Friday, August 8, 2008

Beijing Olympics 2008


The Official website of Beijing Olympics 2008: http://www.beijing2008.cn/

To download the wallpapers and screensavers: http://en.beijing2008.cn/funpage/download/



Olympism
"Olympism is a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy found in effort, the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."

(
http://www.olympic.org/uk/passion/studies/index_uk.asp)

Info on the Beijing 2008 mascots Fuwa (representing the 5 elements - Water, Wood, Fire, Earth and Metal): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuwa and http://en.beijing2008.cn/spirit/beijing2008/graphic/n214068254.shtml

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Let's talk halal



Use of Halal Certificate Order and Halal Labels comes into force

The use of Halal Certificate Order and Halal Labels started Friday. The Halal Food Control Department, Department of Syariah Affairs, Ministry of Religious Affairs, also announced that starting Friday, exporters of local Halal products must use the new Brunei Halal Logo.

The enforcement of the new Halal Certification and Labels is inline with the titah of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, in which His Majesty states that the Halal Certificate and Halal Label 2005 should come into effect on 29hb Rejab 1429 corresponding to 1st August 2008.

(Source: RTB news, 2nd August 2008)

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Enforcement of Halal Certification and Halal Label Order being adopted by local food product companies

Enforcement of the Halal Certification and Halal Labelling Order on the 1st of this month by the Halal Food Control Section, Syariah Affairs Department have been adopted by producers of local food products. Following the enforcement, the Halal Food Control Section said about 12 local food production companies have made applications and two companies have obtained approval for using the latest Halal label. In an interview with RTB, the Acting Assistant Director of Syariah Affairs said the enforcement will be extended to certification of restaurants and other eateries, beginning in December. The purpose of usage is the main condition required in the Halal Certification and Labelling Order.

Awang Haji Kassim bin Haji Muhammad said food court and restaurant entrepreneurs are those who need to obtain the Halal certificates for their business premises. He said among the requirements that must be fulfilled by the applicants is the presence of two food supervisors at every business premises where the Halal certification is required; and that only Halal food are allowed to be sold or brought into the shop. Successful applicants will be given the Halal certificate for an annual fee of $30 for each business premises.

(Source: RTB News, 7th August 2008)

image of Halal logo from the Internet

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Jawatankuasa Kebangsaan Nama Geografi

From RTB news, 6th August 2008:
The country is often urged to work in synergy with various agencies and institutions to implement projects. The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports says the implementation of a project the synergical way is very good because the results are obtained from various opinions. Retired Major General Pehin Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Mohammad made the remarks at the launching of the Geographical Names National Committee Website, Tuesday. The Minister said the results from working through synergy will be more authoritative and authentic, and would be implicitly accepted by the public. The committee involves more than ten departments including University of Brunei Darussalam. One of the activities of the committee is to create its own website which allows the local and global community to access complete and quick information on local geography. The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names of which Brunei Darussalam is one of the member countries, has called on all its member countries to have their own toponymic website, state catalogue of geographical names and toponymic guidelines of standardization. For more information, the public can surf the committee’s website at http://www.survey.gov.bn/jkng_brunei/index.html

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Official Portrait of Their Majesties

I just found out that the official portrait of Their Majesties began its circulation five years ago.

from Pelita Brunei, 7th May 2003 issue, page 16:


Free publication

The Information Department has recently reprinted two of its publication, namely "Agama Rasmi" and "Kemerdekaan":

This "Agama Rasmi" is actually the talk given by Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Othman, when he was still the Director of Information (1979 - 1985), in a Induction Course for newly-graduated civil servants on May 1982. YB explained:
  • Kuasa Memerintah,
  • Perkhidmatan Awam,
  • Konsep Islam,
  • Tugas Memerintah,
  • Komitmen Pegawai-Pegawai and Kakitangan Kerajaan,
  • Memaju dan Meningkatkan Kepentingan Agama Rasmi,
  • Berbagai-bagai Saluran
This is a 16-page booklet, printed in Malay language only.

Another book is "Kemerdekaan" (unknown author):

It briefly touches on:
  • Perjanjian Tahun 1979
  • Ringkasan Kandungan Perjanjian
  • Pertukaran Nota
  • Nota Pertama - Kelima
  • Taraf Brunei
  • Erti Kemerdekaan bagi Brunei
  • Asas-Asas Kenegeraan
  • Tanggungjawab Mengukuhkan Negara
  • Jangkaan Berikutan Kemerdekaan Semula
  • Harapan
These two booklets are available to the public for free. So go and grab a copy now.

Titah Hari Belia Kebangsaan 2008

Titah Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan Dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam sempena Hari Belia Kebangsaan pada Hari Sabtu, 30hb Rejab 1429 bersamaan 02hb Ogos 2008


TITAH

KEBAWAH DULI YANG MAHA MULIA PADUKA SERI BAGINDA SULTAN HAJI HASSANAL BOLKIAH MU’IZZADDIN WADDAULAH,
SULTAN DAN YANG DI-PERTUAN NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

SEMPENA
HARI BELIA KEBANGSAAN

BERTEMPAT
DI STADIUM TERTUTUP
KOMPLEKS SUKAN NEGARA HASSANAL BOLKIAH

PADA
HARI SABTU 30 REJAB 1429/2 OGOS 2008


Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh


Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘Aalameen, Wabihee Nasta’eenu ‘Aalaa Umuriddunyaa Waddeen. Wassalatu Wassalamu’Aalaa Asyrafil Mursaleen Sayyidina Muhammad Wa’alaa ‘Aalihee Wasahbihee Ajmaeen. Waba’du.


Beta bersyukur kerana sekali lagi dapat bersama-sama menghadiri Perhimpunan Hari Belia Kebangsaan pada pagi ini. Kepada para belia, beta mengucapkan selamat menyambut Hari Belia Kebangssan 2008. Beta juga merakamkan penghargaan terima kasih di atas sumbangan khidmat bakti para belia kepada negara.


Perhimpunan Hari Belia Kebangsaan adalah wadah untuk menilai pencapaian matlamat pembangunan belia ke arah Belia Brunei Cemerlang seperti yang termaktub dalam Dasar Belia Negara. ‘Belia Cemerlang’ ialah belia beriman, berilmu, bertanggungjawab dan cekal.


Kita semua menyedari, untuk mewujudkan belia cemerlang adalah memerlukan penglibatan semua pihak, termasuk individu, keluarga dan masyarakat. Tambahan pula, kesan kederasan arus globalisasi masa kini, telah menimbulkan pelbagai cabaran serta hambatan dalam usaha mewujudkan belia cemerlang itu. Ini, termasuklah cabaran-cabaran dalam bidang pendidikan dan pekerjaan.


Kerana itu, para belia tidak ada pilihan lain kecuali sentiasa berusaha meningkatkan kebolehan dan kemahiran. Hanya dengan cara ini sahaja seseorang dapat diharapkan untuk menjadi belia yang cemerlang.


Beta percaya belia pada hari ini, dengan berbekalkan ilmu pengetahuan yang diperolehi daripada pelbagai institusi pendidikan, sama ada di dalam mahupun di luar negara, akan berupaya membuat pilihan terbaik lagi bijaksana dalam menghadapi cabaran-cabaran tersebut.


Sempena Sambutan Hari Belia ini, beta mengharapkan agar para belia akan terus melipatgandakan usaha ke arah meningkatkan lagi semangat ingin maju dan bertanggungjawab dalam semua bidang kehidupan yang diceburi.


Sebagai tunas bangsa, penglibatan para belia dalam proses pembangunan negara sangatlah bermakna. Beta amat berbangga kerana telah ramai para belia yang telah memperolehi kelulusan tinggi, baik dalam bidang profesional mahupun dalam bidang vokasional. Mereka ini tentu saja mampu untuk menjana dan memperkasa pembangunan negara. Tunas bangsa seperti inilah yang kita perlukan demi masa depan bangsa dan negara yang kita cintai ini.


