BSB's Hubdred-Year Progress
By Khairunnisa Ibrahim

Bandar Seri Begawan - Bandar Seri Begawan as it exists today is the manifestation of a century's worth of development since 1906, and a special gallery showcasing the evolution is now open to the public at the Bumiputera Trade and Commercial Centre in the capital.

The development of the town is something to be proud of, remarked the Permanent Secretary of Home Affairs, Dato Paduka Awg Hj Idris Hj Belaman, as Bandar Seri Begawan - previously known as Bandar Brunei - has progressed very far since it first moved onto land.

He was speaking yesterday at the ceremony to commemorate the 100 years of the town's development on land, which was officiated by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the I'r1nie Minister's Office.

Also present at the event were the Ministers of Finance II, Home Affairs, Development, Energy and Culture, Youth and Sports, as well as other senior government officials.

The highlight of the ceremony was the launching of the special gallery by the His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The exhibition will be available for public viewing for the next two weeks. Visitors to the gallery will be able to explore a miniature version of vintage Kampong Ayer and view models and pictures of development of the town and its surroundings, as well as a special segment showcasing the rule of the successive Sultans in the last century.

There are also booths set up by several government agencies and private companies that play a role in ' the physical development and expansion of the town. Among these are exhibitions of the roles and functions of the BSB Municipal Board, Public Works Department and the Town and Country Planning Department.

Apart from the exhibition, other activities to mark the auspicious anniversary also include a bazaar sale, children's' colouring contest, walkathon, song writing competition and radio quiz.

Several religious activities, including a live telecast of a special An-Nur forum organised by Dakwah TV Unit, Radio Television Brunei, have also been held to mark the milestone.

Dato Paduka Awg Hj Idris said that these events are organised not only to mark the centennial anniversary of town building on land, but also to foster the "education and creativity of the nation's youths, including those in the fields of management, planning, building, infrastructure engineering, building and landscape architecture and other professions".

He added that the youths are the essential drivers of development "who can raise the status and profile of Bandar Seri Begawan ... as a safe, peaceful, beautiful and prosperous settlement".

This, he said, can be done by creating concepts and designs of town development that are innovative and responsive to the needs of town dwellers.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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