By Azrol Azmi
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, yesterday consented to make a working visit to the Public Works Department, Drainage and Sewerage Department and the Building Services Department, which are under the Ministry of Development.
HRH the Crown Prince was greeted on arrival by the Minister of Development, Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdullah bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, and the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Eusoff Agaki bin Haji Ismail, and the Deputy Minister of Development, Dato Paduka Dr Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein.
The working visit is a continuation of HRH the Crown Prince's tour of the various departments under the Public Works Department, Ministry of Development.
Also present during the visit to greet HRH the Crown Prince were Datin Paduka Hajah Salbiah bin Haji Sulaiman, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office, Permanent Secretary (Technical and Professional), Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohd Said bin Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Setia Dato Paduka Haji Hashim, Acting Director General of the Public Works Department, Awg Hj Mohd Zin Hj Mohd Salleh, as well as directors and senior officers from the department.
HRH the Crown Prince's visit started with a briefing from the Roads Director of the Road Department on the department's background, organisational structure, functions, roles and strategic plan.
HRH the Crown Prince proceeded to the Area Traffic Control Centre and the Data Management Centre, where HRH the Crown Prince also received a briefing on their roles and functions.
The Crown Prince toured the Construction division and the Maintenance and Mechanical division as well, which are under the Road Department.
HRH proceeded to visit the Drainage and Sewerage Department, where he was briefed on the department's background and its functions by the Director of Drainage and Sewerage Department, Awang Young Chee Yen.
The department is responsible for controlling effluent water quality for the sewage treatment centre. It is also responsible for providing advisory services for projects that are related to sewage and drainage for government departments and desludging services of septic tanks for the government and the general public.
HRH the Crown Prince continued his visit to several divisions under the Drainage and Sewerage Department, and was briefed on the Sewerage Telemetry System and current studies on flooding-related problems.
HRH the Crown Prince proceeded to visit the Building Services Department, where he was greeted by Dayang Hajah Marhani binti Abdullah, who is the Director of the Building Services Department.
In line with the vision of the department to be efficient in maintaining government buildings in the Sultanate, the department is currently implementing a computerised management system called the "Integrated Maintenance Management System" (I-MMS) whereby 70 per cent of the maintenance work has already been performed.
HRH the Crown Prince continued his visit to the Geotechnical and Geological section, which is under the Department of Technical Services, and is responsible for providing geotechnical and geophysical advice for government projects and to the public, regarding matters such as the bases for building sites, ground settlement, slope failure, design building foundation and more.
The Crown Prince concluded his working visit with a luncheon with the government officers of Ministry of Development and a mass Zohor prayer at one of the commercial buildings in Gadong.
The working visit reflects HRH the Crown Prince's concern for the development and running of national projects and activities related to the development of infrastructure that would lead towards the vision of the Ministry of Development. HRH the Crown Prince's visit also served as an encouragement for government servants to perform their duties and responsibilities with more commitment, dedication and efficiency.
It also reflects the people's continuous support towards His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's efforts in ensuring that government agencies are always observant of current developments in order to ensure the nation's prosperity and tranquillity.
- Borneo Bulletin
(24th August 2007)
