"I want to inspire Brunei women, particularly the single ones, that women have an important role in the building of our beloved Sultanate."

Hajah Maymon wishes to build her dream place - The M Project.

"Having your own money is extremely important: money helps you to be the best you can but money also invites problems. So, start saving now. Remember, life is full of challenges and it changes all the time" Those were the words of wisdom that Hajah Maymon kept dear to her heart and it showed in her debt-free life.

She understood her own strengths - she was good as a tourist guide and operating a tourist attraction will be a good retirement plan. She also knew the resources she had; her siblings, nieces and nephews were good chefs and that will help her in her project. The M Project is a new tourist destination that will preserve the traditional culture and heritage of Brunei, with activities like fishing and rafting, restaurants that specialise in Bruneian cuisines and a handicraft school.

Continue to read Hjh Maymon's story in full...

MY WISH STORY

Bismillahhirahmannirrahhim. My name is Hjh Maymon Haji Mohamad and I have just celebrated my 59th birthday on 23rd May 2009. I am a cancer survivor, recently divorced, and living on my own in Kampung Mulaut.

My father, a rubber tapper, moved his family from Batu Apoi in Temburong to settle in Anggerek Desa some time in 1954/55 to have a better life. Living in a little wooden house with basic amenities in a remote location was hard enough but sharing with three big brothers and two sisters was no fun at all.

The poverty and the desire to have a better life drove me to study hard because I believed that if I had a good education, I could help my family to have a better life. At about twelve, I promised myself that one day I will study abroad, drive my own car, travel to see the world, buy lots of books, build a better house for our family and give regular financial support to my parents.

My late father cultivated my saving habit when I decided to be independent at about twenty three-years old. He said, "Living on your own is not going to be easy, especially for a young woman. There are many things in life, which you have to face: you have to be responsible for everything, especially money. Having your own money is extremely important: money helps you to be the best you can but money also invites problems. So, start saving now. Remember, life is full of challenges and it changes all the time." My father said many wise things about life but the piece of advice about saving money stays with me always.

On 12th March, 1974 I was appointed as a Domestic Science teacher at Sekolah Tinggi Perempuan Raja Isteri with a salary of B$490.00 per month. After paying my car loan, house rent, utilities, contribution to my family, I had only B$240.00 left for food, petrol, and things a young- woman needed in the seventies. My first saving was B$50.00 deposit at t'e Standard Chartered Bank in Bandar Seri Begawan.

By 8th March 1976, my financial situation improved. I was appointed as an Education Television Producer at Radio Television Brunei with a starting salary of $1,479.00 per month. My saving was increased to B$400.00 per month and my family contribution increased as well, much to my father's delight.

On 1st June 1982, I joined Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sendirian Berhad as a Resource Assistant in its Personnel Planning and Development Department with a starting salary of B$2,846.00 per month. "Save more money now that you have a higher salary!" My father kept reminding me. Sadly, he passed away on 12th February 1985. Bless his soul.

Once I worked for Brunei Shell, I kept only one account, as the company took over the responsibility of saving. Brunei Shell set up two fund for pensionable employees: the Brunei Shell Provident Fund and the Retirement Benefit Fund. The amount increased as my salary grew higher. At times, I spend too much while traveling which created problems when left unchecked

Guided by the "Pre-Retirement Workshop" and "Life After Shell" courses which were given to soon to be retirees and spouses, and inspired by the places I had seen during my travels such as, Europe, China, India, Korea, Turkey, Morocco, Egypt, and nearby countries I came up with the following vision for myself after retirement:-

******Within five years after retirement, I would be living in a beautiful house built on a riverbank where a medium sized boat would take me to the scenic Brunei River where I would paint the beautiful Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque and the picturesque Kampung Air at my leisure. A unique one-stop garden centre with a small cafe is to be built next to the house, where customers can enjoy light refreshment, beautiful river & hill view and breathe fresh air. The income from the cafe and garden centre would provide me with sufficient revenue which would allow me to lead a fairly comfortable life, have time and resources to be involved with useful and charitable activities, and travel to destinations of my choice. ********

Combining a cafe with a garden centre seemed to be a practical, realistic, and achievable plan. My passion for gardening and having a certificate in Home Economics would help me in the running of the two businesses.

I shared my vision with a few good friends and the feedback was positive. A very successful woman entrepreneur was consulted during 2000 APEC business matching session in Brunei. Her feedback was encouraging. She said, "A vision could become a reality provided a viable plan is in place, supported by clear steps on how to work towards the vision, funded sufficiently and run according to the plan, but be prepared to make some changes along the way as and when required".

One of the most significant challenges arrived on 23rd May 2000, when I retired from Brunei Shell on my fiftieth birthday. I was excited to receive B$526,716.56, an amount I had never seen in my life but apprehensive to lose the B$7,140.00 basic monthly income. I had no choice but face the inevitable. A few things started to go wrong about one & half year before my retirement. What happened in the last ten years was beyond my comprehension & control. I lost and spent a large amount of money. I suffered from life-threatening illness, lost my beloved mother, became a victim of a few predators, married and divorced a person who turned out to be callous and an irresponsible man. I did many things that were not in my plan at all. I blamed my unwise choices, poor judgment and misplaced trust in people for my predicaments.

I am so ashamed of my mistakes but I need to share the negative experiences with BmD to demonstrate that I am very serious & passionate with my wishes. On a positive note, I learn a lot from my stupid & painful mistakes. Below are happenings I endured during the last ten years of my life:

1. Late 1998: My family home I renovated was 60°!cJ destroyed by fire. 
2. 1998/99: A boy friend cheated me about B$50,OOO.00 in carpet business. 
3. Jan 2000: A 2.5-year relationship with a boy friend ended on 30th. 
4. Mac 2000: Bought 2 pieces of land at KgBengkurong.Cost:B$200,000.00 
5. May 2000: Took mother & sister to Bali for 1 week. Cost B$4,500.00. 
6. May 2000: Retired from Brunei Shell on 23m May at 50 years old. 
7. Apr 2001: Went to MelboUlne & Sydney to see the Annual Flower Show & other sites (market research). Cost about $B4, 500.00. 
8. May 2001: A niece's bad treatment forced me to move out of her apartment after less than 2 months stay. 
9. May 2001: Moved from Seria to BSB, house rental B$1,200.00 per month.
10. Nov 2001: Went to KL for a 3 day Amway Seminar-cost: B$3,000.00.
11. Jan 2002: 14th Jan, diagnosed with Colonic Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma-stage IV, hospitalised 18 days & underwent chemotherapy.
12. Apr 2002: Sought 2nd medical opinion in KL. Cost about B$4,000.00
13. Aug 2002: Had to move to current address, owner sold the house.
14. Jan/Feb 2003: Performed Hajj 2ih Jan to 18th Feb. Spent +/-B$10,500.00.
15. Feb 2003: Loan B$6,500.00 to a friend who never pay back the loan.
16. Aug 2003: Against better judgment married a 29-year old Ethiopian student met in Saudi Arabia in KL on 2nd Aug. Spent about B$4,500.00.
17. Jan 2004: Husband asked for $ repeatedly, finally sent B$9,000.00.
18. May 2004: Started Stargarden on 10th May. 'Operating budget B$50,000.00 (including B$33,500.00 for a Ford Ranger)
19. Aug 2004: Married for 2nd time in simple ceremony according to Brunei Law. The ceremony cost about B$3,500.00. 
20. May 2005: Husband asked for $ again, reluctantly sent B$5,000.00.
21. May 2006: Stopped business. It was running at a lost and worker left.
22. Oct 2006: My mother passed away on 19th Oct. Bless her soul.
23. Oct 2006: Husband arrived in Brunei on 20th Oct from Ethiopia.
24. Jan-Jun 2007: Husband could not find a job. Demanded B$5,000.00 to study at Sultan Sharif Ali University. Demand refused!
25. July 2007: Threw husband out of house & I started divorce proceeding.
26. Aug/Sept 2007: He demanded $ to go home. Refused to go back when tickets were given. The tickets cost B$1,850.00. 
27. Nov 2008: First Court hearing, husband refused to attend. 
28. Jan 2009: Syariah Court granted a divorce on 14th in my favour.

The above pictures capture some happenings in the last ten years of my life. I am always trying to be positive even when I was in pain and lost my hair because of chemotherapy treatment. I seldom show my sad image to the world. I accept whatever happened to me as qada and qadar.

What are my wishes?

In September 2003, I started designing my dream house & ending up building, a scale miniature model based on the drawings. It took 2.5 years to complete. While building the house, I decided to abandon the idea of running a garden centre. In mid 2006, I made a decision that my future businesses will focus on the Enrichment & Preservation of Brunei Traditional Culture & Heritage that will bring several benefits to many sectors. After about 2.5 years of laborious task, I completed a miniature model of my dream. Yes my dream! I am so pleased & proud of my work that I call my dream The M Project.

Under The M Project, there are a number of projects, which I want to establish at Lot No: 50494 and 50493, Simpang 10, Kg Bengkurong. BF1920. The property is located on the bank of Damuan River; the area is 1.447 acre, has a tranquil atmosphere and a distance away from the noisy main road traffic. At last, I realised that The M Project is what I really wish for. Let me explain briefly, what my wishes are and what they mean to me. 

1. To establish a new destination for tourists & the residents of Brunei, at the above address, which I believe is an ideal location for business. The Government has built a better bridge next to the old one and the road from the bridge leading to Kuala Lurah has been improved. The Damuan River, which runs in front of the property, is an unexpected treasure: mangrove swamp, palm trees & natural habitats are present in & along the river. Activities such as boating, fishing, rafting, bird watching and nature study are potential recreational, educational and moneymaking activities, which I shall exploit in the future. I strongly believe that one day this spot will be and deserved to be on the Tourism Map of Brunei as a participating Kenali Negara Kita partner. 


2. I wish to own a Green commercial building at the above address. It will be named the M Building and houses a few businesses including Sri Kenduri Restaurant, May Impian Cafe to be renamed May Delight Cafe, and May Handicraft Enterprise. It will also have living quarters for employees of the three companies.
   
   The building will have excellent amenities, ample parking space for customers and surrounded by beautiful landscaping. In addition, four ATM bank card cash points are built in the building for the convenience of th~ customers & people living in the area. BmD will be given the honour & priority to choose which one BIBD wishes to take. 


3. My next wish is to own and manage a restaurant and a cafe: Sri Kenduri Restaurant and May Delight Cafe. 
   
   Sri Kenduri Restaurant will specialise in the Traditional Brunei Classic and Malay Archipelago Cuisines. The menu will include the Bruneians' favourites: the ambuyat package, Brunei traditional kuehmueh like kelupis, wajid and cuisines from the Malay Archipelago region, such as Padang, Southern Philippines, Singapore & Malaysia. 
   
   The idea is to offer tourists, the diplomatic community and the people of Brunei, the experience of dining authentic Brunei Classic and Malay Archipelago cuisines at a beautiful setting and enjoy the Traditional Brunei music and cultural performance while dining. 
   
   Sri Kenduri will have a stage on the first floor and the decor would be formal & up market. The two kitchens will be suitably equipped for cooking Malay cuisines. The ground floor deco will be casual & relaxed where customers wearing tee shirt and jeans would feel at ease. 
   
   May Delight Cafe will have its own bakery, otTers universal food, and drinks for the younger population. The menu will include food from the Middle East, Mediterranean and popular European snacks. Children will be delighted with different kind flavour of pancakes, ice creams, cakes, pies, tarts burgers, etc. May Delight Cafe will provide delivery services and good facility for internet users. 


4. To complement Sri Kenduri, I wish to have May Handicraft Enterprise in the same building. The shop will market genuine Brunei traditional and contemporary handicrafts and works of art. In the future, I plan to build a school where the craftsmen/women can teach young people the Brunei traditional handicrafts at a village in Tutong to ensure this special kind of skill and craft will not die out. 


5. My last wish is to own a dream house that I named The M Sanctuary. It is an eco friendly house, featuring energy efficient, water saving products, such as solar panel & water pump. A stage, two gazebos, a fountain, and garden furniture will feature in the beautiful garden, where Hari Raya, birthday and BBQ parties, etc. are celebrated.
   
   A jetty will be built on the riverbank, a landing for a few boats, for fishing and can be used for other water-based activities in the future.

The pictures below would summarise my wishes in full colours. A DVD is included to give more information and 3 D impression of The M Project. The 1 x 1 meter scale model of the project with my hand drawn drawings is' also available to support my BIBD Wish Campaign submission.

******MY WISHES: THE M PROJECT*******

What is my current financial state?

Financial State:
As of 5th February 2008, I have $27,978.81 in my Tabung Amanah Pekerja (TAP) account and as of 30th May 2009, I have B$29,899.48 in my BIBD account where I have an account since 2004.

Assets:
I bought two pieces of land, total area of 1.447 acre located at Kg Bengkurong for B$200,000.00 in March 2000. Another piece, 0.565 acre in Kg Lambak is in the process of being sold to a developer. When the transfer of ownership is approved by Government, I shall receive B$175,000.00 from the developer.

I have two cars: one is Toyota- RA V 4 (more than ten years old B936) and the other about four and a half years old 4x4 Ford Ranger (BY 998).

