Brunei’s economy slips 2.3%

Fitri Shahminan
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

BRUNEI’s economy continued to decline year on year, this time by 2.3 per cent in 2014, owing to a slowdown in the oil and gas sector, the Department of Economic Planning and Development Board (JPKE) reported yesterday.

This is a furher decline from the 1.8 per cent year-on-year contraction recorded in 2013.

The JPKE said the oil and gas sector, which accounted for more than half of the Sultanate’s gross domestic product (GDP), fell by 3.7 per cent in 2014.

The non-oil and gas sector declined by 0.4 per cent.

By expenditure approach, the JPKE attributed GDP’s decline to a 34.6 per cent decrease in gross capital formation, imports of goods and services by 19.7 per cent and domestic consumption by three per cent.

Brunei’s exports rose by 4.3 per cent in 2014, while government spending increased by 2.9 per cent.

In the fourth quarter of 2014 alone, Brunei’s GDP grew by 0.2 per cent on year. The 2.7 per cent growth in the non-oil and gas sector offset the 1.6 per cent decline in the oil and gas industry.

The gains in the agriculture and services sectors supported the non-oil and gas sector in the fourth quarter.

Agriculture, forestry and fishery sectors rose by 3.1 per cent thanks to a 25.7 per cent rise in the production of vegetables and fruits as well as an 8.6 per cent growth in forestry production.

The services sector increased by 2.2 per cent on the back of higher growth posted by finance, transport and education service sectors.

The industrial sector decreased by 1.1 per cent pressured by a poor performance in oil and gas mining.

Brunei’s GDP at current prices in the fourth quarter of 2014 was estimated at $5.245 billion compared to the $5.209 billion in the previous quarter.

JPKE said the fourth quarter national income accounts is the first quarterly report to be released that used 2010 as the base year in calculating the country’s gross domestic product.

JPKE previously used 2000 as the base year in calculating GDP.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Philippines to ‘downgrade’ Sabah claim to fight China

Joe Fernandez

The question that arises is whether it can “downgrade” something that it never had in the first place.

KOTA KINABALU: The Philippines, in a desperate note which literally asks Malaysia to risk its growing ties with China, has offered out of the blue to “downgrade” its “claim” to Sabah if Putrajaya supports its (Manila’s) case against China, on its maritime borders, at the United Nations Arbitral Court.

It’s not entirely clear what this “downgrading” means”. The question that arises is whether it can “downgrade” something that it never had in the first place. Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, in an immediate response, said Putrajaya does not recognise any claim by the Philippines to Sabah. “What claim? We don’t recognise any claim, (so) the note is irrelevant.” He was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the two-day Asian Regional Forum (ARF) Workshop on Combating Wildlife Trafficking in Tuaran, Sabah.

Manila’s offer is contained in a note verbale, a copy of which was obtained by VERA Files according to the Philippine Star, handed to the Malaysian Embassy in Manila last week by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). The note follows a week after a visit by Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to Manila.

The note refers to the May 6, 2009 joint submission by Malaysia and Vietnam to the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental She’d (CLCS). Malaysia, in the joint submission, claims an extended continental shelf, 350 nautical miles from the baseline, which was clearly projected from Sabah.

The Philippines, which protested the joint submission on Aug 4, 2009 on the grounds that Sabah belongs to it, is now willing to “review” its protest. China protested the submission too and this is likely to stand even if Manila withdrew its objections.

However, Manila’s review would depend on Malaysia’s support for its case against China at the UN. The case is contained in two “requests” i.e. Malaysia to confirm that its extended continental shelf extends from the peninsula; and that it will not claim any continental shelf beyond 12 nautical miles, as provided for under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), from the maritime features in the Spratly Islands it claims.

The Philippines claims ownership of Sabah, “which is at present occupied by Malaysia”, based on the “title” of the Sultanate of Sulu (defunct) which purportedly ceded proprietary rights over the 76,115-square-kilometer land to the Philippines in 1962.

The Sultanate of Sulu in Borneo, but only along the eastern seaboard of Sabah was not territorial, but claimed the “right” to collect toll along the waterways initially along the east coast and later in Northern Sabah which it claimed was handed to it by the Brunei Sultanate. Brunei has denied handing the right to collect toll along the waterways in Northern Sabah to Sulu.

It’s not entirely clear whether Manila claims the whole of Sabah, and if so, on what basis.

Activists claim that Malaysia in Borneo is an unfinished chapter in the history of the British Empire in the region and are calling for decolonisation of Sabah and Sarawak since Putrajaya has been in non-compliance on the Malaysia Agreement 1963.

Putrajaya’s approach to China’s claims in the South China Sea has been an expressed willingness to jointly engage in oil and gas exploration works.


Sumber - Free Malaysia Today

Letter From America: ‘Hidden Hands’ Behind Communal Violence in Myanmar - I told you so

By Dr. Habib Siddiqui

In a country that has been infested with the blight of unfathomable racism and bigotry for decades, rumors are enough to trigger communal riots. And if the press, priests, public servants and people’s representatives are all working in cahoots as a party to a very sinister program – which I have been calling a ‘national eliminationist project’ – one does not have to be Einstein to understand the impact of such false rumors. And that is what happened to Mandalay in central Myanmar (formerly Burma) in July of last year when we witnessed anti-Muslim violence there. It was all part of a highly orchestrated criminal program with deep support at every level of the local and central government.

On July 3, 2014, U Soe Min, a Muslim man, was walking to morning prayers (Fajr) at a nearby mosque when a man with a machete struck him dead with a deep blow to his skull. The 51-year-old Mandalay resident, who ran a bicycle shop, was one of two innocent victims that day of communal violence sparked by reports – later proven to be false – that a Buddhist woman had been raped by two Muslim brothers.

Since May of 2012 starting with the gruesome lynching to death of ten Tablighi Muslims by a Rakhine mob, we have witnessed how the Buddhist mob and criminals have often been empowered by such false rumors to terrorize and exterminate Muslims, which sadly have been led by Buddhist monks and security forces.

The May (2012) ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya Muslims started under a similar pretext: a Rakhine woman - Ma Thida Htwe - was raped and murdered by 3 Rohingya (the so-called Bengali) Muslims. The dead body was found, rather conveniently, in a Rakhine village – not too far from a Rohingya locality. Interestingly, the lead accused - named Htet Htet - was not a 'Bengali' – and not even a Muslim. He was a married Buddhist Bama who in his childhood was adopted by a Rohingya Muslim family. As we have seen in many such incidents under police and NASAKA custody, Htet Htet was found dead in his prison cell. The police announced that he had killed himself.

