UK Trip -Winter 2009 convocation @ Nottingham University

It's been three days since I and My Family leave Brunei Airport on the 6th Dec for attending the Winter 2009 graduation Ceremony at the University of Nottingham, UK which was held on 9th,10 & 11 Dec 2009. My daughter was amongst the graduates who have been conferred the degree of Master of Arts in Public Policy on the first day in the Morning Session.The session start at 9.00am and finished at 12.30 am. There was another sessions in the afternoon and this CEREMONY will going on for the next two days. The weather here quite cool APPROX at 9 to 11 degrees Celsius...My Family & I will spend our vacation here for couple of weeks.

Registration at 9.00am

With colleague

Mum tidying up her gown

Waiting for entering the Ceremony Hall

Certificates presentation



ALHAMDULILLAH, Now officially graduated...Congratullation for the SUCCESS...Amin

Buah Tempatan

Pada tahun ini kita dapat melihat musim buah buahan yang begitu banyak dan bermacam macam jenis buah buahan yang ada yang dapat kita nikmati...

Concerns over unsatisfactory returns

THE TAP board of director's claim recently declared zero per cent return on Investment for its members' saving for the financial year 2008-2009 blaming it on the global financial crisis. The chairman also considered the decline in investment performance as 'out of the ordinary' and claimed that financial institutions all over the world were also experiencing the same situation.

This is really an exasperating and unacceptable justification. Do you know that Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Perkerja (KWSP), Malaysia declared a dividend of 4.50 per cent for the year 2008? KWSP in its website acknowledge the current financial crisis and the challenge faced for the year 2009 yet their Return on Investment declared is not ZERO per cent.

Does TAP have competent Board of Directors and Investment Panels in making the required investment decisions that really benefit its members? Is their Investment Section populated by competent officers with comprehensive and relevant Investment knowledge and attitude that could drive its Investment to success?

It is high time for TAP to be more transparent on its Investment and Reserve Policy (do you have any?) as part of their Corporate Governance. TAP are just Trustees hence members are as stakeholders should be given privilege to know how and where their money are being invested. The investment portfolio proportion for example equity, bonds and cash are important information for the members and should not be classified as confidential.

Another matter of concern was during TAP's Appreciation Night 2009 when awards are being doled out for outstanding performance. Well, this certainly was not was not being reflected in the Rate of Dividend declared! I really thought that before being awarded these officers should set and reach a certain target and I assume that zero per cent Return on Investment was not a flattering target.

Another word of advice, before TAP considers in venturing into new investment portfolio as informed by the Chairman where have successfully widened its asset classes by investing in real estate investment (REITS), TAP should be improving on its current portfolio as well as the competency of its Investment Officers and should not be too dependent on their fund managers. TAP should also spend the members' fund prudently and intelligently as we unforgivingly witness that their TAP's Appreciation Night2009 was held at a hotel amidst the Investment Crisis.

Another concern (after vigilant research) is the increasing number of employees during its corporatisation which have increased the total expenditure and not forgetting the lavish office renovations apart from its too generous acting allowances. For me this has contributed to the unsatisfactory Return on Investment. Remember, TAP as the champion for Financial Planning Roadshow, should walk the talk!....
:extracted from Bulletin Your Letters column:
- We Have The Right-

FIFA suspends BAFA indefinitely

Written by WalEED PD Mahdini
Brunei FM


THE world football governing body FIFA, in a press release on its web site, announced that Brunei Darussalam’s Football Association (BAFA) has been suspended indefinitely due to “government intervention”, effectively banning club side Brunei DPMM FC from playing in Singapore’s S-League.

The Brunei authorities dissolved BAFA last December and created a new governing body for the sport, FIFA said in minutes taken from an executive meeting in Rio de Janeiro.

“The suspension applies with immediate effect and means that Brunei club DPMM FC will no longer be permitted to play in the Singapore S-League. The suspension will run until BAFA is reinstalled by the government,” the soccer world governing body said.

Brunei DPMM FC, which joined the 12-team S-League this year, and is fourth in the standings, have five matches left to play in the current season.

The decision was reached when the FIFA Executive Committee, chaired by FIFA President Joseph Seb Blatter, convening for its third meeting of the year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on September 29 to discuss a wide range of topics and a number of decisions. One of these decisions was for the suspension of ‘the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (BAFA) due to governmental interference in its affairs’, which FIFA stated was ’started with a decision by the Brunei authorities to dissolve BAFA and to replace it with a new federation in December 2008. The suspension applies with immediate effect and means that Brunei DPMM FC will no longer be permitted to play in the Singapore S-League. The suspension will run until BAFA is reinstalled by the Brunei government’.

But how has it come to this?
On November 15 last year, the Registrar of Societies (RoS) deregistered BAFA, which was not accepted by FIFA who instead saw deregistration as an interference in the running of a member football association.

It’s a well-known and frequently published fact that BAFA did not hold their Annual General Meeting since 2001 and neither did BAFA submit full reports of its activity and finances for the said period but these matters were notified to RoS periodically.

Based on these facts, BAFA was deregistered despite apologies from BAFA to RoS and the Ministry of Home Affairs, as well as two appeals from the now-defunct football association for it be re-registered. In the meantime, BAFA duly submitted a report including an audited financial report, which was not considered by the authorities.

FIFA’s view of the interference, amongst other things, was the setting up of the new body – The Football Federation of Brunei Darussalam (FFBD) – initiated by the Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Culture, Youth andSport, within the grace timeframe that BAFA was given to appeal.

BAFA was deregistered on November 15, 2008 and given a month’s time to appeal. The FFBD was set up on November 26 and formally registered on December 3 and subsequently approved 15 days later on December 18. To many, the approval and registration of FFBD set a new record of just 18 days, when in fact, many applications normally takes many months, if not usually, years.
Between January and July this year, officials from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation flew to Brunei to reason with the authorities, especially the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, to reinstate BAFA with a view to later hold Congress and subsequently an election of a new committee.

