Tutong - The Language and Literature Bureau (DBP), Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports launched a new mobile library bus for the Tutong branch of DBP to serve the Tutong District.

The launching ceremony for the bus was officiated yesterday by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Hazair bin Hj Abdullah in an event held at Penanjong Primary School, which was also the first stop made by the bus in the district.

Hjh Aminah binti Hj Momin, the Director of DBP, said that the programme was initially launched back in 1973. To date, DBP has four mobile library buses in the country - two for the Brunei-Muara District one for Belait and one for Temburong.

According to Hjh Aminah, the mobile library bus for Belait was sponsored by Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd and officially handed over on June 5, 2008.

The new mobile library bus service will be extended to five stops in the Tutong District. Up until now, there have been 53 stops made in the whole country.
"It is hoped that the mobile library will be put to full use by the community in the Tutong District, especially in supporting and realising the National Vision 2035," said Hjh Aminah.

Among those present yesterday were members of the Legislative Council, among whom were YB Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin, the Managing Director of GHK Group of Companies.

Meanwhile, the teaching staff and students of Penanjong Primary School said that they were happy about the bus and its stopover.

The students were all smiles yesterday as they had their first taste of the mobile library.

Principal Dyg Rasiah binti Hj Tudin thanked DBP for the service and the minister for his involvement.

On behalf of all the school's staff and students, the principal also expressed her utmost appreciation to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.

"Today is an exciting day, as the mobile library that had been anticipated for six years has finally been realised.

With the mobile library service, the students at the school can now borrow a wider variety of books that interest them," said Dyg Rasiah.

She said that she believes the mobile library, contributed by the ministry through DBP, will also help the Ministry of Education inculcate the reading habit among students, and reading is the process of lifetime learning.

She added that with a community that loves to read, the Sultanate will have a population with open, active mindsets, creativity and innovative thinking, while also being capable of producing people who can see things from many different perspectives.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin