I am one of the residents who live in Kg Menteri Housing Scheme Jalan Kota Batu. Here I would like to tell the dilemma of not just my house but nearly all houses belonging to half of the population of the housing scheme.

I have been living here for nearly ten years and I applied for an extension to make my house a bit bigger since I have a big family.

Not even reaching a year the walls are cracking, breaking and even the beams are falling off.

The floor is not stable and everything is leaning including the windows and doors.

To tell you, it is really a nightmare. It's frightening to even sleep there but there is nothing I can do since that is the only home my family has, to live in.

Needless to say it's totally unsafe.

Now most of the houses that are leaning with cracks can even be seen from a distance. Even drains of several houses are tilting.

We have lodged several complaints to several government departments but till now more than 6 years nothing has been done.

I think they will only take action may be one or two houses collapsed. I hope RTB could come to our village so that everybody could witness the condition we are living in.

- Living in Fear

There was this TV programme on the Justice Advocate General dealing with laws of the seas that I used to really looked forward to every Tuesday night on Star World.

It was called J.A.G with top actress Catherine Bell and the dashing David James Elliot ruling the courtroom with the same vigour they bring thrilling action from all over the world to the series. The adventurous law enforcers were seen combing the earth for terrorists and other such elements of disaster providing a great adrenaline rush to viewers.

They did their job with a lot of energy plus wit and even a dash of romance while bringing the perpetrators to justice, with minimum violence.

Sad to say though since nearly two year now, it has been missing from our Astro's Star World.

Why don't we bring this thriller back on screen?

J.A.G, tipped as one the most popular shows is still running in other countries to very high viewer ratings. I can't see any reason why we would have any objection to it being shown here unless we have an aversion to seeing unhealthy elements brought to justice. Of course unlike most of the shows we see nowadays, it has hardly any violence.

In sad comparison, we are now dished out dry reality shows such as the sleazy 'Casino', Donald Trump's annoying Apprentice, "Crazy things people do" as well as boring high speed chases of cops and bad drivers and never ending cheap so called "romances" where hoards of women in skimpy attire try to compete for one man or money.

The indignities the women go though in the process are so demeaning and naturally disgusting to watch.

It didn't stop there - there was also a show with one single woman trying to find 'true' love or money among lots of 'eligible' guys. It was called Love or Money 2 and currently an equally outrageous "Outback Jack".

Leaving aside the cultural calamity these cheap B grade shows could promote among our younger generation in our local society what about common decency? C'mon Astro, what is the entertainment you are trying to offer us here?

Don't blame another country for beaming it here, we can always request for what we want to watch. None of us are getting any of this for free, are we? I can't see any value for money here.

- Thoroughly Disappointed Astro Subscriber

Currently, there is a new private road being built adjacent to the main road at Kg Tanjong Nangka.

The contractor has built an island separating the private road from the main road. This island is too close to the main road and poses considerable danger to motorists.

Could the relevant authority look into the safety aspect of the road before it is completed by the private contractors.

- PajeroCar

As someone who frequents the airport terminal building, I'd be ashamed to explain its state, especially to foreign tourists.

Take for example the aerobridge.

The situation gets worse as one goes through the terminal, especially if one happens to use the airports facilities.

And if one cares to notice nowadays, its looks like an expo centre cum 'pasar'. It's understandable if the authorities are trying to promote Brunei. But from what I hear it's not for free, this so called promotion.

Further more I'm also surprised to hear that RBA staff has no parking space unlike the DCA and police personnel.

- Concerned Local

As Bukit Shahbandar is becoming even more popular with the number of visitors rising, improvements have to be made.

Immediate improvements must be made to the track especially the more dangerous downhill sections of the hill.

We hope that the relevant authorities woud take appropriate actions before visitors get hurt.

- Concerned Jogger

The report on "Gadong shophouse unit ravaged by fire" in Weekend Borneo Bulletin dated February 26, 2005 has prompted me to write on my concerns on some restaurants placing their long gas cylinders inside their kitchens.

Most restaurants have their gas cylinders placed outside their shophouse with grills to prevent them from being stolen.

But there are some restaurants with 3 to 4 numbers of gas cylinders placed inside the kitchen near its exit door. Does this comply with the regulations?

What would be the impact if there is a fire?

- Gas Cylinder, BSB

Since a few years back the car parking area near SOAS College has been very dark with no lights.

It is not safe for the night students who have have to end up parking their cars in the dark.

Most of us are afraid of our vehicles being broken into or even stolen by undesirable elements who could get lured by the bad situation there.

Please light up the area to stop inviting criminal activities.

- Scared Students

Being greatly impressed by the services given by the Microsoft Corporation through their best product "Microsoft Money 2005" I have an opinion that it's about time we manage day-to-day finances with other financial institution such as banks and brokers through web-based applications.

It also offers online payments for outstanding bills, transfer of money and many more.

The product seems to work successfully and has been done professionally.

Why can't we in Brunei offer such services?

Why can't we ask Microsoft's assistance to implement such services here in Brunei?

- Online Users

In the past years, 2 to 3 months onwards we would start to read and see scholars, either from colleges or university, complaining about their delayed allowances.

Every time I read about it, "aren't they so incredibly lucky to study there without having to pay school fees monthly?", kind of question pops into my mind.

I mean being Bruneian (yellow IC holder) is a precious thing as education is free for them. Money is not the biggest problem to get educated if you are Bruneian.

I'm still waiting for the approval of my application to get yellow I/C following my mother's nationality.

I've been through life where education had not been free and easy to achieve.

I had to pay for everything to get educated.

Student pass, monthly fees as well as exam fees to be paid every year from the time I was in primary school until the 1st year of my sixth form studies where I had to leave school due to financial problems.

I want to go to university and have a great future but lack of finances stopped me from getting there.

Consider yourself (Bruneian students) very lucky as you can even apply for scholarships from the government.

Allowance is just a bonus from the state where you are not to supposed to whine about it.

- Education, BSB