Belanjawan Negara 2017/2018

Jadual Akta Perbekalan 2017/2018 yang diluluskan

Ambil tindakan tanah terabai

Oleh Hajah Saemah Kepli

SERIA, 20 Mei – Pemaju-pemaju Ladang Kawasan Pertanian Luar Bandar Sungai Lalit, (KPLB) berharap pihak Jabatan Pertanian akan bertindak segera untuk mengambil balik tanah-tanah yang terabai dan ditinggalkan oleh pemiliknya di kawasan berkenaan.

Ini supaya keadaan persekitaran ladang kembali ceria seperti dulu, sekali gus memberikan peluang kepada pengusaha lain yang benar-benar serius.

Ketua Ladang KPLB Sungai Lalit, Haji Mohd Tahir bin Mohd Yussoff, 72, ketika ditemui Media Permata, hari ini, melahirkan rasa kecewa melihat keadaan persekitaran tanah ditinggalkan terabai, dan kembali ditumbuhi lalang dan pokok-pokok liar.

Menurut Haji Mohd Tahir yang telah mengusahakan ladangnya sejak lebih 20 tahun lalu, beliau sendiri pada masa ini tidak begitu berani datang sendiri ke ladang, kerana keadaan usia sudah lanjut, dan khuatir jika berlaku sebarang kejadian dan tiada siapa yang mengetahui kerana ladang jauh dari kawasan penduduk kampung di sana.

Beliau memberitahu, pada tahun 1993, Jabatan Pertanian telah memberikan tanah seluas kira-kira lebih 200 hektar di KPLB Sungai Lalit untuk dimajukan.

Tanaman cili padi yang kering, akibat cuaca panas dan kering yang berpanjangan sejak tahun lepas

Kemudian setahun selepas itu, pada tahun 1994, kira-kira 237 orang yang telah memajukannya dan mereka secara automatik menjadi ahli-ahli Koperasi Ladang Kominat Kampung Sungai Lalit yang juga ditubuhkan pada sekitar tahun tersebut.

“Tetapi pengusaha yang aktif telah menurun sehingga pada masa ini hanya tinggal seramai kira-kira lebih 30 orang sahaja, mengusahakan sendiri dan ada yang dibantu oleh pekerja asing, kerana ada juga pemaju yang sudah meninggal dunia, dan sebagainya dan anak-anak muda tidak berminat untuk menyambung perusahaan orang tua mereka di bidang pertanian ini,” ujarnya.

Menurutnya lagi, beberapa tahun lalu, mereka telah diberitahu bahawa Jabatan Pertanian akan mengambil balik tanah yang sudah ditinggalkan tanpa diusahakan lagi.

“Tetapi sampai hari ini, tiada sebarang tindakan dilakukan, dan keadaan persekitaran ladang semakin banyak yang terbiar dan sunyi, termasuk rumah-rumah kebun yang ditinggalkan kosong dan buruk, yang dikhuatiri boleh mengundang kejadian yang tidak sihat seperti isu sosial dan sebagainya,” kata Haji Mohd Tahir lagi yang juga merupakan bekas guru sekolah rendah.

Beliau dan ahli-ahli KPLB Sungai Lalit yang lain, amat berharap supaya perkara itu diambil serius, sambil menambah “Saya berharap untuk melihat kembali keceriaan persekitaran ladang, seperti yang kami lakukan sekitar tahun 1994 dulu, dan saya sendiri pada masa itu masih bekerja, dengan begitu bersemangat tidak mengenal lelah, apabila pulang daripada kerja, terus mengusahakan ladang”.

Haji Mohd Tahir yang diberikan tanah seluas kira-kira dua hektar, kini mempunyai kira-kira 100 pohon buah-buahan tempatan yang berbuah secara bermusim seperti durian, langsat, cempedak, kembayau, rambutan dan sebagainya.

Hasil daripada tanamannya itu hanya dijual kepada orang yang datang ke ladangnya atau ke rumahnya, selain turut menjualnya kepada pemborong yang berdagang di tamu, pasar dan sebagainya.

Bagaimanapun, beliau mendakwa, penghasilan pada tahun lalu hingga ke tahun ini, agak berkurangan berikutan keadaan cuaca panas dan kering diiringi kemarau panjang dan berharap hampir penghujung tahun nanti, keadaan cuaca kembali baik dan menyuburkan semula buah-buahan dan tanaman mereka di ladang itu.

Pengusaha lain yang ada pada masa ini, juga menanam buah-buahan tempatan, selain terdapat seramai 13 orang pengusaha KPLB di sana yang mengusahakan tanah mereka dengan penanaman sayur-sayuran dan jagung manis.

Terdapat juga pengusaha aktif yang masih bekerja sepenuh masa dan dibantu pekerja mereka dalam kalangan warga asing untuk mengusahakannya.

Melalui catatan Statistik Pertanian dan Agrimakanan 2014, terdapat tiga kawasan KPLB di Daerah Belait yang masih diusahakan dengan aktif iaitu di kawasan Sungai Lalit A oleh seramai 32 orang peladang, KPLB Sungai Lalit B, seramai 50 orang manakala KPLB Pak Natu seramai 32 orang.

Ketiga-tiga kawasan tersebut merupakan KPLB Daerah Belait dengan keluasan 317 hektar, diusahakan oleh seramai 392 peladang, bagaimanapun hanya 133 kawasan yang aktif diusahakan oleh 114 orang peladang.

Melalui pecahannya, KPLB Sungai Lalit A seluas 28 hektar, diusahakan oleh 32 orang pengusaha dan masih aktif, manakala KPLB Sungai Lalit B seluas 120 hektar diusahakan oleh 140 orang peladang, bagaimanapun, hanya seluas 73 hektar yang masih aktif diusahakan oleh seramai 50 orang peladang, dan KPLB Pak Natu seluas 169 hektar diusahakan seramai 211 peladang, kawasan yang aktif seluas 32 hektar dengan diusahakan oleh seramai 32 orang peladang.


Sumber - Media Permata

JANGAN BIARKAN TAMU DAN PASAR SERIA JADI ASET YANG TERABAI

11 APRIL 2016: Beberapa ahli-ahli Majlis Eksekutif Ranting (MER) Parti Pembangunan Bangsa (NDP) Perumahan Rakyat Jati Lorong 3 Seria dibawah pimpinan Sdra Haji Tengah bin Metamit pada hari Jumaat 8 April kemarin telah membuat lawatan kerja ke Tamu Hujung Minggu dan Pasar Seria bagi tujuan meninjau dan meneliti kemaslahatan petani-petani, para usahawan tani dan pengunjung-pengunjung dikawasan tersebut.

Presiden NDP sdra Malai Hassan Othman, Timbalan Presiden sdra Pg Haji Zainal Pg Talip, Naib Presiden NDP Belait sdra Haji Metali bin Haj Ibrahim, Setiausaha Agung NDP sdri Hajjah Saemah Kepli, Ketua Himpunan Wanita NDP sdri Hajjah Kartini Manap dan beberapa ahli-ahli Majlis Tertinggi NDP Belait serta anggota JASA yang lain juga turut diundang untuk menyertai lawatan kerja tersebut. 

Di sesi lawatan tersebut beberapa pandangan dan cadangan telah dapat dikumpulkan dari pengusaha-pengusaha kecil dan juga orang ramai yang sempat ditemubual di sesi lawatan kerja tersebut. 

Berikut sesi lawatan kerja tersebut NDP telah mengambil ketetapan seperti berikut:

  

1. NDP mengambil maklum dan menyokong apa jua usaha dan langkah Kerajaan kearah membangun dan memajukan Pengusaha Kecil dan Sederhana (PKS) khususnya anak-anak tempatan yang berkecimpung dalam sektor pertanian dan perikanan

2. NDP juga mengambil maklum apa jua usaha dan langkah yang sedang dan akan terus diungkayahkan adalah semata-mata untuk mencapai matlamat memperkasa keupayaan dan dayasaing PKS tempatan yang sekaligus setentunya akan dapat menyumbang kearah memperkukuh ekonomi negara dan meningkatkan kadar pertumbuhan Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) di sektor bukan minyak dan gas.

3. Dalam hal ini NDP mengambil ingat akan titah Tahun Baru Masehi 2016 KDYMM seperti petikan berikut:

“Di sini, kita perlu turut melihat prestasi ekonomi kita sendiri, di mana beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini, kadar pertumbuhan Keluaran Dalam Negara Kasar (KDNK) adalah agak perlahan yang memerlukan kita menggandakan usaha untuk meningkatkan keluaran dalam negara, terutama yang di luar sektor minyak dan gas.

Di antara yang di luar sektor minyak dan gas itu, ialah seperti sektor pertanian atau perikanan, sektor pembuatan, sektor perkhidmatan termasuk perkhidmatan kewangan, pengangkutan, logistik, telekomunikasi, perdagangan, pelancongan dan lain-lain”

4. Sehubungan dengan itu NDP juga mengalu-alukan dan menyokong penuh titah Baginda itu yang juga memperkenankan langkah reformasi ekonomi yang diharap dapat mencapai matlamat mengembang dan mempelbagaikan ekonomi negara.

