Borneo Bulletin articles from November 2001

Borneo Bulletin archives from November 2001

Brunei: Express accused of malicious untruths.
November 30, 2001... The Prime Minister's Office yesterday issued an official statement categorically refuting the News Express report on November 28, 2001 under the main headline "Shake up in BIA". Dato Paduka Haji Hazair bin Haji Abdullah, the Permanent...

Brunei: Another falsehood.
November 30, 2001... The Immigration and Registration Department yesterday refuted another news item in the News Express newspaper, published in its November 28, 2001 issue under the headline "Rapid Action on Express". The news item referred to action taken...

Brunei: Bids received for New Open Areas.
November 30, 2001... The Petroleum Unit, Office of the Prime Minister, has received bids for two Offshore Deep Water Blocks within Brunei Exclusive Economic Zone from two separate consortiums made up of international and multi-national companies. This was...

Brunei: Raya dresses for kids.
November 30, 2001... Hari Raya Aidil Fitri is a happy and joyous occasion for all Muslims after fasting during the holy month of Ramadhan. Brunei Darussalam will rejoice in the festive season of Aidil Fitri in a fortnight. Preparations are in full swing and...

Brunei: People's Park seeks support for new concepts.
November 30, 2001... The "People's Park", Jerudong Park, is appealing for public support for new concepts it has introduced to transform itself and regain its popularity without overspending. In an interview with Borneo Bulletin on a wide range of topics, Mr...

Brunei: Former soldier dies of heart attack during family outing in Limbang.
November 30, 2001... A weekend family outing to Limbang, Sarawak turned tragic when the head of a family died of a heart attack last Saturday. The man, a 54-year-old former soldier attached to the Military Police of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Staff...

Brunei: Electrical bargains draw crowds.
November 30, 2001... Since the Brunei Grand Sales 2001, some people have been eyeing for the big slash of price in the electrical goods. Purchasing electrical goods during the sale season is always a good bargain, an observer said. Electrical dealers do not...

Brunei: Global Evergreen keeps mum on settlements.
November 30, 2001... Global Evergreen Sdn Bhd has declined to comment on its work in settling the claims of certain creditors of the bankrupt Amedeo Development Corporation. The Borneo Bulletin called the managing director of Global Evergreen, Pg Hj Rekawi...

Brunei: Send a Raya card with a karaoke VCD.
November 30, 2001... Try sending a Hari Raya greeting card with a karaoke VCD. Not only will the receiver read what the sender has written, he can also sing Hari Raya songs on the karaoke. "The 2 in 1 card is selling like hotcakes, since it is an...

Brunei: High Court turns down fishmonger's appeal.
November 30, 2001... A fishmonger, Sapar bin Hanafi, 32, a father of three children, pleaded for his 3 years drug sentence to be reduced. The appeal was turned down in the High Court yesterday by Judge Steven Chong. On July 26, before the Magistrate's Court,...

Brunei: Drug user fined.
November 30, 2001... The High Court fined Abd Kadir bin Hj Md Tahir, 38, $1500 or face three months jail in default for consumption of methylamphetamine (syabu). Charges for possession of drug apparatus and syabu in his home were dropped. Abd Kadir and...

Brunei: Man tried for causing hurt freed on bail.
November 30, 2001... Belait Magistrate Radin Safiee Radin Mas Basiuni ordered the release of Mohammad bin Abd Rahman on court bail of $1,000 or one local surety pending trial for causing hurt. Police prosecuting officer Senior Inspector Hajah Norputemah haji...

Brunei: Father, son claim trial.
November 30, 2001... A father and his son claimed trial after facing charges of intentionally using force on a man. Haji Mohammad bin Pukol and Mohammad Kefli bin Haji Mohammad were both released on court bail of $2,000 or one local surety. The Belait...

Brunei: Lucent Technologies donates to KACA.
November 30, 2001... Lucent Technologies in the capital donated US$10,000 to the Persatuan Kanak-Kanak Cacat (KACA), yesterday. According to a press release from KACA, the objective of the donation from Lucent Technologies was to purchase equipment for the...

