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Good luck!
Listen to the podcast review of The Hunger Games finale with co-host @delgoh and special guest Nee Khern
Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Rakiah and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Jeffriah at the SMSS’ graduation ceremony yesterday
I’ve missed the event yesterday because I was attending another lecture on entrepreneurship by Mark Brown. Congratulations to Fatin, Ijah and Muazzam on their graduation and award ceremony from Seri Mulia Serjana School (SMSS) and it’s the 17th edition and the event took place at The Rizqun International Hotel.
In attendance were Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Rakiah and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Amal Jeffriah. The guest of honour was Pg Ayup bin Pg Hj Othman, the Acting Senior Special Duties Officer, Private Education Section, Ministry of Education.
Congratulations once again 😀 I’m a proud brother and uncle.
Ijah receiving her certificate from guest of honour
Fatin receiving her certificate from guest of honour
Congratulations Muazzam for receiving bronze on his academic year
Two plays will be happening this week and early next week. One is an adaptation from Shakespeare’s Othello and the other is inspired by a local with the play entitled “Jong Sarat”.
The first play I will brief on is the Shakespeare’s Othello which will be performed by the students from the English Department Literature Team from Pusat Tingkatan Enam (PTE) Meragang. It will be happening tomorrow, Thursday 26th November and 28th November at 10am at the Lecture Hall, PTE Meragang. You can get tickets (only $1) by contacting 710 7876 or 813 0577.
I’m most likely to come for one of the shows of Othello. I’m a big fan of broadway and plays and to see our local students perform is something I’m appreciative about. It’s a good thing that there’s an avenue for students to showcase their talents, let it be actors or those behind the scenes as they all showcase their talents and abilities in the creative industry. Kudos to the team and the organiser.
So come let’s support the future generations of our country by supporting the play. You can also follow their updates on Facebook (/ptemeragang) or instagram @ptemeragang for updates.
Jong Sarat. Next up is SEEDS’ 7th play to date. SEEDS stands for Students’ Extracurricular and Educational Dramatic Society and this was formed back in 2008 under Sekolah Menengah Awang Semaun with the help of Brunei Amateur Dramatic Society (BADS). These are also initiative from students and teachers in helping to nurture and unleash their creativity and talents to the eyes of the public.
They had a preview last evening and unfortunately I wasn’t able to attend. Here’s the thing though. I won’t be able to make it even for next week’s dates of Jong Sarat (The Dream that changes everything) as I already committed in doing my speech and role for Toastmasters. My apologies in advance for this matter. I’ve attended previous SEEDS play before and I was amazed. I trust they will produce another fantastic show.
Get your tickets for either of these production nights:
30th November 2015, 7pm
1st December 2015, 7pm
Tickets are available at Sekolah Menengah Rimba for the following days and times:-
Wednesday 25th November:
7pm-9.30pm
Friday, 27th November:
3pm-9.30pm
Kindly contact for more information (via message only):
Telegram: telegram.me/seedsjongsarat
Whatsapp: +6738678673
You can also follow them on their website www.seedsbrunei.com or Facebook Page or instagram @seedsbrunei and if you are on instagram, just see their updates on #seeds7
The cast of Jong Sarat #seeds7
The musicians of Jong Sarat #seeds7
The Props designers of Jong Sarat #seeds7
Get your tickets now for Jong Sarat
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Apa Khabar
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik in the group photo with the Minister of Home Affairs, YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Awang Abu Bakar Hj Apong, senior government officials, the winners and the organisers of the 2015 Brunei Darussalam Karting Championship at the capital last Sunday
His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik with the Minister of Home Affairs
His Royal Highness speaking to YAM Pg Anak Hj Abd Ghaffar and YAM Pg Anak Abdul Rashid before the final race of the day
Hj Md Fauzan Pehin Dato Rahman showed why he is a tough racer to beat. Despite finishing 3rd in the final leg of the 2015 Brunei Darussalam Karting Championship (BDKC), he garnered enough points to win the championship and he successfully defended the title he won last year. He won in the senior category. It was a close encounter for the championship point between Fauzan and his closest competitor, Md Diaud’din Hj Md Daud but Fauzan finished ahead of his competitor to clinch the title. Fauzan was driving for Amori Racing Team.
As for the final leg, Ammirol Ahmad Mahmud of Miri won the race and second place went to Muhd Jeffrey Abdullah Suresh who is no stranger in the karting scene with 7 titles under his belt in the senior category. Jeffrey represented Maju Advance team.
As for the Veteran category, Han Wee Yiau from Miri won the final leg and won overall in the category with 80 points. He bettered himself as he finished runner-up last season.
In the Novice category, 14 year old Ahmad Izzal Iman Hj Mohd Jazlan of ViiCool Racing, stole the show as he clinched the final leg and also the overall championship in the respective category. Definitely a bright future ahead of him.
The final leg of the championship was also held in town in conjunction with the coined name of Bandar Seri Begawan as the capital city of Brunei Darussalam.
Present as the guest of honour to hand out the prizes to the winners was His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik. His Royal Highness also toured the exhibitions after the prize giving ceremony.
