More mammals in Brunei than whole of Borneo

By Azlan Othman

Brunei Darussalam is known for its pristine environment, rich natural resources and a high percentage of forest cover. A recent study conducted by Universiti Brunei Darussalam 'The Faunal Biodiversity Survey of Sg Ingei Protection Forest' has confirmed that mammals found in the forest are high in number compared to the rest of Borneo. This shows that the wildlife protection in Brunei Darussalam is still comparatively intact.

Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar said this at the National Planning Workshop on Wildlife Management in Brunei Darussalam yesterday.

"I believe that if the wildlife management in Brunei Darussalam is improved, the total number of wildlife could be sustained and our forest can be a safe sanctuary for the wildlife.

"Our management capabilities, as far as natural resources management is concerned, continue to develop at par with our regional and international counterparts. Our long-term development plan, Brunei Vision 2035, clearly provides for continuous efforts to conserve our country's remarkable biodiversity, rainforests and natural habitat.

"Thus, the formulation and development of an effective wildlife strategic framework would consolidate all wildlife management initiatives in the country giving specific focus on policy, institutional, research and development, and socio-economic concerns of wildlife resources management," Pehin Yahya said.

The minister also said, towards that end, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to the transfer of wildlife matters to the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources in order to strengthen wildlife management and law enforcement considering that the natural habitats of this wildlife are already under the purview of the ministry.

"In view of this new development, it is very important to start with the right steps by inviting participation of our wildlife stakeholders in laying down constructive actions and initiatives needed.

"This workshop needs your constructive input, because the expected output of this workshop is expected to provide cross-cutting initiatives and concerns among development sectors of the country. Your technical and institutional knowledge will certainly guide us in the formulation of effective approaches at the national level and complement our own sectoral initiatives in attaining common objectives and admiration.

"Let us ensure that the output of this workshop would provide us more collaboration to further our research and development activities, economic opportunities and at the same time strengthen our wildlife law enforcement in view of the increasing wildlife crime in the region."

The minister also said that this workshop is very important to realise another milestone in the sustainable management of the natural resources of Brunei Darussalam. The Sultanate represents less than one per cent of the whole island of Borneo and yet its forests are among the richest in the world. This smallness at the same time exceptionally exposes us to environmental and ecological changes. Therefore we need careful and considered policy on wildlife.

Also present at the workshop was YAM Pengiran Muda Omar Ali, Curator of Natural History; Hjh Normah Suria Hayati bte Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Dato Seri Utama (Dr) Hj Awg Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri, Permanent Secretary at the MIPR; Dyg Hjh Hasnah bte Ibrahim, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the MIPR; Hj Saidin Salleh, Director of Forestry; and other senior officials.

At the conclusion of the workshop, the participants are expected to come up with recommendations for an integrated and holistic management approach for the conservation and protection of the country's wildlife resources that address legal and policy concerns, administration and enforcement, research and development, human resource development needs and socio economic opportunities.

The MIPR through the Forestry Department, Agriculture & Agrifood Department, Museums Department under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports with the support of TRAFFIC Southeast Asia is organising the national planning workshop.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
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2 laws - UNLCOS 200 NMEEZ and "Archipelagic States" to End Spratlys Disputes

The following Countries competing to owned the vast oil and gas resource Spratlys: The Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, China, Taiwan (China), Indonesia, Malaysia.

Written by: Dan We ( Twitter: @Dan_We_)

NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW...

The most powerful country – the USA is under the LAW and they governed their states and country UNDER THE LAW

CHINA is NOT ABOVE THE LAW... China govern their people under their communist law

The fueling disputes in the West Philippines Sea (WPS) or also called as South China Sea (SCS) might be the flash point which leads to the never ever wanted 3rd World War. (WWIII)

No one ever wants to have their people die from war and conflicts. The good leader must learn how to respect and be respected. A good leader must know how to lower his pride to avoid tensions. A good leader must learn that there is a doom beyond their unlimited pride and ambition to rule the world by their arms.

China has been so confident to replace the US power but their move is not in the right direction. China could bully small neighbors economically but not by arms because small ants are willing to bite and eat the dragon’s flesh if their colony is destroyed and overtaken. Small ants could be worthless but could weaken the dragons power while another giants will come to the rescue and to end the dragons ambition.

China must first plant a good seeds of trust; seeds of unity, seeds of love and seeds of power and wait that those planted seeds would grow and bear fruits for what they have planted for them to overtake other power. It’s early for china to say they are powerful if the whole countries around them are against their power. Unlike US, China never planted any seeds and wants to reap the fruit of the other peasant.

The bottom-line is china would live alone if they will make the unwanted stupid mistake. Any wrong move of china could ends its power both arm and economy. Any wrong move of china will trigger the world to fight against them lead by the US Power, United Nations and the ASEAN nations.

China must have to think that among top 10 Super powers of the World; they got only 1 friend to fight with the other 8.  2 super powers versus 8 super powers is the doom’s day of China and his 1 ally. Who will take over china’s power if they are in the doom’s day? Korea? Vietnam? Russia? India? Mongolia? USA? or Japan?

China! Look before you leap and think before you talk. You must learn how to grow in a peaceful way. You must learn how to get along with other country’s culture than just yours. And you must follow the 2 laws that would end the disputes of the seas.

