BENEFIT MADNESS: THOUSANDS OF UNEMPLOYED GET £30,000 A YEAR

MADNESS: Thousands of unemployed are getting cash payouts

DAMNING new evidence last night proved it does not pay to work in Britain under Labour’s benefit bonanza regime.

Official figures reveal that 20,000 households are handed more than £30,000 in benefits every year – more than the average working wage.

A further 12,000 families – equivalent to the population of Nottingham – claim more than £20,000 a year in tax-free benefits.



The revelation comes just weeks after it emerged that shamed kidnap mother Karen Matthews was collecting benefits worth more than £400 a week.

Tory work and pensions spokesman Chris Grayling said: “Most hard-working people will find these figures astonishing.

“To have a situation where so many households are getting such great sums of money just serves to undermine the vast majority of people who work hard for their money.”

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “At a time when ordinary taxpayers are facing redundancy and repossession, and pensioners struggle on under £100 per week, this benefit bill is far too high.

"It’s important there is a safety net for the vulnerable but the Government must do more to stop the abuse of taxpayers’ generosity and give people greater incentive to get back into work.”

Economist Ruth Lea said: “Frankly, it’s immoral. Many of these people are receiving more than the average wage.”

The Tories said the huge benefit totals meant many families collecting handouts were better off than households with somebody in work.

A person in work would have to earn at least £27,000 before tax to receive £20,000 a year in take-home pay.

But the average worker earns just over £25,000 a year, while half of full-time women workers are on less than £21,500 and one full-time worker in 10 earns less than £13,613.

Mr Grayling said: “It really is time the Government got a grip on Britain’s benefits culture.

“It’s hardly surprising so many people live a life on benefits when in some cases it is possible to be paid as much money as someone in work on a typical average income.”

Whitehall sources last night tried to pour scorn on the figures by claiming the figures referred mainly to families with disabled adults or children.

But analysis by the Daily Express reveals just how easy it is to clock up a big benefit payout.

A family of two healthy non-working adults and two healthy children paying rent of £100 a week and a monthly council tax bill of £108 could collect more than £16,100 a year in benefits.

That sum is made up of more than £4,700 in tax credits, £4,950 in Jobseeker’s Allowance, housing benefit of £5,214 and council tax benefit of £1,296.

More children and a bigger house would mean an even larger annual payout. A single mother with four healthy children, paying the maximum rent allowed in an area such as west London could collect up to £32,638 a year.

But a spokesman for Work and Pensions Secretary James Purnell said: “This is classic Tory hypocrisy.

“The Tories have opposed our plans to ask workless parents to take active steps to prepare for work in return for financial support but now seem to be saying they don’t think families struggling to cope with a disability should get real help.

"They are simply wrong on welfare reform.”

FLIGHTS TAX THREAT TO FAMILY HOLIDAYS

Flying could become an expensive luxury for many families

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TAX rises on flying could spell the end of foreign holidays for many families.

Even small increases will force thousands to scrap their break in the sun this year, a study reveals.

The rises, slipped out by Chancellor Alistair Darling last month, will add £360 to the cost of some return flights for a family of four and double the ­Government’s tax revenues.

The survey of 1,400 people found that one in three has already ruled out flying in the coming year on the grounds of cost. More than half would make fewer trips or stop flying if the cost of a flight rose by 25 per cent.

Unlike previous studies, the survey found middle income families were as likely to cut back on flights as poorer households. Those with children are even more likely to quit flying.

Former Labour energy minister Brian Wilson, now chairman of the lobbying group Flying Matters which commissioned the survey, said: “This evidence shows that those on high ­incomes are barely affected by price while ordinary working families are as likely to be priced out of flying as those on low incomes.

“Without long-term plans in place to meet demand for flying and keep it affordable for the millions of people who fly or aspire to fly, politicians could risk a backlash from voters.”

Ministers insist the rise in air taxes is needed to help tackle climate change but critics claim it takes no ­account of carbon emissions.

Air Passenger Duty, introduced in 1994 at a flat rate of £5 each way for short-haul flights and £10 each way for long-haul, was doubled last year.

Treasury figures show it soared from £971million in 2006 to more than £2billion this year. The latest rises are expected to increase revenues to £3.6billion a year by 2012.

By the end of 2010, tax on short-haul flights will have risen to £12 each way. Flights to the United States and the Middle East will incur taxes of £60 each way and flights to the Caribbean, South Africa and the Far East will rise to £75 each way. People flying to Australia, New Zealand or Indonesia will face a tax bill of £85 each way.

Matthew Elliott, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Money is very tight in most households so even the slightest increase in flight taxes would be disastrous for the ­travel industry.

“We already cover the environmental cost of flights through the current green taxes, so increasing them will simply be a revenue-raising measure for the Government.” Tour operators and airlines have been cutting prices in recent days in a bid to drum up ­custom but industry sources say ­aviation is facing a string of cost ­pressures in the coming year, including taxation, continuing volatility in the oil price and plans to force the ­industry to join a costly European ­Union environmental scheme.

News of the travel tax came as ­shoppers flocked to the sales on Britain’s beleaguered high streets in ­defiance of the credit crunch.

Official figures showed Boxing Day was the busiest recorded with 2.3 per cent more shoppers venturing out than the same time last year but experts warned of the bleak ­reality behind the sales frenzy. Richard Dodd of the British Retail Consortium said: “Retailers have been forced into huge discounts by the ­economic climate.

“It will not be clear how bad things have been until full December sales figures are released next month. They won’t be pretty.”

At Woolworths in Chorlton, Manchester, which closed yesterday, shoppers picked up bargains with goods going for 90 per cent off the normal price. The shop was busy with bargain-hunters but it was a sad day for the 20 staff, including one who had been with the company for nearly 30 years.

A spokeswoman for Meadowhall in Sheffield, one of the largest shopping centres in the country, described yesterday as “manic”.

She said: “It’s just been huge. We’ve had people queuing from 3.30 this morning for the Next sale which opened at 5am along with M&S.

“The rest of the retailers opened their doors at 8am and will close again at eight tonight and it’s been non-stop.

“Every bit of available land around the centre has been used for car parking, there’s not a space left. The sheer volume of people coming is huge. “

James Waugh, retail manager of the Bluewater shopping centre near ­London, said: “People are flowing in and we are on course to have a very good day.”

A spokesman for Birmingham’s Bullring centre, which has more than 160 stores, said about 2,800 shoppers were queuing when the doors opened yesterday morning.

Some bargain hunters had been waiting from as early as 1am for the mall’s branch of Next to open.

Tim Walley, the centre’s general manager, said: “This sales period has been a great success for Bullring, with over 190,000 shoppers visiting the centre on Boxing Day alone, up five per cent on last year.”

SCHNEIDER MOURNS MISSING DOGS

DUKES OF HAZZARD star JOHN SCHNEIDER is mourning the loss of his stolen puppies after an unsuccessful appeal for their safe return by Christmas.

Thieves nabbed the actor's Cadillac Escalade SUV earlier this month (Dec08), while the Yorkiepoo and Yorkshire Terrier - which Schneider planned to give to his children for Christmas - were in the back of the vehicle.

The car was later recovered without the dogs - prompting Schneider, who played heartthrob Bo Duke in the 1980s show, to plead for the dogs' return on a Los Angeles radio show.

But in a holiday card sent to friends this week (begs22Dec08), the star lamented the loss, and declared he has no plans to buy replacements.

He wrote: "Sadly... no puppies came home. We all appreciate your letters of concern and good wishes."

HILTON THWARTED ROBBERY ATTEMPT

PARIS HILTON's philanthropist uncle STEVEN HILTON is grateful for his safety after he confronted two intruders at his Malibu Hills home earlier this week (begs22Dec08).

Initial reports suggested Hilton was attacked during a break-in at the property.

But a spokesperson for Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department has confirmed the hotel heir placed an emergency call on Monday after spotting two intruders at his home - but they fled before cops arrived.