Dr. Maung Zarni, a Burmese human rights activist, says that “the rape narrative of the Rakhine woman - the late Ma Thida Htwe - raped by 'Bengali men' was patently false, but spread by President Thein Sein's men the likes of Major Zaw Htay (Hmu Zaw), Colonel Ye Htut (now deputy information minister) as a trigger event to set the fire of genocidal hatred towards the Muslims. Ma Thida Htwe was NOT raped but was simply murdered - the doctor who examined her body told Ko Zaganar [a popular comedian], in no uncertain terms, that there was absolutely no evidence of rape on Ma Thida Htwe's dead body. The doctor was forced to sign the medical report which claims falsely she was raped. The rape story was spread by government agents on the social media and was used as a launching pad to start waves of mass killings against the Rohingya and the Muslims across Burma or Myanmar.”

“Within a month of his death - when [Maung Thura[ Zaganar attempted to meet Htet Htet's wife,” writes Dr. Zarni in his blog, “she was found dead in a village well. How convenient!” It is believed amongst the independent analysts that NASAKA security forces killed Ma Thida Htwe and possibly Htet Htet’s wife.

For years I have been saying that if one is serious about finding the origin of race/ ethnic/ religious riots and pogroms inside military-controlled Myanmar that inquiry should start with the government itself. As subsequent inquiries have revealed I was not wrong: most of the anti-Muslim pogroms and genocidal activities inside Burma (or Myanmar) owe their origin to the government – central and local. These crimes are sometimes scripted and often times sanctioned by the government. True that we sometimes see the faces of angry Buddhist mob taking the lead in such heinous crimes, but these low-lives are often used as pawns in this chess game of ethnic cleansing of the targeted victims. And no one can deny the powerful influence of the Sangha in agitating and mobilizing Buddhists. The terrorist Buddhist monks have been employed by the regime to polarize public opinion against Muslims and aid in its sinister plan.

It is no accident that after his release from prison in 2010, Wirathu – the head abbot of the Masoyein monastery in Mandalay - with a large following has now become the face of Buddhist terrorism. His 969 (fascist) Movement provides the foot soldiers for Nazi-like blitzkrieg against unarmed Muslims. He led a rally of monks in Mandalay in September, 2012 to promote President Thein Sein's controversial plan to expel Rohingyas to a third country. A month later more violence was directed against Muslims in the Rakhine state resulting in displacement of some 140,000 Rohingyas. His fascist movement has been behind all the subsequent pogroms directed against Muslims (and not just limited to Rohingyas) all across Myanmar. His disciples have also been behind all state-managed protest rallies against the NGOs, UN and OIC reps, including the Doctors Without Borders, worsening the humanitarian crisis affecting the Muslims of Myanmar.

With the vast support Wirathu and other racist and bigoted Buddhist monks enjoy within the broader Buddhist community, they have been able to rally hateful Buddhists to attack and kill Muslims and burn their properties with impunity. Police and other security forces, if they did not participate in such heinous crimes themselves would often time stand unperturbed, as if nothing had gone wrong, or that they have no business to stop such horrendous crimes of fellow savage Buddhists.

According to multiple corroborated eyewitnesses, the Mandalay riots of July 2014 were carried out over two straight nights by a small group of Buddhist terrorists on motorcycles carrying clubs and swords who rampaged through Muslim neighborhoods destroying homes, businesses and mosques. This took place in plain view of fully armed riot police, who followed the rioters and watched the mayhem unfold without taking action. As hinted above, Mandalay – the second largest Myanmar city – is home of the terrorist monk Wirathu. The local Panthay (Chinese) Muslims were forced to hide or keep a very low profile.

Justice Trust - an international human rights organization that partners with lawyers and activists in Myanmar to strengthen local communities fighting for justice – investigated the matter. It found ‘hidden hands’ (read: government hand) in the attack. In its released report, “Hidden Hands Behind Communal Violence in Myanmar: Case Study of the Mandalay Riots,” it documented the use of organized gangs of armed men to commit anti-Muslim riots under the guise of spontaneous mob violence.

The NGO held a press conference in Bangkok on March 23, 2015 to release the report.

“This report shows what most Burmese have known for a long time – that religious hatred between Buddhists and Muslims is being stoked by hidden hands and manipulated as a pretext for maintaining their grip on power,” said U Thein Than Oo, a Mandalay lawyer who serves on Justice Trust’s steering committee. “We have seen this script many times before – the deployment of plainclothes forces [Swah Ah Shin] rather than uniformed soldiers to commit national-scale political violence, and the scapegoating of minorities to divert public attention away from the country’s real needs.”

Drawing on six months of research by a team of local and international lawyers, the report analyzes the riots that shook Mandalay in July 2014 and places these riots in the context of previous waves of communal conflict carried out under past military regimes.

The Mandalay riots closely followed every element of this pattern, starting with a false charge of rape spread on Facebook. But unlike in previous riots, where large mobs developed and the violence spun out of control, local people in Mandalay refused to participate despite the best efforts of outside agitators. In fact, local monks, activists and journalists arrived and tried to contain the situation. Without the protective cover of a sympathetic crowd, the outside agitators were exposed, the stage-managed nature of their violence was made visible to the public, and the overall damage was limited.

“The Mandalay riots were designed to appear as a spontaneous outbreak of mob violence, but in fact were perpetuated by an organised gang of armed men brought in from outside Mandalay to enact a pre-determined script written and stage-managed by hidden hands for political ends,” the report says.

The report states that: “The case of Mandalay therefore provides the clearest evidence yet of a deliberate political strategy to foment anti-Muslim violence, as well as the best example of countering this strategy through a local early warning system to mobilize an immediate on-the-ground response.”

The report says they follow a similar pattern of events, including rape allegations, speaking tours by Wirathu and visits by gangs of fomenting outsiders. “Lots of people recognise that the 969 movement has a history of inciting riots … and once Wirathu posted the [rape] allegation to Facebook, the local civil groups alerted others to the coming storm,” said Roger Normand, executive director of Justice Trust.

Mandalay is far from the only orchestrated incident inside Myanmar, which has a long history of military regimes employing the “dual threat of external intervention and internal disintegration” to ensure control, according to the report. Notable examples of such diversions include General Ne Win’s anti-Chinese riots in the 1960s to distract from a countrywide rice shortage, and Buddhist-Muslim tensions after democratic mass uprising in 1988.

Anti-Muslim pogroms in Myanmar are not new. They have surfaced periodically in recent decades. The fascist elements within the Buddhist country have exploited their deep-seated racism and bigotry against ethnic minorities and non-Buddhists to glue the fractured Buddhist majority. Their propaganda encourages a blind racist nationalism and an unparallel bigotry, full of references to ‘protecting the race and religion’, meaning that if the national race Burmans (Bama) do not oppress other nationalities then they will themselves be oppressed and if the Buddhist majority likewise does not expel the non-Buddhists (esp. the Muslims) then they will become a minority, ‘national reconsolidation’, meaning forced assimilation, and preventing ‘disintegration of the Union’, meaning that if the Army (Tadmadaw) falls then some kind of ethnic chaos would ensue. In this new Myanmarism, ethno-religio-fascist Buddhism (coined first by self-exiled researcher Dr. Shwe Lu Maung), monks have become the regime’s pit bulls that are aided from center to the local level politicians. Even Suu Kyi is a silent partner.

As noted by Human Rights Watch in its report “All You Can Do Is Pray”, immediately after the first wave of anti-Muslim genocidal activities in Arakan in June 2012, local Rakhine Buddhist monks circulated pamphlets calling for the isolation of Muslims. For instance, on June 29, monks in Sittwe (formerly Akyab) distributed an incendiary pamphlet telling all Arakanese Buddhists that they “Must not do business with Bengalis [Rohingya],” and “Must not associate with Bengalis [Rohingya].” It implored the Rakhine people to follow the demands to socially and economically isolate the Rohingya to prevent the “extinction of the Arakanese.”

On July 5, 2012 monks representing the Sangha in Rathedaung Township, 30 kilometers north of Sittwe, held a meeting and subsequently issued a 12-point statement. The preamble unabashedly presents a plan for the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya: ‘Arakan Ethnic Cleansing Program’. It called for the establishment of a “rule to control the birth rate of the Muslim Bengali community living in Arakan”; it advocated forced relocation by demanding the government “remove some Bengali villages located near Sittwe University and beside traffic communication roads throughout Arakan State”; and it expresses opposition to any reintegration plans that would “put Buddhist and Muslim people together.” Furthermore, the statement called for a “peoples’ militia in all ethnic villages along the border and [for the government] to supply sophisticated arms to the people’s militia.” The statement called for strict adherence to the 1982 Citizenship Law, which effectively prevents Rohingya from obtaining Burmese citizenship. The Rathedaung statement was sent to President Thein Sein, leaders in parliament, and the presidential commission established to investigate the situation in Arakan State.

The statement also called on the Rakhine Buddhists in Rathedaung Township to avoid employing Rohingya in a range of jobs, including day laborers, carpenters, masons, and in farming. It also said that the Rohingya should not to be employed in government offices or by NGOs operating in the township, and that all NGOs providing aid to the Rohingya in the township must withdraw. On July 9, 2012 the monks' association in Mrauk-U (once the capital of Arakan) released a similar statement: “No Arakanese [Rakhine Buddhist] should sell any goods to Bengalis, hire Bengalis as workers, provide any food to Bengalis and have any dealings with them ...”

The ruling RNDP in the Rakhine state also played an instrumental role in stoking fear and encouraging isolation of and violence against the Rohingya. One of the racist provocateurs by the name of Aye Chan depicts Rohingya as ‘Influx Virus’ which needs extinction. Members of the Buddhist sangha and the RNDP have also called for changes to the demographic makeup of Arakan State and Burma, such as the expulsion of all Rohingya from the country, in interviews with the international media. The monk Sandarthiri likewise told BBC that Rohingya have no right to stay in Burma: “Around the world there are many Muslim countries. They should go there. The Muslim countries will take care of them. They should go to countries with the same religion.”

The RNDP leaders issued orders to the Rakhine people to deny food entering the Rohingya part of the villages. “If any food comes, take it, crush it, and destroy it” was a notice on the corner of the road in front of the food market with orders saying no one could allow any food to reach the Rohingya village. On that paper it said that any Buddhist taking money from the Rohingya for rice or other things would be killed.

The HRW report directly implicated "political and religious leaders in Arakan State" in the planning, organization, and incitement of attacks against the Rohingya and other Muslims in October of 2012.

Buddhist monks were again in the headlines in June 2013 when it was reported that participants at a monastic conference were preparing a draft law that would put severe restrictions on inter-faith marriage and penalize Muslim men who married Buddhist women without converting.

The fact-finding reports from multiple NGOs have confirmed what we suspected for a number of years about who these ‘hidden hands’ are that are responsible for genocidal crimes against Muslims and other vulnerable minorities inside Myanmar. It is high time for the world community, esp. the UNSC, to try these fascists in the ICC for their crimes against humanity for surely the strongest antidote to genocide is justice. And nothing will sober the culprits of Myanmarism except such punitive measures.


Sumber - Asian Tribune

Performance evaluation in civil service

Rabiatul Kamit
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

NO CIVIL servant or government agency will be spared from performance measurement and evaluation, cautioned the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) yesterday.

Dato Paduka Hj Abdul Wahab Juned said the Public Sector Performance Grading Programme (3PSA) will assess the performance of all public organisations including its personnel, strategic plans, succession plans and best practices among others.

The new programme was developed by the Management Services Department (MSD) to ensure high standards of governance in civil service towards achieving Vision 2035.

“These efforts cannot be delayed or neglected or dealt with procrastination, because it assesses and measures our performance in the public sector as a vehicle towards excellent service, which is embodied by a shift in mindset and absorption of positive mindset,” said the deputy minister.

He added that MSD “did not take shortcuts” in coming up with 3PSA as it was based on comparative studies, benchmarking and extensive consultation.

The state-level programme will be reviewed from time to time to ensure it has been implemented with success, while its requirements will be monitored and assessed on an ongoing basis including continued benchmarking and independent evaluation by an external body.

“There is no deadline for efforts like 3PSA, which becomes a vehicle for achieving excellence, as excellence is a moving target,” said Dato Hj Abdul Wahab at the launch of 3PSA at PMO.

He hoped the grading programme will be a platform that will serve as “a catalyst to holistically push the values of integrity, culture, practices and mindset from the status quo to an inclination towards the flow of challenging and dynamic development”.

“Take this as a strong resolve to call on all parties in civil service not to be satisfied and complacent with inferior standing,” he said, urging for positive change in the public sector.

In his speech, the deputy minister also voiced grave concerns over prevailing issues associated with the civil service such as the tardiness of civil servants arriving to work as well as the succession plan and performance assessment. “In matters such as these, parties of all levels must be honest and frank towards our actual problem instead of finding excuses or pointing fingers to other parties,” he said.

Citing a titah of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Dato Hj Abdul Wahab reiterated that civil servants must shift their mindset to think more positively.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

HAWA hulur sumbangan air mineral

Oleh Hajah Saemah Kepli

KUALA BELAIT, 27 Mac – Himpunan Wanita Parti Pembangunan Bangsa (HAWA NDP) hari ini telah menghulurkan sumbangan bantuan air mineral untuk diserahkan kepada Pos Kawalan Insiden di kawasan Jalan Pirau Mumong dekat sini.

Timbalan Ketua HAWA NDP Pusat Dayang Kartini Abd Manap menyerahkan sumbangan air mineral di Pos ICP hari ini

Bantuan tersebut yang antara lain bertujuan untuk bersama-sama memberikan sokongan kepada semua yang terlibat dalam Operasi Memadam Kebakaran Hutan berlaku di Daerah Belait telah disampaikan oleh Timbalan Ketua Himpunan Wanita Pusat NDP Dayang Kartini binti Abd Manap, diiringi bersama oleh Naib Ketua Badan Perhubungan NDP Daerah Belait Dayang Rosiah binti Alah.

Sumbangan tersebut juga merupakan salah satu aktiviti berkebajikan kumpulan tersebut melalui Projek Jejak Ehsan mereka yang dilaksanakan secara berterusan sepanjang tahun. Kotak-kotak air mineral itu diserahkan di Pos Kawalan Insiden dekat sini, yang telah diaktifkan ekoran kejadian kebakaran hutan yang berterusan di kawasan Pirau Seria sejak 23 Mac lalu melalui arahan Jawatankuasa Pengurusan Bencana Daerah Belait (DDMC Belait) yang dipengerusikan oleh Pegawai Daerah Belait Awang Haji Haris bin Othman pada hari yang sama.

DDMC diaktifkan bagi memastikan keselamatan orang awam dan juga pasukan bertindak kecemasan adalah terjamin, serta bagi mengawal kerosakan kepada alam sekitar dengan menggunakan kaedah dan sumber pemadam kebakaran yang bersesuaian.


Sumber - Media Permata

SURAT TERBUKA KEPADA UMAT ISLAM: “ISU HUDUD YANG DIKELIRUKAN”

Ditulis oleh ABDUL HADI AWANG

Saudara dan saudari yang dihormati,

Dengan rasa rendah diri, surat ini saya tujukan kepada semua umat Islam dengan semangat saling ingat memperingati sesama kita.

Ada dalam kalangan umat Islam yang memberi alasan bagi menolak usul persendirian berkaitan undang-undang jenayah dengan menggunakan beberapa perkataan yang berkaitan hukum Islam. Antaranya menyebut perkataan-perkataan seperti “Siyasah Syari’yyah”, “Maqasid Syari’ah”, “Fiqh Aulawiyyat”, “Maslahah” dan lain-lain.

Ketika membicarakan tajuk yang berat seperti ini, maka tentunya sangatlah tidak manis sekiranya kita menjadi laksana burung kakaktua yang pandai hanya menyebut kalimah yang diajar oleh tuannya, namun tetap berstatus binatang tanpa akal tanpa memahami hakikat atau tasawwur daripada perkataan yang diucap. Maka menjelaskan maknanya dengan ilmu yang bersumberkan al-Quran dan as-Sunnah adalah sangat penting.

“Hudud” adalah cabutan daripada salah satu daripada hukum jenayah yang banyak dan menyeluruh. Mungkin sengaja dijadikan hujah yang difikirkan bagi menolak syari’at. Mereka menganggap Hudud paling sesuai dijadikan sasaran kerana pandangan mereka paling ganas, tanpa mengetahui secara detail dan objektif. Tanpa menyedari pula betapa ganasnya undang-undang ciptaan manusia yang masih dibanggakan, seperti hukuman bunuh secara kuno : menjerut tali ke leher secara menggantung, begitu juga hukuman sebat sehingga menyeksa  tanpa kesan mendidik masyarakat.

Penjelasan ini khusus bagi penganut Islam yang jahil tanpa dimaafkan, kerana beriman tanpa ilmu dan tidak berbudiman terhadap agama sendiri, serta tanpa peduli terhadap batas-batas iman dan kufur yang wajib diketahui dan dipelihara secara fardu ‘ain.

Dr Yusuf al-Qardawi dalam kitabnya  تيسير الفقه للمسلم المعاصر  (Memudahkan kefahaman terhadap agama kepada Muslim Semasa atau terkini) di halaman 102 menjelaskan :

Terdapat tiga madrasah (pandangan) apabila menghadapi masalah semasa :

1- Kalangan yang berpegang kepada nas juzi’i yang zahir secara jumud tanpa menterjemahkannya secara ijtihad melalui ilmu Siyasah Syariyyah, Usul dan Maqasid.

2- Kalangan yang menyalahggunakan Siyasah Syariyyah, Usul dan Maqasid sehingga membelakangi nas yang nyata.

3- Kalangan yang mengambil kira kedua-dua aspek yang penting dalam ilmu Islam.

Nas yang nyata adalah ilmu Allah yang difirmankan atau ucapan Rasul S.A.W. yang bersifat ma’sum. Adapun yang lain dari nas yang nyata adalah keizinan Allah bagi ruang ijtihad di kalangan para ulama bagi melaksanakan syariat Islam dengan bijak dan adil, bukannya meninggal syariat Allah dengan alasan sehingga  boleh digantikan dengan undang-undang ciptaan manusia yang dianggap lebih baik.