2- Laws of the United Nations to end the Spratlys disputes.

The first provision of law applicable to the disputed Spratlys is the law formulated by the United Nations in Jamaica last December 10, 1982. The provision for the Archipelagic States.

(1.)           THE ARCHIPELAGIC STATES

The Philippines and four other states (Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Bahamas) got the approval in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) held in Jamaica last December 10, 1982. They were qualified as archipelagic states.

In various conferences of the United Nations on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Philippines which is composed of 7,107 islands PLUS... is RECOGNIZED AS ARCHIPELAGIC STATES given freedom forming its archipelago that  composed of groups of islands forming a state as a single unit, with the islands and the waters within the baselines as internal waters. By this concept (archipelagic doctrine), an archipelago shall be regarded as a single unit, so that the waters around, between, and connecting the islands of the archipelago, irrespective of their “breadth and dimensions”, form part of the internal waters of the state, subject to its exclusive sovereignty

The approval of the United Nations for the 5 countries as Archipelagic States must be respected by the world for the 5 countries:

1.      The Philippines

2.      Indonesia

3.      Papua New Guinea

4.      Fiji

5.      Bahamas

The  above mentioned countries could enjoy undisputable sovereignty of the waters and islands around them from the said laws. Waters around their country between and connecting the islands of the archipelago, irrespective of their breadth and dimension form part of the internal waters of the states and is belong to its sovereignty. This provision of the UNCLOS is very clear that this law could end the disputes of the Spratlys. The United Nations could not formulate again another provision that would opposed the above “Archipelagic State”.

For the Philippines – The Spratlys is considered as the waters around the Philippines between and connecting the islands of the archipelago, irrespective of their breadth and dimension form part of the internal waters of the states which simply means Spratlys is part of the Philippines sovereignty and the Philippines don’t have any disputable issues between china and other countries who are not classified as “Archipelagic States”.

(2.)          The United Nations Conventions of the law of Sea (UNCLOS) 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone

The 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone is another provision of the law by the UNCLOS that could resolve the Spratlys disputes.

Regardless of what kind of law of china have for its country is not acceptable in the international law would deem that their law is invalid and must be superseded by the United Nations Law that for the particular disputes that would affect many countries around them.

For the following Countries competing to owned the vast oil and gas resource Spratlys:

1.      The Philippines

2.      Brunei

3.      Vietnam

4.      China

5.      Taiwan (China)

6.      Indonesia

7.      Malaysia

The 7 countries mentioned above competing claims have their common grounds which is the UNCLOS 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone. Each country might have to study first if their claim is valid or not.

For the Philippines; 2 provision of laws that would protect them to own the Spratlys exclusively with undisputable sovereignty by the application of the “Archipelagic States” that say the waters around the Philippines between and connecting the islands of the archipelago, irrespective of their breadth and dimension form part of the internal waters of the states which simply means Spratlys is part of the Philippines sovereignty and the Philippines don’t have any disputable issues between china and other countries who are not classified as “Archipelagic States”.

Secondly the Philippines still subject to enjoy the second provision of laws of the United Nations Conventions Laws of the Sea (UNCLOS) 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone. Since most part of the Spratlys is within 200 Nautical Miles Economic Zone of the Country then Majority stakes for the Spratlys sovereignty is lawful to be granted to the Philippines. “Proximity” the Spratlys is just within Philippines backyard.

The application of the 2 provisions of laws of the United Nations Convention of the Laws of Sea (UNCLOS) the  “Archipelagic States” and the “200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone” means the “Whole Spratlys” is under the Philippines Sovereignty and the Philippines supposed to be must enjoy their undisputed territory in both their main land and the Spratlys.

The Paracels is another disputed islands between Vietnam and China which both of them could benefit the 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone must send the disputes to the United Nations and they will signed an agreement to solve the disputes peacefully. The United Nations also must mediate and implement the law to end the disputes.

WHAT MUST CHINA DO? (AN SO ORDER!)

1.       China must respect Vietnam’s territory and 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone from Vietnam Shore (The Paracel Conflict between China and Vietnam) and vice versa, Vietnam must respect also the China’s 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone.

2.       China must stop disputing with the Philippines as the Philippines is recognized by the United Nations as Archipelagic States which means water and islands  connecting the Philippines regardless of its breadth is belong to the Philippines sovereignty.

3.       China must settle the disputes with Vietnam in the United Nations and respect the UNCLOS 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone.

Japan & Philippines Tighten Defense Ties for Spratlys

Bolstering defense Japan - Philippines

Japan and the Philippines agreed on during the visit of the Philippines' president to Japan September 27, 2011 to strengthen maritime security ties, while also underscoring the importance of preserving peace and stability in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) amid rising tensions with China.

China has pronounced many times that they owned everything the in West Philippines Sea that worries other tiger economies in Asia such as Japan & South Korea which major of their trades are passing the world's most busiest sea in the West Philippines Sea and South China Sea – Spratlys archipelago.

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and the Philippines President Benigno Aquino III met, on a four-day visit to Japan. Japanese Prime Minister told reporters that the two sides committed to bolstering "cooperation between coastguards and defense-related authorities."

A joint statement said bilateral ties have evolved from friendly relations to a "strategic partnership," and called for more collaboration on "regional and global issues of mutual concern and interest." The two countries also agreed to conduct frequent discussions on defense at more senior levels and increase the number of Japan Coast Guard missions to help train their Philippines counterparts.

