Day: November 26, 2021

 

Over 1,000 cans of alcoholic drinks were confiscated by personnel of the Marine Police, Royal Brunei Police Force following patrols conducted at Kampung Pelambayan, Brunei Muara District.

 

During a patrol carried out on Brunei waters, a boat sped towards Kampung Pelambayan after noticing the police presence. The boat was later found without an operator. Upon inspection, large packages were found in the boat containing 1,464 cans and 20 bottles of alcoholic drinks of various brands. All contraband were handed over to the Royal Customs and Excise Department for further action.

 

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

 

The Royal Customs and Excise Department, RCED through the Law Enforcement Division continued its operations targeting three separate locations on the 23rd and 24th of November 2021. The first operation on the 23rd of November focused on a sawmill and a house in Kampung Panchor Murai.

 

During the operation, the RCED detained a foreign man and woman aged 36 and 46 respectively, believed to be in possession and involved in the sale of Customs’ contraband. The contraband found during the operation were 446 cartons, 6 packets and 16 sticks of cigarettes of various brands as well as cash amounting to 3 thousand 5 hundred 55 dollars, believed to be the proceeds from the sale of the contraband.

 

Meanwhile, in the second operation carried out on 24th November, the RCED found 83 cartons of cigarettes of various brands. The operation was carried out in the jungle area of Kampung Sungai Bunga.

 

In the third operation at the Skim Tanah Kurnia Rakyat Jati, Kampung Lambak Kiri area, the RCED arrested 2 local men aged 28 and 38 respectively. Both individuals were found to be in possession of Customs’ contraband, namely one hundred 74 cartons of cigarettes of various brands; as well as a vehicle and cash amounting to $28,486 believed to be the proceeds from the sale of contraband.

 

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

The importance of investment in agriculture and the food system was among those discussed during the Webinar on the Responsibility of Investment in Agriculture and the Food System. The webinar was jointly organised by the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary General Assembly, AIPA, the Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO and the International Institute for Sustainable Development, IISD.

 

Representing the Legislative Council to the webinar, Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Mohimin bin Haji Johari @Jahari, Member of the Legislative Council. Also present was Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Jaya Dato Paduka Awang Haji Judin bin Haji Asar, Secretary to the Cabinet Ministers’ Council and Clerk to the Legislative Council. In the current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, additional investment in agriculture is needed to mitigate the impact of the pandemic and support recovery efforts towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, SDG.

 

Members of Parliament play an advisory role and hold strategic positions to inform political and legal agendas as well as foster investment towards progress in agriculture. In addition, Members of Parliament also have a role in encouraging such changes and developments at the national and regional levels through the enactment of legislation and the use of budgets in ensuring accountability and effective implementation of commitments.

 

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

 

The close relations between Brunei Darussalam and Australia continues to grow in strength. Australia also remains one of the country’s top trading partners, which in 2020 accounted for 6.5 percent of Brunei Darussalam’s total trade. This was stated by Dato Seri Paduka Doctor Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy for Economy at the Brunei Market Insights Webinar, yesterday.

 

Organised by the Australian High Commission in the country and Austrade, the webinar aimed to promote investment and business opportunities in Brunei Darussalam to Australian businesses and exporters. It was officiated by Her Excellency Tiffany McDonald, the Australian High Commissioner to the country and Mr. Paul Sanda, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, Austrade. In her speech, the Australian High Commissioner noted that Brunei Darussalam has made prudent decisions about diversifying its economy away from the oil and gas sectors and has a strong reputation for its high halal standards.

 

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

Vulnerable groups should not be left behind in ASEAN’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be vital in realising the ASEAN Care Economy in starting the implementation of the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework. The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports stated the matter at the 12th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Rural Development and Poverty Eradication, AMRDPE hosted by the Republic of the Philippines via video conference.

 

Yang Berhormat Retired Major General Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin also shared that the National Vaccination Programme for COVID-19 is inclusive to all, both in urban and rural areas. The latest statistics show that more than 93 percent of the population have received the 1st dose, while almost 80 percent have completed 2 doses.

 

At the meeting, Yang Berhormat also shared that through the National Plan of Action on the Eradication of Poverty, Brunei Darussalam has undertaken several strategies to strengthen the social protection eco-system through a Whole of Nation Approach. With the theme ‘Accelerating Recovery and Strengthening Resiliency of ASEAN for Sustainable Rural Development and Poverty Eradication’, the meeting was chaired by His Excellency Noel K Felongco, Director General of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, Republic of the Philippines as Chairman of the 12th AMRDPE, and was also attended by the Secretary General of ASEAN. The meeting also adopted the 12th AMRDPE joint statement.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

 

The importance of the Blended Learning Models method during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country were among the focus of the 3rd School Leaders Convention for the year 2021/2022. The 3-day virtual convention also underlined the coordination of Digital Literacy with the Ministry of Education’s Digital Transformation Plan and the development of Digital Citizenship Guidelines for Schools in supporting the vision and mission of the Ministry of Education.

