(Photo: MFA) Officials from Brunei's Narcotics Control Bureau briefed SMS Masagos on their operations and brought him on a tour of their Preventive Drug Education Gallery. [Click on photo to view Brunei Times video]Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs and Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli has concluded his four-day working visit to Brunei Darussalam from 15 to 18 January 2013.
SMS Masagos led a study visit to the Narcotics Control Bureau and the Pusat Al-Islah, a state-managed drug rehabilitation centre, on 16 January 2013. The visit was also aimed at exploring collaboration between Singapore and Brunei in the fight against drug abuse, particularly in applying the therapeutic community approach in the rehabilitation of drug addicts. Pusat Al-Islah applies a systematic therapy through counselling, vocational training, and bringing together family and community support for the residents of the centre. The centre has so far enjoyed a lower recidivism rate amongst ex-drug abusers through this programme. Singapore is keen to study this further. SMS Masagos also visited the Al-Falaah School and the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Centre for Islamic Studies in Universiti Brunei Darussalam, where he interacted with local students and teaching staff.
SMS Masagos called on Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II Pehin Lim Jock Seng yesterday. Both Ministers reaffirmed the excellent bilateral ties between the two countries. On his meeting with Pehin Lim, SMS Masagos said, “Pehin Lim and I explored further areas of bilateral collaboration, and discussed developments in the region and around the world. On Brunei's 2013 ASEAN Chairmanship, I am confident that Brunei will drive the ASEAN agenda forward. I also expressed our appreciation and full support for Brunei's Chairmanship of ASEAN.”
As part of his visit, SMS Masagos also met Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Badaruddin Othman, Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office Pehin Yasmin Umar, Brunei State Mufti Pehin Aziz Juned, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Halbi Yussof, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Paduka Wahab Juned and other senior officials.
SMS Masagos returns to Singapore today.
. . . . .
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
18 JANUARY 2013