After consenting to present the house keys and housing lots, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Dipertuan of Brunei Darussalam proceeded to visit several government and private sector's institutions. His Majesty also stopped-by at several detached, semi-detached and terrace houses of the new recipients.
The first institution to be visited by the monarch was the Dato Basir Primary school in Brunei division two. His Majesty was greeted upon arrival there by a combined choir of pre-school and first year to sixth year pupils.
Shortly after wards, His Majesty watched closely fourth year pupils engage in various creative arts which are currently being given serious attention as a part of the curriculum of the National Education System for the 21st Century or SPN 21. While observing closely the teaching and learning process, His Majesty also interacted with the teaching staff and pupils alike. The Ministry of Education gives due focus towards equipping the young generation with quality education so that they would be dynamic and able to improve life, and furthermore, contribute to nation bulidling processes.
The Dato Basir Primary School first opened its doors on the 1st of April 1996, with a student population of about 500 and a 22 strong teaching staff. The school has previously welcomed a visit by His Majesty on 12th November 1997 in conjunction with the presentation ceremony of keys for houses under the Lambak Kanan National Housing Programme.
His Majesty's government is also mindful in providing religious education so that a balance is achieved in spiritual and physical developments of the individual. Hence, religious education is provided in schools from an early age both under the auspicious of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
At the school's science laboratory, His Majesty talked informally with some of the pupils who were in the midst of conducting projects on the effects of global warming on the environment, designing various products from disposed or used materials such as cardboard boxes and the effect of water pollution on fishes.
Continuing the visit, His Majesty next stop was the Lambak Kanan Library under the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sports. The construction of the library was completed in August 2006 at the cost of nearly one million dollars. It is situated at Jalan 99, Kampong Perpindahan Lambak Kanan. Institutions such as this library are established at mukims and kampongs as one of the government's dedicated efforts toward producing well-informed and knowledgeable society. The library is usually frequented by kampong residents especially students during weekends and public holidays.
At the residence of Ketua Kampong of Area 4 of the Lambak Kanan National Housing estate, Awang Haji Jumat bin Nasir, His Majesty consented to receive greetings from kampong residents. While conversing with the Kampong Ketua, His Majesty, among other things, enquired about the well-being and the relations among the residents. Area four Kampong Lambak Kanan has a population of about seven thousand people.
A visit to the Soon Lee Mega Mart also in Kampong Lambak Kanan which began business in 2005 was included in His Majesty's itinerary as well. His Majesty in his titah has often emphasized the importance for the business sector in this country to develop and progress so as to be able to contribute to the national economy. The involvement of the private sector in developing the country's economy is always encouraged. The monarch often urges government and private sectors agencies to explore various alternative economic venues so as to diversify the economy, hence, reduce the country's dependence on oil and gas.
His Majesty then proceeded to the house of the recipient of a deluxe type house under the Kampong Rimba National Housing Scheme and interacted with the owner.
His Majesty also took a closer look at some of the newly handed-over terrace houses. To date a total of two hundred and ninety-six terrace houses and one thousand six hundred and ninety-three housing lots have been presented to applicants.
His Majesty continued his visit by stopping at several homes of division two to division five government officers and employees under the Kampong Rimba Gadong National Housing scheme. When it comes to housing, the government of His Majesty adopts a flexible stand by also offering housing lots to those who are eligible and choose to build houses of their own taste and designs.
Next, His Majesty stopped-by at a number of newly handed-over standard type houses and again talked informally with their owners. The monarch's caring attitude towards fulfilling and looking into the needs of his subjects is extremely profound. In this regard, it has always been one of His Majesty's top aspiration to see that his subjects live in the comfort of houses of their own so that they can conduct their daily life properly. Through various housing schemes undertaken by His Majesty's government, more than twelve thousand modern houses have been handed over to applicants to date, while a further seventeen thousand and five hundred houses are due for completion by 2014 with varying price tags according to affordability by the applicants.
His Majesty also dropped-by at the house of Ketua Kampong of Area One of the Kampong Rimba National Housing Scheme, Awang Adnan bin taha @ Awang Mohamad. Here, His Majesty again took the opportunity to interact informally with the village head himself as well as the residents in his charge. Penghulus and Kampong Ketuas are continuously urged to develop their respective areas and communities by planning and undertaking various efforts.
The monarch, continuing on with his visit, subsequently proceeded to the newly presented homes of recipients under the national housing scheme and landless indigenous citizens housing scheme at Kampong Rimba. His Majesty's informal interactions with the new recipients reflected the closeness of relations between a ruler and his subjects. His Majesty's caring and attention toward his subjects transcends time, situation and his status as a monarch.
His Majesty concluded the visit by proceeding to the Jerudong Polo Club for a luncheon. His Majesty's visit clearly shows his desire toward seeing every citizen and resident posses houses or land of their own become a reality. This status-quo would in turn contribute to improving the quality of their lives.