His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has made another surprise visit to take a closer look at the development and well-being of the people. His Majesty's visit Wednesday was to the Tutong District where the Monarch toured educational institutions and other facilities.

While in the district, His Majesty toured a number of government primary schools there.  These included the Keriam, Bukit Panggal and Sinaut primary schools. While at the educational facilities, the Monarch consented to mingle with the pupils and teachers.

At Kampung Keriam, His Majesty scrutinised facilities in the village. Among the premises His Majesty visited there were the community hall and the Perkasa Association Cooperative shop. The Sinaut Resource and Standards Centre was another facility that received His Majesty's attention during the unscheduled visit.

 At the centre, the Monarch took a personal and closer look at the development that had taken place. The Resource Centre was established in May 1996, and provides facilities as well as expertise for the growth and development of small and medium enterprises, especially assistance in technical aspects and entrepreneurship.

His Majesty's tour of the Sinaut Primary School also included the school's housing facilities for the staff. There His Majesty raised concern that two blocks of flats had remained vacant for ten years. RTB observed evidence that the vacant flats are being used for unhealthy activities.

His Majesty's also visited the Kampung Maraburong Prison Complex. First used in 2001, the prison was designed to enhance security besides providing a well organised and effective rehabilitation system and training programmes for the inmates.

The visits reflect His Majesty's determination towards seeing and ensuring that the government machineries run smoothly and efficiently for the benefit of the country and its people.  Wednesday's visit followed a similar one to the Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa'adatul Bolkiah College of Nursing in Gadong exactly a week ago.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, on Wednesday turned to the Temburong District as the focus of his on-gong series of working visits to the country's urban and rural areas. The visits allow His Royal Highness to see at first hand the well-being of the people as well as the facilities available in these communities.

On arrival at the Senukoh Primary School field in Bangar, His Royal Highness was greeted by His Majesty's Special Adviser at the Prime Minister's Office, who is also Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa; the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Dato Paduka Awang Haji Adanan; the Deputy Minister of Education, Pehin Dato Paduka Awang Haji Suyoi, several Permanent Secretaries and the Acting Temburong District Officer.

The Royal Visitor was welcomed with a traditional dance performed by the district's Murut community. The visit began with a recital of the Al-Fatihah verse. In his welcoming speech, the Penghulu of Mukim Labu, Orang Kaya Sura Haji Tengah bin Damit touched on the basic facilities and amenities provided by His Majesty's government for the residents of the mukim.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince then went on to observe the daily activities of the residents of Kampung Senukoh, which include catching prawns using traditional fishing equipment locally known as "bubu".

Subsequently His Royal Highness visited the Senukoh Primary School which was first built through the collective efforts of the village residents in 1963. The Senukoh Primary School is among the schools that engage the Integrated Education System and also holds religious classes in the afternoon session.

At the Piasau Piasau Primary School, His Royal Highness observed the various facilities available for the students. The school was initially built as a semi-permanent structure and was completed in 1957. 10 teaching staff and a total of 12 students from pre-school to Primary 6 are currently studying at the school.

His Royal Highness's next stop was the Senukoh Saw Mill where the Crown Prince took a closer look at the daily operation. The mill occupies an area of 3 acres with a production output of 3100 metres in a year. The saw mill is permitted to carry out logging activities in the Batu Apoi Forest Reserve.

At the Senukoh Timber Company, His Royal Highness received a donation for the sum of two thousand two hundred dollars for the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Al-Muhtadee Billah Fund for Orphans.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also visited the Mukim Labu Cooperative Shop that offers daily necessities for the local population, making an average of 6 thousand dollars a month.The Labu Estate Police Station and the Labu Estate Health Clinic also came under the scrutiny of His Royal Highness. The clinic began its operation in 1978, providing basic health services to the population.

The Crown Prince then proceeded to the Labu Estate Primary School that was built in 1924. To date the school has 28 students. Last year, the school achieved a 100 percent pass rate in the Primary School Assessment Examination.

The Crown Prince, then made a stop at the residence of the Pengulu of Mukim Labu, Orang Kaya Sura Haji Tengah bin Damit. Mukim Labu is made up of three villages -  Kampung Piasau-Piasau, Kampung Labu Estate and Kampung Senukoh with a total population of 694. Orang Kaya Sura Haji Tengah, 74 years old, has held the position of Penghulu since 1972.

From the Penghulu's residence, His Royal Highness moved on to the Bukit Patoi Recreational Park, located in the Peradayan Forest Reserve. The park occupies an area of 997 hectares, and was officially opened last month. It has since become a popular tourist attraction. The Peradayan Agricultural Station was also toured by His Royal Highness.

The station has been maintained by the Agriculture Department since April 1987 and is a research and information centre as well as an agro-economic tourist destination.His Royal Highness the Crown Prince then proceeded to the Pai Yuek Primary School in Pekan Bangar, which is the only private school in the district and educates 143 students from pre-school level to Primary Six.

