affected some of the neighbouring countries. The formation of fund, Yang Berhormat Pehin said, is to give an opportunity for the rakyat and residents from every level to contribute in anyway they can to help the survivors of the disaster. It was followed with a meeting for members of the Fund Committee, co-chaired by the Permanent Secretaries at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Religious Affairs to handle all matters related to the Fund.

Members of the Fund Committee comprised representatives of government and non-government agencies. The committee is responsible in conducting any matters related to the collection of donation from the public in the country. According to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Awang Haji Jemat bin Ampal, the donation should preferably be in the form of cash as the transaction is more flexible. Since the fund was formed less than a week ago, an overwhelming response has been received from members of the public. The donation will be handed over in stages to the tsunami survivors as soon as possible.
Brunei Embassies monitor citizens in Tsunami affected areas
RTB News Centre has contacted the Brunei Embassies in Thailand and Indonesia, as well as the Brunei High Commission in Malaysia, to get the latest developments on whether any Brunei citizens are involved in the tsunami disaster in the three ASEAN countries.

The Brunei Temporary Charge D'Affairs in Thailand, Awang Zaini bin Hj Mahmud, explained that the embassy received a telephone call from a Brunei citizen who reported that his daughter and a friend were at one of the islands in Thailand when the tsunami struck on the 26th of December. According to him, the two were attending a scuba diving course. Until now, the family has not received any news from them. The Brunei Embassy has been trying to contact the relevant authorities in Thailand to provide information regarding the two citizens.

The Brunei Ambassador in Jakarta, His Excellency Dato Paduka Seri Setia Doctor Hj Mohd Amin, said the Embassy is still monitoring the situation in Indonesia following the disaster. Until today, no Bruneians are reported to have been involved in the disaster.

Meanwhile, the First Secretary of the Brunei High Commission in Malaysia, Awang Hj Sufian bin Pehin Orang Kaya Maharaja Selia Awg Hj Mohd Tarif, said the high commission office is also following closely the developments in places where the disaster struck. The high commission office has received calls from a Brunei student in Penang, and reported that the student is safe and sound.
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