BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

MINISTER of Home Affairs calls for relevant agencies to give their feedback on the idea of upgrading more new cities in the country.

“It is very good to have new city in Brunei,’’ said Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awang Badaruddin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Awang Othman, during a Legislative Council (LegCo) session yesterday.

During the session, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Maharaja Kerna Dato Paduka Seri Hj Yaakub Pehin Orang Kaya Maharaja Diraja Dato Paduka Hj Zainal, a LegCo member, gave his suggestion on the importance of upgrading Muara town to become a district that led by district officer in view of the rapid industrial development in the area with a population of 15,000 people.

YB Pehin Dato Hj Yaakub was reminiscing the important role of Muara Town in the economic growth from 1880 to 1920 as it produced the high quality coal in the region.

He expressed hope that similar success story will be repeated following the establishment of integrated oil refinery in Pulau Muara Besar by Hengyi Industries Sdn Bhd from China.

He said that the project will contribute to the country’s direction towards extending the value chain of the oil and gas industry in Brunei Darussalam.

The project, he added, will contribute to the nation’s economy and provide numerous socio-economic benefits to the country, including job opportunities, he added.

The media previously reported the investment for Phase 1 of the Hengyi project is expected to amount to some US$4 billion, creating about 780 job opportunities. Upon completion, the facility will be able to produce petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, Jet A-1 fuel and petrochemical products like paraxylene and benzene. On another note, YB Pehin Dato Hj Yaakub also underscored the need of having database system designed to record all persons entering the country, particularly migrant workers.

The information kept in the database system can be used to assist the law enforcement agencies to carry out investigation if a foreigner is found committing crimes in the Sultanate, he added.

The Brunei Times