Recently, we went on holiday to Brunei visiting family, relatives and friends. It has come to my attention that Brunei's income is going out mainly to Malaysia.

This has resulted in Malaysia booming in such a short time. Take for instance driving to Miri from Kuala Belait. The housing schemes really impressed me.

Then I realised that this is Brunei's wealth being brought out to Malaysia and Malaysia is just enjoying easy profits. The main reason being; the social circle in Brunei is very limited. For years now, during the weekends people flee to Malaysia for some kind of social life.

The effects are disastrous because of Brunei's restricted way of life. Why not lift bans?

How can you expect outsiders to invest or come to Brunei when their own people leave the country for a social life elsewhere?

It is sad to see that Brunei has turned into a short-sighted country. And worst of all, the hard-working non-Bumiputeras are doing all the work and this is why I keep hearing that Brunei graduates are unemployed.

I hope that for the prosperity of Brunei someone will wake up soon and make important changes that are necessary to make Brunei a success. Oil is not forever! It breaks my heart because Brunei will always be home to me.

- S. Van

I am writing in reference to W.N.S.F.I.A's letter stating that "Roy should get his facts straight". In actual fact, Roy is correct. I am a driving instructor in the UK, and a student from Brunei cannot drive for a year on an international licence because they are considered as living in this country.

Students are usually here for up to three years anyway, so they would still need a British licence. The driving authority in Britain does exchange almost every other country's licence but not Brunei's. I do not know the reason why but it seems wrong.

- Bob Bailey, Swansea

I have been following up on this topic for the past few weeks and have been tempted to write in. Each viewer has his/her own point of view. But to me, I view this differently because I hold both Brunei and British licences. I took my Brunei driving licence first. However, when I studied in the UK I was required to take up a British licence to enable me to drive in Britain.

I did not make a big fuss but obediently took up driving lessons (less than 10 lessons) and passed my driving test without hassle.

When I obtained my driving licence, it gave me confidence to drive in London and other parts of UK. To me, I found learning to drive in Britain so interesting.

Reasons: I had a very good instructor who explained to me how to use roundabouts, the highway, the different types of roads they have and most importantly, to be patient and considerate when driving. I came back with all the knowledge still embedded in my mind after obtaining my British licence more than 15 years ago.

When I came back I was not used to the way people drive here. So I had to adjust myself. But in any event, I still hold the belief that driving safely and not endangering other lives is important. Until today, I am so grateful to my driving instructor and I have no problem using the roundabout in Kg. Kiarong.

All I can say to 'HA' is to think positive and take of it as a learning experience. In life, learning never stops. Think of how lucky you are to experience how the British conduct their driving lessons. Once you have obtained the British licence, then look again at how people in Brunei drive; complaining about not knowing how to use the roundabout, cutting into others' lanes abruptly, endangering others by overtaking, etc.

In Brunei, sounding your horn seems like an offence to others but when the situation requires it, you are often faced with people giving you stern looks. Of course this does not refer to everyone, and I can also say that not all road users in Britain are patient and obey the road code. There are always these few that spoil the broth.

Think positive and take it as another lesson learned.

- OPC

After reading the 25th October consumer focus I was appalled by the extremely biased report. The writer reported that doorstep selling should be considered a crime.

Doorstep sellers are not much different from a salesperson in the shops. Here, I hope to dispel any misunderstandings caused by the article.

Do consumers end up buying products that they don't want, are unsuitable or are of no good value? To buy or not to buy is the consumer's choice. To say that the consumer was tricked into buying something is just shifting the blame.

How can a salesperson trick a sensible and intelligent consumer? If it is not enough to say no, explain to the seller your limited finances and/or the fact you don't like the products or have a similar product. If desperate, be truthful.

Doorstep sellers "persuade" the consumers to buy products that they don't need? Sales people in the shops do the same thing. Remember the salesperson that follows you around in the supermarket? Or the salesgirl that recommended you that shampoo? The guy that offered you a discount for the cloth? The guy in the food court calling you to eat there? Good sales people tell you that they are there and that the products are there. But it is the consumer who chooses to purchase or not.

Doorstep selling, or more commercially known as direct selling, is not only acceptable but it is still widely practised throughout Asia and the rest of the world. Brunei is not an exception. The very definition of direct selling is providing a face-to-face service with the consumer, usually at their homes. A lot of businesses practise direct selling and it is sometimes a good way to practice business. You don't have to come to them, they come to you.

Direct sellers are acceptable, though you have to be careful. The acceptable direct-selling that is practised in Brunei include grass-cutters and clothes-sellers.

Try not be judgmental, direct-sellers are only trying to make some money. I am a consumer with an open mind. My advice is; if you like it and can afford it - buy it. If you can't, then don't.

- The Open-Minded Consumer

I wish to highlight a few matters with regards to the adjustments of working hours during Ramadhan. I am an office contractor working for a leading company. Since I started working, it was further agreed that we should comply with the working hours practised by the company's employees.

