Titah Kebawah DYMM sempena Hari Keputeraan yang ke 71 Tahun pada 15 Julai 2017

Titah Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan Dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam sempena Hari Keputeraan yang ke 71 Tahun pada hari Sabtu, 21 Syawal 1438 / 15 Julai 2017.

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 kehadrat Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala kerana dapat pula merayakan hari keputeraan Beta pada tahun ini dalam suasana aman dan sejahtera.

Mula-mula ingin Beta merakamkan ucapan penghargaan dan terima kasih kepada para tetamu khas Beta yang sudi hadir, dan juga kepada semua pihak yang telah menyembahkan perutusan ucap selamat kepada Beta dan keluarga bersempena dengan perayaan ini.

Tiada nikmat yang sangat bernilai yang telah dan sedang dinikmati oleh Brunei Darussalam, melainkan nikmat aman, bersatu padu serta makmur. Oleh itu, semua pihak hendaklah berazam sambil memohon kepada Allah, supaya nikmat ini dikekalkan dan terus subur.

Dalam bidang pertumbuhan ekonomi, Beta gembira menyaksikan pelbagai usaha telah dan sedang dilaksanakan ke arah itu. Dua pendekatan utama sedang di fokus bagi memastikan bahawa pertumbuhan adalah benar-benar berlaku. Pendekatan pertama ialah meningkatkan Pelaburan Langsung Asing (FDI) dan kedua, menyokong serta menggalakkan pengusaha-pengusaha kecil dan sederhana untuk mampu menembusi pasaran-pasaran serantau dan antarabangsa. Dan untuk ini Beta mahu, supaya sektor awam dan swasta sama-sama berganding bahu mempertingkat daya inovasi dan kreativiti masing-masing, sehingga mampu menghasilkan produk atau perkhidmatan berkualiti.

Dalam konteks ini, pihak Berkuasa Maritim dan Pelabuhan adalah diharapkan untuk membentuk persekitaran kondusif bagi kemajuan perkapalan dan logistik sebagai usaha memenuhi keperluan import / export.

Selain itu, satu usahasama atau 'joint-venture' juga sudah dijalin antara Darussalam Assets dengan sebuah syarikat luar negara bagi mengendalikan secara profesional Pelabuhan Muara. Ini juga diyakini dapat menyumbang kepada pertumbuhan ekonomi.

Di akhir-akhir ini kita wajar berbangga, dengan bertambahnya para belia tempatan yang berani muncul menceburi bidang-bidang perniagaan dan perusahaan. Bukan setakat menceburi sahaja, malah berupaya menawarkan produk-produk mereka melalui pelbagai kemudahan atau platform terkini, disamping tidak ketinggalan memanfaatkan kemudahan bangku-bangku jualan yang disediakan oleh Kerajaan.

Ini tidak syak lagi adalah satu perkembangan memberangsangkan.

Perkembangan lain, Kerajaan Beta juga, kini sedang melipatgandakan usaha untuk melengkapkan para belia dengan kemahiran-kemahiran yang bersesuaian. Ini berlaku melalui beberapa program tertentu, disamping, Unit Tenaga Manusia, Jabatan Perdana Menteri dengan kerjasama Kementerian Pendidikan, juga secara khusus, telah mengenalkan kursus berasaskan Rangka Kemahiran Industri atau Industry Competency Framework (ICF).

Bagi maksud ini, Beta telah pun memperkenankan satu inisiatif tambahan, Penubuhan Pusat Pembangunan Kapasiti (PPK), yang akan menawarkan latihan-latihan kepada anak-anak tempatan bagi melayakkan mereka menjawat pelbagai pekerjaan di sektor swasta termasuk syarikat-syarikat Pelaburan Langsung Asing.

Kita adalah menyedari, bahawa pertumbuhan ekonomi atau Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) masih dalam keadaan 'perlahan'. Oleh itu, sangat penting bagi Kementerian-Kementerian dan Jabatan-Jabatan Kerajaan mensasarkan usaha-usaha mereka ke arah mempercepatkan pertumbuhan keluaran syarikat-syarikat di bawah jagaan masing-masing, sama ada syarikat-syarikat itu milik swasta atau kerajaan, terutamanya syarikat-syarikat dari sektor bukan minyak dan gas.

Peningkatan produktiviti dijangka mampu untuk memperbaiki daya saing keluaran syarikat-syarikat, dan sekali gus membolehkan mereka menembusi pasaran export. Meneroka pasaran export oleh pengusaha-pengusaha tempatan boleh menyumbang kepada pertumbuhan KDNK dan memperbaiki kedudukan fiskal kerajaan.

Satu lagi perkembangan dan pencapaian membanggakan, ialah dalam bidang pengajian tinggi. Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) telah menempah rekod mengekalkan kedudukannya dalam ranking universiti Asian atau 'Asian QS University Rankings'.

Perlu diingat, bidang pengajian juga adalah satu pelaburan sepanjang hayat. Ia juga berstatus lambang dan suluh kehidupan. Sebab itu pendidikan tidak boleh layu atau lemah, tetapi untuk selamanya, ia perlu segar dan cemerlang.

Namun kecemerlangan itu di sini, masih saja tertakluk kepada kemampuan kita mengadakan pendidikan seimbang, ukhrawi dan duniawi. Lebih-lebih lagi sekarang, dunia sudah terbuka luas kepada budaya 'bercampur-campur', budaya baik dan budaya buruk, di mana pendidikan ukhrawi sahaja yang mampu untuk membezakan antara dua budaya ini untuk kita membuat pilihan. Kerana itu pendidikan Islam sangatlah perlu untuk lebih mantap dan menyerlah.

Dalam amalan antarabangsa, kita akan terus memupuk dan mempertingkatkan kerjasama dengan negara-negara sahabat, sama ada melalui hubungan biasa mahupun melalui keahlian kita dalam pertumbuhan-pertumbuhan serantau dan antarabangsa.

Dalam era yang tidak menentu ini, persahabatan antara negara-negara di dunia adalah perlu wujud dan berkekalan. Kerana jika tidak, inilah punca keamanan boleh tergugat, di mana kita selaku negara dan orang Islam, sepatutnya lebih memahami perkara ini, berdasarkan, ugama Islam sendiri telah menganjurkan hidup berbaik-baik dengan siapa saja, dan khusus bagi sesama Islam pula, kita telah pun diajar untuk tidak memutuskan tali silatur rahim.

Akhirnya, Beta dengan tulus ikhlas merakamkan setinggi-tinggi penghargaan dan ucapan terima kasih kepada seluruh lapisan rakyat dan penduduk, warga Perkhidmatan Awam, Pasukan-Pasukan Keselamatan serta mereka yang  berkhidmat di sektor swasta, termasuk mereka yang bertugas di luar negara di atas sumbangan dan sokongan mereka kepada Kerajaan Beta.

Penghargaan yang setinggi-tingginya juga disampaikan kepada seluruh Ahli Jawatankuasa Perayaan di kedua peringkat kebangsaan dan daerah, atas segala khidmat mereka menjayakan Perayaan ini.

Beta berdo'a semoga kita semua serta Negara Brunei Darussalam akan senantiasa kekal aman dan makmur, dikurniakan rahmat dan perlindungan oleh Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala. Amin.

Sekian, Wabillahit Taufeq Walhidayah,  Wassalamu 'Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

Brunei Darussalam looks to sustain agricultural growth

Rising productivity and higher output from the processing segment is keeping Brunei Darussalam’s agriculture sector on track to meet the government’s medium- and long-term goals.

Strong performance in most areas of the agriculture and agri-foods sector saw the industry’s revenue rise by 6.8% year-on-year (y-o-y) in the first quarter of the year to reach BN$97.1m ($71.2m), according to data issued by the Department of Agriculture and Agri-food (DAA) in late July. This came despite dry weather conditions, which impacted the production of rice, vegetables and cut flowers.

Growth was supported in large part by double-digit growth in the livestock and processed agricultural products segments. Livestock output was up 14.1% y-o-y at BN$6.9m ($5.1m), while processed agricultural goods expanded by 16.9% over the same period, bringing the agri-food segment’s earnings to BN$28m ($20.5m).

By contrast, the broader economy expanded by 3.6% y-o-y in the first three months of the year, the Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam reported at the end of July.

Long-term plan for value-added growth

In its long-term development plan, Wawasan Brunei 2035, the government has set a target of boosting agricultural output to BN$1bn (733.3m) by 2020 and BN$3.9bn ($2.9bn) by 2035 – almost 11 times the sector’s contribution to GDP last year.

While ambitious, the last five years have already seen significant progress in agricultural development. Gross agricultural output increased from BN$230m ($168.6m) in 2010 to BN$366m ($268.4m) last year.

Future growth is expected to be fuelled by a combination of improved technology, higher levels of foreign direct investment in the sector, the use of high-yield crop varieties and the expansion of the downstream value-added component.

Boosting value addition should take on greater importance in the coming years if Brunei Darussalam it to reach its ambitious agricultural targets. With relatively limited land available for agricultural purposes, and the increasing encroachment of built-up areas into farming districts, the Sultanate will have to create more value from the land it has.

The whole country is approximately 577,000 ha in size, with only 7193 ha in use for agriculture as of 2013, according to the most recent figures from the DAA.

Halal niche

A key avenue for bringing in investment and increasing value addition in agricultural production is the Sultanate’s burgeoning halal segment, which feeds into the growing focus on processed foods.

In March of last year Brunei Darussalam invited investors from countries such as China and the UK to take part in a $300m halal industry park, known as the Bio-Innovation Corridor, located north-west of the capital Bandar Seri Begawan.

Led by the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, the 500-ha park aims to transform Brunei Darussalam into a regionally and internationally recognised destination for halal industries.

The worldwide halal food market is worth an estimated $1.1trn, according to a study by Thomson Reuters, and is considered one of the fastest food segments in the world.

Growing youth

While specialisation in value-added niches such as halal could go some way towards achieving the government’s goals, a dwindling workforce in rural areas presents something of a challenge.

According to the most recent Labour Force Survey conducted by the Department of Economic Planning and Development, out of a population of 411,900, and a total labour force of 203,600, the percentage working in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector was around 0.6% in 2014.

As young Bruneians increasingly opt for professions in urban centres, the ageing of the rural workforce also presents productivity challenges, according to Suria Zanuddin, the head of the agricultural extension division at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism.

“We try to involve and recruit young farmers as most of our current farmers are now ageing,” she told local media at the end of May.

The government is stepping up efforts to reverse the flow of young Bruneians into urban centres by expanding educational programmes and promoting the business opportunities of the agriculture sector through training courses.

At the Rice Farmer Field School, for example, close to 300 paddy farmers have been trained since the programme was founded in 2010.

While the expected increase in technology in the agriculture industry could help ease some of the workforce requirements, primary production is likely to remain a labour-intensive industry, meaning that government efforts to promote farming as an attractive and viable career path will be crucial to developing both food security and the broader sustainability of the sector.


Sumber - Oxford Business Group

Lebih 10,000 masih menganggur

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 9 Mac – Sehingga bulan Januari 2016, bilangan pencari kerja dalam kalangan penduduk tempatan (rakyat dan penduduk tetap) berumur 18 hingga 59 tahun, ialah seramai 10,714 orang.

Jabatan Perancangan dan Kemajuan Ekonomi (JPKE) dalam satu kenyataan di sini hari ini berkata, petunjuk pasaran tenaga kerja bagi Januari 2016 mendapati bilangan pencarum baru yang berdaftar di Tabung Amanah Pekerja (TAP) ialah seramai 558 orang, terdiri daripada 108 orang yang bekerja di sektor kerajaan dan 450 orang di sektor swasta.

Secara keseluruhan, jumlah pencarum yang baru berdaftar di TAP dari bulan Januari 2015 hingga Januari 2016 ialah seramai 7,358 orang.

Seramai 414 orang baru mendaftar sebagai pencari kerja di Agensi Pekerjaan Tempatan dan Pembangunan Tenaga Kerja (APTK), Kementerian Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri.

Menurut JPKE, Pihak kerajaan telah melaksanakan beberapa inisiatif bagi meningkatkan penyertaan anak-anak tempatan dalam pasaran kerja di negara ini khususnya di sektor swasta, melalui dua pendekatan.

Pendekatan tersebut ialah 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 bagi Program Energy Industry Competency Framework (BPTV-EICF),dan Skim Latihan dan Pekerjaan (SLP).

Serta memberikan lebih banyak peluang-peluang pekerjaan kepada anak tempatan melalui pengurangan kuota pengambilan pekerja asing yang berkemahiran rendah

Sebarang pertanyaan mengenai Perangkaan Pencari Kerja Tempatan ini bolehlah menghubungi talian 2230250 atau 2233344 atau melayari laman web www.depd.gov.bn.


Sumber - Media Permata

Private sector,youth urged to step up diversification efforts

Rachel Thien, Waqiuddin Rajak and Quratul-Ain Bandial
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE volatile oil prices have forced Brunei to conduct a reality check on its economy, with senior government officials saying it is time for youth and the private sector to step up.

Minister of Communications Yang Berhormat Dato Paduka Hj Mustappa Hj Sirat said the instability of oil prices has time and again reminded the need to increase diversification efforts and seek other ways to grow the economy.

“No doubt as a nation, we have done much to strengthen our national unity, progress and peace. But in the face of economic uncertainty challenges, we have to do a reality check and look at our economic fundamentals,” he said on the sidelines of the 32nd National Day parade yesterday.

YB Dato Hj Mustappa said economic fundamentals meant focusing more on the important role of the private sector in boosting the economy, and in manpower development.

He said the government has taken “important measures” to improve the business climate including reducing bureaucracy and ease of doing business.

“The Ministry of Communications is at the moment, taking an active role in looking at enhancing the mobility of people, goods and services by improving connectivity and reliability in public transport system.

“This in turn will hopefully create dynamism and opportunities, economic space, resilience and competitiveness. But more importantly, it also helps in addressing other social issues related to immobility in the country,” he added.

Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office YB Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Mohammad Yasmin Hj Umar said entrepreneurs should take heed of the monarch’s titah to do more for Brunei. “We have been through the good and bad sides of oil prices. I wish to repeat that as long as we stick to our own ways of overcoming issues and according to our basic principle of MIB, I see no issue for us in trying to move onto the next level.

“His Majesty has said that we have our own ways to deal with any situation, and that our MIB philosophy always plays an important role. We must look at our challenges and turn them into opportunities, and this is where we have to work hard,” he continued.

Following his recent working trip to the United States, the minister said it is clear that innovation, entrepreneurship and digital economy are where the world economy is heading. “This is why we want our ease of doing business to be very efficient and made into a one-stop centre, and we are working and heading into that direction,” the minister said.

With the launch of Darussalam Enterprise (DARe), the new statutory body that is driven by industry players to nurture and support local enterprises from startup to growth, the minister said the climate of doing business will improve here. “I think our entrepreneurs have a lot of potential. They have a lot of capability and they are as good as any other entrepreneurs outside of Brunei.

“I have confidence that with our young talents who are thriving abroad, and this is a positive sign,” he added.

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Hj Awg Halbi Hj Mohd Yusof said citizens should not be reliant on the government for handouts.

“The content of the titah is very explicit. We hope that the young generation will take heed of the titah. They need to start thinking of building the country. They have to realise they are important agents of change,” he added.

Meanwhile, Legislative Council (LegCo) representative of Belait District Zone 1 Yang Berhormat Hj Mohd Shafiee Ahmad said projects need to be prioritised according to the demands and needs of the country.

He reminded the public to spend prudently, as well as support government initiatives in boosting the country’s economic growth. “Let’s unite and maintain Brunei as being a beautiful, prosperous and peaceful country, and to be fully committed in living with our MIB philosophy and being a Zikir Nation,” he said.

Another LegCo member YB Pehin Datu Imam Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Abdul Hamid Bakal said members of the public should try to be less dependent on the government, and support its move in finding businesses and industries that can be developed.

“The government is encouraging the people to do their best in developing other sectors, and had been spending the budget wisely to help stabilise Brunei’s economy.

“So let us be less dependent on the government and have our own initiatives on how we can help improve our beloved country,” he added.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

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

Brunei strives to improve its labour market

Azmi Zainal
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE sultanate made inroads this year in reducing the jobless rate, empowering the labour force to improve their employability and encouraging Bruneians to reduce their reliance on the government sector and take up private sector jobs.

Unemployment down

Unemployment rates have seen a sharp fall this year.

According to the most recent data from the Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE), the number of jobless in the sultanate fell 8.6 per cent to 11,093 in September from 12,137 a year earlier.

September also saw the lowest number of jobless for any month so far this year.

Unemployment in Brunei is projected to fall to three per cent by 2016, according to a report from the UN Economic and Social Survey of Asia-Pacific (UNESCAP), which cited government initiatives to help mitigate the number of jobless.

The government has made a number of efforts to reduce unemployment. Some of its campaigns included public encouragement of taking up vocational training and jobs through scholarships and initiatives such as the Energy Sector Job fair, said UNESCAP. It also included promotion of entrepreneurial grants from various institutions such as the Brunei Economic Development Board.

Agencies such as the Energy Department at the Prime Minister’s Office and the Local Employment and Workforce Development Agency (APTK) under the Ministry of Home Affairs have also been active in organising career programmes and job fairs throughout the year to provide opportunities for locals.

Entrepreneurship

In August, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, urged local jobseekers to shed preference for the civil service as many continued to shun opportunities in the private sector.

In his 69th birthday titah at Istana Nurul Iman, the monarch pointed out that “a picky attitude” in seeking employment can hinder the progress and success of a nation.

“There are opportunities available, but it is still up to the respective jobseekers. As usual, these opportunities are frequently taken up by foreign workers in the private sector, while local jobseekers are seen as preferring to work in the public sector or government,” he said.

Earlier in the year, during the Legislative Council’s sessions in March, Bruneians were urged to change their mindset and stop relying so much on the government for jobs and financial support and instead set their sights on becoming entrepreneurs. Employers were also encouraged to give priority to locals when hiring.

Then Minister of Health YB Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hj Mohd Yusof highlighted that Bruneians should move away from relying on government salaries and support and instead enter the more industrious world of business.

“The industry sector is the heart of the economy, which has been proven to be capable of creating more employment, including advancing other industry-related economic activities,” he said.

YB Pehin Dato Hj Adanan said young Bruneians must be given the opportunity and priority in filling the important roles to replace expatriates because there are qualified locals for these roles.

Also In March, then Minister of Home Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awang Badaruddin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Awang Othman said the government’s policy of capping the number of foreign workers is not intended to hinder industrial growth and development.

He said the policy introduced last year is aimed primarily at reducing the unused quota of foreign workers. However, the ministry will insist that companies make plans within three years to gradually replace their foreign staff with locals, maintain the quota, or increase the number of expatriates as and when their companies’ growth and expansion make it necessary.

The minister said companies should make an effort to recruit more Bruneians.

There are currently 141,852 foreign workers in all sectors, including construction and private domestic help. On top of that, private sector employers have an unused quota for foreign workers totalling 71,000.

He said the ministry wants to regulate the number of foreigners working in the sultanate to make sure they don’t dominate jobs in the five sectors.

Curbing youth unemployment

In October, it was reported that the Institute of Brunei Technical Education in collaboration with the Continuing Education and Training Department (CET) was providing free training courses for unemployed youths between the ages of 18 and 35 as one of their initiatives to build skills among youths.

Hjh Nimah Hj Ahad, a senior officer from CET, encouraged more youths, particularly those who had just graduated from higher institutions, to develop their skills as opposed to merely waiting for job opportunities.

“We’re encouraging youths in the search for employment to apply for training courses to acquire new skills which would increase their opportunities to open businesses and become self-employed,” she added.

In relation to this, in March, Steven K Gold, an entrepreneurship professor from Babson College in the US, said entrepreneurship is important for the growth of a country, as it could help generate jobs and make the nation attractive to foreign investors.

Gold was invited to Brunei in 2014 by the Entrepreneurship Village under the Ministry of Education as a consultant for the National Entrepreneurship Agenda.

The Entrepreneurship Village’s strategies include equipping primary school children with the skills or tools required to become entrepreneurs.

For secondary and university students, it guides them on how to start and grow a business.

It also hopes to help existing entrepreneurs sustain and make their businesses globally competitive.

“The important factors to becoming [successful] entrepreneurs are communication skills, connections and being proactive,” he said.

“We guide interested entrepreneurs by giving them wider connections to other international experts to guide them further,” he added.

In June the Ministry of Home Affairs launched their job portal for private sector jobs.

The e-Labour Exchange also allows registered employers to post vacancies and seek potential employees.

Hj Shahrul Jeffri Dato Paduka Hj Ibrahim, acting head of the ministry’s Local Employment and Workforce Development Agency, said the system will speed up the recruitment process.

Hiring Bruneian workers will be faster and more cost-effective for employers, he said.

Through the new system, jobseekers can register and update their profiles online. They can also apply for courses offered on the e-Labour Exchange.

“The most important thing which I would like to emphasise is the government’s continuous effort to facilitate jobseekers to potential employers,” said YB Pehin Dato Hj Awg Badaruddin.

The minister hoped all private employers in the country would register with the new system and encourage local jobseekers, including students looking for part-time jobs, to make use of the portal.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

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.

Bruneians unfazed by international media perception of country

Brunei is often known internationally as a tiny oil-rich in country in Southeast Asia with a strict Islamic penal code, but some citizens tell Channel NewsAsia the foreign media have unfairly sensationalised the country's royals and laws.


By Sumisha Naidu

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: Every Friday at 12pm, Brunei's capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan becomes a ghost town.

Muslims in the capital observe Friday prayers and for the next two hours, every business - from restaurants to entertainment outlets - must remain closed by law.

During the fasting month, a similar scenario occurs. In 2014, the government declared that restaurants will not be able to serve dine-in food between sunrise and sunset, regardless of the owners' or customers' religion.

These are just some of the effects of the deep Islamic roots that run through the nation of about 420,000 people. In 2014, the Sultan announced the rollout of a strict Islamic penal code, a first for a Southeast Asian country. Some of the harsher penalties include flogging, severing of limbs and death by stoning.

While Islam is Brunei's official religion, government figures state about 34 per cent of the population are of different religions, including Buddhism and Christianity.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs said the minorities are free to practice their faiths, but only among themselves. Public displays of non-Muslim festivities are prohibited as this could be construed as attempts to propagate religions other than Islam.

The laws sound restrictive but many non-Muslims appear unfazed.

"This is a Muslim country so we have to follow Muslim laws right?" said Jessica, a retiree.

“I think because I grew up here in Brunei, I’m used to the life here so I think everything is fine,” added Shar Pay, a teacher.

Professor James Chin, director of the Asia Institute at the University of Tasmania, said: "Being a minority in Brunei, they've always lived under restrictions, even before the Sharia law was imposed. So I think they are used to living with restrictions. They have a coping mechanism built in. The Chinese population has been there since the 15th century."

UNFAIR CRITICISM

Publicly at least, complaints are few and far between in Brunei, one of the world's richest nations. But internationally, the small nation has often been thrown into the spotlight over its religious policing and the lavish lifestyles of the royal family, to whom Sharia law does not apply.

Brunei is constitutionally an absolute monarchy, and there are very few limits to the powers of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

But some locals have said foreign media have unfairly sensationalised the royals and the Islamic regulations, so much so that it has affected tourism.

"Actually before we had a lot of bookings but now it's quite quiet," said tour guide Ali Kairul Rizal. “When foreign media reports mention Brunei, it is all about the Sharia law, it is all about the bad things about our Sultan. But they didn't get the news where every single thing, where every single Bruneian was happy because of our Sultan."

Many Bruneians Channel NewsAsia spoke to also revered the Sultan for using his oil wealth to help the people. "We love him so much, I'm very proud to have him as our Sultan of Brunei," said one citizen.

"The majority of them would support the monarchy for the very simple reason that Brunei have extensive welfare provisions,” said Professor Chin.

“For example, there is no personal income tax in Brunei. The overwhelming bulk of the population works for the civil service. All medical care for Brunei citizens are free. Education is completely free. And almost everything else is subsidised."

RESTLESS YOUTH?

Still, some from the younger generations are growing restless. Locals talk of boredom, crossing over the border on weekends to the much more liberal Malaysia. Some bring back restricted quantities of alcohol and cigarettes - things not openly sold in Brunei.

"The majority are happy. Only a small number of them think they're restricted,” said Brunei director of Youth and Sports Abdul Malik Mohammad. “Rebels, it is normal for young people to like to rebel."

To some Bruneians, these small gripes are still outweighed by the benefits of being a citizen. They do not see a need to leave just yet as long as the country continues to deliver on the promise enshrined in its official name: The Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace.


Sumber - Channel NewsAsia

Bilangan pengangguran terus meningkat

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 17 Mei – Bilangan rakyat dan penduduk tetap berumur antara 18 hingga 59 tahun yang menganggur bagi bulan Mac 2015, telah meningkat dari 14,814 orang pada bulan Februari 2015 kepada 15,081 orang pada bulan Mac 2015.

Menurut perangkaan yang dikeluarkan oleh Jabatan Perancangan dan Kemajuan Ekonomi (JPKE), Jabatan Perdana Menteri, daripada jumlah tersebut seramai 10,418 orang atau 70 peratus tinggal di Daerah Brunei Muara; 8,336 orang (55 peratus) terdiri daripada perempuan; 8,004 orang (53 peratus) berumur di antara 20 hingga 29 tahun; dan 9,616 orang (64 peratus) mempunyai taraf pendidikan tertinggi di peringkat menengah.

Perangkaan pencari kerja tempatan itu disediakan secara bulanan oleh JPKE bertujuan untuk memberikan anggaran terkini bilangan berserta profil mengenai rakyat Brunei dan penduduk tetap yang 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.

Anggaran perangkaan pencari kerja ini diperolehi daripada jumlah penganggur hasil Banci Penduduk dan Perumahan 2011 yang dikemaskinikan dengan mengambil kira pengurangan dan penambahan setiap bulan.

Pengurangan adalah disebabkan oleh mereka yang telah mendapat pekerjaan, yang menyambung pengajian masing-masing, atau tidak lagi berminat untuk mencari kerja. Sementara itu, penambahan adalah berasaskan pendaftaran baru pencari kerja tempatan melalui Ketua-ketua Kampung seluruh negara dan juga di Agensi Pekerjaan Tempatan dan Pembangunan Tenaga Kerja (APTK).

Sebarang pertanyaan mengenai Perangkaan Pencari Kerja Tempatan ini bolehlah dirujuk ke JPKE dengan menghubungi talian telefon 2230250 atau 2233344 (waktu pejabat) atau melayari laman web www.depd.gov.bn.


Sumber - Media Permata

‘Silence won’t prevent teen pregnancy’

Ak Md Khairuddin Pg Harun
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

SILENCE would not help in preventing teen pregnancies, the Brunei Darussalam AIDS Council president said yesterday.

Iswandy Ahmad said reproductive health is not openly discussed in Brunei, and the attitude of waiting for others to take action on social issues would only exacerbate the problem. Responding to the 3,405 teen pregnancies recorded from 2004 to 2013, he said a silent community is one of the reasons for the high numbers. “Young people are exposed to many things that may confuse them. Without proper life skills, education, right attitude and self-dignity, these social issues like teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are bound to happen,” he told The Brunei Times.

He said parents and teachers must help teenagers navigate in today’s world. “Teenagers nowadays have access to all kinds of information from their friends and the Internet. Showing them love and having an open ‘let’s talk about anything’ policy will help them feel free to speak to adults about matters that they need to know about,” said Iswandy.

“Any form of education should start at home, and reproductive health education — including aurat (covering parts of the body based on Islam) between mahram (legally married couple) and non-mahram — should be done at home to form a healthy social relationship,” he added.

Iswandy said reproductive health education is not an eve-ryday topic to be discussed openly as Asian culture is generally respectful. “Nonetheless, appropriate ways need to be addressed. For example, parents must relate teenage pregnancy to unhealthy relationships, where religion and society forbid the act of zina (fornication),” he said.

The president said reproductive health education includes Islamic teachings such as aurat, mandi wajib (full body cleansing) and fiqh munakahat (provisions of Islamic law on marriage). “We should not just copy and paste other countries’ ways. We should adapt to the culture in Brunei.”

Hj Saili Hj Chuchu, education officer at the Department of Schools, said parents should share the responsibility of educating their children on reproductive health so that they would understand the repercussions of pre-marital sex.

“Parents should stress the importance of culture and Islamic values to their children. We need to remind our children to stay away from zina (illegal sexual intercourse). At home, parents must strengthen their aqidah (faith),” he said, adding that the actions of children mirror that of their parents.

Parents should always remind their children that Islam prohibits unmarried males and females to be alone in a room as it may raise fitnah (false accusation). “When parents remind their young children at home about the repercussions of sexual activities outside marriage, the children would have strong Islamic values when they grow up,” he said.

Ali Yusri Abdul Ghafor, acting head/assistant director of Counselling and Career Section of the Department of Schools, said reproductive health education should be integrated with Islamic values and the MIB (Malay Muslim Monarchy) doctrine. “When we (school counsellors) are approached by students about topics pertaining to reproductive health education, we would remind them about Islamic values such as the sin of pre-marital sex and tell them about the moral obligation of preserving our MIB concept,” he said.

Ali Yusri, who has been counselling students since 1998, said the curiosity of students about reproductive health should be approached carefully to prevent the students from being misled about sexual intercourse.

Mazlan Hanif from Kg Rimba said he has never talked about reproductive health to his children. “It would be strange to teach your children on how to put on a con-dom. I think teaching this would make your children more curious about sex rather than preventing it,” said the 51-year-old father, who has four children.

He fears that teaching reproductive health to children would encourage them to experience pre-marital sex. “If we start to teach children on how to have safe sex, wouldn’t that encourage them to learn how to have sexual intercourse by putting on condoms and taking birth control pills?

“Even if you manage to teach your children about sex, you won’t get a response from them. Instead, they will talk with their friends. Now boys and girls become friends not like in the past. They will talk about it and who knows what will happen,” he added.

Another parent, Wahab, said: “Some parents are not aware that their children can access porn on the Internet and at the tip of their fingers. If this is left unchecked, it would be a problem.”


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Over 3,000 teen pregnancies in 10 years

Izzati Jalil
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE Maternal and Child Health Clinic has recorded over 3,000 teen pregnancies in 10 years, including an 11-year-old girl becoming the youngest mother in Brunei, a medical officer at the Health Promotion Centre said.

Dr Hjh Norol-Ehsan Hj Abd Hamid said a total of 3,405 teen pregnancies were reported from 2004 to 2013.

She said that even though the number of teen pregnancies seemed high, it does not give a clear picture as there are still those who are not registered at the health clinic.

The medical officer gave a talk on infectious diseases and teen pregnancies to Sayyidina Husain Secondary School students and staff yesterday.

She went on to say that the teen birth rate has declined almost continuously over the past decade, noting the drop of 456 unplanned teen pregnancies in 2004 to 264 in 2013. While there was a drop in the pregnancy rate for the 10-19 age group from 2004 and 2013, she said reported cases of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the sultanate have increased.

Dr Hjh Norol-Ehsan said statistics showed that there were 50 reported cases of teens suffering from STIs in 2000, while 68 cases were recorded in 2010.

Even though there’s only been an increase of 18 cases within a span of 10 years, the numbers are still alarming, she added.

“You may think you like someone so much that you engage in sexual activities with your girlfriend or boyfriend, but you must remember the risks and consequences that come with it,” she told the Year Nine students.

“What if you impregnate someone’s daughter or become pregnant just because you’re too in the moment? Who is going to be held accountable for the child? You must be responsible for your behaviour,” she continued.

The medical officer added that adolescents who are exposed to early sexual experiences are influenced by what they see on the media or even friends.

“With the easy access of media, you may feel curious to know more about sex or how it feels like, so that’s why youngsters engage in illicit activities despite it being forbidden by Islam,” she said.

Speaking to The Brunei Times, Dr Hjh Norol-Ehsan said she hoped the students would be able to share the knowledge with their peers who may not know about the consequences of having multiple sex partners.

“Some of the students don’t talk about it openly with their parents at home, so instead they talk among their friends and some of the information shared may not be accurate. Hopefully today will give them a more accurate outlook on teenage pregnancy and sex,” she said. A total of 216 students from Sayyidina Husain Secondary school attended the talk, which was held to raise awareness on the effects of unplanned pregnancy.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Number of jobseekers rose by 7% in December

Koo Jin Shen
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

MORE locals are looking for work as the number of jobseekers rose in December, according to figures issued by the Department of Economic Planning and Development.

According to JPKE, the number of unemployed locals (Brunei citizens and permanent residents) aged 17 to 59 years old had increased by seven per cent to 15,272 in December, up from 14,267 in November.

The rise in unemployment numbers is due to a large spike of jobseekers in the Brunei-Muara district. The district had seen an increase of 11.2 per cent from November to December 2014, reaching 10,309 jobseekers last month, up from 9,268.

Meanwhile, the number of jobseekers Belait had decreased by 1.3 per cent to 2,111 in December from 2,139 in November of last year. Tutong had seen a decrease of 0.2 per cent, while Temburong recorded a 0.6 per cent decline.

More than half of the jobseekers, or 8,427, were women. But the JPKE data revealed a significant rise in the number of male jobsee-kers. There was of 7.7 per cent increase in the number of male jobseekers in December compared to a 6.5 per cent increment for female jobseekers in the same period.

Fifty-four per cent of those unemployed were between 20 and 29 years old. More than 60 per cent of total jobseekers had secondary education as their highest education attainment.

JPKE said the report estimated the latest number and profile of Brunei citizens and permanent re-sidents between 18 and 59 years old currently looking for work. Further queries regarding the figures can be made to info.statistics@jpke.gov.bn and the report can be found on their website at www.depd.gov.bn.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Graduates call for job generation, versatile education system

Khai Zem Mat Sani
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

MORE employment opportunities and a more versatile education system to make them adaptable and competitive in the job market are what the Bruneian graduates aspire for as they continue to enjoy the country’s independence and witness its march towards further development.

Speaking to The Brunei Times on the eve of the 31st National Day, most of those interviewed agreed that employment generation is one the issues which authorities should seriously consider.

Roseraghadah Mohammad, 23, said that Brunei should create more job opportunities to meet the demands in the future.

The Universiti of Brunei Darussalam (UBD) graduate from Kg Rimba said, “Unemployment is one of the issues that we heard a lot nowadays, job fairs were held often but still, it is an issue that we cannot avoid from time to time. More students graduates, more students stop from studying, but jobs are hard to get.”

The UBD sociology graduate is still looking for a job, a year after completing her studies.

Meanwhile, Wardi Wasil from Kg Tanjung Bunut suggested that in order to overcome the unemployment problem, Brunei should develop more industries.

Wasil is a UBD graduate of English Literature but now working for a law firm.

He said, “We should have more industries that can make Brunei not rely on oil and gas. More industries equal more employment opportunities, economic diversity and also becoming a self-reliant nation.”

The Department of Economic Planning and Development reported in a September 2014 report that there was a decline in unemployment rate in the country.

The number of unemployed locals (Brunei citizens and Permanent Residents) aged 18–59 years old decreased to 11,469 from 11,546 last May 2014 which is 0.7 per cent.

Aside from what they perceived as lack of job opportunities, the youth is also calling for a nire versatile and flexible education system in the Sultanate which will render the graduates more skilled and more competent.

Some youth find it hard to find a job as they fail to meet the company’s requirements.

A graduate student of Jefri Bolkiah College of Engineering (MKJB), Sainul Hj Kipli said that in terms of education students should be more versatile in order to have wider skills.

He said, “Most of the time we are only focusing on theory. We need to focus on practical use to really understand how theory really works.”

“It’s good to know that the Ministry of Education or The Energy Department at Prime Minister’s Office (EDPMO) is now giving chances to young people in Brunei to learn more about the skills through entering the technical schools such as MKJB, MTSSR, and Polytechnic and so on. However, most graduates still only have certain skills.”

“As tomorrow will be our 31st National Day, we are talking about “Generasi Berwawasan” This is a good start and a good platform, for all youth in Brunei. We are now focusing on the Wawasan 2035.”

He added, “By the end of the day, we cannot rely on other countries to make things for us. For example, if it is possible, we can have our own car production line, made in Brunei. This can be make profits for the country, instead of just relying on our oil and gas production. We don’t know how much time we have relying on that production.”


Sumber - The Brunei Times

JPKE report: More than 12,000 jobless

Koo Jin Shen
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Perkasa golongan miskin

Oleh Siti Nur Wasimah S.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Sumber - Media Permata

Young and jobless? Till 18has of paddy fields

Rafidah Hamit
BRUNEI-MUARA

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The programme will have 18 participants.

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

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

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

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

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

The closing date for registration is on November 18.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

KDYMM: Belia berperanan besar memelihara, mengangkat martabat negara

Titah KDYMM sempena Sambutan Hari Belia Kebangsaan Ke-9 Tahun 2014 pada hari Rabu 8 Zulkaedah 1435 bersamaan 3 September 2014 Masehi.

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 dengan limpah rahmat-Nya jua, dapatlah kita pada hari ini bersama-sama lagi berkumpul dalam perhimpunan Sambutan Hari Belia Kebangsaan Kali Kesembilan bagi tahun 2014. Beta sukacita mengucapkan Selamat Menyambut Hari Belia Kebangsaan 2014 kepada semua para belia di negara ini.

Para belia mempunyai peranan yang sangat besar dalam memelihara dan mengangkat martabat negara. Mereka juga adalah golongan paling berpotensi untuk mencorakkan bangsa dengan apa jua corak yang mereka mahu. Bukankah hampir 50 peratus dari jumlah penduduk negara ini terdiri daripada kaum belia? Jumlah yang sebesar ini merupakan satu kuasa tersendiri.

Kaum belia perlu menggunakan kelebihan ini untuk membina diri mereka sendiri dan juga masyarakat. Dengan kelebihan yang ada itu, mereka adalah mampu untuk terus berkembang, dengan merebut pelbagai peluang yang sentiasa terbuka luas di hadapan mereka. Peluang-peluang tersebut turut meliputi, seperti peluang menambah kebolehan dan kemahiran.

Kaum belia juga adalah agen kepada perubahan. Namun dalam perkara perubahan ini, semua kita, lebih-lebih lagi kaum belia adalah dikehendaki supaya lebih bijak dan berhati-hati dalam menilai dan memilih perubahan itu. Kerana bukanlah semua perubahan itu baik, malah ada yang memerlukan kita supaya mengelaknya, iaitu jika perubahan itu membawa impak tidak baik atau tidak selaras dengan aspirasi bangsa.

Sebelum membawa atau melahirkan sebarang perubahan, kaum belia dikehendaki untuk memiliki jati diri yang jelas, kukuh dan mantap. Ia juga mustahak untuk diisi dengan nilai-nilai ugama dan budaya yang luhur, supaya kelak perubahan itu tidak dibayangi oleh elemen-elemen yang tidak diingini.

Jika sesuatu perubahan itu menampilkan kebatilan, maka perubahan seperti ini tidaklah dialu-alukan, kerana kemunculannya bukan membawa kebaikan tetapi sebaliknya mengundang kerosakan. Ini, sangat biasa terjadi di mana-mana, atas nama perubahan, kalau perubahan itu berunsur malapetaka, maka masyarakat yang menerimanya akan menderita jadinya.

Kita di Brunei, perlulah berhati-hati dengan perkara seumpama ini. Cari dan rancanglah perubahan yang membina, bukan perubahan yang merosak. Janganlah belajar atau mengambil dari mana-mana yang tidak bermanfaat untuk dipelajari, tetapi belajarlah dari mana dan kepada siapa yang patut dicontohi.

Inilah cara mengendalikan diri. Para belia mustahak memahami perkara ini. Mengendalikan diri itu bererti juga menguasai keadaan di mana yang perlu.

Inilah cabaran yang sangat sukar untuk dihadapi, iaitu cabaran Abad Ke-21 era globalisasi. Cabaran ini tidak pernah sunyi dari agenda memusnahkan kebenaran.

Di sinilah para belia tidak boleh memandang ringan sebarang cabaran, tetapi mustahak menghayati saranan tema Hari Belia Kebangsaan pada tahun ini 'Bersatu Menghadapi Cabaran Abad Ke-21'.

Sesungguhnya abad ini memang penuh dengan cabaran. Tidak siapapun yang boleh terlepas dari cabaran, sama ada cabaran itu membina atau meruntuh. Jika cabaran membina, ia wajar kita sambut dengan keghairahan, sementara jika cabaran itu meruntuh, maka kita adalah berkewajipan untuk menyambutnya dengan semangat menolak atau melawan, dalam makna, kita perlu berjaya menolak atau menggagalkannya. Jika kita berjaya menolak atau menggagalkan cabaran seperti ini, bererti kita adalah penyelamat: penyelamat diri sendiri, penyelamat masyarakat dan penyelamat negara.

Para belia mesti tampil menjadi wira keadaan. Corakkanlah keadaan itu dengan kebajikan. Biar ia malar tenteram dan menyenangkan serta berhias dengan perpaduan, persefahaman, dan keharmonian.

Satu contoh bagus tentang perpaduan dan persefahaman, terdapat dalam acara-acara Kejohanan Bola Sepak Piala Hassanal Bolkiah Peringkat Belia. Melalui acara-acara ini kita dapat menyaksikan kumpulan belia negara-negara ASEAN dan Timor Leste sedang beraksi merealisasikan perpaduan dan persefahaman di antara mereka. Suasana seperti ini amatlah membanggakan dan malah menghiburkan.

Kita juga gembira, kerana kejohanan ini telah turut diiktiraf oleh Asian Football Confederation (AFC) dan ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) sebagai satu kejohanan bola sepak belia yang terunggul di rantau ini.

Ini tidak syak lagi adalah merupakan satu lagi pencapaian bagi agenda dunia ‘Sukan untuk Keamanan dan Pembangunan’ atau Sports for Peace and Development.

Untuk akhirnya, beta mengambil kesempatan, untuk mengucapkan setinggi-tinggi tahniah dan syabas kepada pasukan Tebuan Muda Negara Brunei Darussalam di atas mutu persembahan mereka yang baik, walaupun tidak dapat meneruskan sehingga ke pusingan berikutnya.

Sekian, Wabillahit Taufeq Walhidayah, Wassalamu ‘Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

OPINION: Vocational training the key to curb joblessness

Dear Editor,

IT IS sad to learn that there were 14,461 locals who were unemployed in the Sultanate according to unemployment data in January 2014 (The Brunei Times, March 27, 2014).

I believe the Sultanate needs to modernise vocational training institutions by making them attractive to youth not only in terms of skills courses being offered but also financial help provided through interest-free loan so that students can start their own business once they completed their studies successfully.

Students need to be taught that the age of seeking jobs from the government is over; it is the age of creating jobs that require creating the conducive environment for reading and learning. Here, the government needs to build modernise public library so that youth can spend valuable time there rather than wasting their time in the shopping malls.

After six year of experience working as senior lecturer at Faculty of Business, Economics and Policy Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam (2006-2012), I believe that Islamic microfinance enterprise is also the answer for youth unemployment problem that was well documented by two studies conducted by author with the support of his Master students in Islamic Banking and Finance.

The first study was on “An Islamic Microfinance Enterprise, The Financial Vehicle That Will Change The Face of the Islamic World: The Power of Salam Financing”, and the second study was on: “Islamic Microfinance untapped potential”.

These two studies demonstrated without any doubt that Islamic microfinance enterprise has huge potential for the country and the government need to take the matter seriously.

To enable youth to start their businesses, seed capital is vital base on Islamic microfinance principles. Generally speaking, microfinance is a financing tool that provides very small loans to the working poor who are traditionally considered non-bankable, mainly because they lack the guarantees that can protect a financial institution against a loss.

Islamic microfinance provides an innovative interest-free alternative to conventional microfinance. Based on the profit sharing principles of equity based finance, Islamic microfinance offers greater resilience than conventional microfinance.

If a business fails, nothing is paid; if a business succeeds, profits are shared. Risks and rewards are always proportionate to equity shares.

While any return on capital in the form of interest is completely prohibited in Islam, there is no objection to getting a return on capital if the provider of capital enters into a partnership with a worker or entrepreneur and is prepared to share in the risks of the business.

Though still a long way from the financial mainstream, many governments now see Islamic microfinance as an effective way to build up local enterprise and reduce unemployment.

In light of the above, microfinance is seen as a powerful tool for reaching out to the unemployed youth, raising living standards, creating jobs, boosting demand for other goods and services, contributing to economic growth and alleviating poverty.

The main purpose of this noble task is to enable youth to succeed and to be financially independent to live according to what Allah wants us to be (as human beings) through decent life that is called “Hayat Taeebah”, through which there is no fear from tomorrow.

If it is well carried out and managed by efficient and experienced professionals, it will undoubtedly lead to make major changes about the way we think about them.

Finally, the government today is looking for graduates who are problem solvers with strong personality and fear of Allah SWT to be an asset to the nation rather than burden on them.

Dr Saad Al-Harran,
Business Consultant, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
Email: drsaadalharran@yahoo.com


Sumber - The Brunei Times

PERBINCANGAN FOKUS GROUP BERSAMA TEMAN-TEMAN FB NDP HQ BRUNEI MENGENAI ISU PENGGANGURAN

ANJUNG SYURA LIMBARUH HUJAU, 2 Disember 2013: Seramai 20 orang     teman-teman FB NDP HQ Brunei termasuk beberapa orang  ahli NDP  telah menghabiskan masa lebih dua jam bagi membincangkan isu 18,000 belia yang menganggur, yang menjadi kebimbangan Kebawah DYMM seperti Titah Baginda sempena Sambutan Hari Belia Ke-8 Tahun 2013 pada 20 November 2013 yang lalu.

Turut Hadir  ialah Presiden NDP Saudara Mahmud Morshidi Othman dan Timbalan Presiden Sdra. Hj. Juned bin Hj. Ramli. Moderator Sembangsaran Kumpulan Fokus Siri Kedua tersebut ialah Sdra Malai Hassan Othman Mantan Pemangku Presiden NDP .

Sesi Pertama Kumpulan Fokus yang membincangkan Isu sama ialah pada 29 September 2013 yang lalu.

Perbincangan kali ini tertumpu kepada Isu 18,000 belia menganggur dan cara mana untuk menanganinya. Isu yang menyentuh kebimbangan Kebawah DYMM ini turut dikongsikan oleh NDP justeru, akan diadakan lagi sembangsaran kumpulan fokus pusingan ketiga dalam masa terdekat.

Inn Syaa Allah, dapatan-dapatan pandangan itu nanti akan di persembahkan Kehadapan Majlis Kebawah DYMM untuk dikongsikan dengan Baginda.

Pada Sambutan Hari Belia ke-8 Kebawah DYMM telah bertitah “Isu Pengangguran jika tidak ditangani secara bersepadu akan mungkin sahaja menyebabkan kestabilan sesebuah Negara turut tergugat….”

“Negara kita tidaklah terkecuali dari mengalami perkara yang sama, dimana seramai lebih kurang 18 ribu belia adalah dalam kategori mencari pekerjaan…..” demikian Titah Baginda.

Pada sesi sembangsaran tersebut perbincangan dibahagikan kepada 3 aspek iaitu Cabaran-Cabaran yang dihadapi oleh pasaran tenaga kerja (employment market), availability peluang pekerjaan dan langkah-langkah kehadapan.

Yang membimbangkan ialah perkembangan ekonomi yang tidak memberangsangkan sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini. Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) tidak banyak perubahan iaitu sekitar 20 – 21 billion sedangkan perbelanjaan Negara semakin meningkat.

Walaupun bagi sesetengah kalangan bertanggapan kadar pengangguran masih dilihat rendah namun jumlah 18,000 belia yang menganggur dan mungkin beberapa ribu lagi diluar kategori belia yang menganggur sudah cukup untuk meletakkan asas kebimbangan Kebawah Duli tersebut.

Jumlah 18,000 penganggur dari kalangan belia seperti yang disebutkan adalah bersamaan 9% pengangguran , nisbah diantara yang tertinggi di rantau ini.

Dapatan kajian SPS (Think Tank Negara) 2012 pengangguran di kalangan keluarga berpendapatan rendah adalah 80% .

Bertitik tolak daripada ini, Majlis Sembangsaran mengenal pasti beberapa perkara yang boleh dipertimbangkan oleh pihak berkenaan, antara lain meletakkan hala tuju atau direction pembangunan ekonomi selain minyak dan gas seperti kearah Negara Pertanian, Negara Industri Asas Tani, Negara Pembuatan , Negara Berteknologi Tinggi dan seumpamanya. Jesteru, orentasi dan hala tuju pendidikan dan latihan , dasar pembangunan dan dasar perdagangan dalam negeri dan luar negeri hendaklah disejajarkan dengan hala tuju tadi.

Kedua kita menyedari bahawa tidak ada kerajaan yang boleh menampung seluruh tenaga kerja untuk diserapkan ke dalam sektor awam. Oleh yang demikian pihak berkenaan hendaklah menyediakan prasarana yang mantap untuk menarik pelabur-pelabur asing (FDI) untuk melabur ke Negara kita.

Melalui usaha berkenaan dengan sendirinya Negara akan melahirkan masyarakat usahawan tempatan  dari kalangan usahawan SMI/SME yang akan menjadi syarikat- syarikat sokongan  kepada syarikat-syarikat besar yang melabur di Negara ini.

Antara lain perkataan Kemasukan Pelabur Asing dengan sendirinya akan mewujudkan pekerjaan disamping melahirkan ramai usahawan-usahawan SMI/SME.

Ketiga, belia-belia yang berminat untuk membuka perusahaan atau perniagaan sendiri perlulah dibantu dengan menyediakan khidmat mentorship, selain itu pihak berkenaan juga disaran agar menyediakan kemudahan bengkel operasi , peralatan dan modal pusingan secukupnya secara percuma untuk satu tempoh yang munasabah.

Keempat, Majlis Sembangsaran sependapat tanggungjawab kerajaan ialah untuk mensejahterakan kehidupan rakyat. Kearah itu menyediakan pekerjaan bukanlah satu jawapan mutlak. Kerajaan masih berupaya untuk membukakan peluang pelaburan kepada seluruh rakyat untuk melabur di dalam perusahaan-perusahaan besar Negara seperti disektor minyak dan gas, Agensi Pelaburan Brunei dan lain-lain syarikat-syarikat kerajaan (GLC). Melalui partisipasi pelaburan rakyat seperti yang dimaksudkan dengan sendirinya akan meningkatkan pendapatan mereka melalui agihan keuntungan atau dividen.

Kelima, Peserta-peserta kumpulan focus bersependapat sesuai dengan tanggungjawab kerajaan untuk mensejahterakan rakyatnya, penganggur-penganggur yang dikenal pasti hendaklah diberikan elaun sementara sehingga mereka memperolehi pekerjaan sekurang-kurangnya pada kadar BND300 sebulan bagi mengurangkan tekanan kehidupan ibu bapa yang menanggung mereka dan bagi menampung keperluan mereka yang menganggur tadi.

Pemberian elaun sara hidup bagi yang menganggur dan yang sedang mencari pekerjaan bukanlah satu amalan yang asing bagi Negara-negara maju seperti Australia, Kanada, Finland, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand dan Arab Saudi.

Majlis Sembangsaran Kumpulan Fokus bermula pada kira-kira  jam 2 petang dan berakhir jam 6 petang. (PeNA)