Every step counts
His Royal Highness Prince (Dr) Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (L) visiting an exhibition booth showing traditional Thai performance at the UBD Convo Festival 2011 held at the UBD’s Student Centre, Jalan Tungku Link. Picture: BT/Zamri Zainal
His Royal Highness Prince (Dr) Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, yesterday launched the Pesta Konvo 2011 , a six-week festival of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) held from September 8 to October 22.
The Crown Prince was accompanied by Minister of Education Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Abu Bakar Hj Apong, Minister of Development Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman and UBD Vice Chancellor Dato Paduka Dr Hj Zulkarnain Hj Hanafi.
Pesta Konvowas held to enliven the university’s 23rd convocation ceremony on September 29. The Pesta Konvo working committee have set among other activities Convo Run & Fun Cycling, Faculty of Science Open Day, Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah (PAPRSB) Institute of Health Sciences Open Day, Majlis Khatam Al-Quran and Thanksgiving Prayers, Art Installation, Exhibition, and Cultural Performance as well as Community Outreach Programme.
Korean Fan Dance. Picture: BT/Zamri Zainal
The Crown Prince watches demonstrations of ‘pencak silat’. Picture: BT/Zamri Zainal
Following the launching ceremony, HRH and the entourage tour Banar Tah Tu ( It’s True) installation art exhibition which staged 15 art pieces by students of the various clubs at UBD. HRH also officiated the launch of the new $2 million-worth Student Centre facility.
The project which is under the National Development Plan (RKN) 2007-2012 began construction on July 17, 2010. With the new facility, it is hoped that students could conduct activities to further develop their creativity, build their character as well as be more innovative.
For more of the story, you can click here. Source: The Brunei Times.
Richard Neo, Manager of Lof Bread Team – “I’ve been training the team for six months such as endurance and sprinting. They are reserve for the national team and Lof is the only local club team participating in the TourDeBrunei 2011. We are here for the experience but if the opportunity arise, we will take it. Sprinting is our strength and the 1st Stage will be the hardest. Brunei’s cycling standard has picked up in recent years and we have been joining competitions outside Brunei as well. It is popular sport in Brunei and we hope to achieve something during the tournament”
Richard Neo, Manager of Lof Bread Team (left) with his team
Puspita Mustika, Coach of Eddy Holland Cycling Team – “I used to be the coach of Brunei team in 2008 and I was involved in a bad accident while cycling with the national team. I was in coma for 5 days and I never thought I will be back in this profession again. It’s definitely an emotional return for me to Brunei. I’m happy to see my former students still in the national team and they showed a lot of passion. In fact, one of my students, Mohd Khalid bin Sata, was also involved in the accident and now he’s competing in the tournament.
Few years ago, it was like a living hell for me. For me, this is my life. Cycling is my life. Since I’m not involved with coaching the national team (Indonesia), I was given the opportunity to manage Eddy Holland , a team based in Perth, Australia and I’m very happy that I’m still playing a part in cycling.” [You can catch more of Puspita from his blog here]
Puspita Mustika (far right) with Eddy Holland Cycling Team
Mohd Khalid bin Sata with Puspita Mustika
Sheikh Jimmy, CEO of Brunei Tourism Board – “This is good for Brunei. We invested BND 200,000 for this project as we paid for TV rights from Transworld (from IMG) and this event can be shown to millions worldwide through ESPN in October. I’m quite happy that this sport with international magnitude is organised by the Ministry and Brunei Darussalam Cycling Federation and we come here to give full support of the event.
This is not a regional event but an international event and this is how Brunei can benefit in terms of exposure on TV (Transworld Sport and ESPN). We want to promote Brunei through sport and nature. Cycling has more exposure than golf (Brunei Open) in terms of the nature surroundings in Brunei and viewers on TV can watch the green nature of Brunei, the Heart of Borneo.”
Shiekh Jimmy gave much praise about the event
Mr. Setiawan Purnamahadi, the General Manager of Butra Heidelberg (Brunei Cement) – “Our role as a title sponsor of the event is to carry out corporate social responsibility (CSR) and we focus on three pillars – social, economy and environment. This (event) will fall under our social pillar. We spent over BND 250,000 to make sure the event is made possible and we already made the commitment last year.
We have sponsored the Brunei Wu Shu by funding facilities for them to train. With JASTRE, we were also involved in the “No Plastic Bag Weekend”. Beach Bunch is also one of the NGOs we are supporting. Last month, we help to promote awareness to “Prevent Diabetes” in support of MOH’s goals. Last June, we were also involved in AsiaIncForum’s National Environmental Conference.”
As you can see, Butra Heidelberg is very serious with their goals (pillars) and I’m pretty impressed with their involvement with the local authorities especially with the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Development and now Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. To add further, MR. Setiawan also mentioned that they will be involved in the upcoming event BNE organised by the Ministry of Energy.
Butra Heidelberg also focus on reducing energy especially in industrial operations as this is part of their CSR under environment. So don’t think that Brunei Cement just do what they do best – providing cement – but they also educate their workers and staff on the do’s and dont’s on energy and wastage. Butra Heidelberg has created a strong brand among the locals for their CSR initiative.
Mr. Setiawan Purnamahadi (centre) of Butra Heidelberg with the management
Local entrepreneur Hajah Salma Bee Noor Mohd Abdul Latiff left for the United States today (September 9) as part of the U.S. State Department sponsored International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP). The special program “Entrepreneurship and Business Management” is a direct result of President Obama’s June 2009 speech in Cairo. The program links participants from Muslim communities with leading U.S. entrepreneurs in interactive forums and provides opportunities for firsthand observation of successful business operations.
Before leaving, Hajah Salma met with U.S. Ambassador Daniel L. Shields to thank him for the opportunity, which she believes will be valuable for her business and latest online product in Islamic finance. Ambassador Shields congratulated Hajah Salma on being selected for the program and encouraged her to make the most of the opportunity. He further added “This program will be of benefit to both the U.S and Brunei and will continue to aid in deepening people-to-people networks” between the two countries.
Hajah Salma is the Managing Director and Founder of Crescent Sdn Bhd. Her diploma-level, online course in Islamic finance is expected to be the first of its kind, and is being carried out in collaboration with the National University of Singapore. Crescent is one of the incubatees at the iCentre. Recently Crescent launched their online product and they currently have at least 10 students who signed up for the Islamic Finance online.
Hjh Salma will join twenty three (23) other Muslim entrepreneurs who were selected from all over the world as participants for the program. During this three week project, the group will visit a variety of communities that have inspired innovative business growth, including Washington, DC; San Francisco; Cincinatti, Ohio; and Chicago.
The IVLP program is an all expense paid trip supported by the U.S. Department of State. Text and image courtesy of US Embassy.
U.S. Ambassador Daniel L. Shields presenting Hjh Salma Latiff with her tickets and importnat IVLP information
Hjh Salma during the launch of her Islamic Finance online
Hjh Salma at the CommunicAsia2011
Aussino’s Family Day which falls on September 11, 2011 will be host to various games and activities which will be held for all Aussino customers. On the day, Bed-making competition finalists will be determined for best bed-maker award as well as a prize presentation for its ongoing photo contest, “Home is where the Heart is with Aussino”.
Yesterday, Julian Wee the Manager of Aussino drew 8 lucky participants to participate in “Shopping for My Sweet Home at Aussino”. There are Teo Boo Ern, Kong Wei Fung, Riza Syaziyah, Saffa Huda, Crystal Lim Li Thong. Namal Arosha Senanyake S. M, Iidil Rahmah Bai Abdullah and Pinky Maninang Cerna. All the participants will be entitled product prizes courtesy of Aussino. The top prize will be a shopping voucher worth BND 150.
Julian Wee drawing the names for Sunday
Aussino also created some fun activities such as bed-making competition which started back in end of July till early September. The task is for them to complete the activity within a time limit of 15 minutes. The contestants will be judged on their tidiness, creativity and speed.
This activity is in conjunction with Aussino’s 7th year anniversary. So do come to Aussino this Sunday for their family day.
Mr. Fadhil enjoying the comfort of the bed
One of the contestants last August
Like mother, like daughter
The competition did grab some attention outside
Another contestant for the bed-making competition
Warning: count(): Parameter must be an array or an object that implements Countable in /home/rano365/public_html/ranoadidas3/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php on line 405