His Royal Highness being greeted by government officials
Amori Racing Team in yellow
Han Wee Yiau from Miri won the Veteran Category (overall and the final leg) of the BDKC 2015
The 3rd place winner in the Novice Category
The 2nd place winner in the Novice Category
The 14 year old Ahmad Izzal Iman Hj Mohd Jazlan of ViiCool Racing winning the final leg of the BDKC 2015 in Novice Category
He also won overall in the Novice Category with full maximum points
Hj Md Fauzan coming third in the final leg of the BDKC 2015
Jeffrey Suresh had to settle for 2nd place and he won’t be coming out of retirement after his one-time off race last Sunday.
Ammirol Ahmad Mahmud of Miri overtook Suresh in the final few laps and won the last leg of the BDKC 2015
Despite finishing 3rd in the final leg, Hj Fauzan won the overall championship with 85 points. He hopes to get a hat trick by next year.
A memento to the guest of honour from the Ministry of Home Affairs
A memento to the guest of honour from the Brunei Darussalam Karting Association
BSM one of the vendors on last weekend’s event
Amori Racing Team
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The elusive title now belongs to DPMM FC
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, The Deputy Sultan (right) receiving the S•League trophy from Rosmin Kamis, captain of DPMM FC last night at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah with other members of the Royal Family and DPMM FC team and senior officials with the S•League title
The Crown Prince celebrating the winning victory by DPMM FC
DPMM FC needed three seasons to learn their lesson from not choking in the finale of the S•League championship and what a wonderful way to win the championship on home soil. Twice they were close but lost the grip of the title and many wondered if the jinx could be broken. This was the only title that they are really hungry for and they repaid their fans with a sublime finale at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium last night.
The title was fought between DPMM FC and Tampines Rovers FC with both having crucial games at their respective home ground. The advantage was on DPMM FC side as they were hosting Balestier Khalsa, a team they failed to beat during the season twice (home and away). Hence the final game was a do-or-die match for the host and it was their title to lose, having the upper hand against their closest rival.
When looking into season, it was a wise decision to let go Tosi Rodrigo and Roberto Alvez, both who have been instrumental in DPMM FC’s good run to the S•League campaign for the past few years but they weren’t the missing puzzle. Having already established great rapport with their local fans, it was a decision (of letting them go) that wasn’t favoured by fans. To make it more interesting, Tampines Rovers FC signed the released players from DPMM FC. It would have been a tough act to swallow should Tampines Rovers FC won the title with the help of former DPMM FC players. But it wasn’t to be. It was Steve Kean’s time to shine. And surely he did with the right signings.
In came the likes of Paulo Sergio, Rafael Ramazotti and Stuart McLean, signed by Steve Kean and in him, we trust that DPMM FC have found the missing puzzle to the title equation. The former Blackburn Rovers manager won his first competitive league title (S•League) and it was a title not only for DPMM FC but for the fans who have been showing up and watching DPMM FC playing year after year.
DPMM FC celebrate their success
DPMM FC players thanking the 12th
What a joy for the players to have reached this far
My friend Rahman couldn’t believe it that DPMM FC have finally won
Adi Said embracing his team mate after the final whistle
The bench was already sporting the t-shirts in the final minutes of the game
The mexican wave
There are a few key factors why DPMM FC have been consistent throughout this season. It was a tale sign when Craig Fagan of DPMM FC was sidelined for the season and DPMM FC had to scout for a replacement and in came, Paulo Sergio from Portugal. He settled in and gelled with the team in a short span of time and his partnership with Rafael was superb. That’s one of the reasons why DPMM FC had the most team goals in the S•League with Rafael taking the honours of being top goal scorer in the league.
Another factor is the growth of Azwan Ali as a player. This is probably his best season to date. He showed much confidence on the pitch and feared no opponent with his mazy runs at any position. As he had shown last night, he caused a lot of problems for Tampines Rovers and unfortunate not have scored on a couple of occasions. He had a minor disciplinary problem in the middle of the season and he grew from that and focused on his game. Definitely one of the stars for DPMM FC this season.
The final factor from my point of view is the depth of the squad. Steve Kean may find this a solution or even causing some minor headaches when it comes to selection process. In the end, it all paid off. The rotation policy worked and everyone was chipping in their efforts. Rosmin “Bobby” Kamis, the captain talisman for DPMM FC, had a lot of bench time in the beginning of the season and eventually won his place back in the starting line-up. Kudos to Steve Kean in managing the mood in the dressing room to keep the players motivated and with a single intention of winning trophies.
I won’t talk so much about the match last night but I want to single out one player and that is Paulo Sergio. He gave a different dimension to DPMM FC and it was pretty hard to mark him as well. His first goal may have been a fluke but the other two goals showed that he is also sharp in the box. He could have scored more than just a hat trick but that would be asking too much of a player who has contributed so much in the match alone. He was even generous, gifting a goal to Rafael late in the game to make it 4-0. I was worried when he was touching his calf earlier in the first half but he lasted the whole game with his match winning performance.
