March 10, 2018 – An International Conference on Environmental Awareness for Sustainable Development (ICEASD) 2018 was held at the Horison Kendari Hotel in Sulawesi Tenggara, Indonesia, from 10 to 11 March 2018. Dr Haji Tassim Bin Haji Abu Bakar, Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director of the Academy of Brunei Studies, was invited as a keynote speaker and to represent Universiti Brunei Darussalam, together with academics from other countries, such as Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hanafi Hussin from University of Malaya and Dr. Eng. Husnul Kausarian of Universitas Islam Riau (Indonesia). Dr Haji Tassim’s paper was titled “Kampong Ayer di Sungai Brunei melestarikan persekitarannya”.

In his presentation Dr Haji Tassim highlighted that in 1970 the Brunei Darussalam government provided increased infrastructure to Brunei’s Kampong Ayer (Water Village), such as electricity, a fresh water supply and wooden bridge. At the same time, the community itself strongly emphasize the importance of a clean environment and have preserved the cleanliness of the villages that make up Kampong Ayer, which is located on the Brunei River.

"The development of Kampong Ayer, Alhamdullillah, has been continued. The Water Village has experienced modernization but, Insha Allah, still maintains its unique culture”, said Dr Haji Tassim at the end of the international conference.

Dr Haji Tassim also informed conference participants that in term of infrastructural development, the Kampong Ayer community has been applying new technologies. For example, the materials now used for the roofs and walls of houses are much more durable than in the past. Dr Haji Tassim explained that modernization of Kampong Ayer was essential in that it is part of the process of preserving this important part of Brunei’s heritage.