Sgt. Janice Benning says, "Two people entered his home. He (Hilton) got away and he called 911, and while he was calling 911, they got away."

Authorities have confirmed intruders didn't steal anything, but a full investigation is ongoing.

The incident occurred just days after Hilton's celebrity niece, Paris Hilton, was burgled, losing an estimated £1.3 million worth of irreplaceable gems.

ROONEY DEFENDS CONDUCT

Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney has launched a fierce defence of his style of play, and insisted: "I always feel in control."

The Manchester United and England forward is regarded as one of the most talented players of his generation but his combative approach to the game has earned him plenty of criticism.

Rooney was in the headlines again on Boxing Day with claims he threw an elbow at Stoke's Abdoulaye Faye. But the 23-year-old told the Sunday Mirror: "I don't think there is a problem with my temperament."

He added: "I don't accept that I need to learn to count to 10 in certain situations because I always feel in control of myself.

"I do get stuck in during matches, but I like to think that I keep calm both on the pitch and off it.

"It's people who don't know me who like to have a go at me. But I don't give them a moment's thought because they're just not important to me.

"I wouldn't like to let my family or my friends down and as long as they're proud of me that's all that matters.

"People who know me will tell you that I am a quiet and shy person at heart."

GERRARD HELD AFTER BRAWL

Steven Gerrard

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was arrested in the early hours of Monday morning after a brawl at a night-spot.

The England midfielder remains in custody after officers were called to an incident in Bold Street, Southport, at about 2.30am.

Merseyside Police said the 28-year-old and five other men were arrested on suspicion of assault.

A police spokesman said: "Merseyside Police is investigating an assault that took place in the early hours of Monday December 29 on Bold Street in Southport.

"At around 2.30am this morning officers attended a disturbance at a licensed premises on Bold Street.

"Six men were arrested on suspicion of section 20 assault on Lord Street.

"The men, four aged 33, 31, 29 and 19, who all come from the Huyton area, a 28-year-old man from Formby and an 18-year-old man from Litherland remain in police custody.

"A 34-year-old man from Southport was taken to hospital with facial injuries which are not believed to be life threatening.

"Anyone who saw anything or who has any information is asked to call Merseyside Police on 0151 777 3165 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Gerrard scored twice for Liverpool in Sunday's 5-1 win at Newcastle.

Are you a victim of road bullies?

SOME Bruneians have called on relevant authorities to tackle the problem of road bullies which are commonly found in Brunei.

"There is definitely road bullying on the Brunei roads and to be quite frank, it's becoming a really big problem," said a civil servant, 34, who requested not to be named.

He spoke of how his sister was a victim of road bullying when she was tailed by an angry driver who honked her as she was driving on the road.

"My sister was so scared that as soon as she saw a police station, she went straight in and the road bully gave her the most dirtiest look and left," he said.

Angered by the fact that his sister was in danger, he said that there should be better ways to punish road bullies as they are not only causing anxiety to the driver, but also a danger to other road users.

"People who become bullies on the road simply have issues. I don't know why they are like that, but I think it's mostly people who have anger management issues. The authorities should step up and say that this kind of behaviour is not condoned," he said.

He suggested authorities to alert road users to report the licence plates of the road bullies.

"If we give the bullies some kind of cautioning that would cause some kind of fear, maybe that could work," he said.

The authorities could provide counselling sessions by identifiying these road bullies, he added.

Alipah Ain said that harsher penalties should be given to road bullies.

The 32-year-old was also victimised by a road bully whose whole family confronted her while she was shopping with her mother.

"He tailgated me all the way to the shop I was smoking in and hurled obscenities in front of everyone in the shop," she said.

"That was also the first time a 70-year-old woman pointed to my face! I was absolutely stunned at this outrageous behaviour," she said.

"The authorities have done everything in terms of awareness, parents should educate their kids about curbing their anger on the road as people's safety is compromised," she said.

Hjh Khairunnisa, 25, said that authorities should get the public to re-learn some of the safety rules by giving clear rules and the consequences of their actions.

"It is the only way people learn, harsher penalties is not going to have any effect because people end up doing the crime all over again anyway, maybe it is time for another alternative," she said.

There were a total of 2,242 accidents in 2008, according to the latest statistics from the Road Safety Unit. People aged from 20 to 28 years held the highest number of accidents with 641 cases recorded.

Take lessons from Hijrah, Muslims told

MUSLIMS were urged to take lessons from Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) migration from Mekah to Medinah or Hijrah.

According to yesterday's sermon, Brunei celebrates the coming of the new Islamic year with various religious activities nationwide by ministries every year.

However, would organising such ceremonies be enough to achieve the true meaning of Hijrah, asked the sermon.Prophet Muhammad's (Pbuh) migration from Mekah to Medinah in 622 A.D signifies a turning point in the history of Islam as it shows the development of Islam as well as man's civilisation as a whole.

It was only through the Hijrah which led to the creation of the first Islamic country, Medinah, and a community which is highly respected and represents a good example. The creation also led to prosperity which has been enjoyed fairly among them.

In terms of buying and selling (Muamalat), negative elements such as ursury (riba), cheating and unfairness was deemed as haram, while economic activities which follow the teachings of Islam, such as in areas of business, were encouraged.

Among the lessons which could be taken from the Hijrah include the virtue of patience in defending the prophet's vision on how a Muslim should uphold the values of Islam.

According to Ulamas, Hijrah has three different meanings. Firstly, Hijrah only occur once in the history of Islam, secondly, moving out of a country in which ideals were threatened, as a means to preserve the ideals, faith, and religion.

The sermon reminded congregants that the act of Hijrah does not mean a sign of abandonment, but an act to stay away from negative influences in search for the true light.Hijrah also means moving towards spiritual development, enhancing one's piety and confidence which enhances one's faith in Islam to strive for purity, righteousness and increase one's knowledge of Islamic teachings.

The sermon also urged Muslims to repent and ask for forgiveness from Allah (SWT) as a sign of deep appreciation with the coming of the new year.

They were also asked to attend prayers for the end of 1429 Hijrah and to welcome the new year at mosques and surau nationwide tomorrow evening, December 28, for the continued development of the nation with Allah's (SWT) guidance and blessings.

Is raising tobacco prices effective?

SOME local smokers said that they would continue to purchase cigarettes even if the prices go up, while others believed that raising tobacco prices would help many to quit smoking.

A 32-year-old male who wishes to be known only as Hj Latip said that he would continue to purchase cigarettes as long as he had sufficient income set aside for it.

"They can increase the price but I don't think people will stop buying," he said. "(The habit of) smoking in Brunei has been quite free over the years and it will take a lot of time to change that," he said.

Hj Latip, who is a civil servant, went on to say that since the Tobacco Order was enforced, he observed that there were still many who smoke in public places.

One smoker believes that an increase in cigarette prices would help those who were thinking about kicking the habit.

"I want to quit myself and I just need a strong reason to," said Abang Md Adli, adding that increasing the prices of cigarettes would help him.

The 26-year-old said that if prices were increased, he would switch from having a pack of cigarettes that would last him for two days to a pack which would last him for three.

He anticipated that he would gradually decrease his intake over time, fighting the nicotine addiction until he is able to kick the habit for good.

However, the consultant in the motor vehicle industry said that the raising of cigarette prices could open up a black market for cheaper cigarettes, smuggled into the country from neighbouring states.

Mohd Qusyairi Zainuddin, 19, believes that most Bruneians are "over-addicted" to smoking. However, if cigarette prices were to rise, the people most affected would be those who were without income.

"They would switch to the cheapest (cigarette), but they would regret it after they spend on it," he said.

"I think people who really have financial problems, (especially) teenagers would quit smoking ( as a result of the rise in cigarette prices)," he added.

Despite the enforcement of the smoking ban earlier this year, cigarette smokers are still seen lighting up in public places.

GHK unveils new Pajero Sports

GHK Motors Sdn Bhd has unveiled its new Pajero Sports which the company was confident would lead the GHK Motors into 2009.

