| James Kon |
HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to the establishment of a charity fund for the victims of the recent Kampong Pandai Besi ‘A’ and Kampong Lurong Dalam fires, which razed 26 houses.
Details of the newly-established fund was announced by Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) in a press conference held at the Brunei-Muara District Office yesterday.
The collection period for the charity fund begins today and will continue until January 31, next year.
“This duration (of the charity fund) is to provide opportunity for those who want to contribute their donations and to enable interested parties to organise charity and welfare activities with the aim of raising funds,” said Abdul Mutalib.
Members of the public can make their contributions through donation boxes located in mosques nationwide, at the four district offices, banks, department stores and public buildings in the country.
Donors can also send their contributions to the secretariat of the Kampong Pandai Besi ‘A’ and Lurong Dalam Fire Victims Charity Fund located at the building of the Brunei-Muara District Office or Finance and Administration Division, second floor, Community Development Department under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Photo shows Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA), and Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila binti Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Jalil, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS), in a press conference with other senior officials. – JAMES KON
Members of the public who wish to transfer donations through banks can send their donations to the charity fund’s Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) account at 1010103487.
All SMS donations will begin on December 17, 2016 and continue until January 31, 2017. To donate, members of the public can send an SMS with the word BANTU followed by the amount they wish to donate, to 38111 for both DST and Progresif Cellular users.
An example of a $20 donation to the charity fund through SMS will look like this: BANTU20.
The fire that destroyed 26 houses – 11 in Kampong Pandai Besi ‘A’ and 15 in Kampong Lurong Dalam – broke out at 12.16pm on December 7. It affected the lives of 140 people of which 92 of them were from Kampong Lurong Dalam and 48 were from Kampong Pandai Besi ‘A’.
In the wake of the fire, the MCYS has provided temporary shelter for the victims at the Sungai Kebun Menjalin Sports Complex.
“The Community Development Department took immediate action following the fire by providing temporary shelters, packed meals as well as other daily necessities,” Datin Paduka Dr Hajah Norlila said.
Apart from contributions from the government, she said that the fire victims have also received donations in the form of daily necessities and other items from associations, individuals and the private sector.
“This has demonstrated the high social responsibility of the people in the country and (that they are) ready to provide assistance to people who are in need,” she added.
She also hoped that the charity fund will be another channel for members of the public to provide assistance to the fire victims.
The permanent secretary at the MoHA also conveyed his gratitude and appreciation to all those involved in providing assistance to the fire victims.
He also thanked the village heads and residents of the affected villages who worked together to combat the blaze.
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