5. Dalam konteks ini dan bagi mencapai matlamat memenuhi keperluan perusahaan tempatan yang berskala kecil dan sederhana itu, Baginda antara lain telah memperkenankan penubuhan Pusat Perusahaan Kecil dan Sederhana (PPKS), yang akan mengambilalih pelbagai peranan, yang dulunya dilaksanakan oleh beberapa agensi kerajaan.

6. NDP juga mengambil maklum tentang perancangan-perancangan yang telah disusun oleh pihak-pihak berkenaan khususnya Kementerian Sumber-Sumber Utama dan Pelancongan (KSUP) serta Menteri Tenaga dan Industri di Pejabat Perdana Menteri kearah meningkatkan prestasi ekonomi negara serta kearah meningkatkan keluaran dalam negara sektor bukan minyak dan gas khususnya dibidang pertanian dan perikanan.

7. Sehubugan dengan itu NDP berharap Pusat Perusahaan Kecil dan Sederhana (PPKS) yang baru ditubuhkan akan tidak terlepas pandang keatas kemaslahatan petani-petani dan para usahawan tani yang sudah lama bergiat dalam perusahaan pertanian dalam keghairahan PPKS membantu dan memudahcara kemajuan PKS yang diluar bidang pertanian bak kata pepatah “kera di hutan disusukan anak di rumah mati kelaparan.”

8. Dari itu NDP mencadangkan agar PPKS dapat meninjau keadaan petani-petani dan para usahawan tani tempatan seluruh negara terutama mereka yang bergiat di Daerah Belait setiap hujung minggu yang jelas kurang diberikan perhatian serious dalam usaha memudahcara perniagaan hasil-hasil tanaman petani-petani dalam dan luar daerah.

9. PPKS juga disarankan agar dapat berkerjasama dengan Jabatan Pertanian dan Jabatan Bandaran dalam menyelaraskan misi dan visi kedua-dua Jabatan ini kearah mencapai satu wawasan iaitu kearah memajukan dan mengembangkan perusahaan kecil dan sederhana terutama dibidang pertanian seperti yang dihasratkan oleh KDYMM dan Kerajaan.

10. Melalui langkah ini NDP yakin usaha kearah memajukan sektor pertanian akan lebih mudah dicapai.

11. Hasil kunjungan di Tamu dan Pasar Seria, NDP mendapati petani-petani dan usahawan-usahawan tani tempatan terpaksa berhadapn dengan senario kawalan dari dua pihak iaitu pihak Jabatan Pertanian yang bertanggungjawab keatas kemaslahatan petani dan hasil-hasil tani dan pihak Jabatan Bandaran yang menyediakan dan mengawal prasarana pasaran dan kegiatan urusniaga usahawan tani.

12. NDP mendapati petani-petani dan para usahawan tani yang bergiat di Daerah Belait, contohnya, tidak disediakan kemudahan dan kawasan tamu hujung minggu yang kekal, sempurna dan selamat dengan kemudahan yang selesa untuk mereka mengiatkan usaha mereka.

13. Hakikatnya mereka sering di pindah-pindah mengikut citarasa Jabatan Bandaran tanpa dibawah berunding dan sekarang ditempatkan di kawasan-kawasan letak kerita kawasan pasar Seria dan Pasar Baru Kuala Belait.

14. Mereka juga terpaksa mengangkut paying-payung besar, kemah-kemah dan meja-meja jualan selain barangan hasil tani yang akan dipasarkan.

15. Dalam masa sama NDP juga terkilan dengan keadaan Pasar Seria yang telah dibina lebih 20 tahun lalu tetapi hingga kini sunyi senyap tidak ramai penghuni kecuali pengusaha besar Pasar Raya dan beberapa bangku dan ruang yang disikan oleh beberapa pengusaha tempatan yang umpama hidup segan mati tak mahu.

16. NDP juga mendapati tahap kebersihan dan keselamatan di Pasar Seria dan kawasan persekitarannya kurang diberikan perhatian yang sewajarnya.

17. NDP berpandangan ianya satu pebanziran harta kerajaan sedangkan kemudahan yang ada didalam bangunan Pasar Seria sebenarnya dapat dimajukan untuk dijadikan tamu hujung minggu seperti kemudahan yang disediakan di tamu Daerah Tutong.

18. NDP melihat langkah ini tidak Begitu memerlukan perbelanjaan yang terlalu besar cukup dengan dorongan kesungguhan politik, anjakan paradigma, berfikir luar kotak, imganisai dan kreativiti pihak-pihak berkuasa yang berkenaan.

19. NDP juga berpandangan usaha perlu tumpukan kearah mewujudkan dasar dan sistem tamu yang liberal dan mesra-pasaran dengan membina prasarana yang lengkap dan sempurna seperti yang diungakayhkan oleh negara jiran sebelah yang sangat popular dikalangan pengunjung-pengunjung dari Belait.

20. Dalam masa sama NDP mencadangkan agar pihak-pihak berkenaan mengubah sikap dan membuka minda dengan membawa berunding semua ‘stake holders' dan mengambil kira semua aspek secara adil bukan sahaja untuk kepentingan pihak berkuasa tetapi juga untuk kepentingan pengusaha-pengusaha yang terlibat secara langsung dalam melaksanakan sebarang perancangan.

21. NDP kesal dengan sikap segolongan pegawai pentadbir dan penguatkuasa yang masih bersikap autokratik dan tidak mesra PKS. NDP bimbang jika sikap ini terus diasuh hasrat KDYMM untuk melaksanakan reformasi ekonomi negara mungkin akan tidak tercapai.

22. Dengan mengambil ingat apa yang pernah disentuh oleh KDYMM Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam Sempena Hari Keputeraan Baginda Yang Ke-69 Tahun pada 15 Ogos 2015 pada mana Baginda menekankan bahawa;

“…Brunei mesti dengan segera melakukan penghijrahan minda: Dari suka menunggu-nunggu dan berpeluk tubuh kepada rajin bekerja. Dari banyak bergantung harap, kepada lebih membanyakkan usaha, dan dari kurang berdikari, kepada lebih berdikari. Inilah sumber kekuatan kita...”

NDP dengan ini menyeru pihak-pihak berkenaan agar terus menanai titah ini melalui usaha masing-masing iaitu dengan menyediakan dan memudahkan suasana perniagaan dan perusahaan yang mengalakkan pertumbuhan dan produktiviti bukan yang menyulitkan melalui perlaksanaan peraturan yang terlalu mementingkan untung rugi jabatan, birokratik, menekan dan menyusahkan.

Sumber - Laman Aspirasi

Kecewa permohonan ditolak

Oleh Hajah Saemah Kepli

KUALA BELAIT, 8 April – Seorang ayah melahirkan rasa kekecewaannya terhadap keputusan penilaian pihak berkuasa tertentu ke atas permohonan anak perempuannya yang tidak layak menerima bantuan Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) selepas disahkan mengalami lumpuh kekal pada bahagian tangannya oleh pihak hospital.

Bapa perempuan itu, Pengiran Ismail bin Pengiran Haji Ali, 63, semasa memberitahu Media Permata, hari ini, mendakwa kecacatan yang dialami oleh anaknya, Pengiran Siti Nur Khatizzah, 29, adalah akibat kecuaian seorang doktor semasa mengendalikan kelahiran anaknya itu pada tahun 1987.

Menurutnya harapan anaknya untuk mendapatkan pekerjaan turut terjejas akibat keadaan itu dan melihat masa depan anaknya agak samar apa tah lagi tidak mempunyai caruman Tabung Amanah Pekerja (TAP).

Beliau juga menyatakan anaknya sering diberhentikan kerja akibat kecacatan itu kerana tugas yang diberi tidak dapat dilaksanakan dengan baiknya kerana hanya menggunakan sebelah tangan sahaja.

Atas dasar tersebut dan rasa tanggungjawab sebagai seorang ayah, beliau telah menghadapkan permohonan untuk mendapatkan bantuan Tidak Berdaya Anggota melalui pihak JAPEM untuk kali pertamanya dalam tahun 2013, kemudian menghadapkan lagi permohonan kali kedua pada tahun 2015 bagi mendapatkan bantuan Orang Kurang Upaya. Bagaimanapun jawapan bagi kedua-dua permohonan tersebut sangat mendukacitakan apabila permohonan tersebut ditolak atas alasan kecatatan anaknya tidak termasuk dalam akta persyaratan menerima bantuan berkenaan.

Pengiran Siti Nur Khatizzah, menunjukkan bagaimana dia melakukan
kerja memotong sayur dengan hanya menggunakan tangan kirinya.

Sementara itu, dalam permohonan untuk mendapat bantuan kebajikan yang dikemukakan pada awal tahun ini, ianya juga ditolak dengan alasan bahawa anaknya itu masih muda dan tidak mempunyai tanggungan.

