Sultan Presents Keys To New House owners And Lands To Landless

Bandar Seri Begawan - His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, yesterday presented land lots and keys to new houses under the country's various housing schemes for the Brunei Muara District to a total of 190 recipients.

The last presentation of the Kampong Ayer resettlement scheme at Kampong Rimba and Kampong Mata-Mata Gadong was held June 5 last year.

After presenting the land lots and keys, His Majesty proceeded to visit two educational institutions and several recipients of new houses as well as government and public sector's infrastructures and businesses.

His Majesty began by touring the Rimba Dua Primary School. To mark the visit, His Majesty first planted a mangosteen tree at the school compound.

The school is aimed at accommodating pupils from the Kampong Rimba Housing Scheme and its vicinity. The school cost more than three million dollars and was built on a point 5 hectare site.

Among the school's facilities are administration' office, a multipurpose hall and internet facilities. It can accommodate more than 1,000 pupils and is equipped with modern teaching facilities.

Currently, it has about 800 pupils, most of them are residents of the Rimba Dua Housing 9 Scheme itself.

The construction of the school is in line with the government's mission to establish at least one primary and one secondary school in each Mukim nationwide.

Before leaving, His Majesty's also signed the visitors book.

His Majesty then moved on to the Jerudong International School (JIS) where he was greeted by Pehin Dato Awang Haji Yahya, the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, who is also Chairman of the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA) and by Doctor Haji Mohd Amin Liew,the Acting Managing Director of BIA,  who is also Chairman of the Jerudong International School's Board of Directors.

His Majesty toured the science laboratories, the gymnasium, the swimming pool and IT suite, the library and the music room.

The Sultan talked to students and teachers on their impressions on the school and curriculum. Situated in a 64-acre land, the school was officially opened in January 1997.

To date, more than 1,000 pupils and students from pre-school to secondary level are attending classes at the school. The students hail from 40 countries, with 30 per cent being students from within the country.

It is well-equipped for various aspects of contemporary education, including ICT facilities, library, specialist areas for the teaching of individual subjects, science laboratory and suites for art, music and technological design.

From the Jerudong International School, His Majesty proceeded to visit and informally mingle with members of the family of one of the recipients of new houses under the Kampong Ayer Resettlement Scheme at Kampong Rimba and Kampong Mata-Mata Gadong. In addition, the recipients of houses under this scheme are also located at two other places, Kampong Mentiri and Kampong Lambak Kiri.

The presentation of land lots and keys was a clear proof of His Majesty the Sultan and the government's determined efforts towards implementing national policies geared towards providing landless citizens with lands and houses of their own.

His Majesty moved on to the residence of Awang Puspa Wira bin Haji Mohammad Noor, the Ketua kampong of Kampong Rimba. Kampong Rimba has more than 5,000 residents.

The Monarch also took a first-hand look at the Gadong Power Station 2 at Jalan Batu Bersurat in Gadong. The Gadong Power Station is the main supplier to the distribution owner stations in the Brunei Muara District.

To meet the increasing demands for energy in tandem with national development, additional generation capabilities will be enhanced and the transmission and distribution networks will continue to be strengthened to ensure a continuous, sufficient and reliable energy supply.

In terms of energy, the government has allocated more than $500 million or about seven per cent of the country's total development budget.

His Majesty next turned his attention to Industry by first visiting the Beribi Dua Light Industrial Estate, where among others, there is a concentration of motor car retail outlets.

The Sultan first visited the Grand Motors Company which was established in 1987 with a Japanese car manufacturer.

In 1996, Grand Motors offers various types of vehicles from family cars to business and four wheel drive vehicles.

While at the Grand Motors Company, His Majesty witnessed the presentation of a replica key of a van donated by the company to the Special Education Unit.

The Sultan was then invited to another car company, Worldwide Motor. The company was established in 1975 and assumed fully distributorship of cars made in Malaysia. Twenty nine of the company's total workforce of 34 employees are locals.

Next came a visit to the nearby QAF headquarters. His Majesty was greeted by Pengiran Muda Abdul Qawi, the Deputy Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of QAF Brunei Sendirian Berhad.

The principal business activities of QAF Brunei are an investment holding company with diverse investments, including in news media and commercial printing, retailing, restaurant, communications and automobile distribution.

From the QAF centre, the Monarch moved on to the Kingston Beverage and Creamery Sdn Bhd. Here, His Majesty's observed how locally-made ice cream was produced. The company has been manufacturing and distributing beverage and consumer products since 1989.

Wholly Bruneian-owned, the company, apart from making ice-cream, is also a franchised bottler of a popular light drink. His Majesty's took a closer look at the preparation process in making canned drinks and ice cream.

During the visit, His Majesty was briefed by Awang Malcom Lim, its Managing Director. Since it was established in 1976, the company continues to progress by producing various flavoured drink.

The Brunei Press Sdn Bhd was the next destination for the Monarch. The company was established more than 50 years ago. Today, it is one of the most established and largest local printing companies in the country. The company publishes two daily newspapers.

Jati Transport Sendirian Berhad Company was next in His Majesty itinerary. Jati Transport Sendirian Berhad is the sole distributor of luxury cars in the country. The company has 77 employees, 63 per cent of whom are Bruneians

Brunei Industrial Development Authority (BINA), an agency under the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources was also visited by His Majesty. BINA is a one- stop agency responsible for the processing of applications for industrial sites and industrial complexes in Brunei.

Its functions, among other things, is to process applications from local and foreign business ventures, that wish to set up industrial activities requiring its industrial sites. In that process, BINA also coordinates with other government agencies for various approvals such as pioneer status, certification, tax exemption and labour licences in order to expedite the project to begin operations.

His Majesty also visited the residence of Awang Haji Nayan Bin Haji Mohammad, the Ketua Kampong Mata-Mata Gadong. He was appointed ketua kampong in 1994. Apart from Kampong Mata-Mata, he is also entrusted with watching over the residents of other housing schemes within Kampong Rimba.

The Sultan ended his visit by consenting to have clinched at a hotel in Berakas.

The government of His Majesty the Sultan implements the national housing scheme and the Indigenous Citizens Land Scheme with the primary aim of providing well-organised and comfortable housing.

According to statistics of the Housing Development Department, there were 1,450 applicants from throughout the country for housing under the national housing programme in 2004.

There were only 60 applicants for housing under the Indigenous Citizens Land Scheme during the same period. -- Courtesy of Radio Television Brunei

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