1- Siyasah Syari’yyah

Perkataan  “siyasah” daripada bahasa Arab yang bermaksud mentadbir, mengurus dan memandu atau memimpin yang disebut terkini dengan perkataan politik atau pentadbiran atau panduan. Dicampur dengan perkataan Syara’ dengan maksud kaitannya dengan urusan pelaksanaan syariat mengikut jadual, pelaksanaan, dan pengurusan melaksanakan hukum Islam, bukannya meninggalkan hukum Islam untuk diganti dengan yang lain. (Sila lihat huraian secara khsus dalam kitab-kitab Ahkam Sultaniyyah Karangan  al-Mawardi dan Ghiyath al-Umam karangan Imam Haramain daripada Mazhab Syafie; al-Siyar al-Kabir daripada mazhab Hanafi; Siyasah Syariyyah Ibnu Taimiyyah dan Turuq Hukmiyyah Ibnu Qayyim  daripada mazhab Hambali dan Muqaddimah Ibnu Khaldun daripada mazhab Maliki).    

Tegasnya ialah melaksanakan Syariat dengan betul, bukannya meninggalkan Syariat Allah dengan gantian hukum yang lain.

2- Maqasid Syari’ah

“Maqasid” bermakna tujuan-tujuan, maksudnya ialah tujuan pelaksanaan syariat. Objektifnya ialah cara mencapai matlamat membawa maslahat kebaikan kepada manusia secara umum dan khusus secara adil dan istiqamah dan menolak kemudaratan. Di sini pula ada tujuan yang telah ditetapkan oleh syara’  dan ada juga yang tidak disebut di mana Allah memberi keizinan mengikut kemampuan akal dan ilmu manusia.

(Kepada yang mampu berbahasa Arab sila rujuk kepada dua tokoh ilmu Maqasid : Al Syatibi : Al Muwafaqat : J:2, muka surat 391. Ibnu ‘Asyur : muka surat 19)

Contohnya, apabila khalifah Umar R.A. tidak memotong tangan pencuri di tahun melesetnya ekonomi kerana berlakunya kemarau panjang, dan bukannya kerana meninggalkan hudud, tetapi disebabkan melihat keadaan desakan hidup apabila dibayar gaji yang tidak mencukupi, menjadikan seseorang itu melakukan jenayah secara terdesak. Maka kerana itu hukuman potong tangan adalah haram dilaksanakan, kerana Hadis Rasulullah S.A.W. : “Hukuman Hudud ditolak kerana adanya syubhat”.

Ditolak hukuman hudud ini pula bukan bermakna terlepas begitu sahaja. Tetapi hendaklah dipindahkan kepada hukuman takzir yang termasuk dalam ruang Syariat Islam. Hukuman hudud tidak boleh dijatuhkan kerana tidak memenuhi syarat yang mencapai adil dan mendidik masyarakat mengikut kemampuan. Mudarat daripada kemelesetan ekonomi yang menimpa penjenayah adalah lebih besar. Sebaliknya kalau pencuri itu seorang berpendapatan tinggi sudah tentu dihukumkan.    

Maqasid Syari’ah tidak bermakna membatalkan penguatkusaan undang-undang Hudud. Maqasid Syari’ah dalam hal ini bermakna hukuman tidak boleh dijatuhkan kerana menafikan tindakan secara adil yang menjadi matlamat syariat. Kalau dijatuhkan hukuman juga, bermakna kita tidak melaksanakan syariat kerana tidak mencapai matlamatnya. Meninggalkan syariat secara total menghilangkan segala maqasidnya.

Contohnya juga ialah mengenai kalimah Allah dibenarkan penggunaannya pada asalnya oleh penganut bukan Islam walau pun salah mengikut penafsiran kita, tetapi apabila tujuan penggunaannya bagi mengelirukan penganut Islam yang jahil, maka pihak berkuasa berkenaan agama Islam berhak menghalangnya . Mengikut  Qaedah  الأمور بمقاصدها  (Semua perkara dilihat juga kepada tujuannya).

3- Fiqh Aulawiyyat 

Bermaksud melihat keutamaan secara fiqh (faham mengikut panduan Syariat).

Contohnya Islam meletakkan perkara keperluan rukun hidup bagi manusia ialah memelihara (1) Aqidah agama, (2) Nyawa, (3) Akal, (4) Keturunan dan (5) Harta.

Contohnya tidak dijatuhkan hukuman hudud terhadap pencuri kerana lapar adalah kerana keutamaan memelihara nyawa hendaklah didahulukan daripada memelihara harta. Hukuman hudud ditangguh dalam keadaan perang kerana menghalang penjenayah melarikan diri kepada musuh, kerana keselamatan negara diutamakan. Bukan bermakna penjenayah dibebaskan, tetapi diturunkan kepada hukuman takzir.

Orang bukan Islam dikecualikan dahulu kerana berdakwah dalam konsep tiada paksaan dalam agama adalah lebih aulawiyyat.

Contohnya juga seperti pengambilan tanah untuk mendirikan hospital atau jalan raya adalah diizinkan kerana kepentingan umum hendaklah didahulukan daripada kepentingan individu atau segelintir, dan hendaklah diganti tanah itu secara yang adil pula.

“Aulawiyyat” itu pula hendaklah dalam ruang lingkup hukum syariat terlebih dahulu, bukannya bermakna meninggalkan hukum syariat.

Apabila segala syarat tidak ada bagi hukum Hudud dan Qisas maka hendaklah dipilih dalam ruang hukum takzir yang sangat luas.

Bukannya melarikan diri kepada hukum ciptaan Barat yang banyak kelemahannya. Perlu disedari bahawa di sana ada juga tidak yang sama dengan undang – undang yang sedia ada, perbezaannya tidak ada roh seperti syariat Islam.

(Sila lihat Dr Yusuf Al Qardhawi dalam Siyasah Syariayyah halaman 284-297)

4- Maslahah

“Maslahah” dengan maksud tujuan membawa kebaikan. Sama ada mendapat faedah atau menolak kemudaratan.

Para ulama membahagikan maslahat itu kepada tiga kedudukan :


1- Maslahah Mu’atabarah 

Ialah dalam perkara yang telah ditetap oleh Allah Yang Maha Mengetahui dan Rahmat terhadap makhluknya. Maka ada yang diwajibkan dan ada pula yang diharamkan. Maka percayalah bahawa semua yang diwajibkan tetap membawa kebaikan dunia dan akhirat. Perkara yang diharamkan tetap mendatang mudarat kepada diri atau masyarakat. Contohnya ialah seperti wajibnya berpuasa kepada yang mampu dan haramnya arak dan judi. Ianya adalah ketetapan Allah SWT.