Future Income: Old Pension payment: B$250.00 per month w.e.f.23rd May 2010, a total of B$175,000.00 payment for the land in Lambak when Government granted approval of the sale & revenue from May handicraft.

Expenses:
House rental : B$700.00 per month.
Food/Eating out : B$300.00 - B$400.00 per month.
Petrol : B$20.00 -$50.00 per month.
Mobile phone : B$50.00 to B$60.00 per month.
Astro : B $40.95 per month.
Part time amah : B$100.00 per month.
Grass cutting services : B$20.00 per session.
Muqadam/Quran lessons : B$30.00 per month.
Other Expenses : B$200.00 - B$400.00 per month.

Debts : I am FREE of debts.

The current cash I have now could last me only about two years maximum. The money from the payment of my land in Lambak can carry me for another six to eight years. I have worked as an insurance agent for AIA for two years, Great EastelTI another two years and joined several multilevel marketing in between. My efforts made little money; I was not effective in that line of work. I have tried to work as a tourist guide, a job I would be very good at but no travel companies would take me in. I want to do part-time work only to pursue other activities such as watching TV, attend courses & seminars, etc.

Why do I make the wishes? 

1. To grab the golden opportunity to change my financial situation and life to a much better, more productive, healthier and happier one 
2. To support the BIBD Wish Campaign for its tremendous efforts of motivating the people of Brunei to cultivate the habit of savings and grow their savings by offering great rewards. 
3. I want to take the opportunities of making my wishes come true, at BIBD. 
4. By running successful businesses, I shall create employment in the food and tourism related industry. By doing so, I can help many people, thus contributing to the economy of Brunei Darussalam. 
5. To enrich and preserve the Traditional Culture & Heritage of Brunei. This will be done by focusing my businesses in this valuable heritage. 
6. To capitalise the potential of Kg Bengkurong & the nearby area, and put it on the Tourism Map of Brunei as a participating KNK partner. 
7. I want to inspire Brunei women, particularly the single ones that women have an important role in the building of our beloved Sultanate and I wish to be remembered as a resilient, caring, talented entrepreneur who overcame adversity courageously. 
8. I want to leave a legacy to the abused women and children of Brunei. 

How will savings transform my current life? 

I am always a great believer in saving. I adopted "SAVING IS MY LIFELINE" philosophy after what I had experienced in the last ten years, which was physically, mentally, emotionally and financially devastating.

It has been proven without doubt that saving is my lifeline. If I had not been saving those twenty-six years of my working life, I would not be able to continue to be independent especially after my retirement, during my illness, while and after my disastrous marriage.

Savings habit can transform anybody's life. It transformed mine: from a poor girl to a person who has improved her and her family standard of living and it also allowed me to be independent for over thirty-five years. I am therefore happy to share with BmD how savings will transform my current state in life:

1. I decided to take a calculated risk by taking out a few thousands from my Tabung Amanah Pekerja account and use that money to open another account at BIBD because I do not want to miss the excellent opportunity offered by the BIBD Wish Campaign. 
2. I shall continue to save at BIBD after the Wish Campaign. I am expecting B$$35,000.00 soon as the first payment from the Developer for my land in Lambak. Two more payments are due with a total value ofB$140,000.00. 
3. In the future, I shall open accounts for my three businesses at BmD to show my support and loyalty to the bank. 
4. Every month I shall save 10% to 15 % of my businesses income, and periodically invest 5% in another account at BIBD to ensure that I will have 'Special money' for charity.

With the blessing of Allah, and help from BIBD Wish Campaign, I believe I would be on stable ground again. I am confident that my next transformation would be much better than the previous one, as I have learnt from my past mistakes and I am 100% committed to achieving my dream. The divorce granted on 14th January 2009, freed me from abusive marriage, and cautioned me from future predators like my ex-husband & the freedom allows me to pursue my dream. More importantly, I am energetic; my mind is alert and I am healthy, therefore, I am very eager for the transformation to happen soon!

What are the reasons I need savings?

In Islam, Muslims believe in qada and qadar and a Malay saying says, "Kita boleh merancang tetapi Allah yang menentukan nya" In another word, no one knows what will happen tomorrow because everything is in the hands of Allah. However, we must try our best to make the best of our lives. One way to do it is by saving money to soften the blow of disasters that can happen to us at any time. The main reasons I need savings are:

1. To continue supporting myself, as I have been independent since I was twenty-three years old and I do not have anyone to support me. 
2. I need to transform my current life for a better, more productive, healthier 
3. and happier one. 
4. I need to be a better Muslim. To do that I need to improve my Islamic knowledge by attending classes, learn to read the Al Quran properly and go to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj at least one more time. 
5. Brunei Government takes great care of the health of its citizens & permanent residents. However, as we grow older, we shall need someone to take care of us. In my case, most likely I need a domestic help and a driver. For this purpose, only money can make it happen. 
6. I want to be in a good financial position, so I can help other people. 
7. If possible, gain-financial wealth so I can finally realise my dreams, which I have been trying so hard to achieve for some time. 

