BRIDEX Conference 2009

On Tuesday, 11th August 2009, BRIDEX (Brunei Darussalam International Defence Exhibition) Conference 2009 was held at Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam. Many top defence officials from about 25 plus countries came to the conference with the theme, Emerging and Future Security Threats and Challenges. Alhamdulillaah, I came to the conference as one of the ten conference delegates from Universiti Brunei Darussalam. Below are some of the pictures during the one day conference:


Thanks to Uncle Reeda of anakbrunei.org for taking this picture. :)


Networking with Pehin Halbi, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (three from left), and the other top defence officials from the other countries.


During the conference...


Luxurious lunch at the Royal Berkshire Hall, Jerudong Park.


After the conference...


Some of the things that I would like to share during the conference:

1) "What actions have you done to Palestine?", said one of the conference delegates (I think he's from Pakistan) with an angry tone and expression to one of the speakers from Sweden who talked about the Port and Maritime Security (he also mentioned the situation in the Middle-East especially in the Mediterranean Sea) during the conference. I really saluted and respected this uncle for questioning such a brave and risky question during the Q & A and Panel Discussion session. The conference's situation became silent for a while at that time for questioning such a sensitive issue. The speaker replied with a smile and it seemed that he tried to change the topic which made this uncle repeated the question for the second time. Once again, I would like to salute him for being brave to ask such a question to the Denmark's speaker. I felt ashamed and I felt like a coward for being silent with the rest of the delegates. It seemed that I was supporting the speaker. And wallaahi, NO! Ya Allaah, what have I done... I should, at the very least, do something like that for the people of Palestine. It might seem stupid if I did that. but, one day, Allaah would ask in aakhiroh, "What actions and efforts have you done in order to protect the ummah of Muhammad?"

2) "Kita Pengirahkah? Pengiran Anak kali?", said one of the conference delegates to me. Uncle, I'm not one of the royals and I'm not even married yet, haha... xD I'm just a slave of Allah. ;)

3) I found out that two of my students' father who attends my tuition classes, one is the director of Brunei Investment Agency (BIA), and another is the top officials from the Royal Brunei Technical Services (RBTS), attended the conference. And, I realized it after the conference! xD

Hmmm... after attending the conference, I feel like applying for a post of cadet officer next year after I finished my degree program. My plan before this was to apply for master's scholarship of Islamic Finance at UNISSA (and maybe, other universities).

Hmmm... wallaahu a'laam...