As published in Borneo Bulletin dated 15th May 2011;

The President of PUJA, Dato Paduka Hj Idris Hj Abas, who said this, also expressed his gratitude to those who worked to ensure that there is no backlog of new membership applications to be processed.

PUJA, an acronym for Pertubuhan Ukur, Jurutera dan Arkitek, or the Association of Surveyors, Engineers and Architects, on 14th May 2011 held its mid-term Annual General Meeting (AGM) for 2010/2011 at the Ministry of Development.

PUJA is actively looking into ways to promote green and sustainable building developments of energy-efficient designs, he added.

He also revealed that His Majesty’s Government has approved the formation of a green building council and the setting up of a green building index as the design reference and guideline in this field.

He further urged all members of PUJA to actively participate in this venture, as part of a green-conscious community.

A non-governmental body affiliated with the Asean Secretariat, CAFEO has been held annually since 1982, and its hosting has rotated among the 10 Asean member countries, comprising Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.

Last year’s conference was held in Hanoi, where Dato Paduka Hj Idris led a delegation of PUJA (Brunei) members over the three-day event. The Conference of AFEO usually attracts more than 200 foreign and 300 local engineering professionals from various industries, fields and sectors.

Among AFEO’s objectives are to promote goodwill, understanding and cooperation, as well as the exchange of ideas and experiences.

PUJA (Brunei) also extends invitations to engineering organisations, institutions, universities and engineers to participate in the 29th conference from November 27 to 30.

This prestigious meeting is expected to be held at the Rizqun International Hotel in Gadong.

The AGM also saw the approval of minutes from the last AGM meeting, followed by various reports from the Surveyor, Engineer and Architect Divisions.

PUJA, besides being a major organisation in the field of construction and engineering, also has a charitable side, as it recently made a cash donation to the Japanese Embassy in the aftermath of the terrible quake tragedy that struck the country.