Taking actions

These sections are about the planning of the project that are executed individually.

Fadhil's Actions

Based on the insurance policy which is from the Takaful Islamic Insurance Berhad (IBB) as attached in the appendix section on this report, damages caused by landslide is not covered by the insurance company and some house owners are not aware of this fact which personally would like to change.

In making things more confirmative regarding this matter, interview is made. The interview of Hj Mohd Hisham bin Hj Taib, the Takaful IBB Berhad Branch Manager, gave his business card (can be seen on the Appendix 1) and the informal interview was done on the 12th April 2009 on the Internation Convention Centre where the Construction and Lifestyle Exhibition was held from the 9th to 12th of April 2009.

There are quite few findings told by the Branch Manager. He confirms that generally the Takaful IBB Islamic Insurance Berhad does not cover damages caused by landslide as mention in their insurance policy. When asked about the reason behind this, he answered that it is because of the country's geographical location which is considered to be landslide prone. In other words, it would be like giving life insurance to those who are adventurous. They are considered uninsurable because there are more prone to injuries.

He also added that if the landslide were caused by natural disaster then their company would cover the damages done. An example he made was an earthquake that causes the vibration of the earth which eventually leads to landslide. He then said that there were other possible method of reclaiming the damages caused by landslide. This method was by suing the property-owners which causes the landslide to occur. But this was subject to specific cases.

The next two insurance company was contacted with refernce from the Borneo Bulletin 16th Edition Brunei Yearbook under the section "products and services listing s" on page "L 21" under the "insurance" sub-section. The second insurance company was MBA. On 20th April 2009, made inquiry regarding landslide with MBA at 10.33 AM. Their company only covers fire and natural disaster when it comes to housing insurance.

The final insurance company that contacted was Insurance Islam TAIB on the same day at 10.54AM. This is the insurance company which does cover damages caused by landslid. This is the insurance company which recommended to the house owners who are in high risks of landslide.

Jauzi's Actions

One of our taking actions task is to make a blog about landslide. The link for the blog is discussiononlandslide.blogspot.com. The problem of taking this action to advertise to others. In handling this proble, several ways been done to promote the blog to others. Firstly, through personal blog (in order to get opinion from friends); secondly, publicised at well-known bloggers in Brunei, to get the other bloggers to check the blog. Finally, I promoted the blog through Facebook site.

Surprisingly, within two weeks of publishing the blog, the visitors keep on increasing and still counting. By 1st May 2009, the counter of the blog is 143 visitors. Not to be expected that there are more silent readers than respondents for discussion. Although there are some respondents, the responses are more efficient to add to our projects. For example, the respondent named Lady L, Q75 and GTG. It seems that the respondents aware about landslides in Brunei especially on the problems and solutions.

Lady L, one of the respondents, said that landslide was a prominent factor due to the heavy rain that Brunei faced. Overall the soils were pretty much heavily saturated and heavy rain might loosen up of the soil particles. She added that 'prone-areas' are not given the full treatment by authorities such as area near the hospital, Jalan Gadong area, along Jalan Tanjung Bunut, etc. Not much has been don apart from the blanket-ing of the area. It needs enforcement, not be put to sleep.

On one of the solutions in the blog is to build wall retentions. However, according to respondent named Q75, wall retentions are not the best solution as it traps infiltrated water thus inner pressure increases. He added that the wall retention can be good only when it is very well constructed. This is because when the water underground increases, the soil becomes saturated making it mobile and pressure increases causing slope failure.

I am satisfies with the blog. Although, there are more to be discussed in the blog, however, their opinions on discussing the topic is more important as the opinions they given can help on the addition in the problems and solutions on our topic.

Basyar's action

The first step was to survey the side with landslide in UBD. After the surveying had been done, permission of UBD Head of Estate for planting of trees is needed.

The letter contained combo pictures of the cause of the siltation of UBD pond area, which caused flooding to the road near the pond. In the pictures we have included the source of the siltation, that is, the erosion and landslide around the Institute of Medicine compound. The following below shows the cause and effect of the landslide have occured in the UBD compound:







With this in hand, meeting with the Head of Estate and Assistant Registrar of the Estate Dept, UBD is made. The pictures were shown and they indicated that there were worried with the situation and that they have taken the matters into their hand with their meeting with the construction company that handled the construction and development of the area.

By suggesting the action plan to plant trees around the affected site. However, the Head of Estate told that the contract contained a clause that covers our plan of planting the trees by the contractor at completion of their building. A major setback of Institute of Medicine building was it had been delayed for two years. Hence, there did not seem to be any need to plant trees in the area.


Appendix 1:

business card

*click to enlarge*