Although the agreement does not directly mention China, it is a major symbolic step toward a multilateral consensus in Asia on dealing with increasing territorial friction with China.

China maintain its claim to the whole West Philippines Sea & South China Sea  with its 9 dotted map inspite of criticism of the ASEAN neighbor with 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone claim in the sea.

The Philippines and China both lay claim to the Spratly Islands; an archipelago in the West Philippines Sea and South China Sea that geologists think may lie atop significant oil and gas deposits and rumored to be the 4^th largest oil and gas deposit in the world. Philippines' officials have accused Chinese vessels of hindering oil and gas exploration in a portion of the waters known as Recto Bank (Reed Bank) which is just few kilometers off Palawan Province – Philippines says this is not part of the disputed areas. Vietnam, which also claims part of the Spratly chain, has likewise complained of China's increasingly assertive claims in the region.

China's Fishing Vessel tactics

China has been noticed by the neighbors that they are using fishing vessel tactics which equipped with high powered weapon to enter other waters. Japan learned from China's tactic after China invaded the Mischief Reef few kilometers off Palawan province of the Philippines using the fishermen vessel to erect a fishermen shelter then later converted it into a Military Garrison even inside the Philippines territory.

In 2011 alone, Japan intercepted Chinese Fishing vessel entering their waters. Moreover, Indonesia's coastguard also arrested Chinese entering their seas using a fishing vessel.

The recent issue that escalate tension between Vietnam and China happened also this year when Chinese fishing vessel cut the cable of the Petro Vietnam, a Vietnam Government Owned Oil exploration which china alibi as it is just a Chinese Fishing vessel and mistakenly drag the cable but later admitted that Vietnam is illegally operating in the area as they said its owned and they do not violated any law and they are not invading.

The Philippines didn't escape from China's harassment. China harassed Filipino Fishermen in the Philippines Waters saying to leave the area because it belongs to china, then another incident happened when China fired the Filipino Fishermen in the Palawan Sea and put markers in the Island and waters in Palawan shore.

Japan too, has seen its relations with China strained by a territorial dispute, this one over islands in the East China Sea. A war of words broke out between Beijing and Tokyo last autumn following the arrest of a Chinese fishing crew by the Japanese coast guard, and the year since has brought a series of incursions by Chinese ships into the disputed waters. Mr. Noda earlier this month voiced concern over China's military build-up and increased maritime activity near Japan.

The agreement between Japan and the Philippines stresses the two countries' shared interests, bringing the similar but separate maritime squabbles with China under a larger cooperative umbrella.

"The peaceful settlement of disputes serves the interests of the two countries and the whole region," said the joint statement, signed by both leaders. Japan and the Philippines "share the recognition that these same interests should also be advanced and protected in the West Philippines Sea and South China Sea."

Responding to the Japan-Philippines meeting, China's foreign ministry on Tuesday (September 27, 2011) reiterated its claim to the disputed waters in the South China Sea.

"China has indisputable sovereignty over the island and surrounding waters of the South China Sea," said ministry spokesman Hong Lei in Beijing.

Regardless of many criticisms, China never leaves the phrases; "we owned everything" & "China has indisputable sovereignty over the island and surrounding waters". Philippines Challenged China to bring the disputes to the United Nations to end it but China refused and said we are only open to bilateral settlement not to the United Nations. 

The next ASEAN tiger cited by Asia Inc & Business leader could be the Philippines

The Philippines has a most unique economy in the world which is highly dependent on domestic consumption that drives their economy that could be hardly hit for any possible global economic recession. Inspite of rich resources, Philippines did not rely on exports to drive a better and fast forward economy.

The Philippines now tagged with fresh opportunities in Asia, boosting and high grades gold mining, boosting of oil and gas exploration,  good political leader,  revived confidence from global investors and now named as to be Asia’s next tiger economy, potentially regaining the glory lost decades ago, according to a visiting regional business leader from Brunei.

Dato Timothy Ong, a leading Brunei businessman who founded and now chairs regional dialogue platform Asia Inc. Forum, said in a press briefing on last September 26, 2011 that he has seen signs that the Philippines could return to its goal of being the next Asian tiger despite staying at the bottom half of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in terms of economic performance for years.

Ong is also the convener of ASEAN 100 Leadership Forum, which will be hosted by the city of Makati on Sept. 28-29, 2011 at the Makati Shangri-La. This year’s ASEAN meet aims to foster insightful and intelligent discussions on the future of ASEAN and how the region can emerge as one of the world’s significant economic blocs.

According to Dato Timothy  Ong, the Philippines can join the ranks of Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea and Hong Kong, the so-called Asian “tiger” economies or newly industrializing countries. He cited five reasons why the country, though a “dark horse,” or a sick man in Asia had the makings of the next move to be the next “tiger.”

The Chair of the regional dialogue platform Asia Inc. Forum cited 5 following reasons why the Philippines could be the next ASEAN Tiger as:

1.      The new leadership under President Aquino has promised to weed out corruption in the country, which has been creating a lot of optimism. It’s widely perceived that the high level of corruption in the country has driven up the cost of doing business.

2.      Mr. Ong said that the Philippines’ would be vast pool of hardworking professionals and skilled manpower, many of whom have been deployed across the globe. “With this wealth of human resources, it’s important to ask then why the Philippines aren’t more successful economically,” he said. Many countries had been dependent on Filipino Professionals and skilled workers to drive their economy like for example banning the Filipino to work in Taiwan will paralyze the Taiwan’s economy. Banning the Filipino to work in the Middle-east might paralyze their economy. Deporting Filipinos in (North Borneo) Sabah might paralyze the Sabah’s economy which the world knew how important the human resources are.  The continues development in the other north Asian countries had been dependent on Filipino skilled workers like for example the Billion Dollar projects of Korea’s builder Hyundai Engineering in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan which been dependent on Overseas Filipino Workers as highly skilled which the builder could not outsource such kinds from the local man power pool in the 2 ‘stan countries. Many Leading fortune 200 companies in the world are talents hungry but the Philippines have vast and awashing man power pool. Many countries take advantage of Filipinos for not just for cheap labor but also trustworthy multi-tasker and English speaker that could compete globally.

3.      The third factor would be the Philippines’ “centers of excellence,” Ong said, noting that the country has become a competitive hub for business process outsourcing. He likened the Makati central business district to a “First World” city in a Third World country.  “If the Philippines is capable of being first world in these centers of excellence, why can’t it be First World in every respect?” he said.

4.      Ong said the fourth reason would be the Philippines’ homegrown companies that were at par with the world’s best.  He cited fast-food giant Jollibee Foods Corp., international port operator International Container Terminal Services Inc. and the Ayala group of companies. “There is a sense of optimism that characterizes the country as a whole.  As the new government takes its steps in leading the country towards change, it may be able to experience higher standards of governance,” he said.

5.      Finally, Ong noted the Philippines’ “sharply improving competitiveness” as another factor supporting its aspiration to be the next tiger economy. He cited recent reports that the Philippines had jumped 10 notches to 75 from 85 in the latest ranking of the World Economic Forum. Ong said this happened only within the first 15 months of the term of the new president.

Meanwhile, Ong said ASEAN would likely partly meet its target to establish an integrated economic community by 2015.

“A One ASEAN is important for our collective future to accelerate the economic growth, social progress and economic stability in the region; to promote active collaboration and mutual assistance in economic, social, cultural, technical and administrative spheres,” Ong said.

“At the moment, Southeast Asia is like a big gated community where neighbors barely know each other. They know each other by name, they exchange pleasantries but they wouldn’t really go out of their way to have dinner at each other’s house,” he said.

Once integrated, he said, ASEAN could be a very influential bloc as it could become Asia’s third-largest economy next to China and Japan and the ninth-largest in the world.

The Philippines hinting to be a the second ASEAN tiger is so closed to achieve.

Proboscis Monkeys cling to precious habitat in Brunei

Unlike in other parts of Borneo where the Proboscis monkeys
are found in sanctuaries or reserves, the colony of
Proboscis monkeys in Brunei lives relatively close to civilisation

Some groups of Proboscis monkeys live near their human neighbours

Tour operator taking visitors to the monkeys' habitat

Photos courtesy of and Copyright to Mohammad Abdullah and
Brunei Press Sdn Bhd.

By Mohammad Abdullah

There are many species of animals found only in Borneo, and one such animal known locally as the "Burak" or "Bekantan" (Proboscis monkey) is one of the best kept secrets in Brunei Darussalam.

I once spied on a colony of Proboscis monkeys during an eco-tour in Sabah in 2002. Little did I know that we, in Brunei Darussalam, have our own colony of rare long-nosed pot-bellied celebrities which are also known as 'Orang Belanda' (Dutchman) due to their long nose and pot belly.

It was only a few years ago that Brunei ventured into eco-tourism and started tours to view these magnificent unique creatures literally in our own backyard.

Unlike in Sabah and other parts of the island of Borneo where the Proboscis monkeys are found in sanctuaries or reserves, the colony in Brunei lives relatively close to civilisation. In fact, some houses built close to the banks of mangrove swamps regularly get visits from the Dutchman. Making these endangered animals an almost permanent fixture in these residential areas, co-existing peacefully with their human neighbours.

These endangered animals are largely restricted to living in coastal areas and along rivers where they live only in lowland habitats such as coastal and riparian habitat, many of which are flooded by tides. It prefers dipterocarp forests, mangrove forests and riverine forests.

This species is rarely found more than a kilometre from water sources. It is perhaps the most aquatic of the primates and is a fairly good swimmer, capable of swimming up to 20m. It is known to swim across rivers.

Proboscis monkeys generally live in groups consisting of an adult male, some adult females and their offspring. Other groups also exist such as all-male groups. There are some individuals that are solitary, most of which are males.

The Proboscis monkey is assessed as endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and listed in Appendix I of CITIES. Its total population has decreased by more than 50 per cent in the 36-40 years to 2008 due to ongoing habitat loss and hunting in some areas.

Brunei's Proboscis monkeys are no different. Though they are not hunted, their habitat is endangered due to expanding residential areas and urban development, which threaten the mangrove forests.

Unless we do something to help preserve these animals by creating a reserve or sanctuary, then we are sure to lose one of Brunei's rare treasures.

