The Bridging Needs #31 Group (BN#31) of the 31st Executive Development Programme for Senior Government Officers (EDPSGO) officially handed over their innovative digital platform, the UNJUK Project, to the Community Development Department (JAPEM) under the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) as the custodian of the UNJUK system during a handover ceremony at Ittisal Hall, Civil Service Institute (IPA) yesterday.
BN#31 Leader and Acting Director of Technical Services at the Public Works Department Haji Azhan bin Haji Abdul Karim handed over the project to Permanent Secretary (Community) at the MCYS Hajah Nor Ashikin binti Haji Johari, the guest of honour.
Haji Azhan shared that the UNJUK project is a Community Outreach Project initiated by the BN#31, a group comprising five senior officers attending the EDPSGO, 31st Cohort, Year 2024 organised by the IPA.
The platform enables individuals to contribute in-kind donations securely and conveniently. ‘UNJUK’, derived from the Brunei Malay word meaning “to give sincerely”, also stands as an acronym meaning unity, noble, join hands, unconditional and kind community.
Haji Azhan highlighted the platform’s innovative features. Donors can list items they wish to donate, while those in need, represented by village heads, can post wishlists of the required goods. This system fosters a seamless connection between donors and recipients, ensuring transparency and accessibility. The project aligns with His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali
Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s vision of leveraging advanced technologies to enhance public services and Brunei Vision 2035’s second goal: improving the quality of life for its people.
It also supports MCYS’s mission to combat poverty by providing trustworthy and efficient donation channels.
The initiative underscores the importance of a whole-of-nation approach in addressing poverty, fostering collaboration among JAPEM, penghulus, village heads, and other stakeholders, including registered non-governmental organisations and community organisations.
Meanwhile, practical training sessions and briefings for penghulus and village heads have been conducted, including a prototype trial on November 26, to ensure effective implementation. Feedback has been incorporated to refine the platform further.
The UNJUK Project aspires to create a transparent and systematic charitable framework, promoting a caring society, encouraging self-reliance, and reducing dependence on government resources. With its launch, BN#31 envisions a future where no vulnerable group is left behind.
Also present at the ceremony were Acting Deputy Permanent Secretary (Culture) at the MCYS, senior government officials, penghulus and village heads and EDPSGO officers Suridi bin Haji Yahya, Fauziah binti Haji Mohd Salleh, Siti Kamariah binti Haji Mohiddin and Haji Noor Azri bin Haji Mohd Noor. – James Kon
