News for a Better Future
His Majesty in his titah also mentions that towards achieving the three main objectives of Wawasan Brunei 2035, the Monarch's Government is implementing the 'Economic Blueprint' as well as drafting strategies through the 'Social Blueprint' and 'Manpower Blueprint'.
Source: Radio Television Brunei
His Majesty in the titah also touches on the signing of several agreements which are expected to help human resource professionalism recognition and development.
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 on the need for all citizens and residents to be determined to live a clean life without disruptions from bad elements. His Majesty adds that if this can be prevented, it is another advantage for Brunei.
In the Titah in conjunction with the New Year 2023 which was broadcast nationwide, His Majesty also touches on several matters. Among them, the wisdom of COVID-19 which has never crossed our minds, the government's continuous effort to minimise the effect of the increase in goods prices as well as the close cooperation with friendly nations in tackling post COVID-19 challenges.
The monarch opened the titah by inviting all citizens and residents to together express their gratitude to Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala for His blessings that have allowed us to enter the New Year 2023. Looking back at the past three years in facing COVID-19, this disaster although having side effects on life, however its wisdom has created opportunities for the country to independently empower major areas such as food security, supply, education, finance and health.
Source: Radio Television Brunei
The Service and Payment Counters for Land Office at all district will only operate in the morning, 31st December 2022.
The operating hours are from 8:00 to 11:00 in the morning.
Any inquiry, email to ‘Khairul.jackarlah@land.gov.bn’ or contact telephone line at 238 1181, extension 4303.
Source: Radio Television Brunei
Under the ‘Pause & Rewind’ programme, Creative Space organises a solo art exhibition by Awang bin Sitai, ‘Ardent Expressions’. The exhibition is open to the public until the 5th of February 2023 at the Creative Space gallery in Kampung Sengkurong.
Awang bin Sitai is a pioneer who established the Brunei Artists Association and has participated in several art exhibitions abroad. Over one hundred sketches and paintings produced over five decades of his artistic journey are showcased at the exhibition. Pause & Rewind series is a platform for establish senior artists to share their works that could be of interest to art enthusiasts, art historian and researcher, cultural practitioner, collectors and local artists as well as young artist generation.
Source: Radio Television Brunei
The Youth development Centre is now opening an offer for applicants who are interested in joining the Youth Development Programme courses for the 2023 intake.
Entry requirements must be the citizens of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di- Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam or Permanent Resident of Brunei Darussalam; possess hight interest on course selected; aged between 17 to 40 and and no longer go to school and unemployed. Whereas, the entry qualification for Course Number 1, 2 and 3 is at least 2 ‘O Levels’; able to read, write and count for Number Courses 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12. For Number Course 10, at least have basic sewing skills and computer usage.
Interested applicants can obtain application form at the centre in Kampung Tanah Jambu and Youth Centre at all districts during working hours. Forms can be downloaded through the centre’s Facebook and Instagram as shown below.
Source: Radio Television Brunei
Despite the transition of modernity, the longhouse remains relevant to this day. However, its function is now better known as one of the tourist attractions that highlight the way of life and traditions of the Iban.
Mendaram Besar Long House in Mukim Labi Ulu Belait is one of the few long houses that still exist today. Located about 70 kilometres from Kuala Belait and 120 kilometres from Bandar Seri Begawan, Mendaram Besar Longhouse was built in the 1970s. According to the Head of Longhouse, the migration of residents to other places to work and go to school is one of the factors that causes the number of residents to decrease.
Although the long house has been gazetted as one of the tourist attractions, but for the residents who still live in the long house, the legacy of their ancestors is still maintained to continue their survival. For those who wish to explore this unique experience, can visit the Mendaram Besar Longhouse.
Source: Radio Television Brunei
The total trade recorded an increase of 13.5 per cent from BND2,267.5 million in September 2021 to BND2,572.8 million in September 2022, contributed by a rise in both export and import value between those periods.
Compared to August 2022, total trade fell 7.2 per cent due to a fall in exports and imports value, mainly Mineral Fuels.
Total exports increased by 22.6 per cent from BND1,315.2 million in September 2021, to BND1,612.2 million in September 2022. This was mainly due to the increase in Mineral Fuels exports from BND955.3 million to BND1,372.0 million in the same period.
The increase in Mineral Fuels exports was mainly due to the higher export value of Crude Oil, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) and Petroleum Products. The increase in Crude Oil export was mainly due to the increase in average price by 33.8 per cent from USD76.67 per barrel in September 2021 to USD102.62 per barrel in September 2022. Meanwhile, the increase in exports of LNG was due to a rise in both exports volume and price by 10.9 per cent and 42.5 per cent, respectively. Petroleum Products exports, recorded an increase from BND392.8 million to BND544.8 million, in which the main commodity was automotive diesel fuels.
In terms of commodity, Mineral Fuels represents the major contributor to Brunei Darussalam’s exports at 85.1 per cent, followed by Chemicals (13.0 per cent), and Machinery and Transport Equipment (0.7 per cent).
The main exports market in September 2022 was Australia at 22.2 per cent, followed by Japan (19.1 per cent), and Singapore (14.1 per cent). The largest export commodity to Australia, Japan and Singapore was Mineral Fuels.
Total value of imports increased from BND952.3 million in September 2021 to BND960.6 million in September 2022, mainly due to a significant increase in imports of Mineral Fuels particularly crude oil as production input for the downstream petrochemical industry.
