Malaysia resolving red tape on land travel to Brunei border

PM says Brunei and Malaysia have set up a technical committee to resolve bureaucracy issues involving land travel to the Brunei border.

MIRI: Bureaucratic formalities involving land travel between Malaysia and Brunei will be resolved soon, says Prime Minister Najib Razak.

He said the Brunei government had in principle agreed to resolve the issue of bureaucracy along the common border with Malaysia and had set up a technical committee for the purpose.

“The technical committee is looking into facilitating land journeys without the need for passport checks,” he told reporters after launching eight packages of the Pan Borneo Highway for Sarawak, costing a total of RM12.5 billion, here today.

“This matter is being studied and we should be getting a final decision soon,” he added.

Najib said at present, Malaysians from Sabah and Sarawak and the people of Brunei had to go through eight Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complexes.

He said this resulted in the passports of those frequently commuting between Sarawak, Sabah and Brunei, to be stamped as many as 16 times.

When asked about the construction of the five-kilometre Batang Lupar Bridge, Najib confirmed that the federal government was currently in discussions with the Sarawak government over the matter.

The bridge is slated to be built in 2018 as the cost of construction is to be shared by both governments.

“It is expected to cost RM1 billion, and when completed, will be the longest bridge in South East Asia,” he said.

He added that once the bridge was completed, Sarawak would have two highways which would benefit the people living along the coastline and interior of the state.

Najib also said the bridge would be part of the Sarawak coastal highway while the Pan Borneo Highway would connect those living in the interior areas.


Sumber - Free Malaysia Today

Sesi Pencerahan dan Penerangan Mengenai Isu Pemberhentian Perkhidmatan Wad Perbidanan dan Sakitpuan Di Hospital PMMPMHAMB Tutong

Perjumpaan dan perbincangan berjalan lancar penuh hemah. Rombongan NDP telah diberikan maklumat dan penerangan yang tepat:-

1) Ternyata, ada salah pemahaman mengenai isu tersebut dan tidak seperti yang dikhuatiri masyarakat.

2) Perkhidmatan pemeriksaan kesihatan dan pemantauan untuk ibu-ibu mengandung dan sakit puan dan kes-kes kecemasan bersangkutan dua perkhidmatan ini masih diberikan dan diteruskan di daerah Tutong, bukan sahaja di Hospital PMMPMHAMB, Tutong bahkan di Pusat-pusat Kesihatan Lamunin, Telisai dan Sg. Kelugos.

3) Hanya wad-wad untuk bersalin dan perawatan sakit puan yang akan ditiadakan dan pesakit-pesakit boleh memilih di Hospital RIPAS atau Suri Seri Begawan. Ini memandangkan dari lima ratus(500) kelahiran setahun yang didaftarkan di daerah Tutong, kurang dari dua ratus(200) yang memilih melahirkan di daerah Tutong, tapi memilih melahirkan di Hospital RIPAS atau Hospital Suri Seri Begawan.

4) Minit tersebut masih sebatas perbincangan dalaman Hospital PMMPMHAMB dan belum muktamad diperingkat atas Kementerian Kesihatan untuk lebih mengemaskinikan dan memantapkan program tersebut.

5) Rombongan juga dikongsikan maklumat tentang wacana Kementerian Kesihatan untuk menjadikan setiap Hospital mempunyai "individual niche" sebagai "one stop centre" atau Pusat Serenti. Dalam hal Hospital PMMPMHAMB, ia diwacanakan menjadi pusat rawatan ringan seperti pembedahan katarak, kongenital dsbnya untuk pesakit-pesakit seluruh negara, bukan hanya penduduk Tutong.

6) Hospital RIPAS, Bandar Seri Begawan dan Hospital Suri Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, juga akan mempunyai "individual niche" yang tersendiri, berlainan dengan Hospital PMMPMHAMB, Tutong.
Demikianlah serba ringkas maklumat yang dapat Badan Perhubungan Daerah Tutong kongsikan hasil dari sesi pencerahan dan penerangan dari pihak pentadbiran Hospital PMMPMHAMB mengenai isu minit yang heboh diviralkan dan hangat diperdebatkan dan dikritik di media sosial.

Menjunjung Titah, Membangun Bangsa.


Jefry Mohd Daud
Naib Presiden Tutong.
PARTI PEMBANGUNAN BANGSA (NDP)
Sabtu, 19 November 2016
(9:30am - 11:30am),
Bilik Inovasi, Hospital PMMPMHAMB Tutong.

Turut hadir:
1) Ahli Majlis Tertinggi, YM Mohd Tahir bin Radin;
2) Ahli Majlis Tertinggi, YM Hj Ratu bin Mohd Tahir;
3) Ahli Majlis Tertinggi, YM Puspalinda bte Abidin;
4) Ketua Pemuda Pusat, YM Md Ali bin Abdul Rahman;
5) Ketua Biro Aduan Awam, YM Abuzah bin Md Noor;
6) Ketua Pemuda Daerah, YM Hj Akramin bin Hj Hashim;
7) Perwakilan JASA(Jabatan Setiausaha Agung), YM Ali bin Ahad.

How Deadly Is ASEAN’s Killer Haze?

A recent study has prompted controversy and calls for action.

By Prashanth Parameswaran

A new study released Monday claims that the haze outbreak in Southeast Asia last year may have caused more than 100,000 deaths.

The haze is an annual problem in Southeast Asia, with forest fires in Indonesia causing a haze to blanket the sub-region for months. But last year’s fires were the worst recorded since 1997.

Now, a new study published in the journal Environment Research Letters has provided estimates as to the casualties from last year’s haze.

Researchers from Harvard and Columbia universities estimate that exposure from pollution from last year’s fires killed 91,600 people in Indonesia, 6,500 in Malaysia, and 2,200 in Singapore in 2015 and 2016.

All three governments mentioned in the study have been quick to challenge its findings. Mohamad Subuh, the director general of disease prevention and control at Indonesia’s health ministry, said the research “makes no sense at all,” with Indonesian government records indicating only 19 deaths related to forest fires in 2015, and 500,000 suffering minor health problems.

“Data on deaths is clear. We have surveillance,” Subuh told Reuters, adding that the assumptions of mortality based on mathematical calculations were “irresponsible.”

Singapore’s health ministry (MOH) also registered its own concerns, with a spokesperson saying that the death figure for Singapore was “not reflective of the actual situation.”

According to Channel NewsAsia, the spokesperson added that such modelling studies are based on “various assumptions” that influence the accuracy of their estimates, and that this study did not take into account mitigating measures implemented by countries affected by the haze.

Furthermore, the MOH also added that the age-standardized death rate in Singapore had actually declined in 2015 (3.2) relative to 2014 (3.3) and 2013 (3.4).

Malaysia’s deputy health director-general, S. Jeyaindran, maintained that Malaysia had no deaths last year directly related to the haze. He added that the Health Ministry had conducted a study on the haze effects on the human body and found that no grave health risks were likely.

Environmental advocates, meanwhile, have pointed out that though study is a useful wake up call, it may actually be understating the true health impact of the haze due to the specifics of its methodology.

The study itself points out that it only focuses on deaths, rather than illnesses, on adults only, and on dangerous fine particulate matter known as PM 2.5 rather than other hazardous pollutants as well.


Sumber - The Diplomat

Study public criticisms to improve policies, government told

Senior UTB Lecturer Dr Nor Zainah Siau (R) and Dr Hj Hambali Hj Jaili from
Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College at the Knowledge Convention

Khai Zem Mat Sani
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE government needs to study constructive public criticisms posted on social media to improve policies, a senior Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) lecturer said.

Dr Nor Zainah Siau said constructive criticisms from members of the public should be seen in a positive way to improve government policies.

“Matters conveyed on social media allow the government to look back or review government policies as long as the source or information is verified.

“After verification, government agencies may then be able to resolve problems,” she said during a panel discussion at the Knowledge Convention 2016.

Dr Nor Zainah Siau was responding to an audience member’s question on how should the government handle netizens who use online platforms to criticise the government.

The senior lecturer at UTB’s School of Computing and Informatics said it is not easy to monitor and control how netizens use social media.

“We don’t have control over texts and messages being circulated on social media, be it positive or negative.

“Individuals and organisations do not have control over people posting messages or tweets that insult people or with the use of vulgar language,” she added.

Prior to the question and answer session, Dr Nor Zainah spoke about the benefits and drawbacks of social media on the society.

She said with the availability of social media, it helps the society to express or share their opinion on important issues with other people.

However, the use of social media also leads to the use of “broken language” among youth as they tend to use shortcuts in text messages on social media, said Dr Nor Zainah.

“Despite social media’s drawback on language use, it helps people to access information easily and this indirectly helps them to gain knowledge,” added the speaker.

The discussion yesterday afternoon also featured two presentations on ‘Syariah and Techology’ and ‘Driver’s Negative Behaviour on the Road’ by Dr Hjh Noor Hira Hj Noor Kaseh and Dr Hj Hambali Hj Jaili respectively from Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Gadong wet market woes

Amy (R), a vendor at Gadong wet market, entertaining her customers at her vegetables stall.
Traders at the market have raised concerns over the market’s hygiene

Rosera Mohd
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

VEGETABLE vendors have expressed concerns over the poor hygiene at the Gadong wet market, saying that the market is infested with rats.

One of the vendors, Norasikin Abdullah, said she had been complaining about the market’s cleanliness to the authorities but hygiene has yet to improve.

“They tried to get rid of the rodents for the whole building once, but that was more than a year ago, the rats are back again,” she said, adding that the rat infestation has been causing inconvenience to the vendors and affects food safety.

“One of the rats ate the tofu I was selling, and I had to throw the whole bucket away because they might be poisonous but who will pay for my losses?” said Norasikin, who has been operating her vegetable business at the market’s first floor since the late 1980s.

She went on to say that the rodents are usually persistent and would eat everything, from pumpkins to squids.

When approached by The Brunei Times yesterday, an officer at the Municipal Department acknowledged the rat infestation problem at the Gadong wet market.

Suhif Hj Abd Rahman, who is in charge of the Gadong wet market, said the department is waiting to hire a new contractor to deal with the rat infestation issue.

“The previous contractor, TermiCam, was in charge of addressing the rat infestation problem, but their term of contract has ended so we are waiting for a new contractor now,” he said.

When asked, Suhif said he was not certain when TermiCam’s contract ended or when the new contractor will be appointed as such contracts are usually dealt by the department’s Maintenance Unit and Technical Services.

He went on to say that Rafi Construction Sdn Bhd has been contracted for cleaning services at the Gadong wet and night markets.

Mohd Arzu Hossin, project manager of Rafi Construction, said the company’s workers clean the Gadong wet market every hour daily.

“Every hour the workers clean the market, wash and sweep the floor, clean the rubbish and use heavy equipment (usually at night) to keep these areas hygienic,” said Mohd Arzu, adding that the company has been cleaning the market for almost three years.

“Fifty workers are deployed to work at markets in Gadong every day with half of them working during the day while the other half at night,” he added.

When asked about the rats at the wet market, he said his company is not tasked by the Municipal Department to handle the rats, but his workers would “manually catch” the rodents whenever they encountered them.

Another vendor who only wished to be known as Amy said the rat infestation meant that vendors can no longer leave their fruits and vegetables at the market.

“Because of these rats, we can’t leave our vegetables here, we have to pack everything up and set up again the next day,” said the 49-year-old.

This is a nuisance as most of the vendors at the market are quite old and working by themselves without any helpers, said Amy, who has been selling at the wet market for about 20 years.

“We have to carry our goods up the stairs back and forth and it takes more than two hours to set up the booth, so it’s quite a burden and not ideal for us at our age,” added the single mother.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Avoid b’day overspending: HM

His Majesty, accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah (C), the Crown Prince
and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik during
yesterday’s executive committee meeting at the Prime Minister's Office building.

Quratul-Ain Bandial
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, urged the government to avoid excessive spending for his upcoming 70th birthday celebrations.

During a meeting of the executive committee yesterday, the monarch said decorative banners and arches should be used in moderation and that the committee should not exceed the allocated budget or be too reliant on private donors.

“Each year the committee convenes or holds its meeting, but rarely or never before have the members seriously discussed the issue of wastage,” he said in a titah at the Prime Minister’s Office. “It is not because the global economy is beset by problems that we now talk of wastefulness. Whether the economy is in trouble or not, it is still necessary to avoid waste.”

While praising the generosity of private donors, His Majesty said sponsorships had facilitated overspending, and that the funds could be put to better use by alleviating the burden of the needy.

“All these time we only know how to spend and accumulate money for the celebration… In the past we witnessed ministers or other officials receiving donations from many sources. This is most displeasing.”

The Sultan said that previous committees for his birthday celebrations and National Day had failed to pay their debts to vendors, and that sometimes full payment not made until the following year.

“Both committees need to be more careful because at the end of the festivities they have been found to have not paid up some of their obligations… I don’t think there is a problem of insufficient funds… It is simply for holding a celebration. We can estimate the cost to fit the budget.”

His Majesty said the annual celebration, held on July 15, was a unique tradition that served as a platform to deliver royal directives, as well as foster a close relationship between the monarch and the people.

He added that all forms of celebration within Brunei must be “thoroughly scrutinised and their limitations and criteria must be identified”.

“They should not be unrestrained or according to whims and fancies. Entertainment has its limits or boundaries and one should not go all out with abandon to celebrate,” he said. “We need not spend lavishly to our hearts’ content… such activity is strongly forbidden by religion. It is here where common sense must prevail, and here lies one of the important responsibilities of the committee.”

Accompanying His Majesty to the meeting yesterday was His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah; and HRH Prince ‘Abdul Malik.

The executive committee for His Majesty’s 70th birthday celebrations is chaired by the Minister of Home Affairs YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Awg Abu Bakar Hj Apong.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

‘Kg Panchor’s rows of vacant units worrisome’

Darren Chin
BRUNEI-MUARA

RESIDENTS of the Kg Panchor National Housing Scheme have voiced concerns that the number of yet unoccupied houses will only give rise to social ills if they continue to be left vacant.

When visited by The Brunei Times yesterday, rows of terraced and semi-detached houses were still vacant two years after being completed in March 2014.

Some houses were missing windows and concrete drain covers and a few of the front doors were either unlocked or left slightly open.

A resident of the housing scheme, Mohammad Hj Tahir, said he believes the vacant houses are easy targets for thieves.

“When I moved in about half a year ago, I already heard complaints from neighbours that their houses had been missing windows or even ceiling fans when they wanted to move in initially, so they had to request for replacements which cost the government money unnecessarily,” said the 56-year-old.

“Also, the vacant houses which have been left unlocked for some reason are making it easy and inviting perhaps to some people who might be looking for a place to commit social ills such as drug-taking or fornication - not that I’m saying that these things happen regularly,” he said.

Mohammad, who is a veteran of the Fire and Rescue Department, said the unkempt state of the exterior of the vacant houses could also attract unwanted pests such as snakes which could endanger local residents.

“Based on my many years of experience on the job catching all sorts of animals, the tall lalang grass like that growing around the vacant houses is usually where snakes could be hiding,” he said.

“Most of the time, it’s usually a harmless python. But there’s always a possibility of someone dying from a poisonous snake bite like in Malaysia,” he said, referring to a 7-year-old girl who recently died after she was bitten by a snake in the state of Kelantan.

Another resident, who wished only to be identified as Alif, said security measures have been relaxed over the last few months and that crime could be deterred in the area if the houses are all filled.

“Currently there are police patrols in the area, which I’m grateful for. But I remember security was more strict when I first moved in a year ago as construction workers would set up barricades and patrol the area themselves. But that’s no longer being done,” he said.

“I’m unsure why many units have been vacant for this long, but I trust that the housing authorities will approve the applications and draw lots (to determine the applicants who get the houses) soon so that they will be filled as the vacant houses could encourage thieves to take advantage of the situation while security is relatively lax,” he said.

Diana Asai, who moved into her terraced unit in the housing scheme in October last year, said that having a village head specifically for the residents of the 4,000 houses in the Kg Panchor National Housing Scheme would be helpful.

“Currently, there is no village head for this national housing scheme. But if there was one like in other older national housing schemes in the country, it would be helpful as he could organise neighbourhood watch patrols, especially around the rows of vacant houses,” she said.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

JANGAN BIARKAN TAMU DAN PASAR SERIA JADI ASET YANG TERABAI

11 APRIL 2016: Beberapa ahli-ahli Majlis Eksekutif Ranting (MER) Parti Pembangunan Bangsa (NDP) Perumahan Rakyat Jati Lorong 3 Seria dibawah pimpinan Sdra Haji Tengah bin Metamit pada hari Jumaat 8 April kemarin telah membuat lawatan kerja ke Tamu Hujung Minggu dan Pasar Seria bagi tujuan meninjau dan meneliti kemaslahatan petani-petani, para usahawan tani dan pengunjung-pengunjung dikawasan tersebut.