On August 24, FIFA appointed an Interim Committee with YAM Pengiran Maharaja Setia Laila Diraja Sahibul Irshad Pengiran Anak Hj Abdul Rahim as its
Chairman and Hj Momin Hj Jaafar as the General Secretary; with a directive to get BAFA re-registered by September 24. The governing world body added that if by this date BAFA was not re-registered, BAFA would be duly suspended.
Five days later, FIFA took the decision to suspend BAFA on September 29 at their Executive Committee Meeting in Brazil.

So what does this now mean for football in Brunei?
It has been understood that following this suspension, BAFA will no longer be able to organise football activities or participate in international football activities, that the DPMM FC team will no longer be allowed to participate in the Singapore League, that BAFA (and indeed the nation) lose all its rights of international football sporting membership, or in a nutshell only play `kampung football’ once again – as was experienced by South Africa when it was isolated during its apartheid-era.

Furthermore, suspension from FIFA also means that Brunei will not be able to benefit from FIFA development programmes nor be eligible to receive any of FIFA’s financial aids.

In April 15, this year, underscoring the importance of the governing body’s fundamental principle, FIFA’s President Seb Blatter highlighted: “Football is a universal sport based on the fundamental principles of discipline and respect for opponents and the Laws of the Game as well as on the spirit of competitiveness and rivalry, underpinned by the values of fair play and ethics. These principles and values must be applied not only on the field of play, but also in the administration and governance of football, particularly in the area of sports politics. And, of course, this includes elections to the governing bodies of football.”

This sentiment was echoed by FIFA’s Vice President Geoff Thompson who said: “We need to uphold our statutes for the protection of the game in countries that face difficulties, whether through internal strife or external governmental interference,” he said. “We must be strong and we must be fair,” he continued, “and with the support of my colleagues here, we will make a difference”.

BAFA was established on March 15, 1956 in Seria. It was known as Brunei State Amateur Football Association (BSAFA) and was later known as Brunei Amateur Football Association (BAFA). When Brunei gained its independence in 1984, the name was changed to the Brunei Darussalam Football Association.

The former national football teams used to be managed by BAFA, in which they participated in various tournaments such as the Borneo Cup in 1960s and 1970s, achieving the qualifying rounds in the Asia Cup and the World Cup, the Southeast Asia Games, which first started in 1997 in Kuala Lumpur and the Arafura Games for under-23s. Before entering the Singapore League, the national football team was actively involved in the Malaysia Cup as an invited team since 1979, in which it qualified for the quarterfinals in 1983, twice becoming semi-finalists and finally champions in 1999.

BAFA also organised domestic tournaments such as the Brunei League Cup, the Standard Chartered Cup and the district level Helix Cup for under-18s.

World Economic Report 2009 - 2010

Switzerland replaces United States at top of competitiveness rankings


Switzerland tops the overall ranking in The Global Competitiveness Report 2009-2010, released by the World Economic Forum ahead of its Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2009 in Dalian. The United States falls one place to second position, with weakening in its financial markets and macroeconomic stability. Singapore, Sweden and Denmark round out the top five. European economies continue to prevail in the top 10 with Finland, Germany and the Netherlands following suit. Brunei moving up 7 places to 32, ahead of Spain,

Ahli Pentadbiran Negara harus dengar Suara Rakyat

Dari apa yang telah kita maalomi dan fahami dari TITAH baru baru ini, berkenaan dengan ketidak efisienan jentera pentadbiran masa ini, harus lah dari sekarang kita memikirkan dan berusaha untok mejadikan kabinet yang baru nanti berupaya menunjukkan prestasi dan menyampaikan perkhidmatan dengan mengadakan petunjuk prestasi utama (KPI) yang menitik beratkan tentang impak dan status penyampaian perkhidmatan tersebut.

Pemantauan secara peribadi dan tranparency ke atas prestasi dan komitmen kemajuan semua Menteri sekali dalam masa yang tertentu adalah suatu langkah penting memandangkan wujudnya ketidakpuasan rakyat di masa lalu tentang prestasi menteri dan beberapa penjawat awam.

Nyata sekali kini masa telah tiba untuk mewujudkan sebuah kerajaan yang berorientasikan rakyat dan tindakan dimulakan dengan Kabinet yang mempunyai kepekaan dan sensitif terhadap keperluan rakyat dan negara terutamanya ketika saat kegawatan ini.

Tidak boleh dinafikan bahawa harapan rakyat terhadap pentadbiran KABINET masa kini and akan datang adalah sangat tinggi dan adalah menjadi suatu kewajipan bagi pentadbiran baru itu nanti untuk menunjukkan prestasi dan menghasilkan perkhidmatan efisien berasaskan budaya penuh integriti dan kecemerlangan.

Ini bermakna setiap anggota Menteri, Setia Usaha,Pengarah dan Ketua Ketua Jabatan dan sebagainya benar-benar menanggung tugasan berat dalam merealisasikan hasrat Ketua Negara dan Rakyat demi mengkekalkan kepercayaan rakyat yang berterusan.

Anggota pentadbiran harus mendampingi rakyat untuk memahami rintihan serta keperluan dan kehendak mereka diikuti dengan bertindak melakukan segala perubahan yang perlu untuk memulihkan kembali keyakinan rakyat.

63th Pre Birthday Titah from HM The Sultan of Brunei

The wonderful Titah which was broadcasted by RTB on 13 July 2009 just a day before his 63th birthday. God bless the Sultan. Amin

Hopefully the concern parties to whom the titah have been address to are well informed of their ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES... Amin ya Rabbal Alamin

Mak Weng unresolved issue

Finally today 10th June 2009, the relevant authority have reached conclusion by demolishing the G20/5A BSP quarters which was once occupied by the late Mak Weng [a Tiawanese which was once employed by Shell Dutch via Singapore Company) and once become the unresolved issue between Mak Weng and Brunei Shell Company. This picture was taken during the demolition works has been carried out. This quarters had been there since 1949 until now...and today 10th June 2009 the relevant Authority finally decided to remove it due to safety reason..and etc..etc.
There's a lot of stories and issues still unsettle and hope that the family of late Mak Weng & BSP have come up with an agreement so as to let the soul of Mak Weng rest in peace.


