about 28,000 in 1981 to 13,000 in 2011. The diminishing population, added with the busy modern lifestyle, are threatening the survival of the customs and traditions practiced in Kampong Ayer. It also weakens the sense of community among the residents. Waste The floating of rubbish and sewage on the waters of Kampong Ayer is a persisting issue despite substantial measures and initiatives taken by various government and non-government agencies. It is acknowledged that the sources of the problem are not simply from within Kampong Ayer but may also due to ineffective waste management on land, specifically in the vicinity of upstream tributaries and streams of the Brunei River, in which Kampong Ayer lay along its downstream flow. Measures have been implemented by the government which include upgrading and installation of sewage treatment works in the catchment areas, as well as installation of rubbish collection system in the villages of Kampong Ayer. However, complete success is still yet to be seen. Systematic sewage disposal in Kampong Ayer itself is only feasible on public housing villages, namely Bolkiah 'A', Bolkiah 'B' and Sungai Bunga, where they have organised residential layout, where as in the traditional villages, which constitute the majority of Kampong Ayer areas, such disposal system is still not yet available. Non-government organisations also play significant roles in combatting this issue. Together with the government, as well as the general public, in particular the Kampong Ayer residents, multiple cleaning campaigns have been conducted. Awareness programmes to the public on the importance of waste management have also been carried out for many years. Again, the effectiveness of such programmes have yet to completely yield the desired results. Notable people Jamil Al-Sufri (1921–2021), historian and former director of Brunei History Centre. Abdul Aziz Juned (born 1941), state mufti. Abu Bakar Apong (born 1948), politician and minister. Adnan Yusof (born 1952), politician and minister. Abdullah Bakar (born 1951), politician and minister. Yahya Bakar (born 1954), politician and minister. Abdul Rahman Ibrahim (born 1954), politician and minister. Badaruddin Othman (born 1942), politician and minister. Hazair Abdullah (born 1953), politician and minister. Abdul Wahab Juned (born 1949), politician and minister. Notes References External links Populated places in Brunei Bandar Seri Begawan