We wish to highlight that British Standard (BS) in BS 12: 1996 introduces classification of cement into strength classes e.g 32.5, 42.5, 52.5 and 62.5 but in the year 2004 under BS 12: 2000 strength class, 62.5 was withdrawn and hence no longer exists in the British Standard.

Those who have attended the seminar on "Role of Cement in Concrete on 29th June 2005" would have learned that cement is one of the ingredients to form concrete. In order to achieve the desired concrete strength, the proper selection of the constituent materials viz cement, water, fine and coarse aggregates and chemical admixtures are crucial to achieve our goal at the most economical cost.

In neighbouring countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, and in Thailand and China most of the common cement used are 42.5 and 52.5 grade cement.

The famous Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia used 42.5-grade cement. Even most developing countries like Singapore only use 42.5-grade cement. The reason is "to achieve the concrete strength that is specified at a lower cost".

Therefore knowledge and understanding of how to use cement for a specific job is important rather than merely insisting on using high grade cement.

Since the local cement producer has consistently claimed that the cement they produce is 62.5-grade cement, perhaps they could also conduct a seminar to educate the Brunei construction industry.

The Brunei Construction Industry would very much like to work together for the benefit of all. Thank You.

- Yong Teck Foo
- Managing Director
- PAHAYTC SDN BHD

I would like to express my utmost dissatisfaction with the services and professionalism of e-Speed support staff.

My frustration started the last Monday in June when I reported that I wasn't able to connect to the Internet using e-Speed. This was as a result of a telephone line failure, which happened the previous Saturday. But I fixed the telephone on Monday but my e-Speed stopped working. The person who attended the call at 121 help line took the details and said 'karang kami menelipon balik' meaning we will call you back.

The whole Monday morning passed by and later in the afternoon I decided to call 121 again to ask about the status. A different person answered the call and asked me what the problem was again and gave same reply 'karang kami menelipon balik'. This routine went on for three days until Wednesday. By then the words 'karang kami menelipon balik' had become a familiar catch phrase.

I was really fed up and asked to speak to somebody higher up than the 121 operators. A lady came on the line and again I had to describe the problem to her. She seemed to be in control and I could sense that the technicians started scampering to look into the problem. The lady assured me to ask for her personally the next time I called the help line. By then it was already 6pm and the e-Speed was still not working.

On Thursday, nothing much happened and calling 121 did not help much. At about 9pm Thursday night a call came and said my e-Speed has been fixed. I tried it and it still didn't work. Then the help line suggested that something was wrong with my modem and I have to take it in for a check, which I think was a ridiculous suggestion. It was fine until last Saturday. Even then the problem was nothing to do with my e-Speed. How they came to the conclusion is beyond logic.

Five days without a resolution is a bad commentary about a service. I hope somebody with authority in JTB can look into this and salvage whatever is left of the department's reputation. I will be quite happy to clarify this matter if somebody from JTB's Public Relations Office approaches me. I can promise you 'saya akan menelipon balik'.

- e-Speed Hater

I'm a mother of a wonderful 11-year-old girl. The other day, my daughter came back from school visibly upset.

Some of her school friends had ignored her. Apparently, her friends had stopped befriending her because my daughter has a mix heritage and is a non-Muslim.

Needless to say, I took some time to explain to my daughter the bizarre attributes of human nature. Comforted and reassured that there's nothing wrong with her and that she's "normal", I'm glad to say that my daughter has chosen to ignore her troubled feeling and get on with doing what she does best, being a happy kid!

On the other hand, I can't help but feel concern and empathy for what children in general are subjected to go through.

To parents reading this, no offence intended, but do please ponder:

When we teach our young to avoid their friends who are different than they are, we are in fact grooming them to become "racists".

We have to be smart about how we teach our children basic emotional and social lessons, so that they will grow up to be sensible, competent, tolerant and responsible adults.

A verse comes to my mind that highlights the point I'm trying to make:

"Sow a thought and you reap an act;

Sow an act and you reap a habit;

Sow a habit and you reap a character;

Sow a character and you reap a destiny."

(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

- Mom's The Word

On the 11th of June, there was a small performance that was held at a hotel in town. As one of the audience, I was undeniably mesmerised by the talents and the music prowess of the artistes.

The performance went extremely well despite some technical difficulties. However, what disappointed me the most was the people who were in charge and wearing 'authorised passes' standing at the back of the audience, making redundant noises and sarcastic remarks about the artistes people in their native language.