Before


After




Extracted from MW blog

Saturday, March 22, 2008
THE FACTS - in brief

1. My late father Mr.Mak Weng was employed from Singapore by Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Limited to work in Brunei from 3rd June 1949 to 31st December 1964.
2. B.S.P. failed to renew his travelling document and it was expired when he was sent to work in Suai, Sarawak.
3. When he was retired on 31st December 1964, B.S.P. did not send him and his family back to Singapore in accordance to the Letter Of Engagement signed on 4th August 1958 between B.S.P. and my late father Mr.Mak Weng.
4. Instead, B.S.P. accused Mr.Mak Weng house trespassing G20/5A and he was imprisoned for two weeks - unfairly.
5. B.S.P. also illegally suspended Mr.Mak Weng’s monthly pension and still owing us 40 over years of pension until today.
6. After his jail released, Mr.Mak Weng continued living in G20/5A with his family while waiting for B.S.P. to repatriate back to Singapore however B.S.P. did not take action till Mr.Mak Weng passed away in 1993.
7. His family continued on living in G20/5A nonetheless, on 14 April 1999, B.S.P. cut off the electricity, gas and water supplies to G20/5A, Seria, Brunei Darussalam.

Pembakaran Terbuka

Kerajaan mengeluarkan larangan terhadap semua kegiatan pembakaran terbuka sejak beberapa tahun terdahulu berikutan kemerosotan mutu udara. Larangan itu bagaimanapun mengecualikan pembakaran terbuka bagi upacara keagamaan dan pembakaran mayat.

Larangan itu merangkumi kegiatan yang dikecualikan daripada Perintah Kualiti Alam Sekeliling (Aktiviti Yang Ditetapkan) (Pembakaran Terbuka) 2000 seperti pembakaran terbuka bagi kawasan pertanian yang terkena penyakit, menghapuskan binatang yang dijangkiti penyakit, latihan kebakaran dan pertanian pindah.

Undang-undang tersebut yang dikenali sebagai “Emergency (Penal Code) Amendment Order 1998”, antaralainnya memperuntukkan yang berikut:
• Menurut seksyen 277A yang diperkenalkan, kesalahan-kesalahan yang berhubung dengan pembakaran terbuka boleh dihukum dengan denda sehingga B$100,000. Jika kesalahan tersebut menyebabkan pencemaran udara atau membahayakan nyawa atau harta benda boleh dikenakan hukuman denda yang tidak terbatas dan atau dipenjara sehingga lima tahun.



Akan tetapi saperti yang jelas di lihat gambar, aktiviti sedemikian maseh juga di lakukan oleh setengah pengusaha pengusaha kawasan pembangunan yang mana kejadian ini berlaku pada 25 April 2009 pukul lima ptg di kawasan pembangunan Kampong Lumut. Di harap pehak berwajib akan dapat memantau aktiviti tersebut di masa masa akan datang supaya ia nya tidak berulang lagi.

Masaalah hakisan tebing Sungai Abang Kg. Lamunin belum selasai

Project pembesaran Sungai Abang Kampong Lamunin bermula kira kira pada suku pertama 2007 dan selesai pada suku kedua tahun 2008, yang mana ia meliputi dari kawasan Penapar, Layong hingga Sungai Abang Kampong Lamunin.

[May 2008]Gambar keadaan Sungai Abang setelah pembersehan & pembesaran. Tempat bermula dari kawasan Layong hingga jambatan Sungai Abang.


[June 2008] Keadaan Sungai dan jambatan penyebarangan dari rumah mangsa yang terjejas (No: 76 Kg. Lamunin, Tutong) selepas beberapa bulan siap project tersebut. Kawasan ini tidak terlibat dalam pembersehan & pembesaran tersebut.


[August 2008]..Masaalah hakisan tebing sungai abang yang berhampiran dengan rumah mangsa telah di-maalomkan kepada Ketua Kampong Lamunin yang mana masaalah ini telah dibawa kepengetahuanan pehak atasan yang bersangkutan bagi tindakan yang berpatutan untok mengelakan perkara2 yang tidak di-ingini akan berlaku. Alhamdullilah, saperti apa yang dapat di-saksikan gambar di-atas pehak tertentu telah pun membuat pembaik pulihan pada tebing tersebut bagi membendung hakisan akan berterusan.


[August 2008]..Akan tetapi mungkin apa yang di-laksanakan bagi pembendungan hakisan tersebut tidak mencukupi untok menahan hakisan yang di-sebabkan oleh kederasan ayer yang mengalir di-sebabkan pembesaran sungai di-hilir kawasan ini.


[Sept 2008]..Keadaan rumah mangsa yang terjejas


[Nov 2008] Seperti yang dapat di-saksikan di-atas, penahanan hakisan tersebut tidak mampu untok berfungsi saperti apa yang di-harapkan. Ini mungkin apa yang telah di-nyatakan terdahulu, kaedah ini tidak bersesuaian dan mencukupi memandangkan keaadan sungai yang aliranan nya begitu deras and di-tambah lagi musim hujan yang berterusan. Hakisan ini mungkin boleh di-kurangakn dengan mendirikan tembok concrete di-kedua dua belah tebing sungai di-kawasan rumah tersebut dan sedikit pembesaran pada


[Feb 2009]…Keadaan sekarang.. maseh belum ada tindakan susulan untok pembaikan atau menaik tarap pembendungan hakisan tebing sungai tersebut. Satakat ini tindakan susulan yang sudah dapat di-laksanakan ialah pengalihan kawat eletrik yang menuju kerumah mangsa (saperti gambar di-bawah)yang sebelum ini ia boleh mendatangkan bahaya di-sebabkan tiang nya pun turut tumbang oleh hakisan tersebut


[Feb 2009]..pemindahan kawat eletrik ka-sebatang pokok kelapa setelah tiang nya tumbang di-sebabkan hakisan.

