| James Kon |

THE National housing scheme (RPN) applicants given houses are not segregated or apportioned to specific national housing scheme areas based on their race.

Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud yesterday highlighted that all successful housing scheme applicants are provided new homes at the national housing scheme areas at random, and not based on their race.

The minister was responding to a question by member of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Putera Maharaja Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Ghani bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Dewa Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Rahim about the government policy in addressing the issue of racial or ethnic enclaves.

“The population of the national housing schemes comprise residents and citizens of Brunei Darussalam only, which is in line with the current policy and there is no element of discrimination and (segregation based on race) to ensure that Brunei remains an MIB nation where all its people live together in unity and harmony,” he said during yesterday’s meeting at the 15th LegCo session.

“Population planning involving houses in the areas of the national housing scheme do not bring problems with regard to the issue raised because the main objective is to provide housing.

“The national housing planning scheme is aimed at realising the aspiration of the Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for all citizens of the country to have a proper place to live with comfortable surroundings.”

The Landless Indigenous Citizens Housing Scheme (STKRJ), meanwhile, he added, “is meant to provide indigenous people with houses, according to Chapter 4 of the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam 1959. These people comprise Brunei Malay, Dusun, Tutong, Kedayan, Murut, Bisaya and Belait who do not have a house and want to build their own house to live in”.

“Therefore as long as the applicant is a subject of His Majesty and fulfil all the requirements, he/she is eligible for the national housing scheme,” the minister said.