His Majesty received in audience Philippine Chief Justice

His Majesty received in audience Philippine Chief Justice

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, on Monday afternoon, received in audience Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines Alexander G Gesmundo and delegation.

Accompanying the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines were Chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy Edgardo L Delos Santos; Vice Chancellor of the Philippine Judicial Academy Sedfrey M Candelaria; Judicial Staff Head, Office of the Chief Justice Attorney Antonio Ceaser R Manila; and Chargé d’ Affairés, Embassy of the Philippines in Brunei Darussalam Bernadette A Mendoza.

Also present were Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam Dato Seri Paduka Steven Chong Wan Oon; Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdullah Soefri bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin; Judicial Commissioner of the Supreme Court Muhammed Faisal bin Pehin Datu Juragan Laila Diraja Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Haji Kefli; Permanent Secretary (Security and Law) at the Prime Minister’s Office Zulhusam bin Haji Abdul Samad and Acting Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court Hajah Hazarena binti Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Jaya Dato Paduka Haji Hurairah.

During the audience ceremony, His Majesty and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines discussed the on-going judicial cooperation between Brunei Darussalam and the Philippines.

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines was in the country for a working visit from August 29 to 31, 2026, and to attend the memorandum of understanding signing between the Judicial Education and Training Unit of the Supreme Court of Brunei Darussalam and the Philippine Judicial Academy on Sunday in Bandar Seri Begawan.

The audience ceremony took place at Istana Nurul Iman.

News courtesy of Information Department
Photo courtesy of Infofoto

Security cooperation reaffirmed

Security cooperation reaffirmed

Coordinating Minister for National Security, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof made a working visit to the Russian Federation from August 27 to 29, 2026 at the invitation of Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Sergei Shoigu.

The visit was a follow-up to the renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the National Security Committee of Brunei Darussalam and the Security Council of the Russian Federation in April 2024.

On August 28, the Coordinating Minister for National Security, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II held a bilateral meeting with the Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation.

During the meeting, Brunei Darussalam and the Russian Federation exchanged views on matters of mutual interest under the MoU including regional and international security issues as well as opportunities to strengthen cooperation between the security and enforcement agencies in both countries, especially in addressing the threat of transnational crime.

Both countries reiterated their commitment in translating the objectives under the MoU into more concrete and meaningful cooperation, including through closer relations between the relevant agencies, the exchange of information and experience, capacity building and the exchange of visits.

During the meeting and working visit from August 27 to 29, the Security Council of the Russian Federation also arranged a series of visits related to security issues for the Brunei Darussalam delegation in the city of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Brunei Darussalam to the Russian Federation Pengiran Muhammad Husaini bin Pengiran Penggawa Laila Bentara Adat Istiadat Diraja Dalam Istana Pengiran Haji Alauddin, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Zalani bin Haji Ismail, Deputy Permanent Secretary (Security and Law), Prime Minister’s Office Hajah Aldila binti Haji Mohamad Salleh as well as officers from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Royal Brunei Police Force were also present.

News courtesy of Prime Minister’s Office
Photo courtesy of Prime Minister’s Office

Titah KDYMM Sempena Majlis Konvokesyen Kali Ke-14 Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB)

TITAH 

KEBAWAH DULI YANG MAHA MULIA PADUKA SERI BAGINDA 
SULTAN HAJI HASSANAL BOLKIAH MU’IZZADDIN WADDAULAH IBNI 
AL-MARHUM SULTAN HAJI OMAR ‘ALI SAIFUDDIEN SA’ADUL KHAIRI WADDIEN, SULTAN DAN YANG DI-PERTUAN NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

 
SEMPENA
MAJLIS KONVOKESYEN KALI-14
UNIVERSITI TEKNOLOGI BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
(UTB)

 PADA HARI RABU
13 RABIULAWAL 1448/
26 OGOS 2026 

 BERTEMPAT
PUSAT PERSIDANGAN ANTARABANGSA
NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

 Assalamu’alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem

 Alhamdulillah Rabbil ‘Alameen, Wabihiee Nasta’eenu ‘Alaa Umuuriddunya Wadden, Wassalaatu’ Wassalaamu ‘Ala Asyarafil Mursaleen, Sayyidina Muhammaddin, Wa’alaa Aalihee Wasahbihee Ajma’een, Waba’du.

Beta bersyukur ke hadrat Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala kerana dengan izinNya jua, dapatlah kita hadir di Majlis Konvokesyen Kali Ke-14 Universiti Teknologi Brunei pada hari ini.

Dalam kesempatan ini, Beta mengucapkan setinggi-tinggi tahniah dan syabas kepada para graduan yang diraikan atas kejayaan mereka menamatkan pengajian masing-masing. Semoga kejayaan ini akan jadi pemangkin bagi kecemerlangan berterusan di masa hadapan. Ucapan tahniah juga kepada para ibu bapa dan penjaga serta tenaga pengajar yang sentiasa memberikan dorongan sehingga para graduan beroleh kejayaan.

Pada tahun ini, Universiti Teknologi Brunei telah genap 40 tahun penubuhannya. Sepanjang tempoh tersebut, universiti ini telah berkembang daripada sebuah institut teknologi kepada sebuah universiti yang diiktiraf di peringkat global.

