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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Showing posts with label poverty. Show all posts
Showing posts with label poverty. Show all posts
Friday, February 6, 2009
Sunday, January 11, 2009
$22 million allocated for poverty alleviation
$22 million allocated for poverty alleviation
History seminar: Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Ahmad Hj Jumat speaking at the seminar. Picture: BT/Saifulizam
BRUNEI-MUARA
Sunday, January 11, 2009
IN 2007 alone, a total of 21,608 or 5.54 per cent of Brunei's total population received financial aid from the Community Development Department of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Islamic Religious Council. With a total budget allocation of $22.6 million per year, the fund is intended for the group of people classified under the relative poverty line.
This was noted in a key address by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Ahmad Hj Jumat, at the opening ceremony of the two-day regional seminar themed 'History in the country's development' co-organised by the Sultan Hj Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation and Brunei History Association (Pesebar) at Universiti Brunei Darussalam.
The future generation must play an important role in improving the quality of citizen awareness to an esteemed level. History can be used as a yardstick for the progress of a nation.
"For us to reap the benefits, we have to start appreciating history," he said.
"History is the best teacher in life for its major role in determining the greatness of a civilisation, race and nation," he said.
Through history, a generation would be able to know and appreciate their roots and distinguish right from wrong. The understanding of the progression of a country, especially in this unpredictable era, is imperative.
The minister hoped that the discussions from the seminar would help educate people on the importance of history in the development of a nation.
"We need to accept the fact that we are now in an environment filled with challenges, problems and competitions that must be conquered, managed and handled, he said.
"The future is impossible to predict. Change is the only thing that is constant." He added that Bruneians should not be afraid and must be prepared to take on future changes.
One of the government's main agenda in maintaining nation-building and to protect the country's competitiveness in the future was by investing in its human capital.
"Human capital is the only significant national asset, hence never compare human capital to other non-renewable resource."
To move forward in the global educational landscapes, Pehin Dato Dr Hj Ahmad mentioned that currently 30 per cent of Brunei's total population possess tertiary qualification compared to the current 9.58 per cent or 35,444 individuals with a university degree. Developed nations such as Singapore has a tertiary-educated population of around 35 per cent, United States and Australia averaging around 60 per cent, and United Kingdom with 52 per cent.
According to the minister, the seminar was held in accordance with the National Day Silver Jubilee celebration. Since the country's independence, its citizens in the Sultanate have enjoyed a good standard of living due to the sacrifices of our former leaders.
He said that in the next 25 years, Bruneians will have to ask themselves what they can do to contribute to the country rather than what the country can do for them.
The event also saw the launching of a book titled Tunggak, authored by Dato Paduka Dr Hj Abdul Latif Hj Ibrahim and a followed by a lecture titled " Physical development in history" by Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdullah Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, the Minister of Development.
The seminar featured 16 working papers from local and international presenters. A total of 10 working papers will be presented today. (RSH1)
The Brunei Times
History seminar: Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Ahmad Hj Jumat speaking at the seminar. Picture: BT/Saifulizam
BRUNEI-MUARA
Sunday, January 11, 2009
IN 2007 alone, a total of 21,608 or 5.54 per cent of Brunei's total population received financial aid from the Community Development Department of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports and the Islamic Religious Council. With a total budget allocation of $22.6 million per year, the fund is intended for the group of people classified under the relative poverty line.
This was noted in a key address by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Ahmad Hj Jumat, at the opening ceremony of the two-day regional seminar themed 'History in the country's development' co-organised by the Sultan Hj Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation and Brunei History Association (Pesebar) at Universiti Brunei Darussalam.
The future generation must play an important role in improving the quality of citizen awareness to an esteemed level. History can be used as a yardstick for the progress of a nation.
"For us to reap the benefits, we have to start appreciating history," he said.
"History is the best teacher in life for its major role in determining the greatness of a civilisation, race and nation," he said.
Through history, a generation would be able to know and appreciate their roots and distinguish right from wrong. The understanding of the progression of a country, especially in this unpredictable era, is imperative.
The minister hoped that the discussions from the seminar would help educate people on the importance of history in the development of a nation.
"We need to accept the fact that we are now in an environment filled with challenges, problems and competitions that must be conquered, managed and handled, he said.
"The future is impossible to predict. Change is the only thing that is constant." He added that Bruneians should not be afraid and must be prepared to take on future changes.
One of the government's main agenda in maintaining nation-building and to protect the country's competitiveness in the future was by investing in its human capital.
"Human capital is the only significant national asset, hence never compare human capital to other non-renewable resource."
To move forward in the global educational landscapes, Pehin Dato Dr Hj Ahmad mentioned that currently 30 per cent of Brunei's total population possess tertiary qualification compared to the current 9.58 per cent or 35,444 individuals with a university degree. Developed nations such as Singapore has a tertiary-educated population of around 35 per cent, United States and Australia averaging around 60 per cent, and United Kingdom with 52 per cent.
According to the minister, the seminar was held in accordance with the National Day Silver Jubilee celebration. Since the country's independence, its citizens in the Sultanate have enjoyed a good standard of living due to the sacrifices of our former leaders.
He said that in the next 25 years, Bruneians will have to ask themselves what they can do to contribute to the country rather than what the country can do for them.
The event also saw the launching of a book titled Tunggak, authored by Dato Paduka Dr Hj Abdul Latif Hj Ibrahim and a followed by a lecture titled " Physical development in history" by Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdullah Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, the Minister of Development.
The seminar featured 16 working papers from local and international presenters. A total of 10 working papers will be presented today. (RSH1)
The Brunei Times
Monday, December 29, 2008
HM stresses on zero poverty and raised self-sufficiency
HM stresses on zero poverty and raised self-sufficiency
Customary 'titah': His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, delivering his 'titah' in conjunction with the celebration of Hijrah 1430 Islamic new year at Istana Nurul Iman. Picture: BT/Zamri Zainal
HADI DP MAHMUD
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Monday, December 29, 2008
HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday called for continued improvements in the country's standard of living to achieve zero poverty and accelerate efforts to raise the nation's self-sufficiency rate in agriculture.
Addressing Brunei citizens in a customary titah broadcasted on Radio Television Brunei nationwide, the monarch expressed hope for faster movements in achieving the national objectives, particularly in agriculture.
"We need to raise our self-sufficiency rate to a higher level in line with our growth and needs," said His Majesty, adding that there will be continued efforts to improve standards of living suitable with the goal of achieving zero-poverty.
"Prosperity can be achieved with effort by utilising natural resources the country is endowed with. From these resources, we acquired oil and gas, and from this we gained food.
"Today we talk about Hijrah. If Muslims succeed in breaking out of the poverty cocoon, then this will be the most historic Hijrah for them."
The monarch also expressed hope, in particular for the leaders within all government agencies to be strong and honest in their beliefs, "for they are the captains who will steer the ships to the correct ports."
"Fitting with the spirit of Hijrah, everyone, especially leaders and their assistants, need to be more aware of current affairs, whether related to their daily duties or beyond them.
"If there is something that needs to be dealt with immediately, why not do so? The same goes for opportunities for change. Why not change, if it brings benefits?"
Concluding his titah, His Majesty and his family would like to extend a happy new Hijrah 1430 year and hoped that all Bruneians will gain hidayat and guidance from Allah the Almighty.
A report recently published in The Brunei Times said that Brunei's self-sufficiency rate for rice production currently stands at 3.12 per cent, with the bulk of rice consumed in the Sultanate imported from Thailand. The assistant director at the Agriculture Department spoke earlier in March of plans to raise the self-sufficiency rate to 10 per cent, although no targets were specified.
According to the report, during a working visit by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office to the department earlier this month, plans were unveiled for a 20 per cent increase in rice production by 2010 and a 60 per cent increase by 2015.
The plans include new rice fields for the Brunei-Muara, Belait and Temburong Districts, improvements to rice field infrastructures and the use of a high-yielding variety seeds, which altogether may cost up to $50 million.
A Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports official recently said the government can help overcome poverty by providing subsidies and facilities for the poor to be involved in agriculture to encourage them to be more economically self-reliant.
Hj Mohammad Sofian Hj Amit from the Youth and Sports Department recently said that poverty is under control in Brunei while extreme poverty is non-existent, during a group discussion at the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths programme on "Overcoming Poverty through a Social Inclusion Approach: The Status quo of Asia and Oceania in a Globalised Economy", in Tokyo, Japan.
He said poverty exists mainly among the elderly who live alone and are unable to take care of themselves after being abandoned by their family, adding that there are no homeless people or beggars on Brunei's streets but acknowledged the existence of some poor and destitute people who live in houses in poor conditions.
The Brunei Times
Customary 'titah': His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, delivering his 'titah' in conjunction with the celebration of Hijrah 1430 Islamic new year at Istana Nurul Iman. Picture: BT/Zamri Zainal
HADI DP MAHMUD
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Monday, December 29, 2008
HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday called for continued improvements in the country's standard of living to achieve zero poverty and accelerate efforts to raise the nation's self-sufficiency rate in agriculture.
Addressing Brunei citizens in a customary titah broadcasted on Radio Television Brunei nationwide, the monarch expressed hope for faster movements in achieving the national objectives, particularly in agriculture.
"We need to raise our self-sufficiency rate to a higher level in line with our growth and needs," said His Majesty, adding that there will be continued efforts to improve standards of living suitable with the goal of achieving zero-poverty.
"Prosperity can be achieved with effort by utilising natural resources the country is endowed with. From these resources, we acquired oil and gas, and from this we gained food.
"Today we talk about Hijrah. If Muslims succeed in breaking out of the poverty cocoon, then this will be the most historic Hijrah for them."
The monarch also expressed hope, in particular for the leaders within all government agencies to be strong and honest in their beliefs, "for they are the captains who will steer the ships to the correct ports."
"Fitting with the spirit of Hijrah, everyone, especially leaders and their assistants, need to be more aware of current affairs, whether related to their daily duties or beyond them.
"If there is something that needs to be dealt with immediately, why not do so? The same goes for opportunities for change. Why not change, if it brings benefits?"
Concluding his titah, His Majesty and his family would like to extend a happy new Hijrah 1430 year and hoped that all Bruneians will gain hidayat and guidance from Allah the Almighty.
A report recently published in The Brunei Times said that Brunei's self-sufficiency rate for rice production currently stands at 3.12 per cent, with the bulk of rice consumed in the Sultanate imported from Thailand. The assistant director at the Agriculture Department spoke earlier in March of plans to raise the self-sufficiency rate to 10 per cent, although no targets were specified.
According to the report, during a working visit by His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office to the department earlier this month, plans were unveiled for a 20 per cent increase in rice production by 2010 and a 60 per cent increase by 2015.
The plans include new rice fields for the Brunei-Muara, Belait and Temburong Districts, improvements to rice field infrastructures and the use of a high-yielding variety seeds, which altogether may cost up to $50 million.
A Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports official recently said the government can help overcome poverty by providing subsidies and facilities for the poor to be involved in agriculture to encourage them to be more economically self-reliant.
Hj Mohammad Sofian Hj Amit from the Youth and Sports Department recently said that poverty is under control in Brunei while extreme poverty is non-existent, during a group discussion at the Japan-East Asia Network of Exchange for Students and Youths programme on "Overcoming Poverty through a Social Inclusion Approach: The Status quo of Asia and Oceania in a Globalised Economy", in Tokyo, Japan.
He said poverty exists mainly among the elderly who live alone and are unable to take care of themselves after being abandoned by their family, adding that there are no homeless people or beggars on Brunei's streets but acknowledged the existence of some poor and destitute people who live in houses in poor conditions.
The Brunei Times
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Many Bruneians continue to live in debt
Many Bruneians continue to live in debt
Spending spree: Financial experts have stated that most loans taken out by Bruneians are used to finance consumption activities rather than productive investments. Picture: Bt file photo
DEBBIE TOO
BRUNEI-MUARA
Sunday, February 3, 2008
AFTER the personal loan capping directive, personal loan applications are decreasing. Of the total loans, around 61 per cent were under the category of personal loans, which indicates that most of the loans (close to $6 billion by end of 2005) were used to finance consumption activities rather than going into productive investments. The amount of loans increased by $2 billion from 2001 to close to $6 billion.
On May 16, 2005, the Ministry of Finance issued a personal loan capping directive to the Brunei Association of Banks (BAB).
The objectives of the directives is to reduce the level of personal debts, to promote savings culture and to boost financing to the private sector.
"Before the loan capping directive, it was very easy to apply for a loan, they could loan up to 36 times their salary and the repayment period could go on till their retirement age, but now after the capping, they could only loan up to 12 times their salary and they have a repayment period of not more than six years," said Siti Mas Haji Matasim, a personal banker from HSBC.
She added that the capping directive limited the amount of the loans applied did affect the number of applications.
"Now we get only about two to three loan applications per month," she said.
However, she added that there is no specific age group that applies for loans more than others.
"There will always be people applying for loans, from different generations, you have the fresh graduates, newlyweds, and for the older generation, they would apply for a personal loan for maybe their children's studies, and so on," she said.
"We do not ask them specifically what they apply the loan for, as it is not necessary," she went on to explain.
Baiduri Bank's personal financial planner, Norasfarina Kamarudin said that from Baiduri Bank, there are more locals that apply for personal loans than foreigners.
She added that the criteria for foreigners and locals are different where the foreigners are offered to loan up to four times their salary as compared to locals, who can loan up to 12 times their salary.
When asked whether the personal loans are used for business purposes or to help finance their consumption activities, she replied that there were a number of personal reasons that people took personal loans for.
"Some use it pay off their credit cards, some of the use it for weddings, home renovations, but most of it are more for consumption activities," she said.
She added that some customers have applied for loans from other banks as well.
"One of the criteria from the new directive is that the customer's salary has to be banked into the bank that he or she is applying a personal loan from, but some people move their salary to other banks to apply for loans there as well," she said.
Both personal bankers added that whether it is credit cards or home loans or personal loans, most of the banking clients are still in debt to the bank.
The Brunei Times
Spending spree: Financial experts have stated that most loans taken out by Bruneians are used to finance consumption activities rather than productive investments. Picture: Bt file photo
DEBBIE TOO
BRUNEI-MUARA
Sunday, February 3, 2008
AFTER the personal loan capping directive, personal loan applications are decreasing. Of the total loans, around 61 per cent were under the category of personal loans, which indicates that most of the loans (close to $6 billion by end of 2005) were used to finance consumption activities rather than going into productive investments. The amount of loans increased by $2 billion from 2001 to close to $6 billion.
On May 16, 2005, the Ministry of Finance issued a personal loan capping directive to the Brunei Association of Banks (BAB).
The objectives of the directives is to reduce the level of personal debts, to promote savings culture and to boost financing to the private sector.
"Before the loan capping directive, it was very easy to apply for a loan, they could loan up to 36 times their salary and the repayment period could go on till their retirement age, but now after the capping, they could only loan up to 12 times their salary and they have a repayment period of not more than six years," said Siti Mas Haji Matasim, a personal banker from HSBC.
She added that the capping directive limited the amount of the loans applied did affect the number of applications.
"Now we get only about two to three loan applications per month," she said.
However, she added that there is no specific age group that applies for loans more than others.
"There will always be people applying for loans, from different generations, you have the fresh graduates, newlyweds, and for the older generation, they would apply for a personal loan for maybe their children's studies, and so on," she said.
"We do not ask them specifically what they apply the loan for, as it is not necessary," she went on to explain.
Baiduri Bank's personal financial planner, Norasfarina Kamarudin said that from Baiduri Bank, there are more locals that apply for personal loans than foreigners.
She added that the criteria for foreigners and locals are different where the foreigners are offered to loan up to four times their salary as compared to locals, who can loan up to 12 times their salary.
When asked whether the personal loans are used for business purposes or to help finance their consumption activities, she replied that there were a number of personal reasons that people took personal loans for.
"Some use it pay off their credit cards, some of the use it for weddings, home renovations, but most of it are more for consumption activities," she said.
She added that some customers have applied for loans from other banks as well.
"One of the criteria from the new directive is that the customer's salary has to be banked into the bank that he or she is applying a personal loan from, but some people move their salary to other banks to apply for loans there as well," she said.
Both personal bankers added that whether it is credit cards or home loans or personal loans, most of the banking clients are still in debt to the bank.