Another notable mention is Wardun Yussof in goal. He has always aimed for a clean sheet in every match. Even though the team is winning by a big margin, a clean sheet is his main aim. Last night, when the defenders failed to contain the Balistier’s strikers, Wardun was up to the task. He thwarted at least a few goal bound attempts to relieve of the fans. I’m pretty sure there’s a few years left in him. What a solid display from him in goals!!
All in all, a wonderful season to cap off for DPMM FC and well done to the management of DPMM FC who have worked tremendously well throughout the campaign.
Paul Sergio was spectacular last night. I hope he stays for a few good season for DPMM FC.
Fans going crazy during the goal celebration
Around 23,000 fans showed up last night. Amazing!!
A dejected defender after Rafa scored the 4th goal late in the game
Sairol hugging his team mate Azwan during the substitution late in the game
It’s the wrong trophy but yeah, that’s the spirit from a DPMM FC fan
DPMM FC doing the country proud
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Winning isn’t everything
Check out the V-Class from Mercedes-Benz at the Jati Transport Showroom in Gadong. Refreshments will be served today
The Champions of the Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge 2015 led by @ghazi.jo (2nd from right) with his proud sister Izzah Jomari. The team presented their idea on a device for vehicles where it will send emergency dispatch on the occurrence of an accident or instant impact. This is a very cool idea knowing that rate of accidents in Brunei is quite high. Congratulations to team KreatifTech.
Hajah Hasnah Hj Ibrahim, Acting CEO of Brunei Economic Development Board (centre) with the top 3 winners of the Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge 2015 and the judges. The event took place at Design & Technology Building at Anggrek Desa.
Open concept, yes!!! I love it. I believe this is a great way to share and give more exposure on the concept to students and potential start-ups on how pitching and presentations are done. The public will also get to understand the prototypes or ideas presented by the finalists of the Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge. This is the 8th edition of the business plan competition organised by Brunei Economic Development Board and iCentre and it was previously under the brand name of “ThinkBig” before it rebranded to “Ignite”.
I favoured the idea that the competition only lasted in less than 3 months. Otherwise, the competition could get draggy as it was a few years ago. During the press conference of the Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge 2015 back in mid September, the organisers shared that they were looking for validations and commercialisation of their ideas and concepts and not just focusing on Brunei market but abroad. Forward to the present moment, chief judge Soon Loo, local partner and co-managing director of Seri Venture Capital Management Sdn Bhd, commented that all the finalists yesterday demonstrated high quality of ideas but lacking the execution should they explore outside Brunei. It was also the first time that the announcement of the winners was build in a more suspense manner initiated by the chief judge where usually the announcement were done by the emcee. So I am happy to see new changes in the format of the finals of the Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge.
Perhaps another obvious difference is that the co-organisers decided to remove the student category and allow the students from high schools, tertiary and university institution to compete among the big players. This competition alone drew 51 submissions during the preliminary round (48 for Open and 3 for International). By October, only 22 submissions were shortlisted. By November, six teams made it to the finals for the Open Category and 1 only for International. I’m quite happy that there were all new faces so it gives me a more refreshing feel. Furthermore, the average age of the team is pretty young and not all of them have business background to begin with.
Anxious moment for the finalists as Soon Loo was announcing the top 3 winners.
Team Neogene was one of the finalists. They centred their idea of geology and market it with a tourism angle. I like their idea actually and this can bring loads of revenue to the economy if proper execution. But it’s true what the judges said that it will take years to reach that milestone.
Jodie Lim was the first presenter yesterday. Her team Nurture Enterprise proposed the idea of installing solar chimneys and earth tubes in any building and by doing this, it will reduce electricity costs, resulting in the cooling of greenhouse gases. The chief judge shared that this concept can take off if they can apply for the IPO.
One of the most confident presenters in the finals. Team Adi Iskandar Basri came up with the idea of a “Skipping” app. That’s right. A skipping app where you can skip queues. He gave examples about those queueing in banks. I’m quite impressed with his delivery as he believed in the product. Even my peers were talking about it on the group chat. Perhaps the judges were looking for something more of a substance. Keep it up, buddy! #dontgiveup
@ghazi.jo and his team of KreatifTech during their presentation of the special device for vehicle in emergency cases. During the interview, he shared the idea of the app came about when his friend Syazwan passed away in a tragic accident end of last year. It was also the first time their team joined the Ignite competition and they were recommended by their friends to join. He thanked all the finalists and they all deserved to be in the finals.
The best part of the finals is that the public was more than welcome to watch it live through webcam. The audience watched the whole presentation at the auditorium room. I hope this trend will continue for next year’s Ignite. Good job, BEDB!!
From what I can see is that “Ignite” is aiming to aspire the public that any idea that you have in mind can be made possible. It’s not about the winning the competition. It’s about embarking the journey of embracing your ideas and experiencing the process – writing an executive summary, creating a team, running surveys and focus groups, attending workshops and learn from seasoned mentors, creating presentation slides, pitching your ideas, networking and there are just many possibilities that you can learn by just participating Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge. The biggest value that I learn from this competition is the value of courage and I applaud to all the 51 teams that submitted their business ideas to the organisers.
Even Soo Loo commented that it’s not about winning or losing. He experienced of not being placed in a business competition but his idea materialised in the real business environment and it has become a success. The same can be said for PHMD MindPlus who came 3rd in Ignite Open Category 2012 and now their expanding operations in Indonesia. So to the other finalists who weren’t placed, do not be discouraged. You all did the best you could yesterday and I was impressed by all the presenters, even with their ideas. Who knows you can apply for grants in BEDB or AITI and you can turn your ideas or prototypes into reality. So don’t feel defeated but feel appreciative and honoured because you made this far.
Thank you, BEDB for giving me this opportunity to watch all the finalists and I’m pretty sure those who showed up yesterday felt privileged to witness all the presenters.
The prizes were presented by Hajah Hasnah Hj Ibrahim, Acting CEO of Brunei Economic Development Board.
Jamie Liu of Inncee (Singapore) was the only team that made it to the finals in the International Category. Her company provides analytical services to help businesses improve their revenue by gaining data. They have simulated one of the businesses in Singapore. Well done on winning the International category.
Team Guru consists of two awesome tennis players who came up with the idea of connecting coaches/trainers to sport enthusiasts through means of the Guru apps. They also joined the competition because it was an idea they had in mind for a long time but never materialised. So what a way to introduce their idea through the Ignite competition. Is this app doable in Brunei? I would believe so with proper implementation and marketing strategy. Keep it up, ladies!! Proud of you!!
The Runner up for the Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge 2015 – Team Nurture Enterprise and they received BND 15,000
The winner of the International Category with BND 10,000 – Team Inncee
The 2nd runner up, Team NewGate Plus, who won BND 10,000. They are now heading in Malaysia as they were selected to represent Brunei in the ASEAN Impact Challenge 2015 in Kuala Lumpur and guess what? They are now in KL for the event. They came up with a noble cause app that ensures that there is enough supply and demand of blood storage for the community. The judges shared that they scored the highest for social impact but will need a strong support from the Ministry of Health to make this app sustainable in a long run. Good luck in KL and congratulations in finishing Top 3.
Zharul Ghazi Jomari and his team, Kreatif Tech, received the winning prize of BND 25,000 from Hajah Hasnah Hj Ibrahim, Acting CEO of Brunei Economic Development Board.
The most enterprising judge that I’ve come across and Soon Loo has given a different dimension in the judging department. He is one busy man who travels at least a few times in a month alone and he claimed that he doesn’t even have a frequent fly programme. His biggest milestone or one of them is was being awarded the Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World award in 2013.
All is not lost for other finalists as local SMES still want to engage with participants on their ideas. Here we see Mr. Ang of 3G Media talking to one of the finalists of the Guru App mobile application.
Radi El Fassed, Acting Head of Product Development, Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd, was amazed with the presenters and hope to work with some of the finalists for future opportunities. He was one of the judges of the Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge 2015
A Singaporean lady giving some tips to the Neogene team.
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Recollection
Mercedes-Benz V-Class being displayed at Jati Transport Showroom at Gadong. Image courtesy of @mercedesbenzbrunei
The cool LED lights in the interior of the V-Class. Image courtesy of @mercedesbenzbrunei
For the first time, Jati Transport Sdn Bhd unveiled their first Van/MPV Mercedes-Benz V-Class. Back then, the V-Class (Viano) was catered as commercial vehicle. Now it has more of a feel like a Mercedes-Benz MPV. There are so many thing to like about the new MVP from Mercedes-Benz.
Though it’s still new in the segment of passenger car family, it sets new benchmarks with its design and innovation. It can fit up to 8 people and the MVP gives you the luxurious feel plus comfort. Let’s not forget the efficient driving pleasure for those behind the wheel and the most important of all, safety that distinguish automobiles bearing the three-pointed star.
The black Mercedes-Benz V-Class being displayed at the Jati Transport has already been booked by a customer. The next shipment is also fully booked if I’m not mistaken too. But do drop by Jati Transport to know more about the latest V-Class. This shows that the demand for the MVP is pretty good.
The V-Class has a high level of driving comfort with exemplary safety features to begin with. It has state-of-the-art radar, camera and ultrasound sensors to the benefit of the driver. This feature has been a successful gimmick in other Mercedes-Benz Class, being labeled as “Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Drive”. The Attention Assist can warn of inattention and drowsiness of the driver and furthermore, it has a Active Parking Assist even for the huge size of the V-Class. Awesome..
At market launch, the new V-Class comes to the starting line with the state-of-the-art 2.1-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel engine with two-stage turbo charging: the V 220 CDI generates 120 kW (163 hp) and 380 Newton metres. With fuel consumption of just 5.7 litres per 100 kilometres and CO2 emissions of 149 grammes per kilometre, the V 220 CDI occupies an absolutely leading position in the segment.
You can also follow their Facebook Page and instagram @mercedesbenzbrunei for updates.
Public viewing of the Mercedes-Benz V-Class
The passenger area
It was great bumping into Pg Nasir once again
Public viewing of the V-Class 220 CDI
The back of the V-Class
Refreshments from The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
The side view of the V-Class
The V-Class looks pretty cool on the road
You can remove the chair and fit other things into the V-Class. Quite a versatile MPV.
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Blue is the warmest colour
This morning we witnessed a young team, SGRA, who were crowned the champion of the Ignite Entrepreneurship Challenge 2015 and they were rewarded with a winning prize of BND 25,000. The team was led by Ghazi Jo and the mock cheque was presented by Acting CEO of Brunei Economic Development Board, Hajah Hasnah Hj Ibrahim. More stories tomorrow on blog.
Can DPMM FC clinch their maiden S•League title this weekend? Image courtesy of S•League Facebook Page.
The other team in the race for the title is Tampines Rover FC. They will face Harimau Muda in the final day of the season too. DPMM FC can still clinch the title if the host draw with Balestier and Tampines only win by a single goal. But of course, a win is much better.
T-shirts will be handed out to spectators on a first come first serve basis, and there are also 25 lucky draw prizes up for grabs including three return tickets – with the destination yet to be determined – sponsored by Royal Brunei (RB). Furthermore there will be NO ENTRY FEE for the final match between DPMM FC and Balestier Khalsa FC. Good news to all DPMM FC players.
Good luck and I shall be covering the match this Saturday too.
Look at the new Audi TTS. Sleeker and powerful. I love everything about this car.
I took the Audi TTS for a good spin yesterday
My experience: Pretty awesome!!! The closest thing I drove as a sports boutique car. It felt pretty low and it was pretty stable when I took it for a test drive. I had the privilege to drive the beautiful blue Audi TTS edition, courtesy of T.C.Y. Motors yesterday.
What impressed me is the Audi Virtual Cockpit. This is something new introduced in Audi models and now you don’t need a digital dashboard as everything appears behind the steering wheel. The 12.3 inch display monitor is enough to give enough information to the driver and you can even switch modes by clicking the menu on the steering wheel. I haven’t really explore the Audi Virtual Cockpit but looks impressive so far.
I remember seeing the first edition of the Audi TT a couple of years ago. Yes, it did look sexy back then but now the latest design and body give a sexier feel and I love the sporty kit on the Audi TTS edition. For the TTS model, you will also enjoy the sound system of Bang & Olufsen. I’m still bummed that I wasn’t able to make it to Denmark for the Bang & Olufsen’s event back in October.
If you want to check out the Audi TTS version, head over to T.C.Y. Motors during office hours. It’s the best Audi TT model among the lot with 310 horsepower output with a new generation of quattro all-drive system (4 wheel drive). I hope to get another test drive again 😀 (Thanks, John).
Handling is superb even in corners
The interior of the Audi TTS
The Audi Virtual Cockpit is innovative
The blind spot light alerts off incoming cars from the side
A modern classic, redesigned and reborn: The third generation of the iconic Audi TT arrived on the global market in 2014, and it continues to fascinate with the driving dynamics of a sports car. It’s operating concept centered around its digital cockpit sets new standards of excellence.
Design and body
Audi designers reinterpreted the lines of the original 1998 TT and added dynamic facets to the design. Audi offers headlights with LED technology or Matrix LED technology. Dynamic turn signals are another feature of the lighting system. The headlights are designed with a pattern of divider bars that emit the daytime driving lights. The tail lights also contain continually illuminated bars of light.
The body of the TT represents a new evolutionary stage of the Audi Space Frame (ASF). The occupant cell plus all the components of the outer shell and attached parts are made of aluminium. The TT 2.0 TFSI with 6-speed S tronic transmission sets the new benchmark for low weight at just 1,260 kg (without driver). With the S line exterior package, it attains a low Cd figure of 0.29.
Drive system
Audi Brunei is offering the new generation TT with the 2.0 TFSI with 169 kW (230 hp) and 370 Nm (272.9 lb‑ft) of torque paired with a six-speed S tronic and a new evolutionary stage of the quattro permanent all-wheel drive system (for the TTS).
Chassis
Clutch management is incorporated into the 5-mode Audi drive select. This system lets the driver control the operation of key technology modules in a variety of different modes. These modules include the adaptive damper control system Audi magnetic ride (optional).
Other chassis highlights include progressive steering, four-link rear suspension and electronic stabilization control (ESC). ESC functions include torque vectoring, which is activated in fast cornering – it optimizes handling as necessary by means of very slight brake interventions on the unloaded wheels at the inside of a curve.
Interior and controls
The interior of the new Audi TT has light, sporty styling. Viewed from above, the instrument panel resembles an airplane wing. The round air vents, a classic feature of the TT, incorporate all of the controls for the air conditioning system. The newly developed lightweight sport seats are mounted low. The luggage compartment of the 2+2 seater has a capacity of 305 to 712 litres (10.8 to 25.1 cu ft).
In the user interface concept, which is entirely focused on the driver, the Audi Virtual Cockpit replaces both the analog instrument cluster and the MMI monitor. The driver can toggle the 12.3-inch display between two different viewing modes. In the classic view, the speedometer and tachometer take center stage. In Infotainment mode, more space is given.
The physical buttons of the MMI monitor have been limited to six in number. The top-of-the-range version also incorporates the MMI smart touchwheel – the round rotary touchpad in the top of the rotary/push-button control. The menu structure was inspired by a smartphone and includes a free-text MMI search function. The voice control system understands a large number of expressions from everyday speech.