Presiden NDP sdra Malai Hassan Othman, Timbalan Presiden sdra Pg Haji Zainal Pg Talip, Naib Presiden NDP Belait sdra Haji Metali bin Haj Ibrahim, Setiausaha Agung NDP sdri Hajjah Saemah Kepli, Ketua Himpunan Wanita NDP sdri Hajjah Kartini Manap dan beberapa ahli-ahli Majlis Tertinggi NDP Belait serta anggota JASA yang lain juga turut diundang untuk menyertai lawatan kerja tersebut. 

Di sesi lawatan tersebut beberapa pandangan dan cadangan telah dapat dikumpulkan dari pengusaha-pengusaha kecil dan juga orang ramai yang sempat ditemubual di sesi lawatan kerja tersebut. 

Berikut sesi lawatan kerja tersebut NDP telah mengambil ketetapan seperti berikut:

  

1. NDP mengambil maklum dan menyokong apa jua usaha dan langkah Kerajaan kearah membangun dan memajukan Pengusaha Kecil dan Sederhana (PKS) khususnya anak-anak tempatan yang berkecimpung dalam sektor pertanian dan perikanan

2. NDP juga mengambil maklum apa jua usaha dan langkah yang sedang dan akan terus diungkayahkan adalah semata-mata untuk mencapai matlamat memperkasa keupayaan dan dayasaing PKS tempatan yang sekaligus setentunya akan dapat menyumbang kearah memperkukuh ekonomi negara dan meningkatkan kadar pertumbuhan Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) di sektor bukan minyak dan gas.

3. Dalam hal ini NDP mengambil ingat akan titah Tahun Baru Masehi 2016 KDYMM seperti petikan berikut:

“Di sini, kita perlu turut melihat prestasi ekonomi kita sendiri, di mana beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini, kadar pertumbuhan Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) adalah agak perlahan yang memerlukan kita menggandakan usaha untuk meningkatkan keluaran dalam negara, terutama yang di luar sektor minyak dan gas.

Di antara yang di luar sektor minyak dan gas itu, ialah seperti sektor pertanian atau perikanan, sektor pembuatan, sektor perkhidmatan termasuk perkhidmatan kewangan, pengangkutan, logistik, telekomunikasi, perdagangan, pelancongan dan lain-lain”

4. Sehubungan dengan itu NDP juga mengalu-alukan dan menyokong penuh titah Baginda itu yang juga memperkenankan langkah reformasi ekonomi yang diharap dapat mencapai matlamat mengembang dan mempelbagaikan ekonomi negara.

5. Dalam konteks ini dan bagi mencapai matlamat memenuhi keperluan perusahaan tempatan yang berskala kecil dan sederhana itu, Baginda antara lain telah memperkenankan penubuhan Pusat Perusahaan Kecil dan Sederhana (PPKS), yang akan mengambilalih pelbagai peranan, yang dulunya dilaksanakan oleh beberapa agensi kerajaan.

6. NDP juga mengambil maklum tentang perancangan-perancangan yang telah disusun oleh pihak-pihak berkenaan khususnya Kementerian Sumber-Sumber Utama dan Pelancongan (KSUP) serta Menteri Tenaga dan Industri di Pejabat Perdana Menteri kearah meningkatkan prestasi ekonomi negara serta kearah meningkatkan keluaran dalam negara sektor bukan minyak dan gas khususnya dibidang pertanian dan perikanan.

7. Sehubugan dengan itu NDP berharap Pusat Perusahaan Kecil dan Sederhana (PPKS) yang baru ditubuhkan akan tidak terlepas pandang keatas kemaslahatan petani-petani dan para usahawan tani yang sudah lama bergiat dalam perusahaan pertanian dalam keghairahan PPKS membantu dan memudahcara kemajuan PKS yang diluar bidang pertanian bak kata pepatah “kera di hutan disusukan anak di rumah mati kelaparan.”

8. Dari itu NDP mencadangkan agar PPKS dapat meninjau keadaan petani-petani dan para usahawan tani tempatan seluruh negara terutama mereka yang bergiat di Daerah Belait setiap hujung minggu yang jelas kurang diberikan perhatian serious dalam usaha memudahcara perniagaan hasil-hasil tanaman petani-petani dalam dan luar daerah.

9. PPKS juga disarankan agar dapat berkerjasama dengan Jabatan Pertanian dan Jabatan Bandaran dalam menyelaraskan misi dan visi kedua-dua Jabatan ini kearah mencapai satu wawasan iaitu kearah memajukan dan mengembangkan perusahaan kecil dan sederhana terutama dibidang pertanian seperti yang dihasratkan oleh KDYMM dan Kerajaan.

10. Melalui langkah ini NDP yakin usaha kearah memajukan sektor pertanian akan lebih mudah dicapai.

11. Hasil kunjungan di Tamu dan Pasar Seria, NDP mendapati petani-petani dan usahawan-usahawan tani tempatan terpaksa berhadapn dengan senario kawalan dari dua pihak iaitu pihak Jabatan Pertanian yang bertanggungjawab keatas kemaslahatan petani dan hasil-hasil tani dan pihak Jabatan Bandaran yang menyediakan dan mengawal prasarana pasaran dan kegiatan urusniaga usahawan tani.

12. NDP mendapati petani-petani dan para usahawan tani yang bergiat di Daerah Belait, contohnya, tidak disediakan kemudahan dan kawasan tamu hujung minggu yang kekal, sempurna dan selamat dengan kemudahan yang selesa untuk mereka mengiatkan usaha mereka.

13. Hakikatnya mereka sering di pindah-pindah mengikut citarasa Jabatan Bandaran tanpa dibawah berunding dan sekarang ditempatkan di kawasan-kawasan letak kerita kawasan pasar Seria dan Pasar Baru Kuala Belait.

14. Mereka juga terpaksa mengangkut paying-payung besar, kemah-kemah dan meja-meja jualan selain barangan hasil tani yang akan dipasarkan.

15. Dalam masa sama NDP juga terkilan dengan keadaan Pasar Seria yang telah dibina lebih 20 tahun lalu tetapi hingga kini sunyi senyap tidak ramai penghuni kecuali pengusaha besar Pasar Raya dan beberapa bangku dan ruang yang disikan oleh beberapa pengusaha tempatan yang umpama hidup segan mati tak mahu.

16. NDP juga mendapati tahap kebersihan dan keselamatan di Pasar Seria dan kawasan persekitarannya kurang diberikan perhatian yang sewajarnya.

17. NDP berpandangan ianya satu pebanziran harta kerajaan sedangkan kemudahan yang ada didalam bangunan Pasar Seria sebenarnya dapat dimajukan untuk dijadikan tamu hujung minggu seperti kemudahan yang disediakan di tamu Daerah Tutong.

18. NDP melihat langkah ini tidak Begitu memerlukan perbelanjaan yang terlalu besar cukup dengan dorongan kesungguhan politik, anjakan paradigma, berfikir luar kotak, imganisai dan kreativiti pihak-pihak berkuasa yang berkenaan.

19. NDP juga berpandangan usaha perlu tumpukan kearah mewujudkan dasar dan sistem tamu yang liberal dan mesra-pasaran dengan membina prasarana yang lengkap dan sempurna seperti yang diungakayhkan oleh negara jiran sebelah yang sangat popular dikalangan pengunjung-pengunjung dari Belait.

20. Dalam masa sama NDP mencadangkan agar pihak-pihak berkenaan mengubah sikap dan membuka minda dengan membawa berunding semua ‘stake holders' dan mengambil kira semua aspek secara adil bukan sahaja untuk kepentingan pihak berkuasa tetapi juga untuk kepentingan pengusaha-pengusaha yang terlibat secara langsung dalam melaksanakan sebarang perancangan.

21. NDP kesal dengan sikap segolongan pegawai pentadbir dan penguatkuasa yang masih bersikap autokratik dan tidak mesra PKS. NDP bimbang jika sikap ini terus diasuh hasrat KDYMM untuk melaksanakan reformasi ekonomi negara mungkin akan tidak tercapai.

22. Dengan mengambil ingat apa yang pernah disentuh oleh KDYMM Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam Sempena Hari Keputeraan Baginda Yang Ke-69 Tahun pada 15 Ogos 2015 pada mana Baginda menekankan bahawa;

“…Brunei mesti dengan segera melakukan penghijrahan minda: Dari suka menunggu-nunggu dan berpeluk tubuh kepada rajin bekerja. Dari banyak bergantung harap, kepada lebih membanyakkan usaha, dan dari kurang berdikari, kepada lebih berdikari. Inilah sumber kekuatan kita...”

NDP dengan ini menyeru pihak-pihak berkenaan agar terus menanai titah ini melalui usaha masing-masing iaitu dengan menyediakan dan memudahkan suasana perniagaan dan perusahaan yang mengalakkan pertumbuhan dan produktiviti bukan yang menyulitkan melalui perlaksanaan peraturan yang terlalu mementingkan untung rugi jabatan, birokratik, menekan dan menyusahkan.

