Saudi Arabia plans to diversify from oil. That hasn’t gone so well in Brunei

Saudi Arabia, once the world’s largest energy producer before the US took over with huge amounts of shale gas, is facing its biggest economic challenge in a decade. Oil prices continue to crash with no clear end in sight; last week, the price of oil fell below the price of an actual barrel. The IMF says Saudi Arabia is in danger of draining its financial reserves within five years.

So the energy-dependent nation—oil made up 73% of revenues last year—will try to tackle its almost $100-billion deficit with ambitious new plans to strengthen other industries, which range from information technology to tourism, and diversify away from oil.

But can Saudi Arabia wean itself off its most precious resource?

Some are skeptical, and for good reason. Other countries have struggled to do just that. Take Brunei, whose people benefit from no income tax, free education, and access to social housing because of its oil and gas sector, which accounts for 60% of its economic output.

But it’s also down to oil that the small wealthy nation is now facing an uncertain future, despite a great deal of effort to diversify its economy going back as far as the 1950s. According to the BP World Energy Outlook, the country has enough oil left for just 22 years at its current pace of extraction. (Saudi Arabia has 63 years.)

Brunei has a new development plan—Vision Brunei 2035— to build other parts of its economy. The government has targeted a number of key sectors, including halal manufacturing, information technology, and tourism. But despite the government’s best efforts, these prioritized sectors have failed to kick off.

According to the Financial Times, Brunei’s fiscal deficit was expected to reach 10% of GDP in 2015—compared with a 28% surplus in 2011. More than half the population are still employed by the public sector.

“I don’t think any economist would be very bullish about the future of Brunei’s non-oil and gas sectors, to put it mildly,” Ian Storey, a senior fellow at the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies in Singapore, told The Globe and Mail. Faced with a slump, Brunei has decided to double down and deal with the oil crisis—by producing more oil.

Here’s hoping the Saudis have an easier time. In Saudi Arabia, only 16% of the workforce is in the private sector and it’s coming off a huge boom—between 2003 and 2013, Saudi Arabia’s GDP doubled and household income rose by 75%, according to the consultants McKinsey.


Sumber - Quartz

‘Oil fund’ cushions Norway’s economy amid low prices

WHEN times get tough, it never hurts to have 700 billion euros stashed away like Norway does in the world’s biggest sovereign wealth fund to cushion the blow of plunging oil prices.

Oslo has prudently tucked away most of its oil money since the 1990s in order to be able to finance its generous welfare state indefinitely.

Invested in stocks, bonds and real estate, the fund is now worth around 6.96 trillion kroner (US$794 billion), equivalent to around six annual budgets or more than 137,000 euros for each of the country’s 5.2 million inhabitants.

“We sold a lot of oil when the prices were high and saved a lot of the money we received,” explained Ragnar Torvik, economics professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim.

“As a result, the Norwegian economy is well-equipped to withstand a drop in the oil price seeing as the latter has little impact on public finances,” he added.

But it is strictly forbidden to touch the riches in what Norwegians call both the “oil fund” and the “pension fund” with governments only allowed to tap the returns, estimated at around 4.0 percent, and not the capital.

The sums at the authorities’ disposal swell as the fund continues to grow, fuelled by new oil revenues and the return on investment. And it has even grown so fast the current rightwing government only intends to use 2.8 per cent of its nest egg for 2016.

“It’s not a crisis fund. It’s a fund that is supposed to bring a regular contribution to the state budget,” explained Handelsbanken economist Knut Anton Mork.

“This input... today finances about one-eighth of all public spending in Norway. It’s a lot but it’s independent of the oil price because it’s the financial return that is behind that,” he said.

The oil price has fallen from more than US$110 a barrel in the summer of 2014 to around US$30 today, but the only financial impact for Norway is that the fund’s growth curve has slowed.

“It’s important because it determines the size that the fund will end up being. We thought it would continue to grow for a long time but if the oil price remains low for a long time, that won’t be the case,” Mork said.

While public finances have not been affected by the low oil price, it’s a different story entirely for the real economy: oil investments have declined, growth is sluggish, and the unemployment rate, at 4.6 per cent, is higher than it has been in more than a decade – even though it remains the envy of many countries.

Since the start of 2014, almost 30,000 jobs have been cut in the oil sector, including at oil and gas giant Statoil. Stavanger, until recently Norway’s thriving oil capital, is in the doldrums.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

‘Many underprivileged children do not attend school’

Amanda Yap
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE Brunei Council on Social Welfare (MKM) said many underprivileged do not go to school because their parents neglected them.

Head of MKM’s Children Committee Zubaidah Dato Hj Abu Zar said the council discovered that some underprivileged children had parents who were put in prison or were undergoing drug rehabilitation.

“I found out that these kids are left alone by their families – they don’t have anyone to support them. I thought that government agencies would be helping them all this while, but no one is helping them.

“They don’t go to school because they don’t have transport, they don’t have money to buy school things they need,” she continued.

Zubaidah was speaking on the sidelines of the Borneo Insider's Guide (BiG)'s 10th Anniversary Picnic Festival last Sunday at the Jerudong Park Colonnade, which helped raise funds for MKM.

Zubaidah urged more government agencies to work with MKM by providing the lists of people who require financial help.

“We don’t really mind as that’s what we’re here for, to help the needy. I particularly place emphasis on the kids, because if the children don’t have enough education, the cycle will go back to square one,” she said.

“These (children) are the leaders of the future - these will be the people we will depend on for our children’s futures, for our grandchildren’s futures.

“So if these kids are not being looked after or being well taken care of, I don’t think we’re going to get anything from them,” Zubaidah added.

She said the council works with departments at the Ministry of Education in alleviating the problem.

It was recently reported that as many as 3,913 students missed at least three weeks of school last year. Minister of Education Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman had said 16.2 per cent of primary school pupils were absent for more than 20 days in 2015, while some were away from school for 140 days.

According to the Compulsory Education Act of 2007, Bruneian citizens or residents aged from six to 15 must attend school if they were born on or after January 1, 2002.

Zubaidah said MKM is currently providing financial assistance to over 100 underprivileged children.

Underprivileged children were often identified through MKM’s legal advice and advisory clinic, or through word-of-mouth referrals, she said.

She added that these children often came from families with a monthly income of below $450.

Zubaidah urged members of the public to support charity events organised by MKM, as a way to aid the underprivileged.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Concern over school truancy rate

Rabiatul Kamit
BRUNEI-MUARA

THE education minister yesterday voiced grave concern over truancy in primary schools as it was revealed that as many as 3,913 students missed at least three weeks of school in 2015.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Osman said a staggering 16.2 per cent of primary school students were absent for more than 20 days last year while some were away from school for 140 days.

“We also saw a very low percentage of attendance in July and November, which were in the month of Ramadhan and the month before the start of the school term holidays,” he added.

The newly-appointed minister raised the issue during a closed-door meeting between Ministry of Education (MoE) officials and Legislative Council (LegCo) members, admitting that chronic absenteeism was troubling education providers.

“Such problems should be dealt with together as schools have identified absent students to the extent of visiting their respective homes,” he said.

Addressing LegCo members, YB Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi called for cooperation in recognising the underlying factors affecting truant students, including parents who lack commitment in ensuring their children attend school or are indifferent to their children’s learning progress.

He also urged for causes behind chronic absenteeism to be addressed and necessary assistance to be provided for these students.

Students living in national housing schemes nationwide have one of the worst attendance rates in the country, according to preliminary data collected by the MoE from January to March 2015.

Hj Abdul Rahim Hj Derus, Acting Director General of Education, last year said a “mindset” problem was the likely cause for poor attendance in schools.

“The majority (of absenteeism) is because of mentality. Some genuinely don’t have transport, but there are cases where the distance from home to school is only one kilometre, and yet they are still not going to school,” he said on the sidelines of a meeting with Belait grassroots leaders.

Visits by the Department of Schools’ Student Welfare Unit to resettlement housing areas and nearby schools also found that students were often falling asleep in class.

“In some visits, both parents and older siblings were at home (when the children were sleeping late).
 ”Parents shouldn’t spoil their children so much, and (they should) make sure that they go to bed on time so they can be ready for school in the morning,” he said.

The MoE set a 95 per cent attendance rate as a key performance indicator for schools last year as part of its remedial action to tackle truancy.

The Compulsory Education Act was also introduced in 2007 requiring Bruneian citizens or residents aged between six to 15 years old to attend school if they were born on or after January 1, 2002, and enables legal action to be taken against parents or guardians of truant students.

If convicted, an offending parent or guardian will be liable to a maximum fine of $5,000, imprisonment for up to a year, or both.

“Send your children to school every day. If your child is sick, notify the school and let them know what’s happening. Communicate with schools because that’s important.

 ”Parents should also get to know their children’s teachers,” said Hj Abdul Rahim previously.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

MENANGANI CABARAN EKONOMI MERUNDUM

LUMUT 12 Rabiulawal 1437/22 Januari 2016: Jaring Keselamatan Sosial (social safety net) negara perlu diperluaskan dan diperkukuh sebagai langkah persiapan untuk mempastikan kebajikan golongan masyarakat yang dijangka akan terjejas teruk dalam suasana kegawatan ekonomi yang sedang melanda negara terjamin.

Ianya juga perlu dikemaskinikan agar lebih efektif dan efisyen dalam memberikan perlindungan sosial kepada golongan masyarakat yang tidak berupaya bertahan dalam suasana ekonomi negara yang membimbangkan ini, tegas TYT Presiden NDP, sdra Malai Hassan Othman mengongsikan pandangannya dalam sesi muzakarah bersama ahli-ahli jawatankuasa pandu Ranting Lumut 1&2.

“Kerajaan telah secara telus mengakui kemerosotan harga pasaran global minyak dan gas telah menjejaskan hasil pendapatan negara secara signifikan”, ujar sdra Malai Hassan Othman.

TYT Presiden NDP menyentuh ucapan Yang Berhormat Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (JPM) dan Menteri Kewangan II, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim di Majlis Hari Terbuka Peniaga 2016.

Menurut YB Pehin Dato Awang Haji Abdul Rahman pendapatan kerajaan telah menurun kira-kira 70 peratus dari hasil yang diterima pada Tahun Kewangan 2012/2013.

“YB Pehin telah melaporkan bahawa kerajaan pada Tahun Kewangan 2014/2015 telah mengalami defisit belanjawan sebanyak $213 juta dan defisit belanjawan negara ini juga semakin meningkat dalam Tahun Kewangan 2015/2016, di mana sehingga bulan Disember tahun 2015 sahaja, defisit belanjawan yang dicatatkan setakat ini melebihi $1.6 bilion yang mana jumlah ini dijangka meningkat kepada lebih $2.3bilion pada akhir Tahun Kewangan 2015/2016”.

Naib Presiden NDP Belait, Sdra Haji Metali bin Ibrahim menyampaikan kata
alu-aluan di sesi muzakarah bersama AJK Protem Ranting Lumut 1 & 2

Pengurangan hasil pendapatan tersebut telah memberikan implikasi kepada keupayaan dan cara kerajaan menampung perbelanjaan pada masa ini dan masa mendatang, terutamanya jika keadaan ini berpanjangan”, tambah TYT Presiden NDP merujuk kenyataan YB Pehin Dato Haji Abd Rahman.

Dalam lain perkataan keadaan tersebut turut menjejaskan kemampuan kerajaan untuk menampung perbelanjaan seperti dulu.

Sehubungan dengan itu NDP sangat bimbang dengan senario dan implikasinya kepada masyarakat umum khususnya golongan marhaen termasuklah golongan belia-belia yang akan memasuki alam pekerjaan.

Kata TYT Presiden NDP, dikhuatiri di tahun-tahun kehadapan ini jumlah pengganguran akan bertambah dan semakin ramai pula keluarga akan jatuh miskin selain dari golongan peniaga-peniaga tempatan yang mungkin akan jatuh muflis akibat ekonomi negara yang merundum.

Kegelisahan dikalangan tenaga kerja tempatan juga dijangkakan apabila para majikan di sektor swasta terpaksa mengambil langkah mengurangkan kos operasi masing-masing sebagai langkah untuk mengelakkan syarikat-syarikat mereka dari menanggung kerugian besar akibat kemelesetaan ekonomi. Mungkin antara langkah yang mereka ambil ialah membekukan pengambilan tenaga kerja, pembekuan kenaikan gaji, pengurangan kerja lebih masa, bonus tahunan dan sebagainya.

“Apabila ini berlaku akan timbul kegelisahan dan kekecewaan apabila sebilangan besar kehilangan mata pencarian dan mereka yang terjejas setentunya perlu perlindungan sosial dari badan-badan kebajikan masyarakat seperti Jabatan Pembangunan Masyarakat (JAPEM), Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Baitul Mal dan sebagainya. Dalam kata lain senarai pemohon bantuan kebajikan dan asnaf fakir miskin akan semakin panjang, ujar sdra Malai Hassan.

Justeru adalah wajar bagi pihak-pihak berkenaan bersiap sedia dengan memberikan perhatian serious terhadapnya dan menimbangkan strategi yang perlu dilaksanakan untuk mengurangkan kesan buruk yang mungkin bakal terhasil dari situasi tersebut. Memperluas dan memperkukuh jaring keselamatan sosial merupakan salah satu langkah yang saya lihat perlu diberikan perhatian oleh pihak berwajib, katanya lagi.

“Dalam hal ini, tambah beliau, NDP juga perlu bersiap sedia untuk membantu kerajaan dalam mengahadapi cabaran-cabaran tersebut dan bukan pula dengan menguar-uarkan isu-isu yang hanya boleh menambah kegelisahan masyarakat umum dan menambah buruk keadaan”.

“Disinilah peranan ranting-ranting NDP yang berada dikalangan masyarakat akar umbi iaitu untuk mengelinga kemaslahatan masyarakat disekitarnya dan sebagai sebuah pertubuhan politik yang sangat prihatin tentang untug rugi nasib bangsanya dalam suasana ekonomi yang merundum ini.

Tambah TYT Presiden lagi,“kedudukan ekonomi negara yang membimbangkan ini membuatkan agenda politik NDP semakin relevan iaitu untuk membantu KDYMM Sultan dan Kerajaan dalam memelihara kestabilan, keselamatan dan kesejahteraan bangsa dan negara dari sebarang bentuk ancaman. Dalam konteks ini kemiskinan dan pengganguran merupakan dua ancaman besar kepada kestabilan, keselamatan dan kesejahteraan bangsa dan negara jika ianya tidak diberikan perhatian sewajarnya”.

Sdra Pengiran Kamaruddin bin Pengiran Sarnawi, Ketua AJK Protem Ranting Lumut 1 & 2

“Sebagai sebuah pertubuhan politik, NDP punya tanggungjawab dalam sama-sama menangani perkara ini. Tanggungjawab ini akan dapat dilaksanakan dengan lebih berkesan dengan adanya ranting-ranting parti yang berfungsi dengan baiknya diseluruh pelusuk negara”, tegas TYT Presiden NDP.

TYT Presiden menaruh harapan Ranting Lumut khususnya, yang sekarang dipimpin oleh sdra Pengiran Kamaruddin bin Pengiran Sarnawi akan dapat memainkan peranan dengan berkesan misalnya dengan mengambil langkah proaktif dalam melaksanakan tanggungjawab politik NDP di kawasan Mukim Lumut.

Turut hadir di sesi muzakarah tersebut ialah TYT Timbalan Presiden NDP, sdra Pengiran Haji Zainal bin Pengiran Talib, Naib Presiden Belait, sdra Haji Metali bin Ibrahim, Setiausaha Agung NDP, sdri Hajjah Saemah Kefli, Bendahari Agung NDP, sdra Haji Mohd Ali Yusof, Penolong Setiausaha Agung NDP, sdra Mohammad Abdullah Peter bin Abdullah Saging dan ahli-ahli Majlis Tertinggi NDP Belait serta ahli-ahli NDP Lumut dan Belait.


Sumber - Laman Aspirasi NDP

NDP sokong hasrat memantapkan pengurusan hal ehwal luar dan perdagangan negara

Titah Arahkan Pemeriksaan Postmortem Keatas MOFAT

LIMBARUH HIJAU 12 RABIULAWAL 1437 / 22 JANUARI 2016 : PARTI PEMBANGUNAN BANGSA (NDP) mengalu-alukan keprihatinan Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam tentang pengurusan dan pentadbiran serta perlaksanaan dasar luar negara yang dikendalikan oleh Kementerian Hal Ehwal Luar Negeri dan Perdagangan (MOFAT) yang ketika ini diterajui oleh baginda sendiri.

Dalam hal ini, seperti yang telah digariskan dalam manifesto parti 2006 – 2016, NDP mahu melihat Dasar Luar Negara Brunei Darussalam yang bebas dan dinamik, supaya berjaya bukan sahaja mengikat hubungan politik dan diplomatik dengan banyak negara bahkan juga menggalakkan kepentingan perdagangan dan ekonomi Negara Brunei Darussalam sendiri. NDP berpandangan agenda utama dasar luar dan peranan perwakilan-perwakilan negara di luar hendaklah meletakkan agenda ekonomi dan perdagangan teratas sekali.

Justeru itu, Parti Pembangunan menyokong agar pihak yang berwajib memanfaatkan hubungan antarabangsa sebaik-baiknya untuk meningkatkan perdagangan dua hala dengan Negara Brunei Darussalam, untuk kebaikan dan kepentingan kesemua lapisan rakyat Kebawah DYMM dan tidak menghadkan kebaikan dan kepentingan tersebut kepada sebilangan yang tertentu sahaja. Untuk menjayakan dasar ini, tindakan bersepadu yang agresif hendaklah diambil oleh semua kementerian yang berkaitan agar dapat mengeluarkan produk-produk yang boleh dipasarkan di peringkat antarabangsa.

Parti Pembangunan juga mahu melihat MOFAT memanfaatkan pendekatan Islam yang diamalkan oleh negara ketika ini sebagai instrumen dalam memajukan keamanan sejagat.

Selain itu Parti Pembangunan juga berpandangan dasar luar negara perlu tegas dan teguh bagi memastikan negara-negara lain tidak akan mengeksploit Negara Brunei Darussalam sehingga mengikatnya dengan perjanjian-perjanjian yang berat sebelah dan tidak menguntungkan kedua-dua pihak, secara adil dan saksama, mengikut Syariat Islam.

NDP juga melihat perlunya MOFAT memastikan yang perjanjian-perjanjian di antara Negara Brunei Darussalam dan negara-negara lain dimesyuaratkan dan diperdebatkan secara terbuka, dan disokong oleh Majlis Mesyuarat Negara, sebelum dipersetujui untuk ditandatangani atau disambung, dan proses menyemak semula perjanjian-perjanjian tersebut dilaksanakan dari semasa ke semasa dalam jangka waktu yang munasabah di mana proses penyemakan semula tersebut akan ditugaskan, antara lainnya, kepada jawatankuasa-jawatankuasa tetap yang semestinya ditubuhkan di dalam Majlis Mesyuarat Negara, seperti Jawatankuasa Tetap (Hal Ehwal Luar Negeri dan Perdagangan).

Sementara itu KDYMM dalam titah mengariskan,“Kementerian Hal Ehwal Luar Negeri dan Perdagangan mempunyai banyak jabatan-jabatan dibawahnya, lebhi dari 10 buah jabatan semuanya. Jabatan jabatan ini menpunyai fungsinya masing-masing yang tidak sama diantara satu dengan yang lain”.

“Jabatan Pentadbiran (Administration Department) misalnya, ada dengan fungsinya yang tersendiri. Jabatan Perancangan Dasar atau Policy Planning juga dengan fungsinya. Jabatan Politik (Department of Politics), Jabatan ASEAN, Jabatan Pertubuhan Antarabangsa atau Department of International Organisations dan lain-lain, semua itu dengan fungsinya masing-masing”

“Soalnya adakah semua jabatan yang banyak ini sudah dapat berfungsi dengan cukup baik”, titah KDYMM.

“Mengenai perlaksanaan fungsi-fungsi ini, adakah juga pernah diadakan sebarang post mortem mengenainya? Beta sendiri ingin tahu atau membaca hasil daripada postmortem tersebut”, tegas baginda sultan.

“Post mortem bagi hemat beta adalah penting untuk mengetahui sejauh mana kemajuan atau kesan dari rancangan atau kerja yang sudah dilaksanakan. Daripada postmortem kita juga dapat mengetahui, kelemahan-kelemahan atau kekurangan kita jika ada. Dengan itu dapatlah kita membaikinya”, jelas baginda.

“Inilah namanya kita belajar dari pengalaman. Kita mesti berani bertanya apakah yang sudah kita buat untuk Negara”, titah baginda lagi.

Titah baginda,”Kita ambil misal, jabatan kerjasama ekonomi (Department of Economic Cooperation) dibawah Kementerian ini sejauh manakah fungsi perdagangan dan perlaburan sudah dilaksanakan melalui expo-expo dan jerayawara-jeraaywara ekonomi?”

“Berjayakah sudah kita meningkatkan imej negara kita di luar melalui promosi-promosi seperti ini?”, soal baginda.

“Selanjutnya kita juga perlu bertanya tentang apakan Jabatan Pertubuhan Antarabangsa dibawah Kementerian ini sudah lakukan dalam mempromosi dan melindungi kepentingan Negara di kalangan organisasi antarabangsa”.

“Beta ambil contoh perkara memilih wakil ke persidangan-persidangan antarabangsa, atau serantau. Adakah kita sudah melakukan yang terbaik, yang menepati apa yang semestinya”.