Assistance systems and infotainment
The line-up of driver assistance systems for the new TT extends from Audi Side Assist to Parking Aid with display of the surroundings and a rear-view camera (for the TTS).
The Bang & Olufsen Sound System (for the TTS) utilizes a newly developed algorithm to reproduce audio signals with an even greater sense of space and precision.
The new Audi TT won the top overall award in the “Connected Car 2014” poll conducted among readers of Auto Bild and Computer Bild magazines.
Audi Brunei will offer the new TT in 3 variants: the base model with 18” wheels, an S line version and the top of the range TTS with 310 bhp output, new generation of the quattro® permanent all-wheel drive system with Audi TT-specific configuration and exclusive 19” wheels.
The Audi TT S Line model
The Audi TT base model
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Still in 2nd gear
Charles Rex de Silva, 74, passed away two days ago in Colombo, Sri Lanka. I’ve known him during his years in Brunei Press and I had a few conversations with him in his office. He was such a humble person, serving his profession back then as editor-in-chief of Borneo Bulletin (1990 to 2011). You will be dearly missed especially those who have worked with you. You have left a good legacy in Borneo Bulletin. Image taken from Facebook. RIP Rex.
Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Rahman bin Pengiran Seri Indera Pengiran Haji Ismail, Chairman and Executive Committee Secretary and also as Chairman of the Working Committee (centre) during the press conference for 2015 Brunei Darussalam Karting Championship. Image courtesy of Khairil Hassan of Borneo Bulletin.
This is a yearly event that’s happening this weekend. It’s the final leg of the 2015 Brunei Darussalam Karting Championship and this time it will be a 3-day event starting this Friday. This is one of the days where the capital of Brunei Darussalam will be transformed into a race-track.
The Go-Kart event is also in conjunction with the 45th Anniversary of Bandar Seri Begawan and it is organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs (BSB Municipal Board) with the collaboration of Brunei Darussalam Go-Kart Association and D’Sunlit Sdn Bhd.
The practice session will be happen on Saturday 21st November near the Royal Wharf while the official race will take place on Sunday 22nd November. On Friday, there will be activities for the public to enjoy at the Taman SOAS such as fly fox, retro car show, music competition, frisbee competition, bouncers and many more.
As for the Frisbee tournament, the registration is still open and you can contact Adib at 8796851 or 8903654.
All these were announced yesterday during the press conference at the Ministry of Home Affairs led by Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Rahman bin Pengiran Seri Indera Pengiran Haji Ismail, Chairman and Executive Committee Secretary and also as Chairman of the Working Committee.
There was also safety briefing for the public who will be at the vicinity of the race track. You will be advised not to cross the race track during the race and practice session.
Also for you info, there will be road closure as well. Do refer to the illustration below. The road closure will start from 2pm Saturday to 8pm Sunday.
So where can you park? Parkings at Jalan Cator, Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and PGGMB Building and also a few areas like Jalan Bendhara will still be opened for the public. Just be careful not to park illegally because I ended getting a summon for parking illegally two years ago *oopsy*
Parking for VIP invitees will be at Jalan Roberts and Jalan McArthur while Committee parking will be at Commercial Centre Building and Storey Park Building.
Invitees’ parking will be at Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah across Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Mosque, TAIB, Electric Department, Main Post Office and Lapau.
Road closure starting Saturday. Illustration by The Brunei Times.
The Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Managing Director of BIBD, Hjh Noraini Hj Sulaiman (L), presenting the winning trophy to Hj Saiful Rizal Pehin Dato Hj Ahmad, the champion of the Open Gross category during the prize presentation ceremony for the BIBD Perdana Banking Invitational Golf Tournament 2015 at The Empire Hotel & Country Golf Club. Image courtesy of Adib Noor of The Brunei Times.
Smiles were all around as close to 100 clients of BIBD took part in the BIBD Perdana Banking Invitational Golf Tournament 2015 which took place yesterday at The Empire Hotel & Country Golf Club.
The tournament was organised to foster stronger relationships between BIBD and its customers in the Perdana Privilege, Corporate and Institutional Banking segments.
On hand to present the trophies to the winners of the day was the Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Managing Director of BIBD, Hjh Noraini Hj Sulaiman.
The top winners of the day included Hj Khairul Jamaluddin, who was the champion of the Open Nett category, while Hj Saiful Rizal Pehin Dato Hj Ahmad topped the Open Gross category.
Wong Kai Tee was named the champion of the Senior Nett category while Dato Paduka Sheikh Adnan was named the Champion of the Senior Gross Category.
The Deputy Managing Director of BIBD thanked everyone for their support and participation in the tournament, and took the opportunity to recap on the excellent year BIBD has been having in 2015.
To find out more about BIBD’s products, services and promotion visit its official Facebook page here www.facebook.com/bibdbrunei or log on to www.bibd.com.bn www.bibd.com.bn or eget in touch with the BIBD contact Centre at 2239191. Text courtesy of Adib Noor of The Brunei Times.
