Lyna Mohamad & Izah Azahari
Haji Talib bin Haji Bakar/Haji Abu Bakar, Ahmad Hussaini bin Haji Mohsin and Muhammad Syukri bin Haji Masri received the most number of votes to be eligible for the post of new village heads for Kampong Bengkurong; Kampong Tasek Meradun and Kampong Bunut; and Kampong Sinarubai and Kampong Burung Lepas.
The results were announced during the village head voting and selection ceremony for the three villages at the Mukim Kilanas Community Hall yesterday.
Haji Talib, who obtained 122 votes, is a former Royal Brunei Armed Forces personnel with his last rank being a Warrant Officer II. He is currently Kampong Bengkurong’s acting village head.
With 114 votes is Ahmad Hussaini, the village head candidate for Kampong Tasek Meradun and Kampong Bunut and the youngest among the three candidates at 37 years old. He has a Master’s degree in advertising and marketing from Coventry University, United Kingdom and worked at Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) and Nautic (B) Sdn Bhd.
Kampong Sinarubai and Kampong Burung Lepas candidate was 45-year-old Muhammad Syukri, who received 108 votes. He is a diploma holder in technical education from Universiti Brunei Darussalam and currently works as a teacher at Sayyidina Abu Bakar Secondary School.
Brunei-Muara District Officer Misle bin Haji Abdul Karim, in his capacity as the co-chairperson of the organising committee, attended the event at the Mukim Kilanas Community Hall.
Legislative Council member and Penghulu of Mukim Lumapas Yang Berhormat Amran bin Haji Maidin was also present.
The voting was done online via PMKK e-voting system, open from Friday to yesterday.
This was an alternative on the voting system, said Misle.
This system, he said, “serves to provide an opportunity for villagers from the citizens of 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 and permanent residents aged no less than 18 years to participate and determine who fits to be the leader at grassroots level at villages and mukims.”
He also shared the roles and responsibilities of a village head as well as the responsibilities they shoulder.
Meanwhile, the candidate for village head of Kampong Bukit Udal and Penapar, Mukim Tanjong Maya received a majority of votes during an election at Bukit Udal Primary School hall last Friday.
The candidate was 52-year-old Haji Masri bin Haji Abdullah.
One hundred and seventy-eight out of 240 residents were registered and eligible to vote.
Twenty-nine used the PMKK u-voting mobile application and 149 voted via paper.
One hundred and seventy-one of the votes were in favour of the candidate, while six were against.One vote was spoiled.
Legislative Council member Yang Berhormat Haji Mohamad Danial @ Tekpin bin Ya’akub in his capacity as the Penghulu of Mukim Ukong was present at the event at Bukit Udal Primary School.
Acting Tutong District Officer cum chairman of the event Mohammad Sofian bin Haji Basri, and the acting village head under Mukim Tanjong Maya as well as village residents also attended.
The results of the voting and selection for village heads will be presented to the Board of Appointment, Discipline and Procedures for Mukim Penghulu and Village Head at the Ministry of Home Affairs for the next selection process.
