Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) personnel put a stop to live band performances on the wee hours of Sunday morning in STKRJ Mata Mata (Katok ‘B’), Jalan Nenas Sanggul following a public complaint regarding the noise.
According to the RBPF, 28 officers from Bandar Seri Begawan Police Station raided two houses at 2.11am.During the raid, music equipment were seized along with two bottles of alcohol and beer cans thrown in the surrounding areas.
The homeowners may face a fine of no more than BND10,000.
The contraband was handed over to the Royal Customs and Excise Department for further investigation and action.
Meanwhile, the public applauded the RBPF for their swift action.
Amirah reached out to the Bulletin stating that musical performances at residential areas are a nuisance to households around them. “It is understandable that some people have private functions. But some do cross the limit. To my knowledge, if they did apply for permission, the authorities will only grant permission until midnight,” she said.
Some echoed the same sentiments, stating that these individuals should be more aware of the people around them.
“It is okay if they stop before midnight. But in my experience, these ‘performances’ tend to continue until early morning, disturbing those who need a good night sleep, especially students who have to go to school and those who already have a hard time sleeping,” said a person on the Bulletin’s Instagram.
Another stated that selfish and reckless actions leave a smudge on the local music scene.
“I don’t think the band is actually the problem. They were just paid to play. The problem is just that people have access to alcohol and gambling at the events, leading to crazy noises and fights,” said another.
RBPF will continue to conduct operations to raise public awareness on the law of the country as well as protect the well-being of the people.
The public is also advised to cooperate with the police by sharing information on any suspicious activities. – James Kon & Adib Noor