Alhamdulillah, pencapaian ini telah memperteguh lagi peranan dan sumbangan UTB dalam pembangunan pendidikan tinggi negara, yang menjadikannya semakin dikenali di peringkat serantau dan antarabangsa.

Dalam era teknologi berkembang pesat, Beta gembira melihat teknologi baharu terus membuka ruang kepada pembangunan bakat dan kepakaran anak tempatan. Pada  masa ini, teknologi baharu seperti Kecerdasan Buatan (Artificial intelligence – AI) dapat dimanfaatkan untuk memperkaya pengalaman dan meningkatkan keberkesanan pengajaran.

 Namun dalam pendidikan, Beta berpendapat, penggunaan teknologi ini hendaklah kekal berteraskan manusia (human-centric technology), bukan untuk menggantikan tenaga kerja secara keseluruhan. AI sama sekali tidak boleh menggantikan fungsi akal, walaupun ia mampu untuk memproses data dengan amat pantas, kerana AI tidak mempunyai jiwa dan pertimbangan moral yang hakiki. AI hanya alat untuk membantu manusia memperolehi maklumat, sedang maklumat pula mesti disemak dan dinilai kebenarannya oleh manusia.

 Pada hemat Beta, setelah empat dekad negara membina keupayaan melalui penubuhan institusi-institusi pengajian tinggi (IPT), maka keupayaan ini sewajarnyalah dapat membuka lembaran baharu bagi IPT memainkan peranannya lebih besar dalam memperkukuh ekosistem inovasi, dan sekali gus memperluaskan lagi sumbangannya kepada negara. Ke arah itu, Beta menyarankan supaya semua IPT mengambil langkah proaktif memperkemas dasar masing-masing.

 Beta telah difahamkan bahawa UTB sedang giat mempertingkatkan keupayaan makmal-makmalnya ke arah pensijilan dan akreditasi antarabangsa. Usaha ini juga mampu untuk memantapkan lagi kualiti infrastruktur negara serta memperluaskan sumbangan universiti kepada perkembangan industri berasaskan pengetahuan. Kemajuan di sini tidak dapat dicapai secara bersendirian, melainkan ada kerjasama diantara universiti, industri dan agensi berkepentingan.

 Sememangnya kolaborasi strategik antara universiti dan pihak berkepentingan adalah tunjang kepada usaha UTB dalam menangani isu pengangguran melalui penyediaan graduan yang mahir secara praktikal. Menerusi perkongsian teknologi dan kepakaran, akan mampu untuk merapatkan jurang ketidakpadanan (mismatch) antara kelulusan akademik dan keperluan sebenar pasaran kerja masa kini.

 Menyentuh mengenai penyelidikan dan pembangunan, Beta berharap supaya usaha-usaha yang dilaksanakan oleh UTB akan terus memantapkan keupayaan inovasi universiti. Inovasi ini tidak boleh bermula dan berakhir di dalam makmal semata-mata, tetapi mesti dipacu oleh minda yang kreatif dan rantaian kolaborasi strategik antarabangsa.

 Demi mendukung hasrat suci, UTB perlu memastikan program-program yang ditawarkannya sentiasa responsif terhadap perubahan industri, supaya setiap graduan memiliki kebolehpasaran yang tinggi. Namun Beta ingin berpesan, apapun ilmu yang diburu, Islam sama sekali jangan dipinggirkan. Kerana Islam itu adalah suluh segala ilmu dan jalan lurus yang tidak pernah bengkok-bengkok.

 Untuk akhirnya, Beta merakamkan penghargaan dan ucapan terima kasih kepada semua warga UTB, yang merangkumi Ahli-Ahli Majlis dan Senat, Naib Canselor, Pegawai-Pegawai Utama, ahli akademik, pegawai dan kakitangan, atas segala sumbangan dan perkhidmatan mereka. Beta berdo’a semoga Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala akan memberkati segala usaha kita dan mengurniakan ganjaran yang berlipat ganda.

 Sekian, Wabillahit Taufeq Walhidayah, Wassalamu ‘Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

*   *   *

 

Luncheon In Conjunction With The 27th Annual Leaders’ Consultation Between Brunei Darussalam And Malaysia

Luncheon In Conjunction With The 27th Annual Leaders’ Consultation Between Brunei Darussalam And Malaysia

In conjunction with the 27th Annual Leaders’ Consultation between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia, a Luncheon was held at Baitur Rahmah, Istana Nurul Iman.

The Luncheon began with the recitation of a Doa Selamat by Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr.) Ustaz Awang Haji Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the State Mufti.

News courtesy of Information Department
Photo courtesy of Infofoto

His Majesty and the Prime Minister of Malaysia together witness the Signing Ceremony of the MoU

His Majesty and the Prime Minister of Malaysia together witness the Signing Ceremony of the MoU

His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and The Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia together proceeded to Baitul Mesyuarah to witness the Signing Ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of Malaysia, namely:

Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Government of Malaysia on Cooperation in Disaster Management

Signing on behalf of the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam was Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha, Acting Coordinating Minister for Social and Manpower Policies and Acting Minister of Home Affairs. Meanwhile, the Government of Malaysia was represented by Yang Berhormat Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

News courtesy of Information Department
Photo courtesy of Infofoto