Apa yang sangat sangat di-harapkan oleh mangsa supaya pehak berwajib dapat mempertimbangkan dan menangani masaalah yang telah mengakibat harta benda dan mungkin membahayakan keselamatan mangsa. Kerana mangsa percaya yang pehak berwajib tidak mungkin gagal atau meminggirkan masaalah rakyat yang memerlukan permedulian dari kepimpinan YANG ADIL LAGI BERDAULAT.

Who were lying about Limbang?

Amde Sidik, Kadayan Journal

Malaysians living in Borneo, the Borneons are familiar and know better about the sentiment of our neighbours than anyone else from outside the Island

I’m just as concerned as any other citizens about the authenticity of claim made by our Malaysian politicians which appeared in all mainstream Malaysian media on 17 March 2009 which said, Brunei has dropped its claimed over Limbang.

The Brunei media likewise, dismissed the claim the following day-see below:

Brunei Denies Limbang Story

By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - YB Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Awg Lim Jock Seng, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II, yesterday said claims on Limbang were never discussed during Monday’s deliberations between Brunei and Malaysia. (…)

www.brudirect.com

Local media not privy to Limbang spat

By MK Anwar

The issue about Brunei dropping its territorial claim on Limbang has caused a stir among members of the public as questions are being asked over the veracity about this claim.

Malaysian media have widely reported Prime Minister Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as saying that Brunei has dropped its claim on Limbang.

This statement was made at a press conference on Monday at the Malaysian High Commission exclusively for the Malaysian media.

Local media representatives were earlier barred from attending the press conference. The visit itinerary didn’t state it was an exclusive affair (…) Borneo Bulletin on line

Were Malaysian media instructed to publish the way they did?

Does Datuk Abdullah Ahmad Badawi desperately want the feeling good factor before he leaves the office?

I would consider this is a good question for our wakil rakyat to ask in parliament.

As a Sabahan whose family and relatives are also found in Brunei the talk on the subject wouldn’t just crop up over dinning table or kenduri, or would fade out as quickly as the passing smoke. Nonetheless, one thing we would likely to agree, this is political talk, nothing is straight but meanders and grey areas all over.

Of lately Malaysian politicians have been misleading and confusing rakyat over so many issues; the Prime Minister for instance, prone to deny even about his getting married when he did the next day. No rise of petrol price, but it rose by the middle of the night, creating havoc at all Malaysian petrol kiosks, and many more including the disappearance Balakhrisnan that until today no one and no authority wants to tell the truth.

I’m sure million of rakyat feel the same or perhaps some are getting immune by now. Others suggest the best is to leave it as it is. But I don’t share this view. If no one criticizes our leaders, they will forever take it for granted that we are all dummies, and they are our masters.

Next, it’s painful to start civilization all over again. Perhaps some can still remember John McEnroe, a former number one world tennis player whose famous expression in the 80s was, ‘You can’t be serious’?? For me, I can’t be not serious when it’s to do with our country.

Limbang is in the 5th Division of Sarawak, the size of 3,978 km with a population of about 40,000 annexed by James Brooke, Sarawak Rajah in 1890 by devious means.

To add to my interest, Limbang and Brunei are where Kadayan community mostly to be found.

Brooke cheated the Sultan by giving a false impression that all the chiefs represented the people in that area wanted to be under Rajah’s rule.

Brooke cleverly presented the Sultan with vague map, the Sultan who was not aware in most of the time about the size of area only to realise later that it bisected the nation into two. That’s Limbang.

Brunei gugur tuntutan

quote from Berita Harian:

bhnnews@bharian.com.my

Limbang tidak lagi jadi perebutan, kekal hak Malaysia

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Brunei Darussalam semalam secara rasmi menggugurkan tuntutannya ke atas Limbang di utara Sarawak, sekali gus mengakhiri episod pertikaian wilayah berkenaan yang berlarutan sejak sekian lama.

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, berkata ketetapan itu adalah sebahagian daripada persetujuan yang dicapai menerusi rundingan perjanjian bersama Malaysia-Brunei berhubung isu persempadanan darat dan maritim membabitkan kedua-dua negara.

"Rundingan mengenai isu persempadanan ini berlangsung sejak 1995 dan kini perkara pokoknya sudah diselesaikan manakala butiran terperinci akan dibincang jawatankuasa yang bakal dibentuk. Ini termasuk perkara berkaitan (tuntutan) Limbang yang memang sudah diketahui semua pihak.

"Ia kini selesai dan Brunei telah menggugurkan isu ini. Limbang kekal menjadi sebahagian daripada Malaysia, selaku wilayah kita," katanya kepada pemberita di pejabat Suruhanjaya Tinggi Malaysia di Brunei, di sini semalam.

Isu mengenai tuntutan ke atas Limbang, yang kedudukannya diapit oleh daerah Brunei-Muara dan Temburong (ke arah Sabah) timbul setiap kali masalah persempadanan Malaysia-Brunei dibangkitkan sejak pembentukan Malaysia pada 1963.

Daerah itu, yang mempunyai keluasan 3,978 kilometer persegi, didiami penduduk etnik Melayu, Lun Bawang, Cina, Kedayan, Iban, Bisaya, Kelabit, Tagal dan Penan. Ia menjadi sebahagian Sarawak ketika pemerintahan James Brooke pada 1890. Apabila Sarawak mencapai kemerdekaan dan menganggotai Malaysia pada 1963, Limbang kekal sebagai satu daripada daerahnya.

Abdullah, yang dalam rangka lawatan dua hari ke sini, berkata dengan selesainya masalah itu, Brunei dan Malaysia memasuki era baru dalam perhubungan dua hala dan kerjasama pelbagai bidang.

"Saya ingin menjunjung kasih kepada Tuanku Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah dan kerajaan Brunei atas kerjasama yang diberi.

"Kita juga yakin penyelesaian isu tuntutan itu dicapai tanpa ada perkara yang menimbulkan sebarang perasaan tidak senang hati atau negatif dan Insya-Allah, ia akan membawa kebaikan kepada kedua-dua negara," katanya.

Terdahulu, Perdana Menteri mengadakan pertemuan empat mata dengan Sultan Brunei di Istana Nurul Iman, sebelum kedua-duanya menandatangani Surat Pertukaran (LoE) yang antara lain mengandungi beberapa prinsip kerjasama untuk dilaksanakan ke arah menentukan persempadanan darat dan maritim dua negara.

Antara delegasi Malaysia yang hadir ialah Menteri Luar, Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim; Menteri Pelajaran, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein; Ketua Menteri Sarawak, Tan Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud; Ketua Menteri Sabah, Datuk Seri Musa Aman dan Pesuruhjaya Tinggi Malaysia ke Brunei, Datuk Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari.

Delegasi Brunei pula membabitkan Putera Mahkota, Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah; Menteri Hal Ehwal Luar dan Perdagangan, Pengiran Muda Mohamed Bolkiah dan Menteri Hal Ehwal Luar dan Perdagangan Kedua, Pehin Datuk Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng.

Dalam kenyataan bersama Abdullah dan Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah yang dikeluarkan semalam, kedua-dua pihak bersetuju bahawa:

· LoE itu memuktamadkan persempadanan maritim Malaysia-Brunei, pewujudan Kawasan Aturan Komersial (CAA) bagi minyak dan gas, penentuan sempadan darat Malaysia-Brunei serta hak laluan maritim yang tidak boleh dicabuli;

· Penyelesaian isu persempadanan maritim menentukan ketetapan sempadan laut, pelantar benua dan Zon Ekonomi Eksklusif (ZEE) kedua-dua negara. Malaysia dan Brunei berhak melaksanakan undang-undang dan peraturan, di samping memulakan pembangunan baru di perairan sendiri;

· Persempadanan darat Malaysia-Brunei akan diselesaikan berdasarkan lima perjanjian bersejarah sedia ada antara kerajaan Sarawak dan Brunei;

· Pertukaran Surat itu mencerminkan kemampuan kedua-dua negara mencapai penyelesaian yang menyeluruh, adil dan memanfaatkan semua pihak;

· Pegawai kedua-dua negara akan mengambil langkah susulan, selain memantau pelaksanaan penuh segala peruntukan yang terkandung dalam dokumen terbabit; dan

· Kedua-dua pemimpin yakin LoE itu akan membuka laluan ke arah pembentukan perkongsian strategik dan kerjasama lebih erat dalam pelbagai bidang terutama pelaburan dan perdagangan, sumber tenaga dan hidrokarbon, pelancongan pendidikan, pertanian, infrastruktur, perbankan, industri halal dan hubungan sesama penduduk dengan tumpuan kepada Sabah dan Sarawak.

.....hope the decisions made by Brunei delegates would give "a win win" situation...or esle.. ??

bubbling well

...just want to share some pictures from the bubbling wells which was occurred in early 2007. This incident happened just right after the commisioning of the first Onshore snake well (part of North Flank Project) which was successfully producing oil for less than a week...after that well close due to sand...
Incident was happened on 3rd Jan 2007 and last for couple of months…Operation staff were informed bubbling found near one of the Tank group and the emergency team mobilized and closed in all wells adjacents to the area later closed in the rest of the wells within the vicinity including all injection wells. Sample were taken from the bubbling pond for LAB analysis and close monitoring were carried out until further investigation can be done. Report from the investigation team stated that the bubbling was a natural phenomena and it will stop and normalise after all the pressure from the gas pocket getting lower and lower..., whether true or not nobody knows…no media coverage…worrying that this might potentially cause or trigger public panic..??but for the sake of public safety, it a bit unfair if they are not well informed of any consequences arise..



..after the above bubbling had been normalise, couples of bubbling in other came out again in June 2008, the locations are shown below..and till today close monitoring still going on at this location and this of course delaying the progress of the renovation works which was carried out on the 7 flight operation centre..

2008 Human Rights Report: Brunei Darussalam

Source US State Department:


Section 3 Respect for Political Rights: The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government

Citizens did not have the right to change their government peacefully.

The same family has ruled the country for more than 600 years. In 1962 the then sultan invoked an article of the constitution that allowed him to assume emergency powers for two years. These powers have been renewed every two years since 1962. The state of emergency places few limits on the sultan's power. The sultan also serves as prime minister, minister of defense, minister of finance, chancellor of the national university, inspector general of the Royal Brunei Police Force, and head of the Islamic faith.

Elections and Political Participation

Political authority and control rested entirely with the sultan. A 29-person legislative council (LegCo), which has no independent power and is made up primarily of appointed members, provided a forum for public discussion of proposed government programs as well as administrative deficiencies. It convenes once a year.

Persons 18 years of age and above may vote by secret ballot in village consultative council elections, which are based on a traditional system of village chiefs. Candidates must be Muslim, approved by the government, and be citizens or permanent residents for more than 15 years. The councils communicated constituent wishes through a variety of channels, including periodic meetings chaired by the minister of home affairs. The government also met with mukim (collections of villages) representatives to allow for airing of local grievances and concerns.

The Brunei National Development Party (NDP) remained the country's only registered political party. The NDP, as had other parties when they were registered, pledged to support the sultan and the government. Although the parties criticized administrative deficiencies, their few activities received limited publicity and they were hindered by membership restrictions.

On June 21, the NDP held its third Party Congress which included discussion of the politically sensitive Brunei-Malaysia territorial dispute. In 2007 government officials advised members of political parties not to discuss certain politically sensitive issues during their congresses.

