This is a flashback when I was in Singapore a few weeks ago. It was my first visit to Comex 2012 which is the biggest IT expo in Singapore. According to The Strait Times, Comex 2012 raked in a record $72 million in just four days *Woowww* That’s just an astonishing feat by the organisers and I only spent 0.000000012% of that sales *lol*

More than 830,000 visitors showed up during the 4 day event and they had 830 exhibitors at Comex 2012. I’m definitely coming here again and I hope it will be the same weekend as Singapore Toys, Games and Comics Convention too 😀

It’s not as crowded here at one of the telcos’ area

Did you know that they are only allowed to give brochures or leaflets at a specific zone area?

Hard disks and memory cards selling like hot cakes

Crazy prices but hard to choose from

Printer included (not the models)

Canon presence is massive at Comex 2012

Canon presence is massive at Comex 2012

It was all about hard selling

The hourly deals were the best attraction for the crowd

PS3 consoles selling pretty well too after great bargains

Toshiba LCD screens were pretty affordable

There were tons of Android promoters in the building

…. and in the end, I bought myself an Android box

Are you sick of Gangnam already?

I love the booth and the lay out

A great gimmick to entice new users

The Sony mascot

Promoters are everywhere

Accessories were selling dirt cheap too

I realise how they used papers and maker pens to make a statement

Phone casings are selling at ridiculously low prices

Super massive crowd at Samsung booth

It was so crowded that it was hard to clean up

Cameras were pretty popular

These guys almost made me buy one

I was checking myself

Can you imagine that both Samsung cameras were selling at an awesome price of $299?

The Casio booth were attracting the crowd

Just check out the crowd

On the way down…

Even the usher had to control the traffic slow

This guy was probably enjoying himself during the STGCC 2012

Baiduri Bank recently embarked on a project to landscape a vacant piece of land and transform it into a garden as a gift to the people of Brunei in support of the Government’s “Bandar Seri Begawan City in the Garden” green initiative. The completed garden was officially handed over to the Municipal Department in a ceremony held this morning at the same venue.

Accompanied by Baiduri Bank’s CEO, Pierre Imhof, the guest of honour, Awang Haji Ismail bin Haji Abd. Manaf, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, cut a green ribbon to signify the official opening of the garden. Prior to cutting the ribbon, Awang Haji Ismail led guests in prayers to bless the new garden.

The guest of honour then formally launched a newly erected signboard that displayed a warning on littering and the penalties that will be imposed on offenders. The visitors were then taken on a tour of the garden, led by Pierre Imhof.

The garden is on a piece of land belonging to the Government of Brunei located between the Hassanal Bolkiah Highway and Baiduri Bank’s Head Office in Kiarong. Besides furnishing a wide variety of plants, the garden also has a paved path where visitors can take walks and a gazebo complete with garden furniture. Solar-powered garden lights and trash bins have also been provided for the convenience of visitors.

Guest of Honour, YM Awang Hj Ismail cutting ribbon with Mr. Pierre Imhof, CEO Baiduri Bank

CEO having a light moment with the Guest of Honour at the gazebo

Commenting on Baiduri’s green project, Mr Pierre Imhof said, “Baiduri Bank has always actively participated in community projects, and this garden is one of them. For this garden, we have taken care to select plants that are weather sustainable and can withstand going without water a few days. This is so that we will not have to resort to constant watering thus helping conserve water. We have also chosen solar-powered garden lights in order to conserve energy.” He went on to pledged Baiduri’s commitment to continue maintaining the garden.

“The public is welcome to enjoy our garden facilities”, Mr Imhof said, adding, “but I hope that they will do their part in keeping the facilities in good order and dispose of trash in the proper manner”.

Accompanying Awang Haji Ismail were the Chairman of the Municipal Department, Pengiran Hj Abd Rahman bin PSI Pg Hj Ismail and senior officials from the Municipal Department.

Also present at today’s event was Mr. Ti Eng Hui, Deputy General Manager, Retail Banking and Branch Network; Pg Azaleen Pg Dato Hj Mustapha, Senior Manager Treasury; Veronica Chong, Senior Manager, Human Resources and Finance Division and Ms. Dorothy Newn, Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing and staff of Baiduri Bank Group.

The “Bandar Seri Begawan City in the Garden” Campaign is an initiative by the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Department with the objective to portray Bandar Seri Begawan as a green and clean city. Text and images courtesy of Baiduri Bank.

Promotion at Tasek Brasserie

Alan Inspiration

Contracts were signed recently between the Event Organiser InfoCom Federation Brunei (IFB) and Event Manager Sunlit Advertising Sdn Bhd for the TechXpo 2012.

