PSW holds inaugural 'Awareness Programme on Asean' seminar

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Women Graduates Association of Brunei Darussalam (PSW) yesterday held an inaugural "Awareness Programme on Asean" seminar organised specifically for the non-government organisations (NGOs) at the Taqwa Hall of the Civil Service Institute in Kampong Rimba.

The guest of honour was the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan bin Haji Mohd Daud.

The event commenced with the recitation of Surah al-Fatihah and a Doa read by Imam Haji Ahmad Termizi bin Haji Md Daud. It was then followed by a welcoming remark from the President of PSW, Pengiran Datin Paduka Hajah Hairani binti Pengiran Maharaja Lela Pengiran Muda Abdul Kahar.

In her welcoming remark, Pengiran Datin Paduka Hajah Hairani emphasised on the important role and responsibility of NGOs in participating and contributing to make it more efficient for the role of Brunei to chair the upcoming Asean 2013.

The president of PSW also highlighted the vital role of NGOs in influencing and discussing various issues related to poverty, health, environmental issues, to name a few to the attention of the community and government. She believed that the presence of awareness and concern among the community will create a realisation upon the people in handling the related issues and seek a solution to it.

"It is hoped that the seminar will help us (the NGOs) to perceive Asean as a relevant organisation in enhancing the regional welfare."

The event then continued with a speech from the guest of honour who took the opportunity to congratulate PSW for conducting the seminar and considered it as an proactive step undertaken by the association.

The guest of honour then briefed the participants about the important role of Asean for community building, to connect its people in the region, to understand each other, and to work together in shaping the common future together.

"It is important for all walks of life in this country either from the public or private sector including youths, students, the business community and nongovernmental organisations to be alert and aware of the latest developments taking place in Asean.

"This will facilitate their involvement in projects and activities through their involvement in specific areas in order to enhance the important role of Brunei Darussalam as Asean Chair for 2013."

During the seminar, two papers were presented by local speakers representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and delivered the topics entitled "Brunei Chairmanship of Asean 2013" and "Asean Socio-Cultural Community" respectively.

Another paper was also presented by Tan Lay Ean, an invited speaker from Malaysia who is also active in areas of equality and non-discrimination with her topic on "Understanding Asean: The Charter and the Roadmap" that focuses on the Asean Charter as well as the Roadmap for Asean Community 2009-2015 in strengthening the three pillars namely political-security community, economic community and sociocultural community.

Towards the end, a question and answer session was conducted to give an opportunity for the participants to communicate and interact with the speakers in regards to Asean.

Few objectives of the seminar yesterday were to enhance the knowledge and awareness ofthe participant in relation to the function, role, structure and activities that will be organised by Asean as well as to expose the participants to Asean issues and at the same time, to provide an understanding to the participants concerning measures and efforts that have been undertaken by Asean to find solutions to the related issues.

More than 80 participants, consisting of leaders and members from 40 different organisations including the women association, youths, disabled people, business chambers, uniformed groups and volunteers were invited to attend the seminar yesterday.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin