Queries On Shisha Smoking & Illegal Racing
By Sonia K & Za'im Zaini

Bandar Seri Begawan - Shisha smoking, the current trend among youths vastly offered by restaurants in Brunei and the increasing number of youths involved in car or motor racing were among issues raised in the afternoon session on the fourth day of the Legislative Council meeting.

Matters pertaining to land ownership, National Service and other issues in health were also raised.

Touching on the issue of Land Occupancy, council member Awang Haji Bakar said that Temporary Ownership Licence (TOL) owners have asked the council members to propose that the TOL application appeal does not have to be done annually and that it should be continued so long as there is development - as owners are reluctant to continue the payments.

In reply, the Minister of Development Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdullah said TOL is `temporary ownership licence' which means it is only temporary and the reason for it to be centered in BSB is because in the past few years TOL has been given out too much and the situation has become an issue that has made it difficult for the government to conduct developments. This is why it is centered so that the ministry can observe the state of affairs of the TOL and can take note.

Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin, council member, raised the issue on the value of the property market by saying that it has dropped and recommended for it to be monitored and for the rules to be loosen when it comes to buying and selling of property. This is because most of these places are unoccupied. He also suggested for foreigners and permanent residents to buy commercial buildings and houses.

Another council member, Orang Kaya Maha Bijaya Awang Haji Othman bin Uking enquired on the possibility of having a National Service in order to instill responsibilities. He also asked when it would be implemented and at the same time he proposed for a proper race track as a means to prevent illegal late night races.

Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Haji Mohammad, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, in his reply said, "In the matter of National Service, it is under a feasibility study and there is allocation for it. However it is still under study."

As on the request for a racetrack, the minister mentioned, "The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports will try to provide assistance to those who want to organize such races."

Council memberAwang Haji Sulaiman bin HajiAhad enquired on the issue of smoking and if there is an allocation in the law for smokers smoking in public buildings as well as enquired on the status and views of the Ministry of Health on the smoking of shisha.

In response to this, the Minister of Health, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi said, "There is an amendment under the tobacco act which will be implement in the first quarter or mid of this year."

As for the concerns in Shisha smoking, the ministry has already looked into the matter. He said that shisha . has become a favourite of the youth. It has already become a more fashionable way of smoking. He feels that it is a worrying matter and stated that it might be banned in restaurants but will have to wait for the regulations to be ready.

Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin suggested for Medicare-Insurance. He said that in neighboring countries this matter has long existed and that at the moment, permanent residents and foreigners are not eligible for free assistance in the medicare insurance scheme. He feels that it can at least lighten the burden on the Ministry of Health.

In response to Pehin Gob's suggestion, the minister replied that Medicare has been looked into and is still under study because a lot of issues are related to it. On insurance, the public or patient has to pay a bit, thus the issue of payment is sometimes a problem and cannot be decided on. The ministry is concerned on the sustainability of the current system where most of the services are of free of charge. Therefore, the ministry needs to find a way so that the sustainability can be solved. Although the matter is still under study, "we haven't made any announcement or conclusions yet so". -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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