Sumber - Laman Aspirasi

PEMBANGUNAN PANTAI TUNGKU JANGAN KUBURKAN SEMANGAT BERDIKARI BANGSA

KENYATAAN RASMI PARTI PEMBANGUNAN BANGSA (NDP)

MUKADIMAH

Badan Perhubungan NDP Brunei-Muara dibawah pimpinan Naib Presiden Haji Mohiddin DPP Haji Othman telah menganjurkan lawatan kerja ke Pantai Tungku berikutan aduan dan sungutan dari pengusaha pengusaha yang bimbang akan kemungkinan mereka tidak lagi dibenarkan berniaga di kawasan tersebut. Ini kerana kawasan tersebut akan dimajukan oleh Brunei Investment Agency selaku pemilek kawasan tersebut.

TYT Presiden NDP, sdra Malai Hassan Othman juga diundang bersama untuk menyertai lawatan kerja pada hari Ahad 27 Mac 2016 itu. Juga turut serta Setiausaha Agung NDP sdri Hajah Seamah Kefli, Ketua Himpunan Wanita Puan Hajah Kartini, PSUA sdra Mohamad Abdullah Peter, Penolong Ketua Perhubungan NDP Brunei-Muara merangkap Setiausaha Politik Presiden sdra Ahmad Timpus, Ketua Biro Kemajuan Pengusaha Kecil dan Sederhana Dr Hajah Raiyah dan beberapa ahli-ahli Majlis Tertinggi dan JASA yang lain.

Berikutan lawatan kerja tersebut NDP telah mengeluarkan kenyataan rasmi tentang pendirian dan pandangan parti berhubung perkara tersebut seperti berikut:


1- PARTI PEMBANGUNAN BANGSA (NDP) sangat mengalu-alukan dan menyokong penuh sebarang rancangan untuk memajukan dan mencantikan lagi Pantai Tungku yang sudah terkenal dengan keindahanya dikalangan pengunjung pengunjung tempatan dan luar negara sebagai sebuah kawasan riadah dan tempat bersantai-santai dihujung hujung minggu

2- NDP juga menyokong penuh sebarang usaha kearah memajukan kawasan kawasan peranginan dan riadah termasuklah usaha untuk menswastakan pengurusan kawasan kawasan yang akan dikenalpasti sebagai kawasan yang boleh dimajukan selaras dengan perancangan kemajuan sektor pelancongan di negara ini

3- Dalam hal ini adalah menjadi dasar dan pegangan NDP agar pihak yang berwajib sentiasa mengambil kira faktor alam sekitar secara serius dalam sebarang usaha untuk memajukan atau membangunkan negara, di mana kajian secara objektif dan telus perlu diadakan sebelum sebarang projek pembangunan atau projek mega dimulakan, agar kesejahteraan rakyat Kebawah DYMM dan generasi akan datang, serta alam sekitar tidak akan terjejas dan lebih terjamin

4- Namun demikian dalam hal memajukan dan membangun semula Pantai Tungku, NDP juga berharap dan menyeru agar pemilek dan pihak yang berkuasa atas kawasan tersebut serta pihak kerajaan sendiri dapat melaksanakan sebarang rancangan kemajuan Pantai Tungku dengan mempastikan ianya mendatangkan kebaikan dan manfa'at kepada semua pihak termasuklah kepada pengusaha pengusaha kecil yang sudah bertahun-tahun menjadikan kawasan tersebut sebagai sumber rezeki mereka bukan sebaliknya

5- NDP bimbang sejarah akan berulang dalam mana inisiatif pihak kerajaan beberapa tahun yang lalu untuk mengubahsuai Pantai Serasa turut memutuskan mata pencarian beberapa pengusaha pengusaha kecil yang mencari makan dikawasan tersebut tetapi tidak pula mematahkan semangat mereka yang terjejas untuk terus berusaha untuk menyara hidup di kawasan riadah yang lain. Ramai dari kalangan mereka yang terjejas telah berpindah ke Pantai Tungku

6- Setelah lebih dua tahun berlalu mereka sekali lagi berhadapan dengan kemungkinan akan dipapat lagi mata pencarian mereka apabila kawasan Pantai Tungku yang merupakan milek Brunei Investent Agency (BIA) akan dimajukan. Wallahu wa'alam sama ada ia akan dimajukan sebagai kemudahan riadah yang eklusif atau sebaliknya belum dapat dipastikan

7- Apa yang pasti lebih 100 pengusaha pengusaha sekarang tidur tak lena makan tak kenyang memikirkan masa hadapan mereka

8- NDP turut bimbang kemungkinan usaha untuk memajukan Pantai Tungku akan turut menguburkan semangat berdikari, bekarih, bejarih, belurih anak bangsa yang telah terbukti tidak kenal penat lelah untuk mencari rezeki sendiri tanpa mengharapkan bantuan kerajaan untuk hidup

9- NDP juga bimbang jika permasalahan mereka ini tidak diberikan perhatian sewajarnya akan melahirkan kekecewaan dikalangan mereka dan sekali gus boleh menjejaskan keyakinan mereka dan keluarga mereka kepada pihak kerajaan serta boleh menjejaskan kredibiliti usaha kerajaan untuk memudahkan pertumbuhan pengusaha pengusaha kecil dan sederhana yang sedang diuar-uarkan

10- Untuk itu dikesempatan ini NDP mengingatkan pihak pihak berkuasa dan yang berkepentingan agar mengambil ingat akan titah Kebawah Duli yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan yang Dipertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam di majlis Pembukaan Rasmi Majlis Mesyuarat Negara (MMN) baru baru ini tentang pentingnya mengambil kira dan kaedah menyelesaikan permasalahan rakyat yang dipetik seperti berikut:

“Pendek kata, apa jua perancangan dan inisiatif adalah perlu untuk mengambil pendekatan delivery atau delivery approach untuk mencapai hasil yang dihasratkan.

Untuk itu, sangat perlu bagi ahli-ahli mempunyai pandangan yang jauh dan cepat ke hadapan. Mereka perlu mengambil langkah-langkah mitigasi dan membuat persediaan sewajarnya sebelum didatangi oleh sebarang persoalan.

Akhir kalam beta menyeru kepada Ahli-Ahli Majlis-Mesyuarat supaya dapat meneruskan serta melipatgandakan usaha masing-masing dalam memeduli permasalahan rakyat dan penduduk negara ini, sama ada mereka yang bermastautin di kawasan bandar mahupun di kawasan-kawasan luar bandar.

Apa jua permasalahan itu perlu ditangani dengan baik dan sempurna dengan jalan berunding. Semoga usaha-usaha yang kita buat akan menghasilkan buah yang baik dan ranum untuk semua.”

11- Dalam hubungan ini NDP menyarankan pihak pihak berkenaan agar mengambil sikap terbuka dan pandangan yang jauh iaitu dengan mengambil kira pengusaha pengusaha kecil yang sudah bertapak di Pantai Tungku dan semangat mereka atas konsep Bekarih, Bejarih dan Belurih untuk berusaha sendiri tanpa mengharapkan bantuan kerajaan sebagai satu aset penting dalam rancangan untuk memajukan kawasan kawasan riadah dan pantai pantai peranginan bukannya satu liabiliti yang hendak dihapuskan dan dikubur di Pantai Tungku yang baru demi kepentingan beberapa pihak sahaja

12- NDP juga berpandangan bahawa pengusaha pengusaha kecil tersebut merupakan satu aset kepada rancangan kemajauan sektor pelancogan negara yang wajar dikembangmajukan

13- Untuk itu pihak pihak berkenaan perlu berlapang dada dan dengan minda terbuka untuk membantu dan memudahkan mereka meneruskan perusahaan mereka masing masing dalam masa sama memajukan dan membangun Pantai Tungku sebagai kawasan peranginan dan riadah yang mesra alam sekitar, selamat dan bertaraf antarabangsa

14- Sebagai sebuah negara Melayu Islam Beraja dan Negara Zikir, NDP juga sukacita mengingatkan akan pentingnya setiap perancangan kemajuan dilandaskan atas konsep keadilan dan ihsan yang merupakan ciri ciri pemerintahan KDYMM

15- Dalam konteks ini NDP meyarankan agar pihak pihak berkenaan berpegang dan mengambil iktibar titah nasihat KDYMM semasa merasmikan perlantikan barisan Menteri kabinet yang baru pada Oktober 2015 yang lalu:

“Allah mengurniakan nikmat, sementara kita berkewajipan mensyukurinya. Syukur itulah pemangkin segala nikmat dan keberkatan. Tanpa syukur, nikmat akan hakis, tidak dapat bertahan lama.

