DAY 12 AFTERNOON
18TH MARCH 2023 - AFTERNOON
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(The meeting resumed at 2.30 pm)
Your Honorable Speaker
بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم السالم عليكم ورحمة هللا وبركاته.
Honorable Members of Parliament, The National Assembly meeting reconvenes after our lunch break. The National Assembly is still discussing the Supply Bill (2023) for the year 2023/2024 at the Committee Stage.
To enable us to continue examining and discussing the topics contained in this Bill, I propose that we adjourn this National Assembly meeting and reconvene at the Committee Stage.
(The National Assembly meeting is adjourned)
(The meeting continues as a Committee)
Your Honorable Speaker
بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم. Honorable Members of Parliament, the Committee meeting is fully convened to consider and discuss the Supply Bill (2023) for the year 2023/2024 one by one.
أ َ ْل َح ْمدُ ّ ٰلِل. In the Committee meeting held this morning, we have completed the discussion on the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Now, we will examine and discuss the Ministry of Development. As Honorable Members are aware, the Minister of Development has also presented his introduction on the direction of the preparation of the Budget for the Ministry of Development and its departments for the Financial Year 2023/2024.
Therefore, we will continue to examine and discuss the Ministry of Development and its departments.
With me here is a list of Honorable Members appointed who would like to discuss this topic. And I will start by inviting Your Honorable Awang Haji Mohamad Danial @ Tekpin bin Ya'akub.
Your Honorable Awang Haji Mohamad Danial @ Tekpin bin Ya’akub
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.
بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم السالم عليكم ورحمة هللا وبركاته. أ َ ْل َح ْمدُ ّ ٰلِل. I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the Minister of Development for his clear and concise introduction. I hope that everything planned can be achieved successfully. ان شاء للا.
I am pleased to touch on the matter of SK03A - Public Works Department. Referring to the Supply Bill (2023), a sum of $596,000 for the planned price and $52.8 million under the 11th Malaysia Plan is allocated to address natural disaster risks.
Your Honorable Speaker. Regarding the issue of frequent floods in high-risk areas in the Tutong District, it is not a new issue but has become a norm for the residents involved.
There are several factors that cause floods, including heavy rain and rising sea levels or tides. Therefore, I see the long-term negative effects of loss and damage caused by floods. If not addressed now, the negative effects of floods will occur, such as:
Property values will decrease;
Slowing down all forms of progress;
Damaging crops;
Causing anxiety and fear among residents during the monsoon season and high tides; and
Relocation of residents to a safer place.
Your Honorable Minister of Development, my question is what are the medium and long-term plans of the Ministry of Development to reduce the risk of flooding in Tutong District?
Furthermore, I also recommend the construction of more flood reservoirs in strategic areas in the upper Tutong River, especially in certain areas of the river that contribute to the large flood in the Tutong River. Among the villages involved in the Tutong District are Keriam Village, Tutong Town, Bukit Village, Long Mayan Village, Rambai Village, Merimbun Village and Benutan Village. In addition, in the Belait District area involved in the flood is Dungun Village, Rawai Village, Sukang Village, Bukit Sawat Village and Sungai Mau Village.
Your Honorable Minister of Development, I would also like to submit regarding seawalls for coastal areas that involve the placement of residents of the villages concerned, especially in the Kampung Danau, Mukim Telisai and also Kampung Penabai, Kuala Tutong, Tutong District and on the coastline of Jalan Maulana public housing area Belait District.
The concern of the people regarding the current seawall barriers' ability to withstand the force and erosion of the waves, especially during the monsoon season, has caused some areas to experience collapse and damage that require immediate attention and repair.
Your Honorable Minister of Development, I would like to know if the government has any short-term efforts and medium to long-term plans to upgrade or build stronger and safer seawall barriers. I would appreciate Your Honorable Minister's clarification on this matter. Thank you.
Your Honorable Minister of Development
Thank you. Your Honorable Speaker, I would also like to thank Your Honorable Awang Haji Mohamad Danial @ Tekpin bin Ya'akub for raising the issue of the impact of floods and erosion caused by river water and rising sea levels.
Your Honorable Speaker, some of the issues raised have been explained by me in my opening remarks earlier this morning. Therefore, allow me to further elaborate on the question raised, especially regarding the inland areas of Tutong District.
Indeed, as mentioned earlier, this area is a flood-prone area, an area that is easily flooded, as the area has a low topography and is often exposed to rising river water levels. The area is also known to frequently experience floods during the monsoon season after receiving heavy rainfall, causing river water to overflow into low-lying areas.
As Your Honorable mentioned in the proposal and question earlier, if this flood situation is not handled properly, it will affect the progress of the areas, including the issues raised earlier, such as property values, slowing down progress, damaging crops, and so on. I share the same view as the proposal for the construction of flood retention ponds as it is an effective method of controlling flood risks.
For the Tutong District area, the ministry has conducted studies in several locations to address the flood problem in the Tutong River catchment area. As a result of these studies, the ministry has implemented several flood mitigation projects, including the construction of flood retention ponds and the construction of drainage and pumping systems through RKN-11 at present.
The first is flood prevention upstream of the Tutong River, flood prevention downstream of the Tutong River, and the construction of flood retention ponds in Tutong District, Phase 1. The results of these projects have shown positive effects, as flood incidents since 2019 have seen a decrease in the affected areas.
Meanwhile, two flood retention ponds are still being actively constructed near the Padang and Kiudang River catchment areas under the title of the Tutong River Catchment Flood Retention Pond Construction Project, and they are scheduled to be completed in 2024, إن شاء الله.
After hearing from the mentioned areas, I think it is understood that the flood-prone areas in the Tutong District involve a very large catchment area and it certainly requires a huge allocation for assessment and planned actions after the study is conducted.
So this is where the stage is for officers in the Public Works Department who are thinking about this matter and taking it as a long-term action to address the frequent flood problems in these areas.
After the planning is made and the allocation request is submitted, after receiving the allocation, it will certainly be distributed to implement flood mitigation projects in these areas and also in other areas throughout the country, Brunei-Muara District, Temburong and Belait. This matter certainly needs to be implemented in phases.
The next plan to address the flood problem in the Tutong catchment area and also in areas exposed to tidal water, إن شاء اللهwill also be submitted in the proposed projects towards addressing this flood issue in the 12th National Development Plan, including:
Works to dredge major rivers in Telamba River, Pepekan River, Danau River, Kelakas River and the mouth of Tutong River;
Second outlet channel of Tutong River Phase 1;
Widening project of Kuala Abang catchment pond;
Flood prevention scheme in Pekan Tutong, Kampung Keriam and Kampung Bukit Bendera; and
Upgrading of drainage systems in the Simpang 1039 area, Kampung Sinaut and Kampung Batang Mitos.
These are among the projects that have been studied and the next proposal to take long-term mitigation actions. That's what I can convey, thank you.
Your Honorable Speaker
I invite Your Honorable Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin.
Your Honorable Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم صدري ويسر لي أمري وأحلل عقدة من باشرح لي ساني يفقهوا قولي ل Your Honorable Speaker and wise Honorable Members. السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته. Thank you to the Honorable Minister of Development for the comprehensive introduction on the 2023/2024 Budget for the Ministry of Development.
Your Honorable Speaker. I have some questions.
Regarding the Ministry of Development's efforts to localize the construction industry through the foreign local ratio, Your Honorable, the construction industry is the second-largest industry in Brunei Darussalam. As of January 2020, the composition of local and foreign workers in the construction industry was reported to be 83% of the total workforce, which is 27,227 people consisting of foreign workers.
Meanwhile, as of December 2022, the number of job seekers with a background in construction is more than 1,000 people. At the same time, if we look at our local educational institutions, they produce approximately 500 students every year, and if this continues, it is expected that the number of job seekers in this field will increase to around 1,500 by the end of 2023. The question is, what is the Ministry of Development's plan in its efforts to localize the construction industry? According to the Local Business Development (LBD) Circular issued by the Ministry of Development on November 23, 2019, the local foreign ratio is set at 20:80, which is applied in all construction industries. The suggestion, Your Honorable, is to review the local foreign ratio and propose a different set of ratios based on the company's classification and scope.
This is to enable service providers and suppliers to have identifiable job opportunities that can attract local workers to work as builders, contractors, consulting services, estate agents, laboratories, surveying services, and suppliers of building materials and products.
Your Honorable Speaker, still regarding the Ministry of Development, but this time about regulations for housing developers. We all know that housing construction through developers has been operating for so long. Under the Housing Developers Control Licensing Orders 2012, it is stated that under Section 9(1), "no housing development shall be carried out or made in Brunei Darussalam except by licensed housing developers."
Meanwhile, Section 9(2) states that "a housing developer who wishes to carry out or implement a housing development in Brunei Darussalam must first apply to the Board for a license." The question, Your Honorable, is how many housing developers have registered under the Housing Developers Board (Housing Developers Order) until 2022?
Regarding the damage to houses in RPN Mengkubau under the authority of the National Housing Department. Please correct me if I am wrong. A total of 4,000 housing units have been built under the National Housing Scheme in Mengkubau, Mentiri.
The construction of these houses involved 1,600 semi-detached units and 2,400 terrace units, which took 48 months to complete. The housing was also built on a 328-hectare site, and each unit was equipped with a living room, dining room, kitchen, and three bedrooms, including a parking area.
In May 2014, the housing project in RPN Mengkubau was handed over to the Ministry of Development after being fully completed in March of the same year, with a total cost of $388 million.
However, it has been reported by the villagers that a large number of housing units in RPN Mengkubau, as shared by the Honorable Minister of Development, have been vacated, abandoned, and not occupied due to the unsafe condition of the houses.
My question is, what is the cause of this unpleasant situation? And what steps have been taken to ensure that such matters and situations will not recur for future housing projects?
Your Honorable Speaker. The fourth question is about the Land Department. It is understood that the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) is one of the agencies responsible for increasing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country.
Some of these FDI investors also contact related ministries with their proposals. I believe the first ministry that these investors will contact, either through BEDB or directly, is the Ministry of Development.
From my observation, some foreign investors have turned to other countries to invest due to the lengthy processes, especially in obtaining government land for development.
Not only that, local entrepreneurs also face the same issue, and some of them have to abandon their plans. This is one of the main reasons that has slowed down development in the country and affected the country's economic growth. I believe there are still many government lands that can be leased or rented for commercial and housing development purposes.
Question from myself. What actions have been taken and are being planned by the Ministry of Development to address this issue and the government will continue to benefit from rental prices and drive the country's economic growth.
Your Honorable Speaker. The next question is about JASTRE. I am interested in the information that I have obtained regarding the circular economy opportunities from the management of the country's waste, especially waste collected from homes, businesses, and other buildings. As we know, the majority of household and business waste is disposed of at the Sungai Paku landfill site, as detailed by the Honorable Minister of Development.
This includes food and plastic waste, which in my observation, contributes almost half of the total domestic waste that is disposed of. I also understand that the issue of waste disposal at the Sungai Paku landfill site is one of the issues related to the country's strategy in addressing climate change. Based on my monitoring, last year an Expression of Interest (EOI) document was issued and according to my colleagues, it attracted more than 20 local and foreign companies who expressed their interest in participating in the project.
I have 2 questions on this matter:
i. What actions have been taken as a result of the EOI?; and
ii. Will the Sungai Paku landfill site continue to be used for national waste disposal, as referred to earlier, until 2030? Hopefully, our local people will be able to get this project. Aamin Ya Rabbal 'alamin.
Your Honorable Speaker. The next question is about the installation of the Unified Smart Metering System, which aims to encourage and promote more efficient and customer-friendly supply and use of water and electricity utilities. I understand that if the water supply credit has run out, the credit from the electricity supply will be automatically transferred so that the supply is not cut off.
I would like to express my concern for the less fortunate citizens who live from hand to mouth, and especially for those who face financial difficulties in buying credits if both have run out. I believe that in our enthusiasm to promote a more efficient system, we should not overlook the difficulties and financial aspects faced by this group.
Question from me, have any steps been considered to help or support this group so that they can live without interruption of electricity supply?
Your Honorable Pengersui, allow me to provide 3 suggestions:
Regarding Water Services. I welcome the allocation to the Public Works Department (JKR) which I believe is the government's efforts to address the issue of yellow or 'mist' pipe water in homes. I hope this will solve the problem of yellowish water that has been affecting our lives several times a year for so long.
I would like to suggest that the Ministry of Development consider researching the desalination method of seawater, which is another method of obtaining raw water to be processed into clean water for homes. This suggestion refers to the methods that have been used in our neighboring country, Singapore, and have been proven to be able to provide sufficient and sustainable clean water without relying solely on raw water from rainwater. According to references that I have read, Singapore has 4 ways to obtain raw water sources, namely:
i. Rainwater catchment for local catchment area;
ii. Raw water imported from neighboring countries, namely Johor;
iii. New water, high-grade reclaim water;
iv. Desalinated water, which is a source of seawater processed through reverse osmosis processing plants.
Regarding the Water Department and Drainage and Sewerage Department. Another thing that I want to touch on regarding the supply of raw water and clean water. I have a proposal for the Ministry of Development if my proposal can be studied for its viability.
We often see and experience every year or every time heavy rain occurs, floods involving people's homes, especially in the areas that are often affected in the Belait and Tutong Districts. My suggestion is, what if the Ministry of Development can study the function or role of the KL Smart Tunnel in our neighboring country, Malaysia, to produce another alternative to the country's raw water source.
For everyone's understanding, the KL Smart Tunnel has 2 main functions, namely when flash floods occur due to rain in Kuala Lumpur, the Smart Tunnel will be closed to function as a water catchment and reduce the flood level in Kuala Lumpur and another function is to address traffic issues during peak hours. I believe that with the application of the Smart Tunnel method and adapted for the Tutong and Belait Districts, it will not only be able to solve the flood issue but also generate raw water for the country's use. The water can also be sourced for rice cultivation, such as in Kandul. For your information, the KL Smart Tunnel is 9.7 kilometers long and cost USD$ 510 million, which was built from 2003-2007.
