His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, Sunday consented to give away prizes to the winners of the 5th Inter-Ministry Golf Tournament. The championship was organised in conjunction with the Civil Service Day.

His Royal Highness then consented to hand over prizes to the winners. The Ministry of Home Affairs won the team event. The event is to vie for the challenge trophy contributed by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince himself.

The individual event was won by Haji Raya bin Dollah from the Ministry of Home Affairs. For Division 'A' with handicap 0 to 9, the prize was won by Ali bin Haji Rashid of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Division 'B' with handicap 10 to 18 was won by Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Anggas from the Prime Minister's Office. Meanwhile, Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Mohiddin won Division 'C' with handicap 19 to 24.

The grand prize for a Hole-In-One went to Alfred Shim. Alfred, one of the invited players in the category, won himself a brand new Suzuki motorcycle.

His Royal Highness also received a pesambah from the organizing committee. More than 170 golfers took part in the annual tournament which kicked off on Friday. Apart from enhancing relationship between the ministries, the championship also tries to instill the spirit of sportsmanship among the officers and staff of the civil service.

The tournament was opened to golfers with handicap below 24 and was divided into 8 categories, including team and individual category.

There are a number of institutions, organisations and individuals who are committed to disseminating and improving the quality of Quran-reading among those who are interested. It is up to the individual to take full advantage of the facilities that are available.

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Rahman, was speaking at the closing ceremony of a workshop to improve the quality of Quran reading. Dato Haji Abdul Rahman went on to outline the steps that have been taken by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, especially the Centre of Learning and Spreading Al-Quran in providing adequate resources and facilities for the Qari and Qariah with potential. Apart from the workshop, the centre also holds "halaqah tilawati Quran" or Quran reading competitions at various mosques where members of the public are invited to compete.

The Permanent Secretary also presented certificates to 40 participants of the workshop. The readers were selected among those who have successfully competed up to semi final level in national level Quran reading competitions in the last three years, and those who had competed up to semi final or final level in international Quran reading competitions.

Various organisations in the country continued to give financial assistance to the Humanitarian Relief Fund for the Tsunami Victims in Aceh. The Lumapas Primary School and the Kampung Lumapas Youth Association Sunday donated a sum of two thousand four hundred and sixty dollars to the fund.

The donation was presented by the Penghulu Mukim Lumapas, Awang Haji Bakar bin Mansur, to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Awang Haji Jemat bin Ampal. The money was raised through a three-day charity bazaar and the sale of tickets of a football match.

Residents of Kampung Sungai Akar, who have been without a village leader, have cast their ballots to choose one. From some 793 people who are eligible to vote, only about 200 turned up at the election. The voting was conducted in the presence of the Assistant Brunei Muara District Officer, Awang Haji Jamain bin Momin. It was held at the Brunei Malay Teachers Association's Secondary School.

Only one candidate vied for the post. He is Awang Haji Abdul Samad bin Haji Abdul Rahman, 61 years-old, and a former grade one clerk at the Municipal Department. After all the ballots were counted, the result showed that the sole candidate failed to gain the maximum number of votes to enable him to get the position. Based on the result, Awang Haji Abdul Samad won 66 votes out of the nearly 200 votes, and five were void.

Kampung Sungai Akar is one of the villages under Mukim Berakas "B". It has a population of about three thousand and six hundred people. The post of the village leader is currently held by former kampung ketua, Awang Haji Abdul Malik bin Aliahmad, who serves on a month-to-month basis.

The latest clash in the Malaysia Premier League 2005 saw Brunei lose to Pulau Pinang NTFA, one goal to two, in a home match at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.

Among the spectators were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah, and His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Malik.

Pulau Pinang NTFA's first goal was made in the fifth minute by Rosli Azizan. Brunei equalised in the 46th minute through Fadlin Galawat. In the second half of the match, the visitors secured their victory with another goal, resulting in 2-1 in their favour.