Individuals sought to express their views or influence government decisions and policies by posting messages to Internet discussion boards, writing letters to local newspapers, and petitioning the sultan or handing him letters when he appeared in public.

There were no female ministers in the government or female members of the LegCo; however, the sultan's sister, Princess Masna, was the second-ranking official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and one of four permanent secretaries in the Prime Minister's Office was a woman. On February 19, a woman was promoted to become one of the four permanent secretaries in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. One cabinet-level post and two LegCo positions were held by ethnic Chinese.

Government Corruption and Transparency

There were reliable reports of corruption in the government. In accordance with its zero tolerance policy for corrupt practices, the government successfully prosecuted a number of low-level officials. At year's end the case of a former government minister accused of corruption in awarding government projects was pending a final ruling from the chief justice.

Government officials were not subject to financial disclosure reports.

During the year the LegCo approved, and the government published, a summary of the fiscal year government budget. However, the government continued to restrict and classify as confidential some information on the financial dealings of the government and the royal family. The law provides that no court can compel any person to give evidence relating to unpublished government records unless consent is given by the relevant ministry's permanent secretary. The Anticorruption Bureau, under the purview of the Prime Minister's Office, reports directly to the sultan.

Discrimination at work

WHY some people write race and religious bashing in the Internet. Earlier I wrote among other reasons that Internet nowadays serves as conduit for them to express their frustration, thus Internet is a natural venue in this information technological era.

Frustration or hatred could be caused by other unknown reasons to us resulted by the uncaring attitude of our community leaders.

Our leaders are supposed to lead and to show good example but instead prone to showing off. This scene is tantamount as claimed by some quarters, the less privileged section of our society as discriminating and prejudicial in nature.

To illustrate an example, there was one incident of how discrimination and prejudice at works. Some months ago I was waiting for a friend to collect air tickets at one ticketing office in TOWN. I managed to find a parking space nicely just beside the office. Since my friend was a bit behind time and I didn’t think he could get a parking space by the time. I decided to wait for him out side the office, the idea was, and I could just give the ticket to him without him leaving the car.

A few minutes later, it must be around 10 o’clock in the morning, came LAW enforcement officers about FOUR of them in the grey uniform. They were all eyeing on those indiscriminate parking-wonder parking defaulters seem to be their only main target.

They came passing by where I was. There and then writing furiously on their prepared dockets for cars that parked not in the parking lots.

I watched them very closely.

There were many cars but mostly kancil, Cuore, motorbikes, and out of that, one expensive car with small plate number MERC..

To my surprise these LAW enforcement officers were not interest in this Merc, all cars here were given tickets (compound) except Merc, some of the cars owners were rushing like mad and pledged to the officers that they were just for a few minutes to send and pick something, but no avail.

I then approached these officers asking them, why they did not put the ticket on this MERC, when it parked not in the parking lot, just like those I pointed. They were embarrassed by my remark. One of them replied he would write a ticket. So I stood by next to him, because I wanted to see him writing. He didn’t. I asked this one guy again if he knew the owner of the car, and I wanted to know what so special about this owner. The five officers left, leaving this one guy to answer my question. He wanted to leave me but I made myself clear that I wanted to know the reason. He pretended to write but he noticed my eyes were on the paper he wrote. He asked me who I was. I answered that wasn’t very important.

He didn’t write, because I was not an important person to know the reason.

By the time my friend arrived. This officer rushed to join his other friends who were in front of one of the Hotel in town.

I actually know the owner of that Merc, but I wanted to know whether these people understand what justice is all about.

Is this not a kind of discrimination??

31 Dec 2009 Bajir Di Seria

Hujan mulai turun dari jam Tiga pagi dengan lebat nya tidak henti henti hingga lah ke pukul 9.00 pagi. Banyak jalan jalan di-tenggalami dan banyak sekolah sekolah di-tutop kerana kelas kelas juga di-masoki air. Ada sedikit gambaran di-suasana banjir di-kawasan Seria bagi tatapan pembaca

Oil industry will face wind of change..

AMONGST the numerous things that could stall Brunei's oil industry in the coming years — ageing workforce, access barriers, lack of technology — the one that seems most difficult are declining reserves & less convencing production achievement from new development wells.

The sultanate's dominant oil and gas production company, Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP), which is also the second biggest employer in the country, has not been spared the phenomenon often referred to as the "big crew change".

"In 8 years time, over 1,000 or 45 per cent of BSP's local staff are due to retire, which in turn will create a massive brain drain at the company and affect all functions across the business…

Ignatius Stephen, in his article “Change the mind set before disaster strikes”, was trying to paint the picture of Brunei when oil runs out and I believe it’s not about oil price in its entirety

I am not going to go on about Brunei Oil background. There are more than 1000 Bruneians in a senior positions directly involve in Oil and Gas. Lots of them will be able to paint clear pictures of Brunei when oil runs out. But one thing for certain, Brunei only have so much acreage to explore and there are only so much to extract underneath – oil will one day runs dry in BRUNEI…..

Quote from Bruclass Forum:
Sure, sure. What's more terrifying it will NOT JUST be in Brunei but the world over where the supplies of oil are estimated to run out within the next three decades. If cheap & sustainable energy alternatives were not discovered and readily available by then, we’ll be experiencing the most ever terrifying moment in the history of mankind. Even the best economies of the world would not be able to sustain the hardship. Businesses will be going down fast. Doom will be looming.

I dont agree with your doomsday scenario in 30 years time. We have lots of alternative power sources that could replace oil and gas. The only reason why they are not being used is a simple case of economics. Oil and gas is still one of the most economical source of energy although this fact is changing fast.

Here are some alternatives energy sources.