Your Honorable Speaker. This is the final proposal, which is the third one, regarding the Department of Housing Development. I am pleased to touch on the management of projects and the development of housing infrastructure in the country. As we know, the construction of houses in Kampung Lugu and Tanah Jambu is in progress, with only more than 2,000 units, it will certainly accommodate at least those who have been waiting for a house for a long time, some of whom have been waiting for more than 10 years.
I believe that those who are waiting are more than the number of houses that can be provided through this year's development planning allocation. I believe that with the approach or method that has been practiced so far, relying on the government's development planning allocation cannot meet the demand and will not be able to keep up with the increasing demand from year to year.
I am interested in the proposal from the former Honorable Members of the National Council, which is to change the Department of Housing Development into a corporate entity. This will facilitate collaboration with reputable contractors to help speed up the construction of RPN houses, with the majority of these contractors involved.
I believe that with this change, it will save government spending and speed up the construction of RPN houses.
Your Honorable Speaker. I apologize if my questions and suggestions are too long and time-consuming. I apologize once again. That's all, peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.
Honorable Minister of Development
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker, and thank you also to Your Honorable.
The questions and suggestions given are great and sophisticated. I will try to answer these questions, maybe by looking at the details of the questions. Maybe I cannot elaborate on every detail raised, but I will try to complete some of the main points raised.
Involving efforts towards Bumiputera empowerment in the Construction Industry. In my opening remarks this morning, I also mentioned this matter in the role of the Manpower Planning Employment Council (MPEC) in the Construction Industry, where the Ministry of Development has a role. Among the planning initiatives that have been made to encourage and involve Bumiputeras in the Construction Industry is through the 2021 Document Framework called Local Business Development, and there are three initiatives in the Construction Industry in this plan.
- Involving Local Business Involvement in the Construction Industry.
- Increasing the use of local construction products made in the country.
- Increasing Local Employment.
A task force called the Manpower Industry Steering Committee (MISC) for the Construction Industry has been established by the Manpower Planning Employment Council (MPEC), which involves relevant parties such as industry players, regulators, government agencies, and educational institutions. The Manpower Industry Steering Committee (MISC) has identified several jobs or job categories in the Construction Industry that can be filled by our local workers, understanding that most of the jobs in the Construction Industry, such as laborers, may not be attractive to local workers.
For example, if we can provide a description of work requirements as mentioned in the complaint earlier, which involves a worksite safety and health officer, one of the preparations made by this steering committee is to provide training to qualified local candidates to fill the position of worksite health and safety officer, which will be enforced by the Building Order 2016. Therefore, every project, whether involving 10 million or less, will require worksite health and safety officers.
So when this regulation and policy is enforced, there will be a need to create these positions at worksite projects. With the preparations made by the Manpower Industry Steering Committee (MISC) for the Construction Industry, so far, 15 worksite safety officers have been prepared who are qualified and certified by the Manpower Industry Steering Committee (MISC) through the Manpower Planning Employment Council (MPEC).
When this regulation is enforced and contractors apply for the position to be filled, if such applications are submitted to the Job Center after knowing that there are already certified worksite health and environment officers available in Brunei Darussalam, then the Job Center will play a role in directing those companies to hire employees who have these qualifications to work as worksite supervisors and worksite officers.
So this is the initial action taken at this time, and when this matter is enforced, employees will be prepared. An example given here is that the Work Site and Health Environment Officer has been prepared with recognized qualifications and certification to fill this position in the future. This is an example of the effort made towards the initiative to empower local children in the construction industry.
Regarding the second question earlier on, it is confirmed that the Housing Developers Order has not been enforced yet. Currently, discussions are still ongoing with stakeholders in the industry, including the drafting of regulations with the assistance of the Attorney General's Office.
Therefore, we are unable to answer the question on how many housing developers have registered under the Housing Developers Board or how many local contractors are involved in the housing industry. Insha'Allah, once the regulations are finalized and the Housing Developers Order is enforced, it will be a step forward in realizing the hopes expressed by the Honorable Member.
Regarding the issue of damages in the Kampung Mengkubau National Housing Scheme, as mentioned earlier, there are various damages to the houses such as cracks in the walls, floors, stairs, cupboards, and sinks, as well as waterproofing problems in the bathrooms. Other issues include electrical wiring and leaking pipes, leaking roofs, and improper connections to the drainage system.
There is also a problem of flooding, which causes water to enter the houses during heavy rain. These damages are latent defects that occurred after the end of the defect liability period, which is two years after the project was completed and handed over to the Ministry of Development in 2016.
One of the factors contributing to this issue is the long process of allocating houses to applicants, which resulted in the expiration of the defect liability period. This has made it difficult to make claims against the consultants and contractors involved in the problematic design.
It is understood that there is an ongoing arbitration between BATP and the contractors to address the losses and liabilities involved in repairing and restoring these houses. As mentioned earlier, out of the 4,000 completed houses, more than 500 have serious damages as mentioned earlier.
Regarding the question on land to support the country's economic growth through the opening of land for investment and business purposes, in other words, Government Land Lease, especially for the development of businesses and housing, this is an important matter that requires further discussion and consideration.
In this matter, efforts are currently still a work in progress regarding the identified sites and are still being studied for the purpose of the project as raised in the previous question by Your Honorable. Among them are several areas that have been identified so far from research conducted by the current committees, namely a total of 26 land sites have been identified for this purpose.
Among them are areas in the Brunei Muara District where there are 19 sites covering 158 hectares that have been identified and are still under study. An area of 8.6 hectares in the Belait District, 5 sites covering 8.6 hectares, 1 site covering 2.58 hectares in the Tutong District, and one site covering 0.34 hectares in the Temburong District have been identified and this matter is for further research and subsequent actions. When these lands are approved and authorized for implementation, all 26 sites will be opened for expression of interest and request for proposal to be advertised openly.
At present, the ministry has received several proposals from local investors and is studying suitable mechanisms to ensure that the process is in line with existing land policies. For any proposals related to industry, agriculture, or livestock, they will be forwarded directly to the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism and to the relevant departments under the Ministry of Finance where government lands specifically for industrial, agricultural, and livestock activities have been gazetted under the respective ministries.
One of the challenges faced by the Ministry of Development when reviewing proposals submitted by developers for land purposes such as this is the inability to pay the premium for leasing the land and the lack of a proposal paper that can demonstrate the sustainability of the proposed plans to convince the submitted applications.
I would like to touch briefly on the fifth question raised by Your Honorable Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin regarding the JASTRe specifically for the land field in Sungai Paku. As mentioned in my earlier introduction.
This land field will reach its maximum level of waste collected daily since 2010 and will reach its maximum level in 2030. The next step is to explore a better way, as seen in using a 104-acre land in Sungai Paku to "collect" this waste and also scientifically, as the lands used for this land field cannot be used for any other purposes after that due to the toxicities and maintenance issues that arise on the surface of the land caused by the toxins of the waste that seep into the ground.
The Ministry of Development has taken steps to explore the possibility of implementing waste-to-energy incinerator technology, where the waste will be burned through the incinerator technology and the energy produced will be converted into electricity. A Technical Committee has been established by officials from the Energy Department, Prime Minister's Office, Brunei Darussalam Asset, and JASTRe to evaluate proposals submitted by interested companies and provide support to the Ministry of Development. Several shortlisted companies will be invited to participate in the next phase, which is the request for proposal.
In this regard, JASTRe has issued a request for quotation to prepare the necessary documents for the request for proposal and to draft the relevant contract. The preparation and support for this request have been carried out by JASTRe, subject to the allocation decision to be presented later. The preparation of the request for proposal documents will take six months, followed by the issuance of the request for proposal to the selected companies. The evaluation is expected to take another six months.
The Ministry of Development hopes to move forward to achieve the goal of implementing the waste-to-energy incineration plan, so that the use of landfills can be reduced.
Next is the issue of the USMS system, which is the new Water Meter System that is currently being installed. I take note of the proposals made based on the implementation of the Water Tariff System using the USMS meter. With this system, the water supply will not be cut off if the user's credit runs out, unlike the Prepaid Meter System for electricity that we currently have. This is also a compassionate gesture to help those who are less fortunate, as water is an essential and continuous source of life.
Regarding the proposals presented earlier:
Regarding the detailed explanation of desalination methods presented earlier by Your Honorable Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin, these desalination methods are known to be one of the most expensive and costly water filtration processes. However, this matter from the ideas shared by Your Honorable will be considered to be discussed with senior officials of the Ministry of Development.
Regarding the Pembentungan Drainage to build a smart tunnel as an alternative to addressing issues such as water and flood problems.
Kaola also appreciates this proposal and will certainly be taken into consideration for further study. Also, a suggestion was made on how to handle the increasing demand for housing under the National Housing Scheme, to improve the Housing Development Department as a corporate entity.
To address these housing demands and accelerate the construction of houses with advantages as presented, it can save government spending and speed up the construction of houses in line with the requests received.
Kaola thanks Your Honorable for the valuable suggestions and believes that there are many good proposals here and, God willing, the Ministry of Development will take them into consideration.
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.
Your Honorable Speaker
I now invite Your Honorable Awang Haji Daud bin Jihan.
Your Honorable Awang Haji Daud bin Jihan
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad and all the prophets and messengers. May Allah's peace, mercy, and blessings be upon you.
A few years ago, the public's understanding of the sighting of the new moon to determine the beginning of Ramadan and Syawal was very limited, and when the moon was not visible, many stories were fabricated, and the blame was often directed towards the Survey Department.
Therefore, the Survey Department took the initiative to provide understanding to the public and students by organizing roadshows, creating telescopes, and various other projects that were managed by the Survey Department.
Alhamdulillah, after the establishment of the Brunei Darussalam National Astronomy Association (PIBD), the Survey Department often collaborates with this association. PIBD members consist of officers and staff from the Survey Department itself, the Department of Mosque Affairs, the Department of Religious Affairs, officers and staff from other government departments and private companies, students from higher, medium, and lower institutions, and the public.
Alhamdulillah, currently, the understanding of the public and students is increasing, and there is a need to build an observatory. It is essential for an Islamic country and as a center of study, especially for students.
As the goal of Vision Brunei 2035 focuses on producing educated, highly skilled, and successful citizens, this observatory is very useful for students to conduct research and for officers from the Survey Department and the Department of Religious Affairs to observe the sighting of the new moon, as mentioned earlier. As far as I remember, the Survey Department has requested funding to build an observatory. The request to allow the site has been approved, and the groundwork has been completed. However, due to the implementation of the groundwork, the requested funding was insufficient to build the building and its equipment, as I understand it.
I would like clarification on the current status of this project since I retired from the Survey Department almost four years ago, and there is still no building constructed on the available site.
My suggestion is that a whole-of-government approach should once again play a role because this involves not only the Ministry of Development but also the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Education, and perhaps other ministries should also play a role. As a former employee of the Survey Department and representing the people of Brunei Darussalam and the Brunei Darussalam National Astronomy Association, I hope that this matter will be considered as soon as possible. Thank you.
Your Honorable Menteri Pembangunan
Thank you, Your Honorable Minister of Development. Thank you for the question raised earlier by Your Honorable Awang Haji Daud bin Jihan.
Praise be to Allah, regarding the question raised earlier, it is important to balance this matter as it has been acknowledged, requested, and studied by the Department of Survey. The plan to build the National Astronomical Observatory is still ongoing and being carried out in phases.
The Ministry of Development also recognizes the importance and function of having a National Astronomical Observatory so as not to fall behind other countries, most of which already have their own observatories to enhance knowledge and understanding of astronomy. This matter has seen increasing interest and response, especially from young people and students.
Currently, our country only has a few places to observe the crescent moon for months such as Ramadan, Shawwal, Zulhijjah, and so on. These places do not have sufficient infrastructure and facilities to be used as an Astronomical Observatory.
Therefore, several astronomical activities such as sky watching are carried out in several strategic locations that are suitable for the public, including students from lower levels, to witness certain phenomena at certain times such as eclipses or planets approaching Earth.
The first phase, which is identifying the site, has already been completed and soil investigation work is currently being carried out to ensure that the sites can accommodate the planned Astronomical Observatory. The second phase is to carry out earthworks such as building walls, which will be discussed with relevant agencies.
The third phase will be to carry out design and build work for the Astronomical Observatory building. With the existence of this observatory, it will attract more interest from students and individuals who have a tendency to specialize in the field of astronomy and Islamic astronomy, which has been mastered by Muslims since ancient times. That is the answer I present, Your Honorable Speaker. Thank you.
I would like to invite Your Honorable Awang Abdul Aziz bin Haji Hamdan.
Your Honorable Awang Abdul Aziz bin Haji Hamdan
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم السالم عليكم ورحمة هللا وبركاته, I would like to congratulate and thank the Honorable Minister of Development for the informative opening remarks on the direction and progress planning in Brunei Darussalam. Firstly, I would like to address the matter of SK03A - Public Works Department regarding the issue of road damage that has become a problem for road users. This is not a new issue but a major one as it causes damage to property and endangers the safety of users.
Potholes and uneven roads often take almost 5-7 days to be repaired. During this period, road users are at risk of danger and damage to their vehicles such as punctured tires and bent rims. It is even worse during the rainy season.
Do the relevant parties not have a strategic management system to address this issue? In this regard, I suggest that a road management section be established to act as a task force to address road damage issues such as giving early warnings to users by placing signs or cones.
Secondly, temporary repairs should be made so that they can be used before they are repaired by the contractor. Thirdly, operate and act 24 hours based on complaints and instructions from the relevant parties and finally, provide reports on road damage to the relevant parties.
Secondly, I would like to express the public's concern about the occurrence of unsafe or collapsed houses, especially in poor families and in the Kampung Air area.
House collapse incidents sometimes occur at any time and this situation needs to be taken seriously. I suggest that a committee be established led by the Ministry of Development to address this issue. Acting independently with the appointment of members consisting of government agencies, private sectors, NGOs, which among others function and roles are:
Giving early warnings about safe or unsafe housing situations;
Providing advice on the type of assistance such as suitable house repairs;
Acting with discretion by setting aside other issues and prioritizing safety and well-being; and
Working closely with grassroots leadership to identify houses that need attention.
My final question, I would like to address the matter of SK04A and SK06A regarding the construction of houses that have been occupied for a long time but do not meet the requirements for electricity supply connections.
This issue is not a new issue, but it has become a hot topic among Penghulu Mukim and Village Chiefs together with relevant government agencies to find a solution. However, it has reached a dead end due to the regulations of the Land Act and so on.
I do not wish to discuss at length in this honorable House about the issues that have arisen regarding this matter, so in the end, the request for electricity supply cannot be considered. The desire to enjoy the facilities provided by the government is not achieved.
However, it is the responsibility of the village heads and village chiefs to continue to strive to assist their villagers who need appropriate assistance. As the saying goes, 'Let the family in front of us get wet in the rain while we have an excess umbrella.'
Therefore, I suggest that the ministry provide a module for a personal home solar system that can power basic electrical equipment such as lights, fans, televisions, and refrigerators. This initiative can be implemented in collaboration with supplier companies to create a solar energy assistance package at a reasonable price to help troubled households as Kaola mentioned earlier as a last resort to help them enjoy a more comfortable life. With this home solar system package, it can be used as a solution and guide for those who are willing to provide assistance.
The use of this solar system method is also in line with the country's direction to make Brunei Darussalam a sustainable country by 2050. I seek enlightenment from Your Honorable Minister of Development. Thank you.
Your Honorable Minister of Development
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker and Mr. Abdul Aziz bin Haji Hamdan for the questions raised earlier:
Regarding road damage that is a problem for users and also damage to property caused by road damage. Kaola takes serious note of the issue of road surface damage and this is also the main focus of the Ministry of Development through the Public Works Department to maintain with an action plan made as soon as possible to reduce the risk of damage to users' property when such damage occurs.
It cannot be denied that there are weaknesses in this matter as raised in the intervention of Your Honorable earlier, and also previously, many complaints were received through social media and the Darussalam '123' complaint line. Towards this, among the efforts made by the ministry is to expedite repair work to be aligned with the allocation capacity available at any given time, which is given priority for action.
Among the actions taken include providing segmented contracts according to the respective zones, providing standard operating procedures for the management of highways, including immediate action when damages occur, and receiving any complaints regarding highways through the Darussalam '123' line, the road monitoring media of the Public Works Department, and others to obtain comprehensive and immediate information.
God willing, I will take the suggestions conveyed earlier, as well as some good ideas that were presented earlier, and I will examine this matter to reduce the burden on the public as stated in the content of the previous question.
The public's concern about incidents of collapsed houses, especially in the Kampung Air area, is also raised. There is also a committee at the working level between the Ministry of Development and the Ministry of Home Affairs to address such matters.
Previously, since 2020, several inspections have been carried out on houses in Kampung Air, especially those that have been previously built in Kampung Air, Kampung Peramu, Mukim Peramu and Mukim Saba. These areas have been involved in the planning of the Kampung Air Phase 11 Reconstruction Project. The results of these inspections have been submitted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs for further action.
From the results of the previous inspections, most of the houses in Kampung Air were built and managed by the residents themselves without the involvement of qualified persons.
These houses are exposed to various structural risks, which can cause them to collapse. Therefore, in an effort to address this issue.
The Ministry of Development and the Ministry of Home Affairs have held several discussions to plan the next course of action. As a first step, both ministries will collaborate to investigate the integrity of the existing structures of houses.
When the inspections are carried out by officers from the Public Works Department regarding the integrity of the structures of most houses in Kampung Air, the report will be presented to a committee consisting of officers from the Ministry of Development and the Ministry of Home Affairs. From there, actions will be formulated to address this issue. That is all I can convey regarding this matter.
Regarding the proposal for a module of a solar system for private homes that can power only essential electrical equipment, this is a good proposal. However, what is of concern to the ministry is the aspect of safety.
This is an emphasized matter in any development or plans involving any progress. In this matter, the enforcement of the law, especially Section 5 of the Building Control Order 2014, which states that all new land and building developments, modifications, and additions must be submitted through a qualified person appointed by the developer or owner who develops their home.
The qualified person in question consists of architects or professional engineers who must be registered under the Board of Architects Professional Engineers and Quantity Surveyors because the qualified person with their respective expertise will ensure that the proposed design plans meet the minimum building standards and guidelines according to the suitability of the site and the scope of development required by the developer or owner, including the scope of installing wires for electrical supply, especially in designing a new matter using the private home solar system model. For the purpose of electrical connection aspects as we proposed earlier, if the application is submitted by meeting the requirements of the Building Control Regulations 2014, then the approval of work readiness will be processed and considered. If approved, the relevant party can apply for electrical connection to the Electrical Services Department, which also has requirements to consider electrical connections to any building.
Regarding the proposal for a private solar system model, this is a good proposal. One safety measure needs to be prioritized and given attention to ensure the safety and well-being of the buildings. Of course, the design of the building's wiring must follow the current regulations and guidelines.
Your Honorable Speaker
The third question refers to the poor houses, where people who are struggling have to live in cramped conditions and their homes may be old and unable to receive sufficient electricity supply for their daily lives. So, what other alternatives can be provided? If I am not mistaken, Your Honorable Awang Haji Abdul Aziz bin Haji Hamdan suggested whether it is possible to provide solar electricity supply for these houses.
Your Honorable Minister of Development
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker, for the enlightenment.
That is actually the question raised, and I apologize for missing it. This involves a welfare initiative to help those who are less capable, where solar energy is used as a source of electricity. This is a method that can alleviate them from electricity bills and the like, for basic needs such as lights, fans, televisions, and refrigerators.
I admit that I am not knowledgeable in this matter, and I need time if there is an opportunity later or tomorrow to explain this better. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.
Your Honorable Speaker
Thank you. I now invite Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd. Yusuf.
Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd Yusuf
بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم
ُعلَي ُكم َو َرح َمةُ هللاِ َو َب َركَاتُه َ ال. Your Honorable Speaker. First of all, I would like to express my highest gratitude to Your Honorable Speaker for giving me the opportunity to discuss the Development Ministry's Budget for 2023/2024.
I would also like to express my sincere thanks to Your Honorable Minister of Development for presenting the comprehensive budget for the Development Ministry regarding the direction of the ministry. It is hoped that all plans will be implemented as best as possible for the well-being and welfare of the people and residents of Brunei Darussalam.
Your Honorable Speaker, I would like to touch on leasehold land from the Land Department. As we are aware, there are still leasehold lands that usually have a lease period of 50 years. Landowners are required to renew the lease period after it expires and are required to pay based on the valuation of the land.
The payment and renewal of the leasehold land, as we understand from time to time, is increasing. For example, the value of renewing the lease period is $40,000.00 or more. This will certainly burden landowners, especially among those who are less capable or have low income, or those over 60 years old who only rely on their pension. What about landowners who have many responsibilities with a salary of less than $700.00 per month?
In conclusion, are they able to pay a lump sum of $40,000.00 to renew the lease period while supporting their family every month with low income?
This is one of the issues that Your Honorable would like to raise, which is very burdensome for landowners. Their lives are also affected even though they live or build houses on the land that they have inherited for generations. This matter should be given attention. In this regard, I request clarification on the government's initiatives to address the issue that I have mentioned earlier and provide opportunities for them to continue living and staying in the land that they have occupied for so long.
However, I also have a suggestion that can be considered or otherwise. For those who are citizens of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam who have established a residence and living with their families on the leased land for more than 20 years, they can be considered for the grant of permanent land with the condition that they do not have any other land.
This means that they no longer have to renew the land lease by paying for a period of 50 years. Instead, a permanent grant will be issued and they will be required to pay annual taxes as in the usual permanent grant based on the assessment of the land.
This is because if we compare it to citizens who are granted housing under the National Housing Scheme or the Native Customary Land Scheme, the government will provide housing and infrastructure such as electricity, water supply, and so on. However, those who live on leased land have to spend their own money not only on the house, access road, water supply, and electricity connection, but also on services such as preparing plans from architects, paying consultant services, engineers, and electrical consultants.
Another suggestion is for other leased lands that are not the owner's residence and family to reduce their burden. They can consider not having to pay the lump sum of $40,000.00 to extend the 50-year period, but instead, the payment for the leased land can be relaxed every year. For example, if the $40,000.00 is divided by 50 years, it will be $800.00 per year. If the period is 50 years, the value is the same as $40,000.00. That is my suggestion, which may be considered by the relevant parties in this issue.
Your Honorable, what I want to raise here is related to the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation. According to one of the department's programs, it aims to ensure that solid waste management and disposal throughout the country are carried out and monitored more systematically and effectively.
This program also aims to formulate, plan and implement cleanliness policies and programs, as well as monitor air and water quality in the country.
We also know that His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's government aims to make this country an environmentally sustainable, clean and safe country.
What I want to raise here is related to Health Care Waste Management or medical and clinical waste. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), healthcare waste can be categorized as follows:
i. Infectious waste;
ii. Pathological waste;
iii. Sharps waste such as needles; and
iv. Pharmaceutical waste and others.
The waste referred to is mainly categorized as hazardous and high-risk if any quantity or form of waste contains toxic substances such as biological, chemical or physical agents that may be harmful to humans, animals, plants, food, water systems, air and the environment, among others.
I want to share information that we have found that there are three incinerators that are shared for the disposal of the waste that I mentioned earlier, such as at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha Hospital (RIPAS), Suri Seri Begawan Hospital, Kuala Belait and Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Hospital, Tutong.
What I understand is that all three incinerators have been closed due to public complaints from residents in the surrounding areas and the increasing amount of waste that requires continuous burning.
It cannot be denied that the handling, management, storage and transportation of healthcare waste have inherent risks that require special control measures because it not only poses health risks but also has the potential to harm the environment during transportation, let alone the disposal process.
In achieving the country's goal of preserving a safe environment and ensuring that the healthcare waste disposal process does not pose any health risks or endanger the well-being and safety of the people and residents of this country, including its surroundings, from pollution, I am pleased to seek enlightenment from Your Honorable Minister of Development on the following aspects:
Where is the actual location of the incinerator that is currently burning healthcare waste disposal? Is it placed in a designated area approved by the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to avoid any risks in terms of environmental safety and health, air pollution, which could pose a risk to the people and residents of this country?
It is known that one of the locations that has an incinerator is located in the area of Kampung Selayun, Mukim Sengkurong. We know the population density there and have we ensured that it does not cause pollution and risks that could harm the people and residents of this country, especially those living in the area concerned?
Where is the disposal location for healthcare waste (clinical waste) for other healthcare facilities, private hospitals, and other clinics? Does the capacity and high temperature of the incinerator take into account the amount of healthcare waste that requires gradual and varying levels of burning temperature?
How is the smoke from the incinerator released? Is there any inspection or monitoring by the authorities in this country to assess the risk of air pollution? Where is the disposal of the healthcare waste after open burning? Is there any monitoring? Are the contractors handling transportation and disposal accredited and recognized or following the standards or best practices in place?
Are there laws or provisions and regulations for the management and disposal of healthcare waste? This is essential for control and ensuring that the medical or clinical waste disposal system is not hazardous and risky. In conclusion, what are the benchmarks or best practices currently used for the management and disposal procedures of healthcare waste, medical, and clinical waste?
Does it follow the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO), which has guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures that are conceptually secure and avoid all risks and pollution? In the opinion of the speaker, this is one of the issues that we need to address together.
Your Honorable, Kaola would like to touch on the Housing Scheme in Kampung Mengkubau but was interrupted by one of the Honorable Members and explained by the Honorable Minister of Development.
There is an issue here that Kaola would like to raise, which is about the indicator for the Housing Development Department which states in this book the percentage of arrears collected amounting to approximately $65 million, Financial Year 2020/2021.
Kaola requests an explanation, what is the amount of arrears for the following year, namely Financial Year 2021/2022. Is it increasing or decreasing? How many of them still have arrears for housing payments?
If it is decreasing, أ َ ْل َح ْمدُ ّ ٰلِل but if it is increasing, what effective procedures or initiatives are there to collect such a large amount of arrears exceeding $64 million?
What Kaola is concerned about here, if it is not demanded firmly, it may spread to others and from there it will be difficult to collect and increase to the point where it is not surprising if it increases to $100 million.
That is what Kaola wants to express in this honorable council and Kaola once again thanks Your Honorable Speaker for giving Kaola the opportunity.
Thank you, ُعلَ ْي ُك ْم َو َرحْ َمةُ هللاّ َو َب َركَاتُه َ سالَ ُم َّ َو ال.وباهلل التوفيق والهداية
Your Honorable Speaker
I now invite the Honorable Minister of Health.
The Honorable Minister of Health
بسم للا الرحمن الرحيم, Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.
السالم عليكم ورحمة للا وبركاته, before my colleague answers because there are many questions directed to the Ministry of Health.
Regarding waste disposal, Kaola would like to explain a little. As stated by the Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd. Yusuf, there are 3 incinerators owned by the ministry, namely RIPAS, Tutong and Kuala Belait, which have been there for years.
However, as the Honorable Member stated, the way of disposal with the existing incinerator will emit smoke and if it is windy, we can see where it goes, for example in Tutong District, the smoke will go to the flats.
So, the ministry used to make this incineration itself, but then outsourced it to others. What people who are entrusted to outsource this do not have real certification with this healthcare disposal, because when asked, those who wait there, do not know what degree/temperature it is. Therefore, all three incinerators have been closed and privatized (outsourced).
There are a few companies that can do healthcare waste disposal and here Kaola would like to touch on what the Honorable Member mentioned earlier in Kampung Selayun which was initially used by JPMC for private healthcare, so this company before JPMC allowed it, they have assessed to the level of SOP and standards that they follow.
Although it is a bit inside, if you look at it, it does not emit smoke and then the transportation, for example from JPMC, the transportation of waste or healthcare waste disposal, in refrigerated trucks, and the storage area is also refrigerated storage where the healthcare waste is stored waiting for disposal. And the incinerator is controlled electronically (remotely) from Australia and it has been monitored in Australia.
