Part of the luxury of Brunei is the level of safety and the amount of trust between neighbors, security and the community. HSE and Security are responsible for keeping residents on camp safe and secure and have been implementing new measures to ensure that individuals living on camp feel at ease in their homes as well as on camp.
In collaboration with the Belait District Police, the following new actions have been added:
Increase in Choking Hours from 9:00 pm to 6:00 am daily, which started on Tuesday, March 10, 2020.
Pictures of Security Guards have been shared with Outpost and Panaga School, to enable community members to familiarise themselves with the guards.
Security Awareness Pack has also been shared with Outpost and Panaga School, to ensure that everyone has the awareness pack handy with them.
Improvement on the Standard Operating Procedures for the Security Guards at choke points and Panaga School.
Security vehicle mobile patrols continue to be stepped up around the Panaga Residential Area.
Other actions that will be implemented soon includes:
A Vehicle Identification System. Samples of the stickers have been produced. Next step will be to identify suitable vendor for the production of the stickers.
A Security Survey QR Code is in planning process and will be launched soon.
While these new actions are being added, there are still steps that you can take to make yourself and your family as safe as possible. Here are recommendations for how to keep yourself safe:
Look and Listen.Be observant and know your surroundings – especially the unsafe areas.
Avoid walking/running along quiet streetsor walkways, especially during dark hours. Do not take shortcuts.
Avoid getting into a conversation with strangers. NEVER give your personal information(NAME, ADDRESS, etc).
Walk / jog / cycle with a buddy.
Avoid carrying valuable items.
Trust your gut. Stay away if it feels unsafe.
What to do… :
If you see stranger(s) loitering around. Stay well away and call BSP Duty Security immediately with details.
If someone follows you on foot, get away from him or her as quickly as you can. Immediately go to a safe place or inform the nearest Security Choke-Points.
If a stranger tries to grab you, yell “HELP!!” as loud as you can and run away.
If someone makes you feel scared, uncomfortable, or confused, get away as quickly as you can.
If you witness suspicious activity, you can call BSP HSE Duty Security at+673 8730905 or WhatsApp to +673 8721041. These numbers are open 24 hours and BSP HSE Duty Security will promptly respond and attend at the reported incident location. They will also liaise with police if necessary.
Many of us care for our furry family members as if they were our own children, but for so many animals in Brunei, having a forever home or even knowing where their next meal will come from is just a dream. Jeremy Ptak has made it his mission during his time in Brunei to extend a helping hand to animals in need. He also makes an effort to educate foster and adopting families about what their pets need to live a healthy, happy life. I myself have rescued animals in the past, including our dog Hera, but after rescuing a 2-month-old kitten named Athena here in Brunei I contacted Jeremy for further advice. The support of someone who has extensive knowledge about caring for animals and about the resources in Brunei goes a long way.
Jeremy’s background has included animals since he was a child. From growing up with pets to working in animal control in Alaska, he has rescued animals from a variety of situations. While in Alaska he worked with others to make sure rescued animals were spayed/neutered, vaccinated and rehomed to good families. When he and his family arrived in Brunei, he saw a need for his experience like never before. He quickly became involved with Care and Action for Strays (CAS), raising donations and helping adopting families get set up for success. In the nearly four years he has been here, he has rescued 30 animals and counting, helping cats, dogs and even monkeys. He has personal experience with many of the issues that arise when rescuing a stray here in Brunei.
His family adopted their dog Milly after they found her roaming around Pandan Five. Soon after getting her home, Jeremy began to notice signs that Milly was ill. He took her to a nearby vet who diagnosed her with parvo, a virus that can spread between canines. In cases where the animal is young, malnourished or left untreated for a long period of time, parvo can be fatal. With care, proper nutrition and medicine from a certified veterinarian, Milly made a full recovery. This experience showed Jeremy how local strays are at risk of illness and death due to poor treatment or just lack of knowledge about the signs of sickness and about proper treatments. With so much information out there it can be overwhelming to figure out what is best. The first and most important part of rescuing or adopting is to make sure the animal is healthy and has no pre-existing illnesses. See the inset for signs of illness that require veterinary attention.
Milly today, happy in her forever home.
After rescuing an animal, take them to a vet you trust to be checked out and vaccinated. Prior to your vet visit, find out what vaccines and booster shots you should ask the vet for. Do thorough research before the vet appointment and/or ask Jeremy for advice on what to ask for. At the appointment you should ask the vet to make an appointment to spaying or neutering your pet. Keep a planner to write down the date for the next set of vaccinations or boosters shots so you can stay organised and avoid missing important vaccinations.
Every month, dogs and cats need flea/tick and heartworm treatment. There are different brands and types for both cats and dogs, so always buy according to your pet’s size and age and take note of how they respond to the medicine. Always read the labels carefully and check expiration dates. When in doubt, consult a licensed veterinarian.
Because of the hot and humid climate in Brunei certain types of skin issues, fungus and ear mites are common. These can be treated with topical sprays, pills, ear drops and even shampoos. Before going forward with any type of treatment, contact a certified vet or reach out to Jeremy, who knows where to get the proper treatments.
Other key things to keep in mind when adopting a pet are grooming, collar tags and registration. Jeremy recommends the groomer “It’s A Ruff Day” located in KB. Along with grooming, they work to find good homes for strays around Brunei. You can find them on Facebook and on Instagram (@itsaruffday). Collar tags are a good idea, as is microchipping your pet in case they run off or get lost. Be sure to include your contact information on the collar tag so whomever finds your pet can contact you. You must register your pet each year for a fee of $8 or face a fine up to $2,000. You can go to Jabatan Bandaran in KB to complete the form and pay the fee.
Many expats in Brunei foster or adopt a pet, but not all families are able to take their furry friends with them on their next assignment. It can be difficult to find available families to rehome your pet to when you leave. You want to be sure the family has the time, desire and means to properly care for the animal. Jeremy can assist with the rehoming process by helping you put together an advertisement showcasing your pet and getting them set up with their new family.
Hera (dog) and Athena (kitten).
For us, rescuing a kitten has been both challenging and rewarding. With every rescue you have to work at their pace to get them accustomed to things they didn’t have before, such as toys, a bed, food bowls and, in our case, a dog. Watching Athena become friends with our rescue dog Hera was a long but rewarding experience, and seeing Athena play with a toy for the first time was oddly simple but extremely exciting. When we first got Athena, she had feline chlamydial conjunctivitis. Although this sounds like a serious illness, it is essentially the cat equivalent of a cold, and with proper medicine she recovered quickly. When I rescued Hera, she came to me with parasites and kennel cough; I was distraught until she was given medication and, like Athena, made a full recovery. Something to keep in mind with rescues is that they likely will become sick due to their past poor circumstances. Try not to get discouraged because with proper medical treatment, they can make full recoveries. Athena is now healthy, happy and has finally warmed up to her new dog sister.
If you feel called to adopt or rescue, feel free to reach out to Jeremy at +673 896 4552. You can also reach out to CAS through their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/careandactionsforstrays/) if you want to rescue, volunteer or donate items. You can also reach out to The Love Paw Sanctuary at https://www.facebook.com/lovepawsanctuary/ for volunteer and fostering opportunities.
On Monday, February 17th, students, families, volunteers and an excited community joined together to celebrate a special occasion. With balloons floating in the breeze, the sound of music and children laughing, and anticipation in the air, the new Early Years Classroom at Pusat Ehsan Al Ameerah Al Hajjah Maryam, KB was blessed and celebrated. This new addition to the school has been years in the making, beginning with the success of a 2018 fundraiser that made this dream possible.
In October of 2018, Outpost, with the help of business owners and the community as a whole, hosted a Panaga bazaar. Business owners, restaurateurs, and many others donated time, services and products to be sold at the Bazaar. Dr. Ceri Powell, BSP’s Managing Director, offered her home as the location for the Bazaar to take place.
(Further prayer before cutting the ribbon on the new classroom.)
The event was a roaring success with over 200 people participating and a total of nearly $10,000 raised for the school, double the initial target set by the team. Sixteen months later, the new addition is finished, ready to be blessed and shown to the community and volunteers who helped make it a reality. After the blessing, Hamimah Hj Sapar, the branch manager, gave a commemorative speech, thanking volunteers and speaking of all the good that this classroom will provide the students and teachers.
When the school started back in 2009, they had only 11 students and two teachers. Now, over a decade later, they have grown to a class size of 53 students and four teachers. This new classroom extension will be able to accommodate 20 students and includes interactive learning areas where teachers are able to work with students in more personalized and effective ways than before.
(Hamimah Hj Sapar gives a commemorative speech.)
“During the completion of the classroom extension, there were challenges,” Hamimah Hj Sapar said in her commemorative speech. “But that did not stop me. I received a lot of support from the government agencies, individuals, parents and guardians who helped with the completion of the extension.”
This school has been a huge help to the students and their families, offering a safe space for them to grow and learn at their own pace. The story and purpose of this school touched the heart of one expat who eventually went on to volunteer as a teacher until she had to leave for her family’s next assignment. Lee Moore first learned about Pusat Ehsan from an article that she read in POP where Hamimah Hj Sapar was interviewed. Lee is a qualified primary school and special education teacher and saw that her talents were needed at Pusat Ehsan. She began as a volunteer assistant for the Early Years class but soon saw that she could help even more. She became a mentor to the other teachers, created visual resources and conducted professional development for the staff, offering students and two teachers.
(OutPost and volunteer picture.)
Now, over a decade later, they have grown to a class size of 53 students and four teachers. This new classroom extension will be able to accommodate 20 students and includes interactive learning areas where teachers are able to work with students in more personalized and effective ways than before.
“During the completion of the classroom extension, there were challenges,” Hamimah Hj Sapar said in her commemorative speech. “But that did not stop me. I received a lot of support from the government agencies, individuals, parents and guardians who helped with the completion of the extension.”
This school has been a huge help to the students and their families, offering a safe space for them to grow and learn at their own pace. The story and purpose of this school touched the heart of one expat who eventually went on to volunteer as a teacher until she had to leave for her family’s next assignment. Lee Moore first learned about Pusat Ehsan from an article that she read in POP where Hamimah Hj Sapar was interviewed. Lee is a qualified primary school and special education teacher and saw that her talents were needed at Pusat Ehsan. She began as a volunteer assistant for the Early Years class but soon saw that she could help even more. She became a mentor to the other teachers, created visual resources and conducted professional development for the staff, offering and implementing strategies for the best ways to supportthe students. During her time volunteering at Pusat Ehsan, she made great memories working with Hamimah Hj Sapar and the other teachers.
One of her favorite parts of volunteering was the relationships she developed with the students in the classroom. “(They) are just so sweet,” she recalled.
(Students, teachers and volunteers dancing after the celebration.)
Since the school is a charity, they rely primarily on donations and the volunteers who work there. Monetary donations are welcomed as are educational items and everyday classroom supplies like paper, laminators and stationary. Specific resources are needed for the special education classes like sensory toys, deep pressure vests, fine motor equipment and other supportive resources. If you feel compelled to help through donations or volunteering, you can contact Hamimah Hj Sapar at her office 8670077 or 3347503.
