Minister of Development Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Muhammad Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid outlined several reasons for the delay in the issuance of occupational permit (OP), which includes a requirement for damaged public roads by development works to be repaired before the OP is issued.
The minister was responding to a question by Legislative Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat Chong Chin Yee regarding the delay in attaining OP for renovation and starting operations during the 20th session of the LegCo meeting yesterday.
In 2023, he revealed, the Authority on Building Control and Construction Industry (ABCi) received 7,380 applications which were processed on a first-come-first-served basis.
The ABCi is collaborating with other agencies to improve its application system through OneBiz, the minister said, adding that the current system needs to be more user-friendly.
Yang Berhormat Chong Chin Yee also stressed on the importance of effective coordination between the MoD, the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MoFE) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) to enhance the country’s business ecosystem, to which the minister said, “Collaboration between ministries has been going well so far, through committees such as the National Land Use Council, involving the MoHA, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, with me responsible for the planning land use in the country.“
The minister agreed that collaborative efforts are important in realising the potential of businesses and shared an example of the expression of interest to design, build, finance, cooperate and maintain government land in Jalan Pemancha receiving good response from developers.
The minister added that reviewing land use plans under the 12th National Development Plan is among the steps taken by the MoD through the Department of Town and Country Planning Department including the Bandar Seri Begawan masterplan in collaboration with the MoHA. The department has also collaborated with the Department of Roads to implement the pilot project ‘Pedestrian Masterplan’ to provide pedestrian paths at the Old Airport and commercial zones.
Meanwhile, on providing communities with amenities, the minister said the Housing Development Department (JKP) has built recreational parks in several national housing schemes (RPN), namely Kampong Tanah Jambu, Kampong Rimba, Kampong Lugu and Kampong Bukit Beruang.
The minister stressed that illegal vendors on the roadside is one of the violations of land regulations as it poses danger to road users.
He added, “RPN regulations do not allow businesses to operate in residential areas unless vendors have permits from the authorities.”
He also said, “There have been public complaints on businesses in the residential areas causing traffic jam and parked cars encroaching into living quarters,” adding that discussion have been initiated with village heads and penghulus to address the issues and find suitable places for vendors to relocate to. – James Kon