2- Maslahah Mulghah

Dalam perkara yang diharamkan kerana mudaratnya lebih besar atau manfaatnya tidak ada .Contohnya seorang yang mencuri atau merompak atau mengedar dadah dengan maslahat mengumpul duit untuk kebajikan atau nafkah keluarga. Maslahat ini dibatalkan kerana mudaratnya sangat besar sehingga menimbus segala kebaikannya.

3- Maslahah mursalah atau Masoleh mursalah 

Dalam perkara yang didiamkan oleh al-Quran dan Hadis maka ruangnya adalah terlalu luas kepada manusia di sepanjang zaman.

Melaksanakan Syariat adalah maslahah yang telah ditetapkan oleh Allah Yang Maha Mengetahui dan Penyayang kepada makhluknya.


Isu Enakmen Kanun Jenayah Syariat (KJS) Negeri Kelantan 

Isu undang-undang  jenayah Syariat menjadi hangat sejak kedatangan penjajah apabila mereka menghapuskannya. Seterusnya menjadi hangat di kalangan umat Islam sendiri kerana kejahilan agama dan pendekatan, sehingga berlakunya isu kafir mengafir dalam masyarakat sendiri kerana kejahilan hukum dan kejahilan  cara pendekatan berdakwah.

Apabila keadaan dapat diredakan, maka PAS mengambil langkah ke depan melalui kemenangannya di Kelantan, kemudiannya di Terengganu secara ilmu dan demokratik.

Langkah pertama ialah menubuhkan pasukan daripada Parti dan kerajaan. Pasukan ini melibatkan Ketua Dewan Ulama dan kalangan ahli majlis Syura Ulama, Tun Salleh Abas (Mantan Ketua Hakim Negara), al-Marhum Prof Ahmad Ibrahim salah seorang pengasas UIA (mantan Ahli Jawatankuasa PAS Pusat tahun lima puluhan daripada Singapura dan mantan Peguam Negara Singapura yang pertama), al-Marhum Dr Mahmud Saedon Awang Othman dari UIA dan Pakar Syariah Negara Brunei Darussalam, al-marhum Datuk Abdul Halim Muhammad mantan Penasihat undang-undang negeri Kelantan dan Exco kerajaan negeri, dan Datuk Daud Mohamad Kadi Besar negeri Kelantan.

Sebelum enakmen ini dibawa kepada DUN Negeri Kelantan, ianya terlebih dahulu dibentangkan kepada umum di berbagai forum – seminar dan dialog. Akhirnya enakmen berkenaan dibawa ke Dewan Undangan Negeri Kelantan pada tahun 1993 dan DUN Terengganu pada tahun 2000. Manakala Kelantan pula memperkukuhkannya secara mengadakan seminar dan sambutan mengenainya secara tahunan.

Kini setelah lebih dari 20 tahun (dua puluh tahun) PAS memperkenalkan enakmen ini, di samping melaksanakan proses pendidikan mengenai KJS dalam masyarakat, dialog dan sebagainya, maka PAS ingin bergerak setapak lagi dalam proses mendidik masyarakat untuk mengenali hukum-hakam syariat Islam yang menyeluruh. Hasilnya kini suara yang mengeji hukum Islam ini semakin hari menjadi terpencil.

Maka dengan sedikit ruang yang ada ini, Enakmen KJS ini mengalami beberapa pindaan- pindaan memperkemaskannya dengan mengambil kira cabaran dalam perlembagaan dan masyarakat majmuk, tanpa paksaan, dan bagi orang Islam sahaja setelah mengambil kira pandangan para ulama daripada semua mazhab dan sejarah pelaksanaan yang berjaya di sepanjang zaman.

Dalam masa yang sama, apa yang ingin dicadang dan akan dibawa oleh PAS menerusi Private Members Bill nanti pula bukanlah rang undang-undang hudud, tetapi pindaan dalam akta Mahkamah Syariah untuk membuka sedikit ruang bagi membolehkan satu-dua aspek syariah itu dilaksanakan terhadap penganut Islam sahaja.

Kita adalah makhluk yang berilmu, bertamadun dan matang. Maka dengarlah dahulu apa yang ingin dikemukakan. Jangan terus melompat dan bertempik gegak gempita memberikan kritikan tanpa mengetahui hujung pangkalnya.

Firman Allah:

(Dan hendaklah kamu melaksanakan kalangan mereka hukum yang telah diturunkan oleh Allah, dan jangan sekali-kali engkau mengikut hawa nafsu mereka (meninggalkan hukum Allah) sehingga engkau meninggalkan sebahagian daripada apa yang telah diturunkan oleh Allah kepadamu. Maka jika sekiranya mereka berpaling (enggan) maka ketahuilah bahawa sesungguhnya Allah hendak mengenakan mereka dengan sebab sebahagian daripada dosa-dosa mereka. Dan sesungguhnya sebahagian daripada manusia itu adalah orang-orang yang jahat. Adakah mereka mahukan hukum jahiliyyah, padahal siapakah lagi yang paling baik hukumnya daripada Allah kepada orang-orang yang percaya dengan yakin).

Semoga semua kita mendapat manfaatnya dan mencapai keredhaan Allah SWT.


Saudaramu dalam Islam,

ABDUL HADI AWANG

PRESIDEN PAS


Sumber - Laman Web Rasmi PAS Pusat

ADB report: Brunei must improve business environment

Azlan Othman

ACCORDING to the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Outlook 2015 report released yesterday, Brunei Darussalam’s economy performed well in 2014.

But declining hydrocarbon production has weighed on Brunei’s economy. The gross domestic product (GDP) has contracted for two years and is projected to contract further this year. Consumer prices are forecast to ease for a second straight year. Growth in sectors unconnected to energy indicates that the country is making gradual progress towards broadening its economic base.

The report also said Brunei’s GDP growth is expected to slow down to -1.5 per cent in 2015. However for 2016, ADB anticipates Brunei’s GDP growth to rise to 0.8 per cent.

The ADB report added, subdued production and the impact of lower global prices for hydrocarbons will likely see GDP contract in 2015 before a slight rebound in 2016, assuming that some recovery in oil and gas output will occur.

Accurate forecasting is hampered by uncertainty over the timing of oil and gas production from new fields and of stoppages for maintenance of wells and pipelines. Prospects for growth also depend on the timing of several large construction projects.

