Answer for Oral Question PL088 & PL139

QUESTIONS

Yang Berhormat Haji Awang Sulaiman bin Haji Nasir

YANG BERHORMAT HAJI AWANG SULAIMAN BIN HAJI NASIR asked MENTERI HAL EHWAL DALAM NEGERI to state the development initiatives for Pekan Bangar that are aligned with the overall socioeconomic development agenda of Temburong District, which could help Pekan Bangar establish its own business identity.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Md. Yusof

YANG BERHORMAT PEHIN ORANG KAYA JOHAN PAHLAWAN DATO SERI SETIA AWANG HAJI ADANAN BIN BEGAWAN PEHIN SIRAJA KHATIB DATO SERI SETIA HAJI MD. YUSOF asked MENTERI HAL EHWAL DALAM NEGERI to state the latest developments in efforts to empower the socioeconomic well-being of the community through 1K1P, particularly in applying advanced technology and producing large-scale value-added products, to ensure that local products are more competitive and capable of penetrating international markets extensively.

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri

Since the establishment of the Temburong District Development Agency (AKDT), and following the transfer of the agency’s functions from the Ministry of Finance and Economy to the Ministry of Home Affairs (KHEDN) on 1 June 2024, various development initiatives have been and are being implemented to strengthen the socioeconomic development of Temburong District comprehensively, including efforts to position Pekan Bangar as a centre for economic activities and community entrepreneurship with its own distinct identity.

Among the initial steps taken was the management and reactivation of several government assets in Pekan Bangar, including the Bangunan Kompleks Bumiputera Utama, Bangunan Kompleks Bumiputera Perniagaan, Bangunan Kedai Rakyat Jati, Tamu Aneka, the Pekan Bangar open space (Supertree), the Pekan Bangar jetty area and public toilet facilities.

As part of these efforts, Bangunan Kedai Rakyat Jati was upgraded and converted into a Kedai Kampung, a marketing centre for local products under the Satu Kampung Satu Produk (1K1P) initiative.

This Kedai Kampung provides dedicated commercial space to support the growth of local Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The premises are operated by the Selangan, Parit and Biang Menengah Village Consultative Council and accommodate traders from approximately 200 local product entrepreneurs, with average sales of around $40,000.00 per month.

This initiative directly helps strengthen the identity of Pekan Bangar as a local product marketing centre for Temburong District. In addition, the Pekan Bangar jetty area has also been upgraded and utilised as a main hub for various economic and social activities, including the organisation of the Program Ke Temburong Bisai, community recreational activities and various national events. The Supertree area in Pekan Bangar is also utilised as a strategic location for expos, sales activities and community events aimed at further stimulating local economic activities.

Socioeconomic development in the district is also not focused solely on infrastructure development. Among the initiatives implemented is the Program Ke Temburong Bisai, which aims to attract visitors to Pekan Bangar and stimulate local economic activities. Since its implementation in 2022, 13 events have been organised, with an average attendance of between 1,000 and 2,000 visitors at each event, successfully generating income of around $500.00 to $1,000.00 for each participating entrepreneur.

At the same time, community economic empowerment through the 1K1P initiative has also been strengthened throughout the country. For example, in Belait District, a Pusat 1K1P was officially opened on 9 November 2025 at the former Kuala Belait Old Post Office premises. This centre functions as a one-stop centre for marketing local products under the management of the Mukim and Village Consultative Councils through the Badan Kebajikan Penghulu Mukim, Ketua Kampung and Ketua Rumah Panjang (PEKERUPA), with the support of a local company as the main operator. From its opening on 9 November 2025 until the end of February 2026, a total of 109 entrepreneurs, including participants under Projek TUNAS BIBD and Bruneian Made BEDB, joined the centre, recording total sales of $17,245.00 for the period from November 2025 to February 2026.

In addition, a Kedai Kampung was opened at Dewan Kemasyarakatan Kampung Pandan on 1 February 2026 as an additional platform for local entrepreneurs to market their products. From its opening on 1 February 2026 until the end of February 2026, four entrepreneurs operated at the premises, recording total sales of approximately $300.00.