His Royal Highness's next destination was the Bangar Fire Station, Built in 1970, the station began operations in April the same year and to date is manned by 50 firemen.Before continuing with his visit, His Royal Highness performed the zohor prayers at Masjid Utama Mohammad Salleh in Pekan Bangar. The mosque was first used in 1967, can accomodate 800 people and was declared open by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam

After zohor prayers, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince moved on to the Sultan Hassan Secondary School in Bangar for a luncheon before touring the institution. Established in August 1966 it is the only secondary school in the Temburong district. The number of students has continued to rise since the 1980's and in 1996, the number of students rose to almost 800. The school is equipped with various facilities such as science labs, an auditorium, library, and wood work room

The residence of the Penghulu of Mukim Bangar, Awang Hamdan bin Haji Awang Besar, was the next stop on His Royal Highness's itinerary of the mukim. Awang Hamdan, aged 60, has served as the penghulu since October 2004. The mukim comprises 18 kampungs and over 2400 residents

His Royal Highness's next schedule was the Temburong Bumiputera Commercial Complex. Built in 1995 at a cost of more than 2.4 million dollars, the three-storey building was first rented to raise the economic standard of Bumiputera's in the district. A variety of commercial activities are carried out to accommodate the residents in Pekan Bangar. At the Temburong Branch of the Islamic Bank of Brunei, His Royal Highness consented to receive a contribution totalling 50 thousand dollars from the financial institution for the Pengiran Muda Mahkota Al-Muhtadee Billah Orphans Fund.

The Bangar Market was also looked into by His Royal Highness. Built in 1995 at a cost of 925 thousand dollars, the market was opened for business in June 1996. The shophouses nearby did not miss His Royal Highness' observation. Built 50 years ago and houses 12 shops, part of the privately owned building also accomodates government offices. His Royal Highness continued his visit to the Rakyat Jati Building in Bangar that was built to accommodate local entrepreneurs in conducting their business activities and providing basic necessities for nearby residents. It was built in 1984 and was first rented out in 1987. 13 shops are housed in the building. His Royal Highness also made a stop at the Temburong Youth Centre. Outside the building, His Royal Highness consented to witness a workshop in making the hilts and covers of parang or machete. The workshop that was held since last Monday ends today. The centre is also popular among foreign and local tourists as a means of overnight board and lodging. From the Temburong Youth Centre, His Royal Highness moved on to Kampung Ujung Jalan, home to only 200 residents. The village forms a continuation of road service for travellers between Temburong and Limbang that are seperated by Sungai Pandaruan. To cross the river, a ferry service that began operating in the 1990s is available. The Kampung Ujung Jalan Police Control Post was His Royal Highness's next destination. The control post was first opened in April this year, and is one of the entry points between Temburong and Limbang. Subsequently, His Royal Highness proceeded to the Puni Control Post, which houses the Customs and Immigration Department, the Agriculture Department and SARS Control Posts of the Health Department. The control posts, among others, are to monitor and observe migration of vehicles and people and also as an entry point for land and sea. The Puni Agricultural Quarantine Post for Plants and Animals serves to monitor import and export of plants and animals that have been approved by the Royal Customs and Excise Department. The SARS Control Post in the vicinity also plays a role in monitoring the possible outbreak of SARS. It began operation in June 2003 with 8 staff under the supervision of a medical officer of the Health Department. The visit reflected the concern and care of His Royal Highness for the welfare and wellbeing of rakyat and residents in the area, as well as to observe closely the condition of the kampungs in the Temburong District.

His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah, the President of the Brunei Darussalam Olympic Council has left Saudi Arabia after attending the official opening of the First Islamic Solidarity Games.

Present at the King Abdul Aziz Airport to bid farewell to His Royal Highness was Brunei Darussalam's Consul General in Jeddah, Pengiran Haji Mohammad Salleh.

While in Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness observed the country's athletes taking part in the games aside from giving them moral support.

The Information Technology and State Store Department, Ministry of Finance and Brunei Shell Petroleum have entered into an agreement to house BSP, Brunei Liquefied Natural Gas, BLNG and Brunei Shell Tankers, BST's System Application and Products in Data Processing or SAP Disaster Recovery Hot Standby System at the Ministry of Finance's premises.

Under the agreement, BSP, BLNG and BST will rent a floor space in the Ministry of Finance's Data Centre to host its SAP Hot Standby systems including work area for 50 key BSP, BLNG and BST staff to work in the unlikely event of an emergency. The hot standby system database is synchronised every half-hourly with the live system sited at BSP's computer room in Seria over a high-speed connection. The system will ensure a minimum down time for business operation.

Representing the Ministry of Finance to sign the agreement was the Permanent Secretary at the ministry, Awang Haji Ali bin Apong and Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sendirian Berhad and Brunei LNG Sendirian Berhad were represented by BSP's Information Manager, Mr. Vincent Liew. The signing ceremony was held at the Ministry of Finance in Jalan Kebangsaan