The biggest is an oil refinery and aromatics cracker planned for Pulau Muara Besar with capacity to produce 160,000 barrels a day of petroleum products for domestic use and for export.

Also last year, investors from China signed a land-lease agreement with Brunei to build a $50 million carbon steel pipe factory. This plant is scheduled to start operating in 2017, with the capacity to produce 100,000 tonnes per year of welded rounding carbon steel pipes for the oil and gas and construction industries.

A company from South Korea signed a non-binding agreement to build a $107 million plant to produce 120,000 tonnes per year of aluminium billet casting and 48,000 tonnes per year of aluminium extrusions, mainly for export.

These projects are part of the government’s strategy to diversify the economy through export-oriented manufacturing and services. The government intends to build bridges, roads, and utilities for the projects.

However, the government has also signalled that its expenditure in the financial year 2015 is constrained by the slide in revenue from oil and gas. The budget is expected to fall into deficit before accounting for income from investments.

Consumer prices are forecast to decline marginally again this year, despite a recent uptick in prices and the potential for further depreciation of the Brunei dollar against the US dollar.

The report added, in 2016, prices are seen edging higher as domestic demand improves and global commodity prices turn up. Weak global oil and gas prices are projected to lower export receipts again in 2015.

Next year, rising oil prices and the anticipated pickup in oil production will see exports start to recover. Imports, too, are expected to decline in 2015 but bounce back in 2016 if substantial construction gets under way on proposed projects. Nevertheless, exports will still comfortably exceed imports to maintain substantial trade and current account surpluses.

The report added, heavy reliance on oil and gas sector leaves the economy vulnerable to swings in global energy demand and to the gradual depletion of hydrocarbon reserves. Aiming to diversify the economy, the government has identified certain industries and provides incentives to draw foreign investment to develop export-oriented businesses.

This includes petrochemicals, Halal products, information and communications, Islamic financial services, and aviation and oilfield support services. Incentives include the provision of land and infrastructure, liberal trade and labour policies, competitively priced utilities, and tax breaks.

From 2015, the government has cut the corporate tax rate to 18.5 per cent, abolished corporate tax for small businesses, and increased tax breaks for investment in plant, machinery, and industrial buildings.

Investments made and planned by foreign companies indicate, along with the gradual expansion of the domestic private sector, that the strategy is achieving some success. Nevertheless, more could be done. Brunei Darussalam is ranked near the middle of 189 countries in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business 2015, putting it above Indonesia but well below Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, and also under the Philippines and Vietnam.

Improving the business environment is key to attracting new investment and diversifying the economy, the report concluded.


Sumber - Borneo Bulletin Online

Project ‘unpopular’ among Kg Ayer folks

Aziz Idris

ONLY 60 out of the 135 families have agreed to proceed with the Phase Two of the revitalisation project for Kampong Ayer residents, as part of an initiative to revive the Bruneian heritage in the Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB) Development Master Plan.

This observation was made by Minister of Home Affairs, YB Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman on the final day of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Meeting yesterday.

The minister explained that the number showed that the project was not popular among residents.

He was doubtful whether this project should be continued or be allowed to be part of the master plan.

He said authorities must first clearly identify the benefits to the Kg Ayer community.

The Phase Two received an allocation of $26.33 million, involving 548 residents and 135 families – 129 families from Mukim Saba and six families from Kampong Peramu.

Apart from the construction of houses, the project also involves the building of an integrated connecting platform, an open area, an electric sub-station, a fire preventive system, sewerage system and water piping system.

The project is aimed at enhancing the cultural features and improving the development and structure of the Bruneian landmark.

The minister also noted several other projects within the BSB Development Master Plan, including the proposal to rebuild the existing 12 shop houses along Jalan Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien, Bumiputera Commercial Trade Centre and two multi-storey car park buildings.

The unit shop houses are set to be revamped to ensure the properties along the road are “more attractive” for businesses and investors.

Open invitation for the proposal to invest, build and operate the units has been offered to interested parties and Request for Proposal (RFP) documents have been sent out.

To conclude, the minister painted the picture of Sg Kedayan promenade, which falls under Zone A of the eco-corridor project.

The Riverfront Eco-Corridor project under the BSB Development Master Plan received of a total of $40 million.

“The first stage will involve the demolishing of vacant houses, followed by other houses once occupants have been relocated to government-provided accommodation,” said the minister.


Sumber - Borneo Bulletin

Kadar obesiti negara antara yang tertinggi

Oleh Sim Y. H.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 23 Mac – Negara Brunei Darussalam mempunyai kadar berat badan berlebihan dan obesiti di antara yang tertinggi di rantau ASEAN, dan ia bukanlah sesuatu yang dapat dibanggakan malahan amatlah merisaukan serta harus membuka mata semua pihak untuk mengambil tindakan segera dengan tegas dan serius dalam menangani cabaran itu.

Menteri Kesihatan, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd Yusof (gambar) menyatakan perkara ini dalam ucapan penangguhannya di Majlis Mesyuarat Negara yang bersidang pada hari ke-13 di Bangunan Dewan Majlis, hari ini.

Yang Berhormat Pehin mengongsikan hasil Kaji Selidik Kebangsaan Status Kesihatan dan Pemakanan menunjukkan bahawa kadar berat badan berlebihan dan obesiti dalam kalangan orang dewasa telah meningkat daripada 44.4 peratus pada 1997 kepada 60.6 peratus pada 2011.

Manakala itu, mengikut kaji selidik Global School Health Survey 2014, baru-baru ini, di Brunei, kadar berat badan berlebihan dan obesiti dalam kalangan penuntut atau remaja berumur di antara 13 hingga 15 tahun adalah 36.1 peratus.

“Salah satu faktor risiko yang paling membimbangkan adalah kadar obesiti yang telah meningkat di kalangan masyarakat di Negara Brunei Darussalam.”

Yang Berhormat Pehin turut mengongsikan hasil dapatan mengenai trend peningkatan penyakit-penyakit tidak berjangkit seperti kanser, penyakit jantung, kencing manis atau diabetes dan serebrovaskular atau strok yang mana penyakit-penyakit itu adalah penyebab kematian utama di Negara Brunei Darussalam.

