BSB Municipal Department briefs Chinese Chamber of Commerce

Bandar Seri Begawan - The Chinese business community must adhere to the recent order by the Ministry of Home Affairs in response to the titah of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on the eve of Hari Raya Aidiladha that all business premises must be closed during the Friday prayer.

The ministry through the District Offices and Chairman of Municipal Board had ordered all business premises and offices, entertainment centres, sports and recreation facilities including Cineplex and playground, Tamu and food stalls as well as business premises under the jurisdiction of the District Offices and Chairman of Municipal Board closed every Friday from 12 noon to 2pm.

The order would take effect from today, November 2, corresponding to 17th of Zulhijjah 1433 Hijrah, the ministry said in a statement.

The monarch had stressed that all business premises must be closed temporarily until the Friday prayer is completed, and called for it to be implemented immediately to improve the image of the city and the country as a whole.

Members of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce yesterday had a meeting with the BSB Municipal Department and were briefed on the temporary closure of business premises and offices starting today from 12 noon to 2pm during the Friday prayer.

The Municipal Department urged the Chinese Chamber to inform around 1,000 of its members of the titah made by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

The Chinese Chamber said they received many queries from its members about the recent announcement.

The meeting yesterday was held in the presence of the Acting Chairman of the BSB Municipal Department, Awg Hj Mansor bin Hj Mohd Yassin.

The Municipal Department gave a notice to building owners, building tenants and businesses under their jurisdiction recently.

While applauding the monarch's titah last week, a Muslim business entrepreneur called the Bulletin hotline advising departmental stores to be extra cautious as errant elements could take advantage of the situation and hide inside stores to steal goods and cash.

He had a bad experience as he claimed his store near the capital which was closed temporarily during the Friday prayer was burgled and his CCTV wiring system cut off. The thieves ran away with over $5,000 from the cashier machine.

The Bulletin also received many other calls and one caller asked whether the control posts at the border would remain open during the Friday prayer time.

According to reliable sources, all essential services will remain open even during prayer times.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin