Red Crescent Association holds year’s first meeting

Liza Mohamad     |

THE first National Executive Board Meeting of the Brunei Darussalam Red Crescent Association Session 2013 to 2015 was held at the association’s branch office in Kuala Belait.

The association, at its 4th Board Meeting, appointed four new Executive Committee Members for the new session at National Stadium in Berakas. By member votes, the new President Awg Hj Julaini bin Hj Abd Latip, Vice President Awg Chai Yum Fat, Secretary General Awg Hj Sheikh Abdul Kadir bin Abdullah and Treasurer Pg Hj Yussof bin Pg Hj Bahar were appointed.

The first meeting, chaired by Awg Hj Julaini, discussed various agendas which included transforming the association to ensure relevancy, to be more resourceful not only its members but also the community at large and to address its inadequacies for effective and quality delivery of humanitarian services.

The new executive members of Brunei Red Crescent Association with other Red Crescent members in Belait. – LIZA MOHAMAD

He said that at the meeting, the members agreed to line up programmes for youths. The association is also entrusted to develop strategies to identify youths who have the potential to hold executive positions in order to advance and mobilise the association.

The association approved a special budget for the position of Director of Youths as members realised the significance of youth management as they were our future leaders, he said.

The association will provide first-aid courses or emergency response training and impose fees in line with the practices of Red Crescent Associations worldwide.

The Brunei Red Crescent Association will also sign Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with other Red Cross Associations in Asia to enhance its training programmes.

It will invite members from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent to hold dialogues on how to develop the association.

“It is also our priority to revise the board and to boost our financial standing through various activities that could help us to increase our funds. We also hope to see the number of our members and volunteers growing for the nation’s growth,” he added.

The meeting also re-structured the organisation’s positions nationwide, and discussed future visits to Red Crescent/Red Cross Associations overseas as one of their main activities.

Awg Hj Julaini urged youths to take part in the association’s work, that are not only limited to providing medical aid but covers other aspects of humanitarian work.

The association is striving to develop a humanitarian assistance unit and will continue to cooperate with the government and other NGOs.

Anyone interested in becoming a member of the association can e-mail his or her particulars directly to bdredcrescent@gmail.com.

- Borneo Bulletin Online - January 13th, 2014.