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Royal Audience for Malaysian delegation
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddien
Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei
Darussalam, Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah
Saleha and Her Royal Highness Pengiran Isteri Azrinaz
Mazhar consented to receive in audience the Prime
Minister of Malaysia, Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Sri Mohd
Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak and his wife, Yang Amat
Berbahagia Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor who are in
the country for a three-day official visit. The audience
took place at Istana Nurul Iman Wednesday.
During the visit, His Majesty and the Malaysian premier
are also holding the 13th Annual Leaders' Consultation
between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia. Upon arrival at
the Cheradi Laila Kenchana, Istana Nurul Iman, Yang Amat
Berhormat Dato' Sri Mohd Najib and Yang Amat Berbahagia
Datin Paduka Seri Rosmah Mansor were greeted by His
Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei
Darussalam, Her Majesty the Raja Isteri and Her Royal
Highness Pengiran Isteri.
Also present were, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee
Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the
Prime Minister's Office, Her Royal Highness Paduka Seri
Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Sarah binti Pengiran
Salleh Ab' Rahaman, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed
Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Yang
Teramat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah
Zariah, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah
Nuurul Bolkiah and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah
Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs and Trade and other members of the royal family.
The Malaysian delegation joining the audience included
the Prime Minister's family members and several
ministers in the Malaysian government.
Four Eyes Meeting between HM and Malaysian Premier
After the audience, His Majesty and the Malaysian Prime
Minister held a four-eye meeting at another room of the
Istana, the Cheradi Ratna Kenchana. During the meeting,
both leaders renewed their commitment to further
strengthen the close friendly relations and cooperation
shared between Brunei Daurssalam and Malaysia. As
neighbours, they recognised the bond that exists between
the two countries through their common heritage and
culture. His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di Pertuan of
Brunei Darussalam and Yang Amat Berhormat also discussed
a broad range of regional and international issues of
mutual concern, and reaffirmed their unanimous agreement
on the need to work closely in addressing the current
global economic slowdown and pandemic diseases.
After the four-eye meeting, His Majesty the Sultan and
Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam consented to
witness the signing agreement on Double Taxation
Avoidance, DTA, together with Yang Amat Berhormat Dato'
Sri Mohamad Najib. Signing on behalf of Brunei
Darussalam was the Second Minister of Finance, Yang
Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia
Awang Haji Abdul Rahman and signing on behalf of
Malaysia was its Minister of International Trade and
Industry, Yang Berhormat Dato' Mustapa Mohamed. Also
witnessing the signing ceremony were His Royal Highness
Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee, the Crown Prince and Senior
Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, His Royal
Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs and Trade as well as the members of Cabinet of
the two countries. Yang Amat Berhormat Dato' Sri Mohamad
Najib was appointed the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia
on 3rd April this year.
Relationships between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia
have long been established and were further affirmed and
strengthened with the formal establishment of diplomatic
relation in 1984 after Brunei Darussalam assumed full
independence.
Signing of Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement
satisfied both Leaders
Following their meeting of the 13th Annual Leaders
Consultation between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia, His
Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei
Darussalam and the Malaysian Prime Minister, Yang Amat
Berhormat Dato Sri Mohd Najib renewed their commitment
to further strengthen the close friendly relations and
cooperation shared between Brunei Darussalam and
Malaysia. As neighbours, the two leaders recognise the
bond that exists between the two countries through their
common heritage and culture.
This was one of the issues highlighted in a joint
statement after the two leaders met. The joint statement
said both leaders reiterated the significance of the
Exchange of Letters signed on 16th March this year,
which serves as a testament to the strong ties between
the two countries paving the way for both sides to move
forward in elevating the existing friendship and
cooperation to a strategic partnership. They reaffirmed
their commitment to work together towards the
expeditious implementation of elements agreed in the
document.
His Majesty and the Malaysian Premier expressed
satisfaction over the signing Wednesday morning of the
Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement and believe it
will facilitate greater bilateral economic
collaboration. They emphasised the need to further
promote investments between the two countries. In this
regard, they encouraged the public and private sectors
of the two countries to explore new areas of cooperation
in trade and investment including the possibility of
conducting joint third country investments. The joint
statement went on to say that both leaders recognised
the potential for increased cooperation between Brunei
Darussalam and Malaysia especially in Sabah and Sarawak
in such areas as agriculture, Halal products and palm
oil production as well as tourism.
In this regard, they welcome the signing of the MOU
between Sabah Tourism Board and Royal Brunei Airlines in
March this year and the recent code share agreement
between Royal Brunei Airlines and Malaysian Airlines.
They also encouraged further collaboration in
energy-related activities especially in hydro-electric
power and the development of hydrocarbon downstream
industries.
Both leaders expressed pleasure in Brunei Darussalam's
interest to participate in the economic corridors in
Malaysia. Malaysia applauded Brunei Darussalam's
proposal to establish Joint Committees in order to
facilitate and create a more conducive environment
towards promoting cooperation. His Majesty and Yang Amat
Berhormat Dato Sri Najib also discussed abroad range of
regional and international issues of mutual concern, the
statement said. The leaders reaffirmed their unanimous
agreement on the need to work closely in addressing the
current global economic crisis and pandemic diseases
including the influenza A H1N1. The leaders also
commended the close partnership between Brunei
Darussalam and Malaysia in promoting peace, security,
stability and prosperity in the regional and
international arena. They agreed that the 14th Annual
Leaders Consultation will take place in Malaysia in
2010.
Protect and Treat Phase Implementation
Towards ensuring that health centres in the country
implement measures defined under the Protect and Treat
Phase, the Deputy Minister of Health, Yang Dimuliakan
Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Paduka Awang
Hj Hazair, Thursday visited several health centres
including the Gadong Health Centre in Kampung Rimba, the
Berakas 'B' Health Centre in Kampung Sungai Hanching and
the Bandar Seri Begawan Health Centre in Jalan Ong Sum
Ping.
The Protect and Treat Phase for Influenza A H1N1 which
began on the 25th of July, is aimed at protecting those
with high risk of being badly infected by Influenza A
H1N1. In the first week of Protect and Treat Phase
implementation, 4,147 people with Influenza A H1N1
symptoms received treatment at 14 health centres
throughout the country. From the total, 498 cases were
categorised as probable Influenza A H1N1 cases and had
been given Tamiflu anti-virul treatment. During the
same period, the Ministry of Health also called for the
closure of 64 classes at 49 schools throughout the
country after Influenza A H1N1 cases were confirmed
among the school community
Nisfu Syaaban Prayer
All mosques and suraus across the country last Wednesday
held a special prayer and recitation of Surah Yaasin
marking the Nisfu Syaaban or the 15th of Syaaban 1430
Hijrah. The prayer was aimed to seek blessings from
Allah the Al-Mighty. The focus of the gatherings was
the Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah, Kampong Kiarong.
Present was the Acting Director of the Islamic Studies
Department, Haji Ismail Bin Haji Abd Manap. Congregants
first performed mass maghrib prayer followed by the
Sunnat Hajat prayer seeking for Allah the Al-Mighty's
protection from the current Influenza A H1N1 pandemic.
The recitation of Surah Yaasin and the Nisfu Syaaban
prayer was read by Pehin Khatib Awang Haji Suhaili Bin
Haji Metali Al Hafiz.
...........[End
News]
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