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Open Burning activities ban and offenders will be punish
Brunei Darussalam is still experiencing a hazy
condition. Ground surveillance carried out by the
Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation, JASTRE,
over the past week, has also shown that open burning
activities are still rampant and carried out in many
locations in the country, especially during the evening
hours. These activities had worsened the hazy condition.
To prevent the air quality from degrading, the Minister
of Development, Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato
Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdullah, has declared a
Prescribed Period to ban open burning activities under
the Penal Code Section 277A, with effect from Tuesday.
Under the section, the public is refrained from
conducting any open burning activities. Offenders will
be punished with a fine not exceeding $100,000.00. If
such offences cause pollution to the atmosphere or
endanger human life or property, the punishment is a
fine of unlimited amount and or imprisonment for a term
of up to 5 years. To enforce the provision, JASTRE will
continue to closely monitor the air quality and conduct
joint efforts with other relevant authorities to curb
open burning activities during the prescribed period.
Preparation confronting hazy issues conference
The National Disaster Management Centre has held a press
conference on the Centre's preparation in confronting
issues related to weather phenomena over the next few
months. The press conference was attended Tuesday by
representatives from the Fire and Rescue Services,
Metrological section of the Civil Aviation, Department
of Environment Recreation and Parks as well as the
Medical Services Department. Among the issued discussed
were the current air quality, suggestion and advice
regarding the matter. The main objective was to inform
the public on the measures that had been and will be
taken by relevant agencies in facing the current dry
spell hitting the country. The press conference was
chaired by the Director of the Department of Fire and
Rescue services as the Director of National Disaster
Management Centre, Awang Yahya bin Haji Abdul Rahman.
According to the Metrological Services Section,
Department of Civil Aviation, the rate of rainfall is
expected to decrease around 20 to 40 percent or more
from the long term total average rainfall and expected
to be below normal average. Meanwhile, the Department of
Environment, Recreation and Parks has implemented
precautions to overcome the dry spell in the country.
Monitoring efforts by the department shows that total
number of 'hot spots' has increased since the beginning
of the month. Air quality monitoring continue to be
carried out in all the four districts and at the same
time the department announced that the 'Open Burning'
banning order is now enforced as from today and related
agencies will intensify their patrols to ensure the ban
is respected. The Fire and Rescue Services, meanwhile,
reported that there has been an increase in reports of
fire however the forest fires in the country is under
control. Apart from conducting rapid patrol and survey
over burned areas the department also took initiatives
to re-activate Fire fighting committee in all the
district. As the current air quality could have an
effect on health, members of the public are urged to be
cautious. The Medical Health Services announced a health
guideline in confronting the haze. According to the
department, PSI reading of below 50 will have no adverse
effect on health. From 50 to 100 are considered moderate
but could cause coughing, fever and sore eyes. However
if the PSI reading stands at 101 to 200 are considered
unhealthy and sufferers of lung and heath diseases might
have a higher risk.
Religious activities against H1N1 continues
As the country is now hit by Influenza A H1N1 epidemic,
religious practices, zikir and prayers are enhanced,
apart from control and preventive measures being taken
to avoid the infection. In this regard, the Pengiran
Muda Abdul Azim Religious School, Serasa, held mass
sunat hajat prayer, Tuesday. The ceremony began with the
Sunnat Hajat Prayer, followed by Quran-reading, zikir
and doa tolak bala, to ward off disasters. Present with
the congregation was the Deputy Minister of Religious
Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka
Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin.
Doa or prayer is among the best means to seek blessings,
guidance and rewards from Allah the Almighty after
taking steps towards achieving any objective. As do the
other districts, the Tutong District is also holding
prayers in seeking Allah's protection against any
disasters. Mass Sunnat Hajat Prayers were held at all
mosque, suraus and religious halls in the district in
seeking Allah's blessing so that Brunei Darussalam is
protected from undesirable incidents. Qunut Nazillah was
read during the obligatory prayers in seeking everything
good and pleasant for life in this world and the
hereafter. Apart from that, the selawat and zikir are
also practised daily in efforts to allay fears against
any hardship and sufferings. The congregation comprised
officers and staff of government departments as well as
youths in the district.
Saudi Arabian Embassy continues contributing Holy Al-Quran
The Saudi Arabian Embassy continues to contribute the
holy Al-quran to educational institutions in the
country. Tuesday, the embassy contributed 150 copies of
the Holy Al-Quran to the Muda Hashim Secondary School in
the Tutong District. The contribution was presented by
the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Brunei Darussalam, His
Excellency Mohammad Jameel Abdul Jaleel, to the Deputy
Principal of the Muda Hashim Secondary School.
Photographers advised to dress well
Photographers should always show courtesy in their
behaviour and the way they dress which should reflect
the nobility of the Bruneian adat istiadat or ceremonial
customs, especially at official ceremonies. In doing so,
they could become an example to their counterparts from
other countries. The Director of Information made the
reminder at a prize-presentation ceremony for the
Photographic Competition organised by the Information
Department. Dr. Haji Muhammad Hadi also advised the
Information Department's photographers to uphold the
department's image in carrying out their duties and
responsibilities especially at official ceremonies.
Ampuan Haji Mahmud Ampuan Haji Tengah emerged as the
champion in the Photographers Category, while Awang
Samlee Haji Jait won in the staff category. The
competition was aimed at producing quality journalism
photographers apart from further improving the quality
of the product and services to the public in line with
the development of Information Technology.
Annual CARAT 2009 exercise
The Brunei phase of the annual Cooperation Afloat
Readiness and Training, CARAT 2009 exercise involving
Brunei and U.S navies has begun in Brunei Darussalam
with the arrival of four US Navy ships. The opening
ceremony was held Tuesday on board the USS Crommelin FFG
37. Officiating at the event was the Commander of the
Logistic Group for Western Pacific, Rear Admiral Nora W.
Tyson. Also present was the Commander of the Royal
Brunei Navy, Colonel Hj Abdul Halim bin Abu Hanifah.
This is the 15th series of CARAT exercise between the
Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the United States Navy.
CARAT remains a high point of excellent bilateral
defense cooperation between the armed forces of both
countries, which grows from strength to strength with
every passing year for the past 14 years. The Rear
Admiral said that the exercises are important because
they offer the navies the opportunity to work alongside
one another in different environments and learn from
each other, honing skills while building relationship
and trust.
...........[End
News]
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