Source: Borneo Bulletin, Jan 18 2020

The Brunei Association of Japan Alumni (BAJA) held its annual general meeting and the election of new committee members at the Mutiara Ballroom of the Radisson Hotel in Bandar Seri Begawan yesterday.

Deputy Chief of Mission/Counsellor at the Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam Abe Hiroshi was the guest of honour.

Several former members were re-elected including President Dr Hajah Najmina Fairuz binti Haji Abdul Latif who will continue in the post for the fiscal year 2020-2021.

Other re-elected committee members for 2020-2021 are Mohd Sabry bin Haji Mohd Yusof as Vice President, Mohd Raymie bin Haji Othman as Secretary, Dayangku Habibah binti Pengiran Haji Hidup as Treasurer and Munirah binti Haji Mashod as Public Relations Officer.

Hajah Najmina Fairuz said BAJA members’ participation in activities boosted the cultural exchange between Brunei and Japan.

“I am grateful for the enthusiasm of the members who contribute for this organisation. The majority of activities in 2019 focussed on our international partners, the Asia Japan Alumni International (ASJA), to whom we owe so much for our exposure, experience building as well as cultural and educational exchanges.”

More importantly, she added, “ASJA has continued to expose the younger generation of Bruneians to the scholarships offered by the Government of Japan. Two ASJA scholars had commenced their studies in Japan in April and September last year.”

Students Muhammad Ashyiq Naszri bin Masri and Aimi Asilah binti Haji Tajuddin were selected through a screening process for which BAJA collaborated with the Embassy of Japan in Brunei Darussalam.

She said several associations in Japan also coordinate with BAJA to offer short-term programmes for students including the National Institution for Youth Education Junior Exchange Programme (NIYE).

BAJA worked with various schools to send students to junior exchange programmes such as the Toshiba Youth Camp Asia (TYCA) which was held in Tokyo last December.