3 / 32
MONDAY, AUGUST 3, 2020
Home
3
Longhouse
roof torn
off by
strong wind
From Page One
Among the agencies involved in the oper-
ation were the Belait District Of ice, the Royal
Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), the Fire and
Rescue Department (FRD), Community De-
velopment Department (JAPEM), Department
of Electrical Services (DES) and National Di-
saster Managemt Centre (NDMC).
Brunei Darussalam is experiencing the
Southwest Monsoon, with predicted rain,
thundershowers and strong winds of up
to 50km/h.
The public is advised to stay alert by
taking extra precautions. For information on
the weather, contact 144 or download the
BruneiWX mobile application.
Call 995 to report incidents related to
natural disasters.
Brunei healthcare receives high score in UN COVID-19 report
From Page One
The crisis presents an opportunity for
countries to re-orient their development
towards sustainability, particularly through
green
recovery
packages.
Stimulus
packages should be directed to industries
that are low-carbon, resource ef icient
and aligned with environmental and
climate objectives.
By phasing out fossil fuel subsidies,
countries could inance most or all of their
current stimulus packages. Such measures
would create massive iscal space and
greatly boost low carbon alternatives such
as renewable energy and energy ef iciency.
The UN report commended Southeast
Asia governments for acting swiftly to stem
the most serious health consequences of
the COVID19 pandemic. Robust regional
cooperation, coordinated by ASEAN, has
also resulted in Southeast Asia reporting
a signi icantly lower con irmed COVID19
cases and related deaths compared to most
other global regions.
The policy brief warned that these
early successes must be translated into
addressing the serious socio-economic
setbacks which threaten to further deepen
inequalities across the region.
“As in other parts of the world, the health,
economic and political impact of COVID19
has been signi icant across Southeast Asia,
hitting the most vulnerable the hardest.
“The pandemic has highlighted deep
inequalities, shortfalls in governance and the
imperative for a sustainable development
pathway. And it has revealednewchallenges,
including to peace and security,” shared
UN Secretary-General António Guterres,
adding that while the region has much work
to do, it also has formidable capacities at
its disposal.
“The ‘brief’ highlights the disproportion-
ate impact of the pandemic on vulnerable
groups, particularly workers in the informal
economy. The crisis is threatening to push
them back into poverty and unemployment.
Responding to the pandemic and deliver-
ing on the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDG) are closely interlinked.
“We need a future that is more equitable,
sustainable and resilient,” noted Armida
Salsiah Alisjahbana.
Moving forward, four areas will be critical
in the region’s plans for recovery: Tackling
inequality, bridging the digital divide,
greening the economy, and upholding
human rights and good governance.
The uneven landscape of social
protection systems has placed tackling
inequality at the centre of both short and
long-term recovery efforts, according to the
report. Increased investments to strengthen
health systems and accelerate progress
towards universal healthcare will be critical
to support those excluded from formal
policy and social protection measures.
The brief underscored that countries in
Southeast Asia and their leaders can play an
important role in upholding human rights
and good governance practices in the face
of the COVID19 pandemic. Leaders can
leverage community-based organisations,
promote inclusion, participation and unity;
and speak out against discrimination.
The report is part of a series of poli-
cy briefs issued by the UN that examine
the sectoral and geographical dimen-
sions of the COVID19 pandemic across
the world.
Suri Seri Begawan Raja Pengiran Anak
Damit Mosque held a
Korban
ceremony
in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidiladha
celebration yesterday.
Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya
Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu
Bakar bin Haji Apong was the guest of honour
in his capacity as the advisor of the mosque’s
Takmir
Committee.
The ceremony began with the recitation
of
Surah Al-Fatihah
and
Doa Selamat
led by
Bilal Razman bin Haji Ramlee.
The event continued with the distribution
of meat to 91 participants by the minister.
The minister also distributed meat to 55
underprivileged individuals and orphans. A
distribution of more than 400 containers of
sacri icial meat for the public was conducted
via drive-through.
Thisdrive-throughdistributionwas carried
out by Village Head of Kampong Madang
Haji Emran bin Haji Ismail and Acting Village
Head of Kampong Manggis I and II Omar bin
Haji Ali. Three buffaloes and 10 cows were
sacri iced.
In another event, 200 underprivileged
individuals and three orphans received sac-
ri icial meat at Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah
Mosque (MRSB) yesterday.
Ministers distribute Korban meat
Izah Azahari, Lyna Mohamad
& Syazwani Hj Rosli
Minister of Primary Resources and
Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin
Haji Apong in his capacity as the Patron
of MRSB’s
Takmir
Committee distributed
the meat via drive-through system. Acting
Village Head of Kampong Sungai Akar
Haji Ibrahim bin Haji Jamaluddin was
also present.
The event began with mass recitation
of
Surah Al-Fatihah
and
Takbir Raya
led
by Mosque Of icer Haji Syamsul Nizam bin
Haji Badar.
Sixty-six people participated in the
ceremony that saw 10 cows and buffaloes
sacri iced. The slaughtering was carried out
at an abattoir in Kampong Mulaut.
Advisor of the MRSB’s
Takmir
Committee
Dato Paduka Haji Rashid bin Haji Abdul
Rahman, Secretary of MRSB’s Takmir
Committee Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Azman
Shyam bin Pengiran Haji Mohammad and
Takmir
committee members were present.
Meanwhile, Kampong Sungai Bunga
Village Consultative Council in Kota Batu
also held a
Korban
ceremony which saw the
distribution of meat to 25 underprivileged
individuals and the remaining delivered to
the other recipients’ homes.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports
Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang
Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya
Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin was
the guest of honour.
Member of the Legislative Council
Yang Berhormat Naim bin Haji Kamis in his
capacity as the Penghulu of Mukim Kota Batu
and Mukim Kianggeh cum advisor of the
Kampong Sungai Bunga Village Consultative
Council and chairman of the event Acting
Village Head of Kampong Sungai Bunga Zaini
bin Haji Salleh were also present.
The event began with the recita-
tion of
Surah Al-Fatihah
and
Takbir Raya
led by Imam of Kampong Sungai Bun-
ga Mosque Pengiran Mohd Fadzillah bin
Pengiran Mahmud followed by the dis-
tribution of sacri icial meat by the guest
of honour.
The event saw three cows slaughtered.
Village Head of Kampong Madang Haji Emran bin Haji Ismail distributes meat
Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin
Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin distribute sacriicial meat.
PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR LYNA MOHAMAD KAMPONG SUNGAI BUNGA VILLAGE CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL