True To His Words, His Majesty Gives Away Homes
By Lily B. Libo-on

Bandar Seri Begawan - Surely, charity begins at home. Years back, His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei promised to give home to the homeless Bruneians.

True to his words, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah fulfilled his promises as he presented land titles and house keys to the successful applicants in the Belait and Tutong Districts yesterday.

The ceremony was held at the Sungai Tali Primary School in Kampong Lumut. It began with the recital of Surah Al-Fatihah. The judge of Syariah Subordinate Court of The Belait and Tutong District Awang Haji Hassan led the recital.

His Majesty was greeted upon arrival by the Special Adviser to His Majesty at the Prime Minister's Office and the Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Dato Awang Haji Isa, the Minister of Development Dato Dr Awang Haji Ahmad, the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Dato Awang Haji Adnan, chairman of the board of directors of the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation Pehin Dato Ustaz Awang Haji Badaruddin and the Belait District Officer Awang Adnan bin Haji Hanafiah.

The Belait District Officer Awang Adnan in his welcoming speech said that the provision of houses and land lots is a manifestation of His Majesty's government towards the welfare and prosperity of the residents in the district in particular and in the country in general.

Awang Adnan also touched on the failure of some of the previous recipients of the houses and land lots to pay back to the government.

He said it was not a wise move and the money paid by the recipients was mainly used to build new houses for more homeless recipients.

His Majesty then consented to present land titles to 117 recipients under the Lumut/Sungai Liang National Housing Scheme.

The monarch also consented to present house keys to 19 participants under the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation Housing Scheme for the Belait and Tutong Districts.

Five people also received their house keys under the Kampong Pandan National Housing Scheme.

Doa selamat was read by the Judge of Syariah Subordinate Court of the Belait and Tutong District Awang Haji Hassan.

The school now has nearly 300 pupils. Last year, the school achieved excellence results in the PCE Examinations recording nearly 90 per cent passes. It has four main blocks and has 20 classrooms.

His Majesty then consented to visit the project site of the National Housing Scheme for Lumut/Sungai Liang. The site covers an area of 282 hectares and provides 1,170 lots to cater 7,600 people.

He also visited the residence of the Ketua Kampong Lumut Dua, Awang Hj Mohammad Yassin. He was appointed as the village head since October 1992.

There are three villages in Kampong Lumut Dua namely, Kampong Sungai Tali, Sungai Taring and Sungai Kayu Ara.

Lumut Dua is home to 3,500 people. Nearly 97 per cent of the residents are Muslims and majority are working in the government sector.

His Majesty's next stop was the residence of the Acting Ketua Kampong Lumut Satu, Awang Hj Mohd Shafiee.

The 59-year-old former BSP employee has held the position since September last year.

Kampong Lumut Satu has an area of 53 kilometres which are made up of eight villages. It has more than 4,000 residents.

His Majesty then consented to visit the recipient of the house under the Sultan Hj Hassanal Bolkiah housing scheme, Dayang Sofiah on Jalan Sungai Bakong in Lumut. Dayang Sofiah has been occupying the house since November 2001.

His Majesty's next destination was the Lumut Post Office which has been in operation since March 2001. From January until March this year, the office has sent nearly 44,000 letters.

The Sultan then consented to visit the Noor Laila Jaya Enteprise Company at the Light Industrial Estate Sungai Bera in Seria. The company has been operating since January 1994. It has been involved in various government projects, including operating and maintenance of Sewerage Treatment Plant in Seria.

The company produces various kinds of pipes, water, gas, sewer and corrugated pipes.

With a model of $3 million, the company has an annual production of up to 800 tones. Sixty per cent of its workers are locals.

His Majesty later consented to visit the recipients of the National Housing Scheme in Kampong Pandan in Kuala Belait. They received the 'D' class houses.

The National Housing Scheme provides an easy and interest-free instalment.

At the end of the visit, the Sultan consented to attend a luncheon.

The Doa was read by the Judge of Syariah subordinate of the Belait and Tutong District.

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