| Hakim Hayat |
THE latest recipients of the Kampong Lugu National Housing Scheme (RPN) in Mukim Sengkurong were yesterday honoured with a visit by 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.
A total of 1,000 cluster house units have been constructed under the RPN Kampong Lugu project. An individual unit has a total floor area of 130 square metres with four bedrooms, bathrooms and a kitchen.
The housing area’s concept has been strategically planned to comprehensively include space for public amenities such as a school, a mosque, a recreational park and a playground.
All of this is part of the Brunei government’s efforts to meet the ever-increasing demand for affordable homes among the country’s citizens and residents.
One of the housing scheme recipients, Mohammad Hilmi bin Haji Wasli, had the privilege of having His Majesty visit his new home.
Mohammad Hilmi said that he had made the application in 2007, and was thrilled to receive the good news in 2017.
“I feel so blessed and thankful that I now have a house of my own at a young age; and I feel lucky, because it’s not easy to own a house now, especially in these challenging times,” he added.
He expressed gratitude to His Majesty for enabling him to become a homeowner through the subsidised housing scheme, and provide a roof for his family.
Another recipient, Hajah Adri Alieana binti Haji Mohd Alias, expressed her joy at being a successful homeowner, after waiting for several years since her application in 2007.
Hajah Adri and her husband, who have four children, voiced their gratitude towards His Majesty for his concern about the welfare of the people.
His Majesty was originally scheduled to visit only four houses yesterday, but more residents extended warm invitations for the monarch to visit their new homes, which His Majesty consented to.
According to the Housing Development Department at the Ministry of Development, the provision of sustainable and affordable housing scheme remains a top agenda, in accordance with one of the objectives under the National Development Plan (RKN) to improve the people’s quality of life.
One of the department’s long-term strategies is the optimal use of land to boost the construction of the houses, which is evident through the design of cluster and vertical housing.