Brunei Ruler On Whirlwind Visit Of His Domain Once Again

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Brunei monarch His Majesty Sultan Hj Hassanal Bolkiah Hassanal Bolkiah did another whirlwind tour visiting various centres of his domain yesterday.

He called on a timber factory, a school, mosque, settlement schemes, a furniture company and then gave away land and houses to the people.

He first visited Kampong Mentiri to hand over house keys and land titles under the National Housing Scheme in Kampongs Mentiri and Rimba, Gadong in the Brunei-Muara District.

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah was greeted on arrival at the Dato Mohd Yassin Primary School, Mentiri by His Majesty's Special Advisor at the Prime Minister's Office and Home Affairs Minister Pehin Dato Awang Haji Isa, the Development Minister Dato Dr Haji Ahmad and Brunei-Muara District Officer Dato Awang Haji Harun.

The function began with the recitation of the Sura Al-fatiha led by the Judge of the Syari Subordinate Court of the Brunei-Muara District, Haji Johar.

In his welcoming speech, Dato Awang Haji Harun outlined the development and progress and basic facilities provided in Mukim Mentiri.

This included a link road from Jalan Kebangsaan to Mukim Mentiri, which became fully serviceable since 1999.

After the speech, His Majesty handed over house keys to 291 recipients under the National Housing Scheme in Kampongs Mentiri and Rimba, Gadong.

One hundred sixty-two of them were recipients of National Housing Scheme in Kampong Rimba, Phase 1 and 70 were recipients of National Housing Scheme of Kampong Mentiri Phase 4 and 5.

Fifty-nine received land titles from the Brunei ruler under the National Housing Scheme in Kampongs Mentiri and Rimba, Gadong.

After presenting the keys, His Majesty visited the Dato Mohd Yassin Primary School and houses of the recipients of the keys and land titles.

His Majesty first visited the Dato Mohd Yassin Primary School Mentiri formerly known as the Pengkalan Sibabao Primary School. It was first used in June 1999.

The school was renamed after Dato Mohd Yassin bin Haji Metassin, a retired teacher, who officially opened the school on October 14, 2000 in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of Teacher's Day.

The school has 636 students and 40 teachers.

His Majesty also visited the mosque of the National Housing Scheme in Kampong Mentiri. It was first used in December 2000 providing facilities for its worshippers in the area.

The mosque was built under the 7th National Development Plan and its worth $4 million.

Work on the project started on January 16, 2000 and was completed in December 2001. The mosque stands on 2.78 acres of land and can accommodate 1,800 worshippers.

His Majesty was later invited to visit the residence of the Ketua Kampong, Pengiran Haji Alauddin at the Kampong Mentiri National Housing Scheme Area 1.

Pengiran Haji Alauddin, 52, has been the head of the Kampong Mentiri National Housing area since 1997.

At the compound of the ketua kampong the ruler viewed a tricycle display created by Awang Mohd, a resident of the Kampong Mentiri National Housing Scheme Area 1.

The tricycle was used in the bicycle procession during His Majesty's 44th birthday celebration.

His Majesty then visited the residence of the Ketua of the Kampong Mentiri National Housing Area 2, Awang Haji Sulaiman.

Awang Haji Sulaiman was appointed as the village head in September 1997. During His Majesty's visit, Awang Haji Sulaiman showed his skill in playing the flute.

There are more than 5,000 residents in the Kampong Mentiri National Housing Scheme living in more than 800 houses.

His Majesty also visited houses belonging to the new recipients of the keys to their homes and title deeds.

The construction of the houses were completed in 1991, the visit was a manifestation of His Majesty's concern for the peoples' welfare.

He then visited Mangkabao Dam of the Water Services Department of the Public Works Department.

The dam cost $27 million and was completed in January 1999.

The Brunei Monarch then proceeded to the Mangkabao water treatment works. The works with the production capacity of 27.3 million litres per day was constructed to cater for the increasing water demands in the Muara and East Kota Batu areas.

It operates 24-hours a day supplying treated water to the public since February 2000.

The telemetry system for Mangkabao is linked to the Tasek Main Control Centre, providing data on the Mangkabao Dam.

A centralised monitoring and control system is provided to acquire data and to monitor the status of equipment in process parameters and also control functions.

His Majesty also took a closer look at the light industry area under the Brunei Industrial Development Authority (BINA) in Kampong Salar.

His Majesty first stopped at the Fashion Furniture and Construction Company Sdn Bhd. The company was established in 1965 and specialises in the design and production of furniture. It has more than 300 staff.

His Majesty then visited the Joint Venture Timber Company, which produces and supplies treated and sawn timber and reinforced concrete piles, using the most up-to-date equipment.

Mukim Mentiri was the first mukim in the latest series of His Majesty's visits to meet his subject.

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