Simunic makes rusty DPMM FC work hard

DPMM FC head coach Vjeran Simunic (pic) is facing a race against time to get his players fit.

Brunei's only professional club are eyeing a return to the Singapore League (S-League) next season and are awaiting a reply to an application they sent the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) two weeks ago.

But with the squad out of shape after not playing a competitive game since their 2-2 draw against Tampines Rovers FC on Sept 29, 2009, it is easy to understand why the Croatian's training sessions hardly involve any time on the ball.

He also has other worries on his mind.

His players can only make it to the club's base at the Jerudong Mini Stadium once a day, and some of them can't even make it to training at all because of other commitments.

"We are getting better day to day but at the moment we only train in the evening since the players are still working, at that too only around 5.30pm," he said last week.

"Maybe we will get approval from their employers to release them to train twice a day, morning and evening, once we get an answer from Singapore.

"Our problem is that we don't have our full squad with us now. The Royal Brunei Armed Forces' Sports Council (MS ABDB) have not released our players and we are still waiting for guys from the Under-23 national team.

"But we have five months (until the S-League starts in February) and we are doing the best we can.

"We are doing a lot of off-the-ball training to improve fitness (and) the players are all very happy to work. They have been neglected for so long and the most important thing is for them to get fit.

"I'm working differently for every player. Like Abu (striker Abu Bakar Mahari) for instance, he hasn't been training for one year so he has different drills to go through. Once they are fit then they can show their skill with the ball. When will that be? Perhaps in November or December ... The plan is to get all the players up to the same standard by that time.

"I'm not against the gym. I'll do it maybe once a week, but a footballer's natural environment is the field and you can see the atmosphere at training is great," he said, acknowledging he does most of his strength training at the Jerudong Mini Stadium.

Among the new faces in the team are several Under-21 players, two of whom are striker Shahrazen Hj Md Said's younger brothers Adi and Mohd Amalul Ariffin Shah.

Former Brunei Youth Team (Under-19) midfielder Azwan Ali Rahman and striker Abdul Al-Wardy Abdul Hamid are also among the younger players in the team, as is Mohd Arif Hj Zulkifli, who used to feature for Indera Sports Club.

It is the host of older players that might come as a surprise though, with ex-national striker Abg Norsillmy Abg Hj Taha who is in his early 30s heading the list. Md Julremi Hj Zaini, Md Hendra Azam Md Idris and Ampuan Nurul Azami Ampuan Husin are also those who have been training with the club, the players formerly at Wijaya FC, QAF FC and Majra FC respectively.

The club are allowed four imports in the S-League and Simunic admitted it won't be easy to replace the Croatian trio of Rene Komar (defender), Ivan Jerkovic and Drazen Govic (midfielders) and Algerian striker Abdel Hamid Berguiga.

"Like I said before, they must have the same kind of personality, ability and skill as our previous imports if not better," said Simunic./

The Brunei Times

2 New Import Signings!?

DPMM FC to sign Brazilian defender Tales Kanu and former Tranmere Rovers midfielder George O'Callaghan.

DPMM FC eye four imports

The 2009 Singapore League Cup champion DPMM FC are looking to battle in the Singapore League (S League) again next year if the club is permitted to play in the prestigious league by the organiser.

Currently busy regrouping the club's original players besides recruiting youth local players and import players, the main aim of the club is to compete and settle the 'unfinished' business in the S League once again.

DPMM FC's Club Manager Pg Waslimin PSJ Pg Hj Abd Momin in an interview with the Bulletin yesterday said that the club has officially sent in an application to rejoin the league.

"I can confirm that we have sent in a request to play in the S League. For now, we can only wait for the official answer from them (organiser)," said Pg Waslimin.

Asked if the club is ready to compete in one of the top leagues in Asean again, the Club Manager replied that the team is on its way to build a strong team that can challenge any club in the league.

"We have a number of import players on trial with the club. We are looking for a maximum of four imports (the maximum quota as permitted in the S League). So far, players from France, Brazil, Cameroon, Nigeria among others have shown interest to play for our club," Pg Waslimin said.

According to him, the club will select the potential imports carefully before representing the club.
"Coach Vjeran Simunic is back with the club. With his broad coaching experience, I'm sure that he will choose the best among the best. Only players who show real commitments can win the heart of the coach and the team management," added Pg Waslimin.

Meanwhile, the club is also turning their attention in recruiting promising local young talents to play for them.
"These local young guns are talented. They have shown a brilliant style of performance in our local league (DST Group Brunei Premier League). Hopefully those selected will be working hard for the team," Pg Waslimin said.

Players such as Majra FC's striker Adi Said, MS ABDB winger Ak Mahmod Fakhrul Razi Pg Hamzah and Md Hendra Azam Md Idris of QAF FC are currently training with DPMM FC.

And just last week, DPMM FC has re-signed former coach Vjeran Simunic from Croatia on a one-year contract.

News courtesy of Borneo Bulletin.

DPMM apply to rejoin S-League.

They took local football by storm in 2009, becoming the first foreign team to win a trophy in Singapore when they bagged the League Cup.

Brunei's DPMM FC were in the running for the S-League title as well that year, but were prevented from achieving a historic double after FIFA banned the national association of the sultanate, which forced Singapore to kick the club out before they could complete their final five games of the season.

Now, after a year in the football wilderness, DPMM are looking to make a return in Singapore.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a souce of Brunei told  Today: "DPMM have already submitted their application to the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and are awaiting a response from them."

The possible comeback of DPMM increases the possibility radical changes could be in store of the S-League, starting next season.

Currently the Great Eastern-Yeo S-League season features 12  teams playing three rounds.
One possible change could see 14 teams battling on a home and away basis.

When contatced yesterday,FAS deputy director of marketing and competitions, Ridzal Saat said: "There has been a lot of talk about the league expanding and also new teams joining the S-League. We will take into consideration every aspect on how we can improve the league as a whole.

"One such area os our S-League online survey ... as we seek to gather feedback from fans in preparation for the 2012 season. If there are changes, we will update the public swiftly."

FIFA banned Brunei from all football activities in 2009, deeming there was government interference the workings of the Brunei Football Association.

The body was reorganised and named the National Football Association of Brunei Darussalam and the country was reinstated by FIFA on May 30 this year.

A possible return by DPMM has created a stir in local football circles.

The SAFFC were the main beneficiaries of DPMM's unceremonious exit in 2009 when they claimed the S-League title anc Warriors' coach Richard Bok said: "They were challenging for the title when they were forced to pull out, and they were a good side that made the league more exciting."

Gombak United chairman John Yap said: "They gave clubs a chance to experience a real away game with the hostile crowd in Brunei, and they were a credit to themselves and...gave  an added dimension to the league."

Besides DPMM, Sembawang United, ateam backed by an anonymous busineeman, have also applied to join the S-League next season.

With the Malaysian Under-23 joining in the fray as well,both Bak and Yap back the idea of a 14-team, two round format for the S-League.

"It would be a positive thing if we can play two rounds with 14 or even up to 16 teams. It would see an increase in fan interest,and clubs can schedule our training programmes better," said Bok.
Said Yap: "It is not an ideal situation to have 12 teams in a three-round format; a straightforward home and away system will add to the sophistication of the league.

"It could also be important,especially considering Singapore's return to the Malaysian League next year. This may give fans something interesting to watch, and may bring them back to local stadiums."

DPMM FC players can't wait to go out and play

It's hardly breaking news that DPMM FC players are raring for a return to the Singapore League (S-League).

Club manager Pg Waslimin PSJ Pg Hj Abd Momin told The Brunei Times on Thursday that Brunei's most successful football club have applied to rejoin the S-League after submitting their application to the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) earlier in the week, a move, which if successful, will reunite DPMM FC with the league they took by storm in 2009.

Despite clubs from Japan (Albirex Niigata) and South Korea (Super Reds) also playing in the S-League, it was Brunei's only professional football club that became the first foreign team to win a trophy in Singapore when they claimed the League Cup in their debut season in 2009.

They had a shot at making it a double in the league largely thanks to the guidance of bench boss Vjeran Simunic, who has made a comeback after being forced out when Fifa suspended Brunei and in extension, DPMM FC from international football for 20 months.

Hj Muhd Subhi Abdilah Hj Bakir, a key cog in Simunic's midfield, is itching to lace up in Singapore again. "Of course it's a great idea for us to play there again like before," he told The Brunei Times yesterday.

"We've been resting for a long time so I hope we can get back (into the S-League) and I think there's a big probability we will. We have been out of competition for nearly two years so we all can't wait to get started. Now that Fifa lifted the suspension (in May) it will be good for Brunei footballers to get back to playing international football and improve our standard.

"All of us support the decision to bring Simunic back. We would support any coach the club bring in but Simunic has helped us to achieve something. The players are all in-tune with his training, strategy and formation ... Though training might be hard, it's for the good of the club and players," added Hj Muhd Subhi.

Another key component in Simunic's squad is Mohd Wardun Yussof, the goalkeeper who was the team's hero during the 4-3 penalty shoot-out win over Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) FC with back-to-back saves against midfielder Masahiro Fukasawa and defender Razaleigh Khalik.

He has also been in fine form in the domestic league, helping Majra FC claim the DST Group Brunei League Cup in June.

The shot-stopper also featured for DPMM FC when they were in the Malaysian Super League (MSL) in the 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons, but maintains that neither the DST Group Brunei League nor the MSL can compare to the S-League.

"I'm happy to hear the news and hope it works. It is a very good league which is well organised and has really professional players and they are also more open," said Wardun.

"I also support the decision to bring back Simunic since he led the club to a trophy. It's a better idea to bring in new players and new faces instead of a new coach," he noted.

The team's deadliest striker, Shahrazen Hj Md Said, felt that a move back to the S-League with Simunic marked the club's natural progression after the Fifa suspension was lifted.

"It's a good idea. It's easy for us to communicate with Simunic and he knows our style of play ... We're like family," he said.

"We've been enjoying returning to training with him and we have really started preparing hard for the league," said Shahrazen, who finished the 2006/07 MSL season as joint top-scorer with 21 goals and also led DPMM FC in scoring during the 2008/09 S-League season with nine.

Another player who has been enjoying working with Simunic again is midfielder Hardi Bujang.

"For me it's a good idea to bring him back because if we get another coach we need to learn his style all over again," he said.

"He has really been concentrating on fitness during training and we're running a lot," he added.

French side Etoile FC are the S-League's defending champions, with the competition starting on Feb 12 with a dozen teams playing in three rounds

Currently in its 16th season, Singapore's top-flight is scheduled to end on Nov 28 though hopefully DPMM FC won't have to wait until then to find out if they can play.

News courtesy of The Brunei Times.
17th September 2011

List of tryouts

Players coming for tryouts beginning June,2011

1/Lounes Bendahmane(Algeria)-27th June
2/Daoud Bouabdellah(Algeria)-27th June
3/Sam Ayew Yeboah(Ghana)-
4/Andre luis De Souza(Brazil)-15th June
5/Hamza Yacef(Algeria)-27th June
6/Ernandes(Brazil)
7/Helton Luis(Brazil)
8/Claudalado Paulino de Lima(Brazil) 
9/Fabio Flor de Azevedo(Brazil)

Courtesy of DPMM FC Website & Wikipedia

Brunei Football is BACK!!

After two long hard years of football oblivion, Brunei Football is back on track. Bruneian Fans especially the DPMM FC fans can now give out a sigh of relief after it was announced that NFABD is now a member of FIFA, so therefore the Suspension on Brunei is now lifted.

"We're Back"

BAFA suspended till 2011 Congress

FIFA congress confirmes BAFA suspension
Johannesburg: The FIFA Congress on Thursday confirmed the suspension of the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (BAFA), as proposed by the FIFA Executive Committee.

As the chances of the BAFA being re-registered in the coming weeks have improved, the FIFA Congress also gave the FIFA Executive Committee the authority to lift this suspension if the BAFA is re-registered.

The FIFA Executive Committee had earlier agreed to recommend to the FIFA Congress the suspension instead of an expulsion as previously envisaged until the 2011 FIFA Congress.

Updates

Wow oh wow, lama dh inda berupdate blog ani...hahaha~ anyways a lot of things happened for the last few months.. for an instance... hehe i finally have my gaji last may.. n then the 2nd Brunei blackouts.. fuh nasib arah ku inda kana... and then..pasal DPMM FC was unable to compete for the last five games against S-league sides pasal dorng kana ban leh FIFA..

Goal scored by shahrazen

S.League Table as of 24th March 2009

DPMM FC Go Top Of Table

By James Kon

Bandar Seri Begawan - Unbeaten Brunei DPMM FC topped the S League for the first time when they edged Sengkang Punggol FC 1-0 in front of their supporters at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium last night.

After the game, Brunei DPMM FC coach Vjeran Simunic was ecstatic and saluted the fans for the immense turnout to support the team. "The best players are the fans, they came to create an incredible atmosphere for the players. Fans who are not here (stadium) have missed a crucial game of Brunei DPMM FC," he said. On his team's performance, the Croatian coach said: "We did our best, all my players are heroes tonight. We expect a very tough game and Sengkang are here to dethrone us but we managed to overcome the early jitters to grab the win." The coach also has nothing but praises for Shahrazen for scoring the winner. "He did his job and I like the goal he scored today. Shahrazen is my best player, he took control of the ball and rose to the occasion." Both teams started off the match cautiously for the first 20 minutes but it was Brunei DPMM FC who almost scored on 23'1 minute when Shahrazen Said's header went just a whisker wide from a cross by Hj Subhi Abdillah. Brunei DPMM FC's goalkeeper War-dun Yussof was called into action on 27th minute when he managed to save a powerful shot outside the penalty box from Sengkang Punggol's Abdoulaye Diallo. Seven minutes from half-time, the visitors almost went ahead but Brunei DPMM FC's goalkeeper managed to make a diving save to preserve his record of a third consecutive clean sheet. After the breather, Brunei DPMM FC introduced Abdel Hamid Bergiga for the injured Rosmin Kamis and the import player nearly drew first blood when he lashed on a pass by Ivan Jerkovic and with the keeper to beat, Abdel Hamid sent the ball over the bar. Ten minutes after Shahrazen's dramatic goal in the 61st minute, Sengkang Punggol's hope of a comeback was dented when they were reduced to 10 men when referee Abdul Malik gave Jerry Bartholomeusz a second yellow card for unsporting conduct. In the dying minutes, Brunei DPMM FC's substitute, Nardi Bujang nearly put his name to the scoresheet when his long-range effort sailed just inches over the crossbar. Brunei DPMM FC's next game will be April 31 against Tampines Rovers FC at Stadium Jalan Besar in Singapore.

Life as it is..

Man oh Man.. I've been busy lately with work, so tired that i was lazy to blog. I just transferred to work at JPM (Prime Minister's Office). which one?? Let that be a secret..shhhh!! It had been a great month for our local team DPMM FC, they've won against woodland wellington and drew with former S-league champion Geylang United.

For the bad news, my favourite team Manchester United got thrashed 4 -1 against liverpool. The game was dull to begin with, the only lively player was carlos Tevez and Park Ji Sung. The rest were in dream land... hope that the lost could spur the team on. Huhu~ the lost made my week actually, got made fun off by my bosses at work and some colleagues ehe.. but its all for fun. It's always a good rivalry between Man Utd and Liverpool...its just the passion they say.

Hehe..one reason i've been away from blogging is that i'm currently active in Kallangroar.com forum site. It's all fun there. I've posted the link so come and register. If your a big fan of DPMM FC then that's the site you want to be. :) oohhhhh~ almost forgot my id is west1312, so do greet me if you see me yeah. so life goes on yea~ :P

Stunning win for Brunei DPMM FC

It was Md Abu Bakar Mahari to the rescue again last night, scoring in the 84th minute of DPMM's match against Super Reds FC to give the Brunei side their first win of their debut Singapore League(S-League) season.

The 2-1 victory was a result of DPMM's excellent performance in the second half, never giving up the fight despite going behind as early as the 11th minute when midfielder Jeon Byung Euk netted from the penalty spot after DPMM midfielder Sairol Sahri was judged to have harshly tackled Yu Hyun Koo in the box.

Though the star striker Shahrazen Said was forced out of the game - with what looks to be a recurrent ankle injury - hardly a minute after the restart, the team's attack was at the capable feet of his replacement Md Abu Bakar, who scored the equaliser during the Brunei's team 1-1 draw with the Young Lions in their first match last week.

Shahrazen's injury, seemed to spur his teammates on and they embarked on waves after waves of attack - rewarded by the most unlikeliest of players.

Defender Yusof Salleh's free kick from 25 yards out curled past Kang Su Ho in between the Super Reds goalposts and found the top left corner in the 61st minute to draw level for the home side, and from then on, the fans would settle for nothing less than a win in the side's first home game of the season.

DPMM goalkeeper Wardun Yusof kept his team in the game two minutes later when he was forced to dive sharply to his right to save a shot own goal, but he was hardly troubled for the rest of the night.

After a menacing performancethus so far with dangerous runs and precise passes,Md Abu Bakar - nicknamed Eto'o by his teammates - repaid his coach's confidence in playing him by scoring 6 minutes before the final whistle.

Pushing the ball forward on the counter-attack, South Korean forward Oh Ddog Yi received a pass from the right and skillfully created space for a shot.

Though it was boxed out by goalkeeper,Kang,it was poor clearance and the oncoming Abu Bakar easily scored with a simple tap-in from a few yards out.

Doing well to put men behind the ball after that, DPMM rode out their first win of the season with their fans cheering them and hardly allowing the Super Reds the time and space to send in a cross.

The Koreans preferred method of attack was through the flanks, where they created space and sent in crosses, trying to make the most of their height advantage.

However, last season's runners-up were thwarted by the good aerial showing of defender Rene Komar and captain Pg Sallehuddin and hardly threatened from crosses or during set-poeces.

Pg Sallehuddin's performance was especially recommendable throwing himself at every tackle and one-on-one challengewith the vigour and determination that one would hardly expect from a 35-year old player.

Prior to the match head coach Vjeran Simunic had said that the team's attitude had changed and that was certainly true last night.

"We were hungry to play after that we could not compete in the Malaysian League - it was like we were in a cage," said Simunic yesterday.

"Give us a chance and we will play like this"I know we can do better.

"I am happy about the game, the team's performance and their attitude.

"It was a very offensive game, very openlike how we used to play last year ... Six players on the attack sometimes," added the Croatian.

"I have seen the Super Reds play before and they surprised me tonight because I did not think they were this good.

" I would like to thank the fans for supporting us and I want to tell them they must be proud of us, proud of the local players.We are playing Woodlands Wellington on Sunday and I want to see 10,000 fans here - if not I will go home because I don't like them playing in empty stadiums," added the Croatian with a wink.

The result pushes DPMM from ninth to fourth in the 12-team league with four points from two games.

The Beautiful Goal

I can't stop watching the goal...its one of the most beautiful goal that i've seen by a DPMM player.

DPMM FC VS YOUNG LIONS HIGHLIGHTS

Bakar to DPMM FC's rescue.

DPMM FC left it until late but they finished with a share of points in their debut Singapore League(S-League)match last night, drawing 1-1 against the Young Lions at the Jalan Besar Stadium last night.

The home team, who are the Singapore Under-23 side, got on the score sheet just before the half time break through striker Khairul Nizam after the striker caught the Bruneian backline napping and beat the offside trap to net it from close range.

However,Md Abu Bakar Mahari's 90th minute striker broke the Young Lions's heart and handed them their second straight draw, the first a 0-0 stalemate against the Super Reds last week.

Receiving a cross from the left, the Brunei striker's shot from the right the back of the net and proved the team's spirit in their first competitive match since their defeat to eventual runners-up Woodlands in the first round of the Singapore Cup last May.

DPMM lie ninth in the 12-team table, with Gombak United at the summit with two from as many games.

"It is a good result for our first game in the league and it showed we never give up fighting," said DPMM manager Pg Waslimin in a telephone interview from Singapore.

"We were able to adjust to the synthetic field and I think it was a good showing from us.

"We had a lot of chances but failed to capitalise on them until the last minute," added the team manager.

"Our defenders have to be more focussed since they thought Khairul was offside when he received the ball - which led to the opponents goal.

"Overall I think it was a satisfactory performance though we still have a lot of areas we can improve on," he added.

South Korean midfielder Oh Ddog Yi and Croatian Ivan Jerkovic both received their international transfer certificate in time and they joined Croatian defender Rene Komar as the 3 imports on the field last night.

Algerian hotshot, Abdul Hamid Berguiga was not so lucky, though it is expected that his paperwork will be sorted out before the team's next match.

DPMM mark their home debut on March 5 against runners-up the Super Reds at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.

P.S: Great Goal by Abu Bakar, and great move by DPMM with the beautiful outside of the foot cross.

'The Legacy of Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien'

I'm an history buff especially when it comes to my country Brunei Darussalam, Here i'll be posting the full text of the speech by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew at the Sultan Sir Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Memorial Lecture. The article is copied from the Borneo Bulletin, 26th February 2009.


I am honoured that with the consent of His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah foundation has invited me to deliver the first of the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Memorial Lectures.

It is fitting and proper that the Seri Begawan should be commemorated. At a turning point in its history, the Brunei Sultanate would have ceased to exist as an independent state without him.

In August 1963, Indonesia was opposing the proposed Federation of Malaysia and confronting Malaya and Singapore. Only eight months earlier, on 8 December 1962, Brunei had faced a revolt by Sheikh Azahari of the Partai Rakyat Brunei (PRB) and British forces from Singapore had flown in to put down the rebellion.

It was a time of great peril when the Sultan decided not to join the proposed Federation. Singapore went ahead and joined the Federation. Sultan Omar Ali was under great pressure from the British who had hinted that they would be leaving the region soon.

But he stood firm.

He put his position as Sultan and the fate of his people on the line. His judgment was that the British would be responsible enough to give him some time to get his country in better shape before British forces left.

In 1932, at the age of 18, he left with two of his cousins to enrol at the Malay College in Kuala Kangsar, Malaya.

He studied there for four years and returned with a Standard 4 examination certificate. He then entered the State Administrative Service with the encouragement of the British Resident, later Governor of North Borneo, R E Turnbull.

He was stationed in Kuala Belait for a year, lived and worked in the jungle in Ulu Belait.

After a year, he joined the Legal Department as a cadet officer, and learned aspects of civil and criminal law, understudying Hughes-Hallet, the Assistant British Resident.

In 1938, he left the legal department and devoted his time to study religion under well-known religious teachers.

In 1941, he joined the Resident's Office. On 6 September 1941, he married Pengiran Anak Damit, the daughter of the Pengiran Bendahara. Brunei was occupied by the Japanese military in early 1942.

He was nominated to the State Council from 29 June 1942 and worked at the Governor's office at the request of the Japanese military administration. His brother, the Sultan, Ahmad Tajuddin, died on 4 June 1950, and Omar Ali was proclaimed Sultan on 6 June 1950.

He was crowned on 31 May 1951 as Brunei's 28th Sultan at the age of 35. He was made a Knight by the British monarch. I first met him in September 1960 in Bandar Brunei when he had invited the Yang Di-Pertuan Negara of Singapore, Yusof bin Ishak, me as the new Prime Minister and our wives to Bandar Brunei for his 46th birthday celebrations.

He had gathered some Malay literary figures from the Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka in Kuala Lumpur, including Syed Nazir, the then-President of the Dewan. He spent time the next few days discussing Malay literary works.

The late Sultan was a modest man. He was soft-spoken, with a frequent smile when speaking to his friends. He lived a simple and frugal life. For his birthday, he had built an annexe to the old Istana.

It was not air-conditioned.

He did not like air-conditioning. The room that my wife and I stayed in within this newly-built annexe was very hot, like an oven event at night. The sun would shine on the building in the afternoon and there was not enough ventilation. So I quietly moved out to stay at the rest-house in a room with a window-model air conditioner.

It was during this visit to Brunei that we struck a friendship that was to grow and endure the rest of his life. On May 1961, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Malayan Prime Minister, at an address to the Foreign Correspondents Association in Singapore, mooted the formation of Malaysia, to include Brunei, Sarawak, North Borneo (subsequently to be named Sabah), Singapore and Malaya.

On 5 December 1961, Sultan Sir Omar Ali described the Malaysia proposal as very attractive. In January 1962, he appointed a Brunei-Malaysia Commission to report on the opinion of the people. On 18 July 1962, the Sultan stated that he accepted the Malaysia proposal in principal, but that did not necessarily mean it was final.

If agreement could not be reached on important conditions affecting benefits to the people and the state, Brunei would not participate in the Malaysia plan.

In August 1962, the Partai Rakyat Brunei (PRB) won a landslide election victory in four District Councils, which in turn would choose 16 members for the Legislative Council (LegCo). The PRB won 54 seats and had all the 16 members required for the LegCo.

But they could not form the government. The 17 government nominees outnumbered the PRB in the 33-member Council. Sheikh Azahari, leader of the PRB, rejected the proposal that Brunei join the proposed Malaysian Federation.

Azahari put forward three motions at the LegCo meeting, for 5 December 1962; first, to reject the proposal of a Malaysian Federation; second, to request the restoration of Brunei's sovereignty over Sarawak and North Borneo and the installation of the Sultan as constitutional monarch of the North Borneo Federation; and third, a request to the British to grant independence to Brunei not later than 1963.

The Speaker of the LegCo disallowed the motions because the issues fell within the purview of the British government under the 1959 British-Brunei Agreement. Sheikh Azahari, the PRB leader then decided to resort to a military solution and staged a rebellion led by its military wing, Tentera Nasional Kalimantan Utara (TNKU).

The revolt began on December 8. It was put down in short order by British forces flown in from Singapore. On 20 December, Sultan Omar Ali declared a State of Emergency, suspended the Constitution, dissolved the LegCo, and appointed a 14-member Emergency Council comprising four ex-officio members, including the British High Commissioner, Sir Denis White, and 10 members nominated by the Sultan.

Negotiations on Malaysia were resumed in earnest following the end of the rebellion. The sultan did not accept the terms that Malaya offered him. When the Malaysia Agreement was signed on 9 July 1963 in London, Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak signed on. Brunei did not. I had been in frequent touch with the Sultan in London, then staying at Grosvenor House. He was very firm in his decision not to join. As a result, after Malaysia was formed on 16 September 1963, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, recalled hundreds of Malaysian teachers and government officers seconded to serve the Brunei administration. Their departure caused a temporary dislocation in Brunei.

Several accounts were given to explain the reason for Brunei's decision not to join the Malaysian Federation. One account cited disagreement over oil revenues as the primary cause. Kuala Lumpur wanted Brunei to hand over control of its oil to the federal government after 10 years. Kuala Lumpur also wanted to immediately tax any new oil and mineral finds discovered after Brunei joined Malaysia and to make the Sultan's contribution of $40 million to the federal revenues compulsory rather than voluntary. The Sultan was said to have found these terms unacceptable.

Another account from Kuala Lumpur alluded to the Sultan's unhappiness over the issue of royal precedence. However, I believe Sir Omar was neither willing to compromise Brunei's control over its oil revenues nor ready to have his privileges as the Ruler of Brunei curtailed. More to the point, the vibes that Sultan Omar Ali felt during the negotiations were that he would become subordinate to Kuala Lumpur's leaders and he would rank behind Malaysian's nine Sultans in seniority, besides giving up a chunk of this oil wealth to KL. When we met soon after Singapore was asked to leave Malaysia in August 1965, he nodded with satisfaction that his decision not to join was wiser than Singapore's acceptance of Malaysia.

Just over two months after Malaysia was formed, on 1 December 1963, the British Colonial Office cut its long-term connection with Brunei. The British High Commissioner in Brunei, no longer called the British Resident, henceforth would deal with Secretary of State for Commonwealth.

When the Labour Government took office in 1964, it became clear that sooner or later they would withdraw their forces from east of Suez. This would jeopardise Brunei's secure position as a protectorate. British advisers pressed the Sultan to hasten the implementation of constitutional reforms so that there could be a democratic government in place. In March 1965, a second general election was held for District and Legislative Councillors. 36 candidates contested for 10 LegCo seats in the 21-member LegCo that would comprise six ex-officio members and five members nominated by the Sultan. 88 candidates fought for seats in four Districts Councils. A large number of candidates contesting under political parties were defeated by independents because the political parties were weak.

On 4 October 1967, Sultan Omar Ali, then aged only 53, abdicated in favour of his 21-year-old son, Hassanal Bolkiah, born on July 1946. It was a strategic move he made to buy time before a British withdrawal. I was invited to the coronation of his son in 1968. Protracted negotiations with the British on Brunei's future continued following the abdication. The Sultan, now the Seri Begawan, dragged out the discussions. He wanted the son to get familiar with the administration. Moreover, his son was only 21 years old. He deflected pressure to adopt the British adversarial Parliamentary system.

He argued with the British that he needed a few years for the young Sultan to learn the ropes and strengthen the domestic situation ahead of any constitutional changes. He bought time from 1963 to 1983, over 20 years, when the British finally withdrew, and Brunei became an independent state. Without the skilful and determined stand taken by Sultan Omar Ali in the full knowledge that he was risking the future of his Sultanate if the British were to leave precipitately, he saved his dynasty, delayed majority rule before Brunei was ready, and secured Brunei's continued defence by an agreement to pay for one British Gurkha battalion that would stay in Brunei but under British control. A discreet presence remained.

The Seri Begawan has preserved Brunei's oil wealth. He left the bulk of his country's reserves with the Crown Agents to manage. He was fortunate that Britain acted with responsibility. Most of all, the Seri Begawan played his hand with considerable skill. He pleaded for time to educate enough local Bruneians who could manage the administration of the country.

Way back in the 1960s, he and I had become close friends. He trusted me because I never took advantage of his friendship to ask for favours. On one occasion, he asked his sons to sit in when I met him and he told them in his presence that I was a friend who could be relied upon.

He wanted the friendship between us to continue with his sons. It has. The close ties continue between the Sultan and his brothers with the present PM and other leaders of Singapore. Less than three years after independence, on 7 September, 1986, he passed away. He was deeply mourned by the people of Brunei. They knew that he had saved their independence and are able to live as they wish, keeping their oil wealth. It was Sir Omar's statecraft. He built the infrastructure of state. By the 1980s, he had given the sultanate's 200,000 people a high per capita income of US$20,000, among the world's most privileged. He strengthened Brunei's Islamic institutions.

Sultan Omar Ali took calculated risks with courage. He has a keen sense of what was politically possible. During the 17 years from 1950 to 1967, he brought economic, social and political developments to Brunei. With two Five-Year Development Plans, he provided for an education system throughout the state.

He built schools to teach English, gave scholarships to promising young students to study in overseas institutions. He provided school children with at least one free meal a day. Religious schools were given high priority. Hospitals, clinics were set up and dental services to schools were provided.

He eradicated dysentery and malaria. He provided electricity for the whole state. He developed the roads and telecommunication system. He reclaimed swamp lands and resettled people.

He set up the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment in 1961, which evolved into the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. The Currency Board was established in 1967. Sultan Omar Ali has ensured the survival of an independent Malay Muslim monarchy at the end of the 20th century.

He has built a strong foundation before passing the mantle to his eldest son. His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has guided Brunei since independence in 1984, a 25-year period, during which Brunei has progressed in material and social terms.

The old Sultan would have been happy to know that an independent Sultanate in Brunei has progressed in the quarter century after independence. His son, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, has preserved his heritage. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah has continued to expand the numbers of abler Bruneians who are educated abroad, and created a thicker layer of the higher educated and well-informed elite.

It was good for Brunei that at the time it became independent, the leader of Asean was President Soeharto of Indonesia. He knew that I was a good friend of the Seri Begawan. So he asked me to invite Brunei to join Asean. Brunei did join and become a member of the family of Asean states. This consolidated Brunei's sovereign status, especially when it was recognised by its neighbours. Joining Asean also reduced the dangers of conflict between Brunei and its neighbours.

The close friendship and mutual trust that the father established with me have continued in the leaders of the next generation. This is a special relationship. We are the two smallest countries in Asean. One natural area of cooperation is defence, where our two countries have a longstanding, deep and extensive relationship that goes back to 1976. There are extensive interactions between the two Defence Ministers and the Armed Forces at all levels, from the ministers to the younger officers.

All Singapore Prime Ministers and Ministers have scrupulously followed my policy of never taking advantage of our close friendships with the Brunei Royal Family, their Ministers and officials.

The two armed forces train together in Singapore and Brunei on a regular basis. They conduct seven joint exercises annually. The Singapore armed forces is particularly grateful for the opportunity to conduct some of its training in Brunei, given Singapore's land constraints.

RBAF officers and soldiers attend a wide range of military courses in Singapore, together with their Singaporean counterparts. These range from technical courses to Officer Cadet School and the Command and Staff Course. Likewise, SAF officers attend courses in Brunei such as the executive development programme and the RBAF junior staff course. A recent addition is the scholars exchange programme for scholars from the defence establishments of both countries before they depart for their studies. These exchanges have enabled the officers to enhance their military knowledge. More importantly, they get to know one another at a personal level. Such interactions provide the foundation for ensuring that the relationship between our two armed forces remains strong in the coming years.

Another important area of collaboration is the Currency Interchangeability Agreement. In December 1964, a year after Malaysia was formed, the Malaysian government decided to terminate the Board of Commissioners of Currency and to issue a new currency for Malaya, Singapore and the Borneo territories, including Brunei.

The Malaya-British Borneo Currency Agreement was terminated two years later. The Malaysian government in Kuala Lumpur declined Brunei's request that it be given a seat on the policy-making body. Also, Malaysia opposed Brunei's request that the portrait of the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia should not appear on the new notes. Hence, Brunei enacted legislation in January 1967 to form its own Currency Board.

Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore adopted a Currency Interchangeability Agreement, which allowed our currencies to be accepted interchangeably in the three countries.

Although Malaysia withdrew from the Agreement in May 1973, Brunei and Singapore have maintained the agreement till today. In June 2007, His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong celebrated the 40th anniversary of this Agreement and jointly launched two $20 polymer commemorative notes in Bandar Seri Begawan to commemorate the event. This agreement reflects our long-standing friendship and mutual trust, and has deepened economic ties between Brunei and Singapore.

Singapore's leaders have continued the close ties with Brunei after my long association with the Seri Begawan and his sons. This association has endured and flourished because it is based on mutual respect and trust, and utmost good faith Future generations of leaders and officials should build upon and enrich this special relationship.

The history of Brunei has been a most unique and unlikely story of a Sultanate that has survived into the 21st century as an independent oil-rich state in a turbulent part of the world. Singapore and Brunei share fundamental similarities. I remember during one of the Seri Begawan's visits to Singapore after our independence, he had smiled broadly and, with his eyes twinkling and his moustache twitching, said, "You are now like Brunei. It is better for you."

As small states surrounded by bigger neighbours in an increasingly uncertain and complex world, we share similar aspirations and concerns. We can complement on our respective strengths to enhance our development and growth. Both bilaterally and multilaterally with our other partners in Asean, we can help Asean become an integrated, stable and thriving regional association at peace with one another and at peace with our larger neighbours, including China and India.

This is my favourite part of the speech:

I remember during one of the Seri Begawan's visits to Singapore after our independence, he had smiled broadly and, with his eyes twinkling and his moustache twitching, said, "You are now like Brunei. It is better for you."

S-League unveils Brunei DPMM as 12th team for 2009 season.

The S.League has confirmed today that Brunei DPMM will be the 12th team in the competition for the 2009 season.

They will replace Chinese Dalian Shide Siwu with the new campaign kicking off on Monday 16th February.

S.League CEO Winston Lee said, "We are delightedto welcome DPMM FC to the S.League.We were impressed with their proposal including their management capabilities.Our clubs playing their away games against DPMM FC in Brunei and will definitely add to the excitement of the league and will also provide better exposure and branding opportunities for the S-League and our partner."

Brunei DPMM FC will be based at the 30,000 capacity Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Bandar Seri Begawan,Brunei. In a first for the S.League, league matches will be played outside Singapore with the other 11 teams flying to Brunei to take on DPMM FC at least once each during the season.

Said Brunei DPMM's Vice Chairman, YAM Pg Anak Abd Rahim, "The idea of playing in the S.League came about a couple of seasons ago.The S.League is very competitive and DPMM FC are looking forward to the challenge pf playing one of Asia's top 10 leagues.The inclusion of teams from Japan and Korea makes the s.League very exciting too, so it was a simple choice for us to be a part of this."

Brunei DPMM FC is coached by Croatian Vjeran Simunic and will make their S.League bow on 27th February when they take on Young Lions at the Jalan Besar Stadium.

Their first S.League home game at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium will be on 5th March against 2008 runners-up Super Reds.

(From: DPMMFC Official website)

Brunei DPMM to Join S-league??

Jason Thomas

DPMM FC yesterday confirmed rumours that they are interested in playing in the Singapore League (S-League) subject to approval from the International Federation of Association Football (Fifa).

The Brunei Times on Jan 10 quoted DPMM FC team manager Pg Waslimin PSJ Momin as saying that the club was “looking at other alternatives such as playing in other foreign leagues” since it was banned from playing in the Malaysian Super League by the Football Association of Malaysia after the Registrar of Societies (RoS) deregistered the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (Bafa) in November for failing to submit its activity and financial reports as requested.

Pg Waslimin travelled to Singapore this week to meet Football Association of Singapore (FAS) and S-League officials and yesterday revealed that there was still hope for competitive football this season.

“There are still a few matters to be resolved such as the home and away format and approval from Fifa,” Pg Waslimin told The Brunei Times yesterday.

“But in Fifa’s eyes Bafa is still the governing body for football in Brunei.

“The S-League has talked to the chairmen of all the clubs (in Singapore) because we want to play our home games in Brunei.”

Set to kick off on Feb 16 and end on Nov 8, the S-League will involve 12 teams with each side playing a total of 33 matches during the 2009 season, which is divided into three rounds.

Pg Waslimin added that the club would be happy if it could play a third of their games at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas, but admitted that he was resigned to the possibility of S-League officials denying the request.

With only three weeks to go until the season kicks off, fixtures need to be reworked to accommodate DPMM FC and S-League clubs might be hesitant to agree to the idea.

“Whatever it is, the ball is in their (S-League officials) hands,” said Pg Waslimin, adding that the club would also be able to compete in the Singapore Cup.

Bafa’s status and the possibility of DPMM FC joining the S-League will be on the agenda during Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) executive committee meeting early next month, with S-League officials expected to confirm DPMM FC’s inclusion either next Wednesday or Thursday.

Bafa secretary-general Pg Matusin Matasan was also fully behind DPMM FC joining the S-League, but said that the matter was one which needed to be resolved between FAS and Bafa.

“It has nothing to do with Fifa … this is only between the two associations,” he said.The Brunei Times

National Day rehersal week 2

Hi all,

Hmm..its another rehearsal week.. it was fun...and bnyk kenal new people.. :P sori aku ni nama lupa sja..ahaha. Anyways...now i can do the shuffle..ehe easy meh~ ;) . I think this year will be a blast since its Brunei's 25th National Day.. Yes people..our independence day... I should propose that we have a celebration in culture and historical activities.. Like buat persembahan kebudayaan which includes tarian, drama pentas and so on but that will be another case.

A couple of days ago, we had a crew from RTB filming our rehearsal. It was quite nice actually..ehehe since we're almost "hafal" all the moves by now. Hehehe...

All right then, thats it for now.. take care.