IN WORKING towards a more practical waiting period for houses under the National Housing Scheme, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, yesterday expressed his hopes that the applicants will be able to own a house with a waiting period of not more than five years by the year 2021.

His Royal Highness said this in his sabda delivered during the 60th Anniversary of the National Housing Scheme Celebration organised by the Housing Development Department of the Ministry of Development at the International Defence Exhibition Hall of BRIDEX, Jerudong.

His Royal Highness added that delays in execution and completion of the projects within the stipulated time will affect the desire and ability to achieve the target for applicants to own houses in not more than five years. Therefore, the cause of delays should be identified and resolved and the management of project implementation should be carried out professionally, efficiently and effectively as it is His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s intention to see all the citizens and residents own their own house.

His Royal Highness said he believed that the reduction in waiting period is achievable as in a span of 60 years, there is a wealth of experience that has been gained that can be used as a foundation and support to formulate goals and plans that are proactive, especially in the building of houses that will meet the needs and aspirations of prospective owners according to their abilities.

Moreover, the Housing Development Department can also benefit from the ‘best practices’ experience of countries that have successfully met their people’s housing needs, HRH added.

“A house is not just a physical asset to its owner. It is also not just a place of shelter and refuge from the sun and rain. Home is where we nurture family prosperity and harmony. With an atmosphere that is conducive, the home is where it starts for us to nurture and educate our family members,” said His Royal Highness.

Furthermore, His Royal Highness stated that families that are happy will be able to produce a harmonious society that practises good values of life in religion, community and nation.

“As informed, under the 10th National Development Plan, a number of housing projects have been approved. In that direction, I sincerely hope that the projects will be implemented and completed with the specified five-year period,” added His Royal Highness.

Earlier, as a symbolic gesture to commemorate the ceremony, HRH the Crown Prince inserted a rectangular plaque into a capsule signifying the Housing Development Department’s (HDD) direction in implementing the Sultanate’s housing programme as a means to intensify the production of homes to meet the country’s needs in line with the country’s Vision 2035 and in ensuring that the people’s welfare is continuously secured.

His Royal Highness was accompanied by NRH Prince ‘Abdul Malik. - Borneo Bulletin (2 April 2013)