Sulu’s ‘crown prince’ to drop claims over Sabah

KOTA KINABALU,
Sept 29, 2015


A Sulu ”crown prince” Datu Mohd Kudhar SJ Kiram II is defying the recently departed Sultan Esmail Kiram II’s instructions, claiming that he had issued a directive to drop the Sultanate’s claims on Sabah.

Disclosing that he would be going back to the Philippines soon to inform the government of this decision, Datu Mohd Kudhar said they would instead focus on fighting for the independence of Sulu from the Philippines.

“I promise that there’ll will be no more intrusions in the future. We will no longer be issuing claims over Sabah as we already have a lot in our hands in fighting for the independence of Sulu from the Philippines.

“To add on ‘claiming Sabah’ on to our mission will be an unnecessary additional problem when we should instead be working on our independence,” the 69-year-old was reported as saying by The Borneo Post.

He also claims to be cousins with the recently departed Sultan Esmail Kiram II, who led an army of 200 followers to invade Sabah’s coastal village of Lahad Datu in February 2013.

A sultanate spokesman Abraham Idjirani told the Philippine media that Sultan Esmail Kiram II, who died at age 76 of kidney failure on Sept 19 at a hospital in southern Zamboanga city, left an order for his followers to pursue a claim to Sabah state in neighbouring Malaysia.

“One of his (Esmail) instructions was the pursuit of the Sabah claim through peaceful means for the welfare of the Filipino people,” Idjirani told the Associated Press.

His cousin, Kudhar, however, described the intrusion as a “heinous crime” and apologised to Sabahans for the confusion and chaos caused by the many individuals who claimed to be the Sultan of Sulu, defiling his grandfather’s name, one of which had led to a security crisis in the state.

The prince said that he is the son of Sultan Julaspi Kiram II, one of Jamalul Kiram’s children, adding that his relatives — the late Jamalul Kiram III and Esmail Kiram II — had nothing to do with the Kiram, because as he puts it: “No Kiram will ever do what they did.”

Vowing also to not interfere with the ongoing persecution of militants in the country, as “they have committed a serious crime against the King,” and should be dealt with by the laws of the country, he stressed that many innocent lives were lost as a result of their actions.

Esmail’s son, Amirbahar Hushin Kiram, in his 40s, was among those arrested and detained at the state prison in Kepayan and has been on trial since January last year for waging war against the King and being member of a terrorist group.

“We want to have harmonious and peaceful relations with our neighbouring country and states. That is why we vow that there will be no more intrusions,” Kudhar explained, adding that upon gaining their independence, he would be calling back the Suluks in Malaysia, of which he said numbered over a million in Sabah and about 300,000 in the Peninsular Malaysia, to go back to their country.

Now based in Manila, Kudhar also claimed that his father was the one who was in contact with the late Tun Mustapha Harun, Sabah’s first Head of State, and was even one of those who gave the blessings for the formation of Malaysia.

“My father didn’t want North Borneo to fall into the hands of the Christians, hence, rejecting the Philippine government. He agreed to Sabah jointly forming Malaysia because Malaysia is an Islamic country and was invited by the late Tungku Abdul Rahman to Jesselton in 1963.”

Claiming to be the chief of Muslims in all of Philippines, he also ordered his countrymen, the Suluks, residing in Malaysia to continue supporting the Barisan Nasional, particularly the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Sabah.


Sumber - The Rakyat Post

Asean must make bold decision to combat transnational crime: Zahid

By Nuradzimmah Daim and Hariz Mohd


KUALA LUMPUR: With transnational organised crime having gone global and reached macroeconomic proportions, Asean countries are at a critical juncture to decide whether they should also focus on new types of such crimes.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamid said today the new types of crime are the illicit trades in nature and cultural heritage, wildlife, wood-based products, electrical and electronic waste, ozone-depleting substances, counterfeit goods and fraudulent essential medicines.

"In addition to the linkages of transnational crime with movement of people across borders, we also have to confront the rapid progress and evolution of transnational crime.

"In the present inter-connected world, transnational organised crime has gone global and reached macroeconomic proportions. Illicit goods can now be sourced from one continent, trafficked across another, and sold in third countries.

"These organised transnational crime continues to adapt alongside the frenetic pace of our times, as new crimes emerge, arise and maintained through relationships between criminal networks on a global level.

"Hence, we are now at a critical juncture to decide whether we want to retain the status quo, namely dealing with the eight existing areas of transnational crime that come under our purview which was included in the Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime (SOMTC) today.

"A bold decision has to be made due to new types of transnational crimes (such as those) reported by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime," he said in his opening address at the 10th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Transnational Crime (AMMTC).

Zahid said Asean was also taking steps in the right direction to counter the development of transnational crimes through the proposal to adopt and sign the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Combating Transnational Crime, which is due to materialise at the end of today's meeting.

He said the declaration has highlighted, among others, issues that need to be seriously considered by the ministers (of Asean member nations) such as the emergence of new forms of transnational crimes.

This includes the call for the formulation of a new Asean plan of action to combat transnational crime since the previous plan was adopted in 2002.

Zahid said the 10th AMMTC was also historic and unprecedented with a back-to-back gathering of the Special Asean Ministerial Meeting on the Rise of Radicalisation and Violent Extremism scheduled for Friday.

"The said meeting on Oct 2 will afford the opportunity for Asean member states to share experiences and best practices, as well as to take stock of individual countries' challenges in countering radicalisation and violent extremism.

"We need to realise that law enforcement and stringent legislations are insufficient to deal with it in which strategic partnerships and outreach programmes need to be regularly conducted that draw participation from civil societies and private sectors."

Ahead of his opening speech, Zahid received a courtesy call from leaders of AMMTC and Asean deputy secretary-general Hirubalan Veluppilla Ponnudura.

The leaders are Brunei Energy Minister Datuk Dr Muhammad Yasmin Umar; Cambodia secretary of state Em Sam An; Indonesian police chief General Badrodin Haiti; Laos Public Security Minister Brigadier General Somkeo Sylavong; Myanmar Deputy Home Minister Kyaw Kyaw Tun; Philippines Public Safety Undersecretary Peter Irving C. Corvera; Singapore Second Minister of Home and Foreign Affairs Masagos Zulkifli Masagos Mohamad; Thailand Deputy Interior Minister Sutee Markboon; and, Vietnam Public Security Minister Tran Dai Quang.

Also present at the event were Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim and Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Noor Rashid Ibrahim.


Sumber - New Straits Times

AGC: New corruption laws to tackle public office power abuse

Quratul-Ain Bandial
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN


THE Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) yesterday announced the introduction of new corruption laws to address abuse of power and misconduct in public office.

The new laws will allow legal action to be taken against civil servants who fail to carry out their duties to a “high ethical standard”, said the AGC in a statement issued yesterday.

Following extensive discussions between the AGC and the Anti-Corruption Bureau, several amendments have been made to the Prevention of Corruption Act.

New offences have been included in the legislation, criminalising the use of public funds for private purposes; giving undue preferential treatment; misuse of information acquired during the course of duty; and allowing private interests to come into conflict with public duties.

The legislation also states that any public officer who seeks to interfere or influence the “appointment, promotion, suspension, demotion or dismissal” of any other public official, can be prosecuted under the new laws.

Similarly, any civil servant who demonstrates “willful misconduct or neglect of duty” to a degree which amounts to abuse of public trust, is considered guilty of an offence.

The punishment for all the new corruption offences is seven years’ jail and a $30,000 fine.

The AGC added that offences can be committed without the receipt of gratification or monetary benefit.

The legal definition of “public body” has also been changed in the legislation, to include government-linked companies and statutory bodies, such as the Brunei Economic Development Board, Brunei Shell Joint Ventures, Royal Brunei airlines, among others.

The new laws came after His Majesty, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, lambasted police for corrupt practices last March.

“The main purpose of the amendment is to address the concern of His Majesty… during a working visit (paid to the) Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) Headquarters… in respect of corruption in the form of abuse of powers for personal interest,” said the AGC.

During the visit, His Majesty cited several cases of police corruption, including the case of a high-ranking police officer accused of accepting a luxury car from a convicted criminal in exchange for helping him cross the border illegally.

In a fiery address to police officers, the monarch accused RBPF personnel of “elements of lawlessness” such as involvement in gambling, drinking and smuggling banned goods, as well taking bribes to “look the other way”.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Goals have to be meaningful: HM

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of
Brunei Darussalam addressing the Plenary Session of the UN Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015
Agenda in New York yesterday

New York
Sunday, September 27, 2015

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, consented to attend the Plenary Session of the United Nations Summit for the Adoption of the Post-2015 Agenda here yesterday.

His Majesty, in the titah, said as the United Nations commemorates the 70th anniversary this year, it was very timely for the nations to reflect on their work since the Millennium Summit in 2000 and at the same time, look beyond 2015. His Majesty was encouraged by what had been achieved so far with the Millennium Development goals (MDGs).

His Majesty added that the world has witnessed a decline in extreme poverty, an increase in access to primary education in developing regions, and improvements in child as well as maternal health.

These showed that the target-oriented approach taken by the United Nations was both practical and feasible. His Majesty said that, at the same time, there has been different level of progress worldwide which means there is still much work to be done.

His Majesty was therefore pleased that the Secretary-General had presented a new development agenda, covering targets built upon the MDGs and also new objectives to address gaps identified over the past 15 years.

His Majesty felt reassured by the fact that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are people-centred, inclusive and comprehensive. They focus on people, the planet, prosperity, peace, and partnership.

His Majesty added that to achieve the goals, member states have to enhance individual and collective actions. His Majesty further added that they have to work in partnership through capacity building, learning from each other’s experiences, and sharing best practices.

His Majesty also stated that each country has a challenging task ahead, but was optimistic that with firm commitment, they will be able to deliver.

The monarch said it is for this reason that Brunei Darussalam always values cooperation with external partners both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Brunei Darussalam looks forward to further strengthening its relations with various UN agencies, to support national development plans that are in line with the SDGs. Brunei Darussalam also attaches great importance to the work of ASEAN towards realising an ASEAN Community by 2015.

His Majesty added that later this year, ASEAN will adopt its own Post-2015 Vision which will complement and support the global development agenda.

His Majesty further stated that the task now is to focus on the transition from the MDGs to the SDGs, particularly for developing countries. The monarch also agreed with the areas highlighted in the document, which present specific challenges. His Majesty recognised that member states all have different priorities and approaches.

The Sultan, however, saw a commonality in the commitment to place sustainable development at the core of this efforts to give people a better life. These include alleviating poverty, reducing inequalities, promoting quality education, addressing climate change, and achieving gender equality.

His Majesty said the SDGs have to be meaningful for every man, woman and child. It is especially crucial youths to be included because they stand to inherit the new agenda. His Majesty was therefore pleased that the new agenda has rightly emphasised the importance of youths. Furthermore, it will provide a platform for empowerment through initiatives such as the provision of universal access to quality education.

His Majesty also pointed out that investing in people is vital in the pursuit of the future the member states want, adding that they all aspire to create a better world for the peoples and future generations. His Majesty called on the member states to act boldly and urgently, saying the new agenda would provide a valuable roadmap to move forward. His Majesty stated that to succeed, peace and stability must be maintained. His Majesty concluded the titah by expressing support for the adoption of this Post-2015 Development Agenda, and is confident of its success.

Accompanying His Majesty were Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Haji Abd Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Second Minister of Finance at the Prime Minister’s Office; Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng, Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and His Excellency Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Ghafar bin Haji Ismail, Permanent Representative of Brunei Darussalam to the United Nations.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Wanita Brunei capai kemajuan ketara

NEW YORK, 27 Sept – Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam bertitah menyatakan bahawa para perempuan dan wanita di Negara Brunei Darussalam mempunyai peluang yang sama rata untuk meningkatkan pengetahuan dan kemahiran, khususnya bidang-bidang yang sentiasa berkembang seperti ICT.

Dengan pendidikan yang progresif dan peluang pekerjaan yang sama rata, titah Baginda, para wanita telah pun mencapai kedudukan dalam bidang-bidang profesional termasuk perubatan, undang-undang, bisnes dan kejuruteraan.

Dalam tempoh satu dekad, penyertaan wanita dalam tenaga kerja telah meningkat daripada 59 peratus kepada lebih 70 peratus.

Oleh kerana hampir separuh daripada penduduk Negara Brunei Darussalam terdiri daripada wanita, sumbangan mereka ke arah pembangunan nasional amatlah penting.

Baginda menyatakan sedemikian semasa mengurniakan titah pada Sidang Kemuncak Pemimpin-Pemimpin Global Mengenai Kesetaraan Gender dan Memperkasa Wanita, di Conference Room 4, Ibu Pejabat Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB), New York, Amerika Syarikat, hari ini.

Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia mula-mula bertitah merakamkan ucapan terima kasih kepada Presiden Republik Rakyat China, Tuan Yang Terutama Xi Jinping, dan Setiausaha Agung PBB, Tuan Yang Terutama Ban Ki-moon kerana menjunjung dan menjemput Baginda menghadiri sidang kemuncak tersebut.

