THE Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has marked another milestone in its drive towards creating a drug-free community in Brunei by signing a memorandum of agreement (MoA) with the Brunei Rugby Football Union (BRFU).The partnership aims to create drug awareness through sports."We appreciate that sports, as part of a healthy lifestyle, is a form of self-discipline, hence a successful deterrent in drug activities," Hj Abdul Aziz Orang Kaya Maha Bijaya Hj Othman, director of NCB, said during the MoA signing yesterday at the bureau's Preventive Drug Education Division at Jalan Tungku, Gadong.

The MoA recognises the importance of working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in aligning the nation's vision and towards the objective of a drug-free community in Brunei, said Hj Abdul Aziz.  The intention of the MoA is to enhance our capacities to assist each other in achieving respective objectives, he added."We now have a framework of cooperations that channel our combined efforts towards that direction with special attention on creating drug awareness through sports," said the director.He added: "Our joint aim is to support and promote each other's activities for a healthy lifestyle through sports and drug awareness campaign."

However, the director said there was still much to be done. "We shall focus on areas where our collaboration can flourish and prosper," he added."I strongly believe that both parties would be able to showcase their roles in promoting healthy alternative activities to the community."The NCB sees the collaboration as a golden opportunity in its drug awareness campaign and fully support the BRFU in their promotion of a drug-free lifestyle through rugby.The signing will be followed up with roadshows, drug awareness programmes, lectures and many tournaments in line with BRFU's 10-year plan to promote rugby in Brunei, a sport which can be viewed as part of a healthy lifestyle choice where the players can be regarded and viewed as role models.

The promotion will further be made through various marketing strategies and advertisement materials, which includes the display of the NCB's and BRFU's logos."We believe that rugby can be used as a vehicle to promote the NCB's anti-drug campaign both nationally and internationally," said President of BRFU Dr Hj Kamaruddin Dato Paduka Hj Talip.Rugby is a sport that involves intense physical contact that instils self-discipline. It is an ultimate team game which displays camaraderie on and off the field, he added."The mechanisms that we intend to promote rugby in the anti-drug campaign is through outreach (programmes), ambassadors and advertisement," Dr Hj Kamaruddin explained."We will be promoting drug-free rugby to players, support staff, juniors, parents and teachers through attendance to rugby events, workshops, training sessions and schools throughout Brunei," he said.

The president added that the BRFU will also put forward their rugby players as ambassadors."We will be using drug-free players to highlight the skills and attributes to be successful as a player and in life.""We will use the partnership with our corporate partners to advertise our commitment towards this campaign. All team rugby jerseys in Brunei will have our slogan 'Getting high on rugby.. Say no to dadah' in its effort to promote drug-free rugby," he added."Rugby is a game for all. It doesn't discriminate gender, race, religion, physical disability or body size and shape. Rugby has modified forms for children and women, we even have wheelchair rugby," said the BRFU president.