BBYB 2021

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VISITOR INFORMATION

WELFARE SYSTEM

BruneiDarussalam’swelfaresystemisadministered

by 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. Signi cant subsidies have been

made for Bruneian residents, especially in the areas

of housing, healthcare and education.

His Majesty had envisioned a state whereby every

one of his subjects could enjoy access to basic

amenities. Since the mid-1970s, the National

Housing Programme, through the National Housing

Scheme (RPN) and the Landless Indigenous Citizens

Housing Scheme – known locally as Skim Tanah

KurniaRakyatJati(STKRJ)–hasbeentendingtothe

housing needs of the nation. STKRJ is administered

by the Public Works Department while the RPN is

handled by the Housing Development Department

of the Ministry of Development.

As Brunei’s population grows, so does its housing

needs. The Housing Development Department

regularly revises and develops housing policies to

ef ciently meet the needs of the population while

still maintaining feasibility and sustainability in the

long run.

The Public Works Department’s plan for STKRJ

allows its residents to purchase the houses at a

subsidised cost through monthly payments for a

period of 20 to 30 years.

Alongside the Housing Development Department

and the Public Works Department is the Brunei

Economic Development Board (BEDB). From 2009

to 2011, the BEDB constructed 2,000 terrace and

semi-detached houses on a 150-hectare plot of

land in Kampong Pandan, Kuala Belait.

The BEDB was also responsible for two housing

projects under the 10

National Development

Plan involving 1,400 houses at Kampong Panchor,

Mengkubau and 1,500 houses at Kampong Bukit

Beruang, Tutong. Both projects reached completion

in May 2014 and took four years to accomplish.

The Government of His Majesty has continuously

provided free healthcare for its citizens with

government hospitals and healthcare centres

peppered throughout the nation. When consulting

practitioners, receiving medication or obtaining a

complete check-up at any government hospital or

healthcare centres, citizens are only required to

pay BND1.

In 2015, the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha

(RIPAS) Hospital saw an upgrade to its Women

and Children Unit with a new BND69 million

building unveiled to better meet demands. In the

eld of education, the government provides free

enrolment to all citizens at government schools

nationwide. Students who wish to continue their

education also have the opportunity to do so

through scholarships either locally or abroad. The

country has six public higher education institutions

with Universiti Brunei Darussalam being the oldest

and having the largest number of enrolment.

There are private higher education institutions

throughout the country.