Baginda seterusnya bertitah menyatakan bahawa ucapan alu-aluan yang telah disampaikan oleh kedua-dua pengerusi berkenaan penuh inspirasi dan berpandangan jauh. Baginda juga bertitah merakamkan ucapan penghargaan kepada Presiden Republik Rakyat China atas inisiatif mengadakan mesyuarat bersama dengan UN-Women.

Baginda kemudiannya bertitah bahawa mesyuarat berkenaan diadakan tepat pada masanya iaitu bersempena dengan ulang tahun ke-70 PBB dan bagi menerima pakai Agenda Pembangunan Pasca-2015.

Kepimpinan Negara China dalam menerajui isu kesetaraan gender dan memperkasa wanita adalah sangat dihargai. Walaupun setelah lebih 20 tahun, Deklarasi Beijing (Beijing Declaration) dan Wadah bagi Tindakan (Platform of Action) masih diguna pakai sebagai sumber panduan dan inspirasi, selain menjadi rangka tindakan yang progresif bagi kemajuan wanita di mana sahaja. Baginda turut menghargai sumbangan negara-negara Mexico, Denmark dan Kenya kepada isu penting tersebut.

Baginda turut melahirkan rasa gembira mengetahui pembangunan wanita telah mencapai kemajuan yang ketara.

Bagi Negara Brunei Darussalam, Baginda menitahkan pengalaman dalam isu berkenaan adalah berasaskan kepada dasar menyediakan akses universal kepada pendidikan yang telah sekian lama berjalan untuk semua. Pada tahun 1950an, di bawah kepimpinan bijaksana Ayahanda Baginda, Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien, pendidikan diberikan secara percuma tanpa mengira jantina.

Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia seterusnya bertitah melahirkan rasa gembira bahawa pada tahun lepas, Forum Ekonomi Sedunia (World Economic Forum) mengenai Jurang Gender Global (Global Gender Gap) telah melaporkan Negara Brunei Darussalam berada di kedudukan ke-7 dalam pendaftaran dan kemasukan wanita ke pengajian tinggi. Dengan kepesatan globalisasi, pembelajaran sepanjang hayat telah diberikan perhatian yang serius.

Baginda seterusnya menambah bahawa wanita di Brunei mempunyai akses yang sama rata kepada kemudahan penjagaan kesihatan, yang bersifat percuma kepada semua penduduk.

Sejak dua dekad yang lalu, jangka hayat wanita telah mengalami peningkatan kepada 80 tahun. Wanita juga semakin aktif dalam bidang perniagaan melalui pelbagai skim pinjaman kredit.

Baginda juga bertitah melahirkan kegembiraan bahawa lebih separuh daripada perniagaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) di Brunei dimiliki oleh wanita, yang telah berdikari dalam bidang ekonomi. Baginda seterusnya bertitah bahawa Brunei juga membuat usaha-usaha untuk melindungi hak-hak wanita melalui perundangan dan pelan-pelan tindakan yang akan terus dikemas kini dari semasa ke semasa.

Di peringkat serantau, Brunei adalah sebahagian daripada Suruhanjaya ASEAN bagi Promosi dan Perlindungan Hak-hak Wanita dan Kanak-kanak.

Deklarasi ASEAN bagi Menghapuskan Keganasan Terhadap Wanita dan Kanak-Kanak telah diterima pakai semasa Brunei menjadi tuan rumah Sidang Kemuncak ASEAN pada tahun 2013.

Baginda seterusnya bertitah bahawa usaha-usaha berterusan Brunei untuk memenuhi tanggungjawab-tanggungjawab antarabangsa dipamerkan melalui komitmen kepada Matlamat Pembangunan Milenium (MDGs), Matlamat Pembangunan Mapan (SDGs) dan Persidangan Bagi Menghapuskan Semua Bentuk Diskriminasi Terhadap Wanita.

Baginda bertitah walaupun Brunei telah mencapai banyak kemajuan, masih ada banyak lagi yang perlu dilaksanakan bagi merealisasikan potensi penuh wanita dalam pembangunan negara. Oleh itu, peranan yang seimbang dan perkongsian yang dimainkan oleh lelaki dan wanita adalah mustahak.

Di akhir titah, Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia melahirkan rasa gembira untuk mengesahkan lagi komitmen Negara Brunei Darussalam dalam melaksanakan matlamat-matlamat Deklarasi Beijing dan Wadah bagi Tindakan.

Mengiringi keberangkatan Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia ialah Menteri Kewangan II (Kedua) di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim; Menteri Hal Ehwal Luar Negeri dan Perdagangan II (Kedua), Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng; dan Wakil Tetap Negara Brunei Darussalam ke PBB, Tuan Yang Terutama Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Ghafar bin Haji Ismail.


Sumber - Media Permata

Is ASEAN Losing Its Way?

By Amitav Acharya

Fragmented ASEAN balks at taking a position on China’s creeping expansionism in the South China Sea

The Association of Southeast Asia Nations has prided itself on its “ASEAN Way” – an informal and non-legalistic way of doing business, especially its culture of consultations and consensus that have resolved disputes peacefully.

That way of doing may be fading among signs the group’s unity is seriously eroding. Against the backdrop of the rise of an assertive China, signs of disunity spell trouble for the region.

There are several reasons for this disunity. First, ASEAN today is a much bigger entity. Membership expanded in the 1990s to include Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia, with East Timor likely to be the 11th member. ASEAN’s functions and issues have also expanded. Economic cooperation has expanded from the idea of a free trade agreement to a more comprehensive economic community, which technically enters into force this year.

ASEAN cooperation extends to a range of transnational issues from intelligence-sharing, counterterrorism, and maritime security to environmental degradation, air pollution, pandemics, energy security, food security, migration and people-smuggling, drug-trafficking, human rights and disaster management.

With an expanded membership, agenda and area of concern, it’s only natural that ASEAN would face more internal disagreements. It’s thus not surprising that one of the most serious breakdowns of consensus have involved its new members. Cambodia, as ASEAN’s chair, disastrously refused to issue a joint ASEAN communique in 2012 to please China – its new backer and aid donor – rejecting the position of fellow members, Philippines and Vietnam, on the South China Sea dispute.

Compounding challenges is the uncertain leadership of Indonesia. There are signs that the Joko Widodo government has downgraded Indonesia’s leadership role in ASEAN especially as the de facto consensus-builder of ASEAN on both intra- and extra-ASEAN conflicts, including the South China Sea. Jokowi’s “less multilateralism, more national interest” foreign policy approach, in sharp contrast to his predecessor Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s active leadership of ASEAN, could change. If not, the danger is that if the democratic, economically dynamic and stable Indonesia does not take ASEAN seriously neither will the world at large.

Without a doubt, ASEAN’s main security challenge is the territorial disputes in the South China Sea. While not a new problem, the disagreement has telescoped due to recent Chinese activities. The most recent example: China’s reclamation activities in the Fiery Reef claimed by Vietnam and Mischief Reef and surrounding areas also claimed by the Philippines. This reflects a shift in China’s approach. While the Chinese military has pressed for land reclamation for some time, the leadership of Hu Jintao had resisted such moves. That restraint ended under the leadership of Xi Jinping, who is more prone to seek the PLA’s counsel in foreign policy issues related to national security and who has advanced China’s assertiveness on economic, diplomatic and military fronts. China is developing the islands further for both area denial and sea-control purposes and as a staging post for blue-water deployments into the Indian Ocean.

ASEAN’s Challenge: China in the South China Sea

These developments challenge ASEAN’s role and “centrality” in the Asian security architecture. The economic ties of individual ASEAN members lead them to adopt varying positions. Until now, ASEAN’s advantage was that there was no alternative convening power in the region. But mere positional “centrality” is meaningless without an active and concerted ASEAN leadership to tackle problems, especially the South China Sea dispute.

Episodes such as the failure to issue a joint ASEAN communique in 2012 have led to the perception that ASEAN unity is fraying and China is a major factor. According to this view, China is out to divide and conquer even as it pays lip-service to ASEAN centrality. This perception results from China’s seeming willingness to use disagreements within ASEAN, especially the consensus-breaking stance of Cambodia, insisting that ASEAN stay out of the South China Sea conflict, as an excuse to resist an early conclusion of the South China Sea Code of Conduct. China also takes the unwillingness of some ASEAN members to use strong language to criticize China as a sign of disunity. China cites earlier differences within ASEAN regarding the scope of the code of conduct over the inclusion of the Paracels, as desired by Hanoi. Moreover, China views the code as crisis-prevention tool rather than a dispute-settlement mechanism.

Divide and Rule

China needs to dispel perceptions that it is playing a divide-and-rule approach. It should also stop objecting to bringing the South China Sea question onto the agenda of the ASEAN Regional Forum and the East Asia Summit, on the pretext that not all ASEAN members are party to the dispute and outside countries such as the United States have no business even discussing the issue. This has the effect of undermining the very idea of ASEAN centrality or relevance that Beijing purports to uphold. It’s hard to see what the rationale for having these meetings might be without discussion of one of the most serious challenges to regional security and well-being.

As for ASEAN, it must not remove itself from South China Sea issue. If anything, it should give even more focused attention to the disputes. One must not forget the lessons of the conflict triggered by the Vietnamese invasion and occupation of Cambodia from December 1978 to September 1989. Neither Vietnam nor Cambodia were members of ASEAN, and only Thailand was regarded as the “frontline state.” Then, ASEAN decided to involve itself in a conflict between two non-members because it considered the Vietnamese action a breach of regional norms and a threat to regional stability.

Today, four of ASEAN members are parties to the conflict, out of which two are “frontline states”: Philippines and, ironically enough, Vietnam. The South China Sea conflict poses an even more serious threat to regional stability, and it is a legitimate concern of ASEAN as a group.

Finally, a word about the view put forward by some that ASEAN is irrelevant and should stay out of the South China conflict.

The alternatives are few and bleak. US military action? It may have a deterrent value against the worst-case scenario of a full-blown Chinese invasion of the islands, but is unlikely to prevent the more likely scenario of China’s creeping expansion. Any US-China understanding is useful for crisis management, but ASEAN would have to worry whether in the long-term it would lead to US concessions to China – such as refraining from militarily and diplomatically challenging China’s position in the islands and surrounding areas.A decision by the Permanent Court of Arbitration in the Hague, which is considering a motion filed by the Philippines challenging the legality of China’s nine-dash line, may end up in Manila’s favor. This would help ASEAN, even if China rejects that verdict. But to make the most of such an opportunity, ASEAN would need to show collective support for such a verdict, and it might help if other claimants, such as Vietnam, also initiate similar legal action. China rejects a more direct role by the East Asia Summit, led by ASEAN anyway, because of US membership. The international community should render more support and encouragement to ASEAN to persist with its diplomacy in the conflict. And Indonesia needs to get back in this game.


Sumber - Asia Sentinel

Esmail Kiram II, Sultan of Sulu - obituary

Sultan of Sulu whose claim to Malaysian-held Sabah on Borneo led to an ill-fated attempted invasion

Esmail Kiram II, who has died aged 75, was the self-proclaimed Sultan of Sulu, a tiny archipelago province of the Philippines that, in 2013, staged an invasion of the Malaysian enclave of Sabah on Borneo, sparking a security crisis.

The Kiram sultanate of Sulu, which emerged in the 1400s, built a reputation for its feared Tausug warriors and for several centuries the sultans ruled over vast tracts of land and ocean – including parts of Borneo – from opulent palaces.

The sultanate’s claim to Sabah (the island of Borneo is divided between Indonesia in the south, and Brunei and the Malaysian states of Sarawak and Sabah to the north), dates back to 1658 when it was said to have been granted sovereignty by the Sultan of Brunei in return for help repelling foreign invaders. Over the next two centuries, however, agreements were signed with British trading companies which ended, in 1878, with resource-rich Sabah being leased to Baron Von Overbeck for the British North Borneo Company. Eventually the British Crown claimed absolute sovereignty.

At around the same time the sultanate came under the control of Spain in Manila. In 1885 Britain, Germany and Spain signed an agreement to cement Spanish influence over the islands of the Philippines under which Spain relinquished all claim to territories in Borneo which had belonged to the sultanate in the past to the British.

When Malaysia was granted independence in 1963, Sabah voted to became part of its territory. But in a further twist the Philippine government staked its own claim to Sabah because the then sultan of Sulu, Esmail Kiram I, had signed an agreement giving Manila the right to claim the territory. At one point the disputed claim led the Philippines and Malaysia to sever diplomatic ties.

Shunted aside by history, the sultans are still regarded as royalty by about 75,000 followers in Sulu – one of the poorest regions of the Philippines – but are no longer officially recognised by the Manila government and have little else to do other than nurse historic grievances.

In recent years a dispute over succession rights within the family was sparked by the decision, in 1990, of Esmail’s elder brother Jamalul, who had been crowned sultan in 1986, to leave Sulu for Manila to enter politics and showbusiness in violation of sultanate law. As rival claimants jostled for position, in 2001 Esmail was crowned “Reigning Sultan” by the elders of Sulu. However in November 2012 Jamalul once again proclaimed himself sultan and set about securing his position by reasserting his claim to Sabah. As Jamalul was by then living in a shabby two-storey house in a poor suburb of Manila, Esmail continued to administer the court in Sulu as co-regent.

On February 11 2013 a group of around 200 armed men led by another brother, Agbimuddin Kiram, set off to cross the narrow stretch of sea between Sulu and Sabah. The intrusion led to a standoff between the sultan’s followers and Malaysian authorities, followed by a rout which cost the lives of 63 Sulu militants and 10 members of the Malaysian security forces, and forced more than 6,000 Filipinos to flee Sabah. The crisis, the most serious in Malaysia in more than a decade, strained the country’s relationship with the Philippines.

When Jamalul died in October 2013, Esmail was named sultan. He refused to give up his claims to Sabah which he described as “undeniable and indisputable” and appealed to the UN “to take the necessary preferential attentions for a peaceful resolution of the conflict to avoid further bloodshed .”

One of 13 children of Sultan Punjungan Kiram, Esmail Kiram was born on November 9 1939, in Maimbung, Sulu, and was directly descended from the first sultan, Sharif ul–Hashim (1405-?).

Another brother, Phugdal Kiram, has been named the new sultan.


Sumber - Telegraph

Brunei exports down 47.8% in July

Leo Kasim
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN


BRUNEI’S exports in July fell 47.8 per cent to $647.4 million on a year-on-year basis owing to a sharp decline in oil and gas exports, according to data from the Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE).

The latest International Merchandise Trade Statistics (IMTS) published by the department disclosed oil and gas export revenues, which account for over 90 per cent of the sultanate’s exports, declined by 49.5 per cent to $593.4 million.

Export value for crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) declined by 60.9 per cent and 37 per cent respectively.

Lower global prices of both crude and LNG squeezed Brunei’s oil and gas export revenues.

The export price of crude oil decreased by 46.7 per cent, from US$110.58 per barrel in July 2014 to US$58.91 per barrel in July 2015. Likewise, LNG prices declined by 44.3 per cent year-on-year from US$16.56 per million metric British thermal units (MMBtu) to US$9.23 MMBtu.

JPKE said trade volume of crude oil declined to 97.60 kbbl (thousand barrels) per day in July from 145.09 kbbl per day during the same month last year. This is the lowest trade volume so far this year.

But trade volume of LNG slightly increased by 1.6 per cent year-on-year to 887,420 MMBtu/day in July.

Most of Brunei’s exports went to Japan, which accounted for 28.3 per cent of the sultanate’s export market. This was followed by South Korea, with 23.5 per cent and India, with 15.2 per cent.

Merchandise imports decreased by 27.4 per cent from $477.2 million to $346.6 million. JPKE attributed this to lower imports for mineral fuels which fell by 69.4 per cent from $53.2 million to $16.3 million.

More than 20 per cent of Brunei’s imports came from Malaysia. This was followed by Singapore and China which accounted for 16.3 per cent and 14.2 per cent respectively of total imports.

Total trade narrowed by 42.1 per cent from $1.7 billion in July 2014.

The IMTS for Brunei Darussalam adopts the General System for recording trade statistics which cover imports, domestic exports and re-exports. The IMTS full report for July 2015 is available from JPKE’s website www.depd.gov.bn.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

BELASUNGKAWA

19 September 2015, JALAN KEBANGSAAN : Dukacita dimaklumkan Pak Haji Zaini bin Haji Ahmad, salah seorang Pemimpin PRB, telah kembali ke Rahmatullah pada pagi tadi di rumah kediaman beliau di alamat No.59 Spg 336-52 Jalan Kebangsaan.

Beliau antara pimpinan PRB yang paling aktif dalam perjuangan kemerdekaan, dan pada 1957 turut bersama A.M Azahari dan Yasin Affandy mewakili PRB di London dalam perundingan dengan Colonial Office berhubung penggubalan Perlembagaan Brunei.

Selepas peristiwa pemberontakan 8 Disember 1962, beliau antara ahli PRB yang turut menjadi mangsa tahanan selama lebih sepuluh tahun.

Pada bulan Julai dan November 1975 beliau bersama A.M Azahari dan Yasin Affandy sekali lagi diberi kepercayaan di dalam rombongan PRB ke United Nations (PBB) untuk mengemukakan petisyen bagi menuntut Kemerdekaan Brunei. Akhirnya, sebuah Resolusi telah diterima oleh PBB mengenai tuntutan tersebut yang dikenali sebagai Resolusi PBB 3424 (1975).

Semoga Allah SWT mencucuri rahmat ke atas roh Allahyarham dan moga Allahyarham ditempatkan bersama orang-orang yang soleh. Amin Ya Rabbal Alamin.

BELASUNGKAWA

17 September 2015, LIMBARUH HIJAU : Bendera 'Sang Setia' hari ini dikibar separuh tiang bagi menghormati Naib Presiden Parti Pembangunan Bangsa Daerah Tutong, Allahyarham Saudara Haji Ismail bin Ibrahim yang kembali ke Rahmatullah pada pagi tadi.

Allahyarham menghembuskan nafas terakhir di Hospital Pg Muda Mahkota Pg Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Daerah Tutong.

Jenazah Allahyarham selamat dikebumikan di Tanah Perkuburan Orang-Orang Islam Telisai.

Allahyarham Haji Ismail bin Ibrahim merupakan salah seorang Ahli NDP yang banyak berjasa dan menyumbang kepada pergerakan NDP khususnya di Daerah Tutong.

Semoga Allahyarham ditempatkan Allah SWT bersama para syuhada. Amin Ya Rabbal Alamin.

Tiba masanya kaji isu-isu penuaan

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 8 Sept – Sudah tiba masanya Brunei Darussalam mempunyai satu penyelidikan dan analisis mengenai pelbagai dimensi isu-isu penuaan yang dianggap penting untuk menyokong dasar-dasar berasaskan bukti dan perundangan untuk melindungi dan mempromosikan hak asasi warga tua.

Menurut laporan Jabatan Pembangunan Masyarakat (JAPEM), Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan, seramai 28,706 orang tua menerima elaun bulanan pencen tua setakat Ogos 2015.

Sementara itu, pada 2014, penduduk Brunei mencecah 422,675 dengan 4 peratus berusia 65 ke atas, dan kadar jangka hayat ialah 76.6 bagi lelaki dan 79.8 bagi wanita.

Naib Presiden 1 Majlis Kesejahteraan Masyarakat (MKM) yang juga selaku penjawat kini Setiausaha Majlis Serantau bagi Kebajikan Sosial di Rantau Tenggara Asia dan Pasifik (ICSW SEAP), Dayang Nur Judy binti Abdullah dipetik sebagai berkata sedemikian dalam kenyataan yang dikeluarkan oleh MKM, di sini, hari ini, selepas menghadiri Forum ASEAN GO-NGO mengenai Kebajikan Sosial dan Pembangunan ke-10, yang berlangsung di Sheraton Imperial Hotel, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, kelmarin.

Beliau berkata perlindungan undang-undang bagi warga tua daripada sebarang bentuk pengabaian dan penganiayaan fizikal, kewangan dan emosi telah diketengahkan dalam forum berkenaan.

Katanya, Klinik Penasihat dan Nasihat Perundangan MKM telah menyediakan akses kepada keadilan bagi warga emas di negara ini dan sukarelawan MKM telah mengendalikan kes-kes warga emas berkaitan dengan perbalahan harta serta menyediakan nasihat kebajikan mengenai keperluan perumahan dan pentadbiran teratur pencen tua oleh anggota keluarga.

Menurut kenyataan MKM, forum di antara agensi-agensi kerajaan (GO) dan bukan kerajaan (NGO) itu membincangkan tema Memperkasa Warga Tua di ASEAN, yang dipengerusikan bersama oleh ICSW SEAP dengan Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Komuniti Malaysia. Sementara itu, MKM merupakan ahli aktif ICSW dan menghadiri forum berkenaan menerusi tajaan ICSW.

Forum berkenaan memberikan peluang bagi delegasi-delegasi agensi kerajaan dan bukan kerajaan untuk bertukar-tukar pandangan mengenai isu-isu yang berkaitan dengan memperkasa warga emas di negara-negara anggota ASEAN termasuk pekerjaan/pengambilan semula bekerja yang fleksibel, pembelajaran sepanjang hayat, keselamatan pendapatan, pencen sosial, penjagaan kesihatan, perkhidmatan penjagaan kesihatan dan program-program kebajikan sosial lain bagi warga tua.


Sumber - Media Permata

ASEAN ministers tackle food security

Sixteen ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will visit the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) on September 12 to strengthen agricultural cooperation and ensure food security across the region.

The visit is part of the 37th meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) hosted by the Philippines this year.

“It is high time for ASEAN member countries, which are in the largest rice-growing regions of the world to support the scientific research necessary for the sustainability of their rice sectors,” said Bruce Tolentino, deputy director general for communication and partnerships of IRRI.

Tolentino said IRRI is fulfilling its crucial role in providing the scientific foundation, technical support, and capacity-building to each of the ASEAN member-countries “in pursuing their own national rice and food security programs.”

Each ASEAN member-nation has its own strategy and approach in meeting targets in this area.

Some Southeast Asian countries, such as Vietnam and Thailand, export rice, while the Philippines and Indonesia, among others, are rice importers.

Myanmar is on its way to regaining its agricultural competitiveness. In the 1950s, Myanmar led the ASEAN countries in rice exports.

Brunei and Singapore, on the other hand, do import rice, and only the best quality rice. Moreover, Singapore is making investments to become the ASEAN cen¬ter for biotechnology.

“So, each of these countries has differing approaches to achieving their food security goals. But all of these countries are bound together because there is a common ASEAN-wide framework for food security,” Tolentino explained.

That framework, according to him, which also includes a strategic action plan on food security, does not simply focus on strengthening the national capacity of each of the ASEAN member countries to produce any agricultural commodity, but also facilitation of trade.

The strategic action plan was conceptualized as part of the ASEAN member states’ need for a long-term agricultural development plan that focuses on sustainable food production and trade, especially in the context of problems brought about by the food crisis in 2007 to 2008.

The ASEAN Integrated Food Security Framework, along with the Strategic Plan of Action on Food Security in the ASEAN Region, enables sharing of any agricultural commodity.

A close inspection of various countries reveals variation in natural resources for rice production. This is also the case for other crops and agricultural commodities.

“In effect, there will be a country agenda and there will be a regional agenda, tied together by trade. ASEAN countries could look at exporting high-quality rice to, say, Europe, for example. And Africa is a major growth area because of its rising demand for rice. All these topics, including IRRI’s support to the Philippine Department of Agriculture’s Food Staples Sufficiency Program will be part of the discussions during the ASEAN event next week,” he noted.

Aside from the 37th AMAF, the Philippines is also hosting the 15th AMAF Plus Three Meetings with China, Japan, and South Korea this year.


Sumber - The Manila Times Online

Top surveyor found guilty of all 20 corruption charges

Syazwan Sadikin
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN


BRUNEI’S surveyor-general and a contractor have been found guilty of all corruption charges at the Magistrates’ Court yesterday in a trial that lasted more than three years.

Hj Mohammed Jamil Hj Mohammed Ali was found guilty of four counts of corruptly accepting $7,155.31 in bribes, to vary tender specifications for a government spatial mapping project.

The surveyor-general had accepted six return plane tickets, bill payments for car servicing, mobile phone chargers and broadband Internet from co-accused Puah Heng Yew of Selective Powertech Consulting.

Hj Mohammed Jamil was also found guilty of all 16 charges under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which forbids public servants from obtaining “valuable things” in the line of duty. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of seven years in jail and a fine.

Intermediate Court Judge Hj Abdullah Soefri POKSM DSP Hj Abidin also found Puah guilty of bribing the surveyor-general as an inducement or reward to vary tender specifications for a e-government project.

The court further found Puah guilty of abetting the commission of offences that were committed by the surveyor-general.

The case revolved around a $9.5 million e-government project to create a national spatial data infrastructure, which was awarded to Puah’s Selective Powertech Consulting in 2007.

However, it was revealed during the trial that the implementation of the project experienced problems such as delays in delivering hardware and disagreements between project members and the surveyor-general, while the Ministry of Development had been unaware of the changes made by Hj Mohammed Jamil.

The project was deemed “unsalvageable” after the contractor failed to meet its one-year completion date even after the firm was given an extension twice when the project fell behind schedule.

During the trial, Deputy Public Prosecutor Aldila Hj Mohd Salleh had called 15 prosecution witnesses including the former Deputy Permanent Secretary of Development Eddie Dato Paduka Hj Sunny and Deputy Auditor-general Pg Siti Norbaya Pg Shaminan.

Following the verdict yesterday, the court extended both defendants’ $10,000 bail and one local surety pending their mitigation on Saturday, September 13.

Defence counsel Ahmad Basuni Hj Abbas will be giving the mitigation on behalf of Hj Mohammed Jamil, while defence lawyer Mohd Shazale Salleh is representing Puah.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Usah alpa dengan kedudukan

Oleh Abdul Rahim Haji Ismail


BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 7 Sept – Sikap mementingkan kedudukan dan anggapan bahawa sebagai pegawai kerajaan mereka mempunyai status berbeza daripada orang ramai, membuatkan sebahagian mereka hilang punca atau lupa sebab mengapa mereka sebenarnya wujud dan ‘makan gaji’ dengan kerajaan serta alpa akan kewajipan sebenar terhadap orang ramai.

Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Wahab bin Juned berkata, fahaman perkhidmatan awam itu sebahagian daripada kerajaan dan berada di strata yang tinggi dan tidak berasingan dengan pihak bukan kerajaan, adalah fahaman yang keliru serta tidak menguntungkan.

Ketika mengimbas kembali kefahaman terhadap makan gaji dalam perkhidmatan awam, beliau berkata, gaji yang diterima perlu dinilai mengikut nilai perkhidmatan di pasaran.

Ini kerana produktiviti terlalu lemah berbanding dengan kadar gaji yang tinggi, keadaan yang tidak seimbang akan mewujudkan kedudukan yang tidak berdaya tahan.

“Justeru perkhidmatan awam perlu kompetitif, bersaing dan mempunyai daya saing,” katanya semasa berucap pada Majlis Penutup Program Pembangunan Eksekutif Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan ke-22 serta Program Pembangunan Eksekutif bagi Pegawai Kerajaan Peringkat Pertengahan ke-20 dan ke-21, hari ini.

Beliau turut menekankan bahawa pihak pengurusan dalam perkhidmatan awam perlu mencapai keberkesanan yang lebih tinggi untuk mengimbangi nisbah tenaga manusia yang tinggi berbanding keperluan, kerana senario itu boleh menyebabkan kedudukan yang kurang efisien.

Dengan tenaga manusia yang terlalu ramai, sewajarnya pencapaian Tekad Pemedulian Orang Ramai (TPOR) berlipat ganda keberkesanannya dan impak ke atas nilai TPOR akan lebih positif dengan jaminan perkhidmatan akan terus berubah dari satu tingkat persada kepada tingkat persada yang lebih tinggi lagi.

Menurut Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Wahab, jumlah tenaga manusia dalam perkhidmatan awam adalah satu aspek penting yang perlu dibawa ke tahap optimum.

“Semakin lama negara kita membangun, tanggungjawab dan komitmen kerajaan kian bertambah dan dalam keadaan ini peluang perlu kita ambil untuk menggunakan tenaga manusia yang sedia ada secara optimum,” ujarnya.

Seramai 73 peserta program berkenaan menerima sijil mereka hari ini.

Program Pembangunan Eksekutif bagi Pegawai Kerajaan yang dianjurkan oleh Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kapasiti kepimpinan dan kewibawaan pegawai kanan kerajaan.


Sumber - Media Permata

US cautions against using force in territorial dispute

Rabiatul Kamit
BRUNEI-MUARA


THE United States yesterday cautioned claimants in the South China Sea dispute against using strong-arm tactics as territorial tensions threaten to undermine maritime security in the region.

Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lieutenant General Vincent R Stewart said the US opposes the use of threat or force or coercion by any claimant to advance their own claims.

“Maritime security is an issue particularly relevant to the Asia-Pacific region and one that requires an international solution,” he said during the opening of the Eighth Asia-Pacific Intelligence Chiefs Conference here.

Warning claimants to steer away from strong-arm tactics, he asserted the US has “a national interest in freedom of navigation, maintenance of peace and stability, respect for international law and unimpeded lawful commerce in the South China Sea”.

Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and China have overlapping claims in the South China Sea, which is believed to be rich in natural resources.

The director also called on Asia-Pacific intelligence chiefs to seek a collective approach to neutralise the threat of “homegrown radicalisation to return of foreign fighters from Jihadi hotspots”.

“Terrorism threatens us all. When the foreign fighters who went to Syria return home, and they will, there’s potential for re-energising terrorist organisations leading to increased violence in Southeast Asia,” he said.

Lieutenant General Stewart urged them to explore ways to remove or mitigate the conditions that feed radicalism as well as to counter such “violent and extreme ideology”.

“Underlying all of these efforts is the need to collaborate to find innovative approaches for our intelligence practices and personnel. At the Defense Intelligence Agency, we are focused on building the analysts of the future to deal with a myriad of threats and challenges that we all face,” he said.

He noted they face threats from nation states as well as organisations that “look and act like nation states, but are destructive to the established order”.

“We face complex threats in both kinetic, nuclear arms states and non-kinetic cyberspace challenges. We face threats in a dynamic world in which information moves faster than most of us are capable of understanding what is going on in the world,” he added.

To help decision-makers make critical decisions, the director said they must focus on building their core skills, knowledge and leadership.

He said intelligence professionalisation is fundamental in ensuring organisations can effectively do their jobs to protect national and regional security, pointing out diversity in sharing lessons “offers opportunities to develop new ideas and compliment military capabilities”.

Meanwhile, Brunei’s intelligence director Captain Abdul Rahman Bakar said the scope of challenges is “getting bigger and wider, compounded by a variety of unknowns”.

He believed it is no longer sufficient to merely engage with immediate neighbours or regional grouping alone as the corresponding expectations and demands on intelligence have been growing.

“No matter how good or valuable any kind of information and its accompanying analysis may be, intelligence is deemed a failure and ineffective if it is not timely,” he said.

Highlighting the importance of intelligence networks, Captain Abdul Rahman noted the conference has paved the way for the building of “an informal yet efficient” information-sharing network made available to Asia-Pacific intelligence chiefs.

He said such linkages are necessary in providing a more accurate and timely insight into regional as well as global security to aid decision-makers in formulating strategies to address risks and threats.

The three-day conference opened at The Empire Hotel and Country Club yesterday, bringing together military intelligence chiefs from 24 countries. It is the first time Brunei is co-hosting the conference with the US.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Indonesia anticipates risk of dispute in South China Sea

Indonesia will strengthen its weaponry systems on Natuna Island in order to anticipate future threats from the South China Sea dispute.

Natuna, located 550 kilometers east of Batam Island, borders Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia. The island is on the border of Indonesia that is nearest to the South China Sea.

"We will equip Natuna with a port and extend its military air base runway. The runway should be enough to accommodate four jet fighters," Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu told journalists.

He added that more jet fighters would be stationed at the Ranai military air base in Natuna.

The defence minister has made a list of weapons systems needed for borders, saying having proper weapons systems along the borders was necessary to prevent possible threats to Indonesia's territory.

"We are not in a war situation, but the South China Sea is very close to us. We have to be prepared. Our weaponry systems are good, but we need to add more [weapons], so that we don't need to worry all the time," he said.

The South China Sea is a semi-enclosed sea bordering China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan.

Due to its proximity to so many nations, complicated, often sensitive questions over jurisdiction are common. In recent years, a series of disputes over islands have rocked relations between China and other countries.

Previously, Indonesia had upgraded a naval base (Lanal) in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, to become the Main Naval Base (Lantamal), also to anticipate similar risks of disputes erupting in the sea.

"[We should] maintain security and stability in the South China Sea, especially with the recently increasing intensity of threats," Navy chief of staff Adm. Ade Supandi said last week.

Besides allocating more weapons systems to Natuna, the Defence Ministry is starting to inspect the preparedness of weapons systems in all battalions of the Navy, Army and Air Force. The inspection was directly ordered by President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to discover the condition of the weapons systems.

"We should know from the soldiers which weapons should be replaced or repaired," Minister Ryamizard said after conducting inspections in three military units: the Army's Special Forces (Kopassus), Cavalry Battalion Yonkav 1/1 Kostrad and Infantry Batallion Yudha Jaya in Jakarta.

Ryamizard said that he had also reported the audit of the weaponry systems to President Jokowi and so far the response was quite good.

"The most important thing is to maintain the weapons systems [that we have bought]. Our weapons are brand new and the maintenance should be done seriously," he said.

Indonesia is now working to strengthen its minimum essential force (MEF). It was reported that Indonesia met 38 per cent of the MEF in 2014 and aimed to reach 100 per cent by 2019. The country has allocated Rp 100 trillion (US$7.07 billion or S$110 billion) to meet the MEF.

After a long discussion, including a comparison of five different types of jet fighters, the ministry also decided to procure Russian-made Sukhoi SU-35s to replace the retiring F-5 Tiger jet fighters.

The Sukhoi purchase will be carried out in stages depending on the government's financial capacity.

"We wanted to buy one squadron, but we are aware of the current [financial] situation so maybe [we will buy] around eight [units]. The jets will be all brand new and have complete weapons," Ryamizard said.

The current price of a Sukhoi Su-35 is estimated to be US$65 million (S$93 million).

It was reported that before being selected, the Sukhoi SU-35 had to compete against four other types; the American-made F-16 Block 60, the Swedish-made JAS-39 Gripen, the Eurofighter Typhoon, a collaboration between Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK, and the French-made Rafale jet fighter.

Ryamizard said that besides purchasing the Sukhoi Su-35s, Indonesia also planned to procure Boeing aircraft and Chinook helicopters from the US.


Sumber - AsiaOne

Titah Kebawah DYMM sempena sambutan Hari Belia Kebangsaan 2015

Assalamu'alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem
Alhamdulillah Rabbil 'Alameen, Wabihiee Nasta'eenu 'Alaa Umuuriddunya Wadden, Wassalaatu' Wassalaamu 'Ala Asyarafil Mursaleen,Sayyidina Muhammaddin, Wa'alaa Aalihee Wasahbihee Ajma'een, Waba'du.

Alhamdulillah, beta bersyukur ke hadrat Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala kerana dapat berkumpul untuk menyambut Hari Belia Kebangsaan Ke-10 Tahun 2015 yang bertema : 'Belia Berwawasan Menjana Ekonomi'.

Beta terlebih dahulu mengucapkan Selamat Menyambut Hari Belia kepada semua para belia di negara ini.

Beta amat teruja dengan bertambahnya bilangan profesional, usahawan, karyawan dan tenaga mahir di kalangan para belia kita.

Kita juga berbangga dapat menyaksikan belia-belia itu sudah mula menceburkan diri di bidang-bidang yang kurang diminati, seperti bidang bertanam padi dan membuat kerja-kerja lasak seperti memandu kenderaan berat dan scaffolding.

Demikian juga, golongan belia telah mula terlibat menerokai bidang-bidang baru, seperti bidang industri kreatif, dan juga tidak ketinggalan untuk menceburi pasaran luar negara.

Kaum belia juga didapati aktif melakukan kerja-kerja amal atau sukarela, dan ini, bukan sahaja dilakukan di dalam negara malahan juga di luar negara. Semua itu, amatlah membanggakan kita.

Kaum belia memang digalakkan untuk melakukan apa jua perkara yang bermanfaat, terutama untuk meneroka bidang-bidang baru atau sanggup membuat kerja-kerja lasak, seperti turun ke sawah di bawah panas matahari dan lain-lain. Ini semua sangatlah berguna kepada belia, selaku ejen masyarakat.

Menyebut belia ejen masyarakat, adalah penting bagi mereka itu, untuk memiliki jati diri dan sikap yang mantap.

Kerana tanpa jati diri dan sikap, seorang belia itu tidak akan dipandang hebat.

Maksud beta dengan jati diri di sini, ialah yang original, yang asli, yang bukan disalin atau ditiru daripada orang lain, lebih-lebih lagi kalau yang ditiru itu bertentangan dengan budaya dan adab sopan kita yang baik.

Salah satu contoh budaya dan jati diri yang baik orang-orang Brunei, ialah suka memakai songkok. Sehingga dalam banyak keadaan, mereka itu dapat dilihat memakainya terutama sekali ketika sembahyang dan membaca Al-Qur'an.

Ia sangat sopan dan cantik dipandang mata, dan bahkan, ia juga menjanjikan pahala kepada kita. Kerana bukankah menutup kepala itu salah satu dari sunnah Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam?

Tetapi agak malang, di era mutakhir ini, orang sembahyang dan membaca Al-Qur'an pun sudah ada yang tidak memakai songkok. Ini bukan budaya dan jati diri kita, tetapi satu budaya baru yang didapat daripada luar, termasuk yang ditiru dari media.

Beta ingin berpesan, kalau hendak meniru pun, biarlah yang baik, bukan meniru perkara yang tidak baik, apatah lagi yang merugikan.

Ini adalah di antara cabaran yang sedang menunggu para belia kita, di mana mereka itu sangat penting untuk mengelakkan diri daripada terjebak atau terperangkap oleh aliran-aliran budaya baru yang tidak menentu.

Sebaliknya para belia, dikehendaki supaya proaktif dalam memupuk dan memelihara budaya warisan, bukannya membiarkan budaya itu hakis atau mati.

Misalnya budaya dan seni mempertahankan diri, yang kita warisi semenjak sekian lama itu, adakah kita sudah berpuas hati dengannya, ataupun kita sedang cemas kerana mendapatinya sedang diancam oleh perubahan atau pembaharuan yang menjejaskannya?

Kita bukanlah anti perubahan atau pembaharuan itu, tetapi biarlah perubahan atau pembaharuan tersebut jangan sampai mengurangkan mutu dan sekali gus melunturkan ketulinan warisan. Kita sepatutnya mempertahankan warisan dan memberinya nafas yang baru, bukan menyebabkan ia layu dan lumpuh. Inilah tugas para belia bangsa.

Sekian Wabillahit Taufeq Walhidayah, Wassalamu 'Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

Ucapan Dasar Presiden NDP di Kongres Agung Tahunan ke-10 2015

Baca atau muat turun teks penuh ucapan (format pdf) di pautan berikut,
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B23u1B2gfkv0VFFKWW9hZkZZTnM/view?usp=sharing