Appointed Members Address Housing and Pension Payment Concerns

Bandar Seri Begawan: Issues concerning a proposed rural National Housing Scheme and the method of Old Age Pension payment were brought to light by Appointed Members during a recent meeting.

According to Radio Television Brunei, the Minister of Development elaborated on current priorities, stating that the focus remains on housing development in areas with existing or nearby basic facilities. The Department of Town and Country Planning has identified several rural development centres as potential sites for implementing a more structured Housing Scheme. The Ministry’s policy requires that tenders or bids for building projects adhere to national regulations, allowing either open or selective bidding sanctioned by the national tender board. For larger projects involving international consortiums, local companies are mandated to participate through joint ventures, ensuring local contractor involvement.

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports added that since the introduction of bank payments in 2020, Old Age Pension recipients using this method have increased by 45 percent as of February 2025. The government recognizes the difficulties faced by senior citizens in adopting digital payment systems and plans to implement an inclusive approach with appropriate support measures before any further changes are made.

The proposal for a digital tracking system for National Housing Scheme applicants was also discussed. The Minister of Development agreed on the benefits of such a system and indicated that the proposal would be reviewed.