I am having a big problem with buffaloes in my area. I am living in Kg. Tanjung Nangka and my area is frequently invaded by roaming buffaloes.

This has been happening for years and nothing has been done to control this buffalo menace.

These buffaloes are normally on the loose at night. They ransack anything that gets in their way and are even sometimes caught destroying flower plants in their path.

We suspect the buffaloes come from a nearby kampong.

Worse still some of these buffaloes sometimes disrupt traffic at Jalan Tutong.

Can the authorities please do something about this problem, fast? Yesterday these messy buffaloes had even destroyed my banana plant.

I hope the Ketua Kampong sees the importance of curtailing this menace.

- Anti-Buffalo,
- Kg Tanjong Nanka

We wish to refer to the Letter to Editor published on your Borneo Bulletin dated 9th April 2005 under the subject "Dishonest Cargo Handler", and hope the writer "Irked Customer" could contact our Association for more details to facilitate investigation on this matter.

Contact Person: KK Yeong (Secretary General), Brunei Freight Forwarders Association, Tel: +673 2 220033, e-mail: secretarygeneral@brufa.com

- KK Yeong,
- Secretary General,
- Brunei Freight Forwarders Association
- Bandar Seri Begawan

These are just some of the predicaments encountered on the Jangsak to Beribi road.

Every morning, lunchtime and end of school day, there is always a traffic jam along these roads.

Two lanes are reduced to one due to cars using the hard shoulder to overtake, even though police signs forbidding this are placed there.

Parents parking on the other side of the busy road and then crossing with their children pose a further danger to themselves as well as to cars passing by.

The authorities should ideally consider building an overpass to the schools , for the safety of pupils. During heavy rainfall, the road gets badly flooded.

When one concerned resident enquired of their landlord why this problem of flooding was not solved, they were given the excuse that some other residents would not allow their drain to be widened.

Well, surely this cannot be left as it is and I implore the relevant authorities to look into this and take action quickly, please.

- Concerned Resident, BSB

I would like to extend my apologies to a cyclist whom I accidentally splashed water on, around 10am on April 22, 2005, near the Kg Perpindahan Bukit Beruang roundabout.

I would like to say I am really sorry as I didn't realise that there was a puddle of water on the road until I heard the splashing sound.

Once again my sincere apologies for the inconveniences caused by the inadvertent action.

- Red Car Driver

I would like to make a query from TAP or Tabung Amanah Pekerja.

Is it possible for those studying for a degree course overseas under study leave to make withdrawals of at least 50% from their TAP to help them overcome their financial responsibilities while studying overseas?

This is mainly for those who are not even given housing allowance or a monthly allowance like for those in full in-service training.

And what happens if someone died before the age of 55?

What happens to his or her savings in TAP?

Is it not possible in such a case for the money to be given for their children's use?

- Bruneian in Australia

Rugby at school

We refer to "Why don't we play more rugby?" by 'Rugby Lover', published in the Opinion Page of Borneo Bulletin on April 13, 2005.

The Department of Co-Curriculum Education, Ministry of Education, is keen to diversify sports activities in schools by implementing new sports.

Nevertheless, in promoting any sport, a number of factors have to be taken into consideration beforehand, such as training ground facilities, technical expertise, coaching, management of the sports in schools and commitment and support from the Association concerned.

This department has made continuous efforts, and discussions have been held with the Brunei Darussalam National Rugby Association to introduce the sport to schools.

- Head of Public Relations Unit,
- Public Relations Unit,
- Ministry of Education

We refer to the letter "Sungai Pandan residents tired of bad state of roads" by 'Frustrated Residents, KB' (Borneo Bulletin Opinion Page, 13 April 2005).

The Department of Drainage and Sewerage, PWD is pleased to advise that the re-tendering of the contract which was terminated in June 2004, i.e. just less than a year ago and not about one and a half years ago as stated by Frustrated Residents, has now been awarded.

The new contractor is currently undergoing mobilisation procedures and the road reinstatement works will be given priority in the works programme due to start shortly.

We appreciate the concern of the residents with respect to this situation, and wish to assure that everything is being done to rectify and make good the uncompleted work left behind by the terminated contractor.

- Director of Drainage and Sewerage
- Public Works Department
- Negara Brunei Darussalam

The drain along km 15, Jalan Kota Batu, Kg Mentiri about 300 metres from Mentiri Golf Club's Junction, water is stagnating even though the drains themselves were cleared from over grown plants just a few months ago. It seems that the water is unable to drain itself out, as there is no outlet for it do so.

I am also just as worried as "Shelltox", Borneo Bulletin November 13, 2004, that the drains may become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which poses health risks to residents.

I hope the relevant authorities will take this matter seriously.

- Ridsect

I respond to the article entitled "All about choosing 'right' swimmers" by Kasmahwati HK (asst. secretary of BASA) published in the Borneo Bulletin on 20th April 2005.

I have no disagreement regarding the rules and selection policies laid down by the Youth and Sports Department, except for the fact that it's only restricted to the scheme swimmers. But what we want is improvements in the selection method.

We want more than just time trials to select swimmers.

What we want is a National Age Group Swimming Meet like all other countries and a fair chance for ALL Bruneians, not just a small group of swimmers.

Look at the bigger picture.

Scheme or non-scheme swimmers, if selected, will represent Brunei and not anyone else.

The Youth and Sports Department is in fact responsible for the welfare of all swimmers in the country and not just the welfare of the scheme swimmers.

They must make sure nobody is left out, by allowing non-scheme swimmers to participate in any selection meets.

I believe the existence of BASA is not just to organise time trials and send swimmers overseas but to organise annual national meets which will gain better participation.

Not every swimmer will be able to be selected to compete overseas, but one thing is for sure: all swimmers can make it to our National Age Group is there is one.

Also, the swimmers will have a goal and will thus perform better. We may even unearth new swimming talents.

Selection through swimming meets is the fairest of all and has been carried out by our neighbouring countries.

I'm glad that the swimming authorities have taken a positive step in inviting Bruneian as well as PR swimmers who are not under the national scheme for a time trial on April 17 2005 to select swimmers for the upcoming SEA Age Group.

Regarding the invitation to join the scheme, I've already highlighted that the scheme training times are not suitable for most swimmers.

It does not matter whether we train under the scheme or not, because we are equally devoted.

In the response, it was mentioned that the selection for the Arafura Games was not strictly based on the swimmers' performance in the Sabah Age Group. But please refer to the article published in the Borneo Bulletin on January 29, 2005.

- Concerned Parent