Bandar Seri Begawan - Local businesses in each commercial area have been urged to group together to beautify the environment around their premises with greenery and attractive landscapes, which are in line with one of the main strategic goals in the planning and development of Bandar Seri Begawan to become a "City in the Garden" that is free from pollution, with lots of greenery.

The Green Initiative to beautify the capital was lauded by Pg Hj Abdul Rahman bin Pengiran Seri Indera Pg Hj Ismail, the Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs who is also Chairman of the BSB Municipal Board.

The event, which was held yesterday, saw commercial building owners, as well as businesses and two schools participating in the campaign by planting trees. Taking part in the event were officials from the BSB Municipal Board as well as village residents.

Present as guest of honour at the yesterday's campaign was Awg Hj Ismail bin Hj Abdul Manaf, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs, who also participated in the tree planting activities and launching of the littering compound signboard.

One of the excellent examples in achieving the 'City in the Garden' came from Baiduri Bank, where they set up a landscape garden with energy saving lamps utilising solar power at their main branch in Kiarong.

Mr Pierre Imhof, the CEO of Baiduri Bank said, "We have been in contact with the Municipal Board and we notice that there was an empty piece of land here. We thought that it would be nice to make it a green and nice environment. It is also our social corporate responsibility to make sure that the environment around us looks nice and welcoming. We hope that people will enjoy the comfortable and beautiful scenery."

A total of 10 separate locations were planted with new trees and there were two locations where the compound offences signboards were put up. The campaign first started at the Bendahara Sakam Primary School of Bunut, then moved on to the Bunut Mosque followed by the area in front of Lim Seng Kok Building and Intracorp. The Piston business area, the area in front of Datco and CA Mohammad of Bunut also joined in the event. The group then proceeded to the three junctions of Telanai and moved on to Baiduri Bank in Kiarong. Next the group moved to the Sri Nor building area and the Telanai Primary School area and ended at the Haji Ibrahim building area.

Pg Hj Abdul Rahman, the Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs said, "We want to encourage the business premises to beautify the surrounding environment. Datco and Lim Seng Kok have also promised to do more. Today a lot of private sectors came up to take part in the tree planting events and more encouraging was their proposal to further develop the Green Initiative."

In ensuring that the public will not litter in public places, the chairman of the BSB Municipal Board said, "We have the minor offences act in place to remind the public and businesses if they dispose rubbish in the public, they will face fines. Companies who don't settle the fine or in the case of a second consequent offence, we can bring them to court and they will face a fine of B$2,000."

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin