His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Chancellor of UBD and HRH Prince (Dr) Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Pro-Chancellor of UBD, with the graduates during the UBD 24th Convocation last Saturday

HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday said that more research should be conducted in areas that deal with deeper understanding of social issues and public concerns.

His Majesty pointed out that research and studies must assist the nation in overcoming issues such as poverty and crimes.

In the titah at the 24th UBD Convocation, His Majesty in his capacity as the Chancellor of UniversitiBrunei Darussalam said research must be done on social issues that are “becoming more critical” to understand their causes and overcome them.

In this regard, the monarch proposed some areas of research on violation of Customs and Excise Act, Immigration Act, Drug Abuse Act, Labour Act, and smuggling of oil and rice, which His Majesty said, “seemed as if they could no longer be controlled. If there is no research, how will we know the cause? If we don’t know the cause, how could we overcome it?” His Majesty queried.

The monarch also asked: “Where are the findings? Where are the results of the research and studies that we have been hearing about for the past year?”

His Majesty also emphasised the country was in need of a database of research and information. With rapid technological advancement in teaching, learning and research, it is not impossible to deal deeper into such issues, His Majesty added.

Dwelling on the strides made by UBD, His Majesty said within a short period of a year, UBD has successfully filed 10 patents that could potentially be commercialised. However, the monarch added that this success is not a fair measure of capabilities of the students and therefore stressed the importance of research.

If you want to see the video of the event, please click the image above. Video edited by The Brunei Times.

His Majesty foresaw that the digital era will open doors to opportunities for people to seek knowledge and, in line with the nation’s vision, to build a knowledge society in Brunei.

On this note, His Majesty lauded UBD’s effort to establish the Academic Personnel Service Scheme, which he hoped would be realised before the end of the year.

The scheme, which caters to UBD’s human resource development, will serve as a catalyst for academicians to give their best contributions in producing quality teaching and research, said the monarch.

The new scheme hopefully will attract the interests of international academicians to serve and contribute to UBD’s development, His Majesty added.

While UBD’s active involvement in international meetings and regional development efforts was welcomed, His Majesty told graduates not to mistake such opportunities as reasons to take the Malay Language lightly.

“I see UBD has been involved in regional development efforts by contributing to the ASEAN Community 2015 through management programmes such as training for English teachers in ASEAN countries in cooperation with the East-West Centre from the United States,” His Majesty said.

“In this regard, I have only one advice, that is, do not make this initiative a platform to change or blur our national aspirations in empowering the Malay Language as our mother tongue and official language.”

The monarch further urged the nation’s youth to think with the vision of developed nations, and use their own language as propelling force to move forward.

“Think like a big nation would and move forward with your (own) language, not like a person without vision,” His Majesty advised. Text by Low Leng May and Rasidah of The Brunei Times.

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HRH Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; HRH Prince Haji ‘Abdul Azim, HRH Prince ‘Abdul Malik and HRH Prince ‘Abdul Mateen during the ‘Majlis Istiadat Membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga’ to mark the official commencement of the season of royal festivities for the royal wedding held at Royal Ceremonial Hall of the Lapau yesterday. Picture: Rudolf Portillo of The Brunei Times

The capital echoed with the harmonious sounds of the Royal Orchestra and the royal cannon’s 21-gun salute yesterday at the Majlis Istiadat Membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga (the Opening of Gendang Jaga-JagaCeremony), signifying the start of the royal festivity season, the royal wedding between Her Royal Highness Princess Hjh Hafizah Sururul Bolkiah and Yang Mulia Pg Hj Muhammad Ruzaini Pg Dr HjMuhammad Yakub.

Present during the ceremony was His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office who was accompanied by His Royal Highness PrinceHj ‘Abdul Azim, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen. The ceremony began with Yang Berhormat Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr UstazHj Mohd Zain Hj Serudin informing Yang Amat Mulia Pg Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pg Anak Hj Abdul Aziz that the ceremony was ready to proceed upon the approval of HRH the Crown Prince.

After conveying it to HRH Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and upon the delivery of His Royal Highness’ sabda giving his approval, the Majlis Istiadat Membuka Gendang Jaga-Jaga was ready to begin. Prior to the Royal Orchestra, or Nobat Diraja performance, the Ketua Juru Laki (designated court official) sought the Crown Prince’s consent to proceed towards the Patarana to bear the Nakara(drum), one of the five royal musical instruments to be played. The Nobat Diraja then began with beating of the Nakara in unison with the sounds of the Gendang Labik (small drum), Serunai (oboe), the Canang and the Gong accompanied with the firing of a 21-gun salute just outside the Lapau Building.

If you want to see the video of the event, please click the image above. Video edited by The Brunei Times.

The ceremony concluded with a Doa Selamat read by the State Mufti, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Hj Awang Abdul Aziz Juned, followed by the departure of the royal entourage to the home of the royal groom-to-be at Kg Beribi.

The Istiadat Menjunjung Kurnia Gendang Jaga-Jaga Ceremony or receiving the bestowment of theGendang Jaga-Jaga at the groom’s residence was conducted in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah.

The ceremony began with Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Hj Mohd Zain HjSerudin presenting himself before Yang Amat Mulia Pg Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pg Hj Ibnu Ba’asith to inform him that the orchestra is ready. YAM Pg Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pg Hj IbnuBa’asith then informed Pehin Orang Kaya Maharaja Kerna Dato Paduka Seri Hj Yaakub Pehin OrangKaya Maharaja Diraja Dato Paduka Hj Zainal that the gendang was ready, which was later conveyed to His Royal Highness Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah.

Following a sabda by HRH Prince Hj Sufri Bolkiah to give consent for the Majlis Istiadat MembukaGendang Jaga-Jaga to commence, Pehin Dato Hj Yaakub relayed the sabda to YAM Pg SanggamaraDiraja Major General (Rtd) Pg Hj Ibnu Ba’asith. The Royal Orchestra then began playing a specific tune for the ceremony, which was interspersed for a short moment by the sounds of a 17-gun salute.

Once the music stopped, Pehin Dato Dr Ustaz Hj Mohd Zain informed YAM Pg Sanggamara Diraja Major General (Rtd) Pg Hj Ibnu Ba’asith that the ceremony had been carried out diligently. YAM then instructed Pehin Dato Hj Yaakub to convey the message of the completion of the ceremony to HRHPrince Hj Sufri Bolkiah where His Royal Highness assented to the closure of the ceremony. Text by Amir Noor of The Brunei Times and images courtesy of Asri Hj Abas.