DAYANG Hidayah Tul Fitri binti Haji Masri, with 73 per cent, and Awang Muhammad Hazman bin Awang Josli, with 82 per cent, were placed first in a Story-Telling Competition for the female and male categories respectively conducted by the Language and Literature Bureau yesterday at the Multipurpose Hall of the Information Department for the National Representative Selection for the Asean Plus Three Story-Telling Competition in China on October 12-15.

The guest of honour was Dayang Hajah Nortijah binti Haji Mohd Hassan, Acting Director of the Language and Literature Bureau.

During the event, a speech was delivered by the guest of honour stating that the National Level Competition for the Asean Plus Three Story Telling Competition was to strengthen the relationships between the Asean member countries through the cultural cooperation.

“Also, to give birth to and to create a Brunei society, specifically in the generation of children and youth, in becoming a generation that is knowledgeable, informed, visionary, of high integrity, innovative, competitive and advanced in all fields for the betterment of the race, religion and country that we all love,” added the guest of honour.

It was also said by the acting director that story books published by the Language and Literature Bureau are seen as the best reading materials for children aged six to 12 years old with words that are easy, guided by interesting illustrations and parents are recommended to read with their children.

Moreover, the acting director said that the Story-Telling Competition will indirectly give children the opportunity to get in direct contact with culture. Brunei Darussalam, added the guest of honour, has been particularly included in the area of Asean through this programme to strengthen the ties between countries.

The event also saw a speech by the Acting Deputy Director of the Language and Literature Bureau, Awang Haji Sahari bin Haji Nassar, who stated that the competition aimed to choose two participants, one male and one female, to represent the country in the Asean Plus Three Story-Telling Competition.

“What is hoped for by the Language and Literature Bureau with conducting the beneficial and very useful competition is to together aid the government in achieving and realising the National Vision 2035,” said the acting deputy director.

The event continued with the competition followed by a presentation of a video clip of the Screening Level and a Judges’ Summary.

The second place winner for the male category went to Awang Muhammad Khafid bin Sahri with 81 per cent, while the female category’s second place went to Dayang Adilah binti BG (B) DSP Haji Jofri with 71 per cent. Whereas third place went to Awang Mohammad Shayzul Khairuddien Shah @ Mohammad Ryan bin Abdullah with 74 per cent and Dayang Nur Syafiqah Izzati binti Abdullah Aiddey with 67 per cent for the male and female categories respectively.

The aims of the competition were to create healthy competition among children and youth of Asean Plus Three; to foster an interest and love for reading in children and youth; to highlight the role and responsibility of the Brunei Language and Literature Bureau as an Asean-Wide Reading Committee to the Asean Book Publishers Association (ABPA) since 2011; to give inspiration to children and youth in becoming more interested in reading, educated, thus developing their imagination and creativity in creating or presenting stories; to increase self-confidence in children and youths, and providing various emotions and feelings in them and to trigger ideas that are unique and individual in children and youths.