Brunei needs to fill gaps in cybersecurity defences

Azlan Othman

BRUNEI has gaps in its cybersecurity defences and much work is needed to boost its capacity to deploy proper strategies, capabilities and programmes, according to a report by UN telecommunications agency International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Though the country is making some progress, a lot remains to be accomplished with regard to legal, technical and organisational institutions, educational and research capabilities, and cooperation in information-sharing networks to develop a near-perfect approach to cybersecurity, the report hinted.

“Wealth breeds cybercrime, but it does not automatically generate cybersecurity, so governments need to make sure they are prepared,” it added.

Brunei Darussalam is ranked 53rd globally out of 193 nations in ITU’s latest Global Cybersecurity Index (GCI) that measures the commitment of nations to cybersecurity.

The Sultanate is in fifth place in Asean after Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines, and 12th in the Asia Pacific in the GCI 2017 released this week.

Brunei is ranked 53rd on the index with a score of 0.524, levelling with Bangladesh, and has been listed in the ‘maturing stage’ category (GCI score between the 50th and 89th percentile), which refers to 77 countries that have developed complex commitments to cybersecurity and engage in cybersecurity programmes and initiatives.

Singapore has topped the GCI 2017, followed by United States and Malaysia. Other countries in the Top 10 include Oman, Estonia, Mauritius, Australia, Georgia, France, and Canada.

The Sultanate scored high in cybercriminal legislation and training, government and national computer emergency response team (CERT), computer incidence response team (CIRT) and computer security incidence response team (CSIRT), child online protection, professional training and courses as well as education programmes, bilateral and multilateral agreements and international cooperation.

It has received an overall medium score in legal, technical and organisational measures, public awareness campaign, capacity building as well as public-private partnerships.

But the country fared lower in cybersecurity legislation, standards for organisation and profession, standardisation bodies, cybersecurity good practice and research and development (R&D) programme. The report suggested that more work needed to be done in these areas.

Twenty one countries are referred to ‘leading stage’ (GCI score in the 90th percentile) that demonstrates high commitment in all five pillars of the ITU Global Cybersecurity Agenda, namely legal, technical, organisational, capacity building and international cooperation.

‘Initiating stage’ refers to the 96 countries (GCI score less than the 50th percentile) that have started to make commitments in cybersecurity.

The GCI-2017, the second in an index series published by ITU, measured the commitment of ITU’s 193 member states to cybersecurity.

The report said about 38 per cent of countries has a published cybersecurity strategy and an additional 12 per cent of governments are in the process of developing one.

The agency said more effort is needed in this critical area, particularly since it conveys that governments consider digital risks high priority.

“Cybersecurity is an ecosystem where laws, organisations, skills, cooperation and technical implementation need to be in harmony to be most effective,” stated the report, adding that cybersecurity is “becoming more and more relevant in the minds of countries’ decision makers”.

The GCI 2017 measured countries’ commitment to cybersecurity and helps them identify areas for improvement. Through the information collected, GCI 2017 aims to illustrate the practices in use so that ITU member states can identify gaps and implement selected activities suitable to their national environment – with the added benefits of helping to harmonise practices and fostering a global culture of cybersecurity.

“At ITU, we are committed to making the Internet more secure, safer and trustworthy, for the benefit of all,” said Houlin Zhao, ITU Secretary-General.

“While the impact generated by cyber-attacks, such as those carried out as recently as June 27, 2017, may not be eliminated completely, prevention and mitigation measures to reduce the risks posed by cyber-related threats can and should always be put in place. The GCI reaffirms ITU’s commitment to build confidence and security in the use of ICTs.”

In addition to showing the overall cybersecurity commitment of ITU’s 193 member states, the index also shows the improvement and strengthening of all GCI indicators, which are defined by the five pillars of the ITU Global Cybersecurity Agenda.


Sumber - Borneo Bulletin

Study public criticisms to improve policies, government told

Senior UTB Lecturer Dr Nor Zainah Siau (R) and Dr Hj Hambali Hj Jaili from
Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College at the Knowledge Convention

Khai Zem Mat Sani
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE government needs to study constructive public criticisms posted on social media to improve policies, a senior Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) lecturer said.

Dr Nor Zainah Siau said constructive criticisms from members of the public should be seen in a positive way to improve government policies.

“Matters conveyed on social media allow the government to look back or review government policies as long as the source or information is verified.

“After verification, government agencies may then be able to resolve problems,” she said during a panel discussion at the Knowledge Convention 2016.

Dr Nor Zainah Siau was responding to an audience member’s question on how should the government handle netizens who use online platforms to criticise the government.

The senior lecturer at UTB’s School of Computing and Informatics said it is not easy to monitor and control how netizens use social media.

“We don’t have control over texts and messages being circulated on social media, be it positive or negative.

“Individuals and organisations do not have control over people posting messages or tweets that insult people or with the use of vulgar language,” she added.