Each time the musicians took a few seconds break to change from one song to another, these 'authorised people' jumped in, making rather silly and immature jokes about the talented musicians. They were the only people who were laughing at their jokes.

I was completely embarrassed by their unacceptable behaviour because this sort of behaviour could leave an impression on the foreign musicians that this is how we behave in Brunei.

In my opinion, these 'authorised people' did not deserve to wear the passes around their necks because they didn't show any respect for the performance and took advantage of their "passes" to be "kambang". We the audience did not pay the money to hear a bunch of people disrespecting, making redundant noises and rude remarks during a beautiful performance. We paid to hear good music.

Hopefully, in the future, I would able to listen and appreciate talented people and their music without any unwanted distractions.

- RockMusicLover

I am writing this in response to a letter in the Opinion page dated June 29, 2005 written by the Ketua Kampong of Perpindahan Kg Bunut, regarding actions to be taken on stray dogs.

May I ask what actions are you planning to take? I hope it is not to poison or exterminate these innocent dogs in order to solve the problem.

But I hope you can consider a more civil and moral solution rather than killing them.

- Concerned Resident

Why is ‘metal music' associated with evil?

"Metal music". These two words are associated with Satan worshippers, anti Christians and atheists. They are also associated with rebels, drugs, alcohol, tattoos and promiscuity. It is said that this music is the main source of a culture devoid of morals and religious faiths.

I am one of those metal music enthusiasts and I beg to differ. I maybe a lover of the head banging music but labels do not apply to me as well as to our local metal music community.

Authorities may say otherwise, but I stand my ground to say we are not what you label us to be. I myself front a metal band, I find solace in my music. My band and I lead a clean life: we study, we go to Uni, we work, we pray, we play sports and we stay away from drugs and alcohol. Pretty much all the local bands I know of do the same thing.

Why label the whole lot of us for what some other irresponsible people have done? Why try to strangle and suffocate the whole lot of us when all we want to do is just express ourselves with our music? Blame them, don't blame us. We are the victims of a larger society's irresponsibility.

Somebody tell me, what is wrong with trying to encourage metal music in Brunei? Bands are popping up like mushrooms after the rain but almost all are in vain. I see a lot of talents wasted because we are not appreciated by society that sees fit to ban us from organising our own music fests where we can share the music with others who love it too.

When we gather, we do it for the love of the music. If you think we're gathering with the intention of forming some occult cum Satan worshipping convent or smuggling in drinks and drugs, then you're barking up the wrong tree. We would gladly turn over culprits to the authorities if we catch them bringing illegal items into our shows.

Give us a break. All we want to do is create the music we love. Music for all, stop the labels.

- Metalhead 101

In accordance with the previous Brunei Nationality Act, citizenship was transferred through males only.

Female citizens who were married to foreigners or permanent residents and bore children by foreign or permanent resident fathers could not gain citizenship for their children, even when such children were born in Brunei.

However, an amendment to the National Registration and Immigration Act in year 2002 allowed female Bruneian citizens for the first time to transfer their nationality to their children. Following the amendment, mother who are holders of Brunei citizenship certificates are now eligible to apply citizenship status for their children.

To my understanding and knowledge, the requirement to attain Brunei citizenship also includes passing tests in Malay culture, customs and language for those Brunei-born non-citizens, known as permanent residents.

I took the examination and managed to pass in year 2003. I was granted with a citizenship certificate couple of months ago and had immediately submitted an application for citizenship for my Brunei-born children, but have not received any feedback from the Immigration and National Registration Department.

I would appreciate if the authority concerned can update me on the status of the application.

- bru_6771, Kuala Belait

People that I have been dealing with at the immigration Department have always been very nice and courteous.

But I want to share my first unpleasant experience at the Immigration Department. I went there to make 'kad pintar' for my amah. Everything went smoothly without any problem until it was payment time.

I gave the officer B$100 note and straightway he said, "We have no change" (without even checking the 'green box' that they have or without even asking his colleague in the other booth). I am sure they had change because there were more than 20 people who were making payments.

I was told to go to the second floor to get change. I asked my niece and amah to go there and ask for small notes but they returned without success.

In the meantime, the person who was dealing with my amah left the counter and left my amah's passport and payment slip to his colleague. We told the lady about the difficulty in finding change and she took out the 'green box' and gave me the change.

It's just a matter of asking colleagues if one doesn't have change that would solve the problem.

A little cooperation from all those involved will always be appreciated.

- Feeling Unpleasant