Govt awards six contracts

IN LINE with the Brunei Vision 2035, efforts are underway to speed up the building of houses to meet the growing needs of the citizens in the country. More than 17,500 houses and land lots have been planned to ease the long waiting list.

Of that number, more than 10,000 housing units and land lots are being developed by the Ministry of Development through the Department of Housing Development and the Public Works, while the remaining by the Brunei Economic Development Board.

Six contracts were signed yesterday for building 2,300 houses at a total cost of B$260 million.

The official signing for government housing projects took place at the Dewan Betabur of the Ministry of Development. Minister of Development Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Abdullah bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar witnessed the signing.

Also present were YAM Pg Anak Hajah Ameenah Bushral Bulqiah representing one of the awarded construction companies, Deputy Minister of Development Dato Paduka Dr Hj Mat Suny Hj Mohd Hussein, LegCo Member Awg Hj Shafie Ahmad, permanent secretaries, deputy permanent secretary, heads of department, senior officers under MoD as well as penghulus and village heads.

For over five decades, the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has been steadfastly working on providing a roof for every citizen through several housing programmes, chief among them being the National Housing Scheme (RPN) and Indigenous Citizens Landless Scheme (STKRJ) that are still continuing.

The six contracts for more than 2,300 units of houses and land lots cover four housing sites, namely RPN Kg Tanah Jambu, RPN Kg Meragang, RPN Kg Lumut/Sg Liang and STKRJ Kg Tanah Jambu.

First to sign was Haaqqah (B) Sdn Bhd for the proposed 300 houses for the National Housing Scheme at Kg Meragang. Signing on behalf of the contractor was YAM Pg Anak Hajah Ameenah Bushral Bulqiah. Signing on behalf of the government were Director of Housing Development and Director General of Public Works.
Next to sign was Nikkoh Construction & Development Sdn Bhd, signed by Mr Wong Su She for the proposed infrastructure phase 1 & 2 for 266 semi-detached houses and 158 terrace houses under the Indigenous Citizens Landless Scheme at Kg Tanah Jambu.

The construction of 490 detached houses under phase 3 of the National Housing Scheme at Kg Lumut/Sungai Liang, Kuala Belait was awarded to Syarikat Kejuruteraan Sistematik Sdn Bhd and was signed by Pg Omar Pg Sabtu.

The construction of 358 detached houses under the National Housing Scheme at Kg Meragang was awarded to TSL Construction Sdn Bhd and was signed by Mr Shawn Tang, while the project to construct 361 double-storey houses under the National Housing Scheme at Kg Meragang was awarded to Thong & Thong Sdn Bhd, which was signed by Mr Ong Tock Seng.
Under the Indigenous Citizens Landless Scheme Kg Tanah Jambu-Infrastructure and Housing, the project to build 356 units has been awarded to Alisan Jaya Sdn Bhd and was signed by Mr Wu Chay Chin.

The government has allocated more than $1.5 billion under the National Development Plan 2007-2012 for housing projects under RPN and STKRJ.

RPN Kg Meragang and RPN Kg Tanah Jambu covering 915 hectares are expected to have more than 4,000 housing units and land lots, RPN Kg Lumut/Sg Liang with an area of 282 hectares will accommodate more than 2,000 housing units and land lots, while the STKRJ Tanah Jambu covering 60 hectares will accommodate more than 850 housing units.

After the signing ceremony between the government and contractors, the minister presented the document contract to the respective contractors marking the conclusion ofthe signing ceremony.

To date, several housing contracts have been given for the construction of more than 3,400 units of houses and land lots at various housing sites throughout the country, while several more contracts are in the tendering process, which will lead to the building of more than 4,600 housing units and land lots.

Apart from that, several more projects for the construction of more than 2,000 housing units and land lots are expected to be opened for tender this year to achieve the target of more than 10,000 houses and land lots before 2012.

• 'Go wireless' with Concepts' latest bluetooth headset
• Centre for Islamic Banking, Finance & Management launched
• Audi chosen as 'Best Cars Of 2012'
• IWCB'S Annual Charity Bazaar Next Weekend
• Indonesian workers seek unpaid wages