Prior to the question and answer session, Dr Nor Zainah spoke about the benefits and drawbacks of social media on the society.

She said with the availability of social media, it helps the society to express or share their opinion on important issues with other people.

However, the use of social media also leads to the use of “broken language” among youth as they tend to use shortcuts in text messages on social media, said Dr Nor Zainah.

“Despite social media’s drawback on language use, it helps people to access information easily and this indirectly helps them to gain knowledge,” added the speaker.

The discussion yesterday afternoon also featured two presentations on ‘Syariah and Techology’ and ‘Driver’s Negative Behaviour on the Road’ by Dr Hjh Noor Hira Hj Noor Kaseh and Dr Hj Hambali Hj Jaili respectively from Seri Begawan Religious Teachers University College.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

TITAH KEBAWAH DYMM DI PERASMIAN MAJLIS ILMU 2016

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 Di Perasmian Majlis Ilmu 2016 Sempena Hari Ulang Tahun Keputeraan Yang Ke-70 Tahun Pada 23hb Ogos 2016 20hb Zulkaedah 1437 Bertempat Dewan Plenary, Pusat Persidangan Antarabangsa Berakas, Negara Brunei Darussalam.

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.

Beta bersyukur ke hadrat Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala kerana dengan limpah kurniaNya jua, dapatlah kita berkumpul pula, pada pagi yang berkat ini di Majlis Ilmu 2016.

Disamping kita digesa untuk meningkatkan iman dan takwa, kita juga disuruh untuk mendalami ilmu pengetahuan sebagai suluh dalam kehidupan.

Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala berfirman dalam surah Al-Mujadalah, ayat sebelas tafsirnya : “Allah akan meninggikan orang-orang yang beriman diantara kamu dan orang-orang yang diberi ilmu pengetahuan (dengan) beberapa darjat”.

Ilmu itu diibaratkan sebagai pelita, untuk dimanfaatkan pada saat manusia berhadapan dengan pelbagai cabaran. Sejauh mana ilmu itu diperolehi, sejauh itulah ia akan berperanan.

Beta sangat gembira, kerana perhimpunan para intelek dan cendekiawan, terus disemarakkan di negara ini. Landasan ini amatlah penting, untuk kita dapat mengupas dan mendalami apa-apa yang ada kaitan dengan pembangunan bangsa.

Pada tahun ini, Majlis Ilmu memaparkan satu tema yang cukup mencabar, berbunyi : “Menjana Perhubungan Berkat dan Selamat Pemankin Kesejahteraan Ummah”.

Tema ini cukup ‘relevan’ untuk melebarkan perbahasan mengenai peranan perhubungan dalam pembangunan bangsa dan negara, apatah lagi dunia sekarang sudah dibungkus oleh istilah globalisasi tanpa sempadan.

Dari dimensi duniawi dan ukhrawi, kita telah dipandu untuk menjaga hubungan dengan Allah dan juga hubungan kita sesama manusia sendiri.

Hubungan dengan Allah berpaksikan iman, takwa dan ehsan, dalam makna, setiap amalan baik di dunia ini adalah penghubung untuk mendapatkan keredhaan Allah di akhirat.

Sementara perhubungan sesama manusia pula, ialah dalam konteks pertalian diplomatik, sosial, ekonomi dan sebagainya yang membawa kepada keamanan, kesejahteraan dan faedah bersama.

Sebaliknya, jika tanpa perhubungan, maka sesuatu yang baik dan bermanfaat tidak mungkin untuk diperolehi.

Setiap negara membangun, pasti memerlukan masyarakat dinamik, social mobility  dan ekonomi yang kental lagi kompetitif.

Matlamat ini hanya boleh dicapai dengan adanya sistem perhubungan yang berkesan untuk mengendalikan pelbagai pergerakan, barangan, perkhidmatan dan maklumat.

Dengan berlakunya kelancaran perhubungan, maka sudah barang tentu akan dapat membuka peluang-peluang pasaran, pencarian pekerjaan dan malah ruang perekonomian yang sangat luas.

Sistem perhubungan dan pengangkutan yang cemerlang adalah sejajar dengan kehendak syari’at Islam, untuk memudahkan ummah bertebaran di muka bumi bagi mencari ilmu dan rezeki.

Tidak diragukan lagi, perhubungan yang sihat, berkat dan selamat akan membawa kepada kejayaan dan kesejahteraan. Namun begitu, perlu juga diingat, bahawa ledakan teknologi kini tidak kurang membawa kepelbagaian gaya hidup dikalangan masyarakat sejagat. Ada yang baik dan ada juga yang buruk. Kerana itu, semuanya mesti dilihat dan dikendalikan dengan bijaksana.

Kita sedia memahami, bahawa seluruh dunia kini adalah terkait dengan rangkaian pengangkutan dan ICT canggih. Ia menjamin pengurusan yang cepat dan mudah untuk kemajuan masa depan.

Baru-baru ini Kerajaan Beta telah melancarkan rancangan peningkatan sistem Pengangkutan Awam ke arah mencapai matlamat perkembangan ekonomi.

Penubuhan badan-badan berkuasa iaitu Autoriti Maritim dan Pelabuhan; dan Autoriti Pengangkutan Awam, juga sedang giat diteliti untuk merancang sistem pengangkutan secara berterusan.

Beberapa cabaran sedia menunggu, diantaranya penyediaan prasarana, kesesakan lalu lintas dan penggunaan laluan serta jalan raya yang selamat.

Sejajar dengan tuntutan syari’at dan pendekatan bersepadu semua agensi kerajaan, Beta yakin, Majlis Ilmu pada tahun ini akan dapat menghuraikan dengan jelas istilah Perhubungan Berkat dan Selamat itu, sebagaimana yang diharapkan.  

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

Gov’t pushes for online services

Darren Chin
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

THE government rolled out more online services in 2015, as part of its push to adopt information communication technology (ICT) as an enabler to achieving Vision 2035.

After spending $1 billion on e-government since 2000, the government now aims to integrate all its services onto the single one-stop portal of e-Darussalam.

Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Mohammad Yasmin Hj Umar had said the e-Darussalam portal is one of the ways to improve Brunei’s rank in the United Nations E-government Survey.

The sultanate dropped 32 places to 86th in the survey last year, with low number of online services, lack of basic features, and poor public involvement with the government cited as the main factors for the decline.

e-Darussalam portal

A total of nine online services are available on the e-Darussalam portal, including three that were launched this year - the Public Service Commission (PSC) Recruitment System, JobCentre Brunei and Labour Control System.

The number of registered e-Darussalam users hit more than 56,000 at the end of November 2015, with figures expected to rise when more government services are introduced on the portal.

His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, launched the portal in July 2011.

With one e-Darussalam account, Bruneians may soon be able to do nearly every action that previously required a visit to government agencies, such as bill payments, submitting application forms or licence renewals from the comfort of their homes.

The minister of energy and industry at the Prime Minister’s Office earlier this year said the goal is to have all government services on the e-Darussalam portal as part of the Digital Government Strategy 2015-2020.

The minister had said the portal will allow a platform for citizens and the government to communicate and provide feedback in helping developing national policies.

Recruitment system

The Public Service Commission in March launched the PSC Recruitment System, an online service for jobseekers wishing to find employment at government agencies.

The recruitment system, which replaced the semi-automated Civil Service Information System (SIMPA), automatically processes all online job applications for ministries and departments.

This streamlined the job application process for prospective civil servants on one portal.

After the recruitment system’s launch in November, the PSC also introduced the psychometric assessment in electronic form, which negated the need for paper and reduced the problem of job mismatch, according to its human resources officer.

All jobseekers wishing to apply for above-entry level jobs in the public sector are required to complete the psychometric test to assess their capabilities in performing their duties.

The launch of PSC Recruitment System also turned out to be the main factor in the spike of registered e-Darussalam users this year as Bruneians who wished to apply for government jobs were required to do so online via the system which required an e-Darussalam account.

JobCentre Brunei

The Ministry of Home Affairs launched JobCentre Brunei in June to streamline and simplify the process of finding employment in the private sector.

The job portal allows jobseekers to apply for vacancies in the private sector while also allowing employers to register on the portal and seek potential employees to fill up vacancies at their companies.

Employees can upload their CV and profiles on the portal as well as apply for training courses through JobCentre Brunei which would diversify the skills set of jobseekers and increase their value to potential employers.

At press time yesterday, 4,008 jobseekers and 378 companies were registered on JobCentre Brunei with 46 vacancies.

Labour Control System

The Labour Control System was launched on May 25, 2015 to make the Labour Department’s services available online.

The system promises convenience and quicker processing times for any applications made to the department and also to prevent falsification of documents issued by them.

Thus far, the system can only accept applications for domestic worker recruitment licences and signing of contracts for new employees.

In line with the Digital Government Strategy 2015-2020, the system will be looking to provide all services to the public online.

This year also marked the first time that employers had to complete the mandatory annual labour census online using the system.

However, it was not without problems as the original deadline of November 30, 2015 had to be extended until the end of the year as companies were not ready and unfamiliar with using the system.

Most of the companies did not even have an e-Darussalam account when it was announced that this year’s census was required to be completed online.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Brunei Darussalam increases ICT push

Plans to stimulate Brunei Darussalam's ICT industry have been stepped up with the launch of a new broadband policy and the opening of a software development academy as the Sultanate works towards diversifying its economy away from oil exports through the creation of a knowledge-based economy.

In a bid to increase ICT usage and boost the sector’s contribution to the economy, Brunei launched its National Broadband Policy in November after work on the four-year strategy for broadband development began in May 2013.

With the policy, the government is hoping to increase the household penetration rate of broadband to at least 80% by 2017, from 31% for fixed broadband at present. Brunei's communications minister, YB Pehin Dato Abdullah Bakar, said earlier this year that the government is aiming to reduce prices for household high-speed internet to less than 3% of the average monthly income by 2016.

Cultivating start-ups

Like many other oil producing countries, Brunei as the third largest oil producer in Southeast Asia is working to diversify its economy, a move which has been compounded by the recent drop in global oil prices. The government has targeted increasing the ICT sector’s contribution to GDP from less than 2% at present to 6% by 2015. Currently, revenues from crude oil and natural gas exports account for more than half of GDP.

Brunei is also heavily investing in the sector. In the 2014/15 budget, transport and communications received the third-largest allocation of BN$226.6m ($177.81m), or 19.7% of total planned expenditures.

However, the government is keen to foster private-sector investment and partnerships, as well as drive research & development (R&D) in the space. One such initiative is the launch of the Brunei Solutions Development Centre (BSDC) in December, which will develop new software and application solutions for the government as well as serve as a training centre for the ICT industry, part of a broader government strategy to encourage more start-ups and rebrand Brunei as a regional force in ICT.

The ICT centre, which will be managed by a team from Microsoft, is expected to help overcome a skills shortage that has held Brunei's industry back. Demand for technology has exploded across Southeast Asia thanks to booming sales of smartphones and tablets, but only a few companies in the entire region have the expertise to offer high-end IT solutions.

“Our vision for the BSDC is that the local ICT industry can also start finding solutions outside the Brunei market,” said Mohd Norshafiee, director of the E-Government National Centre, at the launch of the centre where local ICT graduates and vendors will be trained under senior Microsoft architects.

"Made in Brunei" gets more funding

The training facility at the centre will feed into a range of government initiatives designed to rally Brunei's ICT sector as a strategy to diversify from the heavy reliance on local government ICT projects, as the wealthy Sultanate tries to leapfrog regional rivals that have made considerable progress in ICT, such as Malaysia and Singapore.

In June, the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry (AITI) announced it had signed an agreement with Singapore-based consultancy IDA International for services to develop a national ICT manpower master plan in a bid to accelerate the development of ICT professionals. Although the government has done an impressive job of laying down modern infrastructure and providing incentives for IT start-ups, one of the primary hurdles that remains is attracting and retaining enough qualified workers in the private sector.

Meanwhile, it is striving to introduce more "Made in Brunei" products. AITI opened another round of funding to promote research & development (R&D) activities by local businesses in November with 12 ICT companies in Brunei having received grants under the scheme since its inception in 2010.

There are concerns, however, that local ICT businesses are too reliant on the government and foreign expertise, while "Made in Brunei" products are few. "The majority of these companies are resellers, distributors and hardware vendors, which import hardware and software from overseas, and resell them to consumers in Brunei," said Siti Zaraura Hj Mohammed, senior manager at AITI's Industry Development Group.  She added that the remaining half of the ICT companies – around 200 in total − are in dormant state or inactive, prompting a sector-wide accreditation scheme.


Sumber - Oxford Business Group

Titah KDYMM Sempena Majlis Ilmu 2014

TITAH Kebawah Duli Y​ang 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 di Perasmian M ajlis Ilmu 2014 Sempena Hari Keputeraan Baginda
Yang Ke-68 tahun.

Selasa, 4 Muharram 1436 bersamaan 28 Oktober 2014, bertempat di Pusat Persidangan Antarabangsa, Berakas.

Assalamu'alaikum Warahmatullaahi Wabarakatuh
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem.

Alhamdulillaahi Rabbil 'Aalameen, Wabihee Nasta'eenu 'Alaa Umuuriddunya Waddeen, Wassalaatu Wassalaamu 'Alaa Asyrafil Mursaleen, Sayyidinaa Muhammadin, Wa'alaa 'Alihie Wasahbihee Ajma'een, Waba'du.

BETA bersyukur kerana kita dapat mengadakan Majlis Ilmu 2014 sempena puja usia beta yang ke-68 tahun. Beta adalah menghargai tema yang dipilih iaitu: Sains dan Teknologi Pemangkin Pembangunan dan Meningkatkan Kualiti Kehidupan Ummah. Mudah-mudahan apa yang dihasilkan dari Majlis Ilmu 2014 ini, sama ada melalui perbincangan dalam seminar, ceramah dan simposium mahupun kesan persembahan Pameran Majlis Ilmu 2014 akan memberi faedah yang banyak kepada kita.

Kita memang sama-sama menyedari, bahawa sains dan teknologi menjadi sukat-sukat kualiti hidup. Kita tidak boleh mengabaikan sejarah peradaban yang berasaskan ilmu, yang bertanggungjawab memastikan kelangsungan kehidupan di kalangan manusia.

Apabila kita bercakap mengenai peranan sains dan teknologi, kita tidak dapat mengabaikan sejarah Renaissance di Eropah. Sejarah ini telah melahirkan pelbagai rekacipta dan inovasi melalui ilmu sains dan teknologi, sehingga dengan itu terciptalah aneka peralatan untuk kegunaan masyarakat. Dengan adanya ini, maka meningkatlah tahap kehidupan penduduk negeri-negeri di Eropah. Lalu ilmu sains pun terus dipelajari di barat dan di timur, dengan keghairahan, untuk membina kehidupan lebih bermutu.

Namun kita orang Islam, masih perlu berhati-hati dalam perkara mengikut arus zaman dan usaha membangun bangsa. Sains dan teknologi tidak ada salahnya, malah Islam juga dalam sejarah ketamadunan manusia adalah menyumbang kepada kemajuan sains dan teknologi itu. Berapa banyak petunjuk-petunjuk saintifik dalam Al-Qur’an telah diguna pakai, tetapi ini, tidak pernah di highlight oleh sesiapa pun.

Kerana itu bagi kita, sains dan teknologi itu akan jadi ‘salah’ apabila ia dianggap semata-mata cetusan kudrat manusia tanpa digabungkan dengan ketuhanan. Pada hal sains dan teknologi itu cuma ‘secebis’ ilmu sahaja, sedang ilmu itu pula adalah milik Allah, bukan milik siapa-siapa. Ia dikurniakan kepada manusia selaku nikmat, dan untuk digunakan dengan cara yang selayaknya.

Menyebut nikmat, Allah telah mengingatkan kita, bahawa kita ini akan ditanya pada hari kiamat kelak, bagaimana da n untuk apa nikmat itu telah digunakan. (Boleh rujuk ayat akhir Surah At-Takaathur).

Jika ketuhanan tidak digabungkan dengan sains dan teknologi, aplikasinya kepada kehidupan akan memisahkan kita daripada ketuhanan. Akhirnya manusia akan angkuh dan ingkar terhadap Tuhannya. Perintah Allah Ta’ala dalam hal ini sangat menggerunkan, melalui kejadian Kaum ‘Aad yang mewarisi ilmu dan kemahiran, tetapi mereka membangun dengan angkuh dan ingkar, tidak mengakui ketuhanan dalam pembangunan mereka itu. Demikian juga Nabi Allah Hud ‘alaihissalam telah diutus kepada kaum Baginda, supaya mereka kembali kepada jalan yang lurus, tetapi mereka tetap angkuh dan ingkar, lalu Allah membinasakan mereka sebinasa-binasanya.

Kita bukanlah ketinggalan zaman. Kita juga menggunakan sains dan teknologi dalam pembangunan bangsa kita. Dalam melaksanakan rancangan-rancangan kemajuan, kita adalah sentiasa up-to-date dengan maklumat-maklumat sains dan teknologi, baik misalnya dalam pembinaan jalan raya, pembinaan bangunan dan rumah, pembinaan jambatan, pembekalan elektrik dan air, kemudahan perubatan, permakanan, pendidikan dan lain-lain. Tetapi kita memanfaatkan sains dan teknologi itu adalah semata-mata untuk kebaikan bukan untuk kerosakan di muka bumi.

Dengan lain perkataan, kita berusaha mencipta tamadun, tetapi asasnya adalah sains dan teknologi yang berpaksikan keyakinan kepada Allah. Kita melakar tamadun itu bermula dengan pendidikan. Kita turut mendidik anak bangsa kita dengan sains dan teknologi yang tidak bertentangan dengan hukum-hukum ugama. Kita tidak menerima sains dan teknologi untuk memperkecilkan kuasa Allah, tetapi sebaliknya mengkagumi kuasa Allah itu. Begitu juga kita menolak sains dan teknologi untuk membinasakan bumi dan segala isi di dalamnya, tetapi yang kita terima ialah sains dan teknologi yang memakmurkan bumi dengan kebajikan dan kemanusiaan.

Apabila lahir nanti sainstis dan teknologis kita, kita akan sokong dan berikan mereka kemudahan yang cukup untuk terus mengharungi penyelidikan dan pengembangan, di mana hasilnya kelak akan menjadikan kita ini bangs a yang sentiasa di hadapan dan berjaya. Semuanya itu dalam keredhaan Allah.

Apabila kita benar-benar maju dan sentiasa di hadapan, kita tidak akan berhenti dari terus berusaha untuk kesejahteraan orang lain juga, dengan menggunakan tamadun kita sambil mempromosikan kebaikan dan menentang kemungkaran demi kemanusiaan. Ertinya, orang lain pun insya Allah, akan turut mendapat faedah daripada tamadun sains dan teknologi kita, kerana tamadun kita itu seratus peratus membawa kepada kebaikan, ketuhanan dan kejayaan dunia akhirat. Adalah tidak salah untuk mengejar gelaran sebagai Ummatan Wasatan : Umat yang adil, terbaik lagi terpilih, sebagaimana yang diungkap oleh Al-Qur’an.

Dengan lafaz Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim, Beta rasmikan Majlis Ilmu 2014, dengan keyakinan, ia akan menghidangkan ilmu dan maklumat yang berguna untuk pembangunan dan peningkatan hidup bangsa dalam negara.

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

High income not enough to become developed nation, says Dr M

Simply becoming a high-income nation is no basis for Malaysia to be considered a developed country by 2020, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed.

The former prime minister said that equally important is research and development, as well as the skills that are available in the country, Bernama reported today.

Speaking at a seminar in Cyberjaya today, he said, "Malaysia may not be a developed country by 2020, if its only emphasis is on becoming a high-income nation but it still lags in research and development".

"Malaysia's income is almost reaching that of a developed country but the people's experience and skills are still very much like those of a developing country.

"At the moment... I am afraid. I am not very hopeful that by 2020, Malaysia will be a developed country," Bernama quoted Dr Mahathir as saying.

Giving the example of Brunei, he noted that while it was a high income nation, it was not developed, adding that high income and low productivity would only make the cost of living higher.

"The mindset of Malaysians on research and development (R&D) must be tuned. Malaysians still lack understanding on the importance of R&D and always question the return on investment of R&D."

According to Bernama, Dr Mahathir said that Malaysia was the only developing country which had its own automative industry and developing countries were learning from Malaysia.

Emphasising its importance, the Proton chairman added that the automative industry has the potential to be a catalyst in providing Malaysians skills, knowledge and ability in engineering.

However, he lamented that Proton's share of the car market in Malaysia stood at only 18%.


Sumber - The Malaysian Insider

Pengamal media diseru seimbangkan kebebasan penyataan

Oleh Ak Fairol RMF

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 26 Ogos – Para pengamal media hari diingatkan supaya menyeimbangkan kebebasan penyataan dan tanggungjawab bagi kepentingan awam supaya objektif mulia dalam kehidupan bernegara iaitu menikmati kesejahteraan, keamanan, perpaduan, keselamatan dan keadilan bersama tercapai.

Timbalan Menteri di Jabatan Perdana Menteri Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Wahab bin Juned (gambar) berkata, jika kita lari dari prinsip keseimbangan ini, penyalahgunaan akan mudah terjadi sehingga membawa kepada pelbagai perilaku tidak bertanggungjawab sehingga ada yang berbau kebiadaban dan pengkhianatan.

“Jika ini menjadi budaya, akan mudahlah berleluasa hasutan, perpecahan, huru-hara, fitnah, ketidakjujuran, kebiadaban, pengkhianatan dan pendustaan,” tegas beliau semasa berucap pada Majlis Ramah Mesra Perhubungan Awam dan Media 2014 di Emperor’s Court, Manggis Mall hari ini.

Sehubungan itu, beliau menyeru para pengamal media dan juga perhubungan awam supaya sama-sama menghayati kepentingan negara kita sendiri sebagai konteks utama, sosio-budaya kita yang mengutamakan kerukunan hidup mulia dan Islam sebagai ugama rasmi negara dan cara hidup yang lengkap.

Dalam konteks ini, katanya, media tidak akan terikut-ikut mempersenda pemimpin-pemimpin negara, menyebarkan sensasi, mencari titik-titik perbalahan, menimbulkan isu-isu yang boleh menjadi ‘anti-thesis’ kepada pembangunan negara dan mencemarkan konsep Negara Melayu Islam Beraja atau MIB.

Dalam ucapannya itu, Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Wahab turut menyentuh mengenai kebebasan pernyataan atau freedom of expression yang juga dikaitkan dengan media sebagai hak fundamental.

Katanya, sungguhpun kebebasan penyataan ini merupakan hak fundamental untuk kebebasan media tetapi ia bukanlah hak yang mutlak atau ‘absolute right.’

Kedudukan ini, katanya adalah disebabkan yang kehidupan manusia ini mempunyai objektif-objektif mulia yang lain.

Antaranya ialah objektif mulia dalam kehidupan bernegara untuk mencapai kesejahteraan bersama, keamanan, perpaduan, keselamatan dan keadilan.

Menurut Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Wahab, setengah pihak dalam media terlalu taksub mengenai kebebasan penyataan ini seolah-olah tidak ada pertimbangan lain selain dari kebebasan media.

“Dalam media kita tidak semata-mata ditentukan oleh kepentingan komersil. Kepentingan dan kesejahteraan awam adalah salah satu objektif mulia kerajaan. Oleh itu adalah menjadi tanggungjawab kerajaan untuk memastikan media kita bertanggungjawab, profesional, beretika, pro perpaduan, mendukung ‘good governance’, adil dan peka pada setiap masa mengenai keselamatan, kesejahteraan dan keutuhan negara.