Titah baginda menekankan, “perkara ini pun memerlukan post mortem juga”.

MIB Paksi Dasar Luar Negara

Dalam titah tersebut baginda sultan seterusnya menekankan pentingnya Melayu Islam Beraja sebagai falsafah bernegara dan berbangsa dijadikan paksi dasar luar negara.

Diantara fungsi Jabatan Pertubuhan Antarabangsa, titah baginda, ialah untuk menyebarkan maklumat mengenai dasar luar Negara dan perananya dalam organisasi2 antarabangsa.

“Apakah ia dasar luar itu? Kita jangan lupa samada dasar luarkah atau dasar dalamkah, paksinya adalah MIB”.

“Beta tegaskan disini, MIB bukanlah ia untuk tahan-tahan di dalam negara saja. Tetapi juga untuk dibawa keluar”.

“Bertolak daripada MIB inilah, kita akan menghulurkan tangan kepada semua orang untuk bersahabat dan berbaik-baik dengan mereka, siapa jua. Kita mesti tunjukkan kepada dunia akan keluhuran MIB itu, bukan menapuk”, tegas baginda.

Berkaitan MIB, titah baginda, kita perlu merancang dan bertindak tanpa bercangah dengannya.

“Kita tuju sasaran dan luruskan cara sehingga kelihatan benar-benar sesuai dan tidak janggal. Misalnya siapa yang benar-benar sesuai untuk kita pilih mewakili Brunei ke pertubuhan-pertubuhan dunia di dalam persidangan-persidangan, kita mesti pilih mereka yang benar-benar berkemampuan dan berpengalaman yang dapat memberikan gambaran tepat siapa kita dan Brunei ini yang sebenarnya di mata dunia”, nasihat baginda lagi.

“Beta sangat mengambil berat tentang matlamat bagi jabatan-jabatan. Diantara yang penting ialah matlamat mempromosi dan melindungi kepentingan Negara di dalam organisasi-organisasi antarabangsa”.

Rakan-rakan dialog dunia bukanlah satu, tetapi banyak. Disana ada UN atau PBB, ada OIC atau pertubuhan kerjasama Islam, Commonwealth, rakan terdekat iaitu ASEAN dan lain-lain, titah baginda.

“Semua ini menunggu promosi dari kita, tentang Brunei dan terserah kepada kita bagaimana untuk melindungi kepentingan-kepentingan Brunei disisi rakan-rakan antarabangsa dan serantau itu”.

“Keadaan kini semakin sukar apabila konflik dunia semakin berkecamuk. Ini tentu saja meminta kita lebih berhati-hati dan bijaksana untuk menghadapi, maka untuk itu MOFAT adalah pihak yang lebih dibebankan untuk mengendalikannya”.

Satu lagi jabatan dibawah Kementerian ini ialah Jabatan Keselamatan (security Department). Jabatan ini, titah baginda, turut berfungsi untuk perlindungan keselamatan yang berkesan, mesra, bijak dan boleh dipercayai.

“Ia juga dikehendaki untuk bekerjasama dengan agensi-agensi kerajaan yang ada kaitan dengan perkara-perkara keselamatan. Fungsi ini sangat penting dilaksanakan dengan betul. Janganlah ia hanya diatas kertas sahaja. Sebarang rancangan yang hendak dibuat, hendaklah dipertimbangkan masak-masak”.

Dalam hal ini baginda menasihatkan, “kalau ia ada berkaitan dengan unsur keselamatan atau hukum Ugama, maka janganlah ia terus dibuat begitu saja, melainkan rujukan atau muzakarah kan dulu dengan pihak-pihak berkenaan itu, bukannya terus-terus dibuat atau terus saja memberi arahan”.

“Elakkan dari bersifat ego dalam pentadbiran, patuhi apa-apa jua peraturan sebagaimana pihak lain mematuhinya. Janganlah ada peraturan yang dilangkahi, sebagai misalan, peraturan pengantaran pegawai-pegawai keluar negari kerana bertugas masih ada saja pihak yang melangkahinya”, titah baginda lagi.

Seterusnya baginda sultan mengingatkan,”jika peraturan itu mengkehendaki sekian-sekian, maka mestilah ia diikut, kecuali peraturan itu diubah atau dibatalkan”.

“Tegasnya, semua Kementerian dan agensi yang ada, mestilah mematuhi peraturan-peraturan yang telah ditetapkan.Tidak sesiapapun dibenarkan untuk berkecuali daripadanya. Kerana inilah tandanya kita bangsa yang bertamadun dilengkapi dengan disiplin dan peraturan-peraturan yang baru”.

Menyebut disiplin dan peraturan ini, titah baginda,”turut berkenaan adalah Jabatan Hal Ehwal Protokol dan Consulate (Department of Protocol and Consulate Affairs)”

“Jabatan ini berfungsi menjadi penyelaras kepada lawatan-lawatan negara, dan lawatan rasmi ke luar negeri. Selaku penyelaras adalah mustahak untuk diperhatikan segala atur cara bagaimana lawatan itu dibuat. Misalan, biasanya terdapat banyak tempat untuk dilawat, pihak protocol berhak untuk memilih atau mencadangkan tempat yang sesuai untuk dilawat itu”, titah baginda.


Sumber - Laman Aspirasi NDP

KDYMM: Jangan sembunyi MIB

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 21 Jan – Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam bertitah menekankan perlunya negara menunjukkan kepada dunia tentang keluhuran Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) dan bukan hanya setakat di dalam negara sahaja di mana dasar negara adalah berpaksikan MIB.

Baginda Sultan bertitah mengingatkan perkara berkenaan semasa keberangkatan lawatan kerja ke Kementerian Hal Ehwal Luar Negeri dan Perdagangan dan jabatan-jabatan di bawahnya di Bandar Seri Begawan, hari ini.

“Antara fungsi Jabatan Pertubuhan Antarabangsa ialah untuk menyebarkan maklumat mengenai dasar luar negara dan peranannya di dalam organisasi-organisasi antarabangsa itu.

“Apakah ia dasar luar itu? Kita jangan lupa, sama ada dasar luarkah atau dasar dalamkah paksinya adalah MIB. Beta tegaskan di sini, MIB bukanlah ia untuk tahan-tahan di dalam negara saja tetapi juga untuk dibawa keluar.”

Baginda bertitah, “Bertolak daripada MIB inilah, kita akan menghulurkan tangan kepada semua orang untuk bersahabat dan berbaik-baik dengan mereka, siapa jua. Kita mesti tunjukkan kepada dunia akan keluhuran MIB itu, bukan menapuknya.

“Berkaitan MIB, kita perlu merancang dan bertindak tanpa bercanggah dengannya. Kita tuju sasaran dan luruskan cara sehingga kelihatan benar-benar sesuai dan tidak janggal misalnya siapa yang benar-benar sesuai untuk kita pilih mewakili Brunei ke pertubuhan-pertubuhan dunia di dalam persidangan-persidangan.

“Kita mesti pilih mereka yang benar-benar berkemampuan dan berpengalaman yang dapat memberikan gambaran tepat, siapa kita dan Brunei ini yang sebenarnya di mata dunia.

“Beta sangat mengambil berat tentang matlamat bagi jabatan-jabatan, di antara yang terpenting ialah matlamat mempromosi dan melindungi kepentingan-kepentingan negara di dalam organisasi-organisasi antarabangsa.

“Rakan-rakan dialog dunia bukanlah satu tetapi banyak, di sana ada UN atau PBB, OIC atau Pertubuhan Persidangan Islam, ada Komanwel, rakan terdekat iaitu ASEAN dan lain-lain.

“Semua ini menunggu promosi daripada kita, tentang Brunei dan juga terserah kepada kita bagaimana untuk melindungi kepentingan-kepentingan Brunei di sisi rakan-rakan antarabangsa dan serantau itu. Keadaan kini semakin sukar apabila konflik dunia semakin rencam, ini tentu saja meminta kita lebih berhati-hati dan bijaksana untuk menghadapinya, maka untuk itu Kementerian Hal Ehwal Luar Negeri dan Perdagangan adalah pihak yang lebih dibebankan untuk mengendalikannya.”

Baginda Sultan yang juga Menteri Hal Ehwal Luar Negeri dan Perdagangan dalam titahnya menekankan sikap ego dalam pentadbiran perlu dielakkan, setiap peraturan hendaklah dipatuhi.

Baginda bertitah lagi, “Satu lagi jabatan di bawah kementerian ini ialah Jabatan Keselamatan atau Security Department. Jabatan ini turut berfungsi untuk perlindungan keselamatan yang berkesan, mesra, bijak dan boleh dipercayai.

“Ia juga dikehendaki untuk bekerjasama dengan agensi-agensi kerajaan yang ada kaitan dengan perkara-perkara keselamatan.

“Fungsi ini sangat penting dilaksanakan dengan betul, janganlah ia hanya di atas kertas sahaja, sebarang rancangan yang hendak dibuat, hendaklah ditimbangkan masak-masak.

“Kalau ia ada berkaitan dengan unsur-unsur keselamatan atau hukum agama, maka janganlah ia terus-terus dibuat begitu sahaja melainkan rujukan atau muzakarahkan dahulu dengan pihak-pihak berkenaan itu, bukannya terus-terus dibuat atau terus sahaja memberi arahan.

“Elakkan dari bersifat ego dalam mentadbir, patuhi apa-apa jua peraturan sebagaimana pihak lain mematuhinya. Janganlah ada peraturan yang dilangkahi, sebagai misalan, peraturan penghantaran pegawai-pegawai ke luar negeri kerana bertugas masih ada saja pihak yang melangkahinya, jika peraturan itu menghendaki sekian-kian, maka mestilah ia diikut kecuali peraturan itu sudah diubah ataupun dipadam.

“Tegasnya semua kementerian dan agensi yang ada mestilah mematuhi peraturan-peraturan yang telah ditetapkan, tidak sesiapapun dibenarkan untuk berkecuali daripadanya kerana inilah tandanya kita bangsa yang bertamadun, dilengkapi dengan disiplin dan peraturan-peraturan yang baik.”

Menyentuh mengenai kerja berpasukan, Baginda menegaskan dalam kerja berpasukan tidak ada pihak yang boleh dianggap lebih istimewa daripada yang lain terutama dalam menangani dasar negara.

“Menyebut disiplin dan peraturan ini, turut berkenaan ialah Jabatan Hal Ehwal Protokol dan Konsular atau Department of Protocol and Consular Affairs. Jabatan ini berfungsi menjadi penyelaras kepada lawatan-lawatan negara dan lawatan-lawatan rasmi ke luar negeri. Selaku penyelaras adalah mustahak untuk diperhatikan segala atur cara lawatan di mana lawatan itu dibuat.

“Misalnya, biasanya terdapat banyak tempat untuk dilawati. Pihak protokol berhak untuk memilih atau bercadang mana-mana yang tempat yang sesuai untuk dilawati, jika ada cadangan dari negara yang dilawat, adalah tidak wajar bagi pihak protokol untuk bulat-bulat menerima atau bersetuju sahaja apa yang dicadangkan itu, tanpa mengambil kira tentang kesesuaiannya.

“Atau katakan pihak yang dilawat tidak memberi sebarang pilihan tetapi pada lazimnya, kita masih tetap juga masih diberikan kebebasan untuk menentukan apa yang sesuai dan patut kita pilih tetapi yang jadi masalah ialah kalau kita sendiri tidak mahu membuka perundingan atau tidak bersedia membuat penilaian tentang kesesuaian apa-apa yang patut dipilih.”

Baginda selanjutnya bertitah; “Kita tidak boleh melihat pada jurusan politik atau jurusan hubungan dua hala semata-mata tetapi lihatlah juga yang lain-lain seperti ugama atau budaya. Ini penting kerana kita adalah bangsa yang berakidah, berbudaya dan bertradisi. Ini semua mesti turut dilihat, jika kurang tahu, janganlah segan bertanya kepada yang lebih tahu, bukankah kita ini di dalam satu pasukan, mengapa tidak diamalkan falsafah berpasukan itu.

“Di dalam pasukan tidak ada pihak yang boleh dianggap lebih istimewa dari yang lain terutama dalam menangani dasar dan polisi, kita ini adalah sama. Sama-sama berkewajipan untuk kepentingan negara.”

Dalam titah, Baginda Sultan turut menyentuh mengenai dengan fungsi beberapa buah jabatan di Kementerian Hal Ehwal Luar Negeri dan Perdagangan yang mempunyai kepentingannya kepada negara.

Baginda turut menekankan bahawa setiap jabatan mempunyai fungsi masing-masing. “Soalnya adakah semua jabatan yang banyak ini sudah dapat berfungsi dengan cukup baik. Mengenai pelaksanaan fungsi-fungsi, adakah juga pernah diadakan sebarang post-mortem mengenainya?

“Beta sendiri ingin tahu atau membaca hasil daripada post-mortem tersebut. Post-mortem pada hemat Beta adalah penting, untuk mengetahui sejauh mana kemajuan atau kesan dari rancangan atau kerja yang sudah dilaksana.

“Daripada post-mortem juga kita dapat mengetahui kelemahan-kelemahan atau kekurangan kita jika ada, dengan itu dapatlah kita membaikinya. Inilah namanya kita belajar dari pengalaman. Kita mesti berani bertanya, apakah sudah kita buat untuk negara.

“Kita ambil misalnya, Jabatan Kerjasama Ekonomi atau Department of Economic Cooperation di bawah kementerian ini, sejauh manakah promosi perdagangan dan pelaburan sudah dilaksanakan melalui ekspo-ekspo dan jerayawara-jerayawara ekonomi, berjayakah sudah kita meningkatkan imej negara kita di luar melalui promosi-promosi seperti ini.

“Selanjutnya, kita juga perlu bertanya tentang apakah yang Jabatan Pertubuhan Antarabangsa di bawah kementerian ini sudah lakukan dalam mempromosi dan melindungi kepentingan negara dalam kalangan organisasi-organisasi antarabangsa?

“Beta ambil contoh perkara memilih wakil ke persidangan-persidangan antarabangsa atau serantau, adakah kita sudah melakukan yang terbaik yang menepati apa yang semestinya. Perkara ini pun memerlukan post-mortem.”

Dalam mengakhiri titahnya, Baginda Sultan menegaskan bahawa itu merupakan di antara perkara-perkara yang ingin Baginda timbulkan tetapi ia tidak bermakna bahawa mana-mana perkara yang tidak disebut adalah semuanya dalam keadaan baik.

“Inilah di antara perkara yang ingin Beta timbulkan. Bukan bermakna yang lain-lain yang tidak disebut di sini, semuanya itu telah OK tetapi ada lagi apa-apa masalah bukan begitu.

“Cuma jabatan-jabatan yang disebut di sini hanyalah sebagai contoh sahaja untuk menyenangkan kita mengenali masalah-masalah yang patut diambil perhatian dan diatasi.”


Sumber - Media Permata

Beijing could turn the South China Sea into a ‘Chinese lake’ by 2030

Jeremy Bender

By 2030, China will be such an unquestioned superpower that the South China Sea will be nothing more than a “Chinese lake,” the Center for Strategic and International Studies writes in a new report.

China’s dominance in the region is due to Beijing’s projected continual development of aircraft carrier groups and the People Liberation Army’s focus on expanding its ability to operate overseas.

Citing a Chinese white paper, CSIS notes that “the PLA in the near future will be operating well beyond the First Island Chain and into the Indian Ocean … The call for the PLA to adopt this expanded mission set is of greatest concern to the United States, as it will gradually extend the reach of the PLA and emphasize ‘nontraditional security operations.’”

In order to fulfill this expanded mission set, CSIS projects that China will invest heavily in the development and deployment of multiple aircraft carrier groups. This sudden influx of Chinese military assets, coupled with their ability to project power, will ensure that by 2030 “the South China Sea will be virtually a Chinese lake, as the Caribbean or the Gulf of Mexico is for the United States today.”

Such deployments will allow China to hold an even stronger hand in territorial disputes throughout Asia, particularly in the South China Sea.

Beijing is locked in border frictions in the South China Sea with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Currently, Beijing is in the process of reclaiming and constructing a string of artificial islands throughout the South China Sea. These man-made islands are being outfitted with ports, seawalls, and airstrips which would also allow China to project significant influence throughout the region — despite protests from its neighbors.

As of now, China only has one aircraft carrier of questionable quality.

However, Beijing has confirmed that it is now building a second modern carrier based on its current carrier’s design.


Sumber - Business Insider

Saudi king takes steps to end kingdom’s generous welfare system

Analysts say reality of falling oil prices is hitting home for Saudi authorities, forcing kingdom to tap its huge fiscal reserves

RIYADH - Faced with a massive decline in oil revenues, Saudi Arabia's King Salman marked his first year in power by taking steps to end his kingdom's generous welfare system.

In a year that could set the pace for moving the Saudi economy away from near-total dependence on energy, the 80-year-old monarch took surprising decisions to cut subsidies and introduced other key economic reforms.

Analysts say that after decades of using its vast oil resources to subsidise domestic prices and pay generous salaries and benefits, the reality of falling oil prices is hitting home for Saudi authorities.

"I believe we are on the verge of exiting the welfare state," Saudi economist Turki Fadaq said, speaking of a psychological shift in the Saudi ruling circle.

"The final goal of these measures is to restructure the Saudi economy in a way to stop its total dependence on oil," Fadaq, head of research at Riyadh-based Al-Bilad Capital, said.

Oil prices have plunged to more than 12-year lows due to a glut in supply, dropping below $28 a barrel in trading this week, and have lost three-quarters of their value since mid-2014.

For years, 90 percent of state revenues in Saudi Arabia, the world's largest crude exporter, came from oil sales and high prices allowed the government to be generous.

But the plunge in prices has left public finances reeling, with the kingdom recording an unprecedented $98 billion budget deficit in 2015 and projecting a shortfall of $87 billion this year.

- Budget overstretched -

Annual revenues have halved in the 19 months of declining oil prices and the kingdom has been forced to tap its huge fiscal reserves.

The reserves, accumulated when oil prices were high, dropped from $732 billion at the end of 2014 to $632 billion in November.

At first glance it appeared Salman would continue with the country's generous traditions when he took over following the death of his half-brother king Abdullah a year ago.

Shortly after acceding to the throne Salman splashed out more than $30 billion in handouts to government employees, the armed forces, students and others.

That came after generous politically motivated salary increases and handouts made by king Abdullah in 2011 after the outbreak of the Arab Spring uprisings across the region.

And subsidies on basic goods and utilities, including petrol, electricity and water, continued to keep prices low.

But as oil prices have fallen, the high spending on wages and subsidies, coupled with the cost of Saudi Arabia's military intervention in Yemen and continued aid to many Arab countries, have left its budget overstretched.

"The challenge has become too big," Saudi economist Ihsan Bu-Halaiga said.

"It started with the slide in oil prices that began even before King Salman came to power," said Bu-Halaiga, head of Joatha Consultants Centre.

"The most important decision is the resolve to move from the welfare system to a productive economy," he said, pointing to a five-year programme aimed at liberalising energy prices along with other steps to boost non-oil revenues.

- 'Must tighten our belts' -

Late last year the government took an unprecedented step by raising the prices of petrol, electricity and water, by up to 80 percent in some cases.

Saudi Jadwa Investment estimates the country will save $7 billion a year from reducing energy subsidies.

The move was welcomed by credit ratings agencies, with Fitch praising the "significant reforms".

Fadaq said he believes the turning point was the establishment, shortly after Salman took the throne, of the new Council of Economic Development Affairs chaired by the deputy crown prince and defence minister, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the king's powerful son.

"That was followed by aggressive and fast economic decision-making," Fadaq said.

Other measures have seen Saudi Arabia open its stock exchange for the first time to non-resident institutional investors and issuing bonds on the domestic market.

More taxation and privatisation measures are planned and observers were stunned when authorities announced this month they may offer shares in national oil giant Saudi Aramco.

Bu-Halaiga said the measures aim to more than double the size of non-oil revenues to $100 billion over the next five years, to "effectively compete with oil income".

Non-oil revenues were boosted by 29 percent to $44 billion in the 2015 budget, while the contribution of oil income to public revenues dropped to 73 percent.

"Adopting populist policies in the past decades made economic reforms difficult. Now, we must tighten our belts, cut spending, downsize government employees and adopt privatisation," Bu-Halaiga said.


Sumber - Middle East Online

Brunei deficit may surpass $2.3b amid weak oil prices

Fitri Shahminan and Rachel Thien
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

GOVERNMENT earnings have dropped about 70 per cent compared to the revenue it received in the 2012/2013 fiscal year, the second finance minister said yesterday.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdul Rahman Hj Ibrahim said Brunei could post a larger deficit than the previous projection of $2.28 billion shortfall in the current financial year if global oil and gas prices continue to fall.

YB Pehin Dato Hj Abdul Rahman, who is also minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), said the government has already hit over $1.6 billion in deficit as of December 2015.

The 2015/2016 financial year will end on March 31, 2016.

The minister said falling energy prices have severely hurt Brunei’s economy and the government’s ability to spend money.

“With heavy reliance on oil and gas which accounts for 90 per cent of the government’s revenues, the sinking global oil and gas prices have significantly affected the government’s income,” he said at the opening of the Enterprise Open Day for Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs).

During the 11th Legislative Council meeting in March last year, YB Pehin Dato Hj Abdul Rahman had said Brunei was projected to run into a deficit of $2.28 billion for fiscal year 2015/2016, as falling global oil prices are expected to continue hurting the sultanate’s revenue from its main source of income.

Total government revenue had been projected to decrease by $1.572 billion in the current fiscal year, according to a report last year.

The minister said in the 2014/2015 fiscal year, Brunei’s deficit was at $213 million.

In reality, the decline in revenue will affect the way the government spends, said YB Pehin Dato Hj Abd Rahman.

Therefore, prudent and unwasteful steps must be continuously implemented to reduce government expenditure so that the deficit can be reduced and the country’s finance is sustainable.

Towards that, the public must accept the fact that the government’s capacity to spend money will be limited, the minister added.

He said future government expenditure will be made based on priority, needs and the government’s capability to spend as well as its significance in generating economic activities and providing job opportunities to locals.

The minister added that the mindset of relying on government’s assistance and initiatives must be replaced with hard work and independence.

YB Pehin Dato Hj Abd Rahman called on the government to intensify efforts to diversify the country’s economy in the wake of weak global oil prices.

Strategies such as attracting more foreign direct investments and strengthening local small and medium enterprises should be implemented.

Global economy is currently shrouded with uncertainty and challenging especially for oil producing countries, the minister continued.

“Since June 2014, we have observed the plunge in global oil prices from US$122 per barrel to below US$30 per barrel,” he said.

At press time yesterday, oil prices hovered around US$30.10 per barrel.

“The drastic drop in global oil and gas priced has severely affected the revenue of oil producing countries, resulting in them bearing huge financial deficit. This has also made some of these countries to drastically cut their respective budget allocation.

This includes steps to reduce the subsidy rate for essential goods such as petroleum products and electric power supply.

To increase revenue, some countries are imposing new taxes that have never been imposed previously, such as goods and services tax (GST), he added.

The Enterprise Open Day, organised by the Energy and Industry Department at the Prime Minister’s Office, aimed to increase awareness of the various enterprise support services as well as identify issues faced by entrepreneurs in Brunei.

The three-day event, held at the Design and Technology Building located in the Anggerek Desa Technology Park, will end tomorrow.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Pusat sokongan ditubuh

Oleh Abdul Rahim Haji Ismail

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 19 Jan – Kerajaan, melalui Lembaga Kemajuan Ekonomi Brunei (BEDB) bakal menubuhkan Pusat Sokongan Perniagaan pada April 2016 yang akan memainkan peranan penting sebagai pusat utama bagi mendukung semua keperluan perniagaan, baik bagi pengusaha tempatan mahupun bagi pelabur langsung asing di negara ini.

Pusat tersebut, yang dijangka ditempatkan di Bangunan Reka Bentuk dan Teknologi, Taman Teknologi Anggerek Desa, akan menempatkan agensi-agensi berkepentingan bagi memudah cara urusan perniagaan di negara ini dan sebagai pemudah yang akan membantu perkembangan perniagaan tempatan serta menggalakkan lebih ramai lagi anak tempatan menceburi dunia perniagaan.

Ini diumumkan oleh Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri dan Menteri Kewangan Kedua, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim ketika merasmikan Hari Terbuka Perusahaan 2016 yang berlangsung Bangunan Reka Bentuk dan Teknologi, Taman Teknologi Anggerek Desa, hari ini.

Hadir sama ialah Menteri Tenaga dan Perindustrian di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (JPM), Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Kolonel (B) Dato Seri Setia (Dr.) Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, setiausaha-setiausaha tetap dan para pegawai kanan yang lain.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Haji Abdul Rahman berkata, kejatuhan harga minyak yang merudum sejak Jun 2014 daripada paras tertinggi AS$122 setong kepada di bawah paras AS$30 setong pada Januari 2016 telah menjejaskan hasil pendapatan semua negara pengeluar.

Brunei juga tidak terkecuali dengan kejatuhan harga minyak itu, yang mana pendapatan kerajaan telah menurun kira-kira 70 peratus daripada hasil yang diterima pada Tahun Kewangan 2012/2013 dengan defisit pada Tahun Kewangan 2014/2015 mencecah $213 juta manakala defisit Tahun Kewangan 2015/2016 sehingga Disember 2015 telah melebihi $1.6 bilion dan dijangka meningkat lebih $2.3 bilion pada akhir Tahun Kewangan 2015/2016.

“Oleh itu, langkah berhemah dan berjimat cermat perlu kita usahakan secara terus menerus bagi mengurangkan perbelanjaan kerajaan supaya defisit belanjawan ini akan terurus dan kewangan negara akan terus berdaya tahan.

“Ke arah itu, orang ramai perlu menerima hakikat sebenar yang kemampuan kerajaan untuk menampung perbelanjaan seperti dulu akan terbatas, perlu berasaskan keutamaan, keperluan, dan kemampuan serta kesan signifikannya dalam menjana aktiviti perekonomian dan peluang pekerjaan kepada anak tempatan,” kata beliau.

Menurutnya lagi, kejatuhan harga minyak dan gas global telah memaksa negara mempelbagaikan ekonomi khususnya di luar sektor minyak dan gas dan strategi seperti menarik pelabur asing dan usaha memperkukuhkan perusahaan kecil dan sederhana tempatan perlu dipergiat dan dilaksanakan secara berterusan.

Menyentuh mengenai peningkatan jumlah syarikat yang mendaftar pada 2015, sebanyak 568 buah syarikat berbanding 474 sepanjang 2014, beliau berkata perkara itu merupakan agenda utama yang menjadi fokus utama kerajaan terutama selepas Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam melantik Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Menteri Kanan di Jabatan Perdana Menteri selaku Peneraju dan Pengerusi PENGGERAK.

Beliau menegaskan, melalui kepentingan Ease Of Doing Business secara proaktif dan konsisten, telah memantau secara berterusan prestasi, menetapkan sasaran yang bercita-cita tinggi dan mempengerusikan Mesyuarat Stocktake dengan pelbagai kementerian untuk mengkaji dan menilai pelan-pelan tindakan berasaskan data yang dikemas kini, sekali gus menggambarkan keprihatinan dan komitmen DYTM Pengiran Muda Mahkota yang menginginkan jentera kerajaan terus maju ke depan dengan pantas dan segera supaya hasrat kerajaan untuk menjadikan iklim perniagaan di negara ini lebih kondusif.

Berkaitan dengan persepsi antarabangsa dan bagi memastikan semua pengusaha mengetahui proses dan undang-undang yang berkaitan dengan perniagaan, pihak kerajaan telah mewujudkan laman sesawang di mana sebuah portal rujukan boleh diakses oleh pihak yang berkepentingan.

Kewujudan laman sesawang itu juga merupakan respons kepada pihak pengusaha untuk mengadakan sebuah pusat rujukan bagi perniagaan.

Selepas menyampaikan ucapannya, Yang Berhormat Pehin dengan diiringi oleh Menteri Tenaga dan Perindustrian di JPM turut melawat Pameran Hari Terbuka Perusahaan 2016 di Lobi Bangunan Reka Bentuk dan Teknologi.


Sumber - Media Permata

62 people own the same as half the world, reveals Oxfam Davos report

The Oxfam report An Economy for the 1%, shows that the wealth of the poorest half of the world’s population has fallen by a trillion dollars since 2010, a drop of 41 percent. This has occurred despite the global population increasing by around 400 million people during that period. Meanwhile, the wealth of the richest 62 has increased by more than half a trillion dollars to $1.76tr. The report also shows how women are disproportionately affected by inequality – of the current ‘62’, 53 are men and just nine are women.

Although world leaders have increasingly talked about the need to tackle inequality, and in September agreed a global goal to reduce it, the gap between the richest and the rest has widened dramatically in the past 12 months. Oxfam’s prediction, made ahead of last year’s Davos, that the 1% would soon own more than the rest of us, actually came true in 2015 - a year earlier than expected.

Oxfam is calling for urgent action to tackle the extreme inequality crisis which threatens to undermine the progress made in tackling poverty during the last quarter of a century. As a priority, it is calling for an end to the era of tax havens which has seen the increasing use of offshore centers by rich individuals and companies to avoid paying their fair share to society. This has denied governments valuable resources needed to tackle poverty and inequality.

Winnie Byanyima, Oxfam International Executive Director, who will again attend Davos having co-chaired last year’s event, said: “It is simply unacceptable that the poorest half of the world’s population owns no more than a few dozen super-rich people who could fit onto one bus.

“World leaders’ concern about the escalating inequality crisis has so far not translated into concrete action – the world has become a much more unequal place and the trend is accelerating. We cannot continue to allow hundreds of millions of people to go hungry while resources that could be used to help them are sucked up by those at the top.

"I challenge the governments, companies and elites at Davos to play their part in ending the era of tax havens, which is fuelling economic inequality and preventing hundreds of millions of people lifting themselves out of poverty. Multinational companies and wealthy elites are playing by different rules to everyone else, refusing to pay the taxes that society needs to function. The fact that 188 of 201 leading companies have a presence in at least one tax haven shows it is time to act."

In 2015 G20 governments agreed steps to curb tax dodging by multinationals through the BEPS agreement, however these measures will do little for the poorest countries and largely ignore the problems posed by tax havens.

Globally, it is estimated that a total of $7.6tr of individuals’ wealth sits offshore. If tax were paid on the income that this wealth generates, an extra $190 billion would be available to governments every year.

As much as 30 percent of all African financial wealth is estimated to be held offshore, costing an estimated $14 billion in lost tax revenues every year. This is enough money to pay for healthcare for mothers and children in Africa that could save 4 million children’s lives a year, and employ enough teachers to get every African child into school.

Nine out of ten WEF corporate partners have a presence in at least one tax haven and it is estimated that tax dodging by multinational corporations costs developing countries at least $100 billion every year. Corporate investment in tax havens almost quadrupled between 2000 and 2014.

Allowing governments to collect the taxes they are owed from companies and rich individuals will be vital if world leaders are to meet their new goal, set last September, to eliminate extreme poverty by 2030.

Although the number of people living in extreme poverty halved between 1990 and 2010, the average annual income of the poorest 10 percent has risen by less than $3-a-year in the past quarter of a century. That equates to an increase in individuals’ daily income of less than a single cent a year.

Had inequality within countries not grown between 1990 and 2010, an extra 200 million people would have escaped poverty.

One of the other key trends behind rising inequality set out in Oxfam’s report is the falling share of national income going to workers in almost all developed and most developing countries and a widening gap between pay at the top and the bottom of the income scale. The majority of low paid workers around the world are women.

By contrast, the already wealthy have benefited from a rate of return on capital via interest payments, dividends, etc, that has been consistently higher than the rate of economic growth. This advantage has been compounded by the use of tax havens which are perhaps the most glaring example set out in the Oxfam report of how the rules of the economic game have been rewritten in a manner that has supercharged the ability of the rich and powerful to entrench their wealth.

Oxfam is calling for action against tax havens to be part of a three-pronged attack on inequality. Action to recover the missing billions lost to tax havens needs to be accompanied by a commitment on the part of governments to invest in healthcare, schools and other vital public services that make such a big difference to the lives of the poorest people.

