HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday spent the day taking a closer look at the progress of projects and education institutions during a working visit to several locations in the Brunei-Muara District following a plaque presentation ceremony for over 1,500 new housing scheme recipients.

In an event held earlier in the morning at The Empire Hotel & Country Club, a total of 1,542 individuals had the privilege of receiving from His Majesty their respective plaques for their very own homes under the Landless Indigenous Citizens Housing Scheme (STKRJ) in Kg Katok and Kg Lugu

The Acting Brunei-Muara District Officer, Haji Sunadi bin Haji Buntar expressed gratitude for the generosity the monarch had extended to his subjects. It is hoped that the residents in these respective areas will continue to preserve our way of life with peace and respect, he added.

From the total, 980 recipients were granted houses under the RPN with 95 individuals receiving semi-detached houses, a further 539 receiving terraced houses under RPN Tanah Jambu and another 346 receiving terraced houses in RPN Meragang.

Under the STKRJ, a total of 85 received semi-detached houses, 128 received terraced houses in the STKRJ Kg Katok and the remaining 18 received semi-detached houses, while another 331 received terraced houses in the STKRJ Kg Lugu.

Following the ceremony, His Majesty began his working visit at the Sayyidina Husain Secondary School in Mukim Sengkurong where he was greeted by over 1,000 elated pupils and teaching staff.

Education institutions in the country have always been the monarch’s centre of attention, demonstrated by his many visits to primary and secondary schools as well as higher education institutions to find out more about the education system’s progress.

Rimba II Secondary School in RPN Rimba Mukim Gadong was the next stop. The school started its operations in January 2012 and was later in the year officiated as a “Model School” under a pilot project initiated by the Ministry of Education.

A new helicopter training facility in Kg Rimba, said to be one of the largest in the region, CAE Brunei Multi-Purpose Training Centre Sdn Bhd was also part of His Majesty’s itinerary, followed by Zone A of the 500-hectare Bio-Innovation Corridor (BIC) in Kg Tungku, Gadong.

His Majesty also learnt more about the progress of the Mechanical Training Centre (PLM) in Kg Tungku, Gadong which was opened in 1986.

His Majesty later spent some time visiting new housing recipients’ houses in STKRJ Kg Katok, including the houses of Pg Haris Fadzillah bin Pg Hashim, Pg Najayati bte Pg Hashim, Saniah bte Ahmad and Md Arafah bin Haji Zainin.

The monarch also visited the residence of Awang Salim bin Adi, Village Head of Zone II of Kg Lugu and Kg Katimahar, where the monarch learnt more about the village’s progress and viewed an exhibition on the Village Consultative Council’s activities.

Before ending the day’s visit, His Majesty visited the residences of several new house recipients in STKRJ Kg Lugu, including the houses of Shamsul bin Hj Matali, Sudirman bin Hj Mat Omar, Asnulyadi bin Haji Zainal, Mohd Sahrizal bin Mohammad and Mimi Zahwati bin Mohammad.

While at the STKRJ in Kg Katok and Kg Lugu, recipients whose houses were not on the schedule of His Majesty’s visit also had their wishes fulfilled by the caring monarch. His Majesty was seen happily accepting invitations to the houses and walked along the streets under the glaring mid-day sun with his subjects.

His Majesty’s busy itinerary yesterday concluded with a santap held at the Royal Berkshire Hall of the Royal Brunei Polo & Riding Club in Jerudong. - Borneo Bulletin (3 June 2014)