1. Biodiesel - source from Palm Oil, etc.
2. Methane - source from decaying rubbish, etc.
3. Biofuel (ethanol) - source from corn, sugarcane, etc. Currently being used extensively in Brazil.
4. Solar power
5. Nuclear
6. Hydro
7. Geothermal
8. Windpower

I was just following the drift of the thread. Anyway, what I said was just a WHAT-IF scenario. I'm aware that lots of efforts have been made the world over to find alternative energy sources. In fact, Brunei is also starting to consider biofuel.

The BIG questions are:

1. Can these alternatives be produced cheaply & affordable, faster, safely, and in big & sustainable quantity?

2. Will they be readily available for all (i.e. rich and poor countries) within the next few decades?

I do hope the definite answer to both of these questions is YES. Otherwise, the risk of "doomsday" cannot be adequately avoided.

…as long as the ocean is there, "dooms day" is not applicable until we are faced with the oceans drying up.

sm, this does not meet your... if "1 and 2" is true logic, but it stand true that if one condition is true, there will be survivers thus eradicating "dooms day" scenario.

it now depends on the readiness of countries to tap into alternative resources.

you don't have to wait for the oceans to dry up to think about the adverse implications.

Okay, just imagine less worse scenario: higher oil prices. When the oil prices shoot up around US$70 recently businesses got the hit and affected their botton lines. Now, imagine in five years time when the supplies getting contracted and the oil prices to hike up up to US$150 to $200 per barrel. I don't think the world will be ready with alternative sources in 5 years time. So, what would happen? Major power crisis unprecedented in history!!!

In Brunei, our government may make some major policy changes with regards to oil subsidies. There might be no more subisidies which would impact the cost of petroleum and electricity. Imagine, you would have to pay $5.00 to $8.00 per litre of petrol for your car and your electricity bill runs up to $400 to $500 a month (where currently you only pay $50 to $100). And then, there will be lots of knock-on effects whereby businesses have to adjust their pricings and pass the costs to consumers. Life will never cheap again.

wow...

i believe there is oil price regulators that would not allow this to happen. that's a wee bit too pessimistic, i would say. now all the more urgent for brunei to tap into the ocean for electricity!!


i would be the first to cry if the petrol price went up. now all the more urgent for brunei to tap into the ocean for electricity!!

when Malaysian government cut its oil subsidies just a few cents last year, the whole country was in chaos. now, they did it again with tol hike...

on our home front, the Ministry of Energy has on several occasions giving some hints on the future of our take-for-granted energy/power subsidies and even HM the Sultan had mentioned it once in one of his recent titahs.

get yourself a boat...so to speak ha ha

we should diversify our economy.. this has been said over and over again

we should invest in alternative fuels

we should invest in factories and utilise our local people instead of letting unemployment hit the roof

we should utilise our land properly. 80% of brunei is still jungle! that's a lot of land which can be used for a lot of things, instead of building useless shop houses in already congested places. Now kiulap and gadong are merging because of this, and traffic is already very bad in these areas.

petrol prices should increase so people stop buying cars tey cannot afford and drive around not maintaining them... and we will use our petrol and resources wisely.

JPD needs to get ther act together instead of being so double standard in policing motorists and the JKR should take note of our roads ..

there's so many things we can say to improve.. but will it ever happen?

The obvious failure of our government to accelerate the diversification efforts and get results is another reason for us, commoners, to feel terrified. Almost three decades had past since Brunei got its independent but Brunei is STILL complacent, laid back, less serious and less committed. Another three decades would see Brunei struggling to survive IF things don’t improve and move very, very much.

Yes, we can only say and wish so much but who’s there to make it all happen? How confidence we are on the current and future decision-makers to make it all happen when the past indications are nothing significant to be proud of? Where and when shall we begin if we’re to change for the better? Just to think about the best probable answers to these questions could terrify us further.

God help us!

what are the real factors of the failure? to un-terrified us commoners, we may have to terrify the gomen servants. gone should be the time of guaranteed employment. corporatisation is key to getting rid of unwanted or unwarranted gomen employees.

des should be the next gomen depart to corporatised. prepaid meters should be introduced nationwide and not only on new premises. there is no excuse for continuing non payment of electricity bills.

obviously from a prepaid user here.

[highlight]Unless and until we are ALL subject to TRANSPARENT and JUST application of the Letter of the Law, the commoner will always have to be terrified of VICTIMISATION by those who ABUSE and MISUSE their power in their appointed offices.

Hint, hint...

when Malaysian government cut its oil subsidies just a few cents last year, the whole country was in chaos. ...

There were certainly some outcries when the Malaysian government cut its oil subsidies but there were never any chaos!!!

.... now all the more urgent for brunei to tap into the ocean for electricity!!

How do you propose that we tap into the ocean for electricity? You have some new technology that you can share with us?

Root of the problem not properly addressed

The one and only bridge connecting their house to the road, has collapsed for the forth time recently, causing great inconvenience to the family.

The main contributing factor of it is flood prevention project at Sungai Abang, Kampong Lamunin, especially the widening of rivers bank, which led to the erosion of the upstream river bank and the land around it.

It's true that swift actions have been done to fix the prevent the erosion quickly, but as we can see, these actions do not address the source of the problem. Hence it will happen again and again.

This has never happened before over the last 60 years despite experiencing the same weather conditions as we have now.

Lets not wait for somebody to get injured or even killed before any meaningful actions are carried out. Also, please revisit the place, as I have doubts on its completeness or the authorities' compliance to its requirements.

SISTEM pengurusan zakat perlu di-teliti semula

Quote from NDP website:
Sistem pengurusan zakat yang di gunapakai sekarang jelas perlu di teliti semula dan di perbaiki agar lebih berupaya mendepani masalah kemiskinan di negara ini.

Juga perlu di teliti ialah penselarasan matlamat pengurusan zakat dengan hasrat Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaullah, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam.

Dalam konteks ini semacam terdapat jurang antara objektif pengurusan zakat untuk membantu meringankan bebanan fakir miskin dengan hasrat Baginda Sultan untuk memerdekakan golongan miskin dari kepompong kemiskinan.

