TUTONG: In a show of support for the continuous efforts of His Majesty the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and the Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, especially in ensuring that the projects under the National Development Plan (NDP) are being carried out smoothly and impeccably, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, as Chairman of the Executive Committee for the 10th National Development Plan yesterday consented to make a working tour of several sites of projects being carried out under the National Development Plan in the Tutong District.
Brudirect reported that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince first consented to tour the Jalan Telisai-Lumut Project Site. On arrival, His Royal Highness was greeted by the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, Dato Paduka Awg Hj Ali Hj Apong; and the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Hj Abd Manaf Hj Metussin who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB).
A briefing on the Jalan Telisai-Lumut project was presented by Dr Hj Abd Manaf Hj Metussin. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince consented to sign the Royal Parchment.
Work on the Jalan Telisai-Lumut project commenced in February 2010. The BND$138 million project, once completed, would further facilitate travel between the Brunei-Muara and Tutong Districts and the Belait District; reduce traffic congestion along Jalan Lumut-Telisai, thereby improving road safety in the area; and in general, provide a dual-carriageway service linking the Brunei-Muara, Tutong and Belait Districts.
The Jalan Telisai-Lumut project, which is run by BEDB, is one of the government projects implemented with the purpose of alleviating the heavy traffic congestion that normally occurs in the area. The road is currently being constructed approximately three kilometres south of the existing Tutong-Seria main road, and stretches through the areas of Telisai and Labi, before rejoining at the Lumut Highway. In addition, a 3.2-kilometre link road to Sungai Paku is also being built, as well as 5 bridges along the new route.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince then proceeded to the Aquaculture Research and Development Centre, Fisheries Department project at Sungai Paku. Accompanying His Royal Highness at the site was the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar. A briefing on the project was presented by the Senior Fisheries Officer, Dyg Hjh Rosinah Hj Yusof.
The Aquaculture Research and Development Centre includes a ten-hectare area that is equipped with fifteen ponds; each with an area of 0.25 hectares and two ponds with an area of 0.7 hectares each. These ponds have been purpose-built for farming Giant Tiger Prawns. The project, which was implemented in 2007 by the Fisheries Department in collaboration with American-based Integrated Aquaculture International, is geared towards advancing the latest technologies in the production of Giant Tiger Prawns.
His Royal Highness later consented to visit the site of the Fish Farming Industry Project, also at Sungai Paku. This forty-hectare area has been specially prepared for the breeding of high value fish in isolation. The site also provides basic facilities such as a sea water supply system, access roads and an electrical power substation. Preparation of the site is being carried out in stages. The first stage, covering 1.289 hectares has already been completed and offered to Myinvesco Hi-Q Biotech Company Sendirian Berhad, a company that breeds fish of the “red grouper” type for export, with a targeted output of fifty metric tonnes.
The second stage of development covering a four-hectare area has been advertised and is in the tendering process for successful companies. The area is meant for the breeding of eels for export to South Korea by Jindo Company Sendirian Berhad, which is expected to produce a total of one hundred and fifty metric tonnes by 2017. The third, fourth and fifth stages will be carried out in view of the recently approved allocation of BND$6.4 billion dollars through the Department of Economic Planning and Development for the Financial Year 2014-2015.
His Royal Highness also consented to observe the implementation of the Kg Bukit Beruang Fire Station and Housing project. A briefing on the project was presented by the Director of Fire and Rescue, Awg Hj Yahya Hj Abd Rahman. The project, which cost nearly BND $6 million, was built on a 0.8069 hectare site. Now at fifty nine per cent complete, the project comes with a multipurpose hall and a surau, and includes the construction of two semi-detached housing units and six units of Class ‘F’ housing.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also took a closer look at the implementation of Phase Five of the Kg Bukit Beruang National Housing Scheme. His Royal Highness was accompanied by the Minister of Development, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Suyoi Hj Osman. A briefing on the progress of this project was delivered by the Director of Housing Development, Awg Hj Md Zakaria Hj Serudin.
