| Lyna Mohamad |
STATISTICS from the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) shows that Bruneians mostly use three media applications – WhatsApp (97.3 per cent), Facebook (91.7 per cent) and Instagram (87.4 per cent).
This was disclosed at the Personal Contact Programme carried out by the Information Department, Prime Minister’s Office through its Tutong District branch at the Kampong Birau Community Centre in Mukim Kiudang yesterday, according to a press release by the Information Department.
Information Department Acting Director Mawardi bin Haji Mohammad led the delegation comprising officers and staff from the Information Department and Tutong District branch.
Attending the programme were Penghulu of Mukim Kiudang and Acting Village Head of Kampong Batang Mitus and Kampong Kebia Haji Abdul Rahim bin Abdullah Yakin along with Kampong Batang Mitus and Kampong Kebia Village Consultative Council members and villagers from the two villages.
The programme aimed to convey official information on government policies and intentions and getting members of the community to understand, support and appreciate them (policies and intentions) effectively. It also served as a platform to raise and share issues, opinions and suggestions as well as actions to be taken by relevant parties in the government.
The programme also served to familiarise and promote the development and progress of the mukims and villages, especially places of interests and products to be introduced to the public within and outside the country through the publication of the Kenali Negara Kitani (KNK) to be published in the Pelita Brunei.
Yesterday’s programme began with discussions on how to handle the spreading of fake news or information that can disturb peace, cause confusion and fear to the public.
Also highlighted in the programme was the importance of the national flag and residents and citizens of the country were advised to raise the national flag during national events in the proper and appropriate way, ensuring that the flag is not faded in colour and that the image of the monarch is well maintained.
The programme also highlighted the Information Department’s mobile application called ‘InfoDeptBN’ and explained the procedure to download it through Google Playstore for Android and App Store for iOS.
Also highlighted in the programme was the titah of 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, during the official opening of the 14th Legislative Council meeting this year on keeping the country clean and the need to check on littering.
Officials also disclosed that studies conducted by the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (JASTRe) in 2005 showed that the amount of solid waste in the country reached about 189,000 tonnes a year and out of this number, 16 per cent are plastic waste and most of them plastic bags.
In this regard, the ‘No Plastic Bag’ initiative has been expanded and extended to achieve the government’s objectives to make the country plastic bag-free by January 2019, and hence the roles and cooperation of villagers to safeguard the cleanliness of the village environment were also highlighted.
The press release added that other issues raised at the programme included public facilities and infrastructures, social activity engagement, occupational and public welfare issues, and about improving the effectiveness and knowledge of farming.