To view these magnificent creatures, just pop down to the jetty and take one of the many tours that offer a river cruise of the Brunei River where tourists can see the Proboscis monkeys in their habitat.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend
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Hainan China Mounted Nuclear Weapon Facing Philippines

When China’s largest offshore petroleum producer launched a $1 billion oil rig this summer from Shanghai, Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, the commander of Philippine military forces commented that China of 1,500 miles away in the South China Sea, began preparing for trouble.

The drilling platform, said China, would soon be heading in the 38 general’s direction - southward into waters rich in oil and natural gas, and also in volatile fuel for potential conflict.

China pointing the Map down south adjacent to the City of Puerto Princesa Palawan, Province of the Philippines. China is willing to face war and conflict just to drill the oil and gas with or without approval from the Philippines government as they claim the area as undisputable and it core interest.

Regardless of the UNCLOS provision of 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone for the Philippines and other neighboring country within the proximity of the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea), china believed their map is right and will surpassed / overpower the United Nations International laws of Sea as they have their own laws and concept.

Red Alert- Philippines for the unexpected attack of China

Few information leaked that china is preparing to sink the new Philippines Navy Warship Flagship BRP Gregorio del Pilar, a newly acquired and refurbished from the USA high endurance Hamilton Class Cutter Frigate.

Chinese nuclear submarine armed with nuclear missiles has been mounted in Hainan island south of China and high powered weapon are now facing Manila for ready to attack anytime.

Leaked information mentioned that China will target to paralyze the Philippines by attacking the BRP Gregorio del Pilar prior of their planned launching of the $1 billion Dollar oil rig in the area near Pruerto Princesa this year or early next year in 2012.

The Philippines is not yet aware of this china’s plan. The United Nations is now the only chance to intervene or to mediate prior the leaked information to happen.

The cooling of the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea) issue is the preparation of China for their ready to launch $1 billion Dollar oil rig and a simultaneous attack to destroy the BRP Gregorio del Pilar.

“We started war-gaming what we could do,” said Sabban, a barrel-chested, American-trained marine who, as chief of the Philippines’ Western Command, is responsible for keeping out intruders from a wide swath of sea that Manila views as its own 200 Nautical Miles Area from the shore but that is also claimed by Beijing.

China oil hungry giant to attack Spratlys

Arguments over who owns what in the South China Sea have rumbled on for decades, ever since the doomed Chinese government of Chiang Kai-shek in 1947 issued a crude map with 11 dashes marking as Chinese almost the entire 1.3 million-square-mile waterway. The Communist Party toppled Chiang but kept his map and his expansive claims, though it trimmed a couple of dashes.

Today, China’s insatiable thirst for energy has injected a highly combustible new element into long-running quarrels over cartography, arcane issues of international law and ancient shards of pottery that Beijing says testify to its “indisputable sovereignty” over the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea).

China, which imports more than half its oil, will nearly double its demand for the stuff over the next quarter-century, according to the International Energy Agency in Paris. Its demand for natural gas — which is believed to be particularly abundant beneath an archipelago of contested islands and reefs, known as the Spratlys, just west of here — is projected to more than quadruple.

With consumption soaring and the price of imports rising, China is desperate for new sources to boost its proven energy reserves, which for oil now account for just 1.1 percent of the world total — a paltry share for a country that last year consumed 10.4 percent of total world oil production and 20.1 percent of all the energy consumed on the planet, according to the BP Statistical Review of World Energy.

As a result, Beijing views disputed waters as not merely an arena for nationalist flag-waving but as indispensable to its future economic well-being.

“The potential for what lies beneath the sea is clearly a big motivator” in a recent shift by China to a more pugnacious posture in the West Philippines Sea (South China Sea), said William J. Fallon, a retired four-star admiral who headed the U.S. Pacific Command from 2005 until 2007. China is wary of pushing its claims to the point of serious armed conflict, which would torpedo the economic growth on which the party has staked its survival. But, Fallon said, such a thick fog of secrecy surrounds China’s thinking that “we have little insight into what really makes them tick.”

A big factor in this uncertainty is a meshing of Chinese commercial, strategic and military calculations. Like other giant energy companies in China, the China National Offshore Oil Corp., or CNOOC, the owner of the new Chinese rig, pursues profit but is ultimately answerable to the party, whose secretive Organization Department appoints its boss.

₱5 Billion Armament Budget to Secure West Philippines Oil and Gas Field Approved by Pres. Aquino

President Benigno Aquino III has approved the release of ₱4.9 Billion from the Malampaya fund to strengthen the defenses of natural gas exploration in northern Palawan, National Treasurer Roberto Tan said Wednesday (September 14, 2011).

The fund to be released this month, will be disbursed to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for the purchased of New smaller patrol vessel, 4 radar Station, Tanks, and modern assault rifles and ammunitions. The AFP was tasked to acquire and deploy a support fleet of ships smaller than the Hamilton class BRP Gregorio del Pilar.

As early as last March, the Philippine military sent an aircraft to the disputed Recto Bank ( Reed Bank) near Palawan following reports that Chinese patrol boats were trying to harass a Filipino oil exploration team there.

Lt. Gen. Juancho Sabban, chief of the AFP Western Mindanao Command, said the Chinese were claiming the exploration team from the Department of Energy was in Chinese territory where in fact the Recto Bank is just in the backyard of the Philippines, within 200 Nautical Miles Exclusive Economic Zone, while china is within thousands of Kilometers.

