I am an avid reader of the Opinion Page and when I read about the complaints made towards the Emergency cases in RIPAS hospital I am often unconvinced - until I experienced it myself recently.

Just like all cases brought towards the emergency division, mine required immediate attention from the on-call doctor but unfortunately the on-call doctor was no where in sight.

How was that possible? We are talking about a matter of life and death here. It took a good two hours before this so called on-call doctor decided to sashay into the ward.

It turned out to be a foreign doctor serving in our country. Aren't these foreign doctors supposed to be more productive?

Weren't they sent here to give guidance to the locals too? So where exactly was this on-call doctor? What is the definition of on-call when he wasn't even available for on-call?

He wasn't even there when he was supposed to be on duty!

Not only was he nonchalant in his duty, he was totally unrepentant for his tardiness.

Could someone please explain to me if this is a common practice in the Hospital?

Do the doctors here have no compassion? Surely, medical doctors should forever honour the codes as prescribed by the Hippocratic Oath.

Where exactly is this particular doctor's code of ethics and conduct? Is he here just for the sake of better salary compensation monthly?

Imagine if he were to come on time, he would have saved a life which might mean nothing to him but invaluable to others.

I really hope the relevant authorities will make an effort to improve the conditions in our Hospital.

I am writing in the Opinion Page for those in the hope that situations like this never happen again in our National Hospital.

- Voice of the People

The lighting at our village, Kg Terunjing Baru in Berakas, has been out of order for some two years now.

We have made a number of complaints to the authorities in the past, and as was their usual practice, they promised to come the next day and attend to the problem.

Unfortunately, their promises remained just that - empty promises. And in the meantime, our village continues to remain in the dark.

Why is it so difficult to repair the faulty lighting? What ever happened to the TPOR to attend to the problems of the public soonest possible, in the best possible way?

And in the meantime, what happened to the well being of our community? Will the proper authorities redress the matter, please?

- Long-Suffering Villagers
- Kg Terunjing Baru, Lambak

As a Bruneian I'd very much disagree to Air Asia's low rate air ticket being set in Brunei.

Its impact may cause RBA to lose business especially on the routes where AirAsia lands.

Why doesn't RBA also follow this business strategy? If AirAsia can, then why can't RBA?

I believe KL is the favourite destination for Bruneians. If RBA first begins with this destination, we can see the outcome.

- My RBA

The price of car spare parts in Brunei is too high. There are a few instances when I needed to get spare parts for my car.

The prices quoted by some local dealers seemed unreasonably high. Because of this I asked a friend to check out the prices in a neighbouring country to compare.

I found out that the prices quoted in Brunei were up to 90% higher than elsewhere. I understand that there is a government tax of 20% on spare parts but still hiking up the price by 90% is way too much.

If I did not have any sources abroad, I would have been forced to buy the parts locally giving unlimited profit to the local dealers.

Just imagine how much a part that costs $1000 abroad would cost here. A 90% would make it $1900! 20% of government tax is only $200 then says shipping cost of $100, would make the total cost a $1300.

This means errant local dealers would make a profit of $600! $600 profit from one order, imagine if there are 10 similar orders, the car dealer can easily make $6000 profit!

Is this fair practice? Is there anything the government can do about it? Previously car dealers were begging for favours from the Government to save them from "extinction".

Now it's the consumers time to appeal to the authorities to save us from these predators. I sincerely hope relevant authorities will look into this unfair practice and would come up with a solution to save us Bruneians from being cheated by some of our local car dealers.

- Anak Brunei

Kudos for exchange programme

I am now based in Australia but I never miss a chance to read the goings-on in my home country, Brunei! I felt compelled to write after reading about "Japanese Youths In Brunei For Exchange Programme". I want to say kudos to the Japanese Embassy and the Brunei Japan Friendship Association (and the various companies and associations) for getting involved with this youth exchange. It brought back wonderful memories for me.

I was greatly fortunate to have the opportunity to leave my beloved country to spend a few months in Fukui, Japan on an exchange programme. It's difficult to fully quantify the tremendous impact of that first experience. I was able to begin a journey that continues to provide me with deep personal and professional satisfaction.

I was mesmerised with the rich traditions of Japan, playing the Koto and studying Noh Utai and Shimai (types of Japanese theatre). I was even taught how to play "Go" with my host-father, watching Japanese animation, taking excursions to visit places such as the Eiheiji Temple, and regularly engaged conversations with my teacher.

I can say with confidence that if I was not given the oportunity to have been involved in this exchange programme, I would not be where I am today! Beginning yet another exciting and fulfilling challenge here in Australia, it is my wish and hope that these students from Japan learn and appreciate all they can what Brunei has to offer, just like I did.

I do hope that in future that the Japanese embassy and the BJFA will promote more of the Japanese culture to the Brunei people! Gambatte ne!

- Jus Oren

How about getting extra tough on open burning here in Brunei?

We must remember that we were blessed with good winds that took away the worst part of the haze disaster this week.

If it was not for the winds and the timely showers we may not have been too lucky with the extent of open burning getting out of hand in neighbouring Sumatra. We must indeed get serious about such irresponsible behaviour.

Meanwhile Indonesia is now free to prosecute plantations responsible for setting forest-clearing fires on Sumatra island, creating a major air pollution crisis.

Indonesia yesterday named several plantation companies - eight of them Malaysian to be held legally responsible for setting fires to clear land. The practice is illegal, but authorities have rarely enforced the anti-burning laws.

Large parts of Malaysia, including its capital Kuala Lumpur, were covered with the choking smoke for 10 days this month, fouling the air to such hazardous levels that public health was threatened in the country's worst ecological crisis in years.

The haze dissipated with changing winds and rains over the weekend.

Malaysian foreign Minister said the Malaysian government will not interfere or protest if Indonesia prosecutes the Malaysian companies operating on Sumatra that wereidentified as having contributed to the problem.

As a double whammy, the Malaysian government will also take action against companies involved in the fires. Their attorney general will recommend possible measures as 24 Malaysian oil palm companies operate in Indonesia.

Sadly though Association of Southeast Asian Nations already has an agreement on tackling haze, the pact had been ineffective because it lacked "specifics".

As there had been no implementation of the laws agreed upon.

So as the best examples begin at home, we must make an exemplary show of our seriousness to keep the ill-mannered open burning habit out of our country.

Taking action against a few bad eggs may open the eyes of those who are just only "tempted to " to do their worst - and lazily set mounds of rubbish on fire.

- Green Bug

This is for all pet lovers. I just want to say keep an eye on your pet because I recently witnessed the most horrendous act that anyone could resort to.

My lovely family dog ran loose on the August 13 and trailed behind us without our knowledge.

As we were crossing the road, we noticed that she was following us and we helplessly tried from a distance to stop our pet from crossing the road.

But it was too late!

It only took a minute for a heartless saloon car driver who came speeding to just mow her down, killing her on the spot!

Besides being extremely cruel to purposely take the life of an innocent animal, the cowardly driver did not even have the decency to stop.

Instead of slowing down, the driver purposely drove even faster.

Brunei really needs the SPCA very badly. This could help save a lot of animals.

It would also help educate wicked and ignorant people of the value of life.

- Luckie