Signing on behalf of InfoCom Federation Brunei (IFB) was its Chairman, Abdul Ghani Pg Hj Metusin, witnessed by IFB Executive Committee member, Mr Vincent Chok. Signing on behalf of Sunlit Advertising was its Executive Director, Dato Haji Danial bin Haji Hanafiah, witnessed by its Managing Director, Mr Jackson Ting. The ceremony was graced by Yang Mulia Awang Abdul Mutalib Bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohamad Yusof, Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications. The ceremony took place at the Seri Kerna Hall, AITI Building in Anggerek Desa.

Supported by The Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Education and Authority For Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI), TechXpo 2012 will be held from 1st to 4th December at the International Convention Centre in Berakas. This will be the third instalment of the technology event and promises to be bigger and better than the previous expos. This year’s TechXpo is in conjunction with the APICTA Awards hosted in Brunei Darussalam.

Another highlight of the TechXpo 2012 will be the first Enterprise Business Matching (EBM) and Product Sharing Session (PSS) which will be hosted by The Asia Oceania Regional Software Park Alliance (AORSPA). Both the EBM and the PSS will be held on the 1st and 2nd December during the TechXpo 2012 in ICC. AORSPA is an alliance comprises of Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, China, Myanmar, Taiwan and Nepal. It is a one stop platform stages for the AORSPA to meet, to exchange, to cooperate and to expand business opportunities, contributing to the development of ICT industry. It will be a great opportunity for the local Bruneians to expand and explore your business network across the region. For those who are interested, you can register online at http://www.aorspaict.com/ebm-pss and closing date will be on 20th October 2012.

Executive Director, Dato Haji Danial bin Haji Hanafiah, witnessed by its Managing Director, Mr Jackson Ting and Hui Chiet in baju kurung of Sunlit Advertising :p

The invited guests at the signing ceremony

Abdul Mutalib (center) was the guest of honour with representatives from IFB, Abdul Ghani Pg Hj Metusin the Chairman of IFB and Mr Vincent Chok, IFB Executive Committee member and Sunlit Advertising’s Dato Hj Danial and Jackson Ting

Are you one of the graduates this year for UBD? It’s happening tomorrow at the Chancellor Hall which will be graced by His Majesty the Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. I shall be there for coverage and hope to see my friends who are graduating as well. Congratulations to those who will receiving their certs tomorrow and don’t forget to smile tomorrow and be featured on RA’s coverage too 😀 Good luck tomorrow.

The pictures below are taken during the full dress rehearsal of the convocation taken last Wednesday. The images are courtesy of Kitty and Neena Mahrub. Thank you ladies!!

Acer full range of products are now featured in Concepts Computer’s Acer Roadshow. Those who wish to purchase or browse for new tech stuff should drop by Concepts Computer’s Acer Roadshow at The Mall Gadong, as part of the four-day School Holiday Expo Sale. LCD monitors, projectors, and slim notebooks such as the Aspire V5 are some of the products on offer until this Sunday.

Acer Branch Manager for Brunei and Miri, Richard Soo, said, “During our four-day promotion, for any Acer brand product that is sold, the customer is entitled to a three-year warranty free-of-charge worth $108,” he said.

In other words, the promotion is only exclusive to the Acer Roadshow booth at the Mall throughout the four-day promotion period.

Richard also announced that Acer is enhancing its service to its customers in Brunei and has established a low cost service provider called On Time Service. For instance, you can send your Acer products to Concepts Computer and they will service your items as quickly as possible so you won’t have to wait for quite long.

“Before, customers had to send their Acer laptop to Miri for repairs and service, but with our local On Time Service, we can have customers’ laptops fixed within three working days” said Richard.

The branch manager said this initiative was an effort to provide better services to customers and that with efficient quality of services, customers will have great confidence in the Acer brand.

Customers should also be on the look out next month for the new Windows 8 launch, where a number of innovative Acer products will be available such as the Acer Aspire S7. Text by Anwar Rosly of The Brunei Times.

Richard Soo (center) with Vincent Pao of Concepts Computer at Acer

Interested in getting an Acer projector?

Find out more about their “On Time Service” from Acer

MASwings is offering ‘Malaysia Day Special’ promotional fares through www.maswings.com.my for its domestic routes, in conjunction with the forthcoming Malaysia Day celebrations. The two days’ advance purchase sales and ticketing period will be from 14 September to 20 September 2012, for travel from 16 September 2012 to 31 March 2013.

MASwings’s Chief Commercial Officer, Shauqi Ahmad, said “MASwings is delighted to offer these promotional fares in conjunction with Malaysia Day, as part of our initiative and commitment to celebrate this joyful and historic occasion with the travelling public especially Malaysians and in particular those in Sabah and Sarawak.”

