BRUNEI DARUSSALAM in seconds BiS < a Editorial Board Advisors Mawardi bin Haji Mohammad ([email protected]) Azman bin Haji Abdul Rahim ([email protected]) Editor Musa bin Mohidin ([email protected]) Sub-editor & text Hajah Noorhijrah binti Haji Idris ([email protected]) Layout Hajah Apsah binti Haji Sahdan ([email protected]) Proof Reader Hajah Norpisah binti Md. Salleh ([email protected]) Photo credits Photography Unit of Information Department Fishery Department, Ministry of Industry & Primary Resources Forestry Department, Ministry of Industry & Primary Resources BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO BRUNEI DARUSSALAM runei Darussalam is situated The official religion is Islam. Bon the north-west coast of the However, other religions are also island of Borneo, between east practised. latitudes 1140 and 04’ and 110 23’ and north latitudes of 40 00’ and 50 Official language 05’. Malay is the official language but It is divided into four district: English is also widely spoken. Brunei-Muara (570.7 square kilometres); Tutong (1,166 square Climate kilometres); Belait (2,727 square kilometres); and Temburong (1,288 Brunei Darussalam has an square kilometres). equatorial climate, a uniform temperature, high humidity and The country resumed full heavy rainfall. independence on January 1, 1984 where the National Day is Currency celebrated every February 23. The local currency is the Brunei Capital Dollar and written as BND which is issued at denominations of Bandar Seri Begawan is based in $10,000; $5,000; $1,000; $500; the Brunei-Muara District. Total $100; $50; $25; $20; $10; $5; and $1 land area of the capital is 100.36 notes. Coinage is issued at 50, 20, square kilometres. 10, 5 and 1 cent denominations. Area It is pegged to the value of the Singapore Dollar and both Total land area is 5,765 square currencies can be used in Brunei kilometres with a coastline of about Darussalam and Singapore. 161 kilometres. Time Population Brunei Darussalam is eight hours The population was estimated at ahead of Greenwich Mean Time 399,800 (Brunei Darussalam Key (GMT+8). Indicator - BDKI 2012). Majority of the population were Malays, Vegetation followed by Chinese and other groups. Seventy six per cent of the country’s total land area is covered by forests Official religion with 40 per cent of the land is gazetted Forests Reserve. Main industry its one billionth barrel and a Petroleum and gas has fuelled the monument was built near the nation’s economy for the past 80 original site of Well No.1 to mark years and more. The industry has the achievement. The Billionth come a long way from the very Barrel Monument was officially first commercial find in Seria of the opened by His Majesty Sultan Belait District in 1929. Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, The Sultan and Yang A milestone was achieved in 1991 Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam when the Seria field produced on July 18, 1991. National carrier Ferry Services and Immigration Royal Brunei (RB) or formerly Control Post: known as Royal Brunei Airline (RBA) is the national carrier established Serasa Teminal: Located in Muara on November 18, 1974. RB reveals Town, about 25 minutes from the its new livery and logo (RB) on capital. You can take ferry services October 30, 2012. from here to the Malaysia’s Federal Territory of Labuan. The journey It is an independent corporation is estimated to take around 45 wholly owned by the Government minutes to an hour. of Brunei Darussalam. Kuala Lurah Immigration Control RB provides scheduled services Post: Located in Brunei-Muara across Asia, the Middle East, District about 25 minutes from the Australasia and the United capital. This control post is a gate Kingdom. As an added convenience connecting Brunei Darussalam to to its passengers, the airline has the Malaysian town of Limbang, code-share agreements allowing Sarawak. passengers to coordinate flights for seamless travel to a wider choice of Labu Immigration Control Post: destinations. Located in Temburong District. This control post is a gateway RB now operates a fleet of six connecting Brunei Darussalam to Boeing B777-200ER, two Airbus the Malaysian city of Kota Kinabalu, A319 and Airbus A320 aircraft. Sabah. Sungai Tujoh Immigration Control Entry Checkpoints: Post: Located in Belait District. This control post is a gateway connecting Brunei Darussalam Airport: Brunei International to the Malaysian town of Miri, Airport is the nation’s sole airport. Sarawak. It is located in Berakas, about 10 to 15 minutes away from the capital. BiS < 4 Telecommunications National Celebrations There are various National Day - February 23 telecommunications services Royal Brunei Armed Forces offered in Brunei Darussalam by anniversary – May 31 three service providers Telekom His Majesty‘s Royal Birthday – July Brunei Berhad (TelBru), DST 15 Communications and BMobile Communications Sdn. Bhd. Local calls cost 3 cents per minute and national calls cost 20 cents per minute. For local calls, direct dial the local number. For national calls, dial the area codes 2 (for Brunei-Muara District); 3 (for Belait District); 4 (for Tutong District) or 5 (for Temburong District) followed by the number. For international calls by reverse charge, dial 01. For direct international calls, dial 00 followed by the country code, area code and the number. A number of economical telephone cards ranging from $5 above are also available. Wi-fi and hotspots are widely available at various dining outlets and commercial areas. Brunei Darussalam also celebrates: New Islamic Year (Hijrah), Maulidur Mobile modem and router using Rasul, Israk Mikraj, First Day of a High Speed Downlink Packet Ramadan, Nuzul Al-Quran, Hari Access (HSDPA) or 3G (Third Raya Aidilfitri Feast, Feast of Generation) Mobile Telephony Sacrifice, New Year (January 1st), Communication Protocol in high Chinese New Year, and Christmas. speed are also available in Brunei. These days are announced as public holidays. Current HSDPA deployment in Brunei Darussalam support Medical Services downlink speed of up to 7.2 Megabits per second. The Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha (RIPAS) Hospital is the main Numbers to note referral hospital. It is about five to 10 minutes’ drive from the capital. Emergency calls The hotline is 2242 424. Ambulance - 991 Police - 993 Government hospitals can also Fire & Rescue - 995 be found at the other three Search & Rescue - 998 districts. There are also two private hospitals. Hotline Water - 140 For convenience, 16 government Electricity - 144/145 health centres are available Health line - 2384234 throughout the nation. Private Flight Info - 2331747 clinics are also widely available. Driving Permits For inquiries on destination fares, you may call the Land Transport Brunei Darussalam recognises Department at 2451 979 during international driving permits office hours. issued under the 1949 Convention on Road Traffic. There are six bus routes operating around Bandar Seri Begawan. Each Transportation route has colour coded bus. Bruneians drive on the left side of All of these bus routes end at the the road. The wearing of seat belts main bus terminal in the capital. for drivers and front passengers is The bus services begin from compulsory. 6.00 am to 8.00 pm daily. Public Transportations Bus fare starts from $1.00. Taxis services are available There are also buses that depart should you wish to hire one. For for Tutong Town, Kuala Belait and reservations, please contact: 2222 Seria Town. 214 or 2226 853. A popular means of transportation The taxis are mostly available in should you wish to explore the the capital. There is a surcharge fee famous Kampung Ayer or Water for taxi rides from 11.00 pm to 6.00 Village is by using the water taxi. am. You can hail for a water taxi at jetties situated along Brunei River. Regular Taxis are also available at the Brunei boat services to Temburong District International Airport. are also available which operates from 7.45 am to 4.00 pm daily. Newspapers Pelita Brunei is the official government newspaper while Borneo Bulletin, The Brunei Times and Media Permata are the three leading privately-run newspapers. A number of foreign newspapers and magazines are also available. Radio and Television There are six television channels namely RTB1, RTB2, High Definition, International, RTB5, RTB6, and five radio networks run by the government through the Department of Radio and Television Brunei (RTB). Meanwhile one radio network is owned by a private telecommunication company. Foreign channels are also available through private cable television network Kristal-Astro. State Street (Brunei) Sdn Bhd Banks (limited license banking) Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam There are two local banks, seven Brunei (TAIB) foreign branches of international and regional banks as well as one Credit cards are accepted at hotels Islamic trust fund as follows: and selected shops and restaurants. Most accepted credit cards are Baiduri Bank Berhad Visa and Master Card but some Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam also accept American Express and (BIBD) Union Pay. Citibank N.A. Hong Kong & Shanghai Banking Remittance Corporation Ltd Maybank There are 21 licensed remittance RHB Bank Berhad companies and 24 licensed money Standard Chartered Bank changer companies (including United Overseas Bank Ltd hotels) in Brunei Darussalam. Where to go? A Tourist Information Centre is Brunei Arts & Handicraft Training available at the Brunei International Centre – Established in 1975 with Airport. the objective to preserve the skills of producing local handicrafts. The Another centre is available at the centre until today has produced Temburong District located at many graduates who later are No. 13/14 Bangunan Perniagaan mostly involved in small-and- Rakyat Jati, Bangar Town. medium enterprises (SMEs) mainly in producing local handicrafts Their operating hours are from 9.00 like kain tenunan (weaved cloth), am to 5.00 pm daily and will close songkok (traditional headgear), for Friday prayers from 12.00 pm to and brass-making products.