The five main imports by commodity this month were Mineral Fuels with 69.0 per cent, followed by Machinery and Transport Equipment at (10.5 per cent), Food (7.0 per cent), Manufactured Goods (4.7 per cent) and Chemicals (4.1 per cent).
The biggest import partner by share was Malaysia at 26.2 per cent, followed by Saudi Arabia (15.1 per cent) and United Arab Emirates (15.0 per cent), with Mineral Fuels as the largest import commodity.
Most of the country’s imports at 61.4 per cent are used as Intermediate Goods for processing, followed by Capital Goods (35.3 per cent) for business operations and Consumption Goods (3.3 per cent) for household use.
Transport by sea accounted for the highest share for both exports and imports, which amounted to BND2,475.7 million or 96.2 per cent. This was followed by air transport (BND58.8 million or 2.3 per cent) and via land (BND38.3 million or 1.5 per cent).
The International Merchandise Trade Statistics report for September 2022 can be accessed through the DEPS’s website at https://deps.mofe.gov.bn.
Source: Ministry of Finance Brunei Darussalam
Touching on creativity is certainly not as easy as imagined. Searching for materials, finding new ideas and experimenting various ways to fulfil orders, certainly challenges entrepreneurs. However, the effort will not be in vain when the results of a work get recognition from the public.
Starting as a hobby, ‘Teatime Crafts’ is now well-known by handicraft enthusiasts. Established in 2012, Teatime Crafts’, a home-based business selling a wide variety of handicrafts made from clay. The miniatures are made of high quality polymer clay and Japanese clay capable of producing miniature figurines and accessories. Teatime Crafts’ now develops various types of handicrafts such as embroidery and carving.
The handicraft workshop also offers to those interested in various crafts at a price of around $20 to $150. Workshop is usually conducted during ‘pop up’ sales or at the customer’s request.
Source: Radio Television Brunei
The public still have the opportunity to visit the ‘Islamic Entrepreneur Fair 2022’ which is held at Bilik Sepakat dua and tiga, International Convention Centre in Berakas. The sales activity organised by Syarikat E-Tawakal in conjunction with the ‘Brunei December Festival 2022’ is participated by 24 local entrepreneurs.
The ‘Islamic Entrepreneur Fair 2022’ is open until 31st December 2022, from 10 in the morning to 8 in the evening. The fair acts as a platform for local entrepreneur to further promote and expand their products. According to Dayang Amal Nur ‘Izzati Bin Haji Abdullah, Secretary of e-Tawakal Event Management, one of the objective is to help the local entrepreneurs to promote their businesses.
The sales activity is also joined by the final year undergraduates from Sultan Sharif Ali Islamic University and BIBD Seeds’ participants.
Source: Radio Television Brunei
Various joy, bitter and sweet events that happen throughout this year are colourful and sour in life. Hence, the Muslim must make it as a lesson in order to be able to live the coming life better than before. The matter was among the content of Friday Sermon titled Self-Reflection is Praiseworthy. The sermon also outlined that the end of the year is a suitable time for reflecting, evaluating and correcting mistakes and any personal shortcomings. Prophet Muhammad Shallahu ‘Alaihi Wassalam describes the person who always reflects and improves himself as a wise person.
The Prayer Leader said that we as the servant of Allah SWT are encourage to self-reflect, whether we have fulfilled all the obligations that Allah SWT has commanded us. This includes evaluating our determination in obeying all the commands and prohibitions of Allah SWT such as performing the five daily obligatory prayers, paying zakat or tithe, fasting, avoiding evil deeds such as adultery, usury, corruption and others. Aside from that, we must also check or examine whether we have succeeded or otherwise in fulfilling and implementing our duties, roles and responsibilities as parents, child, student, an employee, leader and such. In conjunction with the New Year, the prayer leader urged all to self-reflect and determine to improve our Iman or faith in order to become a better Muslim.
Source: Radio Television Brunei
In October 2022, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) decreased by 0.6 per cent as compared to September 2022. This was driven by the decrease in Non-Food Index by 0.8 per cent. However, Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages Index showed an increase of 0.1 per cent.
The decrease in Non-Food Index was driven by Clothing and Footwear 4.0 per cent; Transport 2.2 per cent; and Communication 1.0 per cent. The fall in the prices of Clothing and Footwear was mainly due to the price of clothing which was in line with the sales promotion hosted by several premises in the country. In addition, the decrease in Transport was contributed by the decrease in air fares. Furthermore, the drop in Communication prices was due to lower prices in telephone and telefax services.
On the other hand, the increase in Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages was due to the rise in food prices such as Rice and Cereals 0.5 per cent; Fruits 0.5 per cent; and Fish and Seafood 0.2 per cent. The increase in Rice and Cereals was mainly due to the price hike of input materials for cakes, pastries and biscuits. Meanwhile, imported non-tropical fruits were the main contributor to the increase in the prices of Fruits, among others, due to increase in production input cost in producing countries as well as logistics and transportation costs. Furthermore, the rise in the prices of Fish and Seafood was mainly contributed by the increase in price of prawns caused by the supply of prawns being affected by the unpredictable weather.
As compared to October 2021, the CPI had increased by 3.5 per cent. The rise in the CPI was parallel with the increase in prices of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, and Non-Food prices by 6.1 per cent and 2.9 per cent respectively.
The CPI is a measure of price changes of goods and services paid by the consumer in a specified period and compiled on a monthly basis. The list of goods and services in the CPI is based on the average expenditure per household from the Household Expenditure Survey. The CPI full report for October 2022 is available from the DEPS website at https://deps.mofe.gov.bn
Source: Ministry of Finance Brunei Darussalam