“Memang anak saya dilihat masih muda pada masa ini, tetapi saya memikirkan masa depannya, dalam usianya dari setahun ke setahun, lebih-lebih lagi jika sudah tiba waktunya saya meninggalkan dunia ini, di manakah tempat dia mengadu, sedangkan pada masa ini pun, kekurangan upayanya dipandang ringan oleh pihak-pihak tertentu, jauh sekali ada sokongan untuk menyediakan prasarana pekerjaan yang sesuai dengan keadaannya, atau sokongan-sokongan lain bagi memastikan OKU seperti anak saya ini merasa terjamin, dan dia bukanlah jenis pemohon yang hanya duduk berpeluk tubuh, malahan merupakan seorang yang kuat berdikari, walaupun kemampuannya terbatas, kerana kadang-kadang sering mengalami kesakitan di bahagian tangannya yang lumpuh, akibat kerosakkan dalaman badannya termasuk bahagian urat saraf,” kata Pengiran Ismail lagi.

Menceritakan sejarah punca kecacatan anaknya itu, Pengiran Ismail yang merupakan seorang pesara Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB) berkata, semasa isterinya hendak melahirkan, beliau meminta supaya dilakukan pembedahan kerana menurut doktor anak kandungannya ketika itu besar dan beratnya 10lb, namun cadangan tersebut ditolak oleh doktor yang mengesahkan isterinya boleh melahirkan secara normal.

Bagaimanapun semasa isterinya melahirkan, beliau telah mengalami kesukaran apabila sebelah daripada bahu anaknya itu tersekat dan doktor yang bertugas pada masa itu menarik tangan kanan anak damitnya itu bagi membantu mengeluarkan sebahagian lagi badannya.

“Setelah dua hingga tiga minggu selepas kelahiran, kami suami isteri menyedari lengan anaknya sebelah kanan tidak bergerak lalu membawa untuk pemeriksaan doktor pakar, dan doktor pada masa itu memberitahu kepada mereka suami isteri bahawa anak kami itu dalam keadaan normal. Namun pada usia enam bulan, tangannya masih tidak bergerak dan doktor masih mengatakan ia normal sehinggalah dia berusia empat tahun, barulah doktor mengesahkan anak saya lumpuh,” katanya.

Mereka kemudiannya mengambil keputusan untuk mendakwa pihak berkenaan namun dinasihatkan untuk melupakan hajat itu dan dijanjikan untuk memberikan rawatan rapi ke atas anak mereka.

Menurut Pengiran Ismail lagi, ekoran itu, pihak kerajaan telah menghantar anaknya ketika berusia empat tahun untuk menerima rawatan di Hospital Nasional Universiti Singapura dan menerima rawatan sebanyak 13 kali di Singapura dalam masa dua tahun, selain menjalani pembedahan sebanyak empat kali semasa berusia empat hingga enam tahun.

Pengiran Siti Nur Khatizzah, biarpun dalam keadaan kurang upaya, beliau tetap menguatkan semangat untuk terus berjuang dalam kehidupannya. Beliau mula bekerja secara sambilan di sebuah kedai farmasi semasa masih bersekolah menengah pada sebelah malam, kemudian terus bekerja di sana setelah menamatkan pembelajarannya sehingga Tingkatan Lima Peringkat ‘O’ di Anthony Abell College, Seria.

Di samping itu, beliau juga tidak mahu ketinggalan untuk merebut peluang meningkatkan kemahirannya dengan menyertai beberapa latihan kemahiran yang dikendalikan oleh Kementerian Kebudayaan, Belia dan Sukan, seperti Kursus Solekan dan Dandan Rambut di Pusat Pembangunan Belia bagi sesi 2012-2013.

Tanpa rasa putus asa, Pengiran Siti Nur Khatizzah yang juga merupakan seorang ibu kepada anak lelakinya yang berusia lapan tahun, terus berusaha mendapatkan pekerjaan, dan pada masa ini bekerja sebagai pembantu di salah sebuah hotel di sini.

Bagaimanapun baru-baru ini, menurutnya beliau telah diberikan surat peringatan daripada majikannya untuk memperbaiki prestasi perkhidmatannya yang dilihat kurang memuaskan.

Beliau telah ditinggalkan suaminya sejak kira-kira hampir enam tahun tanpa diberikan sebarang nafkah dan anaknya kini di bawah jagaan suaminya itu. Kini Pengiran Siti Nur Khatizzah bergantung hidup di bawah tanggungan ayahnya.

“Biarpun semasa temuduga saya dijanjikan untuk hanya membuat kerja yang ringan sesuai kemampuan dari segi keupayaan, tetapi setelah bekerja, pihak majikan memberikan tugas yang sama seperti yang dilakukan oleh rakan sekerja yang keupayaan fizikal yang normal, dan semasa jangka masa percubaan, ada juga majikan yang memberikan surat peringatan menyatakan kerja saya kurang memuaskan,” kata Pengiran Siti Nur Khatizzah.

Beliau juga mendakwa, biarpun dalam keadaan kurang kemampuan dari segi fizikal, tetapi beliau juga menanamkan minat untuk menyertai program-program belia seperti bazar dan sebagainya, tetapi menurutnya beliau kurang mampu untuk membayar sewa.

“Saya kadang-kadang turut terkilan, kenapakah OKU seperti saya tidak diberikan kelonggaran seperti dikurangkan harga sewa petak, atau diberikan bentuk sokongan lain yang berpatutan.”

Sementara itu, semasa ditemui Media Permata, Ketua cawangan JAPEM, Daerah Belait, Dayang Noridah binti Haji Ishak, mengesahkan jabatan mereka telah menerima surat permohonan daripada Pengiran Siti Nur Khatizzah, sebanyak tiga kali dan setelah penyelidikan dilakukan, termasuk menilai daripada laporan yang diberikan oleh pihak perubatan, jabatan mereka telah memberikan sokongan untuk permohonan tersebut dibawa ke pihak atasan.

Bagaimanapun, katanya, pihak Unit Jawatankuasa Menilai Permohonan Bantuan, yang melibatkan sebanyak enam buah kementerian yang berbeza, telah membuat keputusan bahawa pemohon berkenaan adalah tidak layak bagi persyaratan akta Orang Kurang Upaya bagi menerima bantuan pencen tidak berdaya anggota, begitu juga ke atas permohonan bantuan kebajikan bulanan yang dihadapkan pada tahun lepas, berdasarkan pemohon berkenaan masih muda dan tiada mempunyai tanggungan.


Sumber - Media Permata

PEMBANGUNAN PANTAI TUNGKU JANGAN KUBURKAN SEMANGAT BERDIKARI BANGSA

KENYATAAN RASMI PARTI PEMBANGUNAN BANGSA (NDP)

MUKADIMAH

Badan Perhubungan NDP Brunei-Muara dibawah pimpinan Naib Presiden Haji Mohiddin DPP Haji Othman telah menganjurkan lawatan kerja ke Pantai Tungku berikutan aduan dan sungutan dari pengusaha pengusaha yang bimbang akan kemungkinan mereka tidak lagi dibenarkan berniaga di kawasan tersebut. Ini kerana kawasan tersebut akan dimajukan oleh Brunei Investment Agency selaku pemilek kawasan tersebut.

TYT Presiden NDP, sdra Malai Hassan Othman juga diundang bersama untuk menyertai lawatan kerja pada hari Ahad 27 Mac 2016 itu. Juga turut serta Setiausaha Agung NDP sdri Hajah Seamah Kefli, Ketua Himpunan Wanita Puan Hajah Kartini, PSUA sdra Mohamad Abdullah Peter, Penolong Ketua Perhubungan NDP Brunei-Muara merangkap Setiausaha Politik Presiden sdra Ahmad Timpus, Ketua Biro Kemajuan Pengusaha Kecil dan Sederhana Dr Hajah Raiyah dan beberapa ahli-ahli Majlis Tertinggi dan JASA yang lain.

Berikutan lawatan kerja tersebut NDP telah mengeluarkan kenyataan rasmi tentang pendirian dan pandangan parti berhubung perkara tersebut seperti berikut:


1- PARTI PEMBANGUNAN BANGSA (NDP) sangat mengalu-alukan dan menyokong penuh sebarang rancangan untuk memajukan dan mencantikan lagi Pantai Tungku yang sudah terkenal dengan keindahanya dikalangan pengunjung pengunjung tempatan dan luar negara sebagai sebuah kawasan riadah dan tempat bersantai-santai dihujung hujung minggu

2- NDP juga menyokong penuh sebarang usaha kearah memajukan kawasan kawasan peranginan dan riadah termasuklah usaha untuk menswastakan pengurusan kawasan kawasan yang akan dikenalpasti sebagai kawasan yang boleh dimajukan selaras dengan perancangan kemajuan sektor pelancongan di negara ini

3- Dalam hal ini adalah menjadi dasar dan pegangan NDP agar pihak yang berwajib sentiasa mengambil kira faktor alam sekitar secara serius dalam sebarang usaha untuk memajukan atau membangunkan negara, di mana kajian secara objektif dan telus perlu diadakan sebelum sebarang projek pembangunan atau projek mega dimulakan, agar kesejahteraan rakyat Kebawah DYMM dan generasi akan datang, serta alam sekitar tidak akan terjejas dan lebih terjamin

4- Namun demikian dalam hal memajukan dan membangun semula Pantai Tungku, NDP juga berharap dan menyeru agar pemilek dan pihak yang berkuasa atas kawasan tersebut serta pihak kerajaan sendiri dapat melaksanakan sebarang rancangan kemajuan Pantai Tungku dengan mempastikan ianya mendatangkan kebaikan dan manfa'at kepada semua pihak termasuklah kepada pengusaha pengusaha kecil yang sudah bertahun-tahun menjadikan kawasan tersebut sebagai sumber rezeki mereka bukan sebaliknya

5- NDP bimbang sejarah akan berulang dalam mana inisiatif pihak kerajaan beberapa tahun yang lalu untuk mengubahsuai Pantai Serasa turut memutuskan mata pencarian beberapa pengusaha pengusaha kecil yang mencari makan dikawasan tersebut tetapi tidak pula mematahkan semangat mereka yang terjejas untuk terus berusaha untuk menyara hidup di kawasan riadah yang lain. Ramai dari kalangan mereka yang terjejas telah berpindah ke Pantai Tungku

6- Setelah lebih dua tahun berlalu mereka sekali lagi berhadapan dengan kemungkinan akan dipapat lagi mata pencarian mereka apabila kawasan Pantai Tungku yang merupakan milek Brunei Investent Agency (BIA) akan dimajukan. Wallahu wa'alam sama ada ia akan dimajukan sebagai kemudahan riadah yang eklusif atau sebaliknya belum dapat dipastikan

7- Apa yang pasti lebih 100 pengusaha pengusaha sekarang tidur tak lena makan tak kenyang memikirkan masa hadapan mereka

8- NDP turut bimbang kemungkinan usaha untuk memajukan Pantai Tungku akan turut menguburkan semangat berdikari, bekarih, bejarih, belurih anak bangsa yang telah terbukti tidak kenal penat lelah untuk mencari rezeki sendiri tanpa mengharapkan bantuan kerajaan untuk hidup

9- NDP juga bimbang jika permasalahan mereka ini tidak diberikan perhatian sewajarnya akan melahirkan kekecewaan dikalangan mereka dan sekali gus boleh menjejaskan keyakinan mereka dan keluarga mereka kepada pihak kerajaan serta boleh menjejaskan kredibiliti usaha kerajaan untuk memudahkan pertumbuhan pengusaha pengusaha kecil dan sederhana yang sedang diuar-uarkan

10- Untuk itu dikesempatan ini NDP mengingatkan pihak pihak berkuasa dan yang berkepentingan agar mengambil ingat akan titah Kebawah Duli yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan yang Dipertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam di majlis Pembukaan Rasmi Majlis Mesyuarat Negara (MMN) baru baru ini tentang pentingnya mengambil kira dan kaedah menyelesaikan permasalahan rakyat yang dipetik seperti berikut:

“Pendek kata, apa jua perancangan dan inisiatif adalah perlu untuk mengambil pendekatan delivery atau delivery approach untuk mencapai hasil yang dihasratkan.

Untuk itu, sangat perlu bagi ahli-ahli mempunyai pandangan yang jauh dan cepat ke hadapan. Mereka perlu mengambil langkah-langkah mitigasi dan membuat persediaan sewajarnya sebelum didatangi oleh sebarang persoalan.

Akhir kalam beta menyeru kepada Ahli-Ahli Majlis-Mesyuarat supaya dapat meneruskan serta melipatgandakan usaha masing-masing dalam memeduli permasalahan rakyat dan penduduk negara ini, sama ada mereka yang bermastautin di kawasan bandar mahupun di kawasan-kawasan luar bandar.

Apa jua permasalahan itu perlu ditangani dengan baik dan sempurna dengan jalan berunding. Semoga usaha-usaha yang kita buat akan menghasilkan buah yang baik dan ranum untuk semua.”

11- Dalam hubungan ini NDP menyarankan pihak pihak berkenaan agar mengambil sikap terbuka dan pandangan yang jauh iaitu dengan mengambil kira pengusaha pengusaha kecil yang sudah bertapak di Pantai Tungku dan semangat mereka atas konsep Bekarih, Bejarih dan Belurih untuk berusaha sendiri tanpa mengharapkan bantuan kerajaan sebagai satu aset penting dalam rancangan untuk memajukan kawasan kawasan riadah dan pantai pantai peranginan bukannya satu liabiliti yang hendak dihapuskan dan dikubur di Pantai Tungku yang baru demi kepentingan beberapa pihak sahaja

12- NDP juga berpandangan bahawa pengusaha pengusaha kecil tersebut merupakan satu aset kepada rancangan kemajauan sektor pelancogan negara yang wajar dikembangmajukan

13- Untuk itu pihak pihak berkenaan perlu berlapang dada dan dengan minda terbuka untuk membantu dan memudahkan mereka meneruskan perusahaan mereka masing masing dalam masa sama memajukan dan membangun Pantai Tungku sebagai kawasan peranginan dan riadah yang mesra alam sekitar, selamat dan bertaraf antarabangsa

14- Sebagai sebuah negara Melayu Islam Beraja dan Negara Zikir, NDP juga sukacita mengingatkan akan pentingnya setiap perancangan kemajuan dilandaskan atas konsep keadilan dan ihsan yang merupakan ciri ciri pemerintahan KDYMM

15- Dalam konteks ini NDP meyarankan agar pihak pihak berkenaan berpegang dan mengambil iktibar titah nasihat KDYMM semasa merasmikan perlantikan barisan Menteri kabinet yang baru pada Oktober 2015 yang lalu:

“Allah mengurniakan nikmat, sementara kita berkewajipan mensyukurinya. Syukur itulah pemangkin segala nikmat dan keberkatan. Tanpa syukur, nikmat akan hakis, tidak dapat bertahan lama.

Bagaimanakah caranya bersyukur itu? Di samping mengucapkannya dengan lidah, kita juga dituntut untuk bersyukur melalui ‘urustadbir' di dalam kehidupan. Kerana itulah kita memerlukan kerajaan, dan dalam kerajaan itu pula terdapat jentera yang terdiri daripada para pemimpin dan pegawai-pegawai serta kakitangan di bawah mereka.

Di tangan merekalah, terutama para pemimpin, kewajipan untuk membawa negara ini menjalani amalan bersyukur, iaitu melalui pimpinan dan urustadbir mereka dalam kerajaan.

Salah satu dari ciri bersyukur itu ialah dengan melaksanakan keadilan. Kerana keadilan adalah segala-galanya. Tanpa keadilan, semua kebajikan akan jauh atau menarik diri daripada kita.

Oleh itu, satu peringatan perlu disebut di sini, bahawa sesiapa jua yang dilantik atau dipilih menjadi pemimpin, mereka itu adalah berkewajipan untuk menjalankan keadilan. Tempat tumpahnya keadilan ialah keatas rakyat, bukan kepada diri sendiri. Adapun untuk kepentingan diri sendiri, itu bukanlah keadilan tetapi kezaliman.

Sebab itulah kadang-kadang, bersedia mendengar suara orang di bawah, atau menerima idea-idea yang baik, atau keluhan atau rintihan mereka dapat dianggap sebagai ciri melaksanakan keadilan”.

16- Semoga pandangan dan saranan NDP ini dapat diberikan perhatian oleh pihak pihak berkenaan demi kepentingan bangsa dan negara dan selaras dengan tanggungjawab semua untuk memelihara negara sebagai sebuah negara yang aman makmur lagi sejahtera serta sentiasa mendapat perlindungan Allah.


Sumber - Laman Aspirasi

Talking Policy: YB Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng on Brunei

Brunei, a Southeast Asian nation with a population of only 400,000, ranks among the world’s wealthiest nations per capita due to its extensive oil and gas resources. Situated strategically on the South China Sea and a member both of APEC and ASEAN, it is also a central player in the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact now awaiting Congressional action. David A. Andelman, editor emeritus of World Policy Journal, sat down with Yang Berhormat Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade and a close advisor to the His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei, to examine the stakes on both sides of the Pacific and to discuss the country’s domestic politics and relations with its neighbors.

DAVID A. ANDELMAN: Here we are in 2016 in very difficult times. Where do you see Brunei? What do you think is its place in the region right now?

YB PEHIN DATO LIM JOCK SENG: Brunei is a small country, with a population of about 400,000. We are the smallest member of ASEAN. And our role will be actually very minimal in any organization, being that size. So this is why ASEAN is so important to us, because this is one organization where we feel we can contribute to ASEAN, to the region, and internationally. If we're doing it alone, it would be impossible. Nobody cares.

DA: You're the wealthiest country in the region, along with Singapore, by far. You have great resources. You have a strong central government. You're a peaceful country. You should be one of the great forces in the region. Do you have that confidence to do that?

PDLJS: Yes, we are blessed with oil and gas, and when the prices fall and gas is high, we were able over the last 10-15 years to put all that extra money into reserve, and invest it to the States, Europe, and everywhere. So from these reserves, we have the financial backing, but some of the major players in the region are China, Japan, and India. Within ASEAN, we try to play our part. We feel that in diplomacy, the best way to do anything is to trust each other. I realized from my 30-plus years of experience that if you don't have the trust, however brilliant you are, you will never get anything done. We have friends, and the natural way for us in Brunei really is that we are very friendly—we like to be friends and trust is the main thing.

DA: Who do you think does not trust you in the region?

PDLJS: I think, generally, they see us as a small country of no significance, but they like us because we never trouble them, we never criticize them, and we are one of those who think, "fine, if that's alright with you, we'll come along."

DA: Does that include China?

PDLJS: That includes China. Both China and America are two major powers and we are friends with both. We tell our American friends that we're friendly with China, we're friendly with you, but it would be good if you could use us as a channel, because what I do is, every time I would see the Chinese, I would tell them, "have you ever thought properly what it is that the Americans really want? I would tell you exactly what it is." And then I will convey to them what the Chinese think, because the Chinese, when we talk about the South China Sea, were telling me, "look, here is China. We are surrounded by Korea, Japan ... and then you have Australia, you have Thailand, you have everybody around here. All have military relations with the United States. And the moment that Australia and New Zealand come in, we feel surrounded." So that's basically how we see our role.

DA: The Trans-Pacific Partnership is something that's of great interest now in America, and I'm sure here. Do you see TPP—since TPP has excluded China—as yet another threat to China? And since you are participating in that, do you see that you effectively are, too?

PDLJS: No, because TPP is an open association. Everybody can come in. And we've told the Chinese, "come." We've invited everybody and now they have some who are seriously thinking of coming in. And, I think the TPP is good in a sense that it is now moving the RCEP [Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership] we are doing with the Chinese and the Indians. That's 18 of us in total, without the United States. And now the pace is getting faster because they realize TPP is now on. And we told the Chinese we supported them, we want them to come in, the U.S. wants them to come in. I think the Chinese are thinking seriously now about it—they are getting interested in coming, and they're not as opposed to it.

DA: But aren't you afraid that the American government—depending on what administration we have after November—and Congress might say, "Oh, this is just another Trojan horse to get China more weight in the region?"

PDLJS: I think we have more confidence than you on this. In our last meeting, Obama was telling us that he feels that we'll be able to pull it off. And we were talking to Alex Feldman, with the ASEAN U.S. Business Council. Now, if you look at TPP and what they're doing, it would be silly of us not to proceed with it. And I'm sure there have been a lot of business sectors saying, “forget about politics.”

DA: What if the United States Congress said we're not going to ratify this now? Would you go ahead with it without the United States?

PDLJS: I'm not sure of that. We have to change some of the legislation, labor and all that, to accommodate, which will take about 18 months. Then we're ready to ratify.

DA: Do you sense that the aggressive role of China, in the South China Sea particularly, as well as its defensiveness against the TPP, would shift the power balance in this part of the world?

PDLJS: Economically, with the facts and figures, China is becoming a very important player. It is already the second largest economy in the world. Will it take over? It may, it may not. But at the same time, the U.S.—there is no country in the world that I've seen with the same amount of talent, research, and innovation. I was in California’s Silicon Valley. It’s fantastic! There I see Syrians, Sri Lankans, Vietnamese—all the best brains you have. There is nowhere else in the world like it, and that's why your American spirit, your American dream is important—although the Chinese are trying to get the Chinese dream. But, as long as you pursue this, I don't think anybody really has the environment to encourage that kind of innovation, and that's something that America has done very well.

DA: Can Brunei maintain its voice in the region with these levels of oil prices, or do you need to have a higher price of oil?

PDLJS: I think we need some sense so that both the consumer and the producer gain from it. There's no point in us getting $140 and have some people suffering somewhere. So what we need to get rid of is the volatility. I think Brunei's role and influence comes from having resources. And, in that sense, a fairly stable middle of the price of oil in the $60s to $70s range [would be good]. We're fine because constant production is very low.

DA: Now, what I find interesting is the lessons that Brunei could teach other smaller countries that have resources. Indonesia, for instance, has resources. Malaysia has resources. You have the fourth highest GDP-PPP in the world. You must be able to teach other countries something. What kinds of lessons can you teach them?

PDLJS: I’m going to explain to you the policy His Majesty has been following. I once told him, "We have spent a lot of money on welfare. We have spent a lot of money on education." His emphasis is: "I want education. I don't care what you all do, ministers. I want everyone to be educated from A to Z. I want everyone to have access to medical care. If you can't get it in Brunei, we'll fly the patients out. I want everybody to have housing—cheap housing, or free housing. In fact, in the end, it's all free housing." So I said, "You can't sustain it!" He said, "All the money that comes from oil and gas and everything to the government—it's for the people. So spend it on the people."

DA: I hope you won't take this the wrong way, but His Majesty lives very well. And his family lives very well. Do people resent this at all?

PDLJS: As far as I can gather, because he's trying to give all that money to the people, education and all that, people are quite comfortable. And then the social safety net—when you retire, when you're older, you still have the pension scheme, which is non-contributory, so you get it anyway. In that case, I think he has won half of the battle in the sense that he has given them the basics plus this social safety net.

DA: I knew Singapore’s Lee Kwan Yew a bit. He was a tough man, very smart and very for the people. Did you ever contemplate how Brunei might have been different if you have followed more of a Lee Kwan Yew model? You had resources that they never had in terms of oil and so on, and natural gas.

PDLJS: I think with the kind of society we have, it would be difficult. Brunei's society is completely different from that of Singapore.

DA: How would you describe Brunei society in that respect?

PDLJS: I would say we are still family-oriented. Because of our small size, we all know each other, we're all related to each other. And this is why when you talk about corruption and all that, it is so difficult. I'll give you an example. I did my research in a fishing village for a year, and stayed with a family there. So when I came up, the family would say, "Look, my son hasn't got a job. Can you please help me?" And the expectation is that you must help him. Now half of me says no, half of me says you have to help him. So I'm caught in a dilemma between the Western and the Eastern world. Eventually, I said, "Send the application. If he's qualified, he'll get it."

DA: That's more of the Singapore model, isn't it? That's what we would say. I think one of the things you do share with Singapore is no corruption here, right?

PDLJS: We're trying to reduce it. We're conscious that we haven't succeeded.

DA: I don't think of Brunei as a corrupt society, certainly nothing like a lot of the Middle Eastern countries, or certainly most of the African nations. You're very high on the transparency international list, so that's good.

PDLJS: So we're hoping the TPP will help us because the TPP addresses the question of transparency. We need to make some of the rules very clear. That's one way of ruling out corruption. So in this sense, TPP is helping us to really move up.

DA: What would you say if the U.S. Congress rejected it? What would the consequences be for Brunei, and for the region?

PDLJS: Well, TPP is something that will provide us with a market of 800 million people. It provides us with capacity building—we are trying to build all our businesspeople, our rules, our regulations, so that it's on par with everyone. In this way, we are bringing Brunei into the international forum. So that's one aspect of it, apart from creating more jobs. But we also have many other free trade agreements with nations like Australia and New Zealand. There is also RCEP, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. Now this one is with India, China—but not the U.S. If TPP fails, some of these countries will come in.

DA: So basically, it'll be worse for America if it fails than it'll be for Brunei and the region.

PDLJS: Yes.

DA: That's a very interesting perspective.

PDLJS: But if you see the World Bank's report, we are number three getting benefits out of it. But we wouldn't get any benefits until we move up.

DA: Move up what?

PDLJS: In the sense of some of the rules, the regulations. If I want to attract American investors, my rules and my judiciary must be very clear. Some of the rules are not very clear, like labor. That's in the process of being done.

DA: But you don't need TPP for that. You realize that, right?

PDLJS: No, but TPP provides us this motivation.

DA: That's very interesting. So what else would you want from America?

PDLJS: I think, as I said, America is a very good friend of ours. One of the major powers, if not the major power. It has contributed a lot to the peace and stability of this region. China of course is the up-and-coming one, but we want them to play a positive role—the both of them.

DA: They seem to want to encroach on your oil lands and your oil fields in the South China Sea, and it seems they want to make life difficult for you.

PDLJS: At the end of the day, I think that China and the U.S. cannot afford to fight. The reality is that we need each other, and you can't do that. I don't think for a moment that the Chinese would be mad enough to do some thing, and I'm sure the Chinese have a long-term view of things.

DA: So you're not concerned then about these things that are happening in the South China Sea?

PDLJS: If it is the nine-dash line, it is part of it, but we're saying this is ours, and this is yours - but it's not going to come to any blows.

DA: I’m also interested in the legislative part of the government, and wanted to see how that worked in Brunei.

PDLJS: The composition of the legislative council, which was introduced in 2004, is that a quarter of those people are actually elected as head men of villages. From these 50-60 head men, 15 out of them get to represent in parliament. They were chosen by the people, through elections. And then His Majesty adds about five people who represent some ethnic communities and groups, and another five people who represent the interests from the private sector, people with contributions.

DA: So the idea as I understand it is that the legislative council—people come in, and tell the problems they have to the ministers. You're one of the ministers—you'll be up there?

PDLJS: Yes.

DA: If something does not go their way, they can't protest. There isn't that avenue. So does it still function as a safety valve in the communities, or does it not act as a source of frustration?

PDLJS: Our parliament is designed slightly differently. The parliament is trying to have the concept of a discussion, and trying to get a consensus; there is no such thing as opposition. And if you see the design of the sitting arrangement, it's different.

DA: Have they ever gotten what they wanted?

PDLJS: Some of them do, some don't, but some questions come up again and again. So the idea is, how do you find a consensus?

DA: But is it really a consensus? It's really not a true democracy, with all due respect. The head of state and head of government has been in power for over 40 years. But do people still feel a participation in the Brunei miracle, if you will?

PDLJS: There is access to His Majesty. He's there every Friday, and they will see him and pass on letters to him. So every time he comes back with letters complaining about the ministers not doing anything, and the next day all the ministers will have to answer all of the questions.

DA: Does he ever do anything for the people?

PDLJS: Oh, yes. One example is of a market that is operating and the ministers were saying that they wanted to move the vendors to a better place. But the vendors were saying, we've been here for generations, and we want to stay here because this is our place and history and people. So His Majesty came down and talked to them, and they told His Majesty they want to stay. And I think His Majesty took their word and said, “Alright.” They have access to him; they write letters to the palace with requests. The ministers are reminded again and again that everything is for the people, not for themselves. But this message is not well publicized. So His Majesty is always being portrayed as this and that, so he said, “I live with it.”


Sumber - World Policy Institute

‘Jerudong market issue difficult’

A view inside the Jerudong Beach market building, where vendors have
been complaining about a lack of ventilation and low sales.

Wail Wardi Wasil
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

The acting Brunei-Muara district officer yesterday admitted that it is difficult to resolve the inconvenient circumstances faced by fruit and vegetable vendors at the Jerudong beach market.

In an interview with The Brunei Times, Mislee Hj Abdul Karim said only the Jerudong market is under their jurisdiction, adding that the area near Jerudong beach is under the Public Works Department (JKR).

This was a response to the grievances expressed by fruit and vegetable vendors from the Jerudong market who were asked to move back to their stalls.

The Brunei-Muara District Office stated that vendors were not allowed to set up stalls outside of the market’s building, including on the side of the road near the beach, from March 10 onwards. But the vendors have been seeing a dramatic decrease in their earnings since they were ordered to move back.

The vendors had moved out of their rented stalls and set up stalls outside the market building due to stiff competition from beach vendors.

Mislee said they’ve conducted surveys and multiple dialogues with the vendors so they are “well informed of the problems they’re facing.”

He said the market vendors should know that they are prohibited from operating their businesses outside their stalls as the regulation was outlined in their contracts.

“All this while, we’ve tolerated them for operating outside their stalls because we understand the threat the beach vendors pose to the market vendors,” he said.

However, he said the district office’s current priority is to maintain the market’s cleanliness, which he said was severely affected when the vendors moved out of their stalls. They are also now requiring beach vendors to move into empty stalls in the market.

“We have no jurisdiction when it comes to the beach vendors, (but) we’ve discussed the matter with the Attorney General’s Chambers, and they told us that we can take action against these vendors using our executive power as the district office,” he said.

Mislee said they are currently conducting multiple joint operations with the relevant agencies to ensure that beach vendors are no longer operational on the beach side.

“During our operations, we give fair warning to the beach vendors, asking them to make use of the stalls that are in the market, as there are still a number of empty stalls,” he said.

He added there were some who were willing to move in even though they are unregistered vendors, but vendors who didn’t cooperate were asked to pack up their wares and leave.

“At the moment, this is just a short-term solution to the problem. As for the long term, we aim to renovate the Jerudong beach market,” said Mislee.

He said the paperwork for the market’s renovation has been completed, but the district office is waiting for a budget to be allocated to the project, adding that they will find a cost-effective way to renovate the market.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Gov’t to seek other ways in funding mosque construction

The religious affairs minister said the government will seek other funding means to construct new mosques.

Nabilah Haris
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE Ministry of Religious Affairs will work towards different means of funding the building of mosques rather than rely on the government budget, said its minister.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Badaruddin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Awg Othman said his ministry has to accept the reality that his ministry was not allocated a budget to build mosques.

He said the ministry would look into using the money collected through the Mosque Building Fund or funds from the Brunei Islamic Religious Concil (MUIB) as using state coffers is currently not viable.

“Of course in terms of Hukum Syara’ (Islamic law), a government led by a Muslim leader is not exempted from his obligations in building a mosque, especially within Islamic teachings.

“However, the Mosque Building Fund has been set up and is aimed at giving members of the public the opportunity to invest in the Hereafter, but that does not mean the government is let off from carrying out its responsibility,” added the minister

YB Pehin Dato Ustaz Hj Awg Badaruddin went on to note that the first meeting of the 12th LegCo session had been discussed not only by LegCo members but also the public, a sign of healthy public discussions.

“I find this to be an appropriate reaction regarding our current affairs and we should take it as a sign of health in the affairs of the people in shaping positive public thoughts towards the affairs of the country,” he said.

“Our topic discussions were more about frugal and budget-conscious spending. Surely, they need to understand this in its true perspective,” said YB Pehin Dato Hj Awg Badaruddin.

Ending his closing remarks, he called for more confidence in the people and the country given the great history the nation holds while having faith that Allah SWT will bless the good deeds that are done in His name.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Nearly $40 million worth of building taxes still unpaid

Leo Kasim
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

PROPERTY owners owe about $38.7 million worth of building taxes to three municipal departments in the 2015/2016 financial year, the Minister of Home Affairs said yesterday.

At the 12th Legislative Council meeting, YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Awg Abu Bakar Hj Apong said as of January 31, only $6.3 million out of the total $45.08 million in arrears have been collected for the outgoing fiscal year.

He said this in his reply to LegCo Member Yang Berhormat Awang Hj Gapor@Hj Mohd Daud Karim’s question on unpaid building taxes. The charges are usually issued in January with the amount depending on factors such as the location of the building.

Building owners in Kuala Belait and Seria owe $2.75 million, while those in Tutong still need to pay $22,408.

The BSB Municipal Department also holds the largest number of accounts at 2,314 while KB/Seria holds 668 accounts and Tutong has 11 accounts.

YB Pehin Dato (Dr) Hj Awg Abu Bakar said there are 253 accounts in the BSB Municipal which make up a total of $5.64 million in unpaid taxes.

“Owners in BSB have agreed to make payments in instalments. Currently, the payments have amounted to $1.22 million which is 18.1 per cent of the total,” he said.

As part of ongoing efforts to reclaim the arrears, the minister said from October 2015 to February 2016, a total of 121 cases of unpaid taxes under the BSB Municipal have been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Chambers to get letters of demand which make a legal claim for payment from building owners.

The minister said the BSB Municipal has managed to collect $8.5 million in taxes since the establishment of a body dedicated to collecting building taxes in October 17, 2015 up to February 29,2016.

He said this is a $3.91 million increase in payments from the previous year.

YB Pehin Dato (Dr) Hj Awg Abu Bakar said the Municipal Department has been able to increase its collection of property taxes in 2015 and the financial year 2015/2016. But he didn’t dislose specific figures.

Acccording to the minister, a reminder is initially issued to property owners who have not yet paid their taxes. This is followed by a final reminder if the amount is still unpaid along with payment notices circulated through mass media. The final course of action is to forward cases to the AGC to issue a letter of demand in order to claim payment.

In a visit to the home affairs ministry last month, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam urged for a more efficient and effective system to resolve overdue building taxes.

At that time, the monarch said the building tax rate should be framed in such a way that would make the municipal area among the main contributors to the country’s economy.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Bajet $5.6B

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 8 Mac – Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri (JPM) dan Menteri Kewangan II, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, hari ini, telah membentangkan cadangan Belanjawan Negara bagi Tahun Kewangan 2016/2017 berjumlah $5,600,000,000 atau $5.6 bilion bagi mendukung empat fokus utama iaitu memudah cara perniagaan, meningkatkan produktiviti negara, membina kapasiti dan modul insan, serta memelihara kesejahteraan awam.

Anggaran ini mengambil kira akan keupayaan kewangan kerajaan berdasarkan unjuran hasil pendapatan kerajaan bagi tahun kewangan berkenaan, dan keperluan bagi kerajaan untuk membiayai keperluan-keperluan perbelanjaan operasi, serta mendukung pelaksanaan projek-projek yang selaras dengan fokus perbelanjaan yang ditetapkan.

Yang Berhormat Pehin berkata, pada hakikatnya, jumlah perbelanjaan yang dicadangkan ini adalah lebih tinggi berbanding Anggaran Hasil Kerajaan bagi Tahun Kewangan 2016/2017 yang berjumlah $1,764,930,000 berdasarkan prospek ekonomi global dan negara, terutamanya pasaran minyak global yang tidak menentu pada masa ini.

Ini bermakna kedudukan fiskal kerajaan dijangka akan terus mengalami defisit belanjawan, oleh yang demikian, setiap kementerian dan agensi kerajaan diperingatkan untuk memberikan kerjasama penuh dan menyejajarkan usaha pada mengawal perbelanjaan kerajaan berasaskan keutamaan atau priority spending.

Langkah ini, jelas beliau, juga bertujuan untuk membantu pihak kerajaan mengawal keperluan pengeluaran dari dana-dana rizab yang diwujudkan agar ia berdaya tahan dalam mendokong pembangunan negara ini.

Menyebut mengenai perbelanjaan kerajaan, kira-kira 70 peratus daripadanya merupakan perbelanjaan yang tidak fleksibel. Sebagai contoh, peruntukan yang diperlukan bagi membiayai Gaji Kakitangan Perkhidmatan Awam telahpun mencapai kira-kira 30 peratus daripada keseluruhan peruntukan.

Dengan hasil pendapatan kerajaan yang jauh menurun, keupayaan kerajaan untuk membiayai perbelanjaan lain sudah setentunya akan terhad, ini bermakna ruang fiskal (fiscal space) untuk melaksanakan Perbelanjaan Kapital dan Kemajuan yang diperlukan bagi projek-projek pembangunan juga akan terbatas, kerana sejumlah besar perbelanjaan tersebut telah diperuntukkan bagi menampung tanggungan-tanggungan operasi yang tidak fleksibel ini.

Oleh itu, tekan beliau, kerajaan perlu tegas dalam mengawal tahap perbelanjaannya bagi maksud mengurangkan pembaziran sumber kewangan dan tenaga.

Ini antara lainnya termasuklah dengan menjimatkan penggunaan tenaga elektrik di bangunan-bangunan kerajaan dan awam termasuk ‘street lighting’ dengan sasaran penjimatan sehingga 30 peratus; mengurangkan perbelanjaan-perbelanjaan operasi dan pemeliharaan aset yang kurang berkeutamaan; meneliti perkhidmatan yang boleh ‘dioutsource’ kepada pihak swasta sebagai langkah menggalakkan Public-Private Partnership dan lain-lain.

Begitu juga agensi-agensi kerajaan juga diarah untuk mengukuhkan pengurusan kutipan hasil masing-masing terutama bagi tunggakan perkhidmatan kerajaan daripada sektor swasta dan orang ramai yang mana pada masa ini adalah berjumlah kira-kira $390 juta.

Berkaitan penggunaan tenaga elektrik, beliau menyeru orang ramai dan pihak swasta di negara ini agar sama-sama turut mengambil langkah-langkah penjimatan dalam penggunaan tenaga elektrik bagi membantu mengurangkan beban subsidi yang perlu ditanggung oleh kerajaan.

Di samping keperluan berhemah dan berjimat cermat, ujar Yang Berhormat Pehin lagi. pihak kerajaan juga perlu untuk melaksanakan perubahan cara berbelanja dan dalam membuat perancangan perbelanjaan.

Menurutnya, langkah ini adalah perlu untuk memastikan dalam jangka masa sederhana dan panjang, kerajaan akan mempunyai struktur sumber kewangan yang berdaya tahan dan mengawal sebarang bentuk pembaziran.

Bagi mencapai hasrat kerajaan telah melaksanakan reformasi dalam kaedah penyediaan belanjawan, yang mana mulai Tahun Kewangan 2016/2017 ini, penyediaan belanjawan kerajaan telah dibuat berasaskan kepada ‘Programme and Performance Budgeting‘ (PPB) bagi menggantikan kaedah ‘input based budgeting’ yang telah sekian lama diguna pakai.

Beliau menjelaskan, langkah melaksanakan reformasi ini tepat pada masanya, yang mana melalui kaedah ini, fokus perbelanjaan kementerian dan jabatan akan dipertimbangkan berdasarkan ‘outcome’ berpandukan kepada program atau core functions kementerian dan jabatan masing-masing.

Menyentuh mengenai tema belanjawan, Yang Berhormat Pehin berkata, bagi tahun kewangan ini dirancang berdasarkan tema ‘Mengukuhkan Iklim Perekonomian bagi Mendokong Pembangunan Berterusan’ dengan matlamat untuk mencapai Kemapanan Fiskal dan mendukung dasar mempelbagaikan sumber ekonomi negara.

Yang Berhormat Pehin berkata, tema ini memberikan mesej yang cukup jelas akan penekanan kerajaan kepada memudah cara aktiviti perniagaan dan pelaburan negara, dengan didokong oleh modal insan yang berpengetahuan dan berkemahiran tinggi; peningkatan produktiviti negara; dan kesejahteraan awam.

Kesemua ini, tambahnya lagi, merupakan faktor-faktor penting dalam menyumbang dan mendokong pembangunan negara secara berterusan.

“Seyogia, semua kementerian dan agensi kerajaan akan memberikan penekanan dan tumpuan perbelanjaan kepada menyediakan prasarana perniagaan dan pelaburan yang lebih kondusif; memudah cara aktiviti perniagaan; meningkatkan produktiviti sektor awam; dan sebagainya.”


Sumber - Media Permata

‘Tamu Kianggeh at its cleanest since HM surprise visit’

Wail Wardi Wasil
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

TAMU Kianggeh vendors said the open-air market is at its cleanest since His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, made a surprise visit a week ago.

Vendors told The Brunei Times yesterday that the tamu is in peak condition as Municipal Department officials visited the market almost every day to ensure hygiene is practised.

One of the vendors, Einon Hj Tuah, said the whole market was cleaned after His Majesty’s visit to the market.

Previously, she said the cleaning of the market would be conducted once or sometimes twice a month.

During a visit to the Ministry of Home Affairs last week, the monarch had expressed dissatisfaction with the hygiene at Tamu Kianggeh, describing it as messy and an eyesore.

Another vendor, Jamil Hj Tamin, said the Municipal Department previously sent notices to vendors if they were about to clean the market.

During those days, he said vendors would close up shop and pack up their wares to make it easier for cleaners to clear the filth.

“However, there were many instances when we opened our stalls the next day, only to find out that not every part of the market was cleaned, except the front area,” he said.

He said if the Municipal Department has better communication with the vendors, they would be more than willing to cooperate in ensuring cleanliness and management of stall spaces.

“About five years ago, there would be cleaning campaigns conducted by the Municipal Department every week on Mondays, vendors would also take part in the campaign,” said the 41-year-old.

Jamil said if the authorities could reintroduce the weekly cleaning campaign, the cleanliness of the market would be easily maintained.

The Municipal Department has also sorted out the vendors’ stalls in one area of the market, which is the parking area across the Brunei Malay Teachers Association (PGGMB) building in the capital.

Jinut Hj Timbang, one of the vendors who operates in the area, said Municipal Department officials approached them on Saturday and supervised the rearrangements of the stalls.

Previously, the vendors’ stalls would be scattered around the parking area, often creating traffic congestion for car owners using the parking lot.

They are are located only on one side of the parking lot, where there is a bridge connecting the space to Tamu Kianggeh.

“If it is for our own good, then we will happily do it, I’m sure there will be no future problems if the Municipal Department just communicate with us more often,” she said.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

SMEs need quick access to funds

Leo Kasim
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

LOCAL small and medium enterprises (SMEs) need an ecosystem which gives them quicker access to finance and will allow them to scale their operations.

According to Haslina Taib, APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) member for Brunei, local SMEs often have difficulty getting funds on time or are constrained by the lack of market opportunities within local borders.

She said SMEs in regional countries such as Indonesia and the Philippines are often funded privately by venture capitalists (VCs) or angel investors resulting in less administrative burden.

But in Brunei, most funding come from the government. SMEs have to go through a more complex administration of funds.

“So there needs to be a policy or process that allows private sector to get a license to operate funding in Brunei,” she told The Brunei Times.

Haslina, who is also co-chair of the ABAC SME working group, said it is important for government process to be simpler to attract more VCs and angel investors into the country.

She said the private investors could be given licences to run their investment operations while the government monitors their business dealings.

Such a system will limit SMEs expectations of getting government funding and give them quick access to much needed funds.

“At this stage, we need them (VCs and angel investors) more than they need us,” she said.

Haslina said the system should be based on an open market where the investors provide not just financing but also business links.

For their part, SMEs would promote their products and services to win investors over.

Alternative financing needs to function in an environment where it is not overburdened by regulation, she said, adding that SMEs would also need to have the idea of being financed by alternative means “embedded” in them.

Hafimi Abdul Haadi, another ABAC member, said SMEs often do not have business models that fit the criteria of conventional financing methods provided by banks.

“When you innovate, you can only see results only when you’ve done it. So most SMEs come up with a business model that does not really equate to what is going to happen in the future,” she said.

She said this makes alternative financing from VCs important to SMEs which are developing their products. In 2014, ABAC reported the total unmet need for credit by SMEs globally is about US$2.1 trillion ($2.91 trillion) to US$2.5 trillion.