Dalam kita meraikan Hari Belia ini, kita janganlah meminggirkan golongan belia yang kurang bernasib baik. Mereka ini memerlukan perhatian dan bimbingan daripada kita untuk menjadi insan yang dapat sama-sama menyumbangkan bakti kepada pembangunan negara.


Beta berharap agensi-agensi yang bertanggungjawab akan memberikan pemedulian khusus kepada golongan belia berkenaan dengan menyediakan peluang dan harapan melalui program-program bersepadu, seperti program-program peningkatan keyakinan jati diri dan lain-lain. Melalui program-program sedemikian, golongan belia yang kurang bernasib baik ini akan merasa dihargai dan juga berpeluang untuk sama-sama menyumbangkan jasa bakti mereka.


Di samping giat mengikuti perkembangan dan menambah ilmu, beta sukacita mengingatkan supaya para belia kita jangan melupakan kemurnian adat resam dan identiti bangsa yang diwarisi turun-temurun. Orang Brunei terkenal dengan kemurnian budi pekerti dan berhemah tinggi. Nilai murni budaya ini perlu ditanamkan dalam diri belia kita, kerana ia mencerminkan keluhuran dan ketinggian bangsa.


Beta juga ingin mengingatkan supaya para belia sentiasa siap siaga untuk bersaing dan tabah menghadapi risiko, kerana kejayaan itu tidak akan datang bergolek tetapi melalui kerja keras dan usaha yang cekal.


Insya-Allah jika ramai para belia mempunyai istiqamah dan tanggungjawab menghadapi sebarang cabaran dan saingan, maka negara akan lebih mudah menuju jalan gemilangnya dengan izin Allah.


Sekian, Wabillahit Taufiq Walhidayah Wassalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

(Source: Pressroom of Information Department, Image (c) Infofoto 2008)

Monday, August 4, 2008

Mahkota - the Royal Crown of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam

Image of Mahkota (top) scanned from this book (below):


The late Al-Marhum Sultan, based on old palace documents and sketches, drew the design of the mahkota himself and had it commissioned. This supreme symbol of sovereignty of the Brunei Sultanate is made of gold and studded with precious jewels. The mahkota is unique in design with inclusions of elements such as the Alap (upturned diadem set in gold and precious stones), Tajuk Mahkota (six pieces of bunched ornaments in the shape of Payung Ubur-ubur (umbrella-like jellyfish tentacles, three on each side), Melur Turun (dangling jasmines), and Tara Mahkota (seven-pronged centrepiece topped with pearls and precious stones).

During the coronation, the mahkota is brought into the Lapau or ceremonial hall by one of the palace officials called Cheteria Empat. During the coronation of the present Sultan that took place on August 1, 1968, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was crowned by his own father, the late Al-Marhum Sultan, Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Begawan.

What makes the present mahkota unique is that it has continued being the nation's sovereign symbol for over 40 years due to the peace and prosperity Brunei Darussalam has enjoyed over the four decades.

With the ascension of the present ruler, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, to the throne, the crown has been safely ensconced as a royal treasure that also reflects the peace, well-being and prosperity of the country.


Free of civil strife or any other issues that may divide the people of the land, Brunei Darussalam, under the stewardship of a wise and loving ruler, continues to enjoy an exemplary status as sovereign sultanate.

text from the Muhibah Magazine July/August 2008 issue

Saturday, August 2, 2008

The Coronation Ceremony

Usongan Diraja or The Royal Chariot, photo (C) Jennifer Mok

1 August 2008, is the actual date for the 40th Coronation Ceremony of His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. The Coronation Ceremony was held on Thursday, 6 Jamadilawal 1388 corresponding to 1 August 1968.