BRP Gregorio del Pilar, the Philippine Navy's largest and newly acquired ship, is a symbol of the Philippines' "seriousness" in fortifying the protectors of the country's maritime resources.

The Gregorio del Pilar, however, is less than half the size of China's first aircraft carrier that is expected to go on sea trials by the end of September. The Philippines' largest ship is 367 feet long, compared to China's Shi Lang that measures 1,000 feet.

₱100 Billion Malampaya "Commingled" Fund Missing?

The National Treasurer also disclosed Wednesday at the joint congressional oversight committee hearing on the comprehensive tax reform package that the Malampaya fund, with a remaining balance of ₱99.45 Billion, exists as a "commingled" special account in the government's general fund.

He said the Malampaya collections from 2002 to August 2011 totaled ₱121.97 Billion, of which ₱21.645 Billion was disbursed partly to pay for the Hamilton class ship which the Philippines bought from the United States of America.

During the hearing, Senator Ralph Recto made an issue out of the "commingled" status of the Malampaya fund and said that the fund was missing. Recto argued that the fund cannot be used for any purpose other than those for which it was created.

In a July 5 statement, Budget Secretary Florencio Abad explained the Malampaya fund was "…not actual cash but an accounting of revenue inflows and expenditure items charged against the Fund since revenues were remitted to the government from the Malampaya Natural Gas Project since it started in 2002."

The Malampaya special account is known at the Department of Budget and Management as Fund 151 and is managed by the Bureau of Treasury and the Energy Department.

Abad also said back in July that the Aquino administration had charged ₱2.87 Billion to the Malampaya account for "necessary energy-related" expenditures:

·        ₱2 Billion for fuel requirements of the National Power Corporation-Small Power Utilities Group (NPC-SPUG), to avert a power shortage in off-grid areas

·        ₱450 million for the Pantawid Pasada program as direct support to jeepney and tricycle drivers affected by the recent spate of oil price hikes and

·        ₱423 million for the purchase of the USS Hamilton cutter marine vessel to strengthen the security perimeter of the Malampaya Natural Gas Project.

Abad claimed that during the Arroyo administration only ₱250 million out of the ₱19.64 billion drawn from the fund was spent on an energy-related project that provided electricity to 211 villages in 2006

"The rest of the 98.73 percent or ₱19.39 billion was released for non-energy related projects," Abad noted and broke it down as follows:

·        In 2006, ₱1 billion for the Armed Forces Modernization Fund (What AFP modernization happened in 2006?)

·        In 2008, ₱4 billion for the Department of Agriculture

·        In 2009, a total of ₱14.39 billion to various agencies, including ₱7.07 billion for the Department of Public Works and Highways, ₱2.14 billion for the Philippine National Police, ₱1.82 billion for the Agriculture Department, ₱1.4 billion for the National Housing Authority, and ₱900 million for the Department of Agrarian Reform.

National Treasurer Tan said the ₱4.9 billion for the security build-up in northern Palawan will likely be raised through borrowings and then credited to Fund 151.

Budget Secretary Abad in a statement September 7 described how government will disburse the money for Malampaya defenses.

"The amount is divided between the capability requirements of the Philippine Navy and Philippine Air Force. Of this amount, ₱2.65 billion will fund base support and logistic system, coast watch requirements; and the acquisition of a high-endurance cutter sea vessel and three helicopters of the Philippine Navy."

"Meanwhile, the Air Force will be using ₱2.30 billion to purchase three helicopters and develop a base-hangar," Abad said.

MASwings Set To Fly To Brunei and Pontianak Soon

KOTA KINABALU -- MASwings, which currently operates within Sabah and Sarawak, is expected to commence flights to Brunei and Pontianak, Indonesia, soon.

Its managing director, Datuk Capt Mohd Nawawi Awang, said MASwings had already submitted the proposal to the Transport Ministry for approval.

"Based on the positive response from the ministry, I'm quite confident that the flights from Kota Kinabalu to Brunei and from Kuching to Pontianak (West Kalimantan) will take off on July 1 or in July," he said during a luncheon with the media here today.

He said if these flights were successful, MASwings planned to introduce flights from Kota Kinabalu to Tawau and Tarakan (East Kalimanan) and also from Kuching to Mulu and Brunei in October.

"Plans are also in the pipeline for other destinations within BIMP-EAGA region and we hope to provide flight services from Sabah and Sarawak to major cities such as Palawan and Mindanao in Southern Philippines as well as Manado in Sulawesi, Indonesia, in the future," he said.

BIMP-EAGA stands for Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), a subregional economic cooperation initiative in Southeast Asia.

Mohd Nawawi said MASwings was aware of the need to improve air connectivity within this region as it was constantly discussed among leaders of the BIMP-EAGA member countries at meetings of the grouping.

Apart from that, he said MASwings would also explore the possibility of embarking on international flights from Sabah and Sarawak with immediate focus being on the Kota Kinabalu-Kuala Lumpur and Kuching-Kuala Lumpur sectors.

Continue reading at: MASwings Set To Fly To Brunei and Pontianak Soon
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Brunei's biodiversity hotspots grab Oxford's attention

By Azlan Othman

There is a high potential for Brunei Darussalam having a higher percentage of biodiversity 'hotspots' (high species diversity, high endemic diversity and high risk of losing species and habitat loss).

This was highlighted by Dr William Hawthorne from University of Oxford who delivered a talk on 'Hotspot measurement and biodiversity management in Brunei, Heart of Borneo (HoB)' yesterday at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.

The chief guest was the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Dato Paduka Dr Awg Hj Mohd Amin Liew Abdullah.

Dr William Hawthorne also highlighted Oxford University activities on biodiversity conservation such as hotspot measurement, mapping and publication; biodiversity database development, field guides, education and training in biodiversity assessment and taxonomy and plant genetics.

He also touched on proposed Oxford/HoB collaborative activities or interventions such as national botanic survey, training of Forestry, herbarium, UBD staff and students in rapid botanic survey (RBS) techniques, database including photos of the Brunei flora and its distribution, rapid field guides by project and others, building Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), mapping hotspots at local and broader scales, producing Brunei biodiversity-related websites and recording local name and usage data along with basic RBS.

The Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources said Brunei Darussalam is one of the assemblage sites for rich tropical biodiversity contributing significantly to the Borneo biodiversity. The country should take stock of its present advantage of having rich biological resources and therefore, exploring new technology and more advanced scientific approach on this biological resources is very timely.

The biodiversity survey, in particular on flora, is one of the biodiversity resources strategies to document and develop further the national herbarium database.

In line with the ongoing construction of the nation's first Tropical Biodiversity Centre situated within the Andulau Forest Reserve, Jln Labi to house biodiversity database in complementing the existing facility in the national herbarium, Brunei Forestry Centre, Sg Liang, the project will help to further develop the existing institutional capacity.

There have been many research projects undertaken by the Department of Forestry under the purview of the Brunei HoB initiative collaboration in which the experts from the department have an opportunity to work together with regional and international researchers or scientists.

The research projects currently undertaken are NITE, Japan on forest microbes; Nparks, Singapore on mangrove and biodiversity resource management; SMART, Singapore on Carbon monitoring at peatland and wetland international on peatland management and rehabilitation.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Sunday
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Kota Kinabalu proves popular holiday destination among Bruneians

By HAL

Kota Kinabalu in Sabah is one of the popular destinations among Bruneians during the holidays.

Based on observation made last Monday, throngs of Bruneians were seen headed to Kota Kinabalu using rental buses and private vehicles.

It was reported that more than 30 rental buses were ferrying passengers to Kota Kinabalu to usher in the New Year.

The queue would stretch up to two kilometres since early morning at the Kuala Lurah Immigration Control Post. What normally would take five hours then would now take seven to eight hours.

Hotel reservations would have to be made in advance, especially so during this time of the year.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
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Jerudong: The suburban jungle

By Ron Knox

The towns and cities of the world may be referred to as, 'urban jungles', but in Brunei we have real jungles minutes from our front doors. Take a short stroll through some parts of Jerudong and it is hard to believe you're only minutes away from banks, schools and supermarkets.

Brunei is lucky to have such an abundance of land, much of it still a jungle, within 20 minutes of the city centre. Over 95 per cent of Brunei are state land, mainly rainforest. In addition, Brunei's' small population means it will be many generations before it will need to be developed, if ever. In the future, it could be Brunei's most valuable natural resource.

Away from the 'jungle', Jerudong is one of Brunei's busiest suburbs. It has several hotels, supermarkets, banks, schools and all the trappings of a thriving community. If you live in the Jerudong/Sengkurong conurbation you really never need to visit Gadong or the city centre. All you need is right on your doorstep. However, if you take a stroll along one or two of Jerudongs simpangs you can soon forget your only five minutes from suburbia. Before you know it, you are surrounded by trees and the sounds of nature. The traffic and shops forgotten in this green universe. The jungle is a huge presence, even in one of Brunei's busiest and most populous suburbs.

Brunei's suburbs have been built in the midst of the jungle, but the jungle also bears the man's footprint. There are many simpangs that are little more than bumpy tracks that wander off into the jungle. If you care to follow them, you find homes, as well as businesses both large and small, in the most unlikely places. Brunei is now developing a large scale farming industry, but small-scale farming has been practised for generations and it is still thriving. You see it when you get a little off the beaten track and come across many areas planted with vegetables and fruit.

One of the things that I like about the jungle is that it is usually quite cool. Shady trees and grass make the hot sun much easier to bear. Cooling streams of various sizes cut through the jungle and, in Jerudong, there are several sizable lakes, usually covered in vegetation.

The local wildlife keeps well hidden, except for mosquitoes, which always feast when I am around. Larger bugs are much less troublesome, despite their sizes. The occasional monitor lizard barely offers you a glance as he strolls leisurely across the track.

It always astonishes me that so few Bruneians seem interested in this incredible resource. I suppose we all take what is familiar for granted.

Provided you take a little care, there is more to be had from a few hours in the jungle than wandering around Brunei's shopping malls.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Weekend
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Bandar Seri Begawan marks 40th anniversary

By Hj Mohd Daud Abd Rahman

The capital city of Brunei Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan is 40 years old. On October 4, 1970 was a historic date for all Bruneians when Brunei Town was renamed Bandar Seri Begawan.

The declaration was made midnight by Pegiran Setia Negara Pegiran Haji Mohd Yusof Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahim, the chief minister at that time, as a tribute to the late Paduka Begawan Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien at Padang Besar Bandar Brunei, which is now known as Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien.

To commemorate the historical event, a monument was erected in the heart of the city - facing the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank, the Royal Brunei Airlines Plaza and the current Islamic Bank of TAIB.

For the past 40 years, Bandar Seri Begawan still continues to see developmental progress especially on the fields of business, infrastructure, commercial, tourism, education as well as international relations.

Some old colonial-styled buildings were given a facelift especially the government facilities.

Modern road system as the main transpotation linking Bandar Seri Begawan to the other three districts continues to be upgraded from time to time.

Over the years, Bandar Seri Begawan have seen many developments such as the Brunei International Airport, the Muara deep-water Port and Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

While the existence of mosques and prayer halls especially the Jame' 'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque as well as hospitals and health centres like the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital - to name a few - were built after renaming Brunei Town to Bandar Seri Begawan.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin Sunday
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Year-end sale to lure Brunei folks to Miri

TOURISM Malaysia will launch the Malaysia Year End Sale in Miri in December to attract tourists from Brunei.

Sarawak Tourism Malaysia director Ahmad Johanif Mohd Ali said the sale would be held in time for the Christmas and New Year celebrations.

He pointed out that shopping was among the main draws for tourists.

“In 2009, shopping contributed RM15.1bil to an overall tourism receipts of RM53.4bil, a positive growth of 17.3% from the previous year,” he told reporters during the a prize-presentation ceremony for the Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival 2010 Quiz Contest in Kuching.

The year-end sale is one of the country’s two annual shopping carnivals, the other being the Mega Sale held in July.

Continue reading at: Year-end sale to lure Brunei folks to Miri
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Brunei explores bio-prospecting potential for Heart of Borneo

By Waleed PD Mahdini

His Majesty's government is currently exploring the potential for 'bio-prospecting' its rich forest and biological genetic resources in partnership with the Japanese National Institute of Technology and Evaluation. According to a report from the World Wildlife Fund that was published yesterday, Hj Saidin Salleh from the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources explained that the report is the first of its kind, which demonstrates that protecting forest ecosystems in the Heart of Borneo (HoB) makes economic and social sense.

"Brunei recognises the tremendous value that the Heart of Borneo represents to the world, in terms of eco-system services and as yet undiscovered chemical compounds.

"The will to protect the area for future generations is very strong, but we need to generate additional financial support to achieve this vision. This report is our first steps to identifying where that support may come from," Hj Saidin was quoted as saying.

The trilateral report was issued by the governments of Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia and has been praised as a leading example of how the economic value of forests is being recognised and secured through innovative finance.

Entitled: 'Financing the Heart of Borneo - a partnership approach to economic sustainability', the report outlines three main sources of finance for conservation and sustainable development activities within the 22 million hectares of trans-boundary tropical rainforest on the island of Borneo - known as the Heart of Borneo.

Two of these sources have been calculated for its long-term sustainability, which are in country government-based (royalties, incentives and tax breaks) and market-based (payments for watershed services, reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and bio-prospecting). Meanwhile, the more conventional donor funding, which makes up the third source is seen as an interim form of funding to help build the enabling conditions for the first two.

"The new trilateral report sets out a pathway to understand the economic value of HoB's natural capital in terms of the ecosystem services it provides, such as carbon storage, regulating water flow and providing new genetic resources for medicines," the WWF highlighted.

Indonesia's HoB representative, Dr Andi Novianto from the coordinating Ministry of Economic Affairs, pointed out that a crucial next step in securing sustainable sources of finance is to mainstream forest and watershed services into its national and local development plans.

Citing a conservation example in the district of Kapuas Hulu in Kalimantan, which is an ongoing initiative supported by WWF, the non-governmental poverty charity organisation CARE and the International Institute for Environment and Development, the watershed protection payment seeks to reward upstream communities for their stewardship of crucial watershed areas that provide a valuable 'service' to users downstream.

"The Kapuas Hulu project is our first 'district level' pilot programme. The long term aim is to encourage all 10 districts in Kalimantan to maintain their forests, in return for which, they would receive financial compensation for the carbon stored, biodiversity protection and ecosystem services that these forests provide the island, country, region and ultimately the world," Dr Novianto said.

Malaysia's contribution was the development of innovative financial arrangements, with the Malua BioBank in the federal state of Sabah, where the local government has licensed conservation rights for 50 years to the Malua BioBank, with a private investor committing up to US$10 million for the rehabilitation of the Malua forest reserve.

During the launch of the report, Dr Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), underscored the need for multinational and multilateral agencies to continue efforts to finance conservation and sustainable development.

"The HoB is proving to be a sound investment. This is important for the negotiators of this Convention as it shows how the ecosystems of HoB can be a part of a sustainable future. It is a call to stop talking, and start acting," said Dr Ahmed Djoghlaf.

Jim Leape, Director General of the WWF commended the financial report as progress since the signing of the HoB Declaration three years ago.

"All three Bornean countries should be congratulated for their commitment towards this trans-boundary conservation programme and the progress made so far. Finding appropriate sources of sustainable finance will be vital to tri-government conservation and development efforts for the HoB. We need to capitalise on the value of nature and mainstream it within economic development plans. It is obvious that protecting ecosystems and biodiversity makes long-term economic sense."

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
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