Colour runs have been a popular gimmick as of late. Last Sunday, another one took place organised by SEAMEO VOCTECH with the motto “Ikhlas Run With Colours” and an amazing BND 17,830 was raised. The colourful event carried the theme “Run… Share and Care” and it aimed to bring the community together to create a colourful and fun event where the runners were in for a colourful treat being sprayed with coloured powder. Around 2,000 participants took part in the event.
The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education and Training (SEAMEO VOCTECH) said on its website that the run is one of the activities lined up for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of SEAMEO and the 25th anniversary of SEAMEO VOCTECH.
It was good to know that the money raised was channeled for the Special Education Unit under the Ministry of Education’s IKHLAS initiative where the guest of honour, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman, Minister of Education, handed the mock cheque to Pg Sarimah Pg Hj Ahmad, Head of Special Education Unit. The other beneficiary was Brunei Olympics Council.
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Back, back, back
It was a great day out picnic with my other toastmaster buddies organised by OTTERS club. It was a pity not many could make it as it was a short notice gathering. I found out that the Anduki Recreational Park is a great spot for picnics and it’s clean too. Nice view of the lake too but do be wary of the crocodiles though.
A great shot by @faiqairudin as there was continuous lightning in Brunei last evening. I found this shot beautiful and thanks for sharing Faiq on instagram.
It was my first time playing paintball and one word to describe the experience – FUN. Thank you to @rbstpaintballbn for the invitation and I shall post the full coverage soon on my blog. For now, I found out that we can make a good team as we came runners-up in the mini tournament last Friday.
My last minute attempt to dress up as the Mad Hatter for @emmagoodegg’s Alice in Wonderland theme dinner. Bought the attire at Little M shop for roughly BND 30 but the quality ain’t that great but good enough for the occasion. I found out that there are some selection of costumes you can find at Little M but not wide selection to my likings but it’s getting there.
Well done to the management on the successful opening of Baba Rafi (known for their kebabs) at the Jerudong Park food court area last Friday. I found that Baba Rafi is a franchise from Indonesia and they have presence in Malaysia, Singapore and also Netherlands. Interesting..
A good gesture from Progresif Cellular. I found out that Progresif Cellular always find new ideas to bring their brand to another level. They were giving out free ice-cream at Times Square Shopping Centre during #WorldKindnessDay
Pierre Imhoff, CEO of Baiduri Bank, with associates of Baiduri Bank Group during the Deepavali celebration. Image courtesy of @candy_33
In celebration of Deepavali, the Festival of Lights, the Baiduri Bank Group hosted a dinner for its customers and partners at The Indera Samudra Grand Hall, The Empire Hotel & Country Club. Around 500 customers and associates from the local Indian community were present to witness the colourful illuminated evening.
The evening began with the traditional Light Ceremony with the Guest of Honour was His Excellency Dr. Ashok Kumar Amrohi, High Commissioner of India to Brunei Darussalam; Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Dato Hj Mahdini; President of the Brunei-India Friendship, Pierre Imhoff, CEO of Baiduri Bank; Ti Eng Hui, Deputy CEO of Baiduri Bank and management committee members of Baiduri Bank Group.
In his welcoming address, Mr. Imhof expressed his appreciation and thanks to the guests for their support and confidence over the years and outlined the major progresses and achievements of the Baiduri Bank Group in 2015.
Throughout the evening, guests were treated to a variety of song and dance performances by local artists, school children and staff, which culminated in a presentation of the lucky draw prizes by Pierre Imhof and Dr. Ashok Kumar Amrohi.
Image courtesy of @candy_33
Image courtesy of @candy_33
Image courtesy of @candy_33
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Wham Bam
YB Dato Paduka Hj Ali Apong, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism during the launch of Korean Festival 2015 last Friday. Image courtesy of Times Square Shopping Centre.
Times Square Shopping Centre ended its Korean Festival 2015 with a bang yesterday, Sunday 8th October 2015. The event which was held on 6th October until 8th October 2015, have attracted a lot of Bruneians who are interested in Korean culture to visit the festival at the shopping centre. The event was organized by Times Square Shopping Centre, and co-organized by the Embassy of Republic of Korea in Brunei, Korea Tourism Organization and Imagine your Korea.
The last day of Korean Festival was filled with several fun activities including cooking demonstration by Silla Restaurant at 5pm, followed by a sand art show by Mr Sean Chai at 7pm and a performance by ITB at 7.45pm. Babbling Perfordian (ONGALS) Korean comedy group took centre stage at 8pm where they made their last performance during the festival, drawing crowd of all ages. There were also hanbok dress up and painting workshop throughout the day.
Throughout the event, there was a lucky draw where the prize presentation took place yesterday at 8.30pm. 18 prizes were given away last night and the presentation was done by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and representatives from all the companies that sponsored prizes for the draw. Prizes for the lucky draw included electronic devices, air ticket and vouchers. Sponsors for the lucky draw were Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Freme Tour, Pan Bright Travel Agency, Ceragem, Grand Motors, LG AIFA, Setia Motors, TCY Motors, Woo Motors, Daelim Industry, Skin Food, The FaceShop, Sarang Korean Restaurant, Jellybear Korea and. Silla Restaurant.