“Sungguhpun pada asasnya media itu mendahulukan prinsip-prinsip kejujuran, objektiviti, keadilan dan ketepatan maklumat, keseimbangan perlu ada dalam membuat laporan atau kenyataan supaya kepentingan awam dan negara tetap dijaga.

“Setiap hak seperti kebebasan penyataan adalah mengikut konteks negara, sosio-budaya dan kepercayaan. Sungguhpun ianya bersifat universal, tidak ada satu amalan kebebasan penyataan yang sama untuk semua. Begitulah juga peraturan yang menjaganya.

Sementara itu, Setiausaha Tetap di Jabatan Perdana Menteri, Awang Haji Mohd Rozan bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos dalam ucapannya berkata, majlis hari ini bertujuan untuk mengeratkan lagi perhubungan di antara pegawai-pegawai serta pengamal-pengamal perhubungan awam kerajaan dengan media-media tempatan di negara ini.

Pada masa yang sama juga majlis ini diadakan untuk memberikan penghargaan kepada pihak media yang selama ini telah memberikan kerjasama yang baik dan padu kepada agensi-agensi kerajaan.

“Seperti yang kita ketahui, peredaran zaman terutama sekali dengan kemudahan teknologi yang membuka ruang untuk media baru ataupun ‘new media,’ pada masa ini telah membolehkan bagi maklumat lebih mudah diperolehi dan disebarkan oleh segenap pelosok masyarakat.

“Ini seharusnya dilihat sebagai salah satu cabaran kepada kita selaku pengamal perhubungan awam yang menjadi lidah kerajaan dengan kerjasama pihak media tempatan di dalam memberigakan sesuatu maklumat yang sahih, tepat dan cepat.

“Globalisasi dan perubahan teknologi telah menjadikan pemberigaan dan penyebaran maklumat dan informasi tidak lagi bersempadan.”

Penggunaan media-media baru dan penyebaran maklumat melalui media-media baru ini seperti laman-laman web, blog, aplikasi Whatsapp, Facebook, Twitter dan Instagram jelas sekali menjadi cabaran yang tidak kurang hebatnya untuk diatasi oleh agensi-agensi kerajaan, swasta mahupun individu. Apatah lagi apabila maklumat yang disebarkan tersebut adalah tidak tepat dan tidak mempunyai kesahihan dan berunsurkan negatif.


Sumber - Media Permata

Brunei Darussalam to build ICT opportunities

Proposed regulatory reforms are set to give a boost to Brunei Darussalam’s information and communications technology (ICT) sector, an area of the economy that the government has targeted for growth.

In mid-February, Hj Yahkup Hj Menudin, CEO of the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry (AITI), the state agency charged with both developing and regulating the ICT sector, said his organisation was looking to boost competition in the market.

A review of policies is under way, with the objective of streamlining the process for licence applications, as well as improving licensing terms and conditions for telcos and broadcasters, both of which fall under the purview of AITI.

According to Hj Yahkup, a new licensing framework would allow the regulator to introduce a new competition code, which would facilitate entry by smaller entities and boost innovation in the market.

“This is AITI’s vision to create vibrant ICT industry with more new players coming into the markets providing more new innovative services and more choices for consumers,” he said.

A chance to grow 

Giving a boost to the ICT industry is among the goals of the government, which is hoping to raise the sector’s contribution to GDP from around 2% today to 6% by 2015.

Of the roughly 200 registered ICT firms operating in the Sultanate, the majority are resellers, distributors and hardware vendors, mainly importing hardware and software.

A report issued in mid-February by the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) showed that imports of ICT products totalled $147m in 2012, equivalent to 4.12% of merchandise imports. On the positive side of the ledger were ICT exports, which rose to $36m in 2012, almost four times the figure from 2006.

Local demand is evident, as uptake of ICT products within the community is extensive. Mobile phone penetration rates reached 120% in 2013 and at least 80% of homes have one laptop. These figures will continue to rise, the Ministry of Communications has forecast, with both computer and phone ownership rates set to climb as more homes and businesses are connected to the new fibre optic network and telecos step up the roll out of 4G services.

As of the end of 2013, almost 12,000 households had been linked to fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) service, with a total of 45,000 to be wired up within three years, as part of a $180m upgrade of the network infrastructure aimed at boosting internet speeds and reliability.

Another significant advancement in 2013 was the doubling of average download speeds, a result of expansions in the country’s international bandwidth and the extension of fibre-based high-speed broadband services. In early February, AITI reported that the average download speed had improved from the 2012 rate of 2.27 megabytes per second (Mbps) to 4.83 Mbps, while upload speeds had increased from 0.96 Mbps to 3.29 Mbps.

Ready to rise

These advances have been recognised by the World Economic Forum in its annual Network Readiness Index, with Brunei Darussalam steadily climbing up the global rankings. Since 2010 it has risen from 63 out of 144 countries on the index, which measures the impact of and access to ICT on a society and its economy, to 57 last year.

