Lest We Forget

DOWN MEMORY LANE WITH BORNEO BULLETIN ARCHIVES

Triplets double up

April 19, 1986 – Two women in Papar and Beaufort gave births to triplets recently.

Shown are three healthy baby boys born at the Papar Hospital to

Sami Surat, of Kampung Lingan in Papar.

The first was born at 8.45am and weighed 5 lbs 14 oz, the second arrived at 9am and weighed 5 lbs 1 oz, while the third made his debut to the world 10 minutes later, weighing 4lbs 8 oz.

Both Sami and her sons are doing well and her husband, Muhammad bin Lapi, is reportedly delighted with the sudden expansion of his family.

In Beaufort, a woman from Kampung Brunei Membakut gave birth to two girls and a boy.

Mighty mouse douses power

April 24, 1996 – It was indeed a cat and mouse game that caused the three hour black out in the city on Saturday and not a mere ‘power play’ according to officials at Electrical Services. They blamed a fat rat for causing the sudden power crisis.

The rodent had been electrocuted when it tried to bite into the wires of the switchboard at a commercial complex, thus tripping the electricity off.

In a statement yesterday the department said its personnel discovered the culprit when they visited the building to restore the power.

Due to the unavailability of the building’s owner’s representative, who is responsible for rectifying the fault and switching the supply back, the power could not be restored immediately the department added.

The department also said that very often electrical switchrooms of buildings are flooded with water.

Many of the switchboards in other private premises are also in a mess with rubbish discarded all over the rooms.

The hazardous conditions are always the main cause of the interruptions of power supply. Building owners are being constantly urged to maintain cleanliness in the building switchrooms the department added. – Syed Rory

Asthma now number 1 killer

April 13/14, 1996 – Are cats killing people in Brunei? That is one question some medical people are asking.

An unusually high number of deaths are taking place in Brunei from asthma and doctors have been at a loss to find out the cause.

In Brunei in many instances at least one member of the family suffers from the condition. In a number of cases children are the victims and some medical people are wondering the unusually high number of household pets, particularly cats, could be the cause of these asthma deaths.

Cats are so popular in Brunei that some homes keep as many as 20, as pets.

Excessive breathing of the fur of the animal could cause an allergy on people susceptible to the disease, a doctor said.

A medical dictionary says that asthma is a chronic respiratory disorder characterised by recurrent paroxysmal coughing caused by spasms of the bronchi or diaphgram and due in many cases to an allergic reaction.

But there can be no conclusive evidence, unless a extensive study is conducted, that the cats are the killers, said a doctor. But he suggested those who suffer from the disease to keep away from cats as a precaution. – Ignatius Stephen

Eagle eye on Brunei Bay

April 12, 1996 – The Brunei Marine Police have enhanced their watch in the Brunei Bay and adjacent offshore areas as foreign registered fishing trawlers have begun intruding into its territorial waters.

During the past week, two vessels have been intercepted and fishermen who entered into Brunei waters detained for questioning.

The vessels were also held.

Sources would not say which country the boats belong to but said they were form “a neighbouring state”.

Brunei waters are a good fishing ground especially in the Champion area where oil drilling activities are being carried out.

The latest vessel to be seized was sighted at Champion 7 region and was escorted to Muara recently.

It is understood seven men on the boat are being questioned. – Ignatius Stephen