Borneo Bulletin Opinion
| Going
berserk on Jangsak road The Jangsak to Beribi road is constantly chock-a-block with traffic, often caused by irresponsible people who not only double but also triple park near the road, hindering the flow of traffic. Traffic police are really needed here during peak hours instead of the orange cones placed in an attempt to stop reckless drivers from using the hard shoulder. This does not really work because people still use it. One often sees parents with children running across the road at points where it is dangerous to do so and cars just stop without warning in the middle of the road to pick up children. What is happening here? Something needs to be done about this reckless endangerment of road users or the private schools, which are located at inconvenient places, should be asked to move! - Trying To Avoid Road Rage |
| U-turn
denied There are a great many U-turns along Jalan Jangsak but after Jangsak Mosque there is only one U-turn and that is at the very end near the traffic lights. Why has the U-turn opposite the shop, which has been there for many years, now been denied? Can the relevant authorities please open up another U-turn for us humble Jangsak residents? - Try You Turn |
| Kg Mata
Mata beats Patchy Patcher's village of bumps We refer to the opinion of Patchy Patcher, in BB May 6, regarding the road with most patches in Brunei, on Jalan Ban, Kilanas. We paid a visit to your fascinating village and unfortunately found that our village roads have more patches than your 'Village of Patches. In comparison, we observed that your roads are wider, patched surfaces are smoother, less speed humps, and at least no cross cuts for pipe lying. Furthermore, your traffic flow was not as heavy as ours. Please visit our Kampong Mata-Mata, on a vehicle with ordinary suspension system, and experience a bumpy ride on the narrow, busy and badly patched roads with never ending speed humps. Higlights of the tour would be the stretch between Spg 84 and Spg 94, with plenty of potholes and deteriorating cracks; Spg 74-59, which has cracks, potholes and small uneven patches all over the rough patched surfaces; stretch between Spg 55-74 and Spg 74-66, with incomplete construction works. - MataMata Motorist |
| How to
pay telephone bills We would like to refer to the article on "Need Better Service" by Disappointed Customer (BB dated May 10 2006) regarding his/her cheque of $100 not accepted by our counter staff for the payment of telephone bill of $28.45. We wish to take this opportunity to clarify the misunderstanding and inconvenience caused. With the corporatisation of JTB to become TelBru as of April 1, 2006, customers are currently receiving two separate bills namely one for JTB, for usage before 1st April 2006 and one for TelBru thereafter. Though payment for both bills can be made through TelBru's counters, the sum will be debited into separate accounts. In the case of Disappointed Customer's grievance, should our counter staff accepted the cheque, he/she would have overpaid to the soon-defunct JTB account. Thus, he/she will have to go through the process of reclaiming the balance of payment from the relevant authority. In order to minimise the inconveniences to Disappointed Customers, we advise him/her for the payment to be made in cash or separate cheques for payment of different bills. As a company going through a transitional period of change, we appreciate the support and understanding from our valued customers in our effort to provide better services in the future. - Corporate Communications Telekom Brunei Berhad Email: sc@brunet.bn Tel: 2384888 Fax: 2383888 |
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Can't services be a bit more easy
on customers? |
| Our
little children deserve a better deal My predicament today is based on early education for the Bruneian children. There are many kinds of early childhood programmes for young children aged 0-5. These include 'head start' and preschool programmes, at both government and private schools. Some of us are lucky to be able to afford good childhood centres like the international schools here in Brunei. And I am in no doubt, sure that these lucky parents realise and expect their children to be more enhanced with the special attention that comes with high fees etc. Do you find yourself asking why these children are quicker, and can interact with others? Can read and write earlier than those from the outside? I found interesting the environment that contains specially designed, manipulative "materials for development" that invite children to engage in learning activities of their own individual choice. Under the guidance of a trained teacher, children in a classroom learn by making discoveries with the materials, cultivating concentration, motivation, self-discipline, and a love of learning. And that, is the answer. It can be Montessori, It can be phonetics, it can be any other early childhood programme, but we also need an openly loving and caring, trained kindergarten teachers, who are dedicated, not only because of their own monetary gains. It is important that during these early stages, children between the ages 3 of 7, basic attitudes towards learning and towards school are established. A child who comes through this period feeling good about himself or herself as a learner, enjoying learning and liking school, will have a lasting appetite for the acquisition of skills and knowledge. Our younger children need immediate attention; we need to adapt these methods and TLC that comes with the educational programmes. We understand to import and employ trained and professional teachers who are experienced is not cheap. The question here is what action has been taken by the local schools to learn and transfer these knowledge and experiences so we can improve and later implement these methods to the younger children in Brunei? I believe our local teachers will benefit a whole lot by observing, learning, and trying to comprehend and implement how to capture the child's attention. - TulipDance2006 |
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Adventure on horseback It is truly a free horse riding adventure driving through Simpang 20 of Lorong Tengah in Seria. The road is not tarred and in a horrible condition. A student previously complained about the situation but until today, no action has been taken to improve the situation. It is sad to know many of these lanes in Seria lack attention especially when it comes to repairs. A visit to the car mechanic is a sure bet if one were to drive beyond first gear. Needless to say the road condition gets worse when it rains. Spg 20 is a small lane but many use it daily. We hope the authorities would seriously look into this and carry out repairs very soon. - Frustrated Road User |
| Touring
the Land Dept with just one question I went to the land department for a land matter. At the ground floor I ask if they knew or could help me estimate the cost of renewing the lease life of my land. I was told by staff in the ground floor to go to up to the first floor and further informed me the contents of that question was not part of their duty. I went to the first floor asking the same question. The staff there again told me the same thing i.e. it was not their duty and told me to go up to the second floor. I went to the second floor asking the same question. One of the staff from the second floor told me to go back, down to the first floor. When I told them that I had just been there, another officer then came out. The second officer (from the second floor) informed me again that it was not their duty and told me to go to the third floor. The same thing happened again. The third floor officers then told me that it was not part of their responsibilities and told me to go up to the fourth floor. When I went to the fourth floor, the first person that I met said that I should go to the next counter, (the same floor). Then the last group of staff told me the same thing again. They told me that it was not their responsibility to figure out the cost and that they dealt only with handling relevant forms. Then they told me again to go back to the third floor as they were the people who actually did the costing. What else could I do but thank them and go away. - Humble Citizen, BSB |
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Reporting potholes I was quite surprised to read the response from the Director of Road Works regarding potholes which have to be reported to the department concerned before action is taken. Understandably potholes on minor roads in the interior or remote villages perhaps have to be reported to the Ketuas or Penghulus to bring the matter up to the district office for further action. However on the main and major roads there are still plenty of potholes, which have not been repaired. Perhaps the dept is still waiting for the public to report to them before any action is taken. Then, there is one question - the existence of their road inspectors and if there do exist, what are they doing? Shouldn't they be travelling and inspecting roads in all districts and reporting back to their appropriate offices? Shouldn't the Road Works section be proactive rather than 'reactive' by making use of their existing inspectors? Why wait until the public complains? What happened to TPOR? - Concerned Motorist |
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