| Fizah HAB |
HIS Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik made a community visit yesterday to the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Housing Scheme in Kampong Bolkiah ‘A’ and Kampong Bolkiah ‘B’, Mukim Sungai Kebun to better acquaint himself with the issues and problems faced by the residents as well as to check on a number of sites in the area – notably buildings that are damaged or in need of repairs.
His Royal Highness’ visit is due to his concern about the welfare of the Kampong Bolkiah residents following his sabda during the Second Meeting of the Yayasan Committee of Governors at the Prime Minister’s Office last week, where he brought to light several glaring issues.
Among these included Yayasan Complex’s dwindling rental revenues, the need for restoration works to be done on buildings and houses in Kampong Bolkiah, as well as the alarming case of misappropriation of funds from the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.
Upon arrival, His Royal Highness, who is Chairman of the Yayasan Committee of Governors, was received by Minister of Defence II and Chairman of the Yayasan Board of Directors, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof; Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II and Deputy Chairman of Board of Directors of Yayasan, Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah; Minister of Development and Yayasan Board of Directors member Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar; as well as members of the Yayasan Committee of Governors.
His Royal Highness was briefed on the new Kampong Bolkiah ‘A’ Religious School construction site by project architect Ruzanna Musfirah binti Haji Saji.
After this, His Royal Highness made stops at the police post of Kampong Bolkiah ‘A’, the Yayasan branch office, and the village traditional weaving workshop.
The weaving workshop is used by village residents to create woven products as a source of income and a place where they can share the art of weaving with the future generation.
His Royal Highness also visited several locations in Kampong Bolkiah ‘B’, including the Yayasan branch office and mini library, Kampong Bolkiah clinic, Kampong Bolkiah ‘B’ Religious Hall, and the Kampong Bolkiah Religious School.
Comprised of six houses converted into 15 classrooms and one administration centre, Kampong Bolkiah Religious School was established on April 7, 1999, and currently has 277 students and 17 teaching staff.
His Royal Highness inspected several residences in Kampong Bolkiah ‘A’ and Kampong Bolkiah ‘B’ affected from water and mite damage, before ending his working visit with a call at the private residence of Village Head of Kampong Bolkiah ‘B’ Shamsuddin bin Haji Maidin.
The Kampong Bolkiah ‘A’ and Kampong Bolkiah ‘B’ Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Housing Scheme, part of the Yayasan Charity Project, was initiated to provide accommodation for residents of Kampong Ayer affected by the 1993 fire.
A total of 476 houses, currently home to 2,956 residents, were constructed under this project: 226 houses for the first phase at Kampong Bolkiah ‘A’ and 250 houses for the next phase at Kampong Bolkiah ‘B’.
Of these, two types of houses were built: type ‘A’ (two bedrooms) and type ‘B’ (four bedrooms) – only 26 houses in the Scheme are of type ‘A’.
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 officiated the opening of the Kampong Bolkiah ‘A’ Housing Scheme on August 22, 1994 and Kampong Bolkiah ‘B’ on May 22, 1995.