No Land Expropriation In Sungai Liang
By Wani Abdul Gapar

Bandar Seri Begawan - Dato Paduka Timothy Ong, Acting Chairman of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB), yesterday assured the residents of Sungai Liang that they have no plans to take over private property in the area for the Sungai Liang Industrial Park.

During the Sungai Liang Methanol Project Public Dialogue and Roadshow at the Liang Lumut Recreational Club (LLRC) yesterday, a question raised by a community member that the land in the Mukim Liang area would be bought over by the BEDB once the project commences.

Dato Ong said there was only one project based in the Sungai Liang Industrial Park at the moment and the BEDB had no plans to take over private property in the area.

He also made it clear to the public that the BEDB will regularly keep the local residents abreast of the Methanol Plant Project's progress.

According to the BEDB, the Land Department has reserved a 271-hectare site for the BEDB to develop the Sungai Liang Industrial Park into a world-class industrial site.

The first phase of the Park includes the clearing and levelling of land for the Brunei Methanol Company (BMC).

In response to a question regarding job opportunities the plant will generate, Dato Ong said that out of 150 jobs created directly by the BMC, the company will try to hire Bruneians for most of its positions.

The BMC aims to fill 90 per cent of all job positions with locals within the first two years.

The BEDB is currently collaborating with the Ministry of Education to see how they can help local students obtain technical positions with the BMC.

Dato Ong said that the BMC has already made plans to recruit local youth from technical schools for training programmes in Niigata, Japan, so they can contribute to the Methanol Plant on their return.

Dato Ong said that "this initiative will not only benefit the Sungai Liang community but Brunei Darussalam as a whole."

Also present on the occasion were Belait District Officer, Hj Mohammad Hj Abd Rahman, members of the BEDB, stakeholders from both government and non-governmental organisations, as well as the Mukim Liang community.

Aziz Latip, Assistant CEO (Business Development) of BEDB, was on hand to elaborate the details of the Methanol Project to those present at the Dialogue.

He declared that Brunei must prepare itself for a future without oil and gas and that Brunei must look to other sources of fuel such as methanol and biodiesel - a measure that the government is now pursuing. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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