Take lessons from recent food incident: Sultan

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 yesterday urged all events to take classes from the latest incident of scholars and public servants receiving stale rice and maggot-infested meals through the latest royal marriage ceremony procession of His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen and Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Isteri Anisha Rosnah binti Adam.

His Majesty, chairing a particular joint Supreme and Working Committee assembly for the royal marriage ceremony ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman, stated the matter is very regrettable particularly with netizens expressing their dissatisfaction on social media to an extent of throwing insults which can be seditious.

The monarch was grateful that the royal marriage ceremony had been held.

“I’m made to grasp that the Supreme and Working Committee in addition to college students, academics and public servants had been extremely dedicated to making sure that the ceremony, particularly the Royal Procession, went nicely.

“I want to specific appreciation on the tireless efforts and pray that Allah the Almighty will repay all the great deeds with a number of rewards.

“Nonetheless, I used to be shocked to listen to about stale rice and meals infested with maggots in addition to mouldy bread given to the scholars and public servants,” His Majesty stated.

“I’m holding this assembly right this moment as there are folks nonetheless speaking in regards to the incident. I absolutely perceive the despair and commotion amongst dad and mom. Actually nobody desires their kids to eat stale meals.

“Alhamdulillah, Allah the Almighty has given them path to not eat such meals. In the event that they eat such meals, actually they are going to expertise meals poisoning and lots of college students might be rushed to hospital,” the monarch stated.

His Majesty added that it’s not satisfactory to say that no college students had been reported to undergo meals poisoning. What ought to as an alternative be confused is that each one contributors acquired correct meal.

“It’s regrettable to notice that the matter concerned college students, who weren’t capable of finding different sources of meals on their very own, in comparison with public servants.

“I’m satisfied that the basis reason for stale rice and maggot-infested meals was because of carelessness in meals preparation. I used to be made to grasp that the meals was ready a day prematurely.”

The monarch requested, “Isn’t it dangerous to these consuming it?”

The monarch stated a number of faculties additionally stored meals in locations with no shades, thus uncovered to scorching climate and flies.

“The incident additionally went viral on social media and was irresponsibly exaggerated, as if all of the meals supplied by suppliers had been contaminated, whereas I used to be made to grasp that the affected meals got here from solely two suppliers.

“It’s extremely regrettable, particularly when a phase of the general public, particularly some netizens used social media to air their grievances to an extent of throwing incitement and lashing out on the Supreme Committee, Secretariat and Working Committees.

“Members of the royal household additionally acquired such accusations regardless that we entrusted these concerned to make sure all went easily.

“‘Nasi sudah menjadi bubur’ (the rice has changed into porridge), which means it’s already too late and might’t be undone. We must always as an alternative take classes from the incident,” the monarch stated.

His Majesty additionally requested, “Was the meals provide deliberate correctly?

“The committee ought to take into consideration worst case situations. Did the events involved have any different strategies or plans if the worst case situation occurred?

“There must be an evaluation of the businesses earlier than figuring out how a lot meals is anticipated of them.

“I used to be knowledgeable that there have been corporations tasked to distribute over 9,000 meal packages, whereas others over 6,000, over 5,000, over 4,000 and so forth.”

The monarch stated because the amount was enormous, assessments should be made previous to assigning the numbers to the businesses.

“First, consider the power of the suppliers, together with the variety of workers and gear.

“All these should be examined first. You will need to bear in mind the danger if the provider is incapable or doesn’t have the expertise and gear.

“In a large-scale occasion involving a lot of college college students and public servants, if the meals is contaminated and there’s no different different, contributors will starve.

“If an occasion requires participation from extra catering corporations, then they have to assure that the service supplied is of the very best high quality.

“I don’t want the federal government expenditure to hurt the federal government in addition to different events. I don’t wish to criticise or level fingers. I consider that every social gathering tried their finest.

“However I consider there are nonetheless features that should be improved to make sure that each occasion will run easily from the begin to the end,” His Majesty stated.

His Majesty additionally requested, “Has the committee held a postmortem relating to the matter? Are there any plans to enhance in future occasions?”

Bearing on the transportation subject, the monarch stated, “I perceive that college students had waited for a very long time for the bus that by no means arrived. The place did the buses go? The place had been the drivers after dropping the kids off at designated spots? Why had been the buses not instructed to attend at sure locations in order that the kids may simply find them after the procession?

“If there was certainly visitors congestion, the events involved ought to have discovered different routes as an alternative of ready for the jam to subside.

“Was there no different street that could possibly be used, contemplating that the procession was already over?

“That is what I imply; each occasion must have a major plan and an alternate plan by taking into consideration the worst case situation.

“I urge all committee members dealing with main nationwide occasions to plan completely.”

Additionally in attendance was His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister on the Prime Minister’s Workplace.

The assembly started with the studying of Doa Selamat by State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned. – Azlan Othman