-
Temburong
bridge feasibility study completed
-
Fast-track
promotion scheme for officers
-
Syariah Penal
Code okayed
-
Advice on
health
HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam
yesterday announced the provision of three loan facilities that would further
realise the monarch's wish for every Bruneian to own a home.
His Majesty also announced the
introduction of a fast-track promotion scheme for the succession of officers in
division two and above.
The announcement was made in His
Majesty's birthday titah delivered yesterday at Istana Nurul Iman prior to the
annual investiture ceremony.
His Majesty said he has consented
to the waiver of premium payment for renewal on land leases, for land not
exceeding one acre in size that has or will be developed for residential
purposes.
Members of the Employees Trust
Fund (TAP or Tabung Amanah Pekerja), particularly those with low incomes, will
also have access to a new housing fund.
Provided on a voluntary basis,
the scheme will make TAP participants eligible to benefits which include a
guaranteed annual return with set rates, His Majesty said.
For participants whose household
income do not exceed $4,000 a month, they will be eligible to financial aid
from the government not exceeding $25,000, the monarch added.
A housing loan scheme from the
Treasury Department for civil servants, meanwhile, has been updated to suit
current needs.
His Majesty said the changes has
led to the increase of the limit by which government employees can borrow to 60
months of their basic salary from the previous 48 months' basic salary, subject
to certain conditions. This loan facility will also be extended to the purchase
of land for residential development; to allow civil servants to borrow up to 24
months their basic salary.
"With this assistance and
the facilities provided, I believe it will alleviate the burden (in) costs of
owning a home among specific (income) groups in this country, primarily
low-income earners," His Majesty said in the birthday titah.
"Nonetheless, I hope that with this assistance and (these) facilities,
(it) will further encourage the public to always be prudent and spend within
(their) means."
The government has stepped up its
efforts to provide public housing for the masses, through the two national
housing schemes, with the construction and completion of about 17,500 houses
planned by 2014. "I am very happy (with) our new approach in providing
housing for the rakyat (citizens), (which) is showing encouraging
results," His Majesty said yesterday.
On introducing the fast-track
promotion scheme, His Majesty pointed out that with the country embarking on
its 10th National Development Plan, the focus of development is directed more
towards efforts to strengthen the workforce equivalent to current technological
advances and innovations alongside infrastructure developments for education,
health, communication, housing and recreation.
This measure is expected to
assist in the nation's economic diversification in line with the regional
economic growth rate. The fast-track promotion scheme, which is not exclusive
to certain categories only, is expected to stimulate potential officers who are
hardworking, committed and dedicated.
UBAIDILLAH MASLI AND SYED RORY
MALAI HASSAN
The Brunei Times
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