Bandar Seri Begawan - The establishment of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (YSHHB) serves as a charity platform of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and members of the royal family. It also reflects the high level of concern and care for the welfare and well-being of His Majesty's subjects.

One of the objectives of YSHHB in the field of welfare is to provide assistance to the less fortunate, which is implemented continuously according to their needs from time to time.

Yesterday, the foundation presented donations totalling 13$6,000 to the two families affected by the recent house collapse incident in Kg Saba Darat 'B'.

The victims, represented by Dyg Pungut Hj Matahir, received the donation from the Managing Director of YSHHB, Awg Hj Brahim bin Hj Ismail.

In a brief interview, Dyg Pungut, recalled that the mishap occurred at around 1.20am.

According to her, she and her daughter were already sound asleep in their respective bedrooms when, all of a sudden, a loud crashing sound woke her up. She realised something must have happened to her house when water began pouring into her bedroom and then.

Worried, Dyg Pungut tried to make her way to her daughter - who was calling out for her - only to find out that the key to the door went missing in the collapse.

Fortunately for her, after a brief search in the darkness, she managed to find the key, and together, they retreated from the collapsed house with the help of a village resident who lived a few blocks from her house. The neighbour called for a water taxi to assist the two victims.

Dyg Pungut further disclosed that the relevant authority had visited her residence prior to the incident and that she was told that some repair works would be carried out within a week or so, but as weeks passed, nobody turned up while she continued to try to contact them, until the time of the mishap.

Most of Dyg Pungut's children. were away at the time of the incident. She said that she could not imagine the worst had they all stayed home, particularly her young grandchildren.

Dyg Pungut, who had lived in the house for the past 17 years, also expressed her disappointment regarding the slow response from relevant parties whom she had called several times to help her get her important documents that was kept inside the house, but was told to wait until the low tide.

Dyg Pungut is currently staying at the residence of her ex-husband while waiting for a house, by which she has already received a letter from Baitul Mal, who will be providing her a rented house soon.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin