Time to join S’pore League

NOW that the Brunei national football team is the Malaysia Cup champion, I think it is time for Brunei to move a step higher, and that is to join the Singapore League, mainly because of the improvement in their soccer standard.  

This will also help our national squad to improve, By joining the team, we will still be able to keep our great imports who, from what the nation knows, might be on their way to Singapore.

If Brunei does join the Singapore League, we will hurt the Malaysian officials who so far have been trying to keep our team from winning. If we leave before the next season, Brunei will leave Malaysian football as undefeated champion.

-         Alid P.M.

Look into cosmetic items

RECENTLY the Malaysian government banned some cosmetic products which were believed to contain pig’s fat or lard and chemicals which can cause skin cancer.

Most of these products are widely available in Brunei as well. I really think Brunei should also do something about this to make Bruneians aware of this and to prevent them form using it.

-         Cosmetic Freak.

Need to rethink work attitude

I AGREE with Pekerja Malang’s comment on practices of many public servants during working hours. It is a common trend for parents to arrive 15 minutes before the midday bell rings so as to avoid the traffic. Instead they would arrive outside the school and switch off their engines and have a short nap.

Unfortunately this is the Bruneian attitude towards life. We are generally easy-going and carefree. This is good to a certain point but we’ll never build a nation with this attitude and we need to be role models for our children and grandchildren.

How would you feel when you see your fellow Bruneians acting selfishly when serving the general public and leaving the office early to pick up their children?

We need to rethink our attitude towards our work and think of the rewards of our productivity and then maybe one day, we’ll earn the respect of our neighbouring peers.

I’m proud of my nation and my people but I’d be even more proud if we step forward rather than lie back idly and see our world pass us by.

-         Man From Brunei.

Creating jobs and attracting foreign investments

HERE in Brunei everything seems to be monopolised. Internet service provider, mobile phone service, cement and now, roof materials, among others. What is happening here?

I’m no economist but as a consumer I know that I will have to dish out more for things that I can buy cheaper just over the border. All this is not healthy for our economy. Let us see why.

On my part, by spending over the border, I’m draining money away from Brunei. I know I should spend it here but why should I feel guilty when our local manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, shop owners, banks, landlords and to some extent our government think of themselves and of the financial well-being of a few individuals, namely their shareholders (a minority as against the whole population).

Because of monopolistic policies, we are in effect cutting ourselves out from the rest of the world’s economy. Sometimes I think government officials are never sincere when they say they want to diversify the economy, talk about ShuTT (or is it SHUT) and all that.

For our economy to succeed we need foreign direct investment, which relies on an open economy, transparency environment. The truth is they are powerless, incapable, maybe incompetent (all talk, no action). One clear example is the Stanchart debacle.

The Labor Department says they are dissatisfied but adds that they could not stop them nor any other company from doing so. So what does that show us?

On a specific note, the roof issue, I don’t agree with both the importer-supplier or the local manufacturer. The importer recommends a tariff, which he says is better than a total ban. The truth is he is protecting his own interest. He will probably sell them at a higher price than now and still keeps his business.

What he should do is join together with other suppliers and contractors and demand our local roof manufacturers produce lower quality roofs for sale to the masses.

On the part of the roof manufacturer and BINA, they say that local roofs are of better quality so they are naturally more expensive. If I’m not mistaken when they started operations years ago, they professed that they would export these roofs so as to get foreign cash back into Brunei (they said that the  Brunei market is too small), just as with ready-made clothes.

If so, why are they now focussing their sales in Brunei (through a monopoly)? If they are unsuccessful overseas, this shows that the people running these businesses are incompetent and need to be replaced.

On a final note, I hope our government would get tough on these businesses so as to protect the consumers. It is the government’s responsibility. It must not only protect the interests of the rich few who own these businesses.

We need jobs for our people and to get jobs created we need foreign investments and a conducive environment for investments. Be tough now, don’t be sorry later.

-         Zamren.

Provide better service

I AM very shamed when I read the complaint about RBA service by Hassan Effendy (BB 29 Dec 1999). What is the point of giving out the motto such as “to give the best” when you only give the worst? Do reply to your customer.

Give better services and prove that RBA does give the best. What is the point of having Customer Service Centre when you do not respond promptly to any complaint. How are you going to promote tourism in Brunei when the service is already bad? Take some quick action.

-         R.H.M.A., Sengkurong

Why is the airfare so costly?

I AGREE with the writer of the letter n the BB on 29 December 1999. I am also on eof the passengers who has sent an e-mail regarding a complaint to Royal Brunei Airlines web page and got no reply at all.

It is true that RBA always changes their fares suddenly with not enough notice to passengers.

I bought a ticket to Manila on 9 December from a travel agent in Brunei. To my great shock, my agent told me that the fare to Manila during December was $713. I remember the Manila fare used to be about $520 in December.

As RBA is the only airline that flies to Manila after Philippines Airlines ceased to fly to Brunei and there is no competition, RBA takes the opportunity to increase the fare to Manila. We, the workers in Brunei have to suffer in paying the high fare to Manila. The amount of fuel used is the same.

I read from the papers that RBA has offered a package to Perth for $699 inclusive of hotel, airport transfer, breakfast and an optional tour. The fare to London is only $799. You know, flying to London is about 16 hours and to Manila, it is only 1 hour 45 minutes. So why is the airfare so expensive?

I hope Philippine Airlines will consider flying to Brunei. RBA should see how other neighbouring airlines offer special fares during this time. Can RBA explain why there is a great difference in Manila fare and London fare and the sudden increase in fares to Manila?

-         Angry Passenger.

Immigration requirement

TO be honest, I feel like Brunei does not have a system, at least a proper documented one. I went for a trip a month ago, and was stopped at the immigration after I have checked in my bags.  

They took a look at my passport ( I am stateless by the way, but I’m not going to get into that because I know the subject is closed) and told me I could not go in because in a sense, my re-entry permit had expired. I though it was impossible because I had checked prior to my arrival at the airport.

Well, they had to tell me that because I held a stateless passport, I needed to have 3 months on my re-entry permit to go on a trip, I was just going on a 4-day trip. How long did I need on my permit?

I had to rush from the airport at top speed and get back there right on time. And please do not get me started on the service at the immigration office.

So my problem is …why were we never notified that there had been a charge in the policy of the permits? Shouldn’t the authorities responsible at least put up a paper or advertisement telling everyone who’s stateless that we need at least 3 months on our permit to travel overseas? What other things do we need  to know?

-         Tired, BSB.

Loud noises from cars in hospital grounds

I AM writing this letter to those people who work or go to the hospital by driving their modified vehicles. I’ve been staying in the hospital for about two weeks now and most of the nights, I can hear these people make loud noises on purpose with their cars.

I don’t have a problem with anyone modifying their cars and using them to “show-off” or “race” on the public roads. But I do have a problem with them making loud noises in the hospital areas.

The hospital is a place where people with sickness go to get cured. They need peace and quiet so that they can rest and sleep.

Just imagine being awaken from your sleep at 3 in the morning by a loud noise! It does not feel good. That’s how the patients in the hospital feel. So please think about other people sometimes and not just yourself.

I hope that the police department can do something about this problem because if I am not mistaken, it is against the law. The police could patrol every hospital like each hour every day because the noise is really annoying.

-         Bret Hart.

Bad Service

IF we don’t do our part of paying our bills on time, our lines will be disconnected without delay. But if DST does not do its job in providing quality service, do we get reimbursement?

So how do you explain the extremely bad service of the extremely expensive so-called Easi card? I guess you don’t!

-         Geegsy.

Immigration forms

IT happened at the Immigration Department in Tutong on 8 November 1999. I asked for a form/forms to renew my father-in-law’s re-entry permit as he is a permanent residence passport holder. A lady officer came to my need and gave me a form.

