Kuala Belait - A foundation-laying ceremony for the new Belait Office of Exchange and Warehousing project was held yesterday, at Jalan Singa Menteri in Kg Mumong, Belait.

The ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Communications, Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Abdullah bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar as guest of honour at the event.

Acting Postmaster General Hj Awg Bujang bin Hj Tinkong, the Chairman of the event in his welcoming speech noted that the construction of the Belait Office of Exchange and Warehousing is one of the projects under the 9th National Development Plan (2007-2012).

The building, which is being constructed on a 1.6187-hectare plot of land, was designed by the Belait Architectural Department, Ministry of Development, and will boast a more modern and commercial look compared to existing post offices.

The project aims to support the Ministry of Communications' 2008-2017 vision of making Kuala Belait a 'Warehousing and Distribution Centre' to ease transactions between post offices in Seria, Lumut and the Tutong District, while at the same time serving as a 'One-Stop Community Centre'.

The building will also act as a repository for mail items from big mailers to be distributed to the traders.

The Acting Postmaster General also expressed hope that the construction of the three-storey building will add convenience to local residents with its list of services which includes stamp sales, dealing with postal money orders, philatelics, Expedited Mail Services (EMS), packaging counter, delivery of letters, mailboxes, and other agency services such as insurance counters, telephone bill payments such as for TelBru, DST, Astro, water, electricity, renewing driving licences and road tax.

The building will not only function as an office, but will also offer facilities such as conference rooms, training rooms and a lecture hall for the public. Empty lots will also be rented out to the public.

The construction work was awarded to Syarikat Double Stars Contractor Sdn Bhd at a price of B$3,963,888, and the site was handed over on April 28 this year, with work expected to be completed by January 1, 2014.

Also present at the ceremony were Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yusof; Legislative Council member YB Awg Hj Mohd Yusof bin Hj Dulamin, the Village Head of Kg Mumong; the Penghulu of Mukim Belait, Hj Pungut bin Hj Ali; as well as senior government officials, heads of department and deputy heads of department.