Phase Five of the Kg Bukit Beruang National Housing Scheme began in January 2012 and is slated for completion in November this year. The project is being carried out on a seventy five-hectare packet of land at a total cost of BND$85 million and provides seven hundred and fifty eight houses of the cluster and terrace types. The commitment and endeavour to provide public housing programmes and projects that could fulfil the needs and aspirations of the citizens in terms of quantity, quality and time factor constitute the prime focus of the National Housing Plan.
The Shrimp Farming Industrial Site at Sungai Penyatang in Kg Telisai also received the attention of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. The two-hundred-hectare area is divided into three zones. Facilities provided include entry roads, a seawater and freshwater supply system, electrical power substations and embankments. The seawater supply system for Zones ‘A’ and ‘B’ has already been completed and put to use.
The addition of basic infrastructure to Zone ‘C’ will be carried out under a project newly approved through the Department of Economic Planning and Development in the 2014-2015 with a budget allocation of seven-point-five-four million dollars. As of now, sites in Zones ‘A’ and ‘B’ have been offered to Syarikat Golden Corporation Sendirian Berhad for shrimp farming using the latest technology. This area is expected to produce a total of two thousand nine hundred and forty metric tonnes of shrimp by the year 2017.
Prior to continuing the working tour of National Development Plan project sites in the Tutong District in the afternoon, His Royal Highness consented to attend a luncheon at the Tutong Civic Centre. His Royal Highness then performed the Zuhur prayer.
In the afternoon, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince continued his visit by viewing several more National Development Plan projects in the Tutong District.
At the Tutong River Estuary’s Phase Three Beautification Project Site in Jalan Penabai, Kuala Tutong, His Royal Highness was presented a briefing on the implementation of the project by the Acting Director of Drainage and Sewerage, Awg Hj Md Salleh Hj Abd Karim.
The Tutong River Estuary Beautification Project in Jalan Penabai, Kuala Tutong aims to control erosion of the sandy beach so as to enable fishing boats to ply in the waters of the area which previously could not be used owing to low water level.
Meanwhile, the Tutong River Flood Management Scheme Project which began on June 9 2010 was fully completed on the June 8 2012. This pond which covers an area of 75.18 hectares can store up to four million one hundred and sixty thousand litres of water. Both projects are the proactive initiatives of His Majesty’s Government for flood mitigation in Kg Bentudoh, Lamunin, Kuala Abang, Bukit Barun, Layong and its surrounding areas which of late are often exposed to the threat of flooding, which affects the local residents and causes damage and destruction to private properties and government assets.
His Royal Highness ended his working visit with a tour of the Bukit Barun Water Treatment Plant Project Site. The project involves Construction of Water Treatment Plant, Raw Water Station, Water Storage Tanks and Bukit Barun Clean Water Pump. During the tour, His Royal Highness also consented to take a closer look at the Membrane Technology Lining Supply and Installation Project at the Bukit Barun Water Treatment Plant. The briefing was delivered by the Acting Director of Water Services, Ms Alice Lim Sui Kaw.
The Bukit Barun water treatment plant, raw water station, water storage tank and clean water pump project comes under the 7th Phase, costing BND$27.8 million dollars. The project which began in June 2012 and scheduled for completion next month is expected to be able supply sixty million litres of clean water per day to meet the country’s water requirement. Meanwhile, the Supply and Installation of the Membrane Technology Lining at the Bukit Barun Water Treatment Plant costing BND$9.2 million dollars is a pioneer study on the suitability of water treatment using the new method in the country.
This visit by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is the continuation of His Royal Highness’ working visits for a firsthand look at the implementation of development projects under the National Development Plan in line with the Brunei Vision 2035 to achieve the status of a developed nation.
Towards that goal, solid support from ministries, government agencies, the private sector and stakeholders including all the citizens and residents of the country is imperative. It is by continuing their active role and enhancing cooperation in together upholding and achieving success as the result of the nations progressive and dynamic development agenda.