In Brunei-Muara District, the District Department also implemented a similar initiative through the launch of a Kedai Kampung at the Dewan Muhibbah canteen on 24 November 2025. It is operated by the Lumapas Mukim and Village Consultative Council based on the concept of community cooperation. To date, 45 MSME traders have participated and successfully generated income amounting to $10,054.00 for the period from November to December 2025.

In terms of technology use, some entrepreneurs under the 1K1P initiative have begun applying basic technology to improve the efficiency of their production processes. For example:

• In Tutong District, the production of wood carvings uses machinery to accelerate the work process;
• In Belait District, the use of sublimation technology (sublimation) to produce products such as refrigerator magnets and cups, with a capacity of up to 20 mugs and 40 magnets per day;
• Meanwhile, in Temburong District, the use of modern processing equipment such as a mixer and dough sheeter, supplied through an allocation from the Ministry in 2014 for the production of mini curry puffs, has increased production capacity from approximately 1,500 pieces to 4,500 pieces per month, while also contributing to an increase in sales revenue from approximately $250.00 to $750.00.

Although the production capacity using the drying oven supplied through an allocation from the Ministry in 2013 is approximately 6 to 9 kilogrammes per day, the use of this equipment helps ensure more consistent production compared with sun-drying methods, which are easily affected by unpredictable weather. This production stability has also contributed to an increase in sales revenue. From January 2025 to December 2025, total sales amounted to $68,213, compared with an estimated amount of only around $17,053 if production had remained solely dependent on traditional methods, representing a significant increase of approximately three to four times.

Nevertheless, most 1K1P entrepreneurs still operate on a small scale as a cottage industry (cottage industry), where the use of technology serves as support to improve production efficiency without compromising the authenticity and identity of local Bruneian products.

At the same time, efforts have also been undertaken to expand the market for local products internationally, including through the shipment of 1K1P products to the People’s Republic of China through the Cooperation of the Embassy of Negara Brunei Darussalam for exhibition and promotional purposes in overseas markets, as well as their presentation as souvenirs at official functions and events, including meetings and working visits abroad.

In terms of production capacity, 1K1P entrepreneurs are generally capable of meeting domestic market demand, subject to the type of product and certain circumstances. For example, handicraft entrepreneurs at Rumah Panjang Melilas are able to generate an income of no less than $500.00 per month through the production of woven products, and have previously achieved more than $100,000.00 while fulfilling a special order for the Dirgahayu bag book. With the support of eight workers, the entrepreneurs are able to produce approximately 50 units of small products and 20 units of large products per week, depending on the design.

Meanwhile, for the prawn cracker entrepreneurs in Kampung Sungai Bunga, average monthly income is approximately $5,600.00, with total orders of around 150 kilogrammes per month. In terms of production, the entrepreneurs are able to produce approximately 36 to 60 kilogrammes per week with the assistance of two permanent workers and two part-time workers. However, there are certain circumstances in which higher demand cannot be fully met due to constraints in the supply of raw materials, which depend on the season.

Overall, these findings show that 1K1P entrepreneurs are currently capable of meeting local market demand and generating community income, with the potential to increase production through the strengthening of equipment facilities and raw material supplies.

In the long term, the development approach for Pekan Bangar will not focus solely on the activation of physical assets, but also on efforts to build a sustainable community economic ecosystem through the active participation of local entrepreneurs, Mukim and Village Consultative Councils and cooperation among government agencies.

Through initiatives such as Kedai Kampung, Program Ke Temburong Bisai and the empowerment of products under the Satu Kampung Satu Produk (1K1P) initiative, Pekan Bangar is being developed as a community entrepreneurship and local product marketing centre with its own distinct identity in Temburong District. This approach also emphasises strengthening a community-based economy, where support and encouragement from all levels of the local community serve as the main drivers of the success and growth of economic activities.

At the same time, the Government will continue to strengthen its support for local entrepreneurs, including in the areas of capacity building, the use of appropriate technology and market expansion, so that local products will not only be able to meet domestic demand but also have the potential to penetrate international markets. This effort is in line with Goal 3 under the aspirations of Wawasan Brunei 2035, namely a dynamic and resilient economy.