Governments should also take action to ensure that work pays for those at the bottom as well as for those at the top – including moving minimum wage rates towards a living wage and tackling the pay gap between men and women.

Byanyima added: “The richest can no longer pretend their wealth benefits everyone – their extreme wealth in fact shows an ailing global economy. The recent explosion in the wealth of the super-rich has come at the expense of the majority and particularly the poorest people."

In addition to its inequality campaign, Oxfam will be attending Davos to press world and business leaders to tackle climate change and act to resolve humanitarian crises including that in Syria.

Sumber - Oxfam International

Brunei Darussalam Year in Review 2015

While 2015 saw some progress in Brunei Darussalam’s ongoing diversification efforts, the challenging external climate, together with an increasingly competitive regional environment, further underscored the importance of pursuing non-oil revenue sources.

Lower global energy prices, on top of weaker commodity earnings, sparked a significant drop in government revenues in 2015, prompting both the public and private sectors to sharpen their focus on other areas of the economy, including financial services, the halal industry and tech start-ups.

However, a relatively strong Bruneian dollar and lower commodity prices also served to curb inflation over the year, with the consumer price index up by a marginal 0.1% year-on-year (y-o-y) in November, according to the Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD).

The year ahead looks set to bring new opportunities from regional initiatives, notably the newly launched ASEAN Economic Community (AEC). Progress in the Trans-Pacific Partnership also bodes well for the Sultanate, although both initiatives are likely to increase competition amongst signatories looking to position themselves as investment destinations.

According to the IMF, the economy is expected to rebound in the coming years, with GDP growth forecast to reach 3.2% and 3.8% in 2016 and 2017, respectively, before scaling up to 11.2% by 2019.

Energy earnings down

News at the end of 2015 that oil prices had fallen to their lowest level since the height of the global financial crisis in 2008 reaffirmed the extent of the challenge facing Brunei Darussalam. The hydrocarbons sector traditionally accounts for roughly 60% of GDP and more than 90% of government revenue.

Brent crude futures dipped close to $30 per barrel in mid-January, while liquefied natural gas (LNG) prices were down 26.5% on the year, according to Platts Japan/Korea Marker, with the average spot price of LNG cargoes arriving in north-east Asia dropping to $7.40 per million British thermal units in January.

Lower energy receipts triggered a third consecutive year of recession in the Sultanate, with the economy expected to contract by around 1.5% in 2015, according to IMF estimates.

However, this marks an improvement over the 2.3% decline registered in 2014 and the 2.6% y-o-y contraction recorded in the first six months of the year, according to the AMBD. The first-half decline was a function of negative growth in both the hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbons sectors, which shrank by 3.5% and 1.5% y-o-y, respectively.

Although the government trimmed the FY 2015/16 budget by $250m, the country is expected to post a fiscal deficit of 16% of GDP for the year, in contrast to the 28% surplus recorded in 2011.

While further spending cuts are widely expected, Brunei Darussalam is moving ahead with several key infrastructure developments, including the BN$1.6bn ($1.1bn) Temburong Bridge project.

Expected to be completed in 2019, the 30-km dual two-lane highway will connect the Brunei Muara District with Temburong to the south-east, with the initial phases of construction to handled by a combination of local, South Korean and Chinese firms.

Industry advances

The year also brought some positive news in the energy sector, as the Sultanate moved ahead with counter-cyclical spending measures.

The majority state-owned Brunei Gas Carriers took delivery of another LNG tanker in July as part of its plans to upgrade its fleet. The Amadi, constructed by South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries, should help the country deliver larger cargoes more efficiently, providing a welcome boost in an increasingly competitive market.

Meanwhile, work continued on the new oil refinery and aromatics cracker complex on the Pulau Muara Besar (PMB) industrial island, with ground broken in May for a bridge linking PMB to the mainland.

According to estimates from economists at the Asian Development Bank, the plant is expected to inject around $2bn per year into the Bruneian economy, boosting GDP by 2% once fully operational, with completion forecast for 2018.

Regional opportunities

Expanding regional and international trade remains a key strategic focus of the Sultanate, with a series of regulatory changes and liberalisation measures enacted in 2015.

In March Brunei Darussalam outlined plans to change its tariff structures, improve foreign direct investment rules and enact a National Competition Law ahead of the year-end launch of the AEC. According to regional press reports from early January, the Sultanate has achieved nearly all the tariff cuts envisaged in the AEC’s “Blueprint 2015” master plan.

The year also saw reforms aimed at easing the process of doing business in Brunei Darussalam, led by improvements to the licensing process for start-ups.

A single business licence has been introduced, replacing the variety of licences issued by multiple authorities that were previously required. Additionally, a new authority was established to oversee licensing procedures, and an online portal to the Registrar of Companies and Business Names was created, allowing users to pay fees remotely.

According to media reports, the country’s streamlining efforts have reduced the wait time for licensing from three months to just a few days.

Market makers

In addition, the Sultanate’s financial sector is expected to undergo significant development in the next two years.

In May the AMBD announced plans to launch a securities exchange as early as 2017, following the introduction of new capital market rules in February. The new securities exchange will enable Brunei Darussalam to ramp up its role in the increasingly integrated ASEAN capital markets, allowing businesses to access funding via listings and other available instruments.

In another landmark move, the AMBD said in mid-June that it plans to issue long-term sukuk (Islamic bond) for the first time. Expected to take place in 2016, the issue will broaden and deepen the country’s Islamic bond market, marking the end of an era dominated by maturities of one year or less.

Such reforms should help Brunei Darussalam prepare for a year that looks set to bring a mix of new opportunities and familiar challenges.


Sumber - Oxford Business Group

‘Irregularities affect TAIB’s profit, image’

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Monday, January 18, 2016 

NEGLIGENCE and failure to obey standard operating procedures (SOP) have resulted in Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei’s (TAIB) decision to let go of several officers, its chairman said on Saturday.

In his speech, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Hj Awang Halbi Hj Mohd Yusof said that their irresponsible actions have not only affected the institution’s earnings but also threatened its “overall image and credibility”.

“The TAIB board of directors has regretfully agreed to endorse the TAIB Disciplinary Committee’s decision to let go of some of the officers involved,” said YB Pehin Major General (Rtd) Dato Hj Awg Halbi at the TAIB annual dinner.

He urged other staff to ensure such incidents do not repeat and for them to learn from the “disappointing matter”.

The chairman provided no further clarification on the incident in his speech. When contacted by The Brunei Times, no comment was given regarding the statement.

YB Pehin Major General (Rtd) Dato Hj Awg Halbi noted that unfavourable market conditions had also affected TAIB’s earnings for the year 2015 whereby they recorded $50.4 million before auditing. It was unclear how much TAIB recorded in 2014.

Despite the decrease in earnings, the chairman said that TAIB had managed to collect over $40.2 million in excess from zakat (tithe) while also maintaining its ‘hibah’ rates (gift funds) as 2014.

Additionally, earnings from corporate financing had increased by 87 per cent, bad debts recovery by 400 per cent and treasury placement marked an increase of six per cent last year.

In view of the financial institution’s promising performance in 2015, the chairman urged all staff members to work together and be responsible in assuring that all strategies and activities lined up for the year 2016 goes as planned.

“I hope that all staff and management continue to intensify their efforts in implementing its various strategic plans with its business strategy that is more dynamic, professional, ethical and committed to achieve high business and investment returns,” he said. — Nabilah Haris


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Kearah Memperkasa NDP

LIMBARUH HIJAU, 1 RABIULAWAL 1437/11 Jan 2016 -  Sebagai sebuah pertubuhan politik, Parti Pembangunan Bangsa (NDP) perlu bergerak dengan lebih aktif dan berkesan jika mahu benar-benar diterima dan diyakini oleh semua lapisan rakyat sebagai pembela kebenaran, keadilan dan ihsan yang merupakan modal perjuangannya.

Ke arah itu NDP perlu kepada struktur organisasi, sistem pengurusan dan pentadbiran serta sistem delivery yang mantap. Dasar, proses dan prosedur dalam membuat keputusan, sistem komunikasi dan keupayaan sumber tenaga kerja juga merupakan elemen-elemen yang sama penting perlu diperkukuh dalam usaha mempastikan kehadiran NDP dapat dirasakan sebagai satu rahmat kepada bangsa dan negara.

TYT Presiden Parti Pembangunan Bangsa (NDP) Malai Hassan bin Malai Haji Othman, menekankan perkara tersebut semasa berucap sebagai mendahului agenda permesyuaratan pertama bersama ahli-ahli Majlis Tertinggi bagi sesi 2015 hingga 2018 berlangsung di Anjung Syura, Markas Limbaruh Hijau Jalan Jerudong di sini.

Seramai dua puluh enam orang terpilih sebagai ahli-ahli Majlis Tertinggi, bagi sesi 2015 hingga 2018 setelah menjalani proses eliminasi dengan keputusan Menang Tanpa Bertanding oleh pihak Suruhanjaya Pemilihan Umum (SPU) NDP bermula 31hb Ogos lalu.

Berikutan itu kepimpinan NDP bagi sesi 2015 hingga 2018 adalah terdiri daripada Awang Haji Abd Rahman bin Yusuf selaku Pengerusi Tetap, manakala Presiden NDP ialah Malai Hassan bin Malai Haji Othman, Timbalan Presiden Pengiran Haji Zainal bin Pengiran Taib, Setiausaha Agung Hajah Sa'emah binti Haji Kepli, Bendahari Agung Awang Haji Mohd Ali bin Haji Mohd Yusuf, Penolong Setiausaha Agung Awang Muhammad Abdullah Peter bin Abdullah Saging.

Manakala Naib-Naib Presiden terdiri daripada Awang Haji Muhiddin bin PDP Hj Othman bagi Daerah Brunei Muara, Awang Haji Metali bin Ibrahim bagi Daerah Belait, Awang Haji Jefri bin Hj Md Daud bagi Daerah Tutong dan Awang Haji Zaini bin Bakar bagi daerah Temburong.

Dan ahli-ahli Majlis Tertinggi lainnya, terdiri  Awang Haji Mohammad bin Haji Mohd Yassin, Awang Haji Hamid bin Hussin, Awang Haji Azahari bin Jais, Awang Jumat bin Sulaiman, Dayang Hadijah binti Haji Dollah dan Dr Hajah Rayah binti Haji Ali bagi Daerah Brunei Muara.

Sementara itu ahli-ahli Majlis Tertinggi Daerah Belait terdiri daripada Awang Haji Sulaiman bin Duraman, Dayang Rosiah binti Alah, Awang Mohammad bin Tuah, dan Dayang Halimah binti Janai, seterusnya bagi daerah Tutong, Awang Haji Ratu bin Tahir , Awang Tahir bin Radin dan Dayang Puspalinda bin Abiddin.

TYT Presiden dalam ucapannya seterusnya turut berkata menyarankan kepada semua ahli-ahli Majlis Tertinggi untuk sentiasa mengambil inisiatif mengadakan perjumpaan melalui program muzakarah dengan ahli-ahli di akar umbi, terutama sekali mendekati ahli-ahli di ranting-ranting di seluruh daerah, kerana tambahnya ahli-ahli perlu diperkasa melalui kefahaman yang betul, supaya mereka mengetahui kenapa sebenarnya mereka menjadi ahli NDP.

TYT Presiden NDP kemudiannya turut membentangkan perancangan, perlaksanaan kearah memperkasa NDP, antaranya ialah perlu memantapkan struktur organisasi, kepimpinan/sumber daya manusia, sistem pengurusan dan pentadbiran, sistem komunikasi parti, kewangan dan dana serta sistem delivery.

“Dalam perancangan mengemaskinikan struktur NDP akan melibatkan pemodenan JASA dari semua segi termasuklah dari segi fizikalnya. Kita juga berhasrat untuk menjadikan markas sebagai kemudahan yang boleh digunakan oleh semua ahli-ahli di seluruh daerah, kita tidak mahu markas hanya untuk tempat bermesyuarat sahaja, tetapi bagaimana ia boleh memudahcara ahli-ahli dan barisan kepimpinan untuk menggunakannya, ianya adalah demi kebaikkan dan kemajuan parti, ini antara perkara yang perlu kita usahakan di mana kita mahu memanafaatkan markas sebaik-baiknya demi untuk perjuangan kita membina bangsa dan negara” katanya.

Antara agenda yang dibincangkan dalam mesyuarat pertama sesi 2015 hingga 2018 tersebut adalah Laporan Setiausaha Agung, Laporan Bendahari Agung, Membentangkan Gerak Kerja 100 hari, Taklimat penubuhan jawatankuasa dan biro-biro dan hal-hal lain yang turut membincangkan persiapan menyertai Perbarisan Hari Kebangsaan Negara, persiapan menghadapi MPPD dan sebagainya.

Mesyuarat tersebut telah didahului dengan bacaan Surah Al-Fatihah dan doa mesyuarat yang dipimpin oleh TYT Presiden NDP Malai Hassan bin Malai Othman, diikuti kemudiannya membaca ikrar setiap daripada Presiden serta ahli-ahli Majlis Tertinggi dan diakhiri dengan bergambar ramai.


Sumber - Laman Aspirasi

Public told to save water to help gov’t lessen cost of treatment

Rachel Thien
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE Department of Water Services is calling the public to reduce water consumption by adopting and nurturing good saving habits with expected prolonged dry weather conditions up to March.

This will also help the government lessen expenditure of water treatment costs, said an officer from the department yesterday.

“Water is subsidised in Brunei. The question is not how much money a person can save by saving and conserving water. The key and important thing is by saving water, one can save the capital investment and cost of producing water which is borne entirely by the government,” an officer at the department told The Brunei Times yesterday.

The officer who declined to be named, said the cost of water supply to the public is subsidised by the government, and by saving water, all can help to reduce the government’s expenditure in the operating and maintenance costs of water here.

“So by saving water, everyone is helping the government to achieve more efficient use of water and financial resources,’’ the officer said.

Although there is an abundance of raw water in Brunei, water treatment is a long and expensive process, the official said, although she was not able to disclose the amount spent annually by the government.

The official added operation and maintenance of continuous uninterrupted water supply is costly and challenging.

“Saving water is helping our government save money. So start with small steps and changes to nurture good habits in saving water,” the official said.

The department personnel added that for organisations, they should monitor water bills and leaks, and spread the message of water conservation and water saving to staff as part of their corporate social responsibility.

“Water is a precious resource, and saving water helps to preserve and protect our environment. Sustainability in the water supply is the key,” the civil servant said.

Some examples of how the public can adopt in terms of water saving habits, the officer said, are to reuse and recycle water, monitor their water bills and install a rain water harvesting device.

She added they can also reduce showering time to four minutes, turning off the water tap while brushing their teeth, and using water efficient devices such as half flushes. “Appreciate water, have ownership of it and value it,” she said.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Gov’t to launch new inbred rice variety to boost local output

Wail Wardi Wasil
BRUNEI-MUARA

THE Department of Agriculture and Agrifood will launch a new type of inbred rice that is more drought-tolerant to boost domestic padi production.

An agronomist from the department, Khairunnisa Hj Omar Ali, said the new inbred rice line named Brunei Darussalam Rice 5 (BDR5) is developed from cross-breeding between Laila rice (a modern rice variety) and beras pusu (a popular traditional rice variety in Brunei).

In an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday, she said the BDR5 can be a replacement for traditional rice varieties because it has inherited the drought tolerant characteristics of traditional rice but has the higher yield of modern rice varieties.

The BDR5 has the potential to produce three to five metric tonnes per hectare, she said.

The agronomist explained that traditional rice varieties are drought tolerant but produces a low yield with an average of one metric tonne per hectare.

She said traditional rice varieties can be planted in rain-fed areas that do not require irrigation and only relies on rain.

Modern varieties such as Laila rice cannot do this and can only be planted in areas with irrigation because they need a lot of water, she added.

“This will create a positive impact on the domestic rice production because half of the rice production areas in Brunei still do not have access to proper irrigation infrastructure,” she said.

She added that BDR5 is also shorter in height compared to traditional rice varieties, which reduces the risk of the plant dislodging from the soil, adding that is a common problem that is experienced by tall rice varieties.

“The initial cross-breeding was made around 2002 and 2003, and through years of selection process, the line is now being planted by 85 farmers in 70 hectares of padi fields to assess its sustainability for large scale planting.

“Prior to the trial, the department has also conducted sensory tests on BDR5 and found it to be acceptable, in terms of taste, by consumers in Brunei Darussalam,” said the agronomist.

Khairunnisa said the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood is targeting to launch BDR5 officially this year, depending on the success of the trial.

“We (the department) will continue to strengthen our research and development activities in order raise farmer’s productivity in a sustainable manner,” she added.

It was previously reported that Brunei fell short of meeting its rice self-sufficiency target of 60 per cent by 2015.

Domestic production of rice increased from 1,230 metric tonnes in 2013 to 1,380 metric tonnes in 2014.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Brunei Darussalam’s tourism industry to see stronger support

A cabinet reshuffle in Brunei Darussalam has sharpened the country’s focus on tourism against a backdrop of sluggish industry growth and falling visitor numbers.

Created in October 2015, the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism is charged with exploring ways of leveraging Brunei Darussalam’s strengths, which include its strategic location in the heart of the ASEAN region and a variety of natural attractions.

The reshuffle was widely welcomed by the country’s tourism operators, many of whom see it as a sign that the government is looking to shore up support for the industry, which is seen as a key component of the national effort to diversify Brunei Darussalam’s economy.

Abundant attractions

Emerging niche markets, such as the eco- and agri-tourism segments, together with short-term stays, feature prominently on the list of areas targeted for development.

Brunei Darussalam has an abundance of primary rainforest, which covers an estimated 70% of the country’s terrain, and is home to a wealth of flora and fauna, including some species that are only found within its borders.

In an interview with local media, Chuan Pyng, general manager of Century Travel Centre, said Brunei Darussalam had much to offer nature lovers, if marketed effectively. “We should try to capitalise on eco-tourism and heavily promote eco-friendly locations like Ulu Temburong and the Mangrove Resort,” he said.

Local initiatives targeting tourism growth are also being developed. In October Tutong District announced plans to attract some 60,000 visitors over the next two years under its tourism development strategy.

Officially launched in late August, the Tutong Destination Programme aims to promote the district’s attractions and places of interest under a single industry umbrella. The programme is also looking to create job opportunities for locals and promote locally produced goods.

Boosting capacity

Steps already taken to strengthen Brunei Darussalam’s tourism infrastructure, led by a $150m airport revamp, should support the new tourism drive.

The Brunei International Airport Terminal modernisation project, scheduled to come on-line by the end of 2015, is expected to double the facility’s annual passenger-handling capacity to 3m, paving the way for the country to carve a niche as a regional air logistics hub. Facilities will include 13 new check-in counters, bringing the total to 40, as well as eight passenger boarding gates. According to the Brunei Economic Development Board, which is overseeing the project, baggage-handling capacity will increase by 50% to 1330 bags per hour.

Tour operators will be looking for the new infrastructure and initiatives to help reverse the decline in arrivals witnessed last year.

While tourist arrivals slipped from 85,599 in 2013 to 78,436 in 2014, as per figures from the Department of Economic Planning and Development, the industry’s long-term prospects remain bright, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Tourism directly accounted for 1.5% of Brunei Darussalam’s GDP in 2014, with forecasts suggesting its contribution will rise by 2.5% in 2015 and 4.7% per annum through to 2025 to reach BN$515.8m ($365m), or 1.8% of GDP.

In employment terms the sector has a more significant footprint. While tourism directly accounted for 2.4% of total employment in 2014, according to the WTTC, the sector and its related fields comprised 7.6% of the national total, or some 15,500 jobs. By 2025 the industry will provide an estimated 20,000 jobs, equivalent to 7.7% of total employment.

Moving forward

While the airport expansion marks a key step forward, other infrastructure shortfalls present hurdles for sector growth. The lack of public transport in particular is seen as an obstacle, as ease of transit is often a deciding factor for tourists.

Critics have also noted that the country’s port facilities are largely structured to cater to industrial activities, making them less suitable for cruise ships. A lack of manpower in the hospitality industry is another concern for the industry’s development.                                                              

In March Pehin Dato Yahya Bakar, minister of industry and primary resources, said improvements to infrastructure had a key part to play in driving Brunei’s tourism industry forward. He added that Brunei Darussalam would be looking for private sector input in its efforts to cultivate places of interest.

“Currently the Tourism Development Department has identified several sites across the country to be [designated] as tourist sites, and it will be open to domestic and foreign investors,” he told local media.


Sumber - Oxford Business Group

Perangkaan penganggur tempatan meningkat

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Isnin, 11 Janauri. - Bulan November tahun lalu, bilangan penduduk yang menganggur dalam kalangan penduduk tempatan (rakyat Brunei dan penduduk tetap) yang berumur 18 hingga 59 tahun telah meningkat dari 10,313 orang pada bulan Oktober 2015 kepada 10,385 orang pada bulan November tahun yang sama.

Menurut Siaran Akhbar Jabatan Perancangan dan Kemajuan Ekonomi (JPKE), dari jumlah tersebut 6,789 orang (65 peratus) tinggal di Daerah Brunei dan Muara; 5,751 orang (55 peratus) adalah terdiri daripada perempuan; 6,006 orang (58 peratus) berumur di antara 20 hingga 29 tahun dan 6,563 orang (63 peratus) mempunyai taraf pendidikan tertinggi di peringkat menengah.

Perangkaan tersebut bertujuan untuk memberikan anggaran terkini bilangan berserta profil mengenai rakyat Brunei dan penduduk tetap berumur di antara 18 hingga 59 tahun yang tidak mempunyai pekerjaan dan sedang aktif mencari pekerjaan, atau yang tidak menuntut di mana-mana institusi pendidikan dan sedang aktif mencari pekerjaan, atau diistilahkan sebagai penganggur.

Perubahan tersebut adalah disebabkan oleh tambahan seramai 487 orang yang baru mendaftar sebagai pencari kerja.

Pengurangan seramai 415 orang adalah terdiri daripada 96 orang yang sudah mendapat pekerjaan dan 319 orang atas sebab-sebab lain seperti tidak membaharui pendaftaran sebagai pencari kerja di Agensi Pekerjaan Tempatan dan Pembangunan Tenaga Kerja (APTK).

Pihak kerajaan telah melaksanakan beberapa inisiatif bagi menangani isu pengangguran di negara ini melalui dua pendekatan, iaitu untuk meningkatkan tahap pengetahuan dan kemahiran anak tempatan lepasan peringkat 'O' dan 'A' dengan memberikan biasiswa atau latihan seperti Skim Biasiswa Khas, Skim Biasiswa Pendidikan Teknikal dan Vokasional di Institusi Pengajian Swasta Dalam Negeri (BPTV); Skim Biasiswa Pendidikan Teknikal dan Vokasional di Institusi Pengajian Dalam Negeri (BPTV) - Energy Industry Competency Framework (EICF), Skim Internship Student Programme for ICT Related Education (InSPIRE) serta Skim Latihan dan Pekerjaan (SLP).

Di samping itu, untuk memberikan lebih banyak peluang-peluang pekerjaan kepada anak tempatan melalui pengurangan kuota pengambilan pekerja-pekerja asing yang berkemahiran rendah.

Mengikut hasil Kajian Tenaga Kerja (KTK) 2014, dari jumlah penduduk yang bekerja, kira-kira 27.5 peratus merupakan pekerja asing.

Beberapa penunjuk pasaran tenaga kerja merupakan bilangan pencarum yang baru berdaftar di Tabung Amanah Pekerja (TAP) pada bulan November 2015, iaitu seramai 567 orang, terdiri daripada 47 orang yang bekerja di sektor kerajaan dan 520 orang di sektor swasta.

Secara keseluruhan, jumlah pancarum yang baru berdaftar di TAP dari bulan Januari hingga November 2015 ialah seramai 6,249 orang.

Sebarang pertanyaan mengenai Perangkaan Pencari Kerja Tempatan bolehlah dirujuk ke JPKE dengan menghubungi talian telefon +673 2230250 atau +673 2233344 semasa waktu pejabat atau E-mel : 'info.statistics@jpke.gov.bn' atau laman sesawang : 'www.depd.gov.bn'.


Sumber - Pelita Brunei

Ecuador buat bayaran AS$1 bilion

QUITO, 10 Jan (AFP) – Ecuador akan membuat bayaran berjumlah AS$1 bilion kepada syarikat minyak Amerika Occidental Petroleum pada April, sejajar dengan satu keputusan daripada panel penimbang tara Bank Dunia, kata Presiden Rafael Correa semalam.

Pusat Antarabangsa untuk Penyelesaian Perbalahan Pelaburan (ICSID) pada mulanya mengarah Ecuador supaya membayar syarikat, dikenali sebagai Oxy, AS$1.77 bilion serta faedah dalam keputusan pada tahun 2012.

Correa dalam taklimat media mingguan berkata kerajaannya berjaya berunding untuk mengurangkan jumlah wang berkenaan, pertama kepada $1.4 bilion, seterusnya lebih rendah lagi. “Anugerah berjumlah AS$1.4 bilion. Kami akan membayar kira-kira AS$980 juta. Pengurangan adalah AS$420 juta,” kata beliau.

Occidental, juga dikenali sebagai Oxy, berkata Ecuador mencabul satu perjanjian pelaburan dua hala dengan Amerika Syarikat. Correa pada mulanya berusaha mendapatkan keputusan dibatalkan, berkata kerajaan mempunyai hak untuk membatalkan kontrak disebabkan Oxy menjual 40 peratus saham dalam syarikat itu kepada firma Kanada Encana pada 2000 tanpa kebenarannya.

Correa berkata dalam ucapannya di radio bahawa ‘secara jujur’ Ecuador membuat bayaran awal berjumlah AS$100 juta dolar pada bulan lalu, dan menetap jadual bayaran untuk menamatkan bayaran baki pada April. “Kami menandatangani satu perjanjian dengan Oxy semalam dan kami telah menyelesai masalah dalam cara yang baik,” kata beliau.

Syarikat minyak itu menyaman Ecuador sebanyak AS$3.37 bilion pada Mei 2006, hari selepas negara Amerika Selatan mengumumkan pembatalan satu kontrak yang memberinya hak untuk mengeluarkan 100,000 tong minyak sehari dari lembangan Amazon, kira-kira 20 peratus daripada keluaran Ecuador.

Bayaran sebanyak satu billion dolar itu menambah masalah belanjawan yang menghadapi Ecuador, anggota paling kecil kartel minyak OPEC, di tengah kemerosotan minyak mentah dan penurunan nilai mata wang.


Sumber - Media Permata


Petikan Ucapan Dasar Presiden NDP di Kongres Agung Tahunan Ke-10 2015:

...Sebagai iktibar, dalam kes-kes sebelum ini, beberapa buah negara telah menjadi mangsa tuntutan pampasan yang melebihi 1 bilion dolar, melalui instrumen Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) yang diperalatkan oleh syarikat gergasi antarabangsa. Justeru banyak pihak yang berpendapat bahawa penerimaan ISDS itu tidak ubah seperti menggadai kedaulatan negara.

Oleh itu, sekali lagi saya menyeru supaya kerajaan bersikap berhati-hati dan menghalusi perkara ini agar Brunei tidak terperangkap dalam situasi yang memudaratkan.

Petikan daripada laman Naked Capitalism:

[T]he ISDS tribunal in the previously mentioned Occidental v. Ecuador case, brought under the U.S.-Ecuador BIT, ordered Ecuador’s government to pay $2.3 billion to the U.S. oil corporation – one of the largest-ever investor-state awards. The penalty imposed by the tribunal on Ecuador’s taxpayers was equivalent to the amount Ecuador spends on healthcare each year for over seven million Ecuadorians – almost half the population. The tribunal decided on the massive penalty after acknowledging that Occidental had broken the law, that the response of the Ecuadorian government (forfeiture of the firm’s investment) was lawful, and that Occidental indeed should have expected that response. But the tribunal then concocted a new obligation for the government (one not specified by the BIT itself) to respond proportionally to Occidental’s legal breach and, upon deeming themselves the arbiters of proportionality, determined that Ecuador had violated the novel investor-state obligation.

To calculate damages, the tribunal majority estimated the amount of future profits that Occidental would have received from full exploitation of the oil reserves it had forfeited due to its legal breach, including profits from not-yet-discovered reserves. The tribunal majority then substantially increased the penalty imposed on Ecuador by ordering the government to pay compound interest. It has become increasingly common for investor-state tribunals to order governments to pay compound rather than simple interest, often requiring that the interest be retroactively compounded from the moment of the challenged action or policy to the date of the tribunal’s decision, and prospectively until the date of payment.136 In the Occidental v. Ecuador case, these interest requirements alone cost the Ecuadorian government more than $500 million.

OVOP products yet to make their mark overseas

Waqiuddin Rajak
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

NONE of the products introduced under the One Village, One Product (OVOP) initiative have gained recognition overseas, with many hurdles remaining.

OVOP Project Officer Ahmad Fazil Zakaria (pic) told The Brunei Times that eight new products were introduced last year - six of them by village consultative councils (MPKs) in Tutong and two by MPKs in Temburong.

Most of the new products were introduced by Kg Lamunin in Tutong, with its Kuih Sapit, Kuih Lidah and cultural product “Gambus” (traditional music band) services being the highlight, aside from its newly registered tourism product Bintudoh resort along with Kg Kiudang’s homestay.

MPKs in Temburong established products with Kg Labu Estate introducing its Keropok Keladi (taro chips) and Kg Piasau-Piasau its Keropok Labu (pumpkin chips).

With the eight new products, Ahmad Fazil said there are now a total of 162 products registered under the OVOP initiative.

However, he also noted that these products were made by only around 62 of the 179 MPKs established in the sultanate.

“It’s understood that most of these MPKs are still trying their best to find out which products can be elevated as their representative product, their OVOP,” he said.

“It’s not easy because there are factors that need to be considered, including the MPKs’ capability to produce them and finding entrepreneurs to collect them from producers and consistently market them as the villages’ representative products,” he added.

He noted that production consistency is amongst the major factors for villages to be able to conduct large-scale marketing of their products, not just locally but also internationally.

“OVOP is a concept that first began in Japan, but other countries around the region followed suit, including ASEAN countries, and sometimes we also visit them whenever there are programmes and study how they conduct their OVOP-related initiatives,” he said.

“One of the things we noticed was that most of them made use of heavy machinery to consistently make the products. While that might help, we also have to consider the uniqueness of the product, including its taste, if we were to use machinery,” he added.

He gave an example of Keropok Udang (prawn crackers), where for better production and taste, the raw crackers need to be dried under the sun.

“But by doing that, we would also have to take into consideration the weather, which could be a problem if we were to consistently produce them and market them.

“But if we were to use an oven to dry them, the heat wouldn’t be the same as from sunlight, which may also have fluctuating temperatures and perhaps other nutrients, so the quality may also differ from how it was supposed to be when it’s handmade,” he said.

In terms of raw materials, Ahmad Fazil also said that OVOP entrepreneurs may need to find a steady source, especially those who planned to make handicrafts as a village’s representative product.

In other countries, he said, some of the villages had imported resources to sustain their OVOP efforts, including rattan to make all sorts of related handicrafts.

“But alternatively, they could also find new materials that could replace the natural resources without affecting the quality. For instance, Kg Mandaram has its handicrafts made out of fibre strips.

“And these handicrafts, whenever there are VIP visitors coming from overseas for a meeting, their goodie bags will consist of these bags filled with other OVOP products, and the feedback is often positive, as they will come back to seek more of these goods,” he added.

Ahmad Fazil said the government is currently looking at plans to improve the development of the OVOP initiative in the sultanate, including finding venues or channels to promote the products that have the potential to be exported.

“Currently, the OVOP (initiative) may not be enough to help sustain the country’s economy, as it’s still considered small. But we’re doing our best to heed the call to diversify the economy and make its people less dependent on the government.

“Hopefully, we will be able to develop the OVOPs to be more consistent in the future and see products receive international recognition one day,” he said.


Sumber - The Brunei Times