BACK
His Majesty visits Royal Brunei Naval Base in Muara
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah Sultan and yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam Tuesday made a visit to the Royal Brunei Naval Base in Muara to take a closer look at the development of the Royal Brunei Navy. His Majesty was greeted upon arrival by Deputy Minister of Defence, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Sanggamara Diraja Retired Major General Pengiran Haji Ibnu Basi'th; Commander of RBAF, Pehin Major General Dato Haji Awang Halbi; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Pehin Colonel Dato Haji Mohammad Yasmin and the Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy, Colonel Johari bin Haji Metussin.

His Majesty then made his way to the Royal Brunei Navy headquarters. Here, His Majesty consented to receive the Royal Salute and inspected a guard of honour. His Majesty, who is the Minister of Defence and the Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, was briefed on the general aspects of the Royal Brunei Navy including the ongoing plans of expansion. This was followed by the question and answer session. His Majesty then proceeded to the rooftop to view the site of the naval base. Before leaving the headquarters His Majesty consented to sign a parchment.

His Majesty then proceeded to one of the naval ship, the KDB Sateria and was briefed on the navigational equipment and facilities on board. His Majesty also visited the Pengkalan Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei Primary School. Currently there are about forty teachers teaching about three hundred and fifty pupils in this Primary School. Armed forces personnel give top priority to good health, optimum physical and mental fitness. Part of these requirements is fulfilled by facilities such as the gymnasium, which the Monarch took a closer look at.

During the visit, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam also took the opportunity to witness how food is being prepared and served to the Royal Brunei Navy. His Majesty visited the multipurpose hall which also functions as a dining hall. His Majesty took a close look at the quality of foods being cooked and prepared. His Majesty then proceeded to a workshop where boats and other machinery are repaired.

At the Logistics Store, His Majesty focused his attention on the use of computers there. His Majesty was very interested to find out how efficient the computerised system was in handling daily work. In-line with his vision in developing and expanding the E-government system, the Monarch hopes the computerised system really establishes an effective and efficient administration and avoids wastage. The Royal Brunei Navy has a very organised Human Resource Development System. It has its own Technical Training School, where 85 students currently attend various courses, including electronics.

The Monarch also visited three houses belonging to navy officers; two of them are homes to Warrant Officers One and Two. The Monarch later consented to grace a luncheon with officers of the Royal Brunei Navy and officials from the Ministry of Defence. His Majesty then consented to visit the home of the Commander of the Royal Navy, Navy Colonel Haji Joharie and his family.

One of the interesting aspects of his Majesty's visit was the tour to the Decompression Chamber. The chamber is an equipment for treating diving related sickness and it acts as a hyperbaric therapy. The Monarch also visited the Family and Dental clinic provided especially for the Royal Navy personnel and their families. The clinic is headed by a local doctor. His Majesty took a short break at the Warrant Officers and Sergeants Mess, before leaving the base. Before His Majesty's departure, Doa Selamat was read by a Senior Religious Officer of the Royal Armed Forces.
Education officials discuss forms of aid for tsunami victims

The Minister of Education, Pehin Dato Haji Awang Abdul Aziz has urged headmasters and principles to extend whatever aid is possible to the tsunami victims. Anything from medicine and water to school-books and stationary can be utilised to help the survivors of the disaster, especially the children. At the moment, he said, school headmasters and principals are discussing what kind of aid Bruneians can give in both the short and long term.

According to the minister the assistance urgently needed is school facilities for children. The Ministerof Education also held a discussion with the vice chancellor of University of Brunei Darussalam on whether university students can give assistance. Yang Berhormat said he did not overrule the possibility of the country sending volunteers to Aceh or Phuket. There are some 170 thousand Muslims reported stranded in Phuket.
Public comes together to raise funds for tsunami victims
Individuals, associations and organisations in the country who wish to organise any charity activities by contributing one hundred percent from the proceeds for the victims of the Tsunami Disaster Fund should forward their application to the Committee Members of the Fund. While those who want to conduct activities by contributing some of the proceeds from the charity should forward it directly to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Assistant Director of Community Development, Awang Husaini bin Abdullah told RTB said that there are public or individuals collecting donations without permission from the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport. Awang Husaini said the boxes collection for the fund will be placed at mosques, suraus, shopping complexes, airport, fuel filling stations and districts offices throughout the country. The formation of the fund is to give an opportunity for the rakyat and residents in the country to contribute in anyway they can to help the survivors of the disaster.

By 4.30 Tuesday afternoon, the fund had collected a total amount of more than 333, 636 dollars. Members of the public, associations and organisations who wish to contribute donations can contact the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports through telephone numbers: 2380667 or 2380693 and the Community Development Department telephone number: 2380705 or at any an authorized fund collecting.
Scouts Association organizes charity fund to help tsunami victims

More donations from the public for the victims of the tsunami tragedy are pouring in. One association which organised a charity fund is the Scouts Association of Brunei Darussalam. The Head Commissioner of the Association, Awang Zainal Abidin bin Penghulu Haji Ibrahim says that the fund has received donations since the 31st of December. He said response from members of the association is also very encouraging where each of them donated at least one dollar.

The contributions, in the form of clothing, are open from the first of this month until the end of the month while financial donations are open until the 31st of March. The money may be used to buy medicine and food. The first shipment will be on the 12th of this month and once arrived in Medan will be distributed by Pramuka or the Scouts Association of the Republic of Indonesia to the victims in Aceh.
Agreement outlines strategic plans on mushroom breeding
To formulate short and long term strategic plans to develop mushroom breeding in Brunei Darussalam, an agreement was signed between the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources a private company from Australia. Signing the agreement Tuesday were the Director of Agriculture, Doctor Awang Haji Mohammad Yussof bin Haji Mohiddin and the Regional Director, Project Manager and Coordinator of the Piccone Horticultural Consultants Pty Ltd, Mrs. Marie Frances Giddens.

The agreement was for a consultancy project of Mushroom Collection, Breeding and Commercialisation in Brunei Darussalam. The consultancy project will be carried out in four phases which will take 15 months. The phases include the formulation of short and long term strategic plans to develop mushroom breeding in Brunei Darussalam, and the establishment of suitable culturing, breeding and spawning. It is also to cultivate techniques to produce selected local mushroom industry and skill development, as well as recommendation and documentation of methodology in controlling contamination, pests and diseases in the mushroom industry.
BACK