A child enjoying one of the rides at the Jerudong park playground. Picture: Brunei Times (Image not associated with story, the actual story has no image)

A handful of families had a disappointing New Year’s Eve celebration at Jerudong Park on Thursday night. About an hour before midnight, electricity to the entire recreational park went off. Some people claimed that the “blackout” was a way of informing visitors of the closing time.

“We were still inside the park when the lights went out. It was pitch black… my children were frightened,” said Madam Lee who hails from Seria, Belait District. “My family and I had planned to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the park. Sadly, that proved to be the wrong decision.”

According to Awang Hj Mohammad, the lights were switched off at around 10.40pm when his children were still playing inside the park.

“How could they ruin our New Year’s Eve celebration? Why couldn’t the park be open until midnight?” he asked.

“No one informed us about the closing time,” he said, adding that many people left the park disappointed.
When the Sunday Bulletin contacted Jerudong Park about the incident, a representative said: “New Year’s Eve fell on ‘Malam Jumaat’, a significant religious night.”

As a result of this, the park did not have any special celebration and it was closed on schedule at 10.30pm, he said, adding that the opening and closing times are clearly displayed at the main entrance of the park.

“Before closing time, security personnel would go around the park to inform visitors to leave before the lights are switched off,” he said. “For January 1 and January 2, 2010, the park is open until 12midnight.”

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