Within the department that I work (I shall name it Department A), we were told by the Head of Department through circles of people that working hours from 7am to 1pm will only be applicable to company staff and excludes the contractors. Well, I have no problem working from 7am to 3pm if that is what it takes. But as you all know, reduced working hours during Ramadhan will therefore apply from 8 hours to 7 hours.

I did the counting lots of times and my working hours still total 8 hours, which is equivalent to the number of hours we work during normal working days! And this applies not only to office contractors but also to the Muslim tea ladies who work until 4pm. Can you imagine how we feel?

As for Friday, we the contractors are required to work until 3pm as well! I am not against the working hours that were given to us but I feel that this kind of treatment is unfair and unreasonable when contractors from other departments work from 7am to 1pm.

Perhaps the company should issue a memo regarding contractor working hours.

- Contractor, Seria

This is to highlight that parents should be careful when choosing a tuition teacher for their children.

In August, the reason why I sent my child to tuition is because he is weak in Malay. I came forward to a teacher who taught in a private school and asked her as a favour to help my child. She was giving tuition to other students who are on the same level as my child. This way, my child could learn with those students.

Every lesson when he came back from tuition, I always checked his work. To my surprise, the teacher gave him revision papers that are for Primary 6 and my child is only in Primary 5.

I asked her why she gave him Primary 6 work rather than Primary 5 work. She said, "Your son will sit for PCE next year." She even complained that my child did not want to do the revision work and he cannot do the papers. Certainly, the Primary 6 papers are too hard for him.

She is right that my son will sit for PCE next year. But let me ask you, can a person form a sentence without learning the alphabet first? My point is that my child needs to build up his foundation first before he can proceed to more difficult papers.

Has the tutor asked herself why my child cannot do the Primary 6 papers? It is her duty to find out why.

I told her it is better to teach my son Primary 5 work but she said, "I have no time for Primary 5 work." Then why did she accept him into her tutor group in the first place?

A professional teacher would give the utmost care and patience when teaching a weak student. If a teacher can coach and motivate a weak student until he gets good results then that teacher is really a professional.

I do understand that teaching a weak student is not easy but I truly believe that when the student succeeds, it is very rewarding for the teacher. It is wrong to force a student to do papers that are far beyond his abilities. Remember, "Rome was not built in a day."

- Angry Parent BSB

I read the Borneo Bulletin almost everyday, especially the Sunday issue. In the Sunday issue you have pages concerning movies, Bollywood and school life.

Yet, I cannot help but wonder why you don't have a gaming section for the PS, PS2 and Xbox, etc since you already have an electronics page.

Some of us like gaming very much and would like to keep up-to-date on such things.

- Thrax, BSB

The Sunday flights from Kota Kinabalu to BSB at 5.15pm are always full. So why are these flights being changed?

The flights out to KK from BSB have been fairly popular with transit passengers these past few months. Also, it gives Brunei residents an opportunity to get out to KK after work. The new flight times make no sense at all. The saying goes that 'the customer is king', right?

Please prepare schedules with your customers in mind. Please explain why these changes are necessary. And lastly, please reconsider the new flight schedule as the existing flights are already popular and they help put money into the coffers of a money-losing venture.

- Brubiz4profit

Kite-flying is fun, but it is a menace to others when one has to face the many stray kite strings.

These kite strings are also a danger, especially those laced with glass.

A few months ago, I had to bear the cost of $350 to re-paint the bonnet of my car after it was damaged by one of those glass-laced strings. What compelled me to write in this time was that my other car was damaged by the stray kite strings.

The paint work of the bonnet, an A-post and a side mirror were not only scratched but suffered deep cuts. Dear friends, I am not against kite-flying but I feel the authorities should look into controlling the use of glass-laced strings. I also feel it is not fair that one should suffer at the enjoyment of others.

Think about the other damages and dangers these strings can cause. Food for thought - Imagine the scenario and the danger these strings pose to motorcyclists if one of them should get entangled by stray glass-laced strings across their neck!

- Penalised

I'm a huge fan of Asian movies especially Korean films.

I recently went to see the movie "My Tutor Friend" and I thought it was a blast.

I also thought it was about time that Brunei had this exposure to international films. I hope there will be more Korean movies like this in the future.

- AnhuyungkFan

I refer to 29th October's "Opinion Page" and Relaxed Citizen's letter entitled "E, K or R?"

Indeed, on a number of occasions it has been published in the BB that our ministers and officials urge Bruneians to embrace ICT (Information and Computer Technology) concepts. As a result, we hear about e-Government, e-Tender, etc being mentioned from time to time.

The case of requiring manual stamping of an amah's IC slip would certainly prompt us Bruneians to do some serious soul-searching and come up with suggestions for implementing ICT in this country, as encouraged by government officials.

Perhaps the labour department can shed some light on this issue?

- E-wizard