TRIP TO MUKIM MELILAS, BELAIT DISTRICT

The journey began with a signs of bad weather

Mukim Melilas is situated at the most remote part of Belait District and it covers an area or 603 Sq. KM. To reach Mukim Melilas you can either go by boat or 4 x 4 Vehicle (Since 2006). By boat you have to depart from Sg Mau Jeti (Mukim Bukit Sawat) and it will take about 2 hours and 30 mins depending on the water level.

The unpaved roads (13 Km) connecting Mukim Sukang and Mukim Melilas was completed in 2006 and residents or vistors who wish to go to Mukim Melilas are advised to use 4 x 4 vehicle.

Eventhough Mukim Melilas is located at the far end of the Belait District, the goverment has built a primary school, a clinic, a Balai Ibadat to cater the needs of the people of Mukim Melilas. With a population of 252 people and most of them are are Muslim Ibans who are headed by Yang DiMuliakan Pehin Datu Pekema Dewa Awang Haji Ali bin Abdullah@Itam, the acting Penghulu of Mukim Melilas.

Since Mukim Melilas is located near the border between Brunei and Sarawak, from time to time you can see Forest Rangers and the Royal Brunei Army guarding the forest area where the high quality famous Oud or 'Kayu Gaharu' are to be found in Mukim Melilas.

Filling up before taking the 3-hour trip (Balai Raya Sg Liang)

The Temuai (Balancing in action heh)

The Media Crew

Jeti of Mukim Melilas Long House

Hut of the generator that runs the Long House power supply

10 mins walk from the jeti to the Melilas long House

Label infront of the Long House

One of the 4 x 4 owned by the resident of the Long House

Hall of the Long House (12 doors altogether)

Left "YDM Pehin Datu Pekerma Dewa Awg Haji Ali bin Abdullah@Itam, Acting Penghulu Of Melilas" and Right "Shahminan bin Hj Tengah, ADO of Belait District"

RANDOM PICTURES OF BOLTON AND MANCHESTER

As requested by ex-Bruneians from Bolton. Pictures are from my recent trip to Bolton in Feb 2008, hope these will bring back the memories. I was in Bolton from 1996 to 2001.

Events in the Belait District this weekend

ROADSHOW OF FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT
Friday , 28 March 2008
Venue: Soon Lee Megamart, Sg Liang
Time: 8.00am

Guest of Honour : Yang Berhormat Haji Shafiee bin Ahmad


KEMPEN GOTONG ROYONG MUKIM BELAIT
Sunday, 30 March 2008
Venue: Dewan Kemasyarakatan , Kampung Pandan, Mukim Belait
Time: 7.45am

Guest of Honour: Awg Haji Mohamad bin Haji Abd Rahman
Belait District Officer

MINOR FIRE IN KG MUMONG ( DOUBLE STOREY HOUSE NEAR KOMPLEX SUKAN MUMONG)

A fire broke out in Kampung Mumong, Mukim Kuala Belait late this afternoon where a double storey house suffered a minor damage from the incident. The fire occurred around 4.30 pm and it was believed that the fire started from first floor of the house. The Fire and rescue department arrived just minutes after receiving the emergency call. It took just only 10 minutes to extinguish the fire. Alhamdulliah all the occupants are saved. The ground floor of the house only suffered water damaged. Sources said short circuit from the fuse box started the fire.

One of the rooms at first floor


The occupants interviewed by the man in blue.

FATAL ACCIDENT IN SG LIANG

A man in his mid 40's was killed in a self accident at Km 34 Sungai Liang Belait at an early hour in Sunday. The victim was heading to Lumut from Bandar Seri Begawan when the accident happened at around 2.00 am were it was believe that his 4 x 4 vehicle lost control and crashed into the guard rail alongside of the road.

Road Users are advised to adhere with the speed regulation and take extra care when driving along the Sg Liang - Belait road where there are a lot of construction works taking place involving with heavy vehicle and especially during heavy downpour where land slide and floods will occur.

KM 34 Sg Liang-Belait Road where the accident happened

MAJLIS PENGUNDIAN KAMPONG PANDAN C, MUKIM BELAIT

Today's ceremony for the Pengundian of Ketua Kampong Pandan C ran smoothly but with a poor turnout of the eligble voters. There were 632 eligible voters which are registered with the secretariat of Mukim kampung, Belait District office and only 176 voted ie 27% of the total registered voters.

Haji Affandy bin Awang Damit got the majority votes of 110, meanwhile Haji Ismail bin Kassim got 66 votes. Today's results will be forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs for further assesment then to His Masjesty Office for 'Titah Pekenan' from His Majesty The Sultan Of Brunei Darussalam for the election as a 'Ketua Kampong'.

Will post up various pictures from today events tommorrow.

OLD FOLKS HOME, SERIA.

Not many of us know that there’s an old folks centre here in the Belait District. Went there yesterday with one of the steering committee to have a closer look at the Old folks Home.
This centre is run by a non profitable organization and the capital to run this place and maintenance comes from donation from various private sectors and individuals.

As what was told by the centre usually the residents have no families and place to live in.
Every month doctors and nurses from government hospital will pay visits to check their condition and to supply their medication.

The building of this Old Folks home is used to be a government barracks back in the 1950’s. To my surprise this old folks home was officiated by the late Almarhum Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Saidul Khairulwaddin in 2nd March 1957 (the late father of our current Sultan HM Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizaddin Wadullah, Sultan dan yang di Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam).

Almarhum Begawan consented to plant a tree to commemorate the opening

Al Marhum Begawan with one of the co founders of the centre

Halls at the centre

The Old Folks Centre, Seria

One of the room of the residents

The oldest resident, 89 years old Iban

Since this centre is run by a non profitable organization , all kinds of donation are most welcome and and if you can’t give donation at least please pay them a visit where visits from anyone will cheer them up. For further inquiries or to make a donation please call Mr Richard Lau on +678712265

Events in the Belait District this weekend

SUNDAY, 23 March 2008

MAJLIS PENGUNDIAN KETUA KAMPONG PANDAN C
MUKIM KUALA BELAIT
VENUE: SEKOLAH MENENGAH SAIYDINA ALI (SMSA) KUALA BELAIT.
TIME: 800 am

THE CANDIDATES

Cikgu Hj Affendi and Awang Hj Ismail

Two candidates will be standing for the post of ketua kampong Pandan C, Mukim Belait.
Candidates are Cikgu Haji Affendi, lecturer of Maktab Kejuteraan Jefri Bolkiah Kuala Belait and Haji ismail bin Kasim, a retire goverment servant.

All register and eligible voters from kampung pandan C are urged to vote this sunday and zone for Kampung Pandan C are from Jalan Pandan 7 to Istana Megallela Roundabout.

Lists of eligible voter are displayed at Soon Lee Megamart Pandan 7, and if you are 18 years old above and residents of Kampung Pandan C, Please check your name at the display board and if your name is not listed please register at the Belait District Office , Mukim and Kampung Section or call 3334336 ext 115 before 3.30 pm 22 Mac 2008.

SUNDAY, 23 March 2008

JUALAN AMAL (CAR BOOT)
VENUE: DEWAN SERBAGUNA KAMPUNG PANDAN.
TIME: 2.00 Pm

This 'Jualan amal' are organize by Majlis Perundingan Kampong Pandan B. Guest of honour of this event will be Awang Haji Mohamad bin Haji Abd Rahman, Belait District Officer. All are invited to this event. For further information about this event or to register a slot please call Awang Haji Malik bin Bakar, Ketua Kampong Pandan B at +6738767884

SUNDAY, 23 March 2008
MAJLIS PELANCARAN DAN PENYAMPAIAN BUKU-BUKU BAGI KAWASAN PENDALAMAN
VENUE: RUMAH PANJANG MANDARAM BESAR, MUKIM LABI
TIME: 8.00 AM

Guest of honour : Deputy Perm Sec of Ministry of Cultures, Youths and Sports

Slippery When Wet

On my way back to Tutong, an accident occur around 615 pm at KM 27 Sg Liang involving three cars, A BMW , Honda Jazz and Toyota Corona. No one was hurt and the cause of this accident could be an abrupt braking by the Toyota Corona which led into this chain of accidents.

Road users are advised to drive carefully at this area and adhere to the speed limit and the most important and what you should always remember is 'WEAR SEATBELT' even tho taking a short trip.

Maulidin Rasul

Maulidin Rasul - the ceremony to commemorate the birthday of Prophet Muhammad SAW. This year Belait District Maulud Nabi procession with the theme 'Tunas Bangsa Berakhlak Al Quran' will be at the Padang Bandaran of Kuala Belait, next to the official house of the Belait District Officer. Guest of honour for this event is Yang Mulia Dato Paduka Haji Yusoff bin Haji Hamid , Deputy Minister of Communication.

Tommorrow procession will be around 5.3 km in distance where starting point will be at the Padang Bandaran Kuala Belait , along jalan Maulana, jalan Panglima, Belait Town area then back to Padang Bandaran. Function will start at 745 am and parking are available at the Belait District Office which is next to the Padang Bandaran.

PADI HARVESTING (PESTA MENUAI PADI) MUKIM LABI

The first padi harvesting gotong royong in the Belait District was held today in Mukim Labi and the guest of honour for today's event is the Minister Of Home Affairs . In this gotong royong activity, more than 150 participants join to take part in this event, comprise of Officers and departments from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Head of Departments in the Belait District, students from the Nursing College BSB, Majlis Perundingan Mukim /Kampong of Labi consultative and residents of Mukim Belait.

Journey to Mukim Labi at 645 am

Minister of Home Affairs(Left) Belait District Officer (Right)

We Shoots, gotcha first :)




Traditional method to separate the padi,
Not to worry peeps nowdays machine are used

Shiny Happy People