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Tutong Dist Limping Back To Normalcy
By Azlan Othman & Malek Hashim

Tutong – As some areas affected by flash floods and landslides in the Brunei-Muara and Tutong Districts are trying to limp back to normalcy, some are still under chest deep of water with residents hoping there won't be further rain to compound their misery.

In Tutong, the Fire and Rescue Department received a total of 15 distress calls for uprooted trees, to drain out floodwater, landslides and to catch snakes and crocodiles.

Personnel from the Fire and Rescue Department, the Police and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces have been mobilized in the rescue efforts. Field Centres have also been set up in Kg Panchong and Layong and information obtained is being transmitted to their operation room at the Lamunin Fire Station.

He also said the Tutong District Office also held a meeting with relevant agencies and has mobilised boats to ferry affected villagers. The Fire and Rescue Department has also pooled resources while the District Office is playing an important role in coordination.

The Police are patrolling the area and monitoring the traffic while the Department of Electrical Services is busy installing lamps temporarily at areas that need them.

Hj Idris advised villagers affected by the flood to be extra cautious and urged them not to be alarmed as government and non-governmental organizations will be on hand to assist the villagers. "Schools in Kg Bukit Sulang and Kg Menengah had to closed on October 26 as the flood water made it impossible for students to attend classes," said the head of Kg Bukit Sulang.

"Boats provided by the Royal Brunei Armed Forces have helped to transport people in the affected areas and schools were back to normal yesterday," he added.

Meanwhile, Head Master of Kg Benutan Primary School, Yong Ming Chok, said he has sought advice from the Schools Department.

"There need to be adjustments made due to the inevitable changes in schooling days. Students will be given homework and extra classes to make up classes the students have missed. The final exam has to be redesigned as to give more focus on the syllabus covered in classes rather than the standardized one," said Yong.

However, teachers are still required to report for duty. "Even though it is impossible to go to Benutan Primary School, the teachers there have to report at Panchong Primary School, which is the nearest to the school, some 10km away where the water level reaches up to the waistline," said Yong.

For people living and working in these areas of Tutong, flood is a common occurrence. There are currently 12 teachers in Benutan Primary School. One of the teachers said in his one and a half years of working at the Benutan Primary School, he has experienced such floods thrice.

Asked about the examination, Yong said students have taken their PSR (Primary Six) and Primary Three examinations from Oct 11-15. Students who have not taken their exams will do so after the situation gets back to normal.

Meanwhile the village leader of Kg Panchong, Mohd Shah Asnawi bin Abd Rahim, said about half of the population in his village of about 400 residents have been affected by the flood which occurs frequently, with the last witnessed in March this year.   -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Related News: Incessant Rain Causes Landslides, Flooding | Rains Trigger Flash Floods & Landslides | Ministers Tour Areas Hit By Floods, Landslides | Ministers Oversee Relief Works

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