The Civil Service Department of the Prime Minister’s Office has announced that His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to appoint Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Doctor Haji Mohammad bin Pengiran Haji Abd Rahman, the Deputy Minister of Education, as the Interim Rector of University Islam Brunei, which is now known as University Islam Sultan Sharif Ali, UNISSA, in addition to his duty as the Deputy Minister of Education.

His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah, left for Siem Reap, Cambodia, Wednesday, where His Royal Highness will attend the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat.  

Ketuas to discuss problems faced by their people.  The Minister of Home Affairs laid the emphasis at a gathering and dialogue with the penghulus, kampung ketuas and heads of longhouse, Wednesday.  

Bandar Seri Begawan play host to the Second Meeting of Sub-Regional Ministerial Steering Committee on trans boundary haze pollution.  The meeting was a follow up to the first such meeting held in Cebu in the Philippines in November last year.  

To provide a conducive learning environment, the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah now has its own building for secondary students located at Jalan Kebangsaan.  The Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation Secondary School is close to Yayasan’s Kindergarten and Primary school.  

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Retired Major General Pehin Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Haji Mohammad, who’s also the School Administration Board’s Deputy Chairman, toured the building, Wednesday.  The school is equipped with the latest facilities to provide a conducive teaching and learning environment.  With the increasing number of secondary schools in the private education institute, it’s hoped to help the government widen and upgrade education standards in the country.  This is inline with His Majesty’s Government aim to create more high quality human resources.

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport said the young generation plays a role and responsibility in maintaining peace and prosperity of the nation.  The spirit of loving the nation should be instilled based on Islamic teachings and the responsibility towards the community and the nation.  

Retired Major General Pehin Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Haji Mohammad was speaking at the closing of the Programme on Youth Loves the Nation 2007, Wednesday.  Apart from upgrading the national spirit and sense of belongings among the youth, the programme was also intended at improving the quality of life especially ties with their association and the religion.  The other aim was to strengthen their physical fitness and also their inner spirit.

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on the 23rd National Day urged the Public Service to be open minded, play up their strengths and be proactive in achieving excellence.  In respond to the royal call, the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources has launched E-MIPR in phases, as its Business Facilitation Services delivery.

The Ministry’s Chief Information Officer stated this at a media briefing on E-MIPR’s launch at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources in Berakas, Wednesday.

Entrepreneurs, investors and the public in general can access through a “single window” - the E-MIPR Business Facilitation Services to secure industry and primary resources information.  It also allows feedback for improvement to the relevant services at the ministry and its departments.  Meanwhile, ministry and department officers have a secure integrated source of information, automation of office tasks and electronic management.  Work processes are faster, more efficient and friendly.  Work performances and quality of service will be improved.

Also present at the occasion were two local IT companies executive officers, senior officers and Ministry IT officers.  Entrepreneurs and the public may inquire additional information through E-MIPR’s website: www.bruneimipr.gov.bn.

71 students received academic merit prizes and certificates at a presentation ceremony Wednesday at the Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College’s Hall.  Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Na’afiah Khairul Bulqiah was among the recipients. 

The Director of Planning at the Economic Planning and Development Department, Awang Haji Ismail presented prizes and certificates.  62 outstanding students who sat for the 2006 Lower Secondary, ‘O’ Levels, Lower Sixth, and Upper Sixth Exams received the merit prizes and certificates.  Seven students received the Special Challenge Trophy for excellence in Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Mathematics. 

Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Na’afiah Khairul Bulqiah received Miss Siow Siew Eng’s Special Challenge Trophy for ‘O’ Level Physics.  Awang Faezul Rahim bin Jasdi got 8 ‘A’s and 1 ‘B’.  Dayang Nur Amirah Izzati binti Mohd. Nor got 9 ‘A’s.  Both sat for the BGCE ‘O’ Levels, and received the 2006 Special Exemplary and Excellent Student Awards.