Developments such as the roll out of the FTTH, 4G services and higher phone and computer penetration rates will help promote the cause of the indigenous ICT industry, with the stronger infrastructure backbone and improved speeds and access likely to encourage greater usage by both the general public and businesses. This in turn is expected to boost sales of ICT products.

Though the opportunities are there, not all of Brunei Darussalam’s ICT firms have fully embraced them, according to Minister of Communications Pehin Dato Hj Abdullah Bakar. Addressing a business forum on January 25, the minister said local ICT suppliers needed to do more to build on the existing network readiness. Both the commercial and retail segments offer potential for growth, he said, something industry players can leverage and develop.


Sumber - Oxford Business Group

Brunei Darussalam takes steps to lessen rural digital divide

Rural areas of Brunei Darussalam, which have long faced problems with information and communications technology (ICT) services, are set to benefit from a move to align the Sultanate’s bandwidth with that of its regional neighbours.

The decision to replace mobile frequency bands comes as the Sultanate prepares to hand out 4G long-term evolution (LTE) licences. However, despite the wave of activity taking place across the telecoms sector, there are concerns that the joint roaming agreement could fail to produce results for the country, unless tariffs are revised downwards to levels nearer those of its regional peers.

Brunei Darussalam, together with Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, sealed an agreement on June 19 to align itself with the Asia Pacific Telecommunity’s 700 MHz band plan. The deal will facilitate international roaming among networks, while also making it easier for providers to meet rising demand for mobile broadband.

The GSMA, an international association of mobile operators and related companies, welcomed the move, saying it sent a “positive signal to the wider mobile ecosystem in the Asia Pacific region”.

“The 700MHz band is ideally suited to provide extended mobile broadband coverage to rural and remote areas where fixed infrastructure is often unavailable and also has ideal characteristics to improve indoor coverage in saturated urban areas,” the association commented.

The Authority for Info-communications Technology and Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI), the industry regulator, echoed the association’s comments, telling local media that the plan would enable the Sultanate to offer wider coverage and better in-building penetration.

“This significantly reduces the cost of building and maintaining mobile networks over large areas, for example, by reducing the number of base stations required to service a large area compared to providing a similar service using higher frequency bands,” the AITI told the local media.

The government says 4G LTE licences will pave the way for the deployment and commercialisation of next-generation mobile broadband services. In April, a Bruneian official quoted by a Chinese newspaper said an open tender for the licences would be conducted once signal towers were completed.

More recently, in late June, the minister of communications said the licences would be awarded “soon”. Networks are expected to deploy the service commercially three to six months after the licences are awarded. At least 27 signal towers are thought to be required to support 4G services.

The increase in mobile broadband provision is timely. Last September, telecoms firm DSTCom revealed that in the first eight months of 2012, data usage increased 70% over the same period in 2011. Ericsson, meanwhile, estimated that up to 80% of new activations in the Sultanate last year were smart phones.

However, a survey conducted this year suggested that the Sultanate’s users were probably paying too much for data services. The 2013 edition of the Global Information Technology Report, released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in April, found that Brunei Darussalam had the highest tariffs for telecommunications services in ASEAN, while trailing some of its regional neighbours when it came to internet connection speed.

In the report, the Sultanate placed 135th out of 144 countries for overall affordability, while ranking 110th for cellular tariffs, 120th for fixed broadband prices and 131st for internet and telephony competition. Charges averaged $0.45 per minute for mobile calls and $81.20 per month for wired broadband.

Vietnam had the lowest tariffs for telecommunications services in the regional bloc, placing 38th on the list, followed by Indonesia, which ranked 39th. Thailand came 45th.

Brunei Darussalam was able to take some positives from the report. The country placed second in the region for use of virtual social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, behind Singapore. The Sultanate also had the third-lowest level of software piracy among ASEAN countries.

However, the country still faces challenges in its bid to bridge the long-standing digital divide that separates urban and rural areas. In the past, the minister of communications, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Abdullah, acknowledged that bringing services in rural areas, such as Temburong, up to the standard of those in well-connected districts, was “a challenge”. The government is keen to make ICT a key component of its efforts to improve the lives of people outside urban areas, in particular by generating new employment opportunities.

In June, at an event during which industry giant, Google, revealed plans to beam the internet from giant balloons to rural parts of Asia, its regional chief spoke of the project’s economic potential.

“[It’s] devastating that only a tiny fraction of small and medium-sized enterprises all across Asia are online right now,” Karim Temsamani, Google’s head of Asia Pacific, said at the Communicasia conference in Singapore.

Aligning the bandwidth and introducing 4G coverage are likely be beneficial for small businesses in rural areas long term. In the meantime, however, the country may need to consider introducing other measures aimed at helping Bruneian ventures remain competitive when connected.

Dipetik dari - Oxford Business Group