What are my plans?

1. Continue learning about business management, pay particular attention to critical success factors, marketing tactics, human resources, financial management and IT application. 
2. I must find suitable investors and partners for the Restaurant & Cafe. 
3. Complete the business plans for the three businesses: May Handicraft Enterprise, May Delight Cafe and Sri Kenduri Restaurant. 
4. Forward applications for all the necessary requirements to develop the lands such as land fill, change the special condition of land, subdivision & amalgamation of land to Government authority as soon as possible. 
5. Work with BIBD & a mentor on how to manage the M Project from the start to end to make sure each project runs with minimal problems. 
6. Convince BIBD to introduce the slogan, "Savings Promise a Better Future" to attract children/young adults and parents in its future promotion activity. Recommend the use of "Saving is My Lifeline" slogan in another campaign to help unfortunate/desperate individuals. 
7. On my demise, I want the trustee to rent out M Sanctuary, or convert it to bed & breakfast or an art gallery where Brunei artists and craftsmen/women can exhibit and sell their works & creations or use the Sanctuary as a temporary shelter for abusive women and children. 

How will I work towards my wishes?

1. Learn to be more patience, stay humble, and continue to lead a healthy and moderate life style. 
2. Establish a good working relationship with all parties connected with the M Project, and listen to the advice of BmD and the Mentor. 
3. To stay true to "Why I make the wishes", and "What are the reasons I need savings". These two sets of reasoning will be my beacon, to guide me towards a better, more productive, healthier and happier life in this world & life after death. 
4. Stick to my saving plan as stated in "How will saving transform my current state". 
5. Continue with my preparation of becoming a successful entrepreneur by reading books, relevant publications, watch relevant TV programmes, attend seminars/courses/training, participate in EXPOs, make friends with successful people & learn to be more IT literate. 
6. Be politically correct and show respect by informing the Kg Bengkurong Ketua Kampong, Renghulu Mukim and the neighbours about the project before starting any construction work on the chosen site. 

Who will be affected by my wishes?

1. My investors and/or partners and I shall be the most affected person when my wishes are granted. 
2. I am childless, but I have 4 brothers, 2 sisters & 23 nieces and nephews. I intend to include those who are committed to contribute in the running of the businesses, particularly in the food preparation because 3 of nieces are creative cooks, 4 nephews are great with BBQ/grills & my eldest sister is great with the traditional Brunei classic cuisines. 
3. A few close friends who helped me through my gloomy period and believe that my vision is good for Brunei and its people. 
4. Other restaurant and cafe owners in the neighbourhood may not welcome the new competitor but I see it as a healthy competition. 
5. My neighbours, the population of Kg Bengkurong and nearby area would be affected by the presence of my businesses. 
6. The Brunei Tourism Department & The Entrepreneurial Development Centre would be proud of my success because the two Departments contribute immensely in the growth & development of SMEs in Brunei. 

Who will benefit from my wishes?

1. My wishes will generate employment for people in the food & tourism related industry, in the traditional Brunei music & performing arts. Therefore, many sectors will benefit from my wishes. 
2. Tour Operators, tourists, and Brunei residents will benefit for having a new destination for Malay traditional eatery & cultural performance. 
3. BIBD, as more people will open new accounts at BmD enticed by campaign slogans: such as "Saving is My Lifeline" and "Savings Promise a Better Future" and the bank's great rewards. Once BIBD gains the trust & respect of investors, BIBD will become the 'Chosen Bank', which automatically makes BIBD the investors' life companion and many investors will continue to bank with BIBD for life including me. 
4. The Ministry of Industry & Primary Resource has invested so many resources diversifying Brunei economy from oil and gas industry. A successful SME would be a credit to the Ministry for its endless efforts in providing facilities and expertise in the growth and development of Small and Medium Enterprise in.Brunei Darussalam. 
5. I would share my good fortune with some relatives & close friends who are supportive of my vision and stood by me through my hardship. 
6. My investors & partners would benefit from my wishes as well. 
7. My beneficiary will certainly benefit from my wishes.