A POWDERY substance was found in one of the packages at the Berakas Mail Processing and Packaging building in Jln Airport Lama, yesterday morning. Suspected to be anthrax, the postal services personnel contacted relevant authorities while the building was evacuated and cordoned off.

This was the scenario of a drill conducted by the Postal Services Department yesterday to prepare the relevant agencies for any eventualities. Awang Haji Mahmud bin Hj Daud, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications oversaw the exercise.

Police personnel were also at the scene to cordon off the place to safeguard the public while emergency personnel from the Ministry of Health were also on standby at the scene.

The Hazmat (Hazardous Materials) team from the Fire and Rescue Department was called into action to transport the powdery substance to the national laboratory for further testing.

The team removed the package and the situation was brought under control within half an hour during the drill.

Following the smooth running of the drill, Hj Mohammad Manan bin Hj Lakim, the Acting Postmaster General of the Postal Services Department said, ” From the drill, we can see the effectiveness of the cooperation between the Postal Services Department and Fire and Rescue Department, Royal Brunei Police Force and Ministry of Health. I am satisfied with the drill.”

He said, “In previous years, we have had two anthrax scares at the Mail Processing and Packaging building in Jln Airport Lama and another at Tutong Post Office. Both turned out to be hoax.”

When asked whether the department was equipped in the early detection of hazardous materials, he replied, “Currently, we don’t have the facilities or specialists in detecting hazardous materials that come via mail. However, our staff is provided with the guidelines to help detect anthrax:”

He also added: “After today’s drill, the department is planning to have a prevention responsive and up to date system. The department is also planning to create an effective standard operating procedure that could be used for the long-term in case of any threat.”

He also promised that the department would conduct more drills to better prepare and handle any real threats.

Meanwhile, Awang Haji Mahmud, in a separate interview stressed the importance of such drills in preparation against any anthrax threats.

He said, “We are building up on anything we could learn from the drill and improve in the next stage. To my understanding, this is the second drill and there are more to come.”

On the procedure in case of any threat, he said, “As we go along the drill, standard operating procedures have to be improvised all the time because we don’t know what kind of threats are out there. But the basic infrastructure has to be available.”

Senior Supt Ranee bin Hj Othman of the Fire and Rescue Department said, “If a powdery substance is found, the Hazmat team would be called in to remove the substance and sent to the national laboratory to verify the content.

“If the substance is verified to be of anthrax, then we have conduct a further clean up of the premises.”

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