The wellbeing and welfare of the rakyat and people of several outlying mukims in the Belait District came under review by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Monday. The mukims visited by the Monarch were Melilas, Sukang and Labi. The visit was His Majesty’s first to mukims and kampungs this year. For the residents of the communities, the visit was a happy occasion as it enabled them to greet the Monarch.
The Monarch flew his helicopter into Mukim Melilas for his first stop and was greeted on arrival at the Mukim Melilas Longhouse by the Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Adanan, his deputy, Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Dani, the Acting Belait District Officer, Awang Haji Mohammad bin Haji Abdul Rahman, and by the Acting Penghulu of Mukim Melilas, Pehin Datu Pekerma Dewa Haji Mohd Ali.
His Majesty proceeded to the residence of the Acting Penghulu of Mukim Melilas, where His Majesty consented to witness a conversion ceremony of a 20-year-old Iban youth, Simon Anak Saoh. He is now known as Mohammad Asyraf bin Abdullah Saoh.
His Majesty then consented to view an exhibition of handicrafts made by the residents of the Mukim Melilas Longhouse. His Majesty also toured the mukim’s clinic which provides basic health care and treatment. Last year, nearly 300 people visited the clinic.
The next stop was the Mukim Melilas’s Religious Hall. Apart from being used for prayers, the hall is also a focal point for social gatherings and other activities. His Majesty later went to the Melilas Primary School, first opened in 1964. At present, there are 14 pupils studying there, from Pre-School to Primary Six class. In efforts to achieve academic excellence, the school has embarked on a number of activities such as organising extra classes, guidance programmes to motivate pupils, holding consultation with parents and giving incentives to the best pupils. It has achieved a 100 percent pass in the Primary Certificate Assessment, PCE Examination for the past three consecutive years.
From the Melilas Primary School, His Majesty continued his working visit to Mukim Sukang. His Majesty also flew into Mukim Sukang by helicopter - a journey that only took about 20 minutes. On arrival at the Datu Maharaja Setia Dian Primary School, His Majesty was taken on a tour of the school and observed several learning facilities available. The school was built in 1978.
His Majesty also toured the Mukim Sukang’s Religious Hall. Nearly all residents of Mukim Sukang have embraced Islam. His Majesty then stopped at the mukim’s Police Control Post which caters for the safety and wellbeing of the residents. The mukim’s Health Clinic also came under His Majesty’s scrutiny. The clinic provides free basic health services to all citizens including overseas specialist medical treatment.
His Majesty also visited the residence of the Penghulu of Mukim Sukang, Datu Maharaja Setia Mohammad Simpok. Mukim Sukang is the largest mukim in the Belait District and has more than 600 residents. Mukim Sukang is made up of three races comprising Dusuns, Ibans and Punans. His Majesty then consented to visit the Rumah Panjang Punan.
His Majesty consented to take a closer look at the new Automatic Meteorological Data Aquistic System, AMEDAS, in Kampung Sukang. It is a network of automatic weather observation system, and is one of 14 stations nationwide. His Majesty’s next stop was the mukim’s Multi-Purpose Hall. The provision of such facility represents a part of the development projects in rural areas.
From Mukim Sukang, His Majesty continued his visit to Mukim Labi. His Majesty’s visit began at the Rampayoh Primary School where His Majesty consented to tour the school premise. The Government of His Majesty places education at its most priority for the population. Brunei Darussalam is one of the countries in the world where the rate of literacy is above 90 percent.
Then His Majesty visited one of the four longhouses in Mukim Labi. Rumah Panjang Teraja is a six-door longhouse and is occupied by 60 people who are mostly self-employed. Like other longhouses in the country, Rumah Panjang Teraja is provided with basic needs such as water supply and electricity and telephone services.
His Majesty also stopped at another longhouse - Rumah Panjang Mendaram Besar is an 11-door longhouse and is occupied by more than 70 people. Most occupants of the longhouses are of Iban race.
His Majesty then had a closer look at paddy field at Lot Sengkuang. It is the largest paddy project carried out by the Mukim and Kampung Consultative Councils with the help of the Agriculture Department. First opened in 1962, it now has 200 members who are involved in paddy project on a 300-hectare area.
Mukim Labi is divided into two zones - Labi Satu and Labi Dua. During the working visit, His Majesty stopped over at the residence of the Ketua Kampung Labi Satu, Awang Haji Abdullah bin Idris. Mukim Labi is famous with local fruits such as durians and oranges.
His Majesty also stopped over at the residence of Penghulu of Mukim Labi, Awang Haji Kamarhan bin Haji Atma. Mukim Labi has a population of more than 2 thousand and 3 hundred. Apart from its famous oranges, Mukim Labi was once famous for its handicraft products.
His Majesty then proceeded to the Mukim Labi Multi-Purpose Hall for luncheon. Present were orphans and senior citizens as well as residents of Mukim Labi. Doa selamat was read by the Belait District’s Court Judge Syari’e.
Before leaving, His Majesty consented to receive greetings from residents of Mukim Labi. The working visit of His Majesty to Mukim Labi reflects His Majesty’s serious attention to the well-being of the rakyat and people and at the same time watched the progress and development of Mukim Labi.
(24th Jan 2006)
