Borneo Bulletin Opinions

Borneo Bulletin Opinion

Confused over colour codes at eateries

I am a local Muslim and often visit the restaurants in Gadong and Kiulap areas.

However, I was quite surprised to find that one of the restaurants which I often go to had recently been labelled with the green "Bukan makanan orang Islam" sign.

On questioning the owner of the restaurant, I was told that when the green label is put up, it means that the food served is halal but the restaurant is not owned/managed by a Muslim, whereas if the colour of the label was red, it means that the food served is not halal and owned by a non-Muslim.

Several Muslims with this understanding have ignored the green sign and continued eating at these eateries.

I've tried calling the Halal haram section under the Ministry of Religious Affairs for answers with regards to the colour coding but all my attempts at contacting them has failed.

Please could someone at the Halal Haram Certification Board please help clarify the meaning behind the colour coding of the signs?

I'm sure that if the Islamic community is educated about this matter, there would be less confusion.

- Confused Muslim

Insensitive to say victim was ‘fished' out

I am writing about your article dated Sept 30, 2005 titled " Two Die in Kg Ayer Boat Accident". It was a terrible tragedy for the victims' families and friends and let me first offer my sincerest sympathies and prayers to them.

I thought the journalists' comments about the bodies being "fished out" out of the river were really insensitive and as a reader I found it offensive. A better term would be 'recovered/recovery'.

I think in a horrible accident like this involving fatalities, the media should be more sensitive and give more thought to the feelings and grievances of the families of the victims.

- Anak Brunei, London

Opting for a safer and comfortable train ride

I agree with opinion (BB 25 Sept) on train services linking the main towns of Brunei.

Not only will it serve low waged travellers but also will be of great convenience for those who commute to work daily especially between BSB/KB and en route.

Not only will it save on transportation, but also on housing where people need not have to move from their homes for the sake of avoiding the long-distance travel daily.

Families need not worry about loved ones driving long-distance daily, less petrol consumption, less air pollution, less cars racing to and from work daily and hence less accidents.

Isn't it time for Brunei to have its own train service? Locals and tourists alike will be able to travel around the country faster and in greater comfort.

It will also show our beautiful country scenes as one passes through towns and villages.

Given a decent fare, a good service and the comfort of sitting in an air conditioned train compartment, many people would use this service rather than drive in the heat or ride on a crowded bus.

- Weary Commuter

At least let us know when we get rejected

I applaud the Government's effort in simplifying and cutting red tape within the governing bodies.

In this instance, I'm highlighting the processing of work applicants directly by the concerned authorities.

Unfortunately, it seems some government bodies are burdened by this. The reason I'm writing because I am still left wondering about the results of our work applications.

There's one where it has been almost two months without any reply for my application status. It would be nice to be told at least - even though the application has been rejected. This kind of response would eventually lead to poor quality and quantity of future applicants.

The word 'Tekad Pemedulian Orang Ramai' sounds distant with this kind of response.

Would the relevant authorities please act accordingly, if not out of responsibility, than out of courtesy?

- Wondering Applicant

Repair blues in KB

Extension & improvement have currently begun on the KB sewage system.

Referring to the above, we would like to highlight some points.

Due to the ongoing work in Sungai Pandan area, there are quite a number of heavy machinery and vehicles involved.

As stated in the memo given to us, this project requires 16 months to complete.

Within this period of time, has the assigned contractor thought of any contingency plan for emergency services/ teams to respond to affected areas when some of their machines are just lying unattended during night time along those narrow simpangs?

Kindly give this a thought rather than putting people's properties and lives at risk.

Lastly, most of the workers are actually not provided with the proper PPE at all.

Some of them were just wearing sing lets, loose pants and slippers at their job sites.

With all these digging jobs, the employer can at least provide them with safety boots or shoes.

- Voices of Kg. Sungai Pandan

Muara passengers call for better bus service

The last bus leaves Muara Port sharp at 6.00p.m. However on days when the last ferry is delayed or if the immigration queue is long, people come out of the Immigration Dept only after that.

There is no other way to get to Bandar except by taxi, which costs anywhere between $20 - 40.

This is a big drain on our pockets especially when we earn so little. I appeal to the bus company to delay the time to 6.30p.m so that the last passenger would still get to make it to town on $2.

- Poor Worker, Muara

Why is there no positive response to SPCA?

Despite all the letters published in BB Opinion page, there is still no response from relevant authorities dealing with this issue.

There's even a Vet and many others out there ready to volunteer and join the SPCA.

I hope that no one will poison these poor animals as it is not a proper and permanent method but a barbaric and inhuman way of ending life.

There are a lot of stray dogs at a commercial building in where my office is located. These stray dogs do not attack anyone who even walk near them. Instead they will walk away when we approach.

However, one morning on Sept 30, I saw a man attacking a stray dog with plastic bottles and stones. The dog did not even harm him nor go near to him.

I do not understand why he attacked the dog. Normally an animal will not suddenly attack unless we humans provoked them. I wonder why this man as an adult behaved like that. If the dog attacked him, the blame will be on the dog but who's the one that provoked the dog?

SPCA is really needed in a developed country like Brunei. With the setting up of SPCA, we can educate the public to help them understand the behaviour of animals and how to handle them, etc.

- Animal Lovers, BSB

Why is Easi so inflexible?

I will not rest until I have an answer from the Easi line provider on why they don't reduce their international rate especially for calls to Miri.

The rate is so high. When I tried to call the last time, a 10min+ Call to Miri reduced my credit from $79 dollars to $62.

What is the actual rate? Or are they just taking advantage of their subscribers? Get the rates down, please.

I once heard a motto from another service provider "Bridging You even Closer" With your loved ones - I think Easi motto should be "bridging you even farther" from your love ones.

- The SIR

Bring down rates to keep customers

DST has reduced its rates for prepaid and post paid mobile users.

Still a long way to go, to match the rates offered by neighbouring countries. Yet, now there is a competitor.

By reducing the rate even further, I am sure you will get new subscribers and your net income will certainly go up. Come on! Be bold. Bring down new line fee to $10/- SMS 5 cents (local) 10 cents (overseas). Make incoming calls come free. Charge all outgoing calls to not more than 20 cents per minute. Make overseas calls up to seconds billing- rate comparable to pre paid card sold by JTB.

It's a good time for an offer with the festive season ahead.

Let it be a gift to the people from DST. I am sure you will slowly get back lost customers.

The only way is to offer cheaper affordable rates as stated above.

Still a large percentage of the population here does not own mobile phone lines. Global roaming charges and others could be slightly increased, if necessary, as only those who travel overseas need these extra facilities.

Good luck DST.

- DST Fan

Wouldn't she be laughing all the way to jail?

When I read the news on BB Sunday 02/10/2005 about a foreign maid who was handed a year jail sentence for stealing B$11,000, I ask myself "What message are we sending to these foreign workers"?

An average foreign maid earns about $200 a month, which is about $4,800 in two years when their contract expires.

When we deduct the $1,000 they paid their local agent to come and work here, they only earn a net income of $3,800 in two years.

A maid will have to work six to seven years in Brunei to earn $11,000 (a fortune to most of them). But now she can earn this amount in just one year, simply by stealing from her employer!

Do you think this maid is afraid to go to jail? All she has to do is to wait for a year and return to her country to enjoy the money that she has stolen, with her family.

If Brunei doesn't implement tougher laws for these foreign workers, it will only encourage more of them to steal.

- Observer, KB