Babbling Perfordian (ONGALS) Korean comedy group was one of the highlights of the event
They attracted a good crowd too
Cooking demonstration by Silla Restaurant
About 1,200 participants registered for the lucky draw during the three days festival. Third prize winner went to Mohammad Azimi, bringing home a Ceragem mat. The second prize, which was an air ticket to Korea, was won by Hashim Har whereas the grand prize winner went to Geyne Jois Robledo who brought home an air ticket to Korea as well as hotel vouchers in Seoul. Present during the lucky draw prize presentation was Mr Chang Hoon Yi, the Deputy Chief of Mission for the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and other diplomatic missions. The festival ended with a closing speech by Mr Chang Hoon Yi where he expressed his gratitude to all exhibitors, sponsors and those who were involved with the Korean Festival.
Moreover, Times Square Shopping Centre will be having the last lucky draw prize presentation for the fifth lucky draw campaign next week on 15th November 2015 at 2pm. Furthermore, the shopping centre will be conducting several events in the near future, such as a Wedding Fair on 24th to 29th November 2015 and a Mini Carnival: Star Wars Edition from 4th to 20th December 2015. The last event for the year would be the annual Year End Exhibition that would take place from 24th December 2015 to 3rd January 2016. For further information, please call 2338208 or 2338006 during office hours.
Geyne Jois Robledo brought home an air ticket to Korea as well as hotel vouchers in Seoul
Hashim Har won also an air ticket to Seoul
Mohammad Azimi bringing home a Ceragem mat
The capital will once again be transformed into a race track this November as local and international go kart drivers will vie for the best in speed at the BSB Go-Kart race.
Race day will be held on November 22 and all are welcomed to watch drivers display their go-karting skills along the section of Jalan McArthur and Jalan Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien (SOAS). Members of the public can also view the practice session that will take place on November 22 near the Royal Wharf.
The go-kart race, organised by the Brunei Darussalam Karting Championship (BKDC) and the Go-kart Association, will be one of the many activities to be held in conjunction with the celebrations held to commemorate the renaming of Brunei Town to Bandar Seri Begawan. Other than watching the race, members of the public can also join a number of activities at the Royal Wharf and Taman Hj Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien over the three-day celebration period.
At the Royal Wharf, visitors can browse through the e-vendors showcase and participate in face and henna painting, the Unplug Music competition, Airwheels and many more. On the other hand, the more rigorous activities such as the Flying Fox, the Multi-seater bicycle and a frisbee tournament are all held at the Taman Hj Sir Muda Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien.
Participants of the frisbee tournament will stand a chance of winning an assortment of prizes ranging from cash to medals. Those interested can register their teams by contacting Adib at 8796851 or Arif at 8903654. The commemoration of the renaming of Brunei Town as Bandar Seri Begawan Celebration is organised by the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Board, and managed by D’Sunlit Sdn Bhd.
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90 minutes away
Highlights of DPMM FC taking on Warriors FC last night
As Rosmin Kamis always state on his social media status, impossible is nothing. One more game, lads. Image courtesy of Ismail Sulaiman of S•League.
Just one more game. I haven’t been covering any DPMM FC matches since the beginning of the season but only posted some results and pictures during the season. But I have been keeping track with their progress and for the first time in many years, DPMM FC are on the brink of lifting the S•League title which have been eluding them for the past few years.
The closest DPMM FC ever had was last season where they failed to capitalize their lead in the standings and eventually settled as runners-up. The other season where they were placed 2nd was back in 2012. The leadership under Steve Kean has brought fresh approach to DPMM FC’s attacking measures.
The new imports have given DPMM FC a different dimension after letting go the fan favourites Tosi Rodrigo and Roberto Alvez, where both are playing for Tampines Rovers, a club that only has the chance to overtake DPMM FC should they win all their remaining matches and DPMM FC to lose the final game of the season against Balestier Khalsa FC.
Last night, DPMM FC was in fourth gear as they dominated the game against Warriors FC and chalked up a 3-1 victory at the Choa Chu Kang Stadium, Singapore. Goals came from Paulo Sergio, Rafael Ramazotti and Boris Raspudic.
I believe the next home game will draw more spectators as it will be the final game of the season and also to celebrate DPMM FC’s maiden S•League title should they win their final match or hope for Tampines Rovers to slip up in their remaining fixtures (3 more games).
So mark your dates on 21st November as DPMM FC will take on Balestier Khalsa FC at the Hassanal Bolkiah Stadium. Well done to the management of DPMM FC, the coach and the players for making this an exciting finale. Just another 90 minutes and we hope to see fireworks.
Azwan Salleh came on late as a substitute against Warriors FC. Image courtesy of Ismail Sulaiman of S•League.
McLean has been consistent all season but scored at the wrong half by mistake. Image courtesy of Ismail Sulaiman of S•League.
Rafa has been on hot scoring form. Image courtesy of Ismail Sulaiman of S•League.
Wardun Yusof almost kept a clean sheet. An important talisman for DPMM FC. Image courtesy of Ismail Sulaiman of S•League.
The cheerleaders of Warriors FC unable to live the spirit of the players. Image courtesy of Ismail Sulaiman of S•League.
Steve Kean is the man and perhaps the manager of the year? Image courtesy of Ismail Sulaiman of S•League.
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