Temburong - With regard to increasing the safety and ease of travelling for passengers and operators of vessels journeying over water along the Temburong River, the Marine Department under the Ministry of Communications has installed navigation lights along the banks of the river to increase the waterway's brightness and visibility.

Exactly 51 concrete and span pipe navigating night lights have been strategically placed along the Temburong River as part of the National Development Plan 2007-2012 - which were turned on in May this year.

At B$1.7 million, the navigation lights - which display green and red coloured lights - automatically turn on when the surrounding day-light regresses as the day progresses from day to evening, automatically turning off when sunlight returns once again the following day.

The Minister of Communications, Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Abdullah bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar yesterday inspected the navigation lights during a working visit.

Accompanying the minister were Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications, Awg Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yusof; and Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications, Awg Hj Idris bin Hj Md Ali.

The minister in an interview with the Bulletin said, "We hope that the navigation lights will benefit the frequent boat and vessel operators along the Temburong River.

"Today we are unable to see the navigation lights functioning because of the timing of our presence.

"We will come back another evening to ensure that the lights are working properly."

Based on the feedback received since the navigation lights implementation in May, the light installed at the mouth of the Temburong River are alright and have been helpful, however, it may be required to install additional lights between Pulau Siarau and Pulau Selirong - two big islands at the mouth of the Temburong River - in the direction of Pulau Muara Besar.