Rokiah Mahmud
Some 3,409 out of 4,000 units at RPN Kampong Panchor Mengkubauhave been allocated for applicants. However, 591 units are still vacant due to damages.
This was said by Minister of Development Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Muhammad Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid during the 19th Legislative Council session yesterday.
He also said out of the 3,409 houses allocated, the Housing Development Department has so far received 291 complaints from homeowners and the complaints are expected to increase.
The Ministry of Development (MoD) through the Housing Development Department has carried out efforts to address the matter, including repairing 39 units of damaged houses outside of the affected areas.
The minister said 41 homeowners at RPN Kampong Panchor Mengkubau will be relocated, 24 of which are now at replacement houses in RPN Kampong Panchor Mengkubau, while four have been temporarily moved to transit houses in RPN Kampong Lambak Kanan, and 13 have yet to be relocated due to various reasons.
The department has repaired several infrastructural damages, including broken drains in six locations, while road damages such as sink holes, have been repaired by the Public Works Department (JKR). The Housing Development Department, according to the minister, has plans to repair another 60 units of damaged houses, upgrade the drainage system to prevent flooding, repair damaged roads and address land-slide issues.
Regarding RPN Kampong Panaga in the Belait District, the complaints that are frequently received from the residents include clogged sewer.
The minister said maintenance works will be carried out from time to time.
“Since the takeover of the housing area by the MoD, the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) has yet to hand over the sewerage system as it cannot function as a vacuum system.
“The BEDB is still considering changing the system from vacuum to gravity for Precinct 5 and Precinct 6 while maintaining the vacuum system at Precinct 1, Precinct 2, Precinct 3, and Precinct 4,” said the minister.
The minister shared that the BEDB is currently finding ways to carry out maintenance works before the sewerage system can be handed over to the Drainage and Sewerage Department of the JKR.
Meanwhile, residents along Jalan Bukit Bilid and Jalan Paya Namurai often face flooding issues.
Investigations carried out by the Drainage and Sewerage Department have found that the internal drainage system in the area cannot accommodate high-intensity rainfall runoffs, causing overflowing of water.
A redesign of the drainage system is required, he said, while routine and scheduled cleaning of the drains during the rainy season will be carried out.
