Over 2,700 living in poverty in Kampong Ayer

Over 2,700 living in poverty in Kampong Ayer

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, February 6, 2009

MANY Kampong Ayer residents are living in poverty, and the water village is in dire conditions given its lack of social development, said a senior lecturer at Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) yesterday.

The number of recorded poverty cases in Kampong Ayer currently stands at 2,752 people, said Datin Dr Hjh Saadiah Datu Derma Wijaya Hj Tamit, senior lecturer at the Brunei Studies Academy of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), adding that this is a cause of concern.

Speaking during her presentation on "Kampong Ayer, Bridging the Development Era" at the Kampong Ayer National Symposium at UBD, she noted that poverty in Brunei was mainly focused in Kampung Ayer, especially Kg Sg Kebun.

They are mostly made up of relocated residents from other villages which was burnt in major fire of the late 80s.

"Most of those in poverty are primarily those who has low income occupation or those who are working as boat operators or fishermen," she said.

She said that the residents must be given direct attention as they might feel ignored by society, which will in turn lead to unhealthy social activities.

The main reason for locals who are involved in these unhealthy habits such as drugs abuse, are mainly due to poverty, she added.

Although pronounced in physical developments such as the restoration of historical landmarks and the building of infrastructure, the cultural diversity it has enjoyed for so long is now deteriorating due to stunted social development, which has brought youths to forget their heritage and traditions, the lecturer said.

She said that relevant authorities must also play their role in enforcing the law to protect those who are cast aside in terms of development, especially those living in Kampong Ayer.

The infrastructure of Kampong Ayer is not only a village built on water, but also rich in traditions passed down from our forefathers, especially concerning religion, Datin Dr Hjh Saadiah said.

"Kampong Ayer plays an important role in the development of Islam in the Sultanate and was known as the Gate of Islam in the old days."

"It was where key figures of Islam in Brunei Darussalam was taught and raised. But sadly, now everything has been put aside and the cultural heritage is not all but lost," she said, adding that crime cases are also on the rise in the underdeveloped areas of Kampong Ayer.

She added that the drop in moral standards was not only brought by the lack of social development but also influence brought by foreigners residing in the area.

Social stigma such as drug abuse and children born out of wedlock could be attributed to this issue, such as the case of Kampung Sembulan in Sabah which was highlighted in the address of a speaker from Sabah, she said.

She also urged Kampong Ayer residents to come forward to relevant authorities to enhance their efforts in ensuring that the water village remains a cultural and diverse heritage in Brunei.

The two-day national symposium aimed to highlight and alleviate the problems faced by Kampong Ayer residents and discuss upcoming developments in the water village, which accommodates more than 30,000 residents. Kampong Ayer was also proposed by the Municipal Department to be declared as a world heritage site. (JNB1)The Brunei Times

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