Answer for Oral Question PL175

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Dayang Hajah Safiah binti Sheikh Haji Abd. Salam

YANG BERHORMAT DAYANG HAJAH SAFIAH BINTI SHEIKH HAJI ABD SALAM asked the MINISTER OF CULTURE, YOUTH AND SPORTS to state the extent to which the Ministry has reviewed existing legislation, including the licensing, operational, monitoring and enforcement requirements, as well as separate use by gender for gyms, in order to reduce the risk of social issues and support the achievement of the Second Goal of Wawasan Brunei 2035.

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan

The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports welcomes Yang Berhormat’s views regarding the management and use of gymnasium facilities, particularly in ensuring that the safety, suitability and well-being of users are always given due attention. This is also in line with efforts to encourage community participation in physical and sporting activities that are safe, healthy and compatible with the values and norms of the society of Negara Brunei Darussalam, while supporting the aspirations of Wawasan Brunei 2035.

In response to Yang Berhormat’s question regarding the review of existing legislation covering the licensing, operation, monitoring and enforcement of gymnasiums, it may be shared that the operation of gymnasiums in Negara Brunei Darussalam is subject to the Beauty and Health Establishments Act (Chapter 241), under which gymnasiums are listed in Schedule 1 of the Act.

In this regard, gymnasium operators are required to obtain a Beauty and Health Establishment Licence (EKK) from the relevant local authorities under the Ministry of Home Affairs, namely the Municipal Department or District Department, according to the location of the premises, and to fulfil all requirements and obtain the approvals stipulated by the relevant Government agencies before a gymnasium may legally commence operations.

Within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, there are currently no legislative provisions or specific guidelines under KKBS requiring the use of gymnasiums to be separated according to gender.

Nevertheless, it is pleasing to share that several private and commercial gymnasium operators voluntarily provide certain facilities or arrangements to meet the needs and comfort of users, including the provision of spaces or specific usage hours for women. Such an approach is among the options that may be provided by operators based on their operational suitability and respective customers’ needs.

For facilities and activities under the direct control of KKBS, several appropriate arrangements have been implemented according to the type of facility, activity and users’ needs, including:

• Kolam Renang Anggerek Desa provides a designated women-only usage day every Tuesday.

• In the organisation of national-level tournaments and sporting activities, particularly sports involving contact sports – there are no mixed matches between men and women; participation is always according to separate gender categories.

• Other public facilities managed by KKBS also prioritise the safety and suitability of users according to current needs.

In this regard, should there be a need to review the licensing, operation, monitoring or enforcement aspects of gymnasiums in a more comprehensive manner, the matter should appropriately be considered in an integrated manner according to the jurisdictions of the relevant regulatory agencies. The views raised by Yang Berhormat constitute valuable input for consideration in reviewing the management of sports facilities in a more comprehensive manner.

KKBS will continue to give attention to the management of facilities and implementation of activities under its control, ensuring that the safety, comfort, suitability and well-being of users, as well as the values and norms of the society of Negara Brunei Darussalam, are taken into account.