The tsunami disaster in Asia is something all people should know about. The quake in Indonesia, which resulted in mammoth tidal waves, had disastrous consequences on nine countries with hundreds of thousands of people missing and dead.

Many people have lost their homes, hometowns as well as their loved ones.

It is really horrifying to see such disaster striking without prior warning. We in Brunei are very fortunate not to have even felt it.

So now it's time for us to do something about helping out those in need. We could set up a Tsunami disaster charity road show and raise funds to come to the aid of these helpless people in time of need. I have seen a donation Commercial too on Astro.

So please act fast so that we will be able to reach the needy zones as soon as possible.

- Cat

All around the world, the Red Cross is taking the biggest responsibility to raise funds or necessities for the Tsunami Victims. I wonder has our Red Cross/Crescent initiated their role?

If not, I think it's time for BRC to extend their hands to other nations rather than focus nationally.

- Concerned

Assalamu'alaikum

The death toll of the tsunami victims has now passed 1,25,000 (December 31) and it is most likely to go up as there are still many victims reported missing.

The tsunami survivors may now have to face another threat: cholera, malaria etc- possible water-borne diseases as a result of the tsunami.

Many of them have lost their homes and it is very important that these survivors get access to clean water, food, medical aid and shelter NOW or the death toll will go still higher.

I'm just wondering, is there anything we, as Bruneians' can do to help these helpless people? Is it possible for us to donate things like food and blankets to these victims?

If so, through whom?

- emeraldrops

The catastrophic death toll in Asia caused by a massive tsunami might have been reduced had some countries been part of an international warning system designed to warn coastal communities about potentially deadly waves, scientists say.

Given the unbelievable size destruction and the billions of dollars of aid needed to put the affected areas back on their feet, it should be mandatory for the nations of the world to jointly fund the installation of these warning systems in poorer countries.

This would be even far less costly to the donating countries than what it is costing them now.

- Myrna Feldman

The other day I was at the Brunei International Airport to meet a friend from overseas, during a heavy downpour. Unfortunately there is no canopy or roof where people could board the vehicle at our airport without getting drenched. Luckily he carried a mobile phone so I could call him to go to the departure hall to get into my vehicle in a decent manner.

However he was carrying big bags and found it quite difficult to go up the stairs with them.

There is unfortunately no lift, no escalator, no roof, let alone senior citizen's facilities. It is indeed very sad when millions of dollars are spent to put Brunei on the world map and yet the Brunei International Airport is the first impression one gets of the country when one arrives.

Please put a ramp, a lift down to the Departure area and a canopy at the Arrivals so that arriving passengers can appreciate our hospitality.

- Unhappy Airport User

I want to bring to the attention of JTB some charges of an IDD call I have never made.

When I received my phone bill for November, I was surprised to find that I was charged $26.74 for an IDD call to Netherlands on 25/11/2004. I am staying with my wife, our toddler son and an Indonesian housemaid.

Only my wife and I have access to the house phone. We don't know anyone in the Netherlands and certainly would never make a call there.

My billing account number is 18909. I hope JTB would investigate into this matter and amend my bill payment balance. Thank you JTB in advance.

- JTB Customer

Calling all aviation enthusiasts in Brunei Darussalam, I am currently looking for people who are interested in the aviation world.

So if you are the person I am looking for, please e-mail me at julius_88@hotmail.com.

- Aviation Freak

Referring to 'Confused Motorist' of Jerudong's, Opinion 'Which Post Office is Right', I would like to thank the writer for his comments.

We have investigated the incident and regret to inform the complainant that the non-acceptance of the renewal of the driving licence and road tax is due to the 'misinterpretation and misinformation of the various verbal guidelines' from the Land Transport Department.

The matter has been rectified after a meeting with the Land Transport Department officials. For your information, necessary action has been taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring again in the future.

On behalf of the Postal Services Department I would like to apologise for the inconvenience caused to the writer. To all our customers, please feel free to call the toll free number 18000018 at our Customer Care Centre for any information you wish to know.

- Haji Azahari bin Mohd Ali
- Acting Post Master General

I couldn't agree more with 'Bogged down by lengthy school hours'.

Being one of those teachers myself, I certainly do not look forward to working for the whole 9 hours a day! I am not saying that I am not committed to my work but the work burden is entirely different from government or even private sectors. We even have homework, after that.

I enjoy teaching and love children but teachers have families too. We need time with our children as much as other parents. With thenew scheme, children spend too much time in school and not at home.

With all the never-ending curricular activities in the end these children are too tired when they reach home.

And that's just not enough - they still have to do homework too and some tuition after that before they could finally get into bed.

However as teachers we still need to give them homework for evaluation of their knowledge of what was taught at school.

As for us teachers, classroom lessons have to be planned in advance everyday. These include teaching materials, eg: worksheets, activities etc.

Too much study is definitely not good for children. Do we want tired minds or quality alert minds?

- Cert T

Referring to the Opinion in BB December 15, 2004, our head of deliveries assisted by her officers from the Mail Processing Centre has investigated your assertions and allegations that 'letters are delivered to Kg Bukit Udal once a month'.

They have found out that this allegation is not true and totally baseless. Kg Bukit Udal is covered by the Tutong Postal Services Branch. Our postman covers the area and makes deliveries (if any) everyday and only uses a van when it rains or if our motorcycle breaks down.

However, if you or anyone for that matter has any bonafide 'issues' or 'complaints' about our service please call our toll free number - 18000018, and state your complaints clearly and give your real name, complete address and telephone numbers so that we can attend to them.

Consistent with our new slogan, 'Help us to help you', you have to inform us of the nature of your complaint so that we can investigate them and come up with our solutions or explanations or answers.

- Awang Hj Azahari bin Mohammad Ali,
- Acting Postmaster General,
- Brunei Postal services Dept,
- Ministry of Communications,
- Jalan Elizabeth II,
- Bandar Seri Begawan BS8611
- Brunei Darussalam

As an avid L.O.T.R. fan, I was eagerly awaiting the third in the trilogy "The Return of the King". The date advertised in the newspaper of the first sneak preview was the 24th December.

Imagine my surprise then, when I ran into a friend on the night of 23rd December to be told that she was going to see the film that night!

When I inquired at the local cinemas here in Brunei as to the date, I was told that it had been a mistake. The date should have been in fact the 23rd December and not the 24th December. Please, in the future can we please be given the correct dates?

- L.O.T.R. fan

Reading the December 29, Opinion page made me feel disgusted over a letter, which says that body piercing has nothing to do with religion. That statement was wrong, under researched, and frankly, I think that person doesn't have a clue of what's going on.

As Brunei is an Islamic country, you have to follow a dress code that's befitting our fair abode of peace. And the Islamic teaching stipulates no man shall ever dress up as a woman and vice versa, and I stand by that ruling, as I believe most would too.

And that would mean that no man shall ever have any piercing, on the ears, on their eye brows, or wherever they want to put them on nowadays, as the practice of piercing is strictly for women, on their ears, if within Islam.

Here in Brunei, I hope no one will ever hire people with piercing in places where they shouldn't be.

Discrimination it may be, but this is Brunei, where MIB stands tall.

- Nizam Rahman