A Brunei Hainanese triumph

Francis Law Fah Ngin

Reminiscing recent success: Guest of Honour, Dato Paduka Haji Hamdillah, Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary resources cum Chairman of Tourism Board receiving a gift from Han Mei Yuen, chairman Hainan Association BSB during the Opening Ceremony of 10th Congress of the World Federation of Hainanese Associations at the ICC. Picture: BT file photo THE 10th Congress of World Federation of Hainanese Associations held in Brunei ended with a bang on the 16th October. The three-day event provided more than a thousand delegates of 34 associations from 20 countries and regions the rare opportunity to check into the prestigious five-star The Empire Hotel and Country Club, to attend the Opening Ceremony and the Gala Dinner which was held at the majestic International Conference Center (ICC).

They were also welcomed into the world famous Istana Nurul Iman and visited other popular tourist spots in our country. They were immensely impressed by the splendour and grandeur of this land called Puni in ancient Chinese annals. They found Bruneians friendly, hospitable and enjoying a high standard of living.

The environment? Simply great; it is clean and orderly and above all free from pollution. In a world increasingly getting chaotic, with terrorist bombings here and there and limited wars breaking out every now and then, calling Brunei "An Abode of Peace" is indeed accurate and fitting..

Brunei is well known, both in terms of land and population. The Hainanese here number less than four thousand out of a total of around 40,000 Chinese residing in this country. Yet they managed to pull off the 10th Congress! In the words of the Chairman of the Steering Committee, it was a "breakthrough" setting an example for other local associations to emulate. Brunei Hainanese yakin (confident). No doubt about it! The excellent leadership provided by Hainanese Association of Kuala Belait and the Hainanese Association of Bandar Seri Begawan, their teamwork, strong grassroots support and "Hainan Spirit" inherited from their ancestors in Hainan island (now a province) explained their success.

Nevertheless, no objective bystander could fail to observe that strong Government backing contributed to the Hainanese achievement.

When the local Hainanese Associations jointly applied to the Minister of Home Affairs for permission to use the ICC as venue for holding the 10th Congress, approval was promptly given, without any hassle. This was a master stroke enabling Brunei Hainanese to attract their counterparts all over the world to come to Brunei Darussalam, a land hitherto little known for its diversity and splendour. They were immensely impressed when they were actually there in person, feeling proud and honoured. When they returned home, they would naturally give a glowing account of their experience here. What advertising campaign promoting our country can be more effective than this? If ever there were nagging doubts that local associations staging international events might not be favourably considered, such doubts are now laid to rest. According to Mr Han Ming Yuen. Chairman of the KB Association, the ministerial decisiveness really guaranteed the success of the event as could be judged from the enthusiastic response to the heartening news from Brunei. It is now clear that His Majesty's Government would take a positive view of activities like the 10th Congress, seeing it as an opportunity to promote tourism, consistent with Government's strategy to diversify its economy which is heavily dependant on the oil and gas industry.

An eye-opening move on the part of Brunei Tourism Board (BTB) was, that on its own initiative, it organised the reception of our Hainanese visitors at the airport, pinning a flower on the dress of each of them (yes, that means more than a thousand flowers) amid rousing beats of Malay drums (hadrah). What a touching way to make our guests feel welcome! A colourful lion dance might make our oversea Hainanese feel at home, instead our Brunei traditional greeting did just as well. "This is a pleasant surprise," they were heard to have so remarked. BTB's gesture suggests that it recognises the positive role played by local organisations in the development of the national economy.

Another surprise from BTB was its contribution of two lively Malay dances during the Gala Dinner (Suki Night) held at the ICC, namely "Zapin Yasalam" and "Joget Hari Raya", lively music, gracious movements, beautiful costumes, traditional yet with a touch of modernity. This was an evening of cultural exchange and artistic interaction. The ethnic dances performed by our dancers elegantly matched those performances of excellent quality and good taste put up by Expression Music, PDS School and Chung Hwa Middle School BSB. Judging from the generous applause from the audience of more than two thousands diners inclusive of VIPs, invited guests and sponsors, all the participating schools did an excellent job providing the entertainment lasting some five hours. Instead of Hainanese indulging in nostalgia about things connected with the island of Hainan, Brunei Tourism Board helped the Brunei Hainanese to enliven the atmosphere of "Suki Nite", making it a bit more international and convivial, allowing Hainanese worldwide a glimpse of Brunei culture and the flair and charm of Muslims in this part of the world.

In answer to question posed by the Chinese press, our Minister of Religious Affairs was reported to have said smilingly, all non-Muslims even as tourists, who wished to express their admiration and respect for His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam during Hari Raya were most welcome! What? Even a tour group of more that a thousand? Yes no problem! That seemingly huge number doesn't make a difference to the nearly 30,000 visitors a day for three days at the Royal Palace! Not merely sightseeing at the grand palace, each visitor actually had a chance to shake hands with His Majesty and members of his Royal Family, have a traditional meal there and leave with a box of gifts. No wonder our "Suki" (fellow Hainanese) guests were full of praise for our beloved Supreme Leader. Such stories when retold back home will definitely sound like a tale from the Arabian "1001 Nights". Surely, satisfying the curiosity of tourists by allowing them to view and appreciate the treasures kept in the Istana is a trump card our officials in charge of promoting tourism can play!

No one could miss the key part played by Dato Paduka Haji Hamdillah Haji Abdul Wahab, Deputy Minister of Industrial and Primary Resources also Chairman of BTB, in his capacity as Guest of Honour to launch the opening of the 10th Congress.

The Deputy Minister did not just play his part perfunctorily. He turned himself into a super salesman selling Brunei as a promising place for direct foreign investments, an attractive alternative to China which has become the darling of international investors.

In his well prepared speech, packed with facts, figures and persuasive analysis, he invited Hainanese across the globe to come to Brunei to invest, especially in halal food industry. If the Hainanese have been groping for ways and opportunities for economic advancement, whether individually or communally, since the First Congress held in Singapore in 1989, he showed them the way forward. His specific proposal to them was well presented and convincing, betraying his sound understanding of Hainanese potential and capability.

If the talk leads to further visits by potential investors to Brunei for the purpose of carrying out a market survey and feasibility study, one may reasonably expect the next congress to be held in Singapore in 2009 will table a more concrete response for investments.

Meanwhile, the knowledge skillfully imparted by Dato Hamdillah that Brunei has the highest GDP per capita in Asean and second in Asia after Japan. (based on 2004-2005 figures) that Brunei is one of the 12 most happy states in a survey conducted by an institution of learning will sink deep in the memory of the delegates. Those delegates who are prominent community leaders, business tycoons, successful captains of industry and commerce, professionals like lawyers and accountants as well as new generation of university graduates, will go home thinking hard on his statement that Brunei is now actively developing a world class Industrial Park at Sungai Liang, that Brunei is now actively pursuing a more diversified and sustainable economic base by focusing on several key strategic areas such as tourism, halal food, agriculture and fisheries, logistics, transportation and downstream oil and gas industries.

Lastly, the extensive coverage by the press created great impact on the three-day event and on the nation. The Chinese dailies published from the neighbouring states, competing fiercely with pages of colourful pictures highlighting the event, and reproducing information, data and speeches by the organisers but hardly any reports or commentaries.

English language papers like Borneo Bulletin and The Brunei Times appeared to have done much better, the latter even published a Special Supplement to mark the event, a colourful and valuable souvenir to keep for the posterity. Both dailies gave prominent publicity to the community based international event. Their reportage was fair, full and objective; enabling their readers in mainstream society to understand what is really going on in the parochial world of the minority in this country. This is a very positive and reassuring change, a breath of fresh air.

Francis Law Fah Ngin is a retired lawyer residing in Kuala Belait.