The concrete three-bedroom bungalow is equipped with a living room, dining room, kitchen and a bathroom

Bengkurong - The Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam through the Islamic Religious Council Department (MUIB), and the BruneiMuara District Office presented a new house to Awg Omar All Zakaria in Kampong Bengkurong yesterday.

The ceremony was officiated by the Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, Pg Dato Paduka Hj Bahrom Pg Hj Bahar in his capacity as the Vice President of MUIB.

Also in attendance were the Acting Secretary of MUIB Awg Hj Abd Aziz Hj Akop, the Penghulu of Mukim Kilanas, village heads of Kampong Putat and Kampong Bengkurong/Sinarubai/Burong Lepas and officers from MUIB and the Brunei-Muara District Office.

The recipient, who is employed as a driver at the Department of Information since 1989, supports his family with his monthly paycheque of $1,076.73.

Omar Ali, 50, lives with his wife, who is unemployed, and their four children, two of whom are currently schooling, one who has left school, and another who is married with a family of her own.

The concrete three-bedroom bungalow cost an estimated $36,000 and is equipped with a living room, dining room, kitchen, and a bathroom.

Construction of the house began in November last year and was completed last month.

Prior to the granting of the new house to Omar Ali, the recipient and his family lived in a dilapidated house built in 1994, which was neither safe nor comfortable to reside.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin