HM: Prudent use of energy is key priority

OXFORD Business Group spoke to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for The Report: Brunei Darussalam 2014. Here are excerpts from the article.

What is being done to encourage more efficient energy use in Brunei Darussalam?

HIS MAJESTY: Brunei Darussalam has been blessed with an abundance of natural resources, which allows us to meet all of our domestic energy needs. It is important that this self-sufficiency be prolonged as much as possible in order to ensure that we continue to enjoy stability in terms of energy security and maintain an environment conducive to continuous economic development. Prudent use of our energy resources is therefore my government’s priority, driven by, among other things, our national aspiration to reduce energy consumption by 45% by 2035. Education, introduction of fiscal and regulatory frameworks, and adoption of the right technologies and best practices suited to Brunei Darussalam are some of the very important measures being undertaken to ensure that our energy resources are prudently utilised. Allow me to touch briefly on some of these measures.

On the fiscal side, my government introduced a new electricity tariff in 2012 that rewards prudent use of power whilst discouraging wastefulness. Furthermore, the replacement of post-paid residential power meters with pre-paid ones has helped users monitor their actual consumption and therefore encourages a culture of energy saving. The combination of these two measures has resulted in significant reductions in the nation’s annual electricity usage in 2012 and 2013.

In education, we are targeting all users, including the younger generations. Efforts include the creation of “energy clubs” at schools and colleges to promote energy conservation amongst students. We will soon be implementing energy standards and labelling for home appliances that let the public understand and compare the energy consumption for a product. We also plan to introduce energy efficiency and conservation guidelines for non-residential buildings to ensure that energy saving is regulated at the design stage.

In the area of technology, we have successfully overhauled and upgraded our old gas-fired power plants to make them more efficient. Newer plants were built, adopting the more efficient co-generation and combined-cycle technologies. The Tenaga Suria Brunei (TSB) photovoltaic (PV) power plant, commissioned in 2010, is our first foray into the use of renewables as an additional source of energy. With an installed capacity of only 1.2 MW, TSB is indeed small, but it is an important step in the development of renewable energy sources in the country. In line with this effort, my government is currently in the process of developing a feed-in tariff mechanism, which may prove to be a lucrative investment opportunity for residents and potential investors who are interested in renewable energy development in the country, particularly for solar PV technology.

What are the government’s main priorities with respect to private sector employment and contribution to economy?

HIS MAJESTY: The government of Brunei Darussalam has launched several initiatives with respect to boosting private sector employment and increasing the sector’s contribution to the economy. The Department of Labour (DoL) - which carries out its role under the guidance and direction of the Ministry of Home Affairs - is tasked with several important functions, including: 1) the issuance of licences for the recruitment of foreign workers; 2) enforcement of relevant labour laws and regulations; and 3) monitoring and ensuring adherence to the Workplace Safety and Health Order 2009.

Currently, one of the main priority drives for the DoL is the promotion of local employment. This is being done by reducing the economy’s dependence on migrant recruitment. The DoL is pursuing this initiative through a campaign of controlled labour licence reviews for companies, as well as identifying positions that are potentially suitable for locals. This new effort to manage foreign worker recruitment licences aims to assist businesses in determining their ideal number of local workers - without having a shortage or surplus. Furthermore, the DoL plays an instrumental role in prioritising specific positions for citizens.

Besides its operational role, the DoL is also responsible for the protection of employees. Workers are protected by legislation, specifically the Employment Order 2009, and enforcement. Additionally, the Employment Agencies Order 2004 protects employers’ interests by regulating the activities of employment agencies through the issuance of licences. This order also protects employees from being forced to conduct illegal or immoral activities that they themselves may not be aware of. Finally, the Workplace Safety and Health Order 2009, which commenced on August 1, 2013, aims to control or eliminate risk in the workplace.

Another initiative to promote private sector employment is through the Local Employment and Workforce Development Agency, which is under the Ministry of Home Affairs. This organisation was established in 2010 to serve as a national employment centre. The agency provides registration for job seekers looking for private sector employment; upskilling of workers to meet the requirements of the private sector through training and work schemes; lifelong career guidance; and protection for workers’ welfare and rights.

The government has introduced another process known as the training and employment scheme. This aims to encourage employment and productivity in the private sector with incentives such as wage subsidies during on-the-job training and motivational allowances of up to B$2,500 for retaining employees.

These are some of the steps being taken to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign workers, and also to help promote local businesses’ role in the economy.

The Report: Brunei Darussalam 2014 was officially released yesterday.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

1st high-rise housing contract inked

Aaron Wong
BRUNEI-MUARA

THE Ministry of Development (MoD) and Dara Construction Sdn Bhd signed a contract for the construction of Brunei’s first high-rise apartments under the national housing scheme. The project will be completed by 2016.

The first phase of the project at Lambak Kanan/Salambigar – containing apartments which can accomodate up to 1,800 residents – will take 18 months to complete, with construction beginning at the end of this month at a cost of $55 million.

Spanning 15 hectares, the 300 units will be in 10 six-storey buildings, separated into two areas containing five buildings each – with a multi-storey car park in between which has a football field, among other sporting and recreational facilities on its rooftop.

Each apartment will be 170 square metres, with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living room, dining room and kitchen.

Yesterday’s contract also includes developing master plan for the vicinity of the apartments. It may include a school, community hall, commercial buildings and recreational facilities constructed across 42 hectares.

The apartments will also retain rainwater to be recycled, said an architect from the Housing Development Department.

Muhammad Zaim Arifin Rosli said the area for the project would have a definitive green concept to reduce the ‘urban heat island’ effect – where temperatures rise because of the close proximity of buildings and human activity.

The ceremony held at MoD’s Dewan Bertabur yesterday saw Acting Director of Housing Development Mohammad Nazri Mohammad Yusof and Managing Director of Dara Construction Lim Yu Teck sign on behalf of their organisations, and witnessed by Minister of Development Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman.

Acting Deputy Director of Housing Development Abdul Hakim Hj Hanafiah and Director of Dara Construction Ang Chuan Chai were also present to witness their respective parties sign the agreement.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Land for dev’t is limited

Aaron Wong
BRUNEI-MUARA

AREAS for housing projects are increasingly limited as undeveloped land in Brunei is either tied to planned government projects, environmental causes or peatland that is costly to develop, the Minister of Development said.

Addressing the reasons behind the government’s move towards high-rise apartments for the national housing scheme yesterday, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman said there was a misconception among members of the public who claimed plenty of land remained for development.

“From an aerial view there appears to be a lot of forests (and undeveloped land), but a lot of this land is peat – which is costly to develop – and what remains and is available for development has to be divided for investment, industry, farming and housing,” the minister said.

He said 57 per cent of the sultanate is already being conserved for the Heart of Borneo initiative.

Speaking to reporters at the contract signing for the country’s first high-rise located at Lambak Kanan/Salambigar, the minister said two recent studies found that more than 70 per cent of Bruneians were receptive to the idea of vertical housing which he described as “the most efficient use of land”.

He added that the future of government housing depends on public acceptance of the $55 million project – which comprises 300 units housing up to 1,800 people, replete with a multi-storey car park and a football field, among other recreational facilities on its rooftop.

“If this first high rise project is a success and is received well by the public, Insyallah it will be extended.

“If it isn’t, we will try other efforts – but this could potentially mean each house will be more costly because developing the land for the houses to be built upon will be more expensive,” the minister added.

The first phase spanning 15 hectares and containing the residential apartments will be constructed in 18 months, with completion projected by 2016.

A master plan for the vicinity of the apartments is also in the works. It may include a school and other amenities such as commercial buildings.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

DIRGAHAYU SANG SETIA KE-10 - 1 DISEMBER 2014

What ‘Free Trade’ Has Done to Central America

With Republicans winning big in the midterm elections, the debate over so-called “free trade” agreements could again take center stage in Washington.

President Barack Obama has been angling for “fast track” authority that would enable him to push the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP—a massive trade agreement between the United States and a host of Pacific Rim countries—through Congress with limited debate and no opportunity for amendments.

From the outset, the politicians who support the agreement have overplayed its benefits and underplayed its costs. They seldom note, for example, that the pact would allow corporations to sue governments whose regulations threaten their profits in cases brought before secretive and unaccountable foreign tribunals.

So let’s look closely at the real impact that trade agreements have on people and the environment.

A prime example is the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement, or DR-CAFTA. Brokered by the George W. Bush administration and a handful of hemispheric allies, the pact has had a devastating effect on poverty, dislocation and environmental contamination in the region.

And perhaps even worse, it’s diminished the ability of Central American countries to protect their citizens from corporate abuse.

A Premonition

In 2004 and 2005, hundreds of thousands of protesters filled Central America’s streets.

They warned of the unemployment, poverty, hunger, pollution, diminished national sovereignty and other problems that could result if DR-CAFTA were approved. But despite popular pressure, the agreement was ratified in seven countries—including Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic and the United States.

Ten years after the approval of DR-CAFTA, we are seeing many of the effects they cautioned about.

Overall economic indicators in the region have been poor, with some governments unable to provide basic services to their population. Farmers have been displaced when they can’t compete with grain imported from the United States. Amid significant levels of unemployment, labor abuses continue. Workers in export-assembly plants often suffer poor working conditions and low wages. And natural-resource extraction has proceeded with few protections for the environment.

Contrary to the promises of US officials—who claimed the agreement would improve Central American economies and thereby reduce undocumented immigration—large numbers of Central Americans have migrated to the United States, as dramatized most recently by the influx of children from Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras crossing the US-Mexican border last summer. Although most are fleeing violence in their countries, there are important economic roots to the migration—many of which are related to DR-CAFTA.

One of the most pernicious features of the agreement is a provision called the Investor-State Dispute Settlement mechanism. This allows private corporations to sue governments over alleged violations of a long list of so-called “investor protections.”

The most controversial cases have involved public interest laws and regulations that corporations claim reduce the value of their investments. That means corporations can sue those countries for profits they say they would have made had those regulations not been put into effect.

Such lawsuits can be financially devastating to poor countries that already struggle to provide basic services to their people, much less engage in costly court battles with multinational firms. They can also prevent governments from making democratically accountable decisions in the first place, pushing them to prioritize the interests of transnational corporations over the needs of their citizens.

The Mining Industry Strikes Gold

These perverse incentives have led to environmental deregulation and increased protections for companies, which have contributed to a boom in the toxic mining industry—with gold at the forefront. A stunning 14 percent of Central American territory is now authorized for mining. According to the Center of Research on Trade and Investment, a Salvadoran NGO, that number approaches 30 percent in Honduras and Nicaragua—and rises to a whopping 35 percent in Honduras.

In contrast to their Central American neighbors, El Salvador and Costa Rica have imposed regulations to defend their environments from destructive mining practices. Community pressure to protect the scarce watersheds of El Salvador—which are deeply vulnerable to toxic mining runoff—has so far prevented companies from successfully extracting minerals like gold on a large scale, and the Salvadoran government has put a moratorium on mining. In Costa Rica, after a long campaign of awareness and national mobilization, the legislature voted unanimously in 2010 to prohibit open-pit mining and ban the use of cyanide and mercury in mining activities.

Yet both countries are being punished for heeding their citizens’ demands. Several US and Canadian companies have been using DR-CAFTA’s investor-state provisions to sue these governments directly. Such disputes are arbitrated by secret tribunals like the International Center for the Settlement of Investment Disputes, which is hosted by the World Bank and is not accountable to any democratic body.

In 2009, the US-based Commerce Group sued El Salvador for closing a highly polluting mine. The case was dismissed in 2011 for lack of jurisdiction, but El Salvador still had to pay several million dollars in fees for its defense. In a case still in process, the gold-mining conglomerate Pacific Rim has also sued El Salvador under DR-CAFTA for its anti-mining regulations. To get around the fact that the Canadian company wasn’t from a signatory country to DR-CAFTA, it moved its subsidiary from the Cayman Islands to Reno, Nevada, in a bid to use the agreement’s provisions. Although that trick failed, the suit has moved forward under an outdated investment law of El Salvador.

Elsewhere, Infinito Gold has used DR-CAFTA to sue Costa Rica for nearly $100 million over disputes related to gold mining. And the US-based Corona Materials has filed a notice of intent to sue the Dominican Republic, also claiming violations of DR-CAFTA. These costly legal cases can have devastating effects on the national economies of these small countries.

Of course, investor-state disputes under DR-CAFTA are not only related to mining. For example, TECO Guatemala Holdings, a US corporation, alleged in 2009 that Guatemala had wrongfully interfered with its indirect subsidiary’s investment in an electricity distribution company. Specifically, TECO charged that the government had not protected its right to a “minimum standard of treatment”— an exceptionally vague standard that is open to wide interpretation by the international tribunals that rule on such cases—concerning the setting of rates by government regulators. In other words, TECO wanted to charge higher electricity rates to Guatemalan users than those the state deemed fair. Guatemala had to pay $21.1 million in compensatory damages and $7.5 million in legal fees, above and beyond what it spent on its own defense.

The US-based Railroad Development Corporation also sued Guatemala, leading to the country paying out an additional $11.3 million, as well as covering both its own legal fees and the company’s. Elsewhere, Spence International Investments and other companies sued Costa Rica for its decision to expropriate land for a public ecological park.

A Chilling Effect

What’s at stake here is not only the cost of lawsuits or the impact of environmental destruction, but also the ability of a country to make sovereign decisions and advance the public good.

Investment rules that allow companies to circumvent national judicial systems and challenge responsible public policies can create an effect that’s been dubbed “regulatory chill.” This means that countries that might otherwise have curtailed corporate activity won’t—because they’re afraid of being sued.

Guatemala is a prime case. It’s had to pay companies tens of millions of dollars in investor-state lawsuits, especially in the utility and transportation industries. But it hasn’t yet been sued by a mining company. That’s because the Guatemalan government hasn’t limited the companies’ operations or tampered with their profit-making.

Take the Marlin Mine in western Guatemala, for example. In 2010, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights advised the Guatemalan government to close the mine on account of its social and environmental impacts on the surrounding region and its indigenous population. Nonetheless, after briefly agreeing to suspend operations, the Guatemalan government reopened the mine a short time later.

In internal documents obtained by activists, the Guatemalan government cited potential investment arbitration as a reason to avoid suspending the mine, writing that closing the project could provoke the mine’s owners “to activate the World Bank’s [investment court] or to invocate the clauses of the free trade agreement to have access to international arbitration and subsequent claim of damages to the state.” As this example demonstrates, just knowing that a company could sue can prevent a country from standing up for human rights and environmental protection.

More recently in Guatemala, the communities around San Jose del Golfo—about 45,000 people—have engaged in two years of peaceful resistance to prevent the US-based Kappes, Cassiday, and Associates from constructing a new mine. Protesters estimate that 95 percent of families in the region depend on agriculture, an industry that would be virtually destroyed if the water were to be further contaminated. But the company threatened to sue Guatemala if the mine was not opened. “They can’t afford this lawsuit,” a company representative said. “We had a big law group out of [Washington] DC fire off a letter to the mines minister, copied to the president, explaining what we were doing.”

On May 23, the people of San Jose del Golfo were violently evicted from their lands by military force, pitting the government in league with the company against its own people—potentially all to avoid a costly lawsuit.

A Prelude to the TPP

Warnings about the crises that “free trade” would bring to Central Americans were, unfortunately, correct. Central America is facing a humanitarian crisis that has incited millions to migrate as refugees from violence and poverty, thousands of them children. One push factor is the environmental degradation provoked by ruthless mining corporations that are displacing people from their rural livelihoods.

And it’s not just DR-CAFTA. The many investor-state cases brought under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and in countries all over the world, have exposed the perniciousness of investor protection rules shoehorned into so-called “free trade” pacts. Many governments are realizing that these agreements have tied their hands when it comes to protecting their own environments and citizens.

We must use these egregious investor-state cases to highlight extreme corporate power in the region. We must work to help Central Americans regain livelihoods lost to ruthless extractive projects like mining. And we must change trade and investment agreements to stop these excessive lawsuits that devastate communities, the environment and democracy itself.

Like DR-CAFTA, the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership includes investor-state provisions that are likely to hurt poor communities and undermine environmental protections. Instead of being “fast tracked” through Congress, future trade agreements like the TPP—and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership being negotiated between the European Union and the United States—must be subject to a full debate with public input.

And such agreements must not, at any cost, include investor-state mechanisms. Because trading away democracy to transnational corporations is not such a “free trade” after all.


Sumber - The Nation

China slams US for criticism of artificial island project

BEIJING, Nov 24 — Beijing today dismissed as “irresponsible” US criticism of its construction of an artificial island reportedly large enough for an airstrip in a disputed section of the South China Sea.

The statement by China’s foreign ministry came after a US military spokesman urged Beijing to stop what it described as a vast land reclamation project on the Spratly Islands.

The island chain, which the Chinese call Nansha, is also claimed in whole or part by the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and Brunei.

“External forces have no right to make irresponsible remarks,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular briefing when asked about Washington’s comments.

“The construction activities China is undertaking are for the improvement of the working and living conditions of the island-stationed personnel, so that they can better fulfil their international obligations and responsibilities in search and rescue,” she added.

A report last week by IHS Jane’s Defence revealed new details of a land reclamation project China is undertaking on Fiery Cross Reef, known as Yongshu in Chinese.

Beijing claims nearly all of the resource-rich South China Sea, while Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam have their own claims, several of them also building structures on reefs or occupying islands.

According to the IHS Jane’s Defence report the artificial island is 3,000 metres (9,842 feet) long and 200-300 metres wide, one of several reclamation projects being pursued by China in the region but apparently the first that could accommodate an airstrip.

A harbour has been dug out on the east side of the reef that appears large enough for tankers and naval warships, it said.

Days after the report, US military spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Pool called on China and other governments to cease such construction.

Outspoken People’s Liberation Army Major General Luo Yuan also defended the project, which he called “completely legitimate and justifiable” in an interview with the state-run Global Times newspaper.

“The US is obviously biased considering that the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam have already set up military facilities,” Luo was quoted as saying.

In a separate editorial the newspaper contended that China was building on the reef “mainly to improve the living standards of the reef-stationed soldiers”.

“China’s construction on the Yongshu Reef will not be affected by US words,” the paper wrote.

It added: “The Yongshu Reef is becoming a big island, which shows China’s prominent construction capabilities.” — AFP


Sumber - Malay Mail Online

Cost-benefit analysis of TPP will be revealed, Dewan told

The cost-benefit analysis on the controversial Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) will be tabled at the parliament sitting before the government signs the deal.

International Trade and Industry minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed told the Dewan Rakyat yesterday the current cost-benefit analysis is incomplete as some of the contents was analyzed based on assumptions before discussing between TPPA parties.

"We will conduct another cost-benefit analysis after concluding the negotiations, expected to be by first quarter next year," replied Mustapa to a question raised by Kelana Jaya member of parliament (MP) (DAP) Wong Chen.

Wong wanted to know the latest development on cost-benefit study of TPPA which the ministry assigned Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) to conduct a study.

The report should have been submitted by December 2013.

Wong also wanted to know on whether the document will be made public as well as given to Parliamentary Caucus.

"The cost-benefit analysis is being done in two stages, the current interim phase and a second part to be conducted after the negotiations concluded.

“The government will only make a decision on whether to sign or not, after getting feedback from the public and members of Parliament,”  said Mustapa.

Mustapa noted that two main issues raised in TPPA are secrecy and sovereignty.

"We know these two are important. That is why we are very careful and we take into account these views, which give important input to our negotiators,” he added.

The minister also said the TPPA will help Malaysia to establish business ties with countries such as Mexico, Canada and United States of America, which has no free trade agreement (FTA) formed before.

"If we sign the TPPA, we have market access to countries such as Mexico, Canada and America. Among the sectors that will see large benefits would be manufacturing, commodities, tropical plywood and electric and electrical products," he said.

The TPPA is a free-trade agreement negotiated by the USA, Malaysia and nine other nations as part of the larger Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership since 2010.

The move has been widely criticised by oppositions, non-governmental organisations, as well as former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed and former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin saying Malaysia will lose out if it agrees to the terms and conditions of TPPA.

Malaysia's long list of concerns in the TPPA include intellectual property, tobacco policy, investor state dispute settlement, state-owned enterprises and government procurement preference for Bumiputeras.


Sumber - The Malaysian Reserve

Myanmar’s Rohingya: The Roots of a Tragedy

Written by Brent Crane

Decades-old migration into a poverty-stricken state set the scene for persecution

Ethnic violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine state continues to keep the region’s Rohingya Muslim populations in a state of fear and misery. Since clashes between the Rohingya and Rakhine Buddhist populations broke out in 2012, more than 100,000 Rohingya have fled the country, mostly by boat.

Though the future of the refugees is often one of conscripted labor and sexual slavery, conditions in Rakhine state, where families are forced by the government to live in squalid IDP camps, are bad enough to make thousands prefer to face the risks that come with fleeing.

The crisis has deep roots in the history of the state, known as Arakan until 1974. It has long been isolated from the rest of the country. Situated between India, Myanmar and Bangladesh, it sits at the convergence of Asia’s Islamic and Buddhist lands. It has a 500 km-long mountain range on its eastern shoulder, the Naaf river to the north forming the border with Bangladesh and the Indian Ocean to the west.

Though largely cut off from the central government, it was long a major trading post for Dutch, Portuguese and British traders and under British governance was one of the most prosperous states in Burma. Today it is the second poorest. It is one of seven ethnic minority states. The local Buddhist population make up the Rakhine majority.

Prior to 1784, when the Burman monarch Bodawpaya invaded and secured Burmese control, Rakhine had been ruled by a series of sovereign kingdoms. At the conclusion of the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1826, Burmese rule over Rakhine was cut short and the state was ceded to the British as war reparation. When the British Crown gained control over the whole of Burma in 1886, Rakhine became a part of the Province of Burma of British India. With the arrival of independence in 1948, it was made an official division of the new Union.

Fighting between Rakhine’s Muslim and Buddhist populations broke out almost immediately following independence and has continued in various forms to this day. Much of the animosity between the two groups stems from Burma’s experience during colonial rule. In the first few decades of British governance, tens of thousands of Indians migrated to the new province, which had an open-door policy and an abundance of work. Most came from the Chittagong region of Bangladesh, which borders Rakhine.

A 1931 census counted over 1 million Indians living in Myanmar. Migrants of all different ethno-religious backgrounds, many of them Muslim, came as laborers, administrators, money-lenders and merchants and by the 1920s Indians dominated much of the local economy. As Indian influence grew, so did tensions.

“[Indians are] exploiting our economic resources and seizing our women/we are in danger of racial extinction,” went the lyrics of one popular song of the time. In 1930-31 and again in 1938 hundreds of migrants were killed in anti-Indian riots throughout Burma.  Though Rakhine was spared much of the violence that hit others parts of the country, Buddhists and Muslims clashed there during World War II when soldiers from the Burma Independence Army led by Aung San (the famous nationalist and father of Aung San Suu Kyi) forced 500,000 Indians out of the country.

Following the expulsion, many Rakhine Muslims sided with the British, which in turn bred deep resentment among Buddhist nationalists, whose movement had been gaining steam. What began as anti-Indian prejudice ultimately evolved into an animosity towards Muslims in general. Because scores of Muslims migrated to Rakhine from British India during the colonial period, many Rakhine Buddhists don't see Muslims as true citizens. Kala, the word many Buddhists use to refer to Muslims in Burma today, means ‘foreigner’. The implication is that only Buddhists can be Burmese.

Christian ethnic groups such as the Kachin and Karen and other Muslim groups such as the Kaman face similar discrimination. However, their designation as nationally recognized ethnic groups in the Burmese constitution protects them from the same level of widespread discrimination that the Rohingya face, who don’t have official recognition.

With the communal belief that the Rohingya are foreigners, the ethno-religious difference between the minority Rohingya and the majority Rakhine Buddhists has become a nationalist issue – the immigrant vestiges of Burma's colonial past versus the indigenous, Buddhist Burmese. That religion is involved has only added to the tension.

The Rohingya, whose physical appearance, language and cultural practices are explicitly different from both those of the ethnic Burmans and Rakhine Buddhists, have borne the brunt of this anti-Muslim ethno-nationalism.

Territorial politics have played a part in the ethnic distrust as well. Throughout the 1970s a number of insurgent groups operated in the state’s lush mountains, including mujahedeen, communists and Rakhine nationalist groups. From 1948-1968 one such group, a Rohingya mujahedeen militia, fought to install a separate Islamic state, seizing large parts of northern Rakhine.

Again in 1971 a group of Rohingya tried to join Bangladesh during its split from East Pakistan. These separatist actions are still remembered by Buddhist nationalists in Rakhine today and only add to communal impressions of the Rohingya as troublesome and anti-Burmese.

The term Rohingya has become highly politicized. Rakhine Buddhists, who don’t count the Rohingya as a legitimate ethnic group, despise the term and claim it was invented in the early 1950s to describe Bengalis who were brought to Burma by the British Raj and those who illegally immigrated after. They insist that there is no firm historical evidence for the name. However, the first ever use of the word in a published work seems to be by Francis Hamilton (also known as Francis Buchanan) in his paper “A Comparative Vocabulary of Some of the Languages Spoken in the Burma Empire” in 1799.

“Mohammedans, who have long settled in Arakan, and who call themselves Rooinga, or natives of Arakan,” Hamilton wrote. However in censuses taken during the colonial period, there is no use of the term and it is only in the first years after independence that the name begins to appear again. The central government, which denies the Rohingya official status as a national ethnic group and also insist they are Bengalis, is equally critical of the term.

Though a majority in Rakhine state, Rakhine Buddhists are a minority in the rest of the country and have themselves suffered official persecution. Historically, they see themselves as victims of three aggressions: the 1784 Burman invasion, British colonization and the ongoing Bengali (Rohingya) Islamization.

This sense of victimhood plays a prominent role in the current strain of Rakhine Buddhist nationalism and its populist appeal. Their main concern is that the Rohingya population is growing at 10 times the rate of the local Buddhist one, a dubious statistic that has even been mocked by a Rakhine state government spokesman. Nonetheless, the same official also said that “the Rohingya are trying to Islamize [Buddhists] through their terrible birth rate. “Despite a lack of supporting evidence, the sense that Rakhine Buddhists are being birthed out of their own homeland by what is regarded as a vile group of illegal immigrants is strongly felt across the state.

The central government’s role in Rakhine has not improved things. In 1978, as part of a national effort to curb illegal immigration coined Operation ‘Nagamin’ or ‘Dragon King’, a first-ever government demographics census of the border region was taken. The census quickly deteriorated into chaos, with widespread allegations of army brutality including killings, rape and the destruction of mosques. More than 200,000 Muslims fled Rakhine. To make matters worse, the state-run media blamed the turmoil on “armed bands of Bengalis” and “wild Muslim extremists.” In other words, illegal immigrants.

Two decades later, the 1991-1992 exodus of 250,000 Rohingya, prompted by violent land grabs by the Burmese army, was followed again by a similarly ludicrous explanation: ”The Rohingya problem is no more than the problem of unregistered illegal immigrants," claimed a January 1992 edition of the state-run Working People's Daily.

That the government has facilitated an environment of prejudice towards the Rohingya has only legitimized antagonistic actors in Rakhine.

Four years after the Nagamin crisis, the central government enacted the Citizenship Law, which established three categories of citizenship: National, Associate and Naturalized. Full citizenship was exclusively allotted to the National category, which included only the country’s eight largest ethnic groups. Any resident who could claim that his or her ancestors lived in Burma before the start of the First Anglo-Burmese War in 1823, though a nearly impossible task, were also granted full citizenship. The 1982 Citizenship Act, still in effect today, is what has left most Rohingya officially stateless.

The renowned Burma scholar Martin Smith once called the Rohingya crisis, “by far the most tense and difficult of all the ethnic problems I have encountered in over a decade of writing on the political and ethnic situation in Burma.” Indeed the situation faced by the Rohingya in northern Rakhine state is about as dire as it can get. The United Nations calls them one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. Unwanted in Bangladesh and despised in Burma, they are a people without a home and have experienced periodic episodes of abuse because of it. Tensions in Rakhine are still high and conflict could break out again at any time. In the current state of things, history appears to be repeating itself.


Sumber - Asia Sentinel

World has 35.8 million slaves, report finds

(CNN) -- The second annual edition of the Walk Free Foundation's Global Slavery Index has found that globally, almost 36 million people are subject to modern slavery.

While incidences of slavery were found in every one of the 167 countries surveyed, five countries -- India, China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Russia -- accounted for nearly 22 million people (61%) suffering in bondage. The worst offender, India, accounted for an estimated 14.29 million people.

Human slavery, the report states, is defined as "human trafficking, forced labor, debt bondage, forced or servile marriage, or commercial sexual exploitation."

Surge in cases

The report found an increase of 20% on the foundation's findings a year ago, although it attributed the rise to more sophisticated data collection and analysis.

"There is an assumption that slavery is an issue from a bygone era. Or that it only exists in countries ravaged by war and poverty," Andrew Forrest, Chairman and Founder of the Walk Free Foundation, said in a statement.

"The first step in eradicating slavery is to measure it. And with that critical information, we must all come together -- governments, businesses and civil society -- to finally bring an end to the most severe form of exploitation."

Highest percentages

While some of the world's most populous nations were home to the bulk of the incidences of modern slavery, other countries had higher percentages of their populations enslaved.

The West African nation of Mauritania, the report found, had the highest prevalence, with an estimated 4% of its population in bondage. Other offenders include Uzbekistan (3.97%), Haiti (2.3%) and Qatar (1.35%).

The Emirate, which will play host to the World Cup in 2022, has faced numerous questions concerning its labor laws and the kafala sponsorship system, which limits foreign workers' rights of movement.

"Qatar hosts significant numbers of foreign workers, and has risen in the ranking due to improved survey data, giving better insight into the high number of enslaved migrant workers in the nation," Gina Dafalia, the foundation's policy and research manager, told CNN. "It is ranked fourth with an estimated 1.4% of the population in modern slavery. We consider this to be a conservative estimate."

Qatar has promised to address criticisms and expects to make announcements concerning repeal of the kafala system in early 2015.

Refugees most vulnerable to slavery

Kevin Bales, lead author of the report, told CNN's Kristie Lu Stout that vulnerability is a key factor in the prevalence of slavery in a country, and that refugees are particularly susceptible to modern enslavement.

"It's not a surprise that many of the countries where we see large proportions of the population in slavery are also those countries that are beset by conflict, like Syria, and by other economic and environmental problems," he said.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that forced labor generates more than $150 billion in illicit profits every year, making it the second largest source of profits for international organized crimes behind the drugs trade.

Bright spots

Iceland and Luxembourg, the report finds, have fewer than 100 people each living in slavery, the lowest number both in prevalence and in absolute numbers.

While it acknowledges the efforts made by some countries, such as the Netherlands, Sweden, the U.S. and Australia to tackle the global issue, the report also reprimands some rich countries for not doing more.

Hong Kong, Singapore and Brunei, along with Qatar and Kuwait are singled out for mention.

The Walk Free Foundation, a global human rights organization with a mission to end modern slavery in a generation, was founded by Australian philanthropists, Andrew and Nicola Forrest.


Sumber - CNN.com

Results for Brunei - http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/country/brunei/
Download full report - http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/download/

JPKE report: More than 12,000 jobless

Koo Jin Shen
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE total number of unemployed in August was recorded at 12, 275 up 0.8 per cent from 12,173 in July this year, according to the jobseekers report released yesterday by the Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE).

The same report said that there were 254 newly registered jobseekers while 152 persons had reportedly found work.

The department said that newly registered jobseekers were recorded through village heads as well as the Local Employment and Workforce Development Agency (APTK).

Of 12,275 without jobs, 58.5 per cent were female.

In terms of education, 69.2 per cent of current jobseekers have passed secondary education.

Eleven per cent have passed primary education, 8.1 per cent have passed technical and vocational education while 3.6 per cent have passed pre-university education and 5.7 per cent have completed higher education.

The report said 67.1 per cent (8,238) live in Brunei-Muara, 12.3 per cent live in Belait, 15.2 per cent live in Tutong and 5.4 per cent live in Temburong.

The highest age demographic of unemployed recorded was between 20-24 years at 28.6 per cent.

The next highest is between the ages of 25-29 at 22.1 per cent.

The lowest demographic of jobseekers are those between the age of 18-19 at 4.3 per cent and those between 50-59 at 4.4 per cent.

JPKE said that these statistics are intended to provide the latest estimates of the number as well as the profile of Brunei citizens and permanent residents aged between 18 and 59 who do not have jobs or termed as “unemployed” but actively seeking for work.

While much of the data has been compiled through the 2011 Housing Census, it is currently being updated as existing jobseekers find work or have said that they are no longer interested in finding work, and as people are being registered as jobseekers through the relevant agencies.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Brunei Darussalam eyes ‘agri-tech’ route to self-sufficiency

Innovative agricultural initiatives launched in Brunei Darussalam, such as developing new rice hybrids and growing plants in water, underline how agro-technology can edge the Sultanate closer to its goal of food self-sufficiency.

Figures released by the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood (DAA) in November showed that the agrifood sector, which excludes livestock and crops, made up nearly 30% of the overall industry in 2013, with a total value of $86.2m representing a 37% increase year-on-year. Between 2009 and 2012, the agrifood industry represented 22-23% of the sector.

While Brunei is about the size of Bangkok, three quarters of the Sultanate’s 526,500 ha is under forest cover, of which the government has allowed only 1%, or 5895 ha, for agricultural use. The limited availability of land has meant that agri-tech programmes in rice cultivation and fish farming have played a key role in increasing domestic output.

Self-sufficiency

The agriculture sector’s share of GDP is 0.72% and employs just 1.4% of the population, estimated at 425,000. Further growth is important for a nation that is dependent on imported foods that account for as much as 80% of the national food supply. The sultanate imports most of its rice requirements from Thailand and has recently started purchasing from Vietnam and Cambodia.

This has prompted ambitious targets: the government wants to achieve 60% self-sufficiency in rice by 2015 compared with the current level of 5%, as well as a 170% growth in fisheries to $187.7m by 2023 and increasing the value of the livestock segment to $140m.

Ministers have admitted that previous rice self-sufficiency targets were a “tall-order” but inroads are being made, albeit small ones. The minister of industry and primary resources (MIPR), YB Pehin Dato Hj Yahya, recently announced near self-sufficiency in its poultry and egg industry, and more than 80% self-sufficiency in seafood products and tropical vegetables.

Boosting rice yields

Rice innovation is an important part of Brunei's agricultural development. The country is working closely with its neighbours on various programmes and building new facilities such as the recently-opened plant in Kg Wasan, situated in the north of the state. The rice-milling facility, which removes the husk and the bran layers from paddy rice, opened in August and is capable of producing 5800 metric tonnes of rice per year. But officials say another site is needed.

“This new complex has a grind capacity of 3.5 metric tonnes ... and if used all the time, will enable us to achieve 20% (self-sufficiency in) rice production. In order for us to (attain) the 60% (rice self-sufficiency rate), we will have to build a high capacity centre which can produce up to 7.5 metric tonnes per hour,” said the MIPR minister, YB Pehin Dato Hj Yahya.

To boost output a new hybrid rice, titih, which can increase yields from 2 to 3 tonnes per ha to the 3.8-8.7 tonnes per ha range, is being deployed.

In a further bid to increase the productivity level of its rice fields, Malaysia has agreed to help Brunei with a $6m project − which will be part-funded by the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) − drawing on the technology know-how of its neighbour.

“Brunei has the ambition to become self sufficient in rice production and Malaysia has the technology, the expertise and the willingness to share,” said Kunrat Wirasubrata, acting director of the IDB Group Regional Office, as quoted by local media.

Growing food in water

One nascent area of development being explored is farming techniques based on aquaponics, a system of growing plants and aquatic species such as fish and prawns in water, eliminating the need for soil and also fertilisers − often a source of worry for farmers.

Local agro-technology company BfB confirmed on November 3 that it was collaborating with government agencies to introduce aquaponics in Brunei to promote sustainable farming and food security. The technology would allow people to grow food and vegetables in outdoor ponds or in an aquarium inside their house.

BfB has been given 1 ha of land on Jalan Lampaki at Kg Mulaut by the MIPR to carry out farming projects, and also plans to open a factory in Serasa where an aquaponics garden will be installed on the rooftop.


Sumber - Oxford Business Group

HM: ASEAN needs to ward off terror groups’ influence

Waqiuddin Rajak
Naypyidaw

HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam said he sees the need for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to have the capacity to ward off the influence of terror and extremist groups on people in the region.

In a titah or royal speech during the plenary session of the 25th ASEAN Summit yesterday, the monarch said these groups threaten security and that “more worrying is that peoples in the Southeast Asian region are at risk of being recruited to join such groups”.

This as His Majesty noted that countering the acts of extremism and terrorism happening in various parts of the world are “another immediate challenge requiring ASEAN’s attention”.

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office said: “In this regards, His Majesty supported Yang Amat Berhormat Dato Laila Utama Dato’s Sri Mohd Najib Tun Haji Abdul Razak, Prime Minister of Malaysia’s proposal for ASEAN ministers to work closely together in ensuring that ASEAN has the capacity to address these immediate challenges.”

The monarch also stressed on the need for ASEAN to clarify and understand what is really meant by “people-centred ASEAN”, so that its people would remain central in strategies and programmes designed by the association.

His Majesty supported the Malaysian prime minister in making “people-centred ASEAN” as the main focus of Malaysia’s chairmanship next year.

His Majesty urged that careful consideration is given in ensuring the establishment of a “people-centred" ASEAN which should be a community where one can relate and benefit from”.

At the same time, the monarch said that efforts should be made in narrowing disparities such as alleviating poverty and addressing the difficulties faced by those who are struggling to make a decent living.

His Majesty said in the political sense, a “people-centred ASEAN” means a community where citizens should continue to enjoy peace and stability, while economically, it means sustainable development is required to create better standards of living for the ASEAN people.

The establishment of a “people-centred ASEAN” should provide meaningful livelihood and dignity to the ASEAN people, the monarch said, adding it would require good governance, sustainable development, assisting and protecting vulnerable groups such as women, children and providing more opportunities for all, especially the youth.

This, said His Majesty, will be a formidable undertaking for ASEAN and therefore, the association should strive to strengthen its internal coordination and cooperation in all three pillars to ensure ASEAN initiatives are carried out promptly for its people.

His Majesty was pleased to note that a communications master plan has been finalised to spread the ASEAN message where its people will have better understanding of the ASEAN community. The monarch was also pleased at the recommendations of the High Level Task Force that has emphasised the importance of greater cross-pillar and cross-sectoral coordination as well as cooperation.

This also includes putting forward proposals to strengthen the capability of the ASEAN secretariat in carrying out its task, and His Majesty stressed that it is important for these recommendations to be acted upon immediately. His Majesty suggested that ASEAN officials come up with a Post-2015 Vision to ensure that ASEAN remains relevant for the next five decades.

His Majesty noted that in three years time ASEAN will be commemorating its 50th anniversary, and over the last three decades, the Southeast Asian region has enjoyed continuous peace and stability, rapid economic development and the deepening of socio-cultural ties.

Throughout the next 50 years, the monarch said, ASEAN will be facing many complex challenges, and there is a need to be constantly prepared to address them.

ASEAN community building, said His Majesty, is both a long-term vision and a platform to strengthen ASEAN’s cooperation in all areas amongst the people of the region, and it will continue to be ASEAN’s main focus for many years to come.

His Majesty also emphasised the importance of strengthening ASEAN community building efforts, because the challenges faced in the 21st century such as economic inequalities, pandemic diseases, natural disasters and transnational crimes directly affect the people of ASEAN.

To this, His Majesty expressed his support for Prime Minister of Thailand Prayut Chan-o-Cha’s proposal to address next month the issue relating to the outbreak of Ebola in other parts of the world.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Perkasa golongan miskin

Oleh Siti Nur Wasimah S.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 11 Nov – Meskipun Negara Brunei Darussalam tidak mempunyai tahap kemiskinan tegar, namun masih terdapat penduduk negara ini yang perlu dibantu keluar daripada belenggu kemiskinan.

Kemiskinan di Brunei lebih kepada kemiskinan relatif, berpunca daripada perbezaan dalam pendapatan dan taraf hidup, manakala golongan bekerja pula mengalami kemiskinan kerana sikap suka berhutang.

Perkara itu disentuh oleh Timbalan Menteri Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan, Datin Paduka Hajah Adina binti Otham ketika berucap merasmikan Bengkel Membasmi Kemiskinan Keluarga, sempena sambutan Hari Antarabangsa Membasmi Kemiskinan 2014 berlangsung di Dewan Kemasyarakatan II, Lambak Kanan hari ini.

Menurut Datin Hajah Adina lagi, kemiskinan dapat menjejaskan kualiti pertumbuhan keluarga dan pembesaran kanak-kanak, maka ia perlu segera dibendung demi kesejahteraan masyarakat dan keamanan negara.

Bagi membendung kemiskinan ini, satu Pelan Tindakan Membasmi Kemiskinan sudah pun diluluskan dan dilaksanakan di bawah Jawatankuasa Khas Isu Kemiskinan, Majlis Isu Sosial Kebangsaan yang diperkenan Baginda Sultan.

Pelan tindakan ini mengenal pasti 10 strategi menangani kemiskinan iaitu pendidikan, kesihatan, pekerjaan, latihan, perumahan, keusahawanan, pengangkutan, pengukuhan mekanisme, kewangan dan dasar serta perundangan, kata Datin Hajah Adina lagi.

Selain itu, pelbagai dasar dan program turut dirangka untuk membasmi kemiskinan ini, antaranya Program Dokongan Sosial, Pengurusan Kemiskinan dan Pengurangan Kemiskinan.

Namun strategi dan program ini sahaja tidak mencukupi, apa yang penting ialah memperkasakan golongan miskin ini daripada jatuh ke dalam kategori golongan miskin tegar.

Derma dan bantuan kewangan serta barangan hanya bersifat sementara untuk membantu mereka, katanya.

“Untuk mencapai langkah yang mampan dan berkesan, golongan miskin ini perlulah diperkasakan melalui latihan, pekerjaan dan pendidikan agar dapat berdikari, sekali gus mempunyai harga diri,” kata Datin Hajah Adina lagi.

Maka, usaha ini ditingkatkan melalui penyediaan program pembangunan kapasiti dan kemahiran seperti PERKASA, PROPAZ, Skim Belia Berdikari serta langkah-langkah menyediakan peluang pekerjaan kepada anak-anak tempatan yang diusahakan pelbagai pihak.

“Alhamdulillah, hasil daripada usaha ini telah mengurangkan jumlah yang menganggur dari angka 18,000 pada tahun 2012 kepada 11,000 pada tahun 2014,” jelas Datin Hajah Adina.

Beliau turut menyeru peserta bengkel dapat membina pengetahuan, berkongsi pengalaman dan seterusnya memanfaatkan pengetahuan dan pengalaman itu untuk meningkatkan taraf hidup mereka.

Beliau turut menyeru pelbagai pihak sama ada kerajaan, persatuan NGO dan kumpulan masyarakat serta individu berjaya agar bekerjasama berganding bahu membasmi kemiskinan.


Sumber - Media Permata

Gov’t may spend $80m on old age pension this year

THE government is projected to spend about $80 million for old age pension to 27,166 senior citizens this year.

This was based on the calculation made by The Brunei Times on the number of old age pension recipients, which was shared by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports yesterday.

Up to September this year, a total of 27,166 senior citizen received old age pension, said Datin Paduka Hjh Adina Othman, Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports at the Women Coun-cil of Brunei Darussalam’s ‘Jalinan Kasih’ event to celebrate 10 of their senior citizen members at Park View hotel in Jerudong yesterday.

These members were still active in contributing to their respective associations. They were from Women’s Institute of Brunei Darussalam (WI), the Brunei Government Senior Officers Wives Welfare Association (BISTARI), Belait District Women Welfare Association (PKP) and the Brunei Malay Teachers Association (PGGMB).

In Brunei, senior citizen is defined as aged 60 years old and above. The life expectancy for male in 2013 is 75.7 years while for women it is 78.4. The Department of Economic Planning and Development estimated that senior citizen will increase from 25,900 in 2013 (6.4 per cent of total population) to 64,158 in 2030, an increase of 1.7 per cent, she said.

Senior citizens received $250 monthly in assistance from Community Development Department. The pension does not discriminate if one is rich or poor, as all citizens and permanent residents are entitled to receive the pension as long as they reach the age of 60. The pensions were introduced on January 1, 1955 as a Kurnia Khas (special gift) of the late Al-Marhum Sultan Hj Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien.

She stressed that even though the government had provided programmes and assistance to senior citizens, the responsibilities must also be shouldered by all levels of the community.

As a Malay Muslim Monarchy country, problems such as neglect of senior citizens must not happen. Every individual or community have to be responsible for the senior citizens especially their parents and family members, she said. “Policies and planning on managing issues related to senior citizen is important and must be done as early as possible so that Brunei will not faced what other countries are currently facing - aging society,” she said.

The contribution by senior citizens on the development of family, society and country is undeniable. It is their contribution that leads to the birth of the current generation that continuously drive the  development, she added.

She also spoke about how His Majesty’s government strived to make the senior citizens of this country to be healthy, active and continuously contributing, by providing conducive environment for them.

The Deputy Minister said an action plan to manage issues related to senior citizens had been approved (in 2011) and is currently under implementation by the special committee for senior citizens and special needs individuals.

She added the action plan outlined actions to be taken under nine main topics: 1) Policies and legal, 2) health, 3) community involvement, 4) education, 5) employment, 6) transportation, 7) infrastructure, 8) social & recreation and 9) research.

The plan can be categorised into short-term, middle and long term.

In addition to the action plan, many programmes have been implemented towards caring for the elderly. These include putting social safety net in place such as old age pension, service pension, Employees Trust Fund (TAP), Supplemental Contributory Pension (SCP) and health programmes such as ‘Health for All’ and ‘Healthy Lifestyle’.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Apec packs diplomatic punch

By Kevin Rudd

THE significance of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Beijing consists not so much in what is on Apec’s agenda as in what transpires on the sidelines.

Meetings between Chinese President Xi Jinping and United States President Barack Obama, as well as Xi’s meetings with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, loom especially large.

These bilateral relationships constitute much of the strategic undercurrent of East Asian security at a time when the region’s long-term geostrategic stability has come into question.

The core reality is that the Asia-Pacific region comprises a group of rapidly globalising 21st-century economies sitting on top of a set of 19th-century national tensions.

That contradiction matters for the entire world, because the region accounts for some 60 per cent of global output. Economically speaking, where Asia goes in the future, the world will follow.

But Asia is home to a multiplicity of unresolved territorial disputes. It is the epicentre of underlying tensions stemming from China’s rise and its impact on the US, the region’s established power since World War 2’s end. Indeed, many of the region’s territorial disputes pit China against US allies.

More broadly, the region’s rifts are endemic: a divided Korean Peninsula; territorial disputes between Russia and Japan, China and Korea, and China and Japan; the unique circumstances of Taiwan; and conflicting maritime claims in the South China Sea involving China, the Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Taiwan. There are also long-standing border disputes between China and India, and between India and China’s ally, Pakistan.

As if that were not worrying enough, Asia has become the next global arms bazaar, with military outlays in the region now higher than in Europe. Moreover, six Asian states have nuclear weapons.

Both the tone and the content of the China-US relationship are a cause for concern. China argues that it is subject to a US policy of isolation and containment.

It points to America’s “rebalancing” strategy, to military and diplomatic support for those countries with which China has bilateral territorial disputes, and US support for Japan’s revision of its post-WW2 “peace constitution” as a precursor for what China views as significant Japanese rearmament.

The Chinese also see the commercial equivalent of containment in the US-proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership, which includes Japan but excludes China.

Furthermore, Chinese leaders point to what they regards as intrusive US human-rights diplomacy aimed at fomenting political protest within China (including Hong Kong) and undermining the regime’s domestic legitimacy.

The US, no surprise, disputes these claims. For starters, the US argues that it is the states of East Asia that have sought American support for their security, owing to their collective concerns about China.

Moreover, the US insists that it is not containing China (as it did the Soviet Union), on the contrary, China’s economic rise has been facilitated by access to US markets, as well as to global markets through American support for Chinese accession to the World Trade Organisation.

On human rights, the US argues that there are indeed fundamental differences between the two countries’ political traditions and systems. But, in the American view, this is vastly different from an organised national strategy of undermining the Chinese state and its institutions.

For these reasons, the bilateral strategic-trust deficit is growing.

Xi, to his credit, has advanced what he describes as a concept for “a new type of great power relationship”, one that seeks to avoid what others have concluded is the near-inevitability of long-term conflict between a rising power (China) and the established power (America).

It is imperative that both parties try to close the trust deficit. Doing so calls for a framework of what I call “constructive realism.”

Such a framework embraces realism about areas of contention defined by significant conflicting national interests and values. These issues should simply be peacefully managed over time, until sufficient political capital has been created in the rest of the relationship to address them directly.

At the same time, it is “constructive” in the sense of identifying areas of sufficient commonality to create new public goods, such as bilateral investment treaties, a non-nuclear Korean Peninsula, and a global agreement on climate change.

A constructive realist approach should also begin to sketch the broad outlines of a long-term “common security” concept for East Asia.

The outlook for the China-Japan relationship appears somewhat better. Just a few months ago, the bilateral relationship had sunk to an all-time post-war low, owing to a toxic cocktail of territorial disputes over the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands, Japan’s handling of its wartime history (particularly prime ministerial visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine), and Chinese fears about Japanese rearmament.

But now both governments appear to have recognised the growing risk of unintended conflict in the seas and airspace around the disputed territories, given the sheer concentration of naval and air assets in a limited space and the absence of effective protocols to manage incidents and prevent them from escalating. Both sides have concluded that even limited armed conflict would be disastrous.

Moreover, with Japan and China facing increasing economic uncertainty, they have recognised that it makes sense for the world’s second and third largest economies to remove major political impediments to expanded bilateral trade and investment.

For these reasons, barring any last-minute diplomatic indelicacies, the Apec Summit is likely to represent the start of a formal thaw in Sino-Japanese relations.

Apec, an Australian diplomatic initiative launched 25 years ago, was originally conceived as an exclusively economic forum. Fortunately, it has also become an annual forum for US, Chinese, Japanese and other leaders to engage with one another on critical questions of long-term strategic stability. The future of the regions, and the stability upon which they are predicated, will be powerfully shaped by the outcome of these deliberations.


Sumber - New Straits Times

Are Myanmar’s affairs being influenced in Asean Summit?

YANGON- Myanmar is now hosting 25th Asean Summit and its related meetings held in Nay Pyi Taw, a new capital, starting from November 9. The heads of the States/Governments will attend the Summit.

High Ranking Official Meeting is being held on November 9 to 11. Myanmar will hold continuously the summit of top leaders on November 12 and 13.

Although South China Sea dispute had been influenced by during last 24th Asean Summit held in Myanmar in May and Asean Regional Forum held in August, concentration on Myanmar affairs was very few.

However, Myanmar affairs may be played a vital role in 25th Asean Summit. While influencing Myanmar affairs that may be taken part in informal meetings of top leaders than the formal discussions.

Why can Myanmar affairs influence?

Normally, the meetings of ASEAN Community-AC, Asean Economic Community-AEC 2015 had been used to hold in ASEAN Summit. Since the beginning of late 2013, the implementation of ASEAN’s strategy-2015 had been fronted as a goal.

At ASEAN Summit held before in 2011, Myanmar issue was influenced as a regional problem. The government had faced the pressures on government’s oppression, human rights’ abuses so also ignorance about the rights of a handful of people.

In 2011, there were changes appeared in Myanmar. President Thein Sein and his government body had taken power by chanting the slogan: national reconsolidation reform process. As the result of chanting the slogan, the ASEAN leaders handed over Myanmar to act as the alternate Chairman of ASEAN Summit-2014.

In the past, Myanmar had a chance to take the responsibility of alternate ASEAN chairmanship, but a chance had been missed as the U.S. and European Union had rejected a chance of ASEAN alternate chairman due to Myanmar’s bad situations.

During last four years, the international countries made a special attention to Myanmar’s reform process and provided necessary assistances to Myanmar.

While President Thein Sein's administration has only a year left in office, Myanmar’s reform process has not reached as the expectations. Because there were no abilities to settle political crisis and to reduce the increasing of poverty alleviation so also it is uncertain to implement the local peace deal and there was no justice.

Due to the ASEAN framework that includes self-interest of each ASEAN members’ countries and the ASEAN leaders had agreed not to interfere in the other regional affairs.

That’s why ASEAN countries and international leaders had ignored Myanmar reforms stalled, at present it is difficult for them to ignore the reform stalled.

Those difficulties may be affected the 25th ASEAN Summit in conjunction with 9th APEC forum.

The world leaders including the U.S. President Barack Obama are going to attend the Summit and their speeches regarding the Myanmar’s affairs may give the pressures on President Thein Sein’s government.

During the last ASEAN Summits, South-China deep sea dispute which is the interest of some ASEAN member counties had to influence Myanmar’s affairs; but the feasibilities are very less to become the influence of South-China deep sea dispute during current Summit.

Two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Corporation-APEC to be held in China from November 10 will discuss not only South-China deep sea dispute but also controversial issue of China’s water territory.

The result of South-China deep sea dispute based on APEC may be likely released at the Nay Pyi Taw’s ASEAN Summit.

There were no significant results except the agreement to solve South-China deep sea dispute peacefully.

The leaders from 21 Asia-Pacific regions including U.S. President Barack Obama will attend the APEC summit.

Now, China is a Chairman of APEC for 2014and it may discuss matters only benefit for the country during the APEC. Among the APEC countries, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam are now involving the water dispute with China.

The Philippines will act as a Chairman of APEC for 2015 so also Malaysia will be ASEAN alternate Chairmanship for 2015. Therefore it is likely that the issues of South-China Sea dispute may be influenced only in 2015.

There have many tensions between Philippines and China concerning the South-China sea dispute. Malaysia is also involving in the controversial sea dispute.

Those basic facts are describing that Myanmar affairs may become coverage than the South-China sea dispute during the 25th ASEAN Summit.

The U.S. pressure

With the aims to create an exit of political crisis and currently Myanmar reform stalled, President Thein Sein held a meeting with Myanmar’s political leaders in Nay Pyi Taw on October 31.

Government had withdrawn from holding of four-party meeting that was demanded by the Public icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. However, the meeting of political leaders was just for show and there was no result.

The criticisms are now spreading out that the government held a timely meeting of political leaders because the U.S. President Obama would pay a second visit Myanmar before ASEAN Summit.

After holding a meeting with political leaders, Aung Thaung, one of the top leaders of ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party, Banks and Financial Development Committee, the former minister for Industry-1, was blacklisted by the United States on October 31.

The information pointed out that the U.S. was still paying attention to Myanmar’s affairs and they warned Myanmar government that they were now handling Myanmar’s affairs under Carrot and Stick theory.

The awareness of Myanmar’s affairs and its related U.S. steps had been affected to the Obama’s first visits to Nay Pyi Taw out of second time in Myanmar.

Display before Obama visit

U.S. President Obama had visited Myanmar in 2011 for the first time. During his first visit, he used metaphor of Myanmar’s situation as Flicker of Light.

Obama will be arriving in Myanmar at the evening of November 12 to attend East-Asian Summit and to meet President Thein Sein and public leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi separately.

In a press conference held on November 5, Suu Kyi said that the reform process has ‘stalled’ and warned the U.S. of being over-optimistic about the country’s democratization.

U.S Ambassador to Myanmar Derek Mitchell in an interview with VOA on November 9 said that U.S President Obama is closely watching Myanmar.

"In his (President Obama) visit to Myanmar, he himself will listen and decide what the progresses are and what changes takes place in Myanmar. The President will examine Myanmar's progress and decide what kind of help he can give to Myanmar for continue practicing of partnership in Myanmar's transformation," said the ambassador.

President Obama's visit this time may differ with U.S Secretary of State John Kerry's August visit to Myanmar as this time; there may be urges and some pressure.

On November 6, Myanmar's Human Rights Resolution (draft) was submitted at the United Nations' General Assembly before President Obama's Myanmar visit.  The calls for solving the problems challenging human rights affairs, and to protect journalists and human rights activists were made.

On November 5, Human Rights Watch (HRW) based in United States made an insist on Obama .

HRW urged the President to hold an effective discussion with President Thein Sein not to turn back Myanmar's democratization process while he is in Myanmar.

Besides, HRW also stressed that discussing with the Myanmar President on major factors for Myanmar's democratization, such as amending the constitution before 2015 election, freezing the peace process deal and other matters need clear and decisive discussion.

HRW stressed that if there is no implementations, notice should be given on stopping of all assistances.

The letters of US Congressmen to President Obama

Forty-four US Congressmen sent a letter to President Obama on November 7. In that letter, Congressmen urged the President Obama to give pressure on becoming a free and fair election in 2015, and to discuss matters that prevent Aung San Suu Kyi from becoming a president on his visit to Myanmar.

The U.S Congressmen stated that still existing of political prisoners, decreases in freedom of news and media, conflicts happened in places where ethnic situated, igniting hatred on Bengalis in Rakhine State showed that Myanmar's transforming into democracy came to a stop.

The letter of U.S Congressmen also asked for amending the constitution, stopping the clashes occurred in places where ethnics live, military and the government to participate in national reconciliations. They also demanded the President Obama to put in the black list if they (people from military and government) lack involve in cooperation and take action.

Before the Congressmen sent the letter to the President, more than 20 Senators also sent a letter to President Obama and asked for exerting pressure on Myanmar government.

On a Reuters News published on November 4, President Obama will press the President Thein Sein for free, fair, open and credible election according to a senior U.S official.

"Myanmar government has made a number of meaningful steps in the reform direction but we also clearly knew about the facts that the progress has been uneven and we are greatly concerned," said the senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

U.S officials insist that Obama will not go easy on President Thein Sein and Myanmar government; there will be no announcements on further easing of sanctions, no removal of names from U.S Blacklist, and no new military-to military cooperation according to Obama aides.

These factors seem to become influence in coming Asean Summit and outside of summit.

How will Myanmar influence

Asean leaders will sign a Nay Pyi Taw Framework in building Asean Community at the 25th Asean Summit. Declarations on economic, social and cultural will also release.

On 9th Asean Summit, four declarations have appeared. They are prevention of natural disasters, cooperation to combat terrorism, e-bola disease and environmental changes.

Such kinds of declarations and agreements will be emerged from regular meeting by the Asean leaders but discussion on Myanmar may take place in private meetings of leaders and separate meetings between two countries according to Dr. Yan Myo Thein, political article writer.

“At present, Myanmar is a country with lowest per capital income compared with GDP of ten Asean countries. Myanmar is the least developed country and became lower than Laos.  Myanmar is a country with least developed nation and at the same time faces many political challenges. These problems have to be discussed at the Asean. If these are not discussed, Asean's dignity will be affected,” said Dr Yan Myo Thein.

The current moment is a time Asean has to cooperate concerning Myanmar and Myanmar’s affairs is connecting with Asean affairs.

Myanmar political affairs expert Bartil Litner, a Swedish journalist, said Myanmar reforming is not stopping but its government has previously decided not to implement its reform process more than the present situation.

“Asean never support the flourishing of democracy. In Asean member countries, there are countries with totally no democracy (for example, Vietnam, Laos, Brunei) and countries with the pretext of democracy (for example-Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia). At present Thailand is under military rule.  Therefore, among Asean countries, Indonesia and the Philippines are the democracy countries,” said the journalist.

To sum up, the most pressure will be coming from United States and its alliance, and social organizations concerning Myanmar at the Nay Pyi Taw Summit and it will influence the summit.


Sumber - Eleven Myanmar

Brunei ‘not asking for discount on medical bill’

BRUNEI'S Health Ministry (MOHB) has said that it is not seeking any discount for the services rendered by Singapore doctors to the Brunei Sultan's sister-in-law before her death in 2007, in response to this week's report in The Sunday Times about how it has not paid for these services.

A statement issued yesterday by its lawyers, WongPartnership, said the ministry wants "only to be charged a fair and proper amount for the services actually rendered".

The original bill of $24.8 million for treatment and other services provided over 110 days to Pengiran Anak Hajah Damit charged by Dr Susan Lim resulted in a disciplinary hearing against Dr Lim by the Singapore Medical Council.

She was found guilty of overcharging more than a year ago, and was fined $10,000 and suspended for three years. She also had to bear the cost of the proceedings, which included High Court hearings.

The Sunday Times reported that Dr Lim has yet to receive payment for those services, including the fees of third-party doctors. The statement said: "Our client, the MOHB, wishes to make clear that the MOHB has no issue with paying fair and proper charges for medical services."

What the ministry has issue with is that it considers Dr Lim's bills to be extremely high and without proper basis, the statement said. The original bill was reduced to $12.6 million in August 2007, and further reduced to $3.2 million in November that year. The statement said Dr Lim also gave the MOHB a document showing her charges to be about $8.8 million, with the $3.2 million for third-party bills.

It said: "In the circumstances, given the inconsistency of Dr Lim's various offers to 'discount' her bills, and since the matter was pending before the disciplinary committee, the MOHB took no position on Dr Lim's offers."

However, after the High Court's judgment in July last year, which upheld the decision by the disciplinary committee, MOHB engaged WongPartnership to resolve the issue of fees claimed by Dr Lim.

This matter was raised with Dr Lim's lawyers late last year and again early this year.

The statement said: "However, for reasons best known to Dr Lim, the MOHB was informed by Dr Lim's clinic in May 2014 that they did not want to engage in discussions through the MOHB's appointed lawyers."

The ministry told Dr Lim that it saw no reason to accede to her position, and asked that she direct all communications on her fees to WongPartnership.


Sumber - AsiaOne

State Mufti tells why Brunei enforce Syariah Law

Nadzri Zailani
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE State Mufti emphasised on the importance of implementing Syariah Law in Brunei and the benefits from it, during a Seminar on Syariah Penal Code in Selangor, Malaysia yesterday.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Hj Awg Abd Aziz Juned gave the keynote speech during the opening ceremony of the Multaqa Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah at the Dewan Jubli Perak of the Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah building, Shah Alam Selan-gor Darul Ehsan, which was organised by the Mufti Department of Selangor.

The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah launched the Multaqa Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah and Syariah Penal Code Seminar yesterday.

He explained that Brunei had adopted the laws of Islam for more than 400 years now which was known as “Hukum Kanun Brunei”, which were the first written laws in the Sultanate.

This was evident, according to the State Mufti, when the British Consulate General William Hood Treacher came to Brunei for the first time with the British Navy and mentioned in his records that the laws of Brunei during that time had originated from the Al-Quran.

When YB Pehin Dato (Dr) Ustaz Hj Awg Juned was questioned on why Brunei was eager to implement the Islamic law, he explained that the main reason for the implementation was because the Bruneian people, and specifically the Sultan, want to be the most loyal of servants to Allah SWT and release themselves from Allah’s SWT punishment in the hereafter.

He added that, for Brunei, the implementation of the laws is nothing to be worried about, as the people know and are confident that the laws of Allah SWT are wonderful and captivating, and is respected by all, even though not everyone accepts it.

As there are still those who claim that the laws of Islam are ancient, cruel, inhuman and oppose the principals of humanity, the State Mufti explained that there were three types of reaction to Syariah Law.

First reaction, are those who accept the laws whole-heartedly without any doubts, which are those who truly exist in themselves the essence of faith.

Secondly are those who reject it completely, which are usually those who are outside the Islamic ring and even up to the point that they claim that Brunei is regressing, ancient and insensitive with the efforts of protecting basic human rights.

To those, the State Mufti explained that Brunei is not devastated from those comments and still take a ‘friendly approach’ by thanking them for their concerns and ask them to first wait and observe the journey that Brunei has embarked on without making hasty comments.

The last reaction is from those who half accept it and half reject it, which are usually Muslims who have doubts and justify their stance by stirring up controversies such as saying that in the Quran there is no such punishment as stoning.

He reminded that not everything mentioned in the Quran is detailed fully and that there are hadiths that function to explain them.

He used praying as an example, with the Quran only mentioning that Muslims must pray and the Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) hadith was what taught Muslims the steps to perform the prayer.

“This is the role of hadith. Even if the Al-Quran doesn’t mention stoning, however the hadith mentions it, therefore the punishment of stoning is feasible,” said the State Mufti.

He added that Brunei will survive with the model of faith and piety that continues to build fairness, peace, welfare and prosperity.

“With these laws, with faith and devotion as its axis, InsyaAllah Brunei will be more prosperous. Because Allah SWT had promised to bless those who believe and who are devoted.”


Sumber - The Brunei Times

TPP is an American plot: Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ridiculed an Australian-backed regional trade deal as an attempt by America to further its own interests.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott and US President Barack Obama will discuss the ambitious Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal with other regional leaders at the APEC summit in Beijing next week.

Mr Putin said the TPP talks had been held "behind closed doors" for almost five years and the public have no access to them.

Statements about the strong progress of the talks had been refuted, he said.

"Obviously, the Trans-Pacific Partnership is just another US attempt to build an architecture of regional economic cooperation that the USA would benefit from," Mr Putin said in an interview with leading Chinese media this week before he leaves for the Beijing summit.

"At the same time, I believe that the absence of two major regional players such as Russia and China in its composition will not promote the establishment of effective trade and economic cooperation."

Mr Putin said he would instead back a Chinese-led "road map" towards an Asia-Pacific free trade zone, a draft of which will be discussed at APEC.

He said multilateral trade in the Asia-Pacific region could only be strong "if the interests of all states of the region are taken into account".

"This approach is reflected in the draft of the Beijing road map," he said.

The TPP will cover almost 40 per cent of the world's economies and set boundaries for global commerce between 12 countries.

Australia's Trade Minister Andrew Robb said after the most recent talks in Sydney the deal was "within reach of the finishing line".


Sumber - Business Spectator

Young and jobless? Till 18has of paddy fields

Rafidah Hamit
BRUNEI-MUARA

THE Youth Development Centre (PPB) has introduced a new course to encourage youths to pursue a career in agriculture, particularly in rice production.

Kursus Belia Berpadi aims to give opportunities to youths that have left school and are unemployed, said Assistant Training Officer at PPB Hj Ruslan Hj Kurus.

“This initiative is also introduced to help curb unemployment.”

Hj Ruslan said the programme will be for six months. In the first two months, participants will go through a training skills programme.

“For the remaining four months, participants will go for attachment at selected padi farms to experience and see for themselves how it all works.”

Upon completion of the programme, Hj Ruslan said participants will each be given 18 hectares for rice cultivation in Kampung Bebuloh.

“They will be required to produce 1-1.5 metric tonnes per hectare every season for the first two years.

“The required amount of produce will increase every year. If they succeed in producing the required amount every year, they can continue to grow padi.”

PPB will provide farm inputs such as manure and insecticides throughout the whole course. Farm machineries will be made available for their use.

Agriculture experts will also provide assistance to the participants once they start rice production.

The programme will have 18 participants.

Those eligible to apply for the programme must be a citizen and permanent resident of the country, aged 18 to 40 years old, interested in growing padi, is healthy and no longer in school or employed.

Hj Ruslan added that participants would also need to know how to read, write and count.

“Those who are able to speak in English, have experience as well as family members who are in padi planting industry would have advantage.”

“The participants are also required to consistently attend the Brunei Rice Farmers Field School (RFFS) and have no plot of land used for agricultural purposes.”

Interested applicants can get forms and more information on the course from Saiful Rizal Hj Ariffin, Hj Ruslan Hj Kurus or Amiruldinie Hj Nasruddin at the Youth Development Centre at 2393682.

The closing date for registration is on November 18.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Bangsamoro Dev’t Plan ‎to present clear path to peace and dev't - Deles

SULTAN KUDARAT, Maguindanao, Nov 6 -- "‎This Bangsamoro Development Plan is important because it gathers the collective hopes and aspirations of the Bangsamoro people, government leaders, partners in the business and private sectors, and civil society organizations, into a concrete plan. It is a vision of the Bangsamoro, by the Bangsamoro, for the Bangsamoro,"‎ said Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos Deles on Sunday at the turnover and launch of the Bangsamoro Development Plan at the Moro Islamic Liberation Front's (MILF) Camp Darapanan in this province.

Addressing an audience of more than four hundred guests, Deles congratulated the leadership and members of the MILF and the Bangsamoro Development Agency for completing the BDP that she describes as a valuable tool for development that will provide strategic directions for the delivery and upgrade of basic services to the communities once the Bangsamoro political entity is established.

”What makes this Bangsamoro Development Plan even more valuable is its attempt to present a clear vision of peace and development that was crafted by your own hands, and came from the hearts and minds of those who have struggled for so long to bring peace in the communities,” the peace adviser said.

According to MILF chair Al Haj Murad Ebrahim, the BDP’s overall goal is to support milestones in the Bangsamoro peace process by laying the foundation of a just, peaceful and prosperous Bangsamoro society.

“The responsibility of producing a plan that would guarantee the transformation of the deplorable conditions of our grassroots communities to a life with dignity is not an easy task,” Ebrahim said while expressing his gratitude for the assistance of government and the international community in coming up with the plan. ‎

Officer-in-charge of the World Bank in the Philippines Matt Stephens said that the formulation of the BDP is a bold move on the part of the MILF. “I think through this process, we’ve seen that investment bearing fruit.  Because when you started developing the BDP, it began with relationships of trust, relationships of mutual understanding with the government and with the development partners," he said.

The BDP was developed through the support of the Mindanao Trust Fund, a multi-donor facility that was started in 2006 to support economic and social recovery and promotes inclusive and effective governance in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao. It is currently administered by the World Bank.

On November 5-6, the BDP will be presented to the public through the Philippines Development Forum on Bangsamoro to be held in Davao City. President Benigno Simeon Aquino III will be in attendance to affirm government's partnership with the MILF and invite the international community, private sector and civil society in its implementation.

Continued commitment of gov't

Deles reiterated the administration's commitment to see through the implementation of the signed Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, from ensuring the passage of the Bangsamoro Basic Law to the establishment of the political entity.

"We are committed to walk the path towards peaceful and genuine autonomy with you.   We stand ready to provide whatever guidance and assistance you may need to ensure the successful implementation of the BDP," Deles said.

‎According to the peace adviser, ‎“the challenges and difficulties we have faced this past few years under the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III are testament to the strength of commitment and desire of the government and MILF, with the help of our partners, to bring just and lasting peace to the Bangsamoro.”

Budget Secretary Florencio "Butch" Abad who was also present at the event and was asked to give a message before the program’s close, echoed the Aquino Administration’s continuing commitment to the peace process and related the instruction of the President to ensure that there is adequate and ample financing for the BDP.

“We are with you here and we will be with you all the way [to make sure you are able to implement this plan],” he said.

A new dawn

Deles declared that with the unveiling of the BDP, “a new dawn has come.  And with the coming of light is the rise of the Bangsamoro.”

The peace adviser noted that the Bangsamoro peace process has already achieved a lot of milestones under the current administration. "We have come so far from decades of conflict, grief, and loss.  Peace that has been elusive is now within our grasp," she said.

Deles called on stakeholders to “safeguard this journey to lasting peace” as there will continue to be more challenges in the road towards the establishment of the Bangsamoro.

“As we have always said, it will take real and much effort, but, just as we all share the responsibility of working for peace and development, so will we all share in the prosperity it will bring,” she said.

The turnover and launch of the BDP was also attended by Malaysian facilitator Tengku Dato' Ab Ghafar Tengku Mohamed, United Nations Resident Coordinator Luiza Carvalho, Japan International Cooperation Agency chief representative Noriaki Niwa, representatives from international aid agencies and members of civil society.‎


Sumber - PIA