Is avoiding the pay-day shopping.

Salam, good day. Yesterday I took an opportunity to get my self few household needs in order to avoid the long queues for this upcoming pay-day. At the same time we are also preparing for the kids' new school season. Since I'm heading to the republic this Friday, I hope to get something from there. Whilst on the new year day, we are planning on a one day vacation to our neighbouring country. Meanwhile in these few days I'm hardly to cover an event due to office commitment. So, there is not much updates on bruneidaily in these few weeks, but I assure you bruneidaily will be more active coming to 2010:)

Football is boring?

Salam, good day. Although it was a year end, my schedules doesn't changed that much. Instead the busy week is coming up! Be it in the office or family commitments, the calendar is very demanding. Also this week on Friday I'm heading to Singapore on a working visit and will only return next Monday. May Allah bless me with good health:) Whilst yesterday I attended the official opening of Nazmi Home Decor and Textile Mall at Tanjung Bunut. With that Nazmi business empire now hit to perfect 10 *10 branches now* It seems very inspirational to see what has been achieved by Mr Nazeer Ahmad. I took few pictures as well yesterday, enjoy:)

HRH Princess Hjh Masna has consented to officiate the opening while Mr Nazeer Ahmad looks on

Enjoyable musical perfomances

Among in attendance was local prominent businessmen

This is on sale at level 1

DP Maimunah Elias (L) and DP Mohammad Hamid with spouse also attended the big event

Handsomemmm...$$$$

Prior to the opening, HRH accompanied by Mrs Nazeer

Handsome price tag too...$$$

Hmmm...who is this guy and the lady? Very adorable musicians.

and this is about hmmm $$$...to the thicked wallet, please do come.

1st Muharram 1431 Hijrah.

HM upon arrival

(Photos by Adi Zulhazmi Mohammad Salleh)

Nation ushers in new Islamic year with prayers & recognition
By Azaraimy HH (Borneo Bulletin)

"Illahi Selamatkan Brunei Darussalam" (Allah Save Brunei Darussalam) is the theme of this year's celebration as the nation ushers in the new Islamic year of Hijrah 1431.
At the national-level celebration to herald the new year of Hijrah that was held at the Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque yesterday evening, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam presented honourary religious awards to five well-known and respected religious figures in recognition of their respective exemplary religious contributions to the nation.
Also gracing last night's religious event was His Royal Highness Prince 'Abdul Malik.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Awang Mohd Amin bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Dewa Dato Paduka Haji Abd Rahim received the year's coveted religious title as 'Tokoh Ugama' when he was announced to be the recipient of this year's 'Anugerah Tokoh Ugama' award.
The other recipients of equally coveted religious awards such as the 'Bakti Hijrah' award for 1431 Hijrah were Pengarah Dato Paduka Awang Hj Othman bin Abdul Kadir, Awg Hj Musa bin Hj Mantok, Awg Hj Abdul Ghafar bin Abdul Ghani and Awg Hj Suhaili bin Abdullah.
Earlier on, the ceremony began with the recital of the end-of-year prayer and mass Maghrib prayers, which proceeded with the reading of a special prayer to welcome the new year of Hijrah 1431 by asking blessings from Allah the Almighty. This was followed with the Sunnat Hajat prayers to ask Allah the Almighty for protection and prosperity for the country and the people.
The highlight of the evening's event was the announcement and presentation of the Anugerah Tokoh Ugama (religious figure award) and the Anugerah Bakti Tahun Hijrah 1431 Hijrah.
Last night's celebration was held simultaneously in all mosques, suraus and prayer halls nationwide. There were also families who followed the celebration in their respective homes to welcome the new year of Hijrah.
Last night's celebration at the Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque also included cabinet ministers, other senior government officers, invited guests and members of the public. Among them were Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Hj Awang Mohd Zain bin Hj Serudin and Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Othman.
A number of other religious activities have already been lined up to celebrate the New Year.
On December 18, Riadah Hijrah (recreational activities) will be held in mosques nationwide. Open to male congregants only, the programme features a religious lecture after Subuh or dawn prayers, which will be followed by a walkathon.
A similar activity will also be held at the Lambak Kanan Landless Indigenous Citizens Housing Scheme (STKRJ) Mosque.
In the Tutong District, the walkathon will begin at the Kg Penabai Mosque and end at the Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque, whilst in the Belait District; participants will take a morning walk from the Kg Pandan Mosque to the Mohammad Jamalul Alam Mosque.
In the Temburong District, the walkathon will begin at the Kg Belais Mosque culminating at the Kg Puni Mosque.
The new Hijrah calendar began with the first day of Muharram when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) migrated from Mecca Al-Mukarramah to Medina Al-Munawarrah, which has become known as the Hijrah.
As another way to celebrate the auspicious occasion, babies born on the first of Muharram (from the onset of Maghrib on Thursday, December 17, until the same time on Friday) at all government hospitals in the country will also be presented with gifts on December 19 at the respective hospitals.

Nice in blue...i wore blue too last evening.

Doa Awal Tahun

RTB Crew

HRH Prince Abdul Malik

Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Awang Mohd Amin bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Dewa Dato Paduka Haji Abd Rahim

Pengarah Dato Paduka Awang Hj Othman bin Abdul Kadir

Awg Hj Musa bin Hj Mantok

Awg Hj Abdul Ghafar bin Abdul Ghani

Awg Hj Suhaili bin Abdullah

My eight months old son, Abdul Aziz.

Salam, good day. Today my only son Mr. Abdul Aziz turns eight months old. Hmmm, time flies very fast. Few weeks back he started to crawl and few days ago it came to our surprise when he started to sit up, Allah bless you son. As husband and wife we are so happy with his progress. Love babu, bapa, kaka zahra' and kaka sa'adah:)

The adorable Mr. Abdul Aziz...

The jump suit no longer fits him...hehe.

1 Gold Medal.

Pictures at 8th Cabaran Pancing

Hey James, what are you doing at karaoke?

Willing to belt out your number? James Kon of Borneo Bulletin.

Sport-fishing contest needs no bait in attracting enthusiasts
By James Kon

Mohd Jamaluddin Abdullah, who has been fishing for over 10 years, was crowned the winner of the Sport-fishing Competition 2009's four events organised yesterday by the Fisheries Department under the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources in cooperation with Capt Fred Fishing and Marine Supply at Tungku Beach.
The government servant, who worked at the Agricultural Department, won the Fastest Catch category being the first to catch a fish in the contest. His prize-winning fish, which weighed 970 grammes, was also the heaviest in the Individuals category.
In an interview, Mohd Jamaluddin said, "The secret to my success is that I know where my favourite fishing spot is while fishing at Tungku Beach." "I come here at least twice a month for fishing, so I managed to find some good spots to fish," he added.
He also mentioned that he was delighted to win and would come back next year to defend his title. In the Teams category, Kumpulan Sambaran took the winner's trophy, followed by Rimba Villa I in second place and Rimba Villa 2 in third position. Aimed at promoting and encouraging sport-fishing as a recreational activity, this year's contest attracted a total of 240 fishing enthusiasts.
It was launched in the morning by Hjh Hasnah Ibrahim, the Director of Fisheries, while the prize presentation was completed by the event's guest of honour, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, the Minister of MIPR. Accompanying the minister was his spouse, Datin Hjh Norlena Paduka Hj Abu Bakar.
Also in attendance were MIPR's Deputy Minister Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abd Wahab, Deputy Permanent Secretary Pg Hjh Mariana PDNLDR Pg Hj Abd Momin, as well as Mr Alfred Yong of Capt Fred Fishing and Marine Supply.
In addition to the fishing competition, other activities were held, like booths selling fish and fishery products. Other events included parasailing, banana boats and flying fish.
The highlight of the contest was a tug-of-war between staff members of the Fisheries Department and Capt Fred Fishing and Marine Supply. In the end, the Fisheries Department's staff won both the male and female categories for the tug-of-war event. (Borneo Bulletin).

Welcoming 1431 Hijrah.

Muslims do not traditionally "celebrate" the beginning of a new year, but we do acknowledge the passing of time, and take time to reflect on our own mortality.

Muslims measure the passage of time using the Islamic (Hijrah) calendar. This calendar has twelve lunar months, the beginnings and endings of which are determined by the sighting of the crescent moon. Years are counted since the Hijrah, which is when the Prophet Muhammad migrated from Mecca to Madinah (approximately July 622 A.D.).

The Islamic calendar was first introduced by the close companion of the Prophet, 'Umar ibn Al-Khattab. During his leadership of the Muslim community, in approximately 638 A.D., he consulted with his advisors in order to come to a decision regarding the various dating systems used at that time.

It was agreed that the most appropriate reference point for the Islamic calendar was the Hijrah, since it was an important turning point for the Muslim community. After the emigration to Madinah (formerly known as Yathrib), the Muslims were able to organize and establish the first real Muslim "community," with social, political, and economic independence. Life in Madinah allowed the Muslim community to mature and strengthen, and the people developed an entire society based on Islamic principles.

The Islamic calendar is the official calendar in many Muslim countries, especially Saudi Arabia. Other Muslim countries use the Gregorian calendar for civil purposes and only turn to the Islamic calendar for religious purposes. The Islamic year has twelve months that are based on a lunar cycle. Allah says in the Qur'an:

"The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year) - so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth...." (9:36).

"It is He Who made the sun to be a shining glory, and the moon to be a light of beauty, and measured out stages for it, that you might know the number of years and the count of time. Allah did not create this except in truth and righteousness. And He explains His signs in detail, for those who understand" (10:5).

And in his final sermon before his death, the Prophet Muhammad said, among other things, "With Allah the months are twelve; four of them are holy; three of these are successive and one occurs singly between the months of Jumaada and Sha'ban."

Islamic months begin at sunset of the first day, the day when the lunar crescent is visually sighted. The lunar year is approximately 354 days long, so the months rotate backward through the seasons and are not fixed to the Gregorian calendar. The months of the Islamic year are:

1. Muharram ("Forbidden" - it is one of the four months during which it is forbidden to wage war or fight)

2. Safar ("Empty" or "Yellow")

3. Rabia Awal ("First spring")

4. Rabia Thani ("Second spring")

5. Jumaada Awal ("First freeze")

6. Jumaada Thani ("Second freeze")

7. Rajab ("To respect" - this is another holy month when fighting is prohibited)

8. Sha'ban ("To spread and distribute")

9. Ramadan ("Parched thirst" - this is the month of daytime fasting)

10. Shawwal ("To be light and vigorous")

11. Dhul-Qi'dah ("The month of rest" - another month when no warfare or fighting is allowed)

12. Dhul-Hijjah ("The month of Hajj" - this is the month of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, again when no warfare or fighting is allowed). (islam.about.com)

Borneo Games Day 4 (Sepak Takraw).

Brunei supporters

Melaka vs Brunei Darussalam

Brunei Contingent Chief de Mission (standing 3rd from right)

This is one very good match

(Kalimantan Timur 2-1 Sabah)

VIP guests