Fire Traps And Squalor In Matan And Kianggeh
By Lyna Mohammad

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei Muara District Officer, Dato Awg Hj Harun Hj Ismail, yesterday morning led a massive joint operation involving enforcement and other officers from various government agencies.

Agencies involved were the Brunei Muara District, Brunei Police District, headed by Assistant OCPD Brunei, Supt. Pg Sulaiman Pg Hj Mohammad and assisted by DSO Brunei, ASP Ariffin Hj Jafaruddin, Fire Services, Internal Security, DES, JKR, Labour, Religious Affairs and the Mukim Head of the inspected areas. The operation was a follow-up to the last Operation "Sepadu".

The operation was held to look for houses illegally rented out, illegal wiring, houses in poor condition, fire hazards and other violations. The areas inspected were the squatter area in Kg Sungai Kianggeh, which is reported to be a frequent hideout for immigration offenders, and Kg Sungai Matan.

During the operation that lasted till early yesterday afternoon, several houses were found to have been allegedly rented out by the owners without authorisation from the relevant agency, in this case the Brunei Muara District Office. Some of the houses were allegedly built without proper procedure and approval from the agency concerned.

The Brunei Muara District Office will contact the owners who have allegedly rented out their houses without approval from the department.

The landlords of rooms in Kg SE, Matan, which were alleged to have been divided into several "cubicles" without authorisation, will also be contacted for further action, while a follow-up inspection will take place in a month's time.

The cubicles in Kg Sg Matan are allegedly rented out to a local cleaning company for accommodating its workers but the living conditions were allegedly in a poor state.

Furthermore, the wiring was deemed unsafe as it was allegedly installed without proper procedure and approval from DES, which could be a fire hazard. More than 100 tenants occupy the cubicles.

According to Head of Safety and Enforcement Unit of DES, it is an offence to install and supply electrical circuit without authorisation and approval from DES.

A suspect could be charged under the "Perintah Akta Elektrik Pindaan 2002" which provides for a penalty of a maximum fine of $10,000 or five years' jail.

The Labour Department with the assistance of the relevant agencies involved in the operation will take any action in connection with any alleged offence. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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