I realised that I needed two forms in order to complete the application. So I asked her for another one. I told her that earlier, my wife came with one form and was asked to complete another form. This would not have happened if she were given 2 forms.

After hearing my explanation, the officer seemed not pleased. Finally she told me to go Bandar because they did not process this type of application. For the sake of the public, can the Tutong Immigration Department:

1.      Set up an inquiry desk with consistent and informative staff who are prepared to help customers;

2.      Inform the public in advance of the types of services they can provide, in my case, telling me that the Tutong office does not provide this service, rather than giving me a form and saying nothing.

Lastly, I was glad that  I managed to get my father-in-law a re-entry permit in Kuala Belait Immigration office the next day. The lady officer furnished me in professional fashion with 2 forms without my request.

-         Jie Ingau-Jamu  

Key tourist attraction – people

I AM glad that Concerned Citizen (“Long way to go for country’s tourism”) has rightfully expressed his thoughts on the “tourism-Christmas-new millennium triangle”.

However olf-fashioned this may sound, Alhamdullilah I for one am forever thankful for Allah’s blaessings on our beloved peaceful Islamic country (and 6^th best to live in Asia, albeit our tiny population). I pray that God Almighty protects us all form the perils of the much-feared Y2K millennium bug- Ameen.

As Bruneian citizens, we should be fully aware of the national MIB philosophy so needless to say, the Christmas and new millennium celebrations must never be blown out of proportion. Personally, I would rather not look forward to media reports of unfortunate incidents arising from such a mega celebration in this Abode of Peace.

As far as tourism is concerned, I have contributed in my own small way as a part-time tour guide in the 1980s when Brunei’s tourism industry was in its infancy.

The hundreds of tourists I handled then often gave positive and flattering remarks about how impressed they were with the uniqueness of our humble domain, despite lacking standard tourist facilities.

To them, the friendly smiling faces and our extraordinarily modest but laid-back lifestyle are simply out of this world. So the key tourist attraction really is the people of the nation!

I vividly recall “wildly excited” faces of Japanese schoolchildren, kids growing up in concrete jungle cities, as they enjoyed their simple adventures in the Temburong tropical rainforests or words and tokens of appreciation from Western tourists after their memorable visits here.

I agree whole-heartedly with Concerned Citizen for more concerted efforts in promoting tourism, but would it be right to discourage the Brunei people to travel abroad on any occasion at all? Lest we forget the age-old  Malay adage, “Jauh perjalanan, banyak pengalaman” or literally – the further we travel, the more experience we gain.

Recently, after supporting our Malaysia Cup champion footballers at the Merdeka Stadium in Kuala Lumpur, I visited Penang and Langkawi (two of Malaysia’s top tourist destinations) for the first time. To my surprise, as taken in as I was by such beautiful islands, I thought Brunei was just as great.

A couple of years ago, I took a holiday trip to Boracay Island in the Philippines (then voted as the world’s Number One beach resort by a leading international travel magazine) and amazingly I can safety say that this country offers similar serenity and tranquillity as the island resort.

I enjoy the hustle and bustle of Tokyo and Toronto – two of the world’s best liveable cities – which I have visited a number of times but Bandar Seri Begawan is still tops in its own unique ways.

Perhaps what we can capitalise on in the promotion of tourism is Islam as a Way of Life at its best!

In this regard, the country’s tourism authorities should work closely with religious authorities in  packaging common attractions like mosque to be more tourist-friendly which can help enhance foreign visitors’ understanding of the nation’s official religion better.

Probably the Mosque Department and the Islamic Dakwah Centre should be more actively involved in efforts to make Brunei Darussalam THE Tourist Centre of Islamic Learning.

Now maybe, just maybe, the best tourism-related strategy to make this tiny sultanate known to worldly travellers is for us to honestly give a helping hand to thousands of Muslim Chechen refugees by offering some of them much better and comfortable refuge here.

- Keris Warisan.