Brunei: Safety at petrol stations.
November 30, 2001... Though repeated calls have been made by Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) to warn the public of the dangers of using mobile phones, smoking and failing to switch off engine while refuelling, these calls have fallen on deaf ears. Signboards...

Brunei: Roads in Sg Tilong washed away.
November 30, 2001... Two areas at Spg 370, Kg. Sungai Tilong are in a state of danger. The road leading uphill has been eroded, and the situation has been left unattended for a considerable amount of time. The relevant authorities have yet to do anything, other...

Brunei: Quick thinking saves man's life.
November 30, 2001... Quick thinking managed to save the life of a Chinese man in his early 30s. The man who was on his way to Bandar from Muara drove his car into a drain by the side of the road to avoid a head on collision with an on-coming commercial...

Brunei: Water woes for Kg Perpindahan Rimba residents.
November 30, 2001... The population of Kampong Perpindahan Rimba, Gadong were left high and dry for two nights in a row, last Tue and Wed as they experienced unannounced water cuts off from 10pm till the next morning. A resident called the Bulletin stating...

Brunei: Malay actress leaves Brunei for good.
November 30, 2001... Sarimah Ahmad, queen of the Malay silver screen in the 1960s, has decided to return home for good after nine years in Brunei, wrote the Star yesterday. Sarimah is married to Pg Dato Paduka Hj Hidup bin Pg Hashim and had been staying in...

Brunei: Hari Raya goodies selling briskly.
November 30, 2001... Cakes, biscuits and fizzy drinks are selling briskly for the coming Hari Raya Aidilfitri. "I spent more than $1,000 buying soft drink, cakes and biscuits to serve during hari Raya Aidilfitri," said Zul from Mata Mata in Gadong. Hari...

Brunei: Dressing up for Hari Raya.
November 30, 2001... Dressmakers in the country have been busy making dresses and traditional 'baju Melayu' for the coming Hari Raya since four to six months ago. When one walks into a dress making store during this festive season one can see dress-cutters,...

Brunei: Sungkai treat at Crowne.
November 30, 2001... The Crowne Princess Cafe & Restaurant at Mile 1, Jalan Tutong is also having Sungkai buffet for the whole of this Ramadhan, said F&B Manager Mohd Burhani Hj Yusuf (facing camera in suit). The buffet comprises mostly local Malay cuisines....

Brunei: Carmen Tao to release new album next year.
November 30, 2001... Carmen Tao may not be unfamiliar to Bruneians anymore. The girl with the golden voice who has made a name for herself in the Taiwan music and entertainment industry, no doubt has won the hearts of many a-young Brunei music fans. ...

Brunei: `Batamatan' ceremony at Banjarmasin.
November 30, 2001... "Batamatan" according to the Banjar dialect means "the end." Every Ramadhan, the Muslim community in Banjarmasin in Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo, a mass recitation to mark the completion of the study of the Quran (khatamal Quran). ...

Brunei: Turn into a better person all-round thru' fasting.
November 30, 2001... There are reason behind every single act in Islam, no matter how small. In time, Muslims may know the wisdom for behind some acts, and may never get know any in others. Solat fardhu and solat sunnat, for instance, are daily exercises to...

Brunei: Changes at VW.
November 30, 2001... Volkswagen (VW), Europe's largest carmaker, has announced recently of details of a re-organisation and management reshuffle within the firm. The German company revealed that it would divide its seven car brands into two new groups, oriented...

Brunei: Blooming business.
November 29, 2001... Woman power burst forth in all its splendour in a rainbow of bright colours during pre-Hari Raya pay day yesterday. Yards, if not miles of multihued and gorgeously brilliant length of cloth for sarong kebaya and baju kurong, thousands of...

Brunei: Hiroshima survivor returns to Japan as ambassador.
November 29, 2001... Fifty-six years have passed since the deadly atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima, Japan during the Second World War. The whole city was destroyed including all the buildings, universities and homes. Thousands of people were killed. ...

Brunei: Suppliers seek list of paid Amedeo creditors.
November 29, 2001... Some sub-contractors and suppliers to main contractors of the bankrupt Amedeo Development Corporation are appealing to Global Evergreen Sdn Bhd to publish in the press the names of the creditors it had paid. They said some of the paid...

Brunei: New Chairman of the Economic Devt Board.
November 29, 2001... With the consent of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister's Office announced that His Majesty consented to appoint Dato Paduka Hj Yusof B. Hj Abd Hamid as the Chairman of the Economic Development...

Brunei: Partial ban on vehicles up for talks.
November 29, 2001... The Malaysian Transport Ministry will bring up the issue of the ban on several types of vehicles such as van, Hilux and double cabin from entering Brunei from Malaysia to the fourth meeting of the Joint Committee on Border Crossing Facility...

Brunei: Misuari's henchmen no longer here.
November 29, 2001... Two of the top lieutenants of Prof. Nur Misuari, who mounted a failed revolt against the Philippine Government with simultaneous attacks two Mondays ago on military installations in Jolo, Sulu, and flew to Brunei on Nov 21, are no longer in...

Brunei: Counterfeit Brunei note crops up.
November 29, 2001... Brunei police are once again reminding the public to be on extra vigil when receiving Brunei currency notes. This came in the wake of Tuesday's night incident whereby a vendor in Jln Muara received a counterfeit $100 note. The incident...

Brunei: Hampers hot.
November 29, 2001... Hampers are a main attraction this double festive season, says one supervisor with Jaya Hypermart which stocks up hampers that starts from $50-up. Another shop only makes hampers available on order. "A hamper fits all, drinks, candy,...

Brunei: S'pore public service officers get briefing.
November 29, 2001... Administrative Public Service officers from Singapore received an overview on Brunei's civil and administrative service during a call on the Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office yesterday. Dato Paduka Haji Awang Hazair...

Brunei: Drug user gets 3 years.
November 29, 2001... A local, Feirudden bin Hj Abdullah, was yesterday sentenced to three years and six months in prison for consuming codeine while still undergoing supervision. Since he has a previous conviction on May 24, 1999, Magistrate Dk Masni binte...

Brunei: FBBA head re-elected.
November 29, 2001... Hon. Prof. Hj Kamaruddin Dato Seri Paduka Hj Talib has been re-elected as the President of the French Bruneian Business Association recently during its annual general meeting. The past committee was also re-elected.

Brunei: Hari Raya shopping.
November 29, 2001... The Hari Raya mood is already in the air even though the festival is only two weeks away. After office hours yesterday, the Bulletin reporter observed that there was a heavy traffic flow in the Gadong area as most people got their early...

Brunei: BQL students visit Empire Hotel.
November 29, 2001... A group of 30 students from Brainwise Quantum Learning (BQL) yesterday went to the Empire Hotel and Country Club for an educational trip. According to Mr. Lim See Leong, the Executive Director of BQL, the visit is part of the London...

Brunei: Lorry dispute continues.
November 29, 2001... The Federation of Transportation and Stevedoring Negara Brunei Darussalam (FTS NBD) denied a Malaysian newspaper report on Nov 20 that a meeting that took place to discuss transportation issues were attended by the Malaysian Member of...

Brunei: Kg Ayer river cruise promotion.
November 29, 2001... The Kg Ayer RiverCruise Management and Services is offering a promotion on its river cruises for the upcoming school holidays. The cruise lasts approximately 60 to 90 minutes, using a Temuai (shaded fibreglass boat). The boats are fully...

Brunei: Ramadhan specials at McDonald's.
November 29, 2001... In line with the fasting month of Ramadhan, McDonald's is having several promotions, which started on November 21. One such promotion is the McFloat promotion. With every purchase of a McValue Meal, customers are entitled to a soft drink,...