In its report entitled “APEC Framework for Innovative SMME Financing Mechanisms”, ABAC said East Asia faces a credit gap in the range of US$900 billion to US$1.1 trillion while South Asia sees a gap of up to US$370 billion.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

HM tells MoHA to tackle overdue building taxes

Ak Md Khairuddin Pg Harun and Waqiuddin Rajak
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

HIS MAJESTY Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, yesterday called for a more efficient and effective system to tackle overdue building taxes.

During His Majesty’s titah at the Ministry of Home Affairs Headquarters, the monarch urged the ministry to create an effective management system for the collection of taxes and proper enforcement of the law to address those who fail to pay.

“From my personal observation, many cases of building taxes payable by dignitaries and VIPs are still outstanding but the authorities only managed to issue and collect a significant amount of revenue from ordinary people only,” said His Majesty.

The Sultan noted that shortcomings have been identified hindering authorities over tax collection processes but emphasised that reviews over the building tax rate should be focused on making municipal areas among the main contributors to economic activities in the country.

“Hence, related issues with failure of the tax collectors should be properly addressed by the Ministry of Home Affairs by creating an effective and efficient management system for the collection,” he said.

“Enforcement needs to be tightened and emphasised to the officers responsible.

“These include the controlling officers, and most importantly, there should be a law to prosecute those who fail to (pay the tax),” he added.

His Majesty also urged MoHA to review the proposal by consulting and coordinating with the stakeholders in the government.

These are the Department of Energy and Industries of the Prime Minister Office, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Development.

Chairperson of the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Board Pg Dato Paduka Hj Abd Rahman Pg Seri Indera Pg Hj Ismail told The Brunei Times that the problems with tax collections were partly due to the vendors asking to pay in installments, with some refusing to pay without valid reasons. “We usually issue charges to them but there are some that still do not pay even after we sent them summons,” he said.

The building tax, he explained, is payment imposed on building owners within Bandar Seri Begawan. The tax is collected to improve services of other departments under the Bandar Seri Begawan Municipal Board and also for maintenance of the capital.

The tax, he said, is imposed on property owners annually and charges would usually be issued in January. The tax per building is not fixed, said the chairperson, as it may differ from one building to another, depending on factors such as the location of the building.

"At the moment, we are looking at various ways on how to manage and collect the tax, but certainly we would need cooperation from other parties too,” he added.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

HM demands answers from MoHA on tamu

Waqiuddin Rajak
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE Ministry of Home Affairs was placed in the hot seat yesterday when His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, demanded answers over the inaction of officials in tackling problems.

Delivering his titah during a visit to the ministry’s headquarters yesterday, the monarch said the maintenance of markets has worsened because it continues to be neglected.

His Majesty said he witnessed Tamu Kianggeh vendors selling their goods all over the market without considering hygiene and comfort during his visit there last Sunday.

Describing the conditions of the market as messy and an eyesore, the Sultan added that he had difficulties navigating the tamu because the stalls were disorganised and some occupied a larger space than others, including selling their products on the stairs.

“This is an unpleasant sight. I also saw garbage and stones scattered around, while there is a vendor selling kuih apam balik (local delicacy) outside of a building nearby,” he said.

“Where are the municipal authorities? Did they not see this situation?

“If so, why was it left without being addressed?” he continued.

The monarch went on to say that the long abandoned building near the market showed that the authorities had given the green light to construct the building without careful assessment as it was not necessary and suitable to be built in the area.

Some of the vendors, he said, had also complained of foreigners loitering at the cemetery behind the tamu on Fridays and Sundays.

“According to the vendors there, this is unpleasant to them, there were efforts to forbid (the foreign workers) but it was unsuccessful,” he said.

“The vendors had to report to authorities including the police and the Municipal Department, but the situation did not change, and it became worse,” he added.

The monarch expressed concerns as the vendors had also told him that the foreigners may disturb them as they were drunk.

“So my question is, where is the discretion of the authorities in this? Where are measures to preserve the sanctity of the cemetery? Where are our efforts to ensure peace and safety?” he said.

“Do we not see drunk people at the cemetery as threatening? Would it not be possible that apart from them being intoxicated, they may also plan something that can endanger the country?” he added.

The monarch noted no changes had been made, an indication that the issue was not resolved.

“If it is addressed, at least we will see changes for the better, but the situation at the tamu seems to be getting worse,” he said.

He added that if the authorities were not told or instructed to take action, changes would not be made.

“So here I would like to once again ask, where are the municipal authorities and the others?” he added.

The Sultan said the same can be applied to the Jerudong wet market as it is now only left with fishmongers as fruits and vegetable vendors had long abandoned their stalls in the building.

These vendors had brought their goods to the corridors of the building, making it difficult for people to pass by as it is now filled with temporary stalls for vendors to sell their goods.

His Majesty said the reason they had abandoned their designated stalls because it was dark, hidden and not enough clean air, making it difficult for them to attract customers.

The building, His Majesty said, is now abandoned, neglected and dirty.

“This continues to persist, where are the authorities? Why has it not been visited?

“How long has this been going on? What are we waiting for?” he said.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

‘Village head duties too burdensome’

RPN Lorong Tengah in Seria. The area with 2,000 residents has yet to produce a single village head
candidate application, despite two advertisements from the Belait District Office last year.

Aaron Wong
BELAIT

THE rezoning of Belait's largest residential areas is stalling due to dismal turnouts for new village head positions that prevent the formation of consultative councils to oversee the community welfare of the proposed delineated boundaries.

The Belait District Office, which spearheads the ambitious rezoning plan, are now faced with an uphill task in changing the perception among the wider community that the village head role is, as one village head put it - “seen as either too burdensome or of petty significance”.

Tied closely to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MoHA) ‘Service Scheme for Penghulu and Ketua Kampong 2013’ - approved last May by the previous minister, the rezoning initiative primarily targets the division of the district's most densely populated villages and national housing schemes (RPN) that exceeded the recommended 3,000 residents per village.

The Belait District Office advertised four newly-approved village head posts last year for the national housing schemes of Panaga, Lorong Tengah and Lumut as well as a second village head for Mumong, through the government's news publication Pelita Brunei - the first in September and the second in November.

That resulted in only five applicants, none who are qualified to run for elections based on MoHA's new scheme.

RPN Lorong Tengah, with an estimated population of 2,000 residents, failed to turn up any applicants, while RPN Lumut with an even bigger population of 4,500 and Kg Mumong B only managed a sole applicant each.

A bright spot was the 2,000 houses of RPN Panaga that saw three applying for the post, but they either did not meet the age requirement of 45 to 55, or came short under the new academic requirement of a minimum of two GCE O-level credits or its equivalent.

“The turnout has not been good, but we are still moving forward. We will continue to put out the advertisements and try new ways to attract residents to apply,” said Belait District Officer Hj Haris Othman.

But the apathy and lack of interest towards grassroots leader positions go beyond the scope of the district office, and is not a new development in Belait.

Grassroots leaders currently serving in the district are all too familiar with the problem, and for the most part claim that majority of the public see the post as either restrictive and bearing too much responsibility or one that has little function beyond distributing pension.

Seria's Penghulu Hj Jamail Hj Linap, who until January last year, was Seria's only grassroots leader for over 20,000 residents, about twice the population of Temburong - leading to a highly publicised pension distribution problem.

The appointment of a village head for Kg Lorong 3 at the start of 2015 eased the penghulu's responsibilities, but he continues to serve as the sole head for RPN Panaga, RPN Lorong Tengah and Kg Pekan Seria.

“Many of these (grassroots) posts have been vacant for years – Lorong 3 had to do without an official village head for a decade.

“It can't be that people are completely unaware, it is just that people, who are qualified, are not stepping up to the plate. And the most likely truth is that they are just not interested,” he said.

Requirements such as government approval before exiting the country are viewed as restrictive by some, he said and the responsibility to distribute welfare and pension too big for those who “would prefer to quietly retire”.

To make matters worse, he added that the advent of social media has brought “unfair judgement and scrutiny” to MPKs and village heads through regular viral posts and disparaging comments left by residents and the public who are “very quick” to pass judgement on village heads before establishing facts.

Belait District representative to the Legislative Council and Mumong Village Head Yang Berhormat Hj Mohd Yusof Dulamin said many still view community leader positions as unimportant and always busied by petty requests.

“There are many with the qualifications, ability and seniority needed to take these posts, but they don't think being village head is important or worth the trouble.

“So the hope lies among those who have had extensive experience in working or dealing with MPKs/MPMs, seen the value it can bring, and have a goal and vision to lead and represent the community,” he said.

Hj Mohd Yusof oversees a village population three times the size recommended by MoHA.

The district's other Legislative Council representative and village head of Lumut 1, YB Hj Mohd Shafiee Ahmad, said the lack of interest was a call to action for the authorities to study the reason behind the apathy.

With a maximum salary of $4,240 for village heads with qualifications of a National Diploma and above, YB Hj Mohd Shafiee does not think the solution is to throw more money at the post.

“It has been going on long enough for them (authorities) to do a post-mortem to see why there is no interest.

“While the decision to run for village head or join an MPK is ultimately up to the resident – we as a society cannot accept the situation just as it is without trying to study and change it, or the long-term future of rezoning and the village head will be in doubt ,” he added.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

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.”


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