 

With the theme ‘Quality Leaders, Quality Education’, the convention focused on creativity and innovation as sub themes. It ended with a virtual closing ceremony, organised by the Ministry of Education through the School Leadership Unit, Department of Educators Management. The Convention was a continuation of the same event held in February and June this year.

 

 

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

Fajr Capital’s management agreement expires on the 30th of November 2021. Fajr Capital’s partnership with Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam, BIBD is an illustration of its strong commitment to support the long-term growth and transformation of BIBD, from a financially sound and stable bank into the flagship financial services institution in Brunei Darussalam.

 

During Fajr Capital’s investment, BIBD underwent a strategic transformation that resulted in strong profitable growth and the bank establishing itself as a world-class Islamic financial services institution. The end of the management agreement was commemorated with an exchange of tokens between Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doctor Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy in his capacity as Chairman of BIBD and its Group of Companies and the outgoing Managing Director and CEO, Mubashar Khokhar on behalf of Fajr Capital.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

 

The Minister of Health stated that 3,003 people have received the COVID-19 vaccine injection on the 25th of November 2021.

 

Under the National Vaccination Programme for COVID-19, 402,428 individuals have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, 93.6 percent of the total population. Meanwhile, 341,909 individuals have completed the COVID-19 vaccination, which is 79.5 percent of total population. The ‘Operasi Peralihan’ carried out from 10 at night until 4 in the morning, 3 violations of the directive nationwide were issued with compound fines, whereby all were violations of the directive to stay at home.

 

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

 

 

78 new COVID-19 cases have been confirmed in the country yesterday, bringing the total COVID-19 cases to 14,918. Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Doctor Haji Awang Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar, Minister of Health stated the matter at a media conference on the latest COVID-19 situation yesterday afternoon at Dewan Al’Afiah, Ministry of Health.

 

There are 38 additional new cases to 7 of the existing active clusters who were previously close contacts with several positive cases. Meanwhile, 2 new clusters were detected involving 11 cases. The new clusters are accommodation clusters, with one, CA Mohammad Bunut Staff House being a housing cluster that accommodates the company’s employees. 3 clusters were closed following no new detected cases in the clusters for 28 days, namely Clusters 7339, 12401 and 12602.

 

Therefore, the current total active clusters stand at 133. 29 new cases are still being investigated to determine the source of infection. 62 cases have recovered, taking the total recovered cases to 14,342, with 477 cases remaining active. Among the cases, four are in Category 5 and are being treated at the Intensive Care Unit.

 

All of them require assistance of artificial ventilation, with one case requiring the additional heart/lung machine, ECMO. Meanwhile, another case in Category 4 requires oxygen assistance and is under close monitoring. 3,771 samples have been tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus which brings the total number of lab tests carried out since January 2020 to 605,170.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, in a titah stresses that it is vital for the Asia-Europe Meeting, ASEM to continue to uphold and promote multilateral cooperation based on international law, mutual respect and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

 

In a titah during the Retreat Session of the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting, ASEM Summit, held virtually from Baitul Mesyuarah, Istana Nurul Iman, His Majesty states that the situation in Myanmar is a challenging matter as the country has a long and complex history since its independence over seventy years ago. Therefore, Myanmar should be given space to return to normalcy, in accordance with the will of its people. To this end, His Majesty hopes for Myanmar to implement the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus in a timely manner to build confidence with regional and international partners. The Monarch in the titah also appreciates the continued support of the international community for ASEAN’s efforts on this matter.

 

His Majesty in his titah states that ASEM’s theme this year, ‘Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth’, reflects the needs of the global community to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, geo-political and economic competition, and climate change.

 

At the Retreat Session, the leaders exchanged views on regional as well as international issues of mutual concern.

 

The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia in his closing remarks appreciated the open and constructive discussions between ASEM leaders towards collectively addressing issues of global importance. ASEM’s core principles of informality and mutual respect have enabled its members to overcome numerous sensitive issues through active and close collaboration, towards building more peaceful, safe and prosperous regions.

 

At the end of the Summit, the 13th ASEM Summit “Strengthening Multilateralism for Shared Growth” Chair’s Statement; Phnom Penh Statement on the Post-COVID-19 Socio-Economic Recovery; and The Way Forward on ASEM Connectivity were adopted.

 

Source: Radio Television Brunei