Dalam lain perkataan hasrat Baginda ialah mahu melihat kehadiran satu sistem pengurusan zakat yang lebih efektif dan efisyen yang bukan sekadar mampu memberikan bantuan bulanan dan tahunan kepada golongan miskin sahaja, tetapi akhirnya mampu menjadikan negara sifar kemiskinan.

Baginda Sultan bukan sahaja mahu melihat bantuan zakat di berikan sekadar mampu meringankan bebanan golongan miskin pada setiap bulan dan setiap tahun tetapi bagaimana sistem pengurusan zakat itu boleh mengkayakan mereka hingga menjadikan mereka golongan pembayar zakat.

Mudah-mudahan mesej titah yang tersirat ini dapat di baca dan di terjemahkan dengan baik oleh Majlis Ugama Islam dan agensi-agensi kerajaan yang lain agar apa pun dasar atau program yang akan mereka laksanakan akan mampu menjangkau wawasan Baginda Sultan itu.

Harapan kita ialah MUIB akan meneliti semula sistem pengurusan zakat yang sedia ada dan merencanakan strategi-strategi dan program-program jangka pendek dan jangka panjang yang lebih efektif dan dinamik dalam mengatasi isu kemiskinan di negara ini selaras dengan hasrat Baginda Sultan.

Persoalannya sekarang apa strategi dan langkah-langkah jangka pendek dan jangka panjang yang akan di ambil oleh MUIB sebagai menyambut hasrat titah Baginda Sultan itu?

Menurut laporan Media Permata bertarikh 21 Januari, langkah-langkah sedang dibuat bagi melaksanakan kurnia titah Baginda Sultan ketika Persidangan Majlis Ugama Islam Negara Brunei Darussalam pada13 Januari lalu.

Majlis Ugama Islam Brunei, menurut laporan tersebut, sedang membuat kajian dan langkah selanjutnya terutama cara untuk mengagihkan baki wang zakat yang ada.

Media Permata melaporkan Pemangku Setiausaha MUIB, Haji Abdul Wahab Haji Sapar sebagai berkata, "terdapat dua golongan yang akan diberikan keutamaan dalam agihan baki wang zakat berkenaan sebagaimana yang disebut Baginda Sultan ialah golongan fakir miskin dan Al-Gharimin, ujarnya sambil menambah pengagihan itu akan dilaksanakan secepat mungkin".

Menurut Pemangku Setiausaha MUIB, sejak empat ke lima tahun kebelakangan ini, jumlah wang zakat yang dikumpulkan adalah kurang daripada jumlah yang perlu diagihkan kepada asnaf zakat sehingga menyebabkan Majlis Ugama Islam terpaksa mencukupkan jumlah berkenaan dengan baki wang zakat tahun sebelumnya.

Sebagaimana yang dititahkan Baginda Sultan, wang zakat yang berbaki setelah diagihkan kepada yang berhak dan disahkan oleh Juruaudit Agung bagi kunci kira-kira yang berakhir 31 Disember 2004 adalah sebanyak $239,631,073.56.

Pada tahun sebelum 2004, menurut Haji Abdul Wahab, jumlah asnaf zakat yang memohon dan layak untuk menerima agihan zakat tidaklah seramai ketika ini yang sudah melebihi 16,000 orang.

Menurut statistik Majlis Ugama Islam pada 2007, seramai 3,976 orang fakir miskin menerima bantuan bulanan, sementara seramai 12,234 lagi menerima bantuan Hari Raya menjadikan jumlah yang menerima bantuan sebanyak 16,210 orang.

Jika dibandingkan statistik yang sama pada 2003 hanya 702 penerima bantuan bulanan dan 3,347 fakir miskin menerima bantuan Hari Raya, yang menjadikan jumlah keseluruhan bagi tahun itu hanya 3,347 orang.

Jumlah teramai yang dicatatkan dalam statistik 2001-2007 itu ialah pada 2005 yang berjumlah 19,420 penerima keseluruhannya terdiri daripada 16,706 penerima bantuan Hari Raya Aidilfitri dan seramai 598 orang yang menerima bantuan bulanan.

Menurut statistik Majlis Ugama Islam, jumlah perbelanjaan atau jumlah keseluruhan agihan wang zakat yang diberikan kepada asnaf zakat di negara ini pada 2008 sebelum diaudit terdiri daripada fakir miskin, amil, mualaf dan Al-Gharimin ialah sebanyak $15,849,439.64.

Pecahan agihan berkenaan menurut statistik 2001-2008 itu ialah $1,471,459.26 untuk Al-Gharimin, $13,014,088.45 untuk fakir miskin, $1,178,454.20 untuk mualaf dan $185,437.70 lagi untuk amil.

Haji Abdul Wahab berkata, fakir miskin yang diberi bantuan di negara ini akan mendapat bantuan sepanjang tahun, yang akan diterima setiap bulan dalam pelbagai bentuk bantuan.

"Umpamanya pada setiap menjelang Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Majlis Ugama Islam tidak akan hanya menghulurkan bantuan semasa hari lebaran saja, tetapi bahagian itu akan diberikan sepanjang tahun, misalnya penerima akan menerima agihan berjumlah $400 ke $500 setiap bulan tertakluk kepada keramaian anggota dalam sesebuah keluarga itu," jelasnya.

Begitu juga bantuan asasi seperi makanan juga akan diterima, bermakna penerima tidak akan terputus bantuan kewangan dan bantuan asasi setiap bulan.

Beliau mendedahkan bantuan bagi menyara persekolahan anak juga akan diterima setiap bulan berjumlah $60 secara berterusan yang bermakna setiap seorang akan menerima $720 setahun.

Agihan yang diterima asnaf fakir miskin termasuk agihan wang tunai bulanan, perlindungan, pendidikan, serta-merta, agihan tunai segera Hari Raya, bantuan perbelanjaan rawatan perubatan/kesihatan dan perbelanjaan Program Pengupayaan Asnaf Zakat.