The Supreme Committee for the Royal Wedding Ceremony, working committees and parties tasked to organise the royal wedding ceremonies apologised for any difficulties and discomfort faced by those affected by food and transportation issues during the Royal Procession last Sunday and underlined that such incidents should not have occurred.
The statement was read by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar during a press conference at Al-‘Afiah Hall of the Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday.
In regard to the viral incident involving food and transportation for public servants, students, and educators during the Royal Procession around Bandar Seri Begawan, the minister said, “the Supreme Committee for the Royal Wedding Ceremony and the Ministry of Education would like to clarify that this unforeseen incident was deeply regrettable and should not have occurred.”
The Brunei Darussalam Food Authority (BDFA) is currently gathering evidence related to the alleged damage to packed meals and buns distributed.
The BDFA will then discuss the matter with the Attorney General to determine appropriate actions to be taken pertaining to the issue, said Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham.
Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman as Acting Minister of Education, said, “The Ministry of Education was tasked to coordinate the distribution of takeaway food for 23,800 students and 15,700 for public servants.
“The isolated cases of foul packed food that went bad on social media was supplied to public servants and not students.”
Permanent Secretary (Core Education) at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Dr Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati binti Haji Tajuddin said in the aspect of procedures undertaken by the ministry to inspect the food before being dispatched to the students, some 50 officers from the Food Service and Hostel Division at the ministry were tasked to receive the food and run random inspections of the food at nine zones during the Royal Procession.
“It was due to the practice that the officers discovered the rotten buns as early as 7.20am, leading to immediate contact with suppliers for replacements,” she said.
However, the permanent secretary said, due to time constraints and restricted access to the affected areas, suppliers were only able to replace some of the buns. She also acknowledged the need for further improvements to the standard operating procedures, especially for upcoming events.
Meanwhile, the MoE in a statement said it has conducted a follow-up investigation on the suppliers involved and has identified the actions that will be taken on the suppliers concerned.
The MoE said the measures include enhancing cooperation with relevant parties to ensure more efficient and effective processes in the future.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham added, “The committee takes the matter seriously and has collaborated with government agencies to take appropriate legal measures under Chapter 182 of the Public Health (Food) Act against the companies responsible to prevent such recurrence.”
The committee also emphasised that parties involved should not have been complacent and should adhere to government regulations, especially those related to preserving and safeguarding the well-being of the people.
At the same time, he said, “the organisation of related events in the future can look at this experience as a lesson and example for every plan that will be carried out, wherein these events should be implemented diligently in collaboration with stakeholders, especially in the aspects of protecting well-being, health and safety to ensure that nothing is compromised.” – The Supreme Committee for the Royal Wedding Ceremony, working committees and parties tasked to organise the royal wedding ceremonies apologised for any difficulties and discomfort faced by those affected by food and transportation issues during the Royal Procession last Sunday and underlined that such incidents should not have occurred.
The statement was read by Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar during a press conference at Al-‘Afiah Hall of the Ministry of Health (MoH) yesterday.
In regard to the viral incident involving food and transportation for public servants, students, and educators during the Royal Procession around Bandar Seri Begawan, the minister said, “the Supreme Committee for the Royal Wedding Ceremony and the Ministry of Education would like to clarify that this unforeseen incident was deeply regrettable and should not have occurred.”
The Brunei Darussalam Food Authority (BDFA) is currently gathering evidence related to the alleged damage to packed meals and buns distributed.
The BDFA will then discuss the matter with the Attorney General to determine appropriate actions to be taken pertaining to the issue, said Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham.
Meanwhile, Minister of Home Affairs Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman as Acting Minister of Education, said, “The Ministry of Education was tasked to coordinate the distribution of takeaway food for 23,800 students and 15,700 for public servants.
“The isolated cases of foul packed food that went bad on social media was supplied to public servants and not students.”
Permanent Secretary (Core Education) at the Ministry of Education (MoE) Dr Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati binti Haji Tajuddin said in the aspect of procedures undertaken by the ministry to inspect the food before being dispatched to the students, some 50 officers from the Food Service and Hostel Division at the ministry were tasked to receive the food and run random inspections of the food at nine zones during the Royal Procession.
“It was due to the practice that the officers discovered the rotten buns as early as 7.20am, leading to immediate contact with suppliers for replacements,” she said.
However, the permanent secretary said, due to time constraints and restricted access to the affected areas, suppliers were only able to replace some of the buns. She also acknowledged the need for further improvements to the standard operating procedures, especially for upcoming events.
Meanwhile, the MoE in a statement said it has conducted a follow-up investigation on the suppliers involved and has identified the actions that will be taken on the suppliers concerned.
The MoE said the measures include enhancing cooperation with relevant parties to ensure more efficient and effective processes in the future.
Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham added, “The committee takes the matter seriously and has collaborated with government agencies to take appropriate legal measures under Chapter 182 of the Public Health (Food) Act against the companies responsible to prevent such recurrence.”
The committee also emphasised that parties involved should not have been complacent and should adhere to government regulations, especially those related to preserving and safeguarding the well-being of the people.
At the same time, he said, “the organisation of related events in the future can look at this experience as a lesson and example for every plan that will be carried out, wherein these events should be implemented diligently in collaboration with stakeholders, especially in the aspects of protecting well-being, health and safety to ensure that nothing is compromised.” – James Kon & Rokiah Mahmud