Brunei: Illegal U-turn.
November 29, 2001... Danger awaits residents of Perpindahan Lambak Kiri who make illegal U-turns along the Muara-Tutong highway. Barriers placed there by the relevant authorities have been moved to enable motorists to make a quick U-turn. There is a U-turn less...

Brunei: Pizza Hut wins award.
November 29, 2001... Pizza Hut Brunei won the international restaurant chain's "Best Promotion Award" recently for their highly-popular $5 Luncheon Meals. The award night was held in Bangkok, Thailand in mid-November. Pizza Hut Brunei beat off strong...

Brunei: Thank you customers.
November 29, 2001... Beside giving huge discounts to entice customers, and as a mark of its appreciation for the custom received, Nazmi Trading Co Sdn Bhd - the premier textile retailer in the country - is giving out gifts to those who patronise its store in...

Brunei: No takeover bid, claims StanChart.
November 29, 2001... Standard Chartered Bank Plc (StanChart) has denied media speculation that it was the target of a takeover bid where Tan Sri Khoo Teck Puat, the 84-year-old Malaysian magnate who holds a 14.5 per cent stake may sell his stakes in the bank if...

Brunei: BIA's new chairman.
November 28, 2001... His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to the appointment of a new Acting Chairman and a new Acting Managing Director for the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA) to replace the two top officials...

Brunei: More seeking out Global Evergreen.
November 28, 2001... Several more companies which were not fully paid by the bankrupt Amedeo Development Corporation are now emerging in the limelight to seek the help of Global Evergreen Sdn Bhd which was formed late last month to purchase certain debts of...

Brunei: Congrats to Australia.
November 28, 2001... His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to send a congratulatory message to Mr John Howard, the Australian Prime Minister on his reappointment as Prime Minister. In the message, His Majesty said that...

Brunei: Aidil Fitri celebrates win over hardship.
November 28, 2001... Hari Raya Aidil Fitri is the celebration that follows the blessed month of Ramadhan and is commemorated on the 1st day of Syawal, the 10th month in Muslim calendar. If the Hari Raya (Big day) begins the new moon is sighted, as is for...

Brunei: Lucky draws by Q-Carrier.
November 28, 2001... Good news awaits all those buy Carrier and/or Toshiba airconditioners from Q-Carrier and its retailers. To mark the 100th anniversary next year of Carrier's founding, which coincided with the development of modern airconditioning, Q-Carrier...

Brunei: Begging for trouble.
November 27, 2001... Parents or guardians who exploit and use children to beg for money this festive season will be sternly punished under a recently-enforced law which protects the youngsters' rights and welfare. The fresh warning came from the Ministry of...

Brunei: Afghan relief fund swells to $206,000 after two more gifts.
November 27, 2001... More donations have been presented to the Humanitarian Fund for Afghan Civilians, which was set up by the Brunei government to ease the plight of the Afghans in their war-torn country. The contributions were made by two generous "Hamba...

Brunei: Crown Prince meets British envoy.
November 27, 2001... His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah yesterday afternoon granted an audience to Mr Stuart Laing, the British High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, at Istana Nurul Iman. Also present during the meeting was the Permanent...

Brunei: Early pay surprise for civil servants.
November 27, 2001... In keeping with the culmination to Hari Raya and the nightly feasts of the fasting month, the majority of the civil servants in the country received their pay in advance yesterday. The pleasant 'fast forward' will definitely help the populace...

Brunei: Kg Perpindahan Rimba folk can collect dates from village head.
November 27, 2001... The Brunei Muara District Office has advised the people of Kampong Perpindahan Rimba, Gadong who have not received their dates to get them directly from the house of the Ketua Kampong there. A spokesman from the district office said notices...

Brunei: Board still deliberating on nullification of CLP exam.
November 27, 2001... Malaysia's Legal Profession Qualifying Board has yet to make any decision on the July Certificate of Legal Practice (CLP) main exam which it nullified following leaks in the question papers. Candidates who sat for it in Brunei too await...

Brunei: Kuan is HSBC's winner for October.
November 27, 2001... Madam Kuan Guat Choo is HSBC's October winner for the 'Drive Away A Winner' monthly quiz - where every month since August till January 2002, credit card holders from HSBC and successful loan applicants, subject to terms and conditions, are...

Brunei: Traditional doc's case adjourned.
November 27, 2001... The case of former midwife and a Chinese traditional doctor, Susie Kuo, 46, charged for allegedly causing the death of a high ranking government official, Pg Dato Paduka Mohd Yassin, had been adjourned for two months. A report from the...

Brunei: High Court judge rejects sentence reduction.
November 27, 2001... High Court Judge Steven Chong rejected a security guard's appeal to reduce his three years drug sentence because of a seven-year gap from his previous sentence. Judge Chong said only on 'exceptional circumstances' has a Magistrate...

Brunei: Real cops arrest police impersonator in hotel.
November 27, 2001... A self-employed man, still in handcuffs, was led by several police officers to the court yesterday, charged with impersonating as a police officer. The suspect, Hamda bin Hj Mohd Saidi, 26, allegedly entered a room in Goodview Hotel and...

Brunei: Man bonded for good behaviour.
November 27, 2001... A Bruneian, Salim bin Ahmad, 37, was bonded $5,000 with one local surety for good behaviour for 12 months before Belait Magistrate Radin Safiee Radin Mas Basiuni when Salim's urine result tested negative for drug. Narcotic Control Bureau...

Brunei: Man acquitted for mischief.
November 27, 2001... A local, Mohamad Ermy bin Haji Tusof, was acquitted and discharged for committing mischief and ordered by the Belait Magistrate to pay $1,200 to the complainant for damages on his car. Police prosecuting officer, P/Inspector Hayati bte...

Brunei: Three teenagers freed on bail.
November 27, 2001... Three teen-agers, Yew Kok Huat, 20, Hwong Khai Lik, 18, and a 15-year-old, were released on court bail of $3,000 cash for theft. The Belait Magistrate also ordered them to stay indoors from 10 pm to 6 am, and to report to the Seria police...

Brunei: Man fined for assisting in lottery.
November 27, 2001... A local, Moh Kian Swee, was fined by the Belait Magistrate $2,000 or in default two months imprisonment for assisting in four digit lottery. Police prosecuting officer, inspector Pengiran Jainalabidin told the court on Feb. 25, 1998, at 2:30...

Brunei: Local traders meet Canadian trade mission.
November 27, 2001... The meeting between local entrepreneurs and a Canadian trade delegation representing oil and gas utilities and services industries recently was considered very meaningful towards joint ventures by both parties. Arranged by the Canadian...

Brunei: Hari Raya lights selling briskly.
November 27, 2001... Two weeks before Hari Raya, houses will be decorated with colourful neon lights called 'lampu cucul'. "During Hari Raya night, when a house switches on the cucul, it means the owner is at home and visitors can come." "If it is...

Brunei: Textiles galore for Hari Raya.
November 27, 2001... Even though Hari Raya Aidilfitri is only three weeks away, many people are still seen flocking to the various shopping malls in Brunei especially to textile establishments. The Bulletin observed that many people no matter male or female...

Brunei: Biodiversity conservation signing ceremony.
November 27, 2001... A signing ceremony for the research project agreement between Asean Regional Centre for Biodiversity Conservation (ARCBC) and Brunei Darussalam was been held at the University Brunei Darussalam yesterday. The signing ceremony was carried...

Brunei: Lawas residents welcome new link road.
November 27, 2001... Residents in Lawas welcome the proposal to build a road linking Miri to Limbang and Lawas, as announced recently by Infrastructure Development and Communications Minister Datuk Wong Soon Koh, the Sarawak Tribune reported yesterday. Encik...

Brunei: Runners urged to collect certificates.
November 27, 2001... Several runners who took part in the 7th Holiday Inn Miri Charity Marathon on September 30, have yet to collect their certificates of participation from the hotel management. They are urged to do so by November 30, after which all the...

Brunei: Efforts to revitalise BIMP-EAGA.
November 27, 2001... Secretary Paul Dominguez, special envoy to the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines (BIMP) East Asean Growth Area (EAGA), said the sub-regional economic group plans a series of meetings in Mindanao which may further push trade...

Brunei: Sheraton Utama fire & safety awareness programme.
November 27, 2001... The Sheraton Utama Hotel recently launched its fire and safety awareness programme, an ongoing event for the hotel guests and associates. The programme is a commitment by the Starwood Corporation to create and enhance the safety of hotel...

Brunei: Aneka Rasa food promotion.
November 27, 2001... Aneka Rasa Restaurant & Catering is situated in Kg. Kiulap, Gadong. Established a few years ago, the restaurant has a nice view of the river. During the month of Ramadhan, the restaurant is having "sungkai" promotion at B$9.90 per adult...

Brunei: Amedeo mega creditors homing on Evergreen.
November 26, 2001... As Global Evergeen, the wizard of a troubleshooting company was scheduled to settle the first round of claims of creditors of the bankrupt Amedeo Corporation of HRH Prince Jefri Bolkiah, some of the big time creditors are said to be gearing...

Brunei: Dealing with casualties.
November 26, 2001... A public forum focusing on the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) of the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital that was scheduled for yesterday was indefinitely postponed. The forum was postponed after receiving a poor response...

Brunei: Customers want new car prices before Raya.
November 26, 2001... Potential car buyers are in a quandary over how to get new cars in time for the Hari Raya festivities. Since import duties on cars were slashed recently, the public's enthusiasm for buying new cars is increasing daily. Yet, there is...

Brunei: Conman with quick hands strikes at Gadong shop.
November 26, 2001... A smartly-dressed man was alleged to have cheated a shop in Gadong yesterday afternoon of $100. Said to be around 30 years old, the man, who is of slim build, standing about 5ft 8 in and wearing a gold bracelet on his right hand, entered...

Brunei: Mosques full at first mass prayers of Ramadhan.
November 26, 2001... Even though it is the fasting month of Ramadhan, Muslims have not forgotten their duty to Allah Almighty - that is praying. Hunger and thirst did not stop Muslim men and boys from performing the Friday mass prayers in mosques throughout...

Brunei: Maternity wards at Jerudong Centre to open soon.
November 26, 2001... Expectant mothers now have an alternative to RIPAS for the care and delivery of their child during their pregnancy period with the recommissioning of the Jerudong Park Medical Centre (JPMC) maternity services. This was revealed by Ms Tan...

Brunei: Children of ex-soldiers receive holiday cheer.
November 26, 2001... Some 85 orphans whose late fathers were former soldiers of Royal Brunei Armed Forces received Hari Raya donations from the Ex Army Association yesterday morning. They received the donations from YDM Pehin Datu Indera Negara Lt Kol (Rtd)...

Brunei: Q-Carrier promos on golden year.
November 26, 2001... Q-Carrier Sdn Bhd launched its '100 years of innovation' logo marking a century since the invention of air-conditioning. Q-Carrier is also celebrating its 50th anniversary this year in Brunei. To commemorate the launching of the...

Brunei: General cleaning at mosque.
November 26, 2001... Villagers and Mosque Committee members joined effort recently to do a general cleaning at the Kg Bunut mosque. The community project was part of the yearly activities organised by the committee usually during the month of Ramadhan. Above...

Brunei: Restoring confidence in our car industry.
November 26, 2001... The huge slash car import duty would mean that from now on all imported vehicles are subject to only 20 per cent import duty, not the burdening tax that ranged from as low as 40 per cent to 200 per cent. Car businesses will eventually pick...