By MK Anwar
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to pay a working visit to Mukim Kota Batu in the Brunei-Muara District.
On hand to welcome the monarch at the house of Kota Batu village head Awang Haji Damit bin Hj Ladin were Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Dato Awg Hj Adanan and his deputy, Pehin Dato Awg Hj Dani as well as permanent secretary and deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Also present to welcome His Majesty at the first stop of the visit were Brunei-Muara District Officer Dato Haji Md Yussop bin Bakar and penghulu of Mukim Kota Batu Major (Rtd) Awang Hj Abu Bakar bin Hj Ibrahim.
Yesterday's visit was Sultan's second working visit this year, first being Mukim Melilas in the Belait District last month.
His Majesty visited several villages in Mukim Kota Batu including stops at the residences of village heads.
The monarch also visited several educational institutions in the mukim such as Dato Gandi, Riverside, Sungai Bunga, Nakhoda Abdul Rashid Menunggol and Pintu Malim primary schools.
The mosque, clinics and police stations of several villages also came under close scrutiny yesterday.
His Majesty also visited two aquaculture business sites - HT Enterprise in Kampong Sungai Belukut and a fish hatchery in Buang Tawar of the Brunei River.
HT Enterprise is involved in crab and fish hatchery. The company, established two years ago under the Fisheries Department, now utilises two ponds to rear crabs and fish for the local market.
Meanwhile, the fish hatchery in Buang Tawar, which specialises in saltwater fish, plays a role in contributing to the development of the aquaculture industry in the country.
The monarch concluded his working visit at about 2.30 pm with a santap at the main hall of Pintu Malim Primary School, together with villagers of Mukim Kota Batu.
- Borneo Bulletin
(10th Feb 2006)