The Brunei Times
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Tourism can help curb rural poverty: Minister
Tourism can help curb rural poverty: Minister
Positive: Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abd Wahab feels tourism can create more jobs. Picture: BT file photo
SHAREEN HAN
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Brunei can be a unique tourist destination because of Heart of Borneo, says Dato Hamdillah
THE Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources yesterday urged for the promotion of Brunei's tourism sector adding it will be the key to reduce poverty in rural areas by creating employment opportunities for the residents.
Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abd Wahab said residents in rural areas could be self-reliant and would no longer need to come into the city to seek work, if the country's tourism sector would continue to improve.
"Tourism is about giving equitable distribution of wealth and giving people meaningful jobs," he said in a telephone interview with The Brunei Times.
He noted the tourism industry generates the highest employment rate and highest contribution to the economy in the world.
Brunei may not be a well-established tourist destination yet, but "the improvements are visible there," he said.
He added that Brunei's tourism sector has just only started to work in a "more concerted and coherent manner".
He said the country can be a different and unique tourist destination because it is involved in the Heart of Borneo (HoB) conservation initiative, which is the only one available in the world.
"The HoB project is distinctively different from other countries in the region because we have the global support," he said, adding that this comes at a time when the world is tackling issues in climate change.
Brunei has a competitive edge because it has a rich diversity of rainforests and biodiversity is getting more attention than before, said the deputy minister, who is also the chairman of Brunei Tourism Board.
"Brunei is ahead of the game (in the HoB project) compared to Malaysia and Indonesia, even though we are a smaller country," he said.
He explained that Brunei already has a clear direction and clear timelines from His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei, as evident through his titah on the country's commitment to the HoB initiative.
"We are now facing the challenge of addressing the implementation process, such as the structural issues because we need an integrated approach to land utilisation," the deputy minister said.
As part of the HoB initiative, Brunei is also planning to build a canopy walk, similar to Temburong, in Andulau, he said.
Dato Hamdillah said Brunei could also capitalise on the surge of tourists to Singapore next year, when the Formula 1 Grand Prix starts in the country, and tourists can "hop over" to Brunei and enjoy its peace and tranquillity.
The Brunei Times
Positive: Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abd Wahab feels tourism can create more jobs. Picture: BT file photo
SHAREEN HAN
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Brunei can be a unique tourist destination because of Heart of Borneo, says Dato Hamdillah
THE Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources yesterday urged for the promotion of Brunei's tourism sector adding it will be the key to reduce poverty in rural areas by creating employment opportunities for the residents.
Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abd Wahab said residents in rural areas could be self-reliant and would no longer need to come into the city to seek work, if the country's tourism sector would continue to improve.
"Tourism is about giving equitable distribution of wealth and giving people meaningful jobs," he said in a telephone interview with The Brunei Times.
He noted the tourism industry generates the highest employment rate and highest contribution to the economy in the world.
Brunei may not be a well-established tourist destination yet, but "the improvements are visible there," he said.
He added that Brunei's tourism sector has just only started to work in a "more concerted and coherent manner".
He said the country can be a different and unique tourist destination because it is involved in the Heart of Borneo (HoB) conservation initiative, which is the only one available in the world.
"The HoB project is distinctively different from other countries in the region because we have the global support," he said, adding that this comes at a time when the world is tackling issues in climate change.
Brunei has a competitive edge because it has a rich diversity of rainforests and biodiversity is getting more attention than before, said the deputy minister, who is also the chairman of Brunei Tourism Board.
"Brunei is ahead of the game (in the HoB project) compared to Malaysia and Indonesia, even though we are a smaller country," he said.
He explained that Brunei already has a clear direction and clear timelines from His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei, as evident through his titah on the country's commitment to the HoB initiative.
"We are now facing the challenge of addressing the implementation process, such as the structural issues because we need an integrated approach to land utilisation," the deputy minister said.
As part of the HoB initiative, Brunei is also planning to build a canopy walk, similar to Temburong, in Andulau, he said.
Dato Hamdillah said Brunei could also capitalise on the surge of tourists to Singapore next year, when the Formula 1 Grand Prix starts in the country, and tourists can "hop over" to Brunei and enjoy its peace and tranquillity.
The Brunei Times
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