The Coronation Ceremony usually takes place a year after a Sultan has ascended the throne. This historical event was carried out with pomp and pageantry befitting the Royal Customs and Traditions of Brunei Darussalam. After the completion of putting on the Mahkota (Crown) and the Keris Si Naga (the Heritage Kris) was tucked into His Majesty's 'Sinjang' (the Malay traditional attire), Pengiran Bendahara read the 'Puja' for seven times followed by the 'titir' (beating) of Naubat (Royal Drum) and accompanied by a Royal gun-salute from the Royal Cannon. After the 'Doa Selamat' (Benediction Prayer) was read, His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam departed on the 'Usongan Diraja' (Royal Carriage) for the procession around Brunei Town, and later departed on another vehicle heading towards the Istana Darul Hana to sit side by side on a 'Singgahsana' (Royal Dais) with Her Royal Highness Pengiran Isteri, and when the Crown was put on, the 'Puja' was read by the wife of Pengiran Bendahara. Since then Her Royal Highness Pengiran Isteri became Her Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Raja Isteri.

In Brunei, the Coronation Ceremony is to recognise the Sultan as Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. The Coronation that ever been documented in the mass media were the Coronation Ceremony of Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam, held at the Lapau (Ceremonial Hall), in Brunei Town, on 15 May 1918, whereas the Bersanding Ceremony and Puja Ceremony for Her Majesty Pengiran Isteri took place at the Istana in Kampong Ayer. The Coronation Ceremony of Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Akhazul Khairi Waddin was held at the Pejabat Besar Kerajaan, Brunei Town, on 19 March 1940, and the Bersanding Ceremony and Puja Ceremony for Her Royal Highness Tengku Ampuan was held at the Istana Mahkota, Jalan Tutong. The Coronation Ceremony of Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien took place at the old Lapau in Brunei Town on 31 May 1951, the Isteri was held at the Istana Darul Hana, Jalan Tutong, Brunei Town, while the Coronation Ceremony of His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on 1 August 1968 took place at the new Lapau, Brunei Town, and the Bersanding Ceremony and Puja Ceremony for Her Royal Highness Pengiran Isteri was held at Istana Darul Hana, Brunei Town.

The Coronation Ceremony is a Royal Custom that still being defended from time to time as a glittering heritage of an Institution Monarchy in Brunei Darussalam. May His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Raja Isteri endow with blessings and guidance, be permanence on the throne of Brunei Darussalam.


(from the description of The 40th Anniversary of the Coronation of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam 1968-2008 commemorative stamp, text by the Brunei Darussalam History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, 1 August 2008)

Friday, August 1, 2008

40th Anniversary of Coronation commemorative stamps

I just noticed today is 29 Rejab 1429 Hijrah corresponding 1st August 2008, the Hijrah date has 29 appearing twice, and His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam is the 29th Ruler of Brunei Darussalam.

the envelope costs B$0.45 each

with the traffic lights

first day cover (B$2.05 each)

there is a serial number at the back of the envelope

the logo

I made my very own commemorative sheet (four sheets), each with 4 stamps, signifying the 40 majestic years




the commemorative sheet priced at B$1.60


Unfortunately, the B$40.00 commemorative stamp was not released today. It has been rescheduled to August 15.

40th Anniversary of Coronation

(from Buku Rancangan Sambutan Jubli Perak Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Dipertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam Menaiki Takhta)

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was installed as the 29th ruler of Brunei on 5th October 1967 and crowned in Istiadat Perpuspaan on 1st August 1968. Today marks the 40th Anniversary of Coronation of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

from Borneo Bulletin, 21st July 2008:


The Postal Service Department announced that the department will release new commemorative stamps and first day cover to commemorate the 40th anniversary of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's coronation. The stamps and first day cover will be on sale on August 1 at post offices across the country, namely, the Bandar Post Office, Mail Processing Centre in Berakas, Seri Kompleks Post Office, Muara Post Office, LTAB Post Office, Kiulap Post Office, Kuala Belait Post Office, Seria Post Office, BSP Post Office, Lumut Post Office, Tutong Post Office and Bangar Post Office in Temburong. Four new stamps designed for the commemorative stamps will be priced at 40 cents each, while the official first day cover will be priced at 45 cents each.


Meanwhile, two miniature sheets will also be sold two weeks after the official launching of the commemorative stamps and official first day covers. The sheets will be priced at $1.60, while a special miniature sheet will cost $40.