Bandar Seri Begawan - The residents of Kampong Manggis 1, Kg Manggis 2 and Kg Madang, including nearby areas, will be able to perform their obligations at a new mosque scheduled to be completed in September 2013.

The contract-signing ceremony to build the new Kg Manggis/Madang Mosque took place yesterday at the Teratai Hall, Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Present to witness the ceremony were the Minister of Religious Affairs, Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad bin Pg Hj Abdul Rahman, and the Minister of Education, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Awg Abu Bakar bin Hj Apong, as the Chairman of the Kampong Manggis/ Madang Mosque Construction Trustee Holder.

The mosque will be built next to a popular commercial site in the Kampong Manggis/Madang area nearby to the Hassanal Bolkiah Highway and will provide facilities for religious activities for the residents.

The site is government-owned, 1.77-hectare (4.39-acre) in size, while the mosque will be designed to fit 2,000 worshippers, including 300 female worshippers. The mosque will also have a classroom, library, funerary room, offices, store and equipment rooms as well as a 300-car parking lot.

The concept of the mosque building will be based on an old traditional Brunei mosque with a pyramid-shaped roof and modern construction structures.

This form is generally found around the archipelago. The interior will consist of a main praying hall, with an Islamic-style central structural dome-arched ceilings. Mihrab and the walls will be decorated with geometric-shaped tiles and Islamic calligraphy. The mosque will also have two dominant towers.

The implementation of this project marks a collaboration of His Majesty's Government through the Ministry of Religious Affairs and private fundings (Members of the Kg Manggis/ Madang Mosque Construction Trustee).

The private funds are voluntary contributions or donations for charity. It is a good example of the PPP concept `Public Private Partnership' to suit the country.

The combined cost for the project is around $5 million, and the public could still make their contributions.

Construction was started on July 12 and is scheduled for completion on Sept 11 next year during the 14-month construction period.

The project is carried out jointly by the Ministry of Religious Affairs as well as local architects and consultants led by Arkitek Idris.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin