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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2020
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James kon
Cabinet Ministers, Legislative Council
members as well as members of the
Diplomatic Corps paid their respects to
the late United States (US) Ambassador to
Brunei Darussalam Matthew J Matthews
by signing the condolence book at the US
Embassy in Brunei yesterday.
The sudden passing of the United States
(US) Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam on
May 20 shocked the local community and
foreign dignitaries in the country.
On behalf of the Government of His
Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah
Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum
Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul
Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-
Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Permanent
Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Nor bin Haji Jeludin
signed the condolence book.
Meanwhile, Minister of Religious Affairs
Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia
Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah
Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, Minister
at the Prime Minister’s Ofice Dato Seri
Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd
Daud and Minister of Education Dato Seri
Setia Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman
also signed the condolence book.
Legislative Council members Yang
Berhormat Siti Rozaimeriyanty binti Dato
Seri Laila Jasa Haji Abdul Rahman, Yang
Berhormat Nik Haimi binti Abdul Haadii,
Yang Berhormat Khairunnisa binti Haji
Ash’ari and Yang Berhormat Iswandy
bin Ahmad also wrote their personal
condolence messages.
The
ambassador
presented
his
credentials to His Majesty on April 15, 2019.
During his time as ambassador, he was a
strong proponent of people-to-people ties
between Brunei and the US, selecting this as
the theme of the 2019 US Independence Day
celebration and advocating for exchange
programmes such as Fulbright and YSEALI
(Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative).
The ambassador also expanded bilateral
economic cooperation and security
partnership, highlighted by the 25
th
iteration
of the Cooperation Aloat Readiness and
Training (CARAT) Exercise in 2019.
He often said that the best part of
serving in Brunei was being welcomed into
friends’ homes, meeting their families and
sharing food.
He also enjoyed exploring cuisines of
Brunei, sharing discoveries of new dishes
and restaurants. He began scuba diving in
Brunei and received his certiication here.
Lyna Mohamad
The Kolej International Graduate Studies
(KIGS) was among the several private
higher learning institutions which reopened
its classes yesterday after preparations
and arrangements in view of the COVID19
outbreak in the Sultanate.
Students must register to the BruHealth
app and scan the QR code to enter.
They are also required to report
to the main building for mandatory
temperature checks.
KIGS CEO Dr Haji Azaharaini bin Haji
Mohd Jamil said the reopening of the
college and students attendance are based
on the lecturers’ preference to teach in
class or online.
Physical classeswill follow the guidelines
set by the ministries.
Students are also required to observe
physical distancing while parents are
advised to pick up their children promptly
to avoid crowding at the designated
waiting area.
Meanwhile, Head of Multimedia and
Broadcasting Faculty Haji Nor Hasnul
bin Haji Mohd Hamdani said the college
focussed on good health behaviours to
prevent the spread of the virus.
The college provides clear instructions
and guidance for safe operations before
and after lectures.
The college also adheres to common
hygiene practices observed by educa-
tional institutions in the country such as
the use of face mask, hand sanitisers and
soaps as well as rearrangement of chairs
and tables.
Students and lecturers who feel unwell
are urged to stay home.
“Some lectures are online especially
on theoretical subjects, but some require
face-to-face classes for inal projects.”
Lecturer Hassanal said some safety
protocols set by the government may
be tough for students, however, they
will ensure the students comply those
such as sitting arrangements in class and
waiting areas are set according to the
safety protocols.
Another precautionary initiative im-
plemented at the college is the post-
ing of the KIGS Safety Guideline initi-
ated and produced by the college’s
Student Council.
Council President Abdul Rahim bin Haji
Abdul Rahman said a video was shot and
uploaded to Instagram to reach a wider
audiences through re-posts and sharing.
A media team led by Muhd Nuur Sir-
aaj bin Haji Muhd Rosanan together with
the Student Council created an informa-
tive short video to raise awareness on the
rules and guidelines made by the Ministry
of Health.
The video will also keep students
informed on the dos and donts at the
college’s premises.
Last respects paid to the late US Ambassador
He read history, including exploring
accounts of early Brunei-US relations.
Ambassador Matthews loved sharing
US culture with Bruneians and creating
opportunities for live performances. He was
instrumental in bringing cultural envoys
such as the bluegrass band The Henhouse
Prowlers and Hawaiian musicians The Daniel
Ho Group to Brunei, as well as the US Navy’s
Seventh Fleet Band.
His rousing rendition of
Country Road
,
accompanied by The Henhouse Prowlers
and members of the embassy, was one of
the highlights of the tour. He also enjoyed
meeting young Bruneians during visits to
schools and other organisations.
A
career
diplomat,
Ambassador
Matthews’ irst postings included two tours
in Beijing, two tours in Taipei, Islamabad,
Hong Kong, and Washington DC.
Later, as the Counsellor for Economic
Affairs at the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia and at the US Embassy in
Canberra, Australia, Ambassador Matthews
focussed on multilateral trade agreements.
From 2013 to 2015, he served as the Foreign
Policy Advisor to Commander of the US
Paciic Command Admiral Locklear and
as the Deputy Principal Oficer at the US
Consulate General in Hong Kong from 2010
to 2013. From June 2015 to March 2019,
Ambassador Matthews served as the US
FROM LEFT: Minister at the Prime Minister’s Of ice Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, Minister of Education Dato Seri
Setia Awang Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman and Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Nor bin Haji
Jeludin signing the condolence book at the US Embassy in Brunei Darussalam. PHOTOS: JAMES KON
FROM LEFT: High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Brunei Darussalam Air Vice Marshal (Rtd)
Mahmud Hussain and French Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Christian Ramage signing the
condolence book
College reopens, adhering to health, safety guidelines
Ambassador for the Asia-Paciic Economic
Cooperation (APEC) and concurrently the
deputy assistant secretary for Australia,
New Zealand, and the Paciic Islands
in the Bureau of East Asian and Paciic
Affairs. Ambassador Matthews spoke
luent Mandarin.
He grew up in Portland, Oregon and
received a Bachelor’s degree from the
University of Oregon. He attended the
Inter-University Programme for Chinese
Language Studies in Taipei, and earned a
Master’s degree from the Johns Hopkins
University School of Advanced International
Studies in Washington DC.
Ambassador Matthews leaves his wife
Rachel, two adult children Kristen and
Daniel, his daughter-in-law Elizabeth and
his granddaughter Emilia, who reside in
the US.
A student scans a QR code before entering
the KIGS building. PHOTO: LYNA MOHAMAD