TEMBURONG, Wednesday 14 August 2013 – With 24 MinDef scholars in total, the brightest minds of both Brunei and Singapore took part in the annual 6th Brunei-Singapore Defense Scholars Development Programme.The programme aims to create long lasting ties between the two nations on both personal and bilateral levels while molding the scholars into capable leaders through self-discovery.
The programme consisted of two phases, where it started with Singapore phase that held from 30th July to 4th August 2013 at the Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute – Military Institute (SAFTI –MI), Republic of Singapore. It was then followed by the Brunei Darussalam phase that was held from 9th August to 14th August 2013 at Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (SHHBIDSS) and Trandie Marina Resort, Ulu Temburong.
In the Singapore phase, throughout the 6 days, the scholars did exercises and group discussions that helped us to clarify and visualize our personal values, vision and life purpose. In addition to these leadership courses, we were also brought on the battlefield study tour where we learned about the fall of Singapore during the Second World War. The battlefield tour was an especially emotional experience as we learned about the sacrifices of the soldiers who came before us.
We had the opportunity to join the Singaporean community in celebrating their National Day during the final preview. The Bruneians were able to gain an insight into the patriotic spirit of the Singaporeans as we watched the various processions and performances. The Singapore phase ended with all scholars looking forward to meeting again in Brunei in an action-packed setting.
In fact, the Brunei phase did indeed live up to our expectations as a physically demanding and challenging experience. From the 9th to the 14th August, the 24 scholars took their theoretical learning from the Singapore phase and had the opportunity to apply it to a team-based and competitive setting. In addition to doing the physical activities, both Bruneians and Singaporeans were able to learn more about the Bruneian culture and what Brunei has to offer.
As the Brunei phase was centered on competition, the scholars were organized into different syndicates that participated in a variety of activities, including the creation of syndicate flags and the final-day business challenge. In the face of such physically rigorous exercises such as the Selapon jungle-mud trekking and river crossing, we were able to foster our spirits of camaraderie and teamwork. We experienced the tranquility of Brunei’s untouched forests through the Canopy Walk of Ulu Temburong National Park and the Negalang Night River Safari. On a personal level, many of us were able to conquer our fear of heights as we climbed up towards the Canopy Walk. Amidst our boat ride around the Negalang mangrove forests, we had the chance to catch a glimpse of proboscis monkeys, crocodiles, and fireflies in their natural habitat. Besides the nature of Temburong, we also gained a taste of the district’s local culture during our Bangar Exercise. This involved us learning Murut and Iban phrases as well as purchasing ingredients for ambuyat and asam pedas, two local delicacies.
The Brunei phase fortuitously fell during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri period, giving an opportunity for the Singaporean scholars to experience the festivities. Not only did we attend two Open Houses of the Dato’ Commander and the Permanent Secretary (Defence Policy and Development), but we also managed to interact briefly with the royal family during the Hari Raya public reception at the Nurul Iman Palace. From these visits, many of the Singaporean scholars admired the closely-knit Bruneian community.
On another note, this is the first time that the Singapore phase has preceded the Brunei phase. This was due to the timing of the fasting month of Ramadan, so intense physical activities could not be scheduled then. Despite scheduling difficulties, the execution of this program demonstrated the extent of the commitment of both sides to our long-standing relations.
Even within a short time period, we managed to establish close friendships with the Singaporean scholars. Hopefully we will continue to not just promote but enhance these relationships for the better of both nations as we continue on our journey of self-discovery and personal development.
TEMBURONG, Rabu 14 Ogos 2013
– Program tahunan 6th Brunei-Singapore Defence Scholars Development
Programme di antara penerima-penerima biasiswa Kementerian Pertahanan
Negara Brunei Darussalam dan Republik Singapura telah berlangsung pada
30 Julai hingga 14 Ogos. Program ini terbahagi kepada dua fasa iaitu
fasa Singapura dan fasa Brunei. Fasa pertama ialah fasa Singapura yang
dijalankan di Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute – Military
Institute (SAFTI-MI). Fasa pertama di Singapura lebih tertumpu kepada
pembentukan karakter (character building) para peserta menerusi aspek
pembelajaran dalam bentuk kelas konvensional.
Umumnya, fasa ini bertujuan untuk
membekalkan para peserta dengan pengetahuan dalam bentuk teori dan
praktikal bagi melahirkan generasi pemimpin yang berilmu, kalis dugaan
serta berupaya menggalas tanggungjawab dalam dunia yang serba-serbinya
semakin kompetitif. Di samping itu, pelajar-pelajar kedua buah negara
juga diberi peluang untuk melawat beberapa tempat bersejarah pada zaman
Perang Dunia Kedua termasuk Kranji War Memorial. Lawatan tersebut
melahirkan kesedaran dan perasaan terharu diantara pelajar-pelajar
terhadap segala pengorbanan dan kepayahan yang dialami oleh Pasukan
Regimen Melayu demi mempertahankan negara yang tercinta. Pelajar-pelajar
juga mendapat peluang untuk menyaksikan kegemilangan sambutan Hari
Kebangsaan Singapura yang diakhiri dengan persembahan bunga api di
Marina Floating Platform.
Program
latihan selama enam hari di SAFTI-MI nyata berbaloi buat 24 penerima
biasiswa Kementerian Pertahanan dari kedua-dua buah negara apabila ianya
melabuhkan tirai pada 4 Ogos lalu. Majlis penutup bagi fasa Singapura
dihadiri oleh Hajah Suriyah binti Haji Umar, Setiausaha Tetap
(Pentadbiran dan Kewangan) Kementerian Pertahanan dan Tuan Chan Yeng
Kit, Setiausahaha Tetap (Pembangunan Pertahanan) Kementerian Pertahanan
Singapura. Turut hadir ialah Komandan SAFTI-MI, Brigadier Jeneral
Benedict Lim.
Manakala, fasa Brunei yang bermula
pada 9 Ogos sehingga 14 Ogos di jalankan di Institut Pengajian
Pertahanan dan Strategik Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah dan Ulu Temburong,
lebih menumpukan kepada kemahiran para peserta dari aspek ketahanan
mental dan kekuatan fizikal. Fasa ini tidak hanya mengasah kebolehan dan
kewibawaan para peserta dari segi kepimpinan, tetapi juga menggalakkan
cara berfikir yang dinamik dan berdaya saing di kalangan para peserta
dan dijangka mampu menyumbang kepada perkembangan negara masing-masing.
Diantara aktiviti-aktiviti yang dilakukan oleh pelajar-pelajar ialah
aktiviti-aktiviti problem-solving, waterfall abseiling, flying fox, wall
climbing, rafting, mud trekking, serta merentasi hutan dan sungai.
Melalui cabaran-cabaran tersebut, para peserta mengetahui tentang
kepentingan bekerjasama dan bersatu padu bagi meraih kemenangan.
Bagi pelajar-pelajar dari Singapura,
lawatan mereka ke Brunei dimeriahkan lagi apabila mereka diberi peluang
untuk mengalami suasana sambutan Hari Raya dengan melawat Istana Nurul
Iman pada hari raya ketiga dan juga rumah terbuka Pemerintah Angkatan
Bersenjata Diraja Brunei dan Setiausaha Tetap (Dasar Pertahanan dan
Pembangunan) Kementerian Pertahanan.
Sempena majlis penutup fasa Brunei
ini, Setiausaha Tetap Kementerian Pertahanan dari kedua buah negara
iaitu Puan Hajah Suriyah binti Haji Umar dan Tuan Chan Yeng Kit telah
menghadiri majlis penutup di Trandie Marina Resort, Ulu Temburong dan
telah berkesudian untuk menyampaikan hadiah dan sijil-sijil penyertaan
kepada kesemua peserta. Pada keseluruhannya, program ini berjaya
mencapai matlamatnya iaitu untuk mengukuhkan lagi hubungan silaturrahim
di antara Negara Brunei dan Republik Singapura melalui
akitiviti-aktiviti yang dilakukan oleh para pelajar serta melahirkan
bakal pemimpin-pemimpin yang lebih berhemah, dinamik dan berdaya-saing.