Bagaimanakah caranya bersyukur itu? Di samping mengucapkannya dengan lidah, kita juga dituntut untuk bersyukur melalui ‘urustadbir' di dalam kehidupan. Kerana itulah kita memerlukan kerajaan, dan dalam kerajaan itu pula terdapat jentera yang terdiri daripada para pemimpin dan pegawai-pegawai serta kakitangan di bawah mereka.

Di tangan merekalah, terutama para pemimpin, kewajipan untuk membawa negara ini menjalani amalan bersyukur, iaitu melalui pimpinan dan urustadbir mereka dalam kerajaan.

Salah satu dari ciri bersyukur itu ialah dengan melaksanakan keadilan. Kerana keadilan adalah segala-galanya. Tanpa keadilan, semua kebajikan akan jauh atau menarik diri daripada kita.

Oleh itu, satu peringatan perlu disebut di sini, bahawa sesiapa jua yang dilantik atau dipilih menjadi pemimpin, mereka itu adalah berkewajipan untuk menjalankan keadilan. Tempat tumpahnya keadilan ialah keatas rakyat, bukan kepada diri sendiri. Adapun untuk kepentingan diri sendiri, itu bukanlah keadilan tetapi kezaliman.

Sebab itulah kadang-kadang, bersedia mendengar suara orang di bawah, atau menerima idea-idea yang baik, atau keluhan atau rintihan mereka dapat dianggap sebagai ciri melaksanakan keadilan”.

16- Semoga pandangan dan saranan NDP ini dapat diberikan perhatian oleh pihak pihak berkenaan demi kepentingan bangsa dan negara dan selaras dengan tanggungjawab semua untuk memelihara negara sebagai sebuah negara yang aman makmur lagi sejahtera serta sentiasa mendapat perlindungan Allah.


Sumber - Laman Aspirasi

Selayun vendors concerned at number of foreign sellers

Vendors at Pasar Tani Selayun, popularly known by locals as Pasar Borong Selayun, have expressed
their dissatisfaction at the number of non-locals who are illegally operating stalls at the market.

Wail Wardi Wasil
BRUNEI-MUARA

LOCAL vendors at the Pasar Tani Selayun have expressed grievances over the rising number of foreigners working as illegal vendors at the marketplace.

Siti Aida Abdullah, a local vegetable vendor, told The Brunei Times that the majority of vendors operating in the market are non-locals.

“Just by observation, (I estimate that) 70 per cent of stall operators in the market are non-locals and that means that only the remaining 30 per cent are locals,” she said.

The 56-year-old added: “These non-locals are not disruptive individuals (but) I feel that they are taking business opportunities away from locals.”

Nur Ni’mah Qistina Abdullah Saban who has been selling vegetables at the market for nine years said all of the non-local vendors are working under different employment passes as most of them are domestic workers and farm care-takers.

According to her, there have been numerous operations conducted by the Labour Department and the Immigration and National Registration Department (JIPK) on a monthly basis.

Under JIPK’s regulations, foreign workers are only allowed to do work that is according to what is written in their employment passes.

“For some reason, the non-local stall operators always seem to know when there will be an operation about to be conducted (so) they hide away during the operation and return once government officials have left the market,” said the 38-year-old.

She added that the non-local vendors tend to return to their stalls and resume their operations even when they have been detained during operations conducted by the government authorities.

Meanwhile another Pasar Tani Selayun vendor, Hilmi Salleh, noted  that foreign workers themselves should not take the overall blame.

She stressed that it is the employer’s responsibility to be well informed and to adhere to the labour laws that exist in the country.

She said that if the employers of the non-local vendors are unwilling to sell their produce at the market, then the least they could do is to hire locals to sell their produce for them, as to avoid breaking labour laws.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Residents concerned over deserted housing complex

Photos show the abandoned terrace houses and the yards which are covered with long grass and trees.

Khai Zem Mat Sani
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE delayed construction of the terrace units along STKRJ Kg Rimba’s Jalan 99 has sparked some concerns from the nearby residents over the area being used by irresponsible parties to conduct immoral activities.

The Brunei Times conducted an inspection around the area, and found there were no signs or barriers indicating that the areas are off-limits from the public.

The area also hosted around 10 building blocks, consisting of five housing units each.

According to the public tip-off, many believed that people use the vacant terrace houses and its area for immoral activities.

A resident, who lives nearby and only wished to be known as Mahmud, recalled a lot of stories about electrical cables and facilities being stolen and vandalised.

“And this is worrying as the area is located just about 10 metres away from my home,” he said, adding that fornication and drug abuse could be another activities done at the area.

He also shared his experience over seeing numerous cars entering the area at night, where they would park at an area, and soon after, their lights were turned off.

He also said that such occurrence seemed “creepy” and disturbing to him.

“Since it’s located in the vicinity of our area and the houses were emptied for a long time, it turns out to be a creepy and disturbing environment.”

An elderly citizen who lived near the area, Hj Matussin Hj Bakar, 80, also mentioned about environmental effects of the deserted houses.

“The area is home to so many people. Every time we go out from this area, we pass through the emptied houses, it becomes our daily view,” he said.

He said that people who visited the area often asked similar questions. “It becomes a topic of conversation either among the residents itself or people who visited their relatives here.”

Hj Matussin also said that there’s a need to put up proper signs and gates to avoid people from trespassing into the area.

“The terrace houses have been abandoned for around 10 years and it’s due to delay in the construction work,” said the Village Chief of Area 1, RPN Rimba Mukim Gadong A.

“The house is not yet completed and it was deserted for around 10 years. There are some part of the houses are almost done and some are just left without roofs,” said Hj Adanan @ Hj Mohamed Taha.

However, neighbourhood watch programme that was implemented in the village, he said, may help the village to increase its security and together in curbing any problem that may occur in the area.

According to an official from the Ministry of Development, the authority has been aware about the problems and will address the issue as soon as possible.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Gov’t to seek other ways in funding mosque construction

The religious affairs minister said the government will seek other funding means to construct new mosques.

Nabilah Haris
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE Ministry of Religious Affairs will work towards different means of funding the building of mosques rather than rely on the government budget, said its minister.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Badaruddin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Awg Othman said his ministry has to accept the reality that his ministry was not allocated a budget to build mosques.

He said the ministry would look into using the money collected through the Mosque Building Fund or funds from the Brunei Islamic Religious Concil (MUIB) as using state coffers is currently not viable.

“Of course in terms of Hukum Syara’ (Islamic law), a government led by a Muslim leader is not exempted from his obligations in building a mosque, especially within Islamic teachings.

“However, the Mosque Building Fund has been set up and is aimed at giving members of the public the opportunity to invest in the Hereafter, but that does not mean the government is let off from carrying out its responsibility,” added the minister

YB Pehin Dato Ustaz Hj Awg Badaruddin went on to note that the first meeting of the 12th LegCo session had been discussed not only by LegCo members but also the public, a sign of healthy public discussions.

“I find this to be an appropriate reaction regarding our current affairs and we should take it as a sign of health in the affairs of the people in shaping positive public thoughts towards the affairs of the country,” he said.

“Our topic discussions were more about frugal and budget-conscious spending. Surely, they need to understand this in its true perspective,” said YB Pehin Dato Hj Awg Badaruddin.

Ending his closing remarks, he called for more confidence in the people and the country given the great history the nation holds while having faith that Allah SWT will bless the good deeds that are done in His name.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Housing Focus Group to help tackle lengthy housing application process

Rabiatul Kamit
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

NATIONAL Housing Scheme (RPN) applicants in Brunei-Muara are still facing lengthy delays in receiving a house, prompting the government to form a Housing Focus Group to tackle the problem.

Development Minister Yang Berhormat Dato Paduka Hj Bahrin Abdullah told the 12th Legislative Council (LegCo) session yesterday the current waiting period is approximately 12 years for people who applied for state-subsidised housing in the sultanate's most populous district.

He admitted the long wait was a setback for the Ministry of Development (MoD) in its nationwide target to grant applicants housing within a five-year period by 2021.

“The issue we need to take into consideration is the suitability of current methods in terms of implementing RPN, whether we will continue with our present approach and face sustainability issues or reconsider a more sustainable approach,” he said.

YB Dato Hj Bahrin explained the new approach could involve making the eligibility conditions stricter to ensure only deserving applicants receive the coveted housing.

“If we implement (such mea-sure), I think this will be subject to what is later obtained from the (review undertaken by the) Housing Focus Group. I think we may be able to manage the administration of granting land more quickly,” he said.

He said the group was recently set up with the approval of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

The focus group involves relevant ministries and departments that have the collectively task of addressing the “complex housing issue” and related matters in a holistic and comprehensive manner.

They are also expected to come up with appropriate recommendations, including future house design and construction quality, in a bid to further strengthen and develop RPN.

“The major challenge for RPN is sustainability due to the very high rate of subsidy, the inability of recipients to pay off increasing arrears and limited land resources to continue RPN as low-density (housing),” said the minister.

He also noted there were low-income individuals in need of housing, but they are not eligible under the current scheme.

During the session, several proposals were put forward by LegCo members to review the eligibility criteria to allow the growing number of permanent residents as well as landowners, who lack the resources to build a house, to apply for RPN.

While all landowners including those who inherited land are disqualified from the scheme, it was highlighted some of them were unable to build a house as they are underprivileged.

“On the other hand, there were also those who are high-income earners, and should be able to afford housing in the open market, but (instead) are enjoying the highly-subsidised housing,” remarked YB Dato Hj Bahrin.

He said the Housing Focus Group will examine the issue of inequality within the eligibility criteria and develop satisfactory measures to resolve the problem.

To date, over 24,000 government-subsidised houses have been given to applicants across the country. A total of 27,000 houses have been built with another 2,000 units slated for completion within two years.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

KEMBARA MERDEKA NDP MENINJAU MASLAHAT PENGHUNI RUMAH PANJANG

LIMBARUH HIJAU, KHAMIS, 18 FEBRUARI 2016 – Bak kata pepatah, ‘rumah siap, pahat berbunyi'. Itulah yang terjadi ketika rombongan Parti Pembangunan Bangsa (NDP) yang diketuai oleh TYT Presiden NDP membuat kunjungan muhibbah ke Rumah Panjang Kampung Sumbiling Baru di Mukim Amo Temburong selasa lalu.

Penghuni Rumah Panjang Kampung Sumbiling Baru di Mukim Amo Temburong itu sepatutnya bergembira dan lebih selesa kerana sudah dapat memulakan kehidupan di rumah panjang yang baru siap dibina oleh pihak kerajaan dengan kerjasama beberapa penderma-penderma, persatuan dan badan-badan kebajikan bukan kerajaan di negara ini.

Sebaliknya rata-rata penghuni meluahkan rasa kurang selesa dengan reka bentuk rumah panjang yang baru siap dibina itu. Antara kekurangan yang ketara yang disuarakan oleh beberapa penghuni rumah panjang tersebut ialah reka bentuk yang lebih mirip barik panjang, ketiadaan serambi atau ruai disebelah hadapan rumah panjang yang baru itu dan ruang yang agak kecil untuk dijadikan ruang tamu, ruang makan dan dapor serta satu tandas yang juga digunakan untuk bilik mandi.

Sehubungan dengan itu Presiden NDP menyatakan rasa terkilan beliau dengan keadaan reka bentuk rumah panjang tersebut yang menurut beliau kurang memberikan perhatian kepada gaya hidup dan budaya masyarakat Iban.

“Tahniah kepada pihak-pihak berkenaan atas usaha melaksanakan tanggungjawab membantu dan menyediakan rumah panjang baru kepada penghuni-penghuni yang kehilangan tempat kediaman mereka . Dalam masa sama saya juga merasakan perlaksanaan tanggungjawab itu akan lebih cemerlang jika pihak-pihak berkenaan lebih peka akan gaya hidup dan budaya masyarakat Iban yang merupakan penghuni rumah panjang tersebut”.

“Saya juga berharap aduan penghuni ini tidak disalah taafsirkan sebagai sifat tidak ‘bersyukur' dan tidak berterima kasih. Mereka berhak meluahkan pandangan mereka dan kita wajar menghormatinya dan berlapang dada serta menlihatnya sebagai satu input yang positif kearah melaksanakan tugas dan tanggungjawab yang lebih efektif dan cemerlang demi kebaikan negara dan bangsa”.

“Saya melihat musibah kebakaran yang dialami oleh penghuni rumah panjang Kampung Sumbiling Baru itu merupakan satu peluang untuk pihak berkuasa memodenkan rumah panjang di Brunei dengan memberi nilai dan gaya baru kepada rumah panjang di negara ini tanpa mengorbankan ciri-ciri unik rumah panjang. Ia juga merupakan satu peluang mengembangmajukan sektor kerajinan tangan dan aktiviti ekonomi masyarakat puak Iban sebagai satu lagi usaha mengembangluaskan sektor pertanian dan pelancongan negara. Malangnya peluang tersebut terlepas begitu saja.”, ujar sdr Malai Hassan Othman, Presiden NDP.

“Kalau sahaja didapatkan pelbagai input daripada pemimpin masyarakat Iban perkara ini setentunya dapat dielakkan. Biasanya rumah panjang mempunyai 10 dan 20 bilik . Setiap rumah panjang mempunyai "ruai" iaitu ruang bilik bersama yang terletak di bahagian hadapan rumah itu di mana kebanyakkkan aktiviti diadakan di tempat itu”.

“Malangnya rumah panjang yang baru dibina tidak menyediakan kemudahan ini dan tidak hairanlah bak kata pepatah rumah siap, pahat berbunyi”, ujar sdr Malai Hassan Othman sambil menambah mungkin saja isu bajet yang menjadi penghalang kepada pihak berkenaan untuk membina rumah panjang yang lebih sesuai untuk penghuni-penghuni tersebut.

Katanya memang tidak dinafikan dari aspek fizikalnya rumah panjang yang baru itu lebih baik dari yang lama. Ia merupakan bangunan konkrit yang lebih utuh dan sempurna dari yang lama, tetapi dari aspek kebudayaan, kerohanian, memelihara keturunan dan kehormatan ketara banyak yang perlu ditambahbaik.

“Aspek-aspek ini sangat penting diberiakn perhatian sewajarnya selaras dengan tanggunjawab memeliahara negara sebagai sebuah negara yang selamat, aman, makmur dan sentiasa mendapaat perlindungan Allah serta tuntutan membina generasi berwawasan ke arah merealisasiakan Wawasan 2035 yang menjadi tema Hari Kebangsaan kita”, tegas beliau lagi.

Beliau berharap pihak-pihak berkenaan akan memberikan perhatian kepada perkara ini agar penghuni rumah panjang di Kampung Sumbiling Baru terutama anak-anak mereka akan dapat menjalani kehidupan yang lebih selesa, selamat dan sejahtera.

Lawatan romobongan NDP ke Rumah Panjang Kampung Sumbiling Baru itu merupakan salah satu program Tahunan Kembara Merdeka NDP sempena memperingati Hari Kebangsaan Negara kali ke-32 pada tahun ini.

Objektif program tersebut ialah untuk sama-sama berusaha menanamkan semangat dan kesedaran berbangsa dan bernegara dikalangan rakyat dan penduduk terutama sekali masyarakat pendalaman agar terus taat setia kepada raja, bangsa dan negara. Dalam masa sama ia juga merupakan satu pendekatan NDP untuk melaksanakan tanggungjawab politiknya sambil berdakwah mempastikan kezaliman tidak mendapat tempat di negara ini sebaliknya keadilan dan ihsan ‘tumpah' kepada rakyat dan penduduk negara ini seperti yang ditekankan oleh Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam.

Turut serta dalam lawatan tersebut ialah sdra Pengiran Haji Zainal Pengiran Talib, TYT Timbalan Presiden NDP, sdra Haji Zaini bin Bakar, Naib Presiden NDP Temburong, sdra Haji Metali bin Haji Ibrahim, Naib Presiden NDP Belait, sdra Haji Ali Yusuf, Bendahari Agung NDP, sdri Hajjah Kertini, Ketua Hawa NDP, sdra Mohammad Abdullah Peter, Penolong Setiausaha Agung NDP serta ahli-ahli Badan Perhubungan NDP Temburong, Belait dan Brunei Muara.


Sumber - Laman Aspirasi

‘Tamu Kianggeh at its cleanest since HM surprise visit’

Wail Wardi Wasil
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

TAMU Kianggeh vendors said the open-air market is at its cleanest since His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, made a surprise visit a week ago.

Vendors told The Brunei Times yesterday that the tamu is in peak condition as Municipal Department officials visited the market almost every day to ensure hygiene is practised.

One of the vendors, Einon Hj Tuah, said the whole market was cleaned after His Majesty’s visit to the market.

Previously, she said the cleaning of the market would be conducted once or sometimes twice a month.

During a visit to the Ministry of Home Affairs last week, the monarch had expressed dissatisfaction with the hygiene at Tamu Kianggeh, describing it as messy and an eyesore.

Another vendor, Jamil Hj Tamin, said the Municipal Department previously sent notices to vendors if they were about to clean the market.

During those days, he said vendors would close up shop and pack up their wares to make it easier for cleaners to clear the filth.

“However, there were many instances when we opened our stalls the next day, only to find out that not every part of the market was cleaned, except the front area,” he said.

He said if the Municipal Department has better communication with the vendors, they would be more than willing to cooperate in ensuring cleanliness and management of stall spaces.

“About five years ago, there would be cleaning campaigns conducted by the Municipal Department every week on Mondays, vendors would also take part in the campaign,” said the 41-year-old.

Jamil said if the authorities could reintroduce the weekly cleaning campaign, the cleanliness of the market would be easily maintained.

The Municipal Department has also sorted out the vendors’ stalls in one area of the market, which is the parking area across the Brunei Malay Teachers Association (PGGMB) building in the capital.

Jinut Hj Timbang, one of the vendors who operates in the area, said Municipal Department officials approached them on Saturday and supervised the rearrangements of the stalls.

Previously, the vendors’ stalls would be scattered around the parking area, often creating traffic congestion for car owners using the parking lot.

They are are located only on one side of the parking lot, where there is a bridge connecting the space to Tamu Kianggeh.

“If it is for our own good, then we will happily do it, I’m sure there will be no future problems if the Municipal Department just communicate with us more often,” she said.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

HM demands answers from MoHA on tamu

Waqiuddin Rajak
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE Ministry of Home Affairs was placed in the hot seat yesterday when His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, demanded answers over the inaction of officials in tackling problems.

Delivering his titah during a visit to the ministry’s headquarters yesterday, the monarch said the maintenance of markets has worsened because it continues to be neglected.

His Majesty said he witnessed Tamu Kianggeh vendors selling their goods all over the market without considering hygiene and comfort during his visit there last Sunday.

Describing the conditions of the market as messy and an eyesore, the Sultan added that he had difficulties navigating the tamu because the stalls were disorganised and some occupied a larger space than others, including selling their products on the stairs.

“This is an unpleasant sight. I also saw garbage and stones scattered around, while there is a vendor selling kuih apam balik (local delicacy) outside of a building nearby,” he said.

“Where are the municipal authorities? Did they not see this situation?

“If so, why was it left without being addressed?” he continued.

The monarch went on to say that the long abandoned building near the market showed that the authorities had given the green light to construct the building without careful assessment as it was not necessary and suitable to be built in the area.

Some of the vendors, he said, had also complained of foreigners loitering at the cemetery behind the tamu on Fridays and Sundays.

“According to the vendors there, this is unpleasant to them, there were efforts to forbid (the foreign workers) but it was unsuccessful,” he said.

“The vendors had to report to authorities including the police and the Municipal Department, but the situation did not change, and it became worse,” he added.

The monarch expressed concerns as the vendors had also told him that the foreigners may disturb them as they were drunk.

“So my question is, where is the discretion of the authorities in this? Where are measures to preserve the sanctity of the cemetery? Where are our efforts to ensure peace and safety?” he said.

“Do we not see drunk people at the cemetery as threatening? Would it not be possible that apart from them being intoxicated, they may also plan something that can endanger the country?” he added.

The monarch noted no changes had been made, an indication that the issue was not resolved.

“If it is addressed, at least we will see changes for the better, but the situation at the tamu seems to be getting worse,” he said.

He added that if the authorities were not told or instructed to take action, changes would not be made.

“So here I would like to once again ask, where are the municipal authorities and the others?” he added.

The Sultan said the same can be applied to the Jerudong wet market as it is now only left with fishmongers as fruits and vegetable vendors had long abandoned their stalls in the building.

These vendors had brought their goods to the corridors of the building, making it difficult for people to pass by as it is now filled with temporary stalls for vendors to sell their goods.

His Majesty said the reason they had abandoned their designated stalls because it was dark, hidden and not enough clean air, making it difficult for them to attract customers.

The building, His Majesty said, is now abandoned, neglected and dirty.

“This continues to persist, where are the authorities? Why has it not been visited?

“How long has this been going on? What are we waiting for?” he said.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

More people seeking gov’t welfare benefits

Wail Wardi Wasil
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

GOVERNMENT agencies in charge of welfare benefits have seen a rise in the number of people asking for assistance in recent years, the minister of culture, youth and sports said yesterday.

During a dialogue session between the Ministry of Culture, Youths and Sports (MCYS) and Legislative Council members, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Hj Awang Halbi Hj Mohd Yusof said the issue of poverty is one of the critical issues that must be dealt with immediately.

He said that in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of people requesting government welfare through bodies such as the Community Development Department (JAPEM) and the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB).

According to the press release, JAPEM’s statistics showed that there were 6, 478 heads of families that received the Monthly Welfare Benefits (BKB) last year. This was an eight per cent increase compared from 6,019 in 2014.

Statistics published by JAPEM through data.gov.bn also showed that the number of welfare recipients in 2014 also revealed an increase of 15 per cent compared to 5,247 in 2013.

The ministry is aware that this development was brought forth by various factors such as unemployment, insufficient wages, a high number of dependents in the family and many others, he said.

YB Dato Pehin Hj Halbi added that this increase in the number of welfare recipients is a cause for concern and the situation must be improved.

The minister added that due to the increase, the National Council on Social Issues (MKIS), in an effort to reduce social problems in the country, has made the issue of poverty a top priority.

This is done, he said, by aiding welfare recipients in releasing themselves from the cycle of poverty.

YB Dato Pehin Hj Halbi went on to say that the ministry will also continue its efforts in further strengthening youth development in the country.

He said the ministry is aiming to review a number of national and ministerial policies under youths, sports, culture as well programmes that are currently running under the ministry.

“This is to ensure that these policies are still relevant and effective and at the same time, it is to take into consideration whether some policies need a change in trajectory,” said the minister.

He added that the ministry will also aim to improve the synergy between relevant authorities, whether from the government sector, the private sector or grassroots leader, adding that “engagement” and “public consultation” is the key to preserving the peace and harmony of the nation.

The dialogue session was headed by Yang Berhormat Hj Sulaiman Ahad and was held at the Conference Room of the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium in Berakas.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Keberangkatan Kebawah DYMM ke Tamu Kianggeh suntik semangat para penjaja

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Ahad, 7 Februari. - Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam berkenan berangkat melawat Tamu Kianggeh di ibu negara awal pagi tadi.

Keberangkatan Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia telah disambut dengan rasa penuh kegembiraan oleh para penjaja dan pengunjung di tamu tersebut.

Keprihatinan baginda terhadap kesejahteraan rakyat dan penduduk di negara ini jelas kelihatan melalui keberangkatan baginda meninjau dengan lebih dekat keadaan dan aktiviti di Tamu Kianggeh yang sememangnya sibuk terutama pada hujung minggu.

Semasa lawatan tersebut baginda berkenan bercemar duli dan berinteraksi bersama para penjaja sambil meninjau aktiviti harian mereka, jelas menggambarkan betapa eratnya hubungan antara raja dan rakyatnya.

Meskipun dalam keadaan hujan, baginda tetap meneruskan lawatan dan orang ramai tidak melepaskan peluang untuk menjunjung kasih serta bersalaman dengan baginda.

Tamu Kianggeh merupakan tempat yang mudah bagi memperoleh barangan keperluan harian dengan harga yang berpatutan termasuk juadah dan buah-buahan tempatan, ikan, sayur-sayuran, bunga-bungaan dan kraf tangan, di samping menjadi salah satu tempat tarikan pelancong asing ke negara ini.

Sejarah kewujudan Tamu Kianggeh bermula pada awal 1960-an dulunya merupakan tempat padian wanita menjual pelbagai hasil produk mereka dengan menggunakan bot yang juga dikenali sebagai padian.

Beroperasi seawal pagi dan berakhir pada lewat petang setiap hari yang mana kebanyakan para penjaja di sini terdiri daripada kaum wanita atau warga emas tempatan. Tamu Kianggeh merupakan pasar terbuka terletak di tepi Sungai Kianggeh di tengah-tengah ibu negara.

Apa yang jelas, keberangkatan baginda bercemar duli ke Tamu Kianggeh akan menjadi ristaan serta dapat menyuntik semangat para penjaja tempatan untuk lebih bergiat aktif menjalankan perniagaan mereka.


Sumber - Pelita Brunei

Usaha tangani rasuah dipergiat

Oleh Rafidah Jumat & Sim Y.H

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 4 Feb – Jabatan Peguam Negara dengan kerjasama Biro Mencegah Rasuah dan Jabatan Perdana Menteri, dalam menangani rasuah, telah menggubal Perintah Pencegahan Rasuah (Pindaan), 2015 yang berkuat kuasa pada 22 September 2015, dengan tujuan untuk meningkatkan integriti dan kejujuran dalam kalangan pegawai-pegawai awam.

Rasuah boleh berlaku dalam pelbagai bentuk termasuk penyogokan, pemerasan, pengaruh, penipuan dan penggelapan wang, termasuk dalam bentuk penyalahgunaan kuasa.

Bab 12A baru akan menjadikannya suatu kesalahan bagi pegawai awam menggunakan dana awam untuk tujuan peribadi, memberikan layanan keutamaan yang tidak wajar, menyalahgunakan maklumat yang diperoleh semasa menjalankan kewajipannya atau berkelakuan dengan cara yang akan menyebabkan kepentingan peribadinya bercanggahan dengan kewajipan awamnya.

Bab 12B pula memperkenalkan kesalahan salah laku dengan sengaja atau lalai melaksanakan kewajipan yang membawa kepada penyalahgunaan amanah awam terhadap pemegang jawatan.

Peguam Negara, Yang Berhormat Datin Seri Paduka Hajah Hayati binti POKSDSP Haji Mohd Salleh berkata kesalahan-kesalahan di bawah bab itu boleh dilakukan tanpa menerima suapan atau manfaat kewangan.

Menurut beliau, seorang pegawai awam boleh didapati bersalah atas kesalahan itu jika dia terlibat dalam penyalahgunaan kuasa atau budi-bicara, penyalahgunaan tugas rasmi atau kegagalan mengisytiharkan sebarang percanggahan kepentingan.

Yang Berhormat Datin menekankan perkara ini semasa menyampaikan ucapan pada Majlis Pembukaan Tahun Undang-Undang 2016, yang berlangsung di Mahkamah Tinggi, Bandar Seri Begawan, hari ini.

Beliau seterusnya berkata, dalam menjalankan pembaharuan untuk mempelbagaikan ekonomi, Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam telah memperkenankan bagi penubuhan jawatankuasa yang bertanggungjawab melaksanakan pembaharuan bagi menjadikan negara ini lebih menarik bagi pelabur-pelabur asing.

“Untuk mewujudkan keyakinan pelabur, kita bukan sahaja perlu mempunyai persekitaran politik dan ekonomi yang baik, malah penting untuk mempunyai infrastruktur undang-undang yang berkesan dan bebas untuk melindungi hak pelabur.

“Kita juga mesti mempunyai undang-undang yang memupuk persekitaran pro-perniagaan dan pro-pelabur, dan antaranya Perintah Ketidaksolvenan, 2016; draf Perintah Transaksi Bercagar, 2016; Aturan-aturan dari Aturan-aturan Mahkamah Besar (Pindaan), 2015; draf Perintah Keselamatan Kebakaran, 2015 dan draf Perintah Akta Lesen Perniagaan (Pindaan) 2015,” katanya.

Mengenai integriti, ujarnya, satu lagi pertimbangan penting yang mempengaruhi keputusan pelabur dalam memilih destinasi pelaburan adalah tahap rasuah di sesebuah negara.

Kajian telah menunjukkan rasuah mempunyai kesan negatif kepada tahap pelaburan, pertumbuhan ekonomi dan memberi kesan kepada pertumbuhan PKS. Banyak kajian juga menunjukkan bahawa negara-negara dengan tahap rendah rasuah menarik lebih FDI per kapita.

Yang Berhormat Datin dalam ucapannya turut memuji pelbagai usaha yang dibuat oleh Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD) dan agensi-agensi lain dalam memerangi penggubahan wang haram, pembiayaan keganasan dan jenayah kewangan yang semakin bertambah. Menurut beliau, pihaknya juga telah membantu kementerian-kementerian dan jabatan-jabatan kerajaan dalam rundingan panjang bagi Perjanjian Perkongsian Trans-Pasifik (TTP) yang dibuat pada 5 Oktober 2015, terutamanya dalam memastikan perjanjian itu mengikut kehendak pihaknya dan tidak bercanggah dengan dasar negara, kedaulatan dan perlembagaan Brunei.

Yang Berhormat Datin yang turut mengalu-alukan penubuhan mahkamah komersial, telah berkongsi tiga ciri penting komposisi Mahkamah Komersial iaitu pandangan antarabangsa, kemahiran dan pengetahuan komersil dan simpati timbang tara.

Dengan aliran perdagangan dan pelaburan merentas sempadan di Asia, TPP dan lain, diharap akan dapat mempergiatkan semula perdagangan dan pelaburan, tambahnya.


Sumber - Media Permata

‘Village head duties too burdensome’

RPN Lorong Tengah in Seria. The area with 2,000 residents has yet to produce a single village head
candidate application, despite two advertisements from the Belait District Office last year.

Aaron Wong
BELAIT

THE rezoning of Belait's largest residential areas is stalling due to dismal turnouts for new village head positions that prevent the formation of consultative councils to oversee the community welfare of the proposed delineated boundaries.

The Belait District Office, which spearheads the ambitious rezoning plan, are now faced with an uphill task in changing the perception among the wider community that the village head role is, as one village head put it - “seen as either too burdensome or of petty significance”.

Tied closely to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MoHA) ‘Service Scheme for Penghulu and Ketua Kampong 2013’ - approved last May by the previous minister, the rezoning initiative primarily targets the division of the district's most densely populated villages and national housing schemes (RPN) that exceeded the recommended 3,000 residents per village.

The Belait District Office advertised four newly-approved village head posts last year for the national housing schemes of Panaga, Lorong Tengah and Lumut as well as a second village head for Mumong, through the government's news publication Pelita Brunei - the first in September and the second in November.

That resulted in only five applicants, none who are qualified to run for elections based on MoHA's new scheme.

RPN Lorong Tengah, with an estimated population of 2,000 residents, failed to turn up any applicants, while RPN Lumut with an even bigger population of 4,500 and Kg Mumong B only managed a sole applicant each.

A bright spot was the 2,000 houses of RPN Panaga that saw three applying for the post, but they either did not meet the age requirement of 45 to 55, or came short under the new academic requirement of a minimum of two GCE O-level credits or its equivalent.

“The turnout has not been good, but we are still moving forward. We will continue to put out the advertisements and try new ways to attract residents to apply,” said Belait District Officer Hj Haris Othman.

But the apathy and lack of interest towards grassroots leader positions go beyond the scope of the district office, and is not a new development in Belait.

Grassroots leaders currently serving in the district are all too familiar with the problem, and for the most part claim that majority of the public see the post as either restrictive and bearing too much responsibility or one that has little function beyond distributing pension.

Seria's Penghulu Hj Jamail Hj Linap, who until January last year, was Seria's only grassroots leader for over 20,000 residents, about twice the population of Temburong - leading to a highly publicised pension distribution problem.

The appointment of a village head for Kg Lorong 3 at the start of 2015 eased the penghulu's responsibilities, but he continues to serve as the sole head for RPN Panaga, RPN Lorong Tengah and Kg Pekan Seria.

“Many of these (grassroots) posts have been vacant for years – Lorong 3 had to do without an official village head for a decade.

“It can't be that people are completely unaware, it is just that people, who are qualified, are not stepping up to the plate. And the most likely truth is that they are just not interested,” he said.

Requirements such as government approval before exiting the country are viewed as restrictive by some, he said and the responsibility to distribute welfare and pension too big for those who “would prefer to quietly retire”.

To make matters worse, he added that the advent of social media has brought “unfair judgement and scrutiny” to MPKs and village heads through regular viral posts and disparaging comments left by residents and the public who are “very quick” to pass judgement on village heads before establishing facts.

Belait District representative to the Legislative Council and Mumong Village Head Yang Berhormat Hj Mohd Yusof Dulamin said many still view community leader positions as unimportant and always busied by petty requests.

“There are many with the qualifications, ability and seniority needed to take these posts, but they don't think being village head is important or worth the trouble.

“So the hope lies among those who have had extensive experience in working or dealing with MPKs/MPMs, seen the value it can bring, and have a goal and vision to lead and represent the community,” he said.

Hj Mohd Yusof oversees a village population three times the size recommended by MoHA.

The district's other Legislative Council representative and village head of Lumut 1, YB Hj Mohd Shafiee Ahmad, said the lack of interest was a call to action for the authorities to study the reason behind the apathy.

With a maximum salary of $4,240 for village heads with qualifications of a National Diploma and above, YB Hj Mohd Shafiee does not think the solution is to throw more money at the post.

“It has been going on long enough for them (authorities) to do a post-mortem to see why there is no interest.

“While the decision to run for village head or join an MPK is ultimately up to the resident – we as a society cannot accept the situation just as it is without trying to study and change it, or the long-term future of rezoning and the village head will be in doubt ,” he added.


Sumber - The Brunei Times