Three ministries – the Ministry of Development, Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports – conducted a goodwill visit to Ulu Belait to celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri and assess rural development in the area.
The visit aimed to strengthen government-community bonds and evaluate rural infrastructure while promoting unity among longhouse communities.
Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Muhammad Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid, Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad led the delegation.
The group visited Kampong Apak-Apak, Kampong Sukang and Kampong Melilas, engaging with community leaders and residents.
The ministers emphasised the government’s commitment to improve living standards in rural areas, highlighting ongoing projects such as road construction as well water supply and electricity supply.
During the visit, reading corners were inaugurated at longhouses, offering materials from the Language and Literature Bureau and Islamic Da’wah Centre. Among them are: PASMA reading corner, Pengakap (Suluh Ilmu) reading corner, Maraburong Prison reading corner, Pusat Al-Islah reading corner, Mendaram Longhouse (Belait District), Amo Longhouse (Temburong District) and Semabat (Temburong District) longhouse reading corners.
During the visit, the delegation also focused on mobile and landline telecommunications services implemented in six locations of rural Kuala Belait.
The initiatives are among the efforts to provide inter-connectivity and communications to the areas. The base stations in the locations are fully operational using solar energy to practice green and sustainable energy.
Unified National Networks Sdn Bhd also demonstrated a mobile data speed test and a broadband speed test. Telecommunication companies also participated introducing a network plan to the villagers. – James Kon
