| Ishan Ibrahim |
A FOUNDATION stone-laying ceremony to mark the start of the construction of houses for the poor was held at Simpang 50-11, Kampong Bukit Udal in the Tutong District recently.
The location was the site for one of 27 units of houses to be built at designated locations throughout the country for the nation’s needy and destitute.
The construction project was made possible through the efforts of the Government 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 to improve the standard of living of the country’s people.
The guest of honour was Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar in his capacity as Vice President of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB).
Others in attendance were Permanent Secretary (Law and Welfare) at the Prime Minister’s Office Haji Mohammad Rosli bin Haji Ibrahim; Tutong District Officer; as well as senior officers from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Construction of the houses, taking place in three districts – 10 houses in the Brunei-Muara District, 14 in Tutong and three in Belait, began on October 25 and is slated to be completed by October next year.
Syarikat Noracon Sdn Bhd has been selected as the authorised contractor for the project.
The cost of construction for the houses – funded through the Zakat collections of MUIB and the Brunei Asnaf Zakat Fakir Miskin fund – totals BND1,977,283.60.