Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Bandar Seri Begawan - With the consent of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the government has announced a new policy direction with regard to private properties which were earlier designated as reserved land for access and district roads.

The announcement was made yesterday by the Minister of Development, Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdullah Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, during the launch of the Brunei Darussalam Street Directory 2008.

The minister said that at present, any modifications or developments were not allowed on such private properties. Referred to as "Plot X", a section of the land under such category was utilised by the public for access roads, including land reserved for road development, river enlargement and roads that would be used for public or government use.

Under the new policy direction, the minister said that four issues would be addressed. These issues are: the problem of registered land owners who

had their land used as access roads, land owners who wished to develop their land, ensuring that the land affected were developed for optimum use and facilitating affected land owners who wish to exchange their land with another or want to modify it.

The objective of the new policy order is to accomplish the realisation of land use in a more organised way as well as ensuring its more effective use. The Lands Department will also issue guidelines on the new policy in the near future.

In an interview with Radio Televisyen Brunei, Alimin Hj Kalong, the Acting Lands Commissioner, said that three methods would be implemented to compensate the affected land owners.

The first would be to modify or integrate the land, in particularly those which bordered government owned land. Secondly, the owner of land which is less than 0.167 acres and which cannot be developed, the owner would receive financial compensation. The third step is aimed at land owners, who have 0.167 acres or more land, who would get land in another location.

Alimin said that the choice of method would depend on each individual case. He added that at present, the basic information had been collected concerning the affected land, but it was insufficient to ascertain which method would be appropriate. He added that the department would seek more information about such land. The Lands Commissioner said that the processing of such land would take about six months' time and after that the owners would be informed on their respective situation and the appropriate procedure to be implemented. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times