GHK Managing Director, Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin and its Chairman, Pg Dato Shariffuddin were present to unveil the"sneak peek" of the Pajero Sports held at the GHK Motors showroom, yesterday.

GHK was informed that they were unable to provide any detail on the price of the vehicle as the Economic Planning Unit has yet to complete their review.

According to a sales representative at GHK Motors, the suggested retail price is between the high or low $50,000 price range for the high specs and low-specs respectively. Though the price listings were unavailable, customers who are interested in purchasing the vehicle can make bookings.

The seven seater has 3.2 litre 16-valved inline intercooled turbo charged engine which is suitable for both on road and off road situations.

With the 3.2 litre direct injection diesel engine, it is supported by 4WD and suspensions which allows the vehicle to traverse "few places on earth which are out of reach," according to the statement.

The new Pajero is equipped with the Mistubishi Power Sound System (MPSS), the steering wheel control system which users have the opportunity to get sound clarity and power from the eight speakers placed for optimum sound quality and balance. Safety remains one of the top priority of the manufacturer. The Pajero features the standard airbags for the driver and front passengers with three point seat belts in the second row seating. The side door impact provides safety from side collision and a child lock, another standard feature for the rear door.

Tobacco Order enforcement ineffective, says cafe owners

MANY restaurant and cafe owners have questioned the effectiveness of the Tobacco Order enforcement earlier this year, saying that not only has it affected their business, but some patrons still continue to smoke in public places.

The implementation of this law has put a lot of businesses in jeopardy, said the owner of a four-year-old restaurant in Batu Bersurat.

"Yes I believe it is a good thing the government wants to promote a healthy country and I am all for encouraging people to quit smoking because it is a bad habit, but I wish they took more time in considering the commercial implications of such a law."

"I think the government should have seriously thought it through because a lot of businesses are going bust because of it and it's just not fair," added the owner who did not want to be named.

He said that profits have dropped 30 per cent and he was not the only restaurant feeling the crunch, since the Tobacco Order was enforced.

"It is not a good thing when nobody's held accountable for making my business suffer and I am unable to pay the restaurant's rent."

He said that he does not notice whether there were any customers who came to his restaurant and smoked and he would rather turn a blind eye towards them.

"The implications of you being fined by the government for disobeying the law is not as bad as when you are being sued or kicked out by the landlord for not paying the restaurant's rent because that means that all the investment you have put into the facilities of your business will go down the drain. That is why I think this law is ridiculous as it is not as effective."

The restaurant owner believed the best approach to reducing smokers was to impose high taxes on cigarettes.

"By taxing you do not only make the customer think twice about buying cigarettes, but that tax money could also be used to serve better purposes such as to pay for the health care of those that have been affected by cigarette smoking."

"You can't just implement this law and leave it to God's graces expecting people to suddenly stop smoking. I really think they should change to the concept of taxation instead of restriction," he added.

He said that the law should be lighter on certain restaurants where they could designate a certain area for smokers that would not affect other non-smoking patrons.

This sentiment was also shared by the manager of a popular cafe in Gadong, who believed that a smoking zone should be set up for smokers in specified places.

"The Tobacco Order has affected our business a lot, and we are really suffering. We often get customers wanting to smoke and asking why they can't and all I can say is I am just following the law. On occasions we do get people who still choose to disobey and I can't really stop them because they are paying customers who believe it is their right."

The manager argued that the Tobacco Order was also ineffective as people who were not allowed to smoke in the premises of the restaurant would just stand outside and smoke in the direction of passersby.

"People like to sit outside to smoke while they're enjoying their drinks. Now with the no smoking law in place, they would rather just smoke elsewhere which leaves my cafe lacking customers."

"People can still smoke in their cars and I still see underaged children smoking at corners of buildings, so I don't see how this law is supposed to discourage people from smoking."

Rex Corliane, supervisor of a popular cafe in Kiulap, said that while he does not allow people to smoke in the cafe, he could not stop people from smoking outside the cafe because he does not want to cause a scene as it would be bad for business.

Bravo, a supervisor for a restaurant in Beribi, said that he tried to explain the law to his customers who smokes, but they still chose to smoke outside of the cafe.

"Either stricter laws need to be enforced, or there should be an amendment of the Tobacco Order which works more effectively."

Start saving money now or pay the price in the future

WE HAVE all experienced it, at one point in life or another. The sensation of having cash-in-hand entices the individual to go out and spend unnecessarily, with the inevitable feeling of guilt and regret setting in soon afterwards, or at least feel remorse by the middle of the month when one stares gloomily at that bank statement.

Unfortunately, it seems to have been ingrained into the Bruneian culture. Those looking for evidence of this fact can find what they are looking for by simply observing the long queues snaking their way to ATMs during the sleepy hours of the morning, eager to withdraw cash almost to the very minute that the monthly salary is out.

How is it that many feel the need to rush to these mechanical tellers and get their money "hot off the presses," unable to let their cash sit and accumulate with interest? It can be argued that the rationale behind this is to pay off that pile of debt, a constant reminder of payments due around the same time wages are out. Utility bills, car and house loans, and that extravagant spending splurge on that item you just had to have, all menacingly waiting to be paid.

With the annual bonus out this month, many have practised restraint and waited for lunch hours to withdraw their cash, dutifully avoiding the past conflict of tarnishing work ethics when employees went out during office hours to beat the ATM queues. However, come lunch time and the line seems to be endless.

While others may contest that they need to get the money immediately because the ATMs would be out of cash by the end of pay day, it is still questionable why they cannot set aside money from the previous month to pay off some debts.

The burden of debt brings us back to the mindset of Bruneian spending. Every pay day, thousands throng the commercial areas in the capital, jamming the streets with vehicles in a bumper-to-bumper tussle for that near-impossible-to-get parking spot. Once triumphantly parking their car in a safe location, the whole family walks into the shopping complex, armed with a pocketful of cash, eyeing sale signs under the air-conditioned halls.

Give it a few weeks and family 'A' and thousands like them across the Sultanate find themselves once more on the choppy seas, balancing the remainder of their salary between basic necessities and bills.

And what has this ongoing loop led our people to? More than $6 billion in loans as of March 2008, according to statistics released by Ministry of Finance earlier this year. Earlier reports indicate that non-performing loans have increased from $573 million in December 2007 to $595 million as of March this year.

It is high time for this mindset to change and for financial management and planning to take priority. His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam emphasised in a previous titah the need for a change in the community lifestyle by adopting saving habits from a young age.

Parents and working adults need to set an example for the younger generation by showing them the benefits of saving as opposed to the downfalls of impulsive buying. They should be diverting their attention to paying off debt, while saving that little extra for the future, for their children's higher education or for a rainy day.

His Majesty has called for the annual bonus to be shifted from February to December to increase parents' spending power for their children's school needs before the new school year starts.

The government has also shown initiative in inculcating the saving culture among the younger generation. Minister of Energy Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (R) Dato Seri Pahlawan Hj Mohammad Hj Daud announced earlier this year that Tap (Employees Trust Fund) was collaborating with the Ministry of Education in incorporating the importance of financial planning into the education system beginning from primary education to secondary education.

A financial directive was also introduced in May 2005, which controlled the amount of loans that banks approved to its customers. Banks themselves are great sources for advice on financial planning by holding talks and seminars to foster saving habits.

The facilities are there. The door to financial salvation is open and it is up to the individual to take the initiative. Everyone must start switching to this way of thinking, if they have not done so already.

The savings culture cannot be stressed enough among the population. So long as the problem persists, relevant authorities should continuously educate people to accept and abide by a culture known for saving and not known as a community in debt, living lavishly on the outside, but suffering financial difficulties behind closed doors.

Why is Bandar losing its charm?

MODERN times have hit central Bandar Seri Begawan hard. According to many, it could not compete with other new commercial areas such as Kiulap and Gadong which offer more modern facilities. Shops, which were famous way back in the 80s, have closed down and those who still operate today are applying different strategies specifically designed to attract expatriates who make up the majority of shoppers.

Kiulap and Gadong , which were just empty lots before, were developed in the late 1990s where, in just a short period of time became a hotspot for the entire population due to extensive highways leading to it and better facilities such as malls.

According to Hj Azizi Rahman, a civil servant, the atmosphere in Gadong itself is alluring enough to attract anyone. "The modern buildings, abundant choice of items, bright lights and the crowds are sufficient enough to attract people. Central Bandar is gloomy and lacks lustre in comparison to Gadong. The buildings in Bandar need to be renovated and checked for safety reasons as most are rundown and dreary," he said.

According to Suhaili Aman, in his late 20s, shops such as Kompleks Darussalam and Wisma Jaya were an integral part of growing up in the 80s. With changing times, he prefers to shop elsewhere. The lack of parking space and inconvenience contribute more to people avoiding the area.

"If I do decide to go to shop in the capital, I would rather pick the Yayasan Shopping Centre, which is more convenient. Parking space is abundant and readily available. It has amenities such as clean toilets, which are lacking in most of the the capital," he said, adding that the erosion of amenities has contributed to the lack of hygiene standards. '

The Municipal Department has also made efforts to liven up the strip along Jalan Sultan. Every Saturday night, the strip is closed to traffic for an open night market. Sadly, their efforts have been shortlived and the number of entrepreneurs can be seen visibly dwindling down.

During the first two months, people from all corners of the Sultanate flocked to the strip to enjoy and revel in the lively atmosphere, said an ex-exhibitor, who declined to be named. She reiterated that not much marketing efforts have been made after that. Shows and the organiser's effort in marketing started to dwindle and it became redundant. The attendance has also become thin and the supposedly 24-hour market becomes quiet after only 9pm.

Hj Saiful Matali, claimed that he has stopped going there due the of redundancy of shows and lack of choice for consumers like him.

"There was only stalls which sells food, counterfeit clothes which are too expensive and CD stalls which blare out bad music during the wee hours. The shows are so redundant that I don't even glance at them," he said, adding that maybe a reshuffle of events and newer items for consumers could be a trigger for consistency and sustainable development for the 24-hour Saturday night market.

But on the contrary, it has become a meeting and enjoyment hub for our foreign workers who work hard throughout the week and come there to spend their off day.

These economic contributions from the expatriates are a much needed stimulus, said one shopkeeper in the area. According to Chua, who operates a record shop along the strip, he has dedicated his entire store to them by offering music CDs from countries such as India, Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. "Some other business friends of mine have also started to cater to their taste," he said.

Eman Sulaiman, a Bangladeshi, and Irwan, an Indonesian, both come to the capital during weekends. "I meet my friends, shop and just talk over nothing and enjoy my weekend after a week of labour," said Irwan. He claimed that it makes him feel a little bit at home where he can find items such as Jamu and ethnic food from Indonesia readily available in shops. Whereas Eman, just comes to Bandar Seri Begawan to relax and enjoy the view.

"I cannot find any of my country's items here maybe because it is far but being here just makes me feel relaxed and welcoming, as most of us here are far away from home. This similarity actually bonds us all together

RBA reduces fuel surcharge

NATIONAL carrier Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) yesterday announced further reduction in their fuel surcharge to be levied on all tickets issued on and after December 27(Saturday) for RBA flights departing from Bandar Seri Begawan.

The move is in line with RBA's previous statement that the airline will review the surcharges if the price of jet fuel maintains a lower average, a press statement from RBA said yesterday.

"The reduced surcharges and RBA's online Bluesky fares offer our passengers attractive value for money travel options to a variety of exciting destinations," said Senior Vice President Commercial - Sales & Marketing Wong Peng Hoon.

As of Saturday December 27, surcharges for the following destinations will be Kota Kinabalu and Kuching - $20 per sector, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Jakarta, Surabaya and Ho Chi Minh City - $45 per sector, Bangkok and Hong Kong -$60 per sector.

Perth and Brisbane, Brisbane to Auckland will be reduced to $95 per sector, Auckland $135 per sector, Dubai, Dubai to London - $115 per sector, Jeddah - $135 per sector and London -$160 per sector.

The previous reduction in fuel surcharges was made earlier in November following the consistent reduction in crude oil prices.

The announcement also advised those who need further information on the reduction to contact the RBA's Corporate Communications Division at 2240010 or visit their website www.bruneiair.com.

Art of local batik making

WHAT makes Brunei's traditional textile of batik uniquely diffferent from designs used in other countries?

Incorporating the elements of the national flower of simpur, sumboi-sumboi (pitcher plant) and Brunei's traditional design of air muleh in the textile is one way of localising batik in the eyes of Brunei and the world, according to Hjh Raziam Ibrahim, owner of a batik collection.

Such elements are important to create a distinction between local batik to those in Malaysia and Indonesia and to create a niche market for Brunei's batik, she said.

Hjh Raziam said her passion with batik started in the early 1970s. Her interest, coupled with talent, creativity and hard work saw her increasingly gaining reputation in the industry.

With 36 years of experience in batik painting, Hjh Raziam's main aim was to promote batik products in Brunei.

She said that it was important for youths to be aware of the opportunity as she saw a lot of them showing an interest and have the potential to make it big in the market.

Good quality of batik can be attributed to the different techniques used to create batik designs such as airbrushing, cracking, bubble, rainbow, sprinkle, geometry and marble.

These techniques applied on the fabric (cotton, chiffon, linen and brocade), together with the art of layering and mixture of colours and creativity would create an exclusive hand-made batik design, she said. The designs in the collection are exclusive, no two designs were the same, she added. In addition to batik cloth, she produces other batik-related products such as handbags, bedsheets and cushion covers.

She hoped that the younger generation would be interested to learn this art form.

"The youths nowadays are more creative and have huge potential especially in art and design," she said.

Hjh Raziah said that one of the challenges in the industry is the need to always improve and create new designs.

She added that students who learnt art and design benefitted the most as they have the basic techniques and can apply their creativity in creating attractive batik designs.

When one has the knowledge, one could improve oneself, particularly if accompanied with hard work, she said.

She said that she came across youths who were interested in learning about batik design, but unfortunately they lacked the commitment.

"One may find the art of batik painting boring if they do not have the passion," she said, adding that one must brace oneself to the tasks ahead as batik painting is a lengthy process.

The most common question asked by consumers was the cost of purchasing batik, which could reach up to hundreds of dollars. Some consumers would appreciate the art and the creativity of the artists, and the price reflects the quality of the batik they are purchasing, she said.

The cost of materials used in producing batik itself could easily reach hundreds of dollars, she said, adding that materials include the fabric and colours which have to be bought from neighbouring countries as they were not available in Brunei.

Hjh Raziah said that she does not have her own shop but supplies her products to various textile shops and participates in various expositions.

Slow business at Seria food stalls

FOOD vendors at the Kompleks Sri Selera Seria recorded a slight drop in their businesses due to the school holidays.

During the school terms, the situations were different as parents would visit our stall to buy food for their children's lunch, said one of the vendors.

"At the moment, many have gone off for holidays and vacation overseas and we see a drop in the number of customers coming to our stall," said a vendor who wanted to be known as Hajah.

"The number of customers fluctuates, depending on the time of the year," she said, adding that they are usually busy during school days.

Hajah expressed her concerns on the decreasing number of customers visiting her stall lately.

"I received a lot of complaints from my regular customers saying that they have problems with the parking space in Seria."

"They find it hard to find a parking near to this stall and after four to five times going around the stall, they decided to go to the Seria pasar where the parking space is larger and free of charge," she said, adding that this has affected her business.

A public toilet should also be built near the stalls as customers often complain on this inconvenience, she said. "Public toilet is our customers' main concern too as sometimes they have to use it for emergency calls," she said. The nearest public toilet is located at the bus station, which customers find inconvenient as they have to walk across the road, she added.

For Jessie, her family business which sells vegetarian food has many regular customers, but they are also experiencing a drop in customers during the school holidays.

"During school terms, many customers, regardless of their racial background will come and eat at our stall. However, during the school holidays, they will be a lot of customers on Sundays only," she said, adding that it is usually hectic during school days.

"Now, the pace is a bit relaxed and our business is slow. When it's school time, we find it hard to keep up with the customers' food orders as there will be many orders and we lack manpower, that's why sometimes they complain that our service is slow," she said.

A popular soto vendor said that the new stall built by the government has resulted in their business doing well, as their sales have doubled.

More patrons come to the new stall as it provides a bigger space which can accommodate more customers, she said.

"The government has provided a better place here for us compared to the old gerai. The new stall is more convenient as we can store and leave our stuff here and the space is bigger."

All the vendors interviewed by The Brunei Times also lamented over the fact they can only hire two foreign workers.

"It is not easy to serve so many customers with only two waiters or waitresses. The quota given is not enough for us. We need more than two workers to serve our customers' demands efficiently," a vendor in her late 40s said.

Local gets 22-year jail for rape

A 30-year-old Brunei national residing in Sabah was recently sentenced to a total of 22 years imprisonment and six strokes of the cane by the Kota Kinabalu Sessions Court for two charges of raping a Sabahan woman last year.

According to a report published in the Sarawak edition of the Borneo Post yesterday, evidence presented during the trial had shown that Ak Shukur was guilty of raping a 20-year-old woman twice at different times and location after imperso-nating a bomoh (faith healer).

The offences were committed July 13 last year at the Jasa Ria Hotel in Beaufort and Ho Hin Chang Hotel in Sipitang the next day. Details of the case stated that Ak Shukur was first brought to trial on November 10 - 12 this year in Sipitang where eight witnesses were called in to testify.

As a result, the case was then forwarded to Kota Kinabalu Sessions court for ruling on December 12 where defence was heard the following day. Pleading for his defence on behalf of Counsel Ram Singh who represented Ak Shukur was Defence Counsel Serena Liew, who called for leniency in the ruling as the accused is married and has two young children aged five and 14 months to support.

However, Deputy Public Prosecutor Niat Andy urged the court to hand down a deterrent sentence as the prosecution had proven that Ak Shukur was guilty of the two charges beyond reasonable doubt and that it would bring a negative impact not only to the victim's mentality but also towards the community if a jail sentence was not passed given the severity of the case.

In his reserved judgment, Court Judge Ravintran N Paramaguru convicted Ak Shukur after finding him guilty of both charges, sentencing him to 11 years imprisonment and three strokes of the cane. The report added that the judge had also allowed him to serve the prison terms con-currently.

Execution of the sentences were temporarily suspended pending Ak Shukur's appeal against the decision to the High Court and the bail was set at RM10,000 until disposal of the appeal following an application from his defence counsel, the report added.

Sports carnival binds Kg Putat residents

MORE than 200 residents of Kampung Putat turned out in force to celebrate the village's annual sport festival at Putat Primary School's field yesterday, and to strengthen the community's relationships and promote a healthy lifestyle.

Jumat Akim, 58, village head of Kampung Putat, said that the festival was one of the village's annual activities to gather the residents to mingle with each other closely during this holiday season.

He earlier said that earlier preparations were made a week earlier with the support of residents, with invitations being sent out to homes and mosques in the village.The village head said that the spirit of the event will encourage residents to be more pro-active, productive, cooperative, highly disciplined and develop a sense of responsibility.

"This sports event is a very important activity that teaches us to be disciplined in our daily life, with this principle, we will be able to maintain our mental and physical ability to achieve our mission," he added.

The village has also conducted activities such as cleaning campaigns at cemeteries, as well as holding prayers for the deceased. The Kampung Putat Village Consultative Council has planned to organise a trip to East Malaysia.

Brunei-Muara Acting District Officer Hj Haris Othman said that community events should be always continually organised.

The event started with a five-minute warm up exercise led by physical fitness instructor from the Youth and Sports Department, followed by an aerobic exercise.

Other side activities include those for children, youths and senior citizens, which saw a game to collect coupons by climbing a 30 feet slippery tree trunk.

Azmi Shamsuddin, 14, said he enjoyed the event with his siblings and was glad he did not miss the chance to attend it every year.

The student added that he was happy to spend his holidays in a productive manner, instead of just sitting at home.

Nurmufidah Jumat, a teacher at Putat Primary School said that the sports festival was meaningful for children as they are exposed to healthy activities in the community, and it would give them more experience.

This sports day is also an opportunity to be fit through physical fitness

Tourists, expats experience Christmas joy in Brunei

THE festive joy of Christmas was not lost among Christian expatriates and tourists in the sultanate, even though they were thousands of miles away from home.

Dressed in their best oufits for the morning mass, most opted to celebrate the yuletide in the vicinity of their own home with loved ones while those who do not have families here celebrated the day in popular eateries with colleagues or close companions.

Mr and Mrs Pakurang, tourists from New Zealand, said that she did not expect to see festive decorations in a Muslim country and was impressed with the racial and religious unity shown in the country.

This diversity and harmony can be viewed as a motivating factor for us to come again, said the the couple who are in Brunei for a one-week holiday.

Peter Lee, an engineer who hails from Singapore, celebrated the occasion with his family in a traditional style.

"We all hand each other presents and had the ceremonial breakfast together and went to church for the morning mass," he said, adding that he will be holding an open house for his colleagues, including those of different religious beliefs.

He said that while the celebrations in the country are quite minimal compared to his country, it creates a sense of belonging and unity.

Jennifer Agulio, a Filipino, said that Christmas gatherings in Brunei are moderate compared to her country.

"In the Philippines, we used to spend extravagantly during this time, where here I only spend it with my close companions."

"The bond that we built here together is much stronger than celebrating in my hometown where material goods are more important now than fellowship," she said, adding that the tone here was more restrained and the signs, lights and images looked like the Christmas season she remembered as a child. She spent the Christmas eve together with 'balikbayans' (a term for overseas Filipinos) at a local eatery specialising in serving dishes from their own country.

Not all are enthusiastic about spending Christmas with their families though, Eng Han, an architect, spent the holidays playing golf and shopping.

"I am single and my family is in Malaysia, so i would rather spend it by grabbing the opportunity to play golf. With discounted rates in golf courses and cheap discounts at stores, due to the holidays, I might as well take advantage of the holiday,"

Kg Ayer needs urgent infrastructure development

SOME residents of Kampong Ayer have called for immediate action to fix the sad state of the water village once dubbed as the "Venice of the East", fearing it will no longer be one of the country's tourist attractions.

"If the state of neglect of proper infrastructure development persists in Kampong Ayer, we will continue to see dilapidated houses, rotting wooden walkways without rails, irresponsible sewage dumping and remains of burnt houses," said the residents.

Asmali Mohammad, a boat operator for tourists, said that not much has been done in terms of development in Kampong Ayer since his childhood days.

In early 2000, there was a talk on re-development plans for the entire water village, but only villagers who suffered from the major fire in the early 90s have been re-settled into Kampung Bolkiah A and B, the only water housing scheme completed, he said.

"All amenities such as clean water and sanitation are of course provided, but we yearn for a much comfortable living where we do not have to worry about fires, high tides and the safety of our children," he said.

Asmali said that he brings tourists to better looking facilities such as the Kampung Bolkiah and Kampung Tamoi where most houses are still intact. This would shed better light on our landmark Kampong Ayer and bring more tourists, he added.

"But, this does not mean we have to cover up the obvious fact that most houses are practically falling apart," he said, adding that our history started in Kampong Ayer and it should be preserved to the fullest extent so that the younger generation can enjoy the beauty of the water village and not only in pictures.

"Besides, the schools and mosques which are of course new, the only upgrade in the original villages has been the jetties," said Hjh Rosnah Hamid, a mother of four.

"While jetties play an important role in our daily lives, it is the amenity that needs to be upgraded least," she said. The ruins of old abandoned houses which are still rampant could breed criminal activities, she said, adding that most of the criminal activities, especially drug abuse are linked to Kampong Ayer.

Authorities should look into the root of the problem to eradicate it, said Hjh Rosnah.

Senior citizen Hj Osman Tahir, who has just moved from the water village to the Rimba Housing Area with his family, said that while he is sad to leave, he has to for the sake of his children. "In 64 years, I have seen fires, houses torn down by high tides and more. It might seem normal before but times are supposed to change for the better. I have not seen much development yet except for running water and more reliable electricity," he said.

A native of Sungai Pandan formerly known as Sungai Kuyuk, his village was ravaged by a fire in the late 80s but built again on another part of the village with the help of the government. He said that he probably would not be around to witness a change in the development of Kampong Ayer due to his age.

In February 2004, a Housing and Re-development of Kampong Ayer Scheme was introduced with plans to renovate and new housing estates were made public via roadshows and advertisements.

The booklet, Guide to the Housing and Redevelopment of Kampong Ayer showed the blueprint and drawings of proposed new houses in the current villages to beautify and maintain its cultural image.

The committee which includes key ministries, village heads and academics, planned to do a full assessment of Kampong Ayer to achieve sustainable development in the short or long-term.

Party time as Bruneians head to beaches

THE festive times are here. The arrival of annual bonus coinciding with long weekend has given the Bruneians more than one reason to enjoy and have a party. If all the roads led to ATMs on Wednesday, yesterday Bruneians headed towards beaches and parks. From early morning, roads leading to Serasa beach in Muara were chock-a-block.

Hjh Aminah Ahmad was among those at the beach yesterday along with her other 30 family members. The 66-year-old told The Brunei Times that gathering such as this is quite common for her family in addition of having weekly dinner with all her relatives.

"As most of my children and grandchildren are working we use public holidays for a get-together," she said. Surely enough her group was the most boisterous of all others as laughter filled the air with Sukan Ria organised by them.

The Rancangan Perpindahan Negara Kampung Mentiri resident said Serasa beach was a favourite spot for her family annual activity as they can have barbecues, fishing, swimming and fun games from morning till late afternoon.

Hjh Itam Hj Metali admitted that the picnic was an inexpensive way for them to spend time together. She added that they prefer to go to Serasa beach due to the availability of large parking space and good scenery. "With our large family it's practical for us to take a breather in our own country rather than spending a large amount of money just to relax overseas," said the 66-year-old. Hjh Itam was accompanied by her 60 other family members which include her great grandchildren.

The Brunei Times also stumbled on Dk Norhayatimah Pg Hj Hamid group, who said the outings were a form of therapy for majority of the professionals in the family. "Being employed with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) means that we have a busy schedule that is why public holidays are golden opportunities for us to relax and spend time together."

She said that the only problem at the beach was rubbish which was seen lying around and the lack of basic amenities.

"Though the beach has a big parking space but both the public toilet and playground are located too far away," complains Dk Norhayatimah. She added: "For instance we have to clean up before we could settle in and the sight of rubbish in the waterways is an eyesore."

This sentiment was shared by an employee from the Language and Literature Bureau, Rahimi Hj Abd Hamid. "Though it has its own appeal its unkept state and lack of amenities might deter both local tourists and foreigners to visit Serasa beach," he said.

Therefore to reach its full potential as a tourist attraction the authorities have to step in before the problem gets worse.

A food vendor at Serasa beach who wishes to be referred as Ak Bujang listed out a number of suggestions for the authorities to work on. "There should be more tables and chairs for picnickers, a place allocated especially for food vendors and someone to look after the beach cleanliness," he suggested.

"Though large number of people do prefer to go to Serasa beach, especially during weekends lack of facilities are dissuading it from attracting more visitors," he said.

All in all, Serasa beach having its own appeal has the potential to attract more tourists. It is therefore up to the authorities to make the necessary actions. This will in turn affect the Kenali Negara Kitani (Get to know your country) campaign promoted by the Brunei Tourism Development as part of the government efforts to promote domestic tourism in the country.

UBD's cultural night for Malaysian guests

IT WAS a colourful night filled with fun and entertainment as a "Malam Kebudayaan" (Cultural Night) was organised by Universiti of Brunei Darussalam (UBD) to welcome some 17 delegates from the Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), West Malaysia, who were in the Sultanate for a visit.

According to Hj Mohd Khalil Hj Mohd Kashfi, the delegation which was made up of 10 students and seven staff members, including a couple of lecturers and a number of hostel managers, are visiting Brunei as part of an exchange programme that is usually held at an interval of two years.

The Head of Kebudayaan on the UBD Student Council added that the "Malam Kebudayaan" was a way of showing hospitality to the delegates by having an exchange of university cultures.

"We are trying to provide the best hospitality that we can," said Hj Mohd Khalil.

He also expressed hopes that the programmes such as this would help boost the country's tourism industry as the visitors could spread the word on the beauty and the serenity of Brunei to their people back home.

Mohd Ridhwan Mat Salleh, a member of the delegation from UiTM informed The Brunei Times that it was his first visit to the Sultanate.

The Kuala Lumpur native added that the culture between Brunei and Malaysia is quite similar with some minor differences such as the layout of the buildings in UBD and also the food sold.

He admitted that he was particularly fond of the traditional Nasi Katok. "It was really spicy at first but then it got better," he said. "There is also less traffic jams," joked Mohd Ridhwan.

Events of the night included exchanging of souvenirs and also performances by a number of clubs from the two universities such as the Japanese club from UiTM, the UBD Dance Club and the UBD Rakis Club.

Gracing the event as the guest of honour was Dr Hjh Fatimah Hj Chuchu, the deputy dean of student affairs.

The delegation was treated to a tour of UBD after arriving in the Sultanate yesterday. They are scheduled to visit a number of places of interest in the capital today before departing the country on December 25. (MJH1)

Attempts to smuggle alcoholic drinks foiled

THE Preventive and Intelligence Section of the Royal Custom and excise department has foiled two attempts to smuggle alcoholic drinks into the country, according to news reports by Radio Televisyen Brunei (RTB) last night.

In the first incident, some 480 cannes of alcoholic drinks which were stashed in a boat were seized by the law enforcement officers during an inspection at Sg Bunga.

But the suspects gave the officers the slip during an ensuing pursuit to Kg Pelambayan where the perpetrators escaped into the growth.

The seizure was the second largest haul made this month.

In another smuggling attempt, three people were apprehended when their activity was intercepted at Kg Telanai. The authority had arrested 33-year-old local man and two Chinese aged 18 and 35 years old, RTB said.

A total of 59 carton of liquor hidden in the dilapidated car was seized. If found guilty, the accused will be prosecuted under the Excise Order 2006, chapter 146.

The Royal Customs and Excise Department, meanwhile, has urged the public to report any smuggling activities by contacting the agency hotline at 2382422 or 8714422.

Chinese envoy calls on Pehin Lau

CHINESE Ambassador to Brunei, Tong Xiaoling, paid a courtesy call to Pehin Kapitan China Kornia Diraja Dato Paduka Lau Ah Kok yesterday at his residence in Jalan Muara.

According to Zhu Lin, an attache from the political section of the Chinese Embassy, the visit was made as a gesture for the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations before the ambassador embarks on her 45 days holiday trip back to China.

The ambassador and Pehin Dato Lau used this opportunity to discuss bilateral issues and relationships in the business world regarding the two nations.

Pehin Dato Lau also spoke on the importance of equality amongst the community as everyone has their own role to play in order to contribute to the society.

"We have to respect everyone, even our workers," he said.. He later made an analogy of how the workers of a company are like the tyres of a car, a necessity for the proper functioning of the vehicle.

Pehin Dato Lau also expressed his hope that the Chinese community in Brunei would further help each other and strengthen their relationships in order for them to advance to the next level of not only entrepreneurship but also to serve the Sultanate better.

When asked about his recipe for success by the ambassador, Pehin Dato Lau replied that it was important to take things one step at a time and to always be responsible for one's own actions.

Pehin Dato Lau first came to the Sultanate in 1940 with only $10 in his pocket. He is now the proud Managing Director of nine Hua Ho branches and is regarded as one of the most prominent figures in the local Chinese community. Also present at the courtesy were officers from the Chinese Embassy. (MJH1)

MIB philosophy a bond that unites Bruneians

WITH inhabitants totalling less than 400,000 people, bonded together by the national philosophy of the Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB), Brunei, the "Abode of Peace" is known to travellers and visitors alike as a safe place to be.

Living in such a close-knit society, where everyone practically knows or is related to one another, it seems only natural that one would place an amount of trust onto, in reality what could be, a near-perfect stranger. However, just how far can that trust go?

Speaking to The Brunei Times, 25-year-old Khaliq believes that Bruneians are more likely to trust each other since they live in a country with a relatively low crime rate, adding that Bruneians should consider themselves lucky and to be grateful that they have that privilege.

"If you were to go abroad, sometimes you would not have that luxury (the feeling of being safe)," said Khaliq, who frequently travels overseas for business trips.

"Walking down the street by yourself (at night), you'd have a tendency to stay wary, watching constantly behind your back... but you don't have to worry about that here (in Brunei)."

He explained that Bruneians enjoyed a sense of security and often give each other the benefit of the doubt, thinking that they would not be wronged by a fellow Bruneian.

"Lots of people, when they go to a (convenience) store to buy some groceries, they often leave their (car) engines running because they have fallen into the common perception that it's unlikely that your car will get stolen," he said.

A 57-year-old retiree who used to work in the construction sector said that the trust amongst Bruneians exists because of the culture which shapes each and every Bruneian to grow up abiding by a moral code and to live in unity and harmony.

The man, who wished to remain anonymous said that Bruneians grow up in a society where social gatherings, such as weddings, family dinners and prayers are common and is a major aspect of Bruneian culture.

He said these occasions brought together relatives where everybody gets to really know one another.

"You start talking to each other and next thing you know, you find out you are related. So, it is like you can trust the person next to you because (he or she) is maybe your relative or just a friend," he pointed out.

One 19-year-old student, Farah Mohammad has also grown accustomed to this way of life and usually would place some trust in a person that she just met.

"I think people in Brunei are more willing to trust someone and I think trust plays a big part of why Brunei is so peaceful," she said.

When asked hypothetically whether she would let someone, who said that they ran out of battery or credit on their phone, borrow her phone to make a phone call or text message, Farah replied that she would probably lend it to them, but she would first take a look at the person's body language to ensure that he or she was genuine in their claim.

However, Farah said that there was a limit to how much trust that most people would give others. She said simple things such as lending her phone to a stranger is an acceptable amount of trust.

"I would trust someone, but I wouldn't (fully) let my guard down, no matter how trustworthy they may appear to be," she said.

"Trust for someone you hardly know can only go so far."

End of the road for DPMM FC

DPMM FC'S worst fears have been confirmed — there will be no Malaysian Super League (MSL) football for them next season.

It was reported last week that the governing body for football in the country, the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (Bafa) — along with 54 other youth, welfare and sports associations — was suspended in late November for not complying with Registar of Societies (RoS) rules.

This means that the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa) currently does not recognise Bafa as a member, and thus, DPMM cannot compete in any Fifa sanctioned competitions.

Given until last Saturday to resolve the matter, Bafa's failure to do so was discussed during FAM's Department of Competition's committee meeting on Monday night where DPMM's exclusion was one of the topics on the agenda.

"This decision is in line with Fifa regulations which state that every football club must be approved by the registar's office of their respective countries," Football Association Malaysia (FAM) secretary-general Datuk Azzuddin Ahmad was quoted as saying in Bernama yesterday.

"This is a technical problem and was caused by Bafa failing to fulfil our requirements in regards to clarifying their status, forcing us to exclude DPMM from the league.

"As soon as we found out about this problem we came up with two different fixture lists, and once we decided to exclude DPMM, we made the decision to send out the 14-team fixture list to all the teams today," he added.

All hope is not lost though as RoS on Monday confirmed that they received an appeal by Bafa to get reinstated, along with the necessary documents which caused their suspension, and have submitted it to the Ministry of Home Affairs — in whose hands Bafa's reinstatement lie in.

However when contacted yesterday, DPMM team manager Pg Waslimin PSJ Momin did not seem optimistic of the club's chances of MSL football if Bafa do get reinstated.

"Firstly, I would like to thank FAM for trying to help us out in this matter and for all the support they have given us since we started playing in the Malaysian League and I am not sure we can launch an appeal even if Bafa get reinstated," said Pg Waslimin.

"As for what will the club be doing next season, we will meet on Thursday (tomorrow) to discuss whether we will be playing in the Brunei League and what will happen to our players for next season,"

'Uphold MIB concept', new Bruneian citizens told

SOME 240 people were granted Brunei citizenships during a ceremony to present their citizenship certificates at the Fire and Rescue Department, Old Airport, yesterday.

In his speech the deputy minister of home affairs, Pehin Orang Kaya Dewa Pahlawan Dato Paduka Hj Dani Hj Ibrahim urged the new citizens to uphold the philosophy of Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) (Malay Islamic Monarcy), by understanding and practising the culture.

"As citizens, we must have a sense of love for our country, that is, we need to have a patriotic spirit," said the deputy minister.

He said that they should also contribute to the country's devlopment, make sacrifices, abide the rules and regulations, cooperate in the efforts to preserve the country's peace and security.The deputy minister said that values such as religion and nationality should be embedded and maintained for the continued peace of the nation.

"We should cooperate with leaders and local community such as penghulu and village chiefs by involving with positive activities with youth associations, the village consultative volunteer groups, and sport clubs," he said.

Pehin Dato Hj Dani pointed out that there has been an increase in the total number of citizenship granted. He expressed hope that they would contribute more to the development of the country not only domestically but in the international arena as well.

With the latest additions the total number of people who have qualified and been granted citizenship since 1962 is 27,343.



The 50 male and 191 female new citizens received their certificates from the guest of honour.

They also attended a series of briefings in the morning from various government departments such as the Department of Immigration and National Registry, Islamic Da'wah Centre, Anti-Corruption Bureau, Department of Adat Istiadat and the Language and Literature Bureau to enhance their understanding of their roles and responsibilities as new citizens, the Bruneian identity and MIB concept.

According to the 2001-2006 statistics, an average of 738 residents were granted the citizenship, an increase from 638 between the years 1962 and 2000.

People still in dark about new taxes

RESIDENTS in Bandar Seri Begawan's newly-zoned municipality have been left perturbed by lack of information regarding the taxes to be levied.

After waiting for more than a year, residents are concerned about the lack of transparency and representation when it comes to paying taxes for their homes and property. "We are trying to find out how will we be taxed, so we can make the necessary arrangements," said a resident of Anggrek Desa. "So far the Municipal Department has not said anything, except that it will be announced accordingly," said the resident who is employed in the private sector.

There are others who feel that more needs to be done when it comes to the services that come hand-in-hand with the taxes which are expected to come in force the new year. "Like it or not, I have to oblige with the rates (of taxes)," said a Gadong land owner who wants to remain anonymous. "Some services, such as the collection of waste may not be up to our standards, but if I was to outsource them, I'd be out of my pocket." Many would like the services to be outlined in detail so they know what is being done with the taxpayer's money. "So far it has been a one-way street, and it would be good if the municipal department took a greater look into the details as to what is needed in terms of services."

The Brunei Times contacted the Municipal Department which declined to comment on the matter. Meanwhile, members of the public are becoming frustrated with the authority which is handling the issue as they have been told that the matter is still confidential. "I had called the (Municipal) Department, to ask about when the taxes are due and to find out more about the levies, but the person answering my call said the matter was still confidential," said a member of the Civil Service, who spoke on condition of anonymity. "I called not as a member of the civil service, but as a resident of the municipal area."

"First of all what comes with the taxes? New services and better infrastructure? Since the rezoning, I do not see any improvement taking place," says a resident in Bunut.

"This side of Jalan Tutong, after the traffic lights at Telanai has never been smooth. I would be hard done by to suddenly pay an entire year's worth of taxes despite not seeing anything changing over the last 12 months," he added.

The sentiment was further echoed by residents living in Kg Mabohai and Kg Kiarong, who have spoken on condition of anonymity. The residents in question have been paying the land taxes for years on end, and while they do not complain of having to do so, their grievances lie in the services lacking.

"We pay every year the taxes to the municipal department, but the access road to our house is not maintained. Previously if there were any potholes, the cost of repairs would have to be borne by us," said a member of a family in Kg Mabohai.

On the other side of town, a resident of Kg Kiarong has spoken out about how patches of road along Jln Kiarong become flooded during heavy rainfall.

"The roads will be covered in water, and in some areas it will be deep enough to stop some cars," said the 27-year-old, Kartika Rahman.

"The water subsides shortly after, but it means that the drainage system cannot cope with the weather as it is today."

A flyer from the Municipal department outlining some of the services which come hand in hand with the taxes include access roads, street lighting, and water utilities. Alongside these there are also additional services from the Fire and Rescue Department and the Royal Brunei Police Force.

Before property owners who resided outside of the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal area were not taxed earlier. However, after it was rezoned in August 2007, 12 additional mukims will be taxable by the Municipal Department.

The increased land boundary is aimed at improving the aesthetics of the capital and to regulate the growth and management of the outlying suburbs covers which include Kianggeh, Gadong, Kilanas and Kota Batu.

The area under the Bandar Seri Begawan municipal had been drastically increased to 100.36 square kilometres (10,036.24 hectares) from a relatively small 12.87 square kilometres (1,287 hectares) in August 2007.

Make BSB municipal board procedure more efficient, says minister

THE Minister of Home Affairs yesterday called for making the Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB) municipal board procedures efficient as he saw more room for improvement with regard to procedures and productivity.

Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof during his working visit to the municipal department headquarters in Jln Kumbang Pasang yesterday, said the department can improve and enhance the services to the nation by scrutinising the current procedures and keeping an eye on the areas that need improvement.

The working visit by the Home Minister came about with the expansion of Bandar Seri Begawan which came into force in August 2007.

The aim of the visit was to monitor and discuss the department's "core business" as well as meet the officers and staff of the department in order to ascertain other problems faced by them.

Some of the issues that came up during the visit were the problems faced with enforcement of taxes, the development of the "e-Cukai" programme and data entry procedures.

The visit began with a trip to the Building Planning Control Secretariat, followed by the licensing department, Asset Project and Management, Tax and Evaluation Department, Administration and Finance Section as well as Internal Auditing. Chairman of the BSB Municipal Board Pg Hj Md Ali Pg Hj Osman, who was accompanying the minister during the visit, briefed him about the procedures of daily dealings with clients.

After the visit, the minister was given a briefing about the development of various municipal projects namely the BSB waterfront, improvement on the Silver Jubilee Park and Tasek Lama park, and the improvement of the Gadong Wet Market.

At the end of the briefing, the minister urged the departments to constantly review and reassess the plans and policy changes that are in line with the expansion programme in order to make way for other up to date improvement in technology and process.

The minister also urged officers to also keep in mind that reviewing plans were essential to keep them comprehensive, in line and systematic especially in the long run in order to effectively develop the Bandar Seri Begawan area.

The minister hoped that the department will ensure that the development and progress of Bandar Seri Begawan was implemented with efficiency in order to fulfil the aim of seeing BSB as a more commercialised centre of administration and trade that is competitive yet still keeping to the unique Bruneian culture.

Book on Brunei's culture will be out next month

COME January 2009, the public can get their hands on a literary masterpiece which focuses on the culture of Brunei.

Titled Tunggak, the book was written by Dato Paduka Dr Hj Abdul Latif Hj Ibrahim, who is currently the director of Balai Kenangan Al-Marhum Sultan Hj Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adaul Khairi Waddien, Office of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

Published recently, the book contains 10 articles on several cultural and literary issues of Brunei which the author presented at various national and international seminars and symposiums held between 1996 to 2004 when he was teaching at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).

The title was derived from one of the articles, Kesultanan Melayu Brunei: Tunggak Identiti Melayu? (Brunei Malay Monarchy: Pillar of Malay Identity?).

During the coronation of a new Sultan, the word "Tunggak Negara" is invoked as one of the charismatic characters of the new Sultan which can mean a saviour to uphold the nation.

Tunggak is the sixth book written by Dato Dr Hj Abdul Latif after having written radio plays, short stories and poems in addition to writing essays.

The book is scheduled to be launched in early January 2009 during the seminar on the history of Brunei jointly organised by Yayasan Sultan Hj Hassanal Bolkiah, the Brunei Historical Society and the History Centre of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

It would prove to be useful as a general read for those who wish to know more about Brunei culture, and an invaluable source to students of higher learning since most of the articles' contents are related to the Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) concept

Good response to BLNG career exhibit

THE Brunei LNG Sendirian Berhad (BLNG) Career and Branding Roadshow received a positive public response, where more than 200 visited the exhibition and 15 applied for the available job vacancies, according to a representative at the exhibition.

During the two-day roadshow which started yesterday at The Mall in Gadong, BLNG is advertising about 20 job vacancies in various disciplines, ranging from technical services to quantity surveyor and those interested to find out more are welcomed to drop by its booth.

The job vacancy was part of two-in-one event where the exhibition is showcasing career opportunities for jobseekers and branding to provide information and promote awareness on BLNG. "Some of the common misconceptions from members of the public is the fact that they think we are part of BSP," said one of the BLNG representatives.

BLNG is a separate entity from Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) which mostly concerns oil and gas, compared to BLNG which specialises in producing liquefied natural gas, she said.

A quiz was also organised to further enhance visitors' knowledge of BLNG, where attractive prizes were also offered to those who have answered all their questionnaires. Today is the last day of the exhibition, which will run from 10.30am until 5pm held at the Mall Gadong, on the ground floor.

"Members of the public are urged to visit the exhibition and see what the BLNG can offer for them in terms of career," said the representative.

BLNG is one of the world's leading suppliers of natural gas, with over 35 years of experience in the industry. They have been exporting LNG to Japan since 1972 and Korea since 1994.

The main shareholders of the BLNG are His Majesty's Government, Shell Petroleum NV, a company in the Royal Dutch Shell and the Mitsubishi Corporation.

Parents' role in promoting oral health stressed

PARENTS have the most important role in the fight against dental health diseases as they have the responsibility to constantly guide and supervise the dental habits of their children.

This was emphasised by Dr Mary Cheong Poh Hua, the Head of the Oral Health Promotion Unit in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday during the certificate presentation ceremony on the "Standardisation of the Tooth-brushing Technique" held at the Health Promotion Centre, Berakas.

"Children themselves are not motivated so it is up to the parents to guide and teach them," said Dr Mary Cheong.

She added that most parents leave it until its too late to start teaching their children on tooth care.

"Most parents wait until their children are two years and above but this is too late," said the doctor.

According to her, the best time to teach the kids on dental care would be at six-months-old during their first toothing period.

"It is easier to teach them when they only have one tooth," said the doctor.

She added that parents should instil tooth-brushing as an enjoyable and loving time spent with their children and not as a chore.

She then spoke on the importance of having tooth-brushing exercises in schools.

She then elaborated on this by stating that the structure and shapes of human's teeth change as they grow up, further reinforcing the importance of having a standardised technique of brushing. This was one of the motivation behind the "Daily Fluoride Tooth-brushing Programme" that will be implemented to all levels of schools in the Sultanate in the near future.

She concluded by talking on the importance of how prevention is better than cure as there is no actual cure for dental diseases once you develop a cavity. "You can only try your best to prevent it," she said.

With this in mind she explained that unlike other diseases which involves elaborate methods of prevention, the only thing needed for proper care of your teeth and prevention of cavities is to use fluoride and proper brushing techniques.