“Being a community airline serving the people within Sabah and Sarawak, connecting them to the world through our network as well as that of our parent company Malaysia Airlines, we strive to further contribute towards national integration during Malaysia Day by allowing travelers to take advantage of the longer weekend to boost travel within the nation. At the same time, we also allow other tourists to take advantage of the special promotions and enjoy what Sabah and Sarawak have to offer.”

This was my first trip to KK via MASwings last February and it was great…. Maybe I should book my ticket again for next year 😀

During this 7 days promotion, customers will enjoy all-in one way fare from Kota Kinabalu to Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Labuan from as low as RM95; to Bintulu, Sibu, Mulu, Tawau, and Miri from RM105; and from Kota Kinabalu to Kuching at RM115.

Also available are all-in one way fares from Miri to Bintulu, Mulu, Limbang and Labuan from as low as RM85 and to Sibu at RM95.

Those travelling from Kuching will also be enjoying all in one way fare at RM95 to Bintulu and Sibu and from as low as RM105 to Miri and Mulu.

“Customers are urged to book early to enjoy this limited Malaysia Day Special offer and avoid disappointments as seats are subject to availability.” Shauqi further added.

Sairol of DPMM FC scored one of the goals in DPMM FC 3-1 victory over Courts Young Lions

Pressure was on DPMM FC after losing points at home to Harimau Muda and Gombak recently. They turned their fortunes against Young Lions with a 3-1 victory with goals from DPMM FC captain Rosmin Kamis, Sairol Hj Sahari and Ivan Jerkovic. The coach was happy that DPMM FC was back to winning ways and now their focus will be against Tanjong Pagar United FC (23rd September) and Home United FC (29th September). The coach target is still a top 5 finish in the Singapore League and anything more than that will be a bonus.

It was good to know that Pg Salleh is back playing after coming back from injury. Azwan Salleh didn’t follow the trip as he was still nursing a knee injury. Now DPMM FC is lying on 3rd place in the Singapore League.

Sunlit Advertising Sdn Bhd’s another scholarship local citizen recipient left for the UK on Wednesday to pursue an undergraduate degree. NurAmal ‘Izzati @ NoramalIzzati Hj Kamsani will undertake a three-year BA (Hons) Interior Design programme at the University of Birmingham City. Upon completion of the course, Izzati will serve at Sunlit Advertising.

Sunlit Advertising’s sponsorship of Izzati allowing her to further her studies is in adherence with His Majesty Sultan Hj Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s titah to enhance human resource development in Brunei Darussalam, as well as being part of the company’s corporate social responsibility. Images courtesy of Sunlit Advertising.

Izzati the scholar with Jackson Ting, the Managing Director of Sunlit Advertising before Izzati’s departure

Group photo with Izzati’s family and friends with Sunlit Advertising representatives

The first stardom was a smaller scale last year. This year it looks bigger and better because of the number of local agencies supporting the event especially with the support of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources. Talent shows in Brunei haven’t been given much of a push and I remember the days of Paspot to Fame (P2F) which was well received by the local community but then again it all boils down to support from the local agencies and it’s not easy to make one if you don’t pull the right strings.

In come Danny Tay, the Managing Director of Dreamz MKZ, who is the main behind the big project. His intention was clear – to build a whole new family entertainment and support the contestants and bringing everyone to be part of the show. He also hopes it will path a new career for the future of Brunei and increase opportunities in the field of Creative Arts.

He thanked the government agencies and sponsors and supporters namely Fitness Zone, Hui Huang Enterprise/You C1000, Kingston Creamery & Beverage (Pepsi), IA Salon, KFC, Deseo and The Faceshop.

They will be going to four districts to search for talents but I’m not sure of the venue and schedules just yet. The competition song can be in Chinese, English or Malay. The application form can be obtained from the business outlets of the event’s sponsors and also on Facebook. The registration fee is $20 for non-students and $10 for students.

The judges of the competition are Racheal Malai Ali, Mohd Sharif, a representative from Sony Music Label Company and Roy Li of Imagine Music Singapore.

All proceeds of tickets in the finals will go to DANA (The Pengiran Muda Mahkota Al-Muhtadee Billah Orphans Fund).The cash prizes are $3,000 for the first prize, $2,000 for second prize and $1,000 for third prize. There are also other cash ‘vouchers and gifts by sponsors. The theme is ‘One Music, One Family, One Brunei’.

Danny Tay delivering his welcoming remarks

Cecilia with partners of IA Salon

Denise Chai of Deseo

Ruby of The Faceshop

Jonathan and Erwin of KFC

The sponsors and supporters of the event

Jonathan sharing a smile

Neldi and Tauffek will be the emcees during the show

…. while she was the emcee for the signing ceremony *hehe*