In the disposal of these remnants, Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd. Yusuf mentioned earlier that each type of waste has its own temperature. For example, ordinary waste has one temperature, clinical waste has another temperature, and cytotoxic (cancer's waste) has an even higher temperature.
Therefore, these standard operating procedures (SOPs) are monitored by the JPMC Hospital, especially during the destruction process. The smoke that is emitted is monitored, and there is a monitoring system to ensure that the heat that is emitted is monitored. The components that are emitted and the remnants that are left after destruction or incineration are collected and analyzed in the lab to ensure that they do not harm the environment or humans. The ashes are collected and disposed of in the Sungai Paku landfill, which has been certified as safe for the environment. Therefore, the disposal of clinical waste is based on three main components:
- ordinary waste
- clinical waste (e.g. bleeding), and
- cytotoxic waste.
These components are monitored. There are a few companies in Brunei that are recognized to be able to handle this type of waste. Although there is no specific law regarding this matter, it is monitored by institutions such as the JPMC Hospital, which follows international standards. The Ministry of Health also follows best practices in waste disposal, and if it is outsourced, they also follow the standards that have been set.
Regarding normal waste, clinical waste, and cytotoxic waste, there is also the matter of radioisotopes. This is because we have nutrient medicine here. Radioisotopes refer to a chemical that emits radiation, although it is minimal. This is used for medical purposes, and the disposal is based on the natural decay of the material. For example, Isotope A has a half-life of 6 hours, after which it no longer emits radiation.
It is stored in a special container, and this is under the International Atomic Energy Agency's standards. They monitor the waste disposal at the Jerudong Specialist Center, and they come to Brunei at regular intervals because Brunei has recently started producing radioisotopes on a small scale. So far, in the past few years, they are quite satisfied with us because we follow international standards, and we can be assured that the radioisotope waste is safe. All praise be to Allah.
Your Honorable Speaker, so what I am presenting here is healthcare waste disposal in 4 areas commonly used daily. That's all, Your Honorable Speaker.
Honorable Minister of Development
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. I will address some of the questions raised earlier by the Honorable Members:
- Regarding the expired leasehold land where owners are required to renew after expiration and where payments are increasing and causing a burden to landowners, especially the elderly who have no income, and the suggestions made earlier to break down the payment so that it does not have to be paid all at once.
What I can say is that I will take note of the suggestions made by the Honorable Member and bring this matter up for further consideration within the ministry. We will then be able to think about the next steps in this situation and the issues raised by the Honorable Member.
As mentioned by the Honorable Member, there is also the issue of outstanding payments for houses under the Government Housing Scheme under the Housing Development Department.
One of the efforts made by the Housing Development Department to reduce the outstanding payments resulting from the payment of houses given to housing grant recipients is through a method where the issue raised earlier was the difficulty faced by the public in making direct payments to the Housing Development Department.
As a step to overcome this difficulty, the Housing Development Department has initiated a special payment system for the public to make payments through the One Common Billing System (OCBS) which was launched in February 2020.
The One Common Billing System (OCBS) is expected to reduce the increase in outstanding payments and will open up more channels for online payments and not just limited to payment counters during working hours.
As for the impact since the introduction of this system, I do not have the data at this time, but God willing, if there is an opportunity tomorrow, I will be able to answer this matter.
Before that, it should be noted that as mentioned earlier, the amount of outstanding payments is $65 million. One of the reasons why this outstanding payment occurred is the inability of homeowners to repay housing loans.
This is among the main causes and reasons why arrears have increased so much. Towards efforts to further improve the actions of the Housing Development Department to collect outstanding debts, a data recovery unit has also been established to arrange further steps to send warnings to homeowners to comply with their agreements to pay their outstanding debts on the houses they own and occupy.
That is all the answer that I can provide. In sha Allah, with the availability of that data, I will refer back to convey it to this honorable council. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.
Your Honorable Speaker
I now invite Your Honorable Awang Haji Md. Salleh bin Haji Othman.
Your Honorable Awang Haji Md. Salleh bin Haji Othman
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. بسم للا الرحمن الرحيم السالم عليكم ورحمة للا وبركاته and greetings. Your Honorable Speaker. Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude for the response given by the Honorable Minister of Development and enlightenment on several issues raised by other Honorable Members.
I would like to raise questions and suggestions on several matters under Title SK02A - Housing Development Department and under Title SK06A - Land Department:
I would like to touch on the National Housing Scheme regarding planning towards contributing to the progress at the village and kampong level, including the positive and negative effects of population migration to housing areas to be considered together. These issues are not new and are often raised in meetings and have also been raised in the Council during the previous Legislative Session: -
i. I suggest that a comprehensive planning is needed before housing areas are prepared, taking into account issues of sufficient infrastructure and facilities to accommodate the capacity of existing new residents.
There are still complaints from the public in some housing areas regarding traffic congestion, the absence of built mosques and overcrowded existing mosques with the presence of congregants, limited shop facilities, and so on.
ii. To balance the enlightenment of residents in the National Housing Scheme areas which contributes to the decrease in population density in villages.
I suggest that the government can provide suitable land in village areas by giving priority to any village residents who are capable of building their own houses, including walling work and so on. Would it not be a violation of the Land Act if someone donates that land to be used as an Islamic Cemetery?;
Regarding the Temporary Occupancy Land (TOL) target, it is necessary to review the existing conditions to consider the current situation.
The speaker is discussing the TOL requirements for agriculture. Since vegetable and fruit cultivation is heavily reliant on modern technology such as the use of fertilizing and pesticide spraying machines, farmers spend a lot of money just to get profitable yields.
Therefore, the need to build strong storage facilities, guard posts, and perfect supervision is a top priority, taking into account the safety of logistics and agricultural equipment from theft and natural disasters.
The speaker suggests that the government should examine and expand the conditions for using TOL land for agriculture based on the facts mentioned earlier to facilitate farmers in submitting any applications to other government agencies.
Regarding Topic SK01A - Ministry of Development. Guidelines for applying to build houses and related matters.
The speaker received complaints from the public regarding problematic applications to build houses that do not meet the requirements set by ABCi, especially in areas that do not have complete infrastructure and facilities such as no drainage and uncertain drainage flow, unavailable roads, and so on. The speaker suggests that the development guidelines can be adjusted according to the area or by examining the existing guidelines.
Taking into account the remote areas that do not have complete infrastructure to reduce the burden on the public to provide the infrastructure that should be provided by the government solely to obtain readiness approval (OP); and
Regarding Topic SK06A - Land Department. According to statistics until the end of 2016, a total of 542 pieces of land were still registered under the names of deceased individuals or unfinished inheritance affairs. Kaola wants to know the current status and progress from 2016 until now.
Kaola believes that this problem needs to be handled jointly by relevant agencies such as JPM, the Shariah Department, the Judiciary Department, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, and the Land Department so that the problem can be resolved quickly and not result in more complicated inheritance issues.
I suggest that the possibility of a resolution through third parties or private agencies such as Sharia lawyers will be able to contribute to a speedy resolution. Your Honorable Minister of Development, please enlighten us on this matter.
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker
Your Honorable Menteri Pembangunan
Thank you to Your Honorable Awang Haji Md. Salleh bin Haji Othman for the questions raised.
To address the effects of the migration of village residents to national housing areas, one of the steps taken is to conduct a survey to plan for housing before any site or insertion project is made.
One of the considerations is how this project will be able to retain the original residents of the village without them having to move to a new housing area.
From this strategy, land sites have also been allocated. For this National Housing Plan, in the villages concerned, this is one of the steps taken to reduce or prevent migration that has been made in several previous housing plans.
Regarding some questions that raise the capacity of new and existing residents that have resulted in insufficient infrastructure to accommodate growth in a particular area and also where there are public complaints in some housing areas, traffic congestion that occurs and also mosques that have become crowded with the presence of migrating congregations. This is one of the realities where there are also several difficulties faced in addressing and detailing better ways to overcome them.
What is done in stepping up to provide these housing sites is a comprehensive feasibility study of a site before it is proposed for a housing area.
These initial steps are taken in the Housing Development Department. This study includes identifying the characteristics of the site and the environmental conditions in terms of physical, technical, social and legal aspects, taking into account planning input from relevant parties in the area.
Thus, the National Housing Area planning also includes the provision of a master plan or action plan for the planning of the entire housing area, including the provision of sites for public facilities such as mosques, primary schools, secondary schools, commercial centers and others.
The plots of land have been handed over to the relevant agencies and their development is subject to further planning by the respective agencies. If present, "Kaola" hopes to answer the first question earlier.
Indeed, it is a complex issue. If possible, "Kaola" would like to move on to the second question, which is about balancing the migration of people to housing schemes that contribute to the decrease in population density in villages. The Honorable Member suggested that the government provide suitable land in rural areas and prioritize villagers who are capable of building their own homes.
In terms of planning, the Department of Urban and Rural Planning has identified several growth centers, including for rural areas, by providing housing, industrial, and commercial areas.
By considering the plan to attract population to these areas and allowing original residents to stay without having to move elsewhere, it will not affect the local socio-economy.
What can be conveyed here is that this plan has been made before, but to provide testimony on places that have reached this stage of planning, "Insha Allah," "Kaola" will convey it after obtaining the information later.
From this policy, such planning, and thoughts conveyed in the Honorable Member's question earlier, this planning exists in the current preparation, which also encourages the progress of infill development, where new housing plots on vacant land can be made between existing residential areas.
This will provide a balance of progress to accommodate the needs raised in the earlier question.
The next question is whether it is not a mistake if someone donates their land to be used as an Islamic cemetery?
Based on the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Development regarding the Land Code Law, there is no provision that prohibits such efforts to donate land for use as an Islamic cemetery.
Basically, any application to do this matter is usually referred to the Ministry of Religious Affairs to obtain advice on suitability and legal aspects.
Therefore, in principle, there are no regulations that prohibit the question raised earlier. Regarding the next question from the Honorable Member, it is suggested that the government study and expand the terms of use for TOL land with agricultural status.
Regarding the TOL lands, as it is understood, these lands are temporary in nature. Therefore, those who occupy these lands must consider this when developing the land to avoid losses if the land is taken back for any public or government planning purposes.
The regulations for TOL lands are currently being updated with a proposal to allow structures to be built with the permission of the relevant authorities such as the Department of Urban and Rural Planning, ABCi, and others. The new TOL land regulations are being studied by the Attorney General's Office and are expected to be completed soon.
Regarding the guidelines for housing construction applications, especially those involving complaints from individuals who have difficulty meeting the requirements set by ABCi, particularly in areas without complete infrastructure facilities.
Your Honorable Speaker, what we see from the patterns of these questions is that there are public complaints about a policy enforced by the Ministry of Development through ABCi and the Department of Urban and Rural Planning that requires applications for development planning.
To apply and use an architect, a qualified person is required, and the complaint is that this makes it expensive. Another pattern is that people who make complaints about the infrastructure provided in these areas face problems such as uncertain drains and drainage systems, uncertain roads, and so on.
So this is where the qualified person policy is needed to organize and design houses with better infrastructure to avoid these problems.
Therefore, the guidelines for planning permission emphasize the importance of landowners' compliance with the requirements related to the provision, connection, and development of housing to infrastructure, and to comply with the regulations that have been set.
Any land developed for building construction must be presented by a qualified person appointed by the developer or homeowner to the Department of Urban and Rural Planning and ABCi for the study of planning requirements and subsequent planning permission, including infrastructure requirements, which the Department of Urban and Rural Planning will coordinate with other infrastructure departments after obtaining approval.
Therefore, the qualified person appointed by the developer or homeowner will submit the application for land, house, and building development to the Building Control and Industry Authority for development approval. As required under Section 5 of the Building Control Order 2014, all building developments must be submitted through a qualified person appointed by the developer or owner to ABCi as the agency that regulates building regulations and guidelines.
ABCi will examine the design certification from the relevant qualified person involving building design and infrastructure connections from the house or government infrastructure starting from the application for development approval.
If there are complaints such as the drainage system not being able to channel water properly and causing flooding, the sewage system emitting unwanted odors, or not functioning properly, the person responsible is the qualified person appointed by the developer or owner of the house being developed.
That is why the importance of a qualified person is emphasized.
The qualified person is someone who has the background and qualifications to carry out this task with their knowledge and understanding of the requirements imposed by ABCi and the Department of Urban and Rural Planning.
That is why it has become a mandatory policy for homeowners to use a qualified person architect for any development and is a requirement for approving any development application.
That is what I can convey for the previous question, thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.
Your Honorable Minister of Religious Affairs
"Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings." Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.
I will only touch briefly on someone's intention to donate cemetery land addressed to me, Your Honorable Minister of Development.
Indeed, land affairs are under the Ministry of Development, but the keyword here is "donation."
So, to donate, the person concerned must contact the Brunei Islamic Religious Council, whether it is a donation, what type of donation it is, such as a cemetery donation, what type of land it is, and the Brunei Islamic Religious Council will assess the land's position with reference to the relevant parties regarding the land.
So if it has been agreed upon, what actually happens to the endowment can be registered. If not, then it cannot be done, it is not a matter for the Ministry of Development, it is a matter of endowment. Resolve the endowment first, thank you Your Honorable Speaker.
Your Honorable Speaker
Thank you. Honorable Members. I think we have discussed enough on this topic in the committee and I suggest that we adjourn this Committee Meeting for now and reconvene in the National Assembly Meeting.
(Committee Meeting adjourned) (National Assembly Meeting reconvened)
Your Honorable Speaker
Honorable Members. We are now reconvening in the National Assembly Meeting. I would like to adjourn this meeting for us to take a break after a long day of meeting.
ان شاء للاwe will reconvene on Monday, 20th March 2023 as usual starting at 9.30 am.
Thank you. ّ ُعلَ ْي ُك ْم َو َرحْ َمة ُهللا َو َب َركَاتُهَ سالَ ُم َّ َو ال.وباهلل التوفيق والهداية
ADJOURNED
(National Assembly Meeting adjourned)
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