“Pada tahun 2013, jumlah mereka yang meninggal dunia akibat penyakit kronik dan penyakit-penyakit tidak berjangkit seramai 762 orang iaitu 54.4 peratus kematian daripada jumlah keseluruhan kematian seramai 1,400 orang di negara ini.”

Jumlah itu, tambah beliau lagi, adalah termasuk penyakit buah pinggang yang merupakan komplikasi akibat penyakit-penyakit tidak berjangkit yang tidak terkawal.

Beliau berkata lagi, faktor risiko yang menyebabkan penyakit-penyakit tidak berjangkit termasuk penyakit buah pinggang telah terbukti dan tidak dapat dipertikaikan di peringkat global adalah seperti obesiti, pemakanan tidak sihat dan tidak seimbang, kurang kegiatan fizikal dan merokok.

Oleh itu, beliau menegaskan bahawa isu kesihatan itu harus ditangani bersama dengan penuh keazaman dan komitmen oleh semua pihak termasuk agensi-agensi kerajaan, pihak swasta, institusi pendidikan, pertubuhan bukan kerajaan (NGO), pemimpin-pemimpin peringkat akar umbi, semua lapisan masyarakat dan bukan sahaja dipertanggungjawabkan semata-mata kepada Kementerian Kesihatan.

Orang ramai adalah disarankan untuk memanfaatkan sebaik-baiknya dengan melibatkan diri dalam apa jua aktiviti dan program promosi kesihatan di samping menggunakan kemudahan-kemudahan kesihatan yang disediakan oleh Kerajaan Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam sepertimana jua Perkhidmatan Klinik Pemeriksaan Kesihatan (Health Screening Clinic) di kesemua pusat-pusat kesihatan di seluruh negara terutama sekali mereka yang berumur 40 tahun ke atas.

Menteri Kesihatan, bagaimanapun, melahirkan rasa kecewa kerana didapati sambutan bagi perkhidmatan itu kurang menggalakkan dan sekali lagi menyeru kepada orang ramai dan para pemimpin akar umbi supaya menggalakkan masyarakat setempat untuk datang mendapatkan perkhidmatan pemeriksaan kesihatan (health screening) bagi mendukung usaha memperkesankan lagi langkah-langkah pencegahan dan pengawalan penyakit-penyakit tidak berjangkit.

Dalam pada itu, Yang Berhormat Pehin turut mengongsikan hasil kajian Projek Pelan Induk Sistem dan Infrastruktur Kesihatan, Negara Brunei Darussalam yang menunjukkan bahawa unjuran peruntukan kewangan bagi penjagaan kesihatan yang diperlukan dianggarkan akan meningkat daripada lingkungan $380 juta setahun kepada lebih $940 juta setahun dalam tempoh 20 tahun akan datang iaitu jika perubahan serta pengukuhan sistem penjagaan kesihatan negara secara lebih efektif tidak diambil perhatian dan tindakan serius.

“Ini termasuklah juga strategi pengurusan penjagaan kesihatan dan sikap lebih bertanggungjawab individu dan masyarakat terhadap penjagaan kesihatan masing-masing.”


Sumber - Media Permata

Oil doesn’t determine country’s welfare, says representative

Danial Norjidi

AS THE 11th Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting drew to a conclusion yesterday, LegCo members delivered their closing remarks.

In his closing remarks, YB Awang Haji Zulkipli bin Haji Abdul Hamid spoke on how the country’s economy faces challenges, with the global oil prices having fallen 50 per cent since last year, considering that oil and gas represents more than 90 per cent of the Brunei’s exports.

However, we should not assume that the oil determines the country’s welfare, he said. “We should learn that among the richest and most developed countries in the world are those that either do not possess or possess very little natural resources.”

“We must take a positive approach and understand the challenges faced during this time as an opportunity to change the situation in a better direction,” he said.

“In the face of the current economic climate is not only the challenge of the government’s financial deficit but also a knowledge deficit, which is in greater need of attention and action.”

He highlighted that the country needs to have the ability to acquire and generate knowledge for improving and moving towards a knowledge-based economy.

Towards this, the country needs quality human capital that is knowledgeable and skilled. He asserted the need to enhance the capacity of Brunei’s human capital in a focused and continuous way.

“The country’s human capital will be the deciding factor of our future prosperity and will allow the country to contribute high added value to the global value chain and the world economy, which will take the country forward and contribute to human development.”

Brunei’s human capital is its most important asset that will be able to shape a brighter and more resilient future, he added.

On his third point, he spoke on the need to put more confidence and belief in our own people to contribute towards the country’s development and progress.

“If not our own people, then who else?” he asked.

Meanwhile, YB Datin Paduka Dayang Hajah Zasia binti Sirin in her closing remarks referred to the point of developing a positive mindset among the people of this country as mentioned in the titah of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam during the opening day of the 11th Legislative Council meeting.

She highlighted that creating this positive mindset “is the responsibility of all parties entrusted as leaders at all levels, including managers, administrators and so on, including, without limitation, members of the Legislative Council in this hall, because we all have been mandated to serve the people and residents categories of various roles.”

YB Awang Haji Ramli bin Haji Lahit, in his closing remarks, spoke in regards to diversifying and developing the economy outside of oil and gas, saying that the agricultural and agrifood sectors along with the tourism industry can be major contributors.

In Tutong, there are many large enterprises being run, such as the farming of shrimp, fish, poulty, quales, buffaloes and goats, as well as fruits and paddy. In addition, the district has a food and beverage processing plant, he said.

“If all these products can be combined in a planned and systematic way, the Tutong district can become a halal hub,” he said.

He noted that the construction of new centres is concentrated in the Brunei-Muara district due to the ease of connectivity with centres administration.

“I hope that this halal hub can be built in the rural areas that are large in Tutong, as this will indirectly promote the area and spur population growth while also providing employment opportunities to the residents of the district.”

He also went on to highlight that the tourism sector can help diversify the economy because it can serve as a way of boosting the market for foreign exchange and promote the products of this country internationally, while also making Brunei a holiday destination that can create more employment opportunities.

“Therefore, if the essential products are assisted, developed and improved, the tourism sector will be able to prove lucrative to the country,” he said.

As examples, he suggested improving the elements of arts and culture in tribal villages, Kampong Ayer, at long houses and also at homestays. He also suggested enhancing and adding to heritage items at museums and galleries.

Ecotourism, however, is the most exciting field in which to develop the country’s tourism sector, he added.


Sumber - Borneo Bulletin