Due to popular demand, the “Rokok dan Merokok” or “Cigarettes and Smoking” Book is to be printed in English.  The book features a fatwa or edict by the State Mufti.  In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the State Mufti Office and the Cooperative of the Social and Sport Body or BKSS of the Ministry of Health, Wednesday.  Signing on behalf of the State Mufti Office was its Administration Director, Dato Paduka Ahmad Bukhari. 

BKSS was represented by Awang Haji Mohammad Salleh bin Haji Mohiddin.  One thousand copies will be printed and financed by BKSS.  The book incorporates a range of debates among Mu’tabar Ulamas and health experts on issues pertaining to smoking and cigarettes and which are supported by Dalil Syari’ and scientific evidence.

At the event, the Director of Administration at the State Mufti’s Office received sponsorship from Brunei Shell Marketing to finance the printing and publication of the Fatwa Mufti Kerajaan 2005 books.  The State Mufti, Pehin Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Abdul Aziz was at the ceremony.

The two-day study at University Brunei Darussalam which ended, Wednesday received encouraging response from students.  UBD is expecting about 4,000 applications for their 2007 intake.  Prospective students scrutinised the courses on offer before deciding to pursue further study at University Brunei Darussalam.  

UBD offers mainly English-medium with some Malay and Arabic-medium certificates, diplomas, degrees and postgraduate programmes in eight faculties.  They are arts and social sciences, education, medicine, science, business, economics and policy studies, language, Brunei studies and Islamic studies.  UBD maintains high academic standards.  It has associations with universities overseas and is internationally-accredited.  The event was to expose students on the many programmes offered by UBD along with entry requirements, interactions with academic officers, course coordinators and lecturers.  It allowed parents to understand the program process through their child’s qualifications and ambitions.

Saint Angela’s School in Seria emerged as champion in the 2007 Netball Championship finals for government and private primary schools in the Belait District.  Twelve teams were in the finals late Tuesday at Sungai Tali Lumut Dua Primary School.

In the match, Saint Angela’s beat the Pengiran Setia Jaya Pengiran Abdul Momin Primary School from KB by five points to four.  The Anthony Abel College Principal, Dayang Hajah Rahagi binti Deli presented the prizes.  The tournament was organised by the Belait District Co-Curriculum Department.

The country’s soccer squad for the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy Championship for ASEAN Youths 2007, should be able to show a true spirit of competition and a healthy game among ASEAN youths inline to provide an atmosphere where they can have good interaction through the sporting event especially in the field of soccer.  

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Retired Major General Pehin Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Awang Mohammad who is also the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the championship made the call in a meeting between the minister and players and officials of the Brunei Darussalam team, Wednesday.   

The Minister said the meeting was part of his own commitment to interact with the players and officials and also to inject additional spirit to them.  The meeting was also attended by the President of the country’s amateur soccer association, BAFA, Yang DiMuliakan Lagi DiHormati Pehin Orang Kaya DiGadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Paduka Doctor Haji Awang Hussain who is also the Deputy Chairman of the Executive Committee for the championship.  Also present was the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Awang Haji Ahmad bin Haji Abdul Rahman. The meeting took place at the Ministry of Culture Youth And Sports in Berakas.

The Executive Committee of the Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy for the ASEAN Youth Soccer championship 2007, has announced a slight change to the ‘A’ group fixture.

The change involved a match scheduled for 4th March where Singapore will be playing against defending champions, Thailand and not Malaysia as appeared in the early fixture.  Malaysia will instead take on Vietnam on the 8th of March.  Singapore will face Malaysia and Thailand will meet Vietnam.  Other matches remain unchanged including the fixture for the ‘B’ group.  Brunei Darussalam will play against Cambodia after the official opening of the championship on 3rd March and Myanmar will meet the Philippines in the other opening match at 4 p.m. on the same day.

Brunei DPMM FC has improved tremendously in the Malaysian Super League, after defeating Terengganu 1-nil at a home match last night.  The game was held at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.