Bandar Seri Begawan – Fifty-Seven government officers yesterday completed a four-day writing workshop held by the Language and Literature Bureau.

The Bengkel Penulisan Umum (General Writing Workshop) aimed to improve the officers’ writing skills as part of the bureau’s continuous training to motivate officers in performing their duties.

The participants consisted of officers and staff from the bureau as well as the Brunei History Centre, Brunei Museum and Department of Youth and Sports. The workshop aimed to teach writing techniques to those still new to comprehensive writing as well as to polish the existing writing talents of those with the potential to succeed as capable writers.

Participants were given lectures and took part in discussions under the guidance of workshop advisor Fauzul Na’im Ishak, managing director of Fauzul Na’im Sdn Bhd (Malaysia).

During the closing ceremony yesterday, Acting Director of the Bureau Hjh Aminah Hj Morin, said, “I’m impressed by the number of participants for this workshop and how they have shown their interest and commitment, provided feedback and interacted and shared ideas.”

She added that continues efforts were needed to improve writing skills in the field of writing, particularly for those working as editors, directors, illustrators, photographers or other fields of professional publishing.

“Hopefully, all the efforts made via this workshop will help the bureau to meet its aims, particularly in empowering Bahasa Melayu (Malay Language) as the national language and fostering a reading culture in the nation through the publication of quality books, magazines and journals,” she said. — Courtesy of The Brunei Times

SOME 53 government personnel received their certificates yesterday after completing the ‘General Writing Workshop in the Malay Language’, organised by the Language and Literature Bureau.

The closing ceremony saw the Acting Director of the Language and Literature Bureau, Dayang Hajah Aminah binti Haji Momin as the guest of honour.

In her address, she said, “Officers and staff who hold responsibility should be creative, especially to develop and increase their skills when carrying out their daily duties.

“Aside from the available education, you have to find more knowledge either through reading or attending workshops related to your line of work,” she told the officers and staff.

She also provided several ideas for books and literature given by the participants that had caught her attention, which, according to her, would be worth publishing.

Among the book ideas linked with the Bruneian culture were `Uniknya Brunei’, `Jatuhnya Pelajar Satu Tinjauan Dari Sudut Jenayah Syariah’, ‘Dakwah dan Air Mata’, `Awet Muda Dengan Ulam-ulaman’ and several others.

The participants came from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, Language and Literature Bureau, Museums Department and History Centre.

Facilitating the workshop was an invited Malaysian lecturer, Encik Fauzul Na’im Ishak, who exposed participants to various writing techniques.