James Kon
The Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB) Municipal Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) is carrying out The Pedestrianisation of Jalan Roberts and Adjacent Alleyways initiative, together with the Ministry of Development (MoD), in a bid to liven up sections of
the capital.
The project’s first phase involved the repainting of five shophouses along Jalan Roberts with pastel colours to draw visitors and tourists.
Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Ir Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar, and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin yesterday launched the initiative by applying some paint near the BIBD Ar-Rahnu building, where an outdoor floor mural will be inlaid during the second phase.
Titled Seven Padians, the art concept for the outdoor floor mural symbolises the seven ethnic groups in Brunei, through its subject and the boats’ colour scheme.
The second phase will involve the joint collaboration of MoHA, MoD and Guerilla Artchitects, along with contributions from the private sector, led by the Manpower Industry Steering Committee (MISC) and the Institution of Surveyors, Engineers and Architects (PUJA) Brunei.
Seven local art groups – Guerilla Artchitects, Larvsh, Sketch One Studio, Petals and Palettes, DBP (Language and Literature Bureau) Team, HWNS Team and Maziyyah Yussof – have each been commissioned to paint a Padian boat in their own distinctive style, for the floor mural.
Guerilla Architects will also set up an outdoor wall mural on one side of the BIBD Ar-Rahnu building.
BSB Municipal Board’s Acting Chairman Aminuddin bin Haji Buntar told the Bulletin, “One of the many projects identified for the Bandar Seri Begawan master plan is to further enliven the capital by having murals and buildings painted in vibrant colours. We hope that this initiative will attract more visitors to Bandar Seri Begawan.”
He said this is the first of several initiatives, with more in the pipeline.
“The mural project will be expanded to other areas, and there are other efforts to further improve and reactivate areas within Bandar Seri Begawan. For example, there are open areas in Jalan Residency, where activities can also be introduced.
“The project is a whole-of-nation approach so we would like to call on building owners and the public to appreciate the government’s efforts by maintaining cleanliness in public spaces and refraining from vandalism.”
Also in attendance at the launching ceremony were Legislative Council (LegCo) members Yang Berhormat Siti Rozaimeriyanty binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Haji Abdul Rahman and Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Hamid @ Sabli bin Haji Arshad as well as Deputy Minister of Development Dato Seri Paduka Ar Haji Marzuke bin Haji Mohsin.