His Majesty consented to receive in audience His Excellency George Yeo Yong Boon at Istana Nurul Iman, Tuesday.  During the audience, His Excellency was accompanied by the High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore to Brunei Darussalam, His Excellency Joseph K.H. Koh and the Director of Southeast Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Mr. Peter Tan.  Also present were the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng; the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Abu Bakar and the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dato Paduka Haji Shofry. 

Meanwhile, Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha consented to receive in audience the wife of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Singapore.  Her Majesty consented to receive Mrs. Jennifer Yeo at another part of the Istana Nurul Iman.  

Accompanying Mrs. Jennifer Yeo at the audience ceremony were the wife of the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Her Excellency Tan Bee Yong and wife of High Commissioner of Republic of Singapore to Brunei Darussalam, Madam Peifen P.H. Chu.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince received in audience His Excellency George Yeo Yong Boon at Istana Nurul Iman.  During the audience, His Excellency George Yeo Yong Boon was accompanied by the Director of Southeast Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore, Mr. Peter Tan.

Also present were the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Abu Bakar and the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Dato Paduka Haji Shofry and the High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore to Brunei Darussalam, His Excellency Joseph K.H Koh.  His Excellency George Yeo Yong Boon is in the country for a three-day official visit. 

The reception took place at the Balai Penghadapan, Bukit Kayangan.  Also present was Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.  His Excellency is on a three-day working visit to the sultanate.

His Royal Highness was also introduced to members of the visiting delegation.  The Lao delegation comprised the country’s President of Planning and Investment Committee, the Minister of Education, the Minister of Industry and Trade, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and other senior officials.  Brunei Darussalam and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic established diplomatic relations on the 27th of July 1993.

The flood water has left an ugly mark on wall such as at the Community Centre of Kampung Senukoh.  This was mainly due to the location of the place which is close to the river.

Another badly affected area was Kampung Bokok.  During the visit of the Minister’s delegation, the residents and personnel of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces were giving a helping hand to the staff of the Bokok Primary School in cleaning up the school compound.

The delegations also visited several relief centres for the flood victims including the Civic Centre of the Kampung Rataie National Housing Scheme.  The objective of the visit was to assess the damage caused by the flood.  The main concern of the Acting Minister is the well being of the residents.  Besides holding talks with the ketua kampungs and residents of the affected areas, the Pehin also advised parents to keep watch of the whereabouts of their young children.  He also reminded the residents to take extra precautionary measures during this rainy season in order to avoid any mishap.

The new product was launched by the Deputy Minister of Development, Dato Paduka Doctor Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohammad Hussein who is also the Chairman of TAIB. The Ar-Rizq Deposit Account allows existing or potential customers to deposit a short-term Syariah Compliant Deposit within a period of 3, 6 or 9 months, based on Al-Wadiah Yadh Dhamanah or Guarantee Safe Custody concept.  This is a continuing effort by Perbadanan TAIB to diversify its existing products and services to enable customers to choose best-suited products for their financial needs and at the same time inculcate saving habits to all citizens and permanent residents of the nation.  It is not prerogative to Muslims only but it is opened to non-Muslim individuals, companies and corporate entities.

A question and answer session was held soon after the launching that took place at a hotel in Gadong.

The briefings covered the field of architectures, surveying materials and engineering.  The session also touched on the requirements of academic, job descriptions, roles and regulations of the Ministry of Communications as well as sharing work information. Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Na’afiah Khairul Bulqiah, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Hafiyyah and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Nurul Amal Munjiayatul Athirah were among those present at the event.  Also there were students from the Sultan Saiful Rijal Technical College and the Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College.

An exhibition is also set up at the Ministry of Development in Berakas organised by the Housing Development Department.  Seventeen companies are involved in the exhibition. Members of public, especially those who are planning to build or renovate their houses are welcomed.  The exhibition is open for ten days including Friday and Sunday from half past eight in the morning until 5 in the afternoon.

The Hassanal Bolkiah Boys Arabic School achieved 100 percent pass in at least one subject.  Nearly all colleges and schools showed an increase in obtaining one ‘A’ level and 2 ‘A’ levels.  In the Brunei-Cambridge GCE ‘AS’ Level, 597 candidates sat for the exams, 516 candidates or 86.43 percent obtained at least one subject and 404 candidates or 67.67 percent obtained at least 2 subjects of ‘AS’ Level.  Overall, 60 candidates from 597 or 10.05 percent got at least grade ‘A’ in two subjects.  While in the Brunei-Cambridge GCE ‘O’ Level, 7,016 candidates sat for the exams.  Out of the number, 4,165 candidates or 59.36 percent obtained at least 3 ‘O’ levels with school candidates achieved 63.65 percent. 

Students can collect their result slip at their respective schools while private candidates are requested to get theirs at the Examinations Department in Berakas during working hours.  It is also informed that students who wish to sit for the Brunei-Cambridge GCE ‘A’, ‘AS’ and ‘O’ Levels Examinations in June this year, to register directly to their respective schools as soon as possible.

According to the Acting Director of Haj Management, Pengiran Haji Mustafa, the country’s pilgrims have expressed their satisfaction on the facilities provided during the last Haj season.  He also stressed on the advantage shared by the pilgrims during the haj. This year, he said, the pilgrims performed Ibadat Ukuf which falls on Friday and while in the Plain of Arafat they were housed in comfortable tents and enjoyed all the facilities provided by the Southeast Asian Haj Management.  

While in Mina, he added, Brunei’s pilgrims were settled in tents located near the Jemarah or the site of stoning the devils. The pilgrims, he said, were also able to perform the rituals with ease following the renovations made on the sites by the Government of Saudi Arabia.  The pilgrims, he said, have also expressed their gratitude for being able to perform the ritual safely albeit the long wait due to new regulations imposed by the authorities concern.