Tadarus at Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports

At the same meeting, it was revealed that the Department of Youth and Sports requires some of our members to join the Tadarus ceremony at the residence of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports to be held on 1st October 2007 at 4.30pm.

Everyone who is available to attend should meet at Bersatu Headquarters before 4pm to depart for the Minister's house in Kampong Tanah Jambu together.

Doulos Ship visits Brunei

As everyone knows by now, the Nippon Maru will not be stopping over in Brunei this year. However, Bersatu has been given the opportunity this year to coordinate a homestay programme the Doulos ship who will be visiting Brunei from 27 Oct - 3rd Nov.

The Doulos

The Doulos ship is owned by the Gute Bücher für Alle e.V. (Good Books for All), a private, non-profit, charitable organisation registered in Germany.

Over 18 million visitors have been welcomed on board for tours, programmes and visits to the floating book fair. With stops in over 500 ports of call, this unique ship has visited more than 100 countries in including Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and many island nations.

The Doulos in Kaohsiung, Taiwan

Doulos is recognised in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's oldest active ocean-going passenger ship.

Doulos visits port cities throughout the world, supplying vital literature resources, encouraging inter-cultural understanding, training young people for more effective life and service, promoting greater global awareness, providing practical aid and a message of hope.


The ship is run by volunteers from many different countries on either a short-term or long-term basis and therefore receive no payment. The ship's crew numbers around 350.

Bersatu committee members with Mr Rebel (seated R)

We had a meeting today on Sunday 30th September to discuss the homestay program for some of the ship crew. Mr Harmen Rebel from Holland at Bersatu Headquarters. Mr Rebel is here until the ship docks in Muara Port to arrange and facilitate the Brunei country program. It is estimated that only 80 crew members will be available throughout the country program to participate for the homestay. The homestays will be only for one night with the host family and the crew members will take different turns from 28th Oct- 2 Nov.

Bersatu committee members in deep discussions with Mr Rebel about the visit

For more information about the Doulos please visit the website on http://www.doulos.org

(Pictures and information on the Doulos are from the Doulos website)

Name that ex- PY (Part 2)

Sorry its taken me a while to reveal the name of the ex-PY. Been a bit busy. Noor Aini 01/03 and anak Brunei almost got it right (just slightly different spelling mistake). And Meela 05 should do too, cos its her aunt! No one could guess or knew the year though. The ex-PY in question is Norazlina Haji Ibrahim from 1993. She works for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and is currently in the USA furthering her studies. This picture was taken last year at the SIGA in Brunei when Nora was the rapporteur for the forum. (You can see my left ear there on the upper left side of the picture ;)

Norazlina Hj Ibrahim (BPY1993)

Stay tuned for the next instalment of "Name that ex-PY". Remember, it could be you! ;)

Majlis Tahlil & Doa Selamat for BPY2007

On Saturday 22nd September, Bersatu held a Majlis Tahlil & Doa Selamat for the new BPYs before they depart for this year's SSEAYP. The prayers were also to remember those who had passed away in the tragic accident in 2001 and to mark its 6th anniversary. The prayers were held in the VIP Room of the National Stadium. Arrival of the guest of honour, Hj Malik (PY86/NL96), Chief Youth Officer in the Department of Youth and Sports

The event started at 5.30pm with recital of Yaasin and the doa tahlil. Everyone had a quick snack to sungkai (break fast) before Maghrib prayers. After Maghrib prayers everyone continued with dinner and of course the obligatory photo sessions.....

The event also helped to introduce the association to the new PYs and to get to know the ex-PYs (of which they will be one in less than 3 months time. Haha) a little better.

Bersatu members reciting the Yaasin

Future members of Bersatu reciting the Yaasin

Mixture of current and future members of Bersatu reciting the yaasin

BPYs enjoying the scrumptious food
3 NLs together (L-R): Hafiy (PY91/NL07), Ahanapi (PY88/NL02), Hj Jailani (PY85/NL95)

For more on BPY2007, visit their blog here

(Pictures are courtesy of Baim 01)

Today, we remember....

Today, 23rd September marks the 6th anniversary of the saddest day in SSEAYP history. During the country program, on the way to the homestay matching ceremony in Brunei, a bus carrying National Leaders, Brunei Department of Youth and Sports Officials and Administrative Staff with a most dreadful accident. The Malaysian and Indonesian NLs, an admin staff/ex-PY, a Bruneian ex-PY/NL together with the driver of the bus tragically lost their lives.



Today, we take a moment to reflect and remember those who lost their lives in the accident. Al-fatihah...