Women to the fore
By Cheong Huat Seng

Picture shows the line-up of 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize-winning photographs. In the middle are the judges of the Brunei Tourism Photographic Contest 2003 - Haji Mohd Tali, Junid Osnam and Victor Wah. Secretary-general of the Brunei Photographic Society, Cheong Huat Seng, is at left, standing.

Three women hit the lime-light among 83 local photographers when they grabbed top prizes in the Brunei Tourism Photographic Contest 2003, which was judged in three categories namely Places, Cultural Heritage and Eco-tourism.

Juriah binti Haji Banggok led the onslaught by winning top spot in Category A (Places) to pocket $1,700, while Hjh Zuriah binti Haji Mohd Zainal placed eighth in Category B (Cultural Heritage). In Category C (Eco-tourism), Hjh Zuriah placed again, in fifth spot while Juriah won again, finishing eighth. Lim Li Lian pocketed $700 when she placed third. The pictures are to be used to help Brunei in its tourism sprint.

Organised by the Brunei Tourism Development Unit in the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources in liaison with the Brunei Photographic Society, the judges - Haji Mohd Tali bin Haji Abdul Rahman Head of the Brunei Tourism Development Unit, Junid Osnam, a renowned photographer from Singapore and Victor Wah, a professional photographer from Sabah, East Malaysia - who had to pour over a total entry of over 400 (11x14 inch) prints.

Results of the Brunei Tourism Photographic Contest 2003: Category A (Interesting Places): 1. Juriah binti Haji Banggok ($1,700), 2. Pg Md Rafee Pg D.P Hj Matassim ($1,200), 3. Hj Jumat Hj Taha ($700), 4. Haji Muhamad Haji Sulaiman, 5. Awg Murni bin Haji Mahali. 6. Hj Sabarudin bin Hj Sabtu, 7. Masdizam bin Haji Mohamad, 8. Irewan Hj Muhammad, 9. Pg Hj Tajudin Pg Hj Ibrahim, 10. Yakub Hj Abd Rahman.

Category B (Cultural Heritage): 1. Dr Hj Amzah bin Hj Abdul Rahman ($1,700), 2. Hamdan bin Hj Zunaidi ($1,200), 3. Hj Ali Hamzah Hj Gafar ($700), 4. Bahrum Hj Kechi, 5. Haji Muhamad Haji Sulaiman, 6. Pg Hj Tajudin Pg Hj Ibrahim, 7. Md Zul-izzul Hj Duraman, 8. Hjh Zuriah binti Haji Mohd Zainal, 9. Massukardi bin Haji Mohamad, 10. Awg. Hassan bin Haji Zunaidi. Category C (Eco-tourism): 1. Awg Noorizan bin Maggai ($1,700), 2. Abdul Hafiz bin Abdul Hamid ($1,200), 3. Lim Li Lian ($700), 4. Irewan Hj Muhammad, 5. Hjh Zuriah binti Haji Mohd Zainal, 6. Nujaimi bin Haji Jumat, 7. Mursidi bin Hj Abd Ghani, 8. Juriah binti Haji Banggok, 9. Hj Ali Hamzah Hj Gafar, 10. Adi Putera bin Hj Abd Hamid.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin