Myanmar’s Rohingya left behind by election gains: UN

Rohingya Muslim men gather near a window of a mosque at Thet Kel Pyin
village near Sittwe of Rakhine State, western Myanmar.

Yangon

MYANMAR’S persecuted Rohingya continue to languish in “dreadful conditions” with children dying because they are refused healthcare, the UN has warned, adding that the Muslim minority risked being forgotten in the afterglow of recent elections.

The comments were made by a senior UN official following a visit to western Rakhine state, where the Rohingya have been targeted by violent attacks and state-sanctioned discrimination in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, earning a reputation as one of the world’s most persecuted peoples.

More than 100,000 Rohingya are languishing in camps in Myanmar’s west after communal unrest in Rahkine state left villages torched and scores dead in 2012.

They are denied full citizenship and large numbers were disenfranchised in historic November polls that saw the pro-democracy party of Aung San Suu Kyi sail to victory with a massive popular mandate.

John Ging, director of operations at the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), said he was shocked to see the state of the refugee camps during his February visit.

He described a raft of temporary shelters on the verge of collapse, and told familiar stories of families denied medical care on account of their religion.

“It was heartbreaking to see so many children in these dreadful conditions,” he said in a statement from New York on Tuesday.

“One mother told me that her baby, less than a month old, died from lack of oxygen in December after she was denied access to treatment at the nearby township hospital,” he added.

In an accompanying statement, UNOCHA stressed that the Rohingya and other groups displaced by violence “must not be forgotten” as the country advances towards democracy.

“Myanmar is going through an impressive democratic transformation, which is unlocking significant economic growth and development. However, not everyone in Myanmar is benefiting in this transition,” the agency went on to say.

Though Suu Kyi has said she will protect Muslims in the state, the Nobel laureate has faced international criticism for not taking a stronger stance on the Rohingya’s plight, and for failing to field any Muslim candidates in November’s polls.

Carving out a solution for the Rohingya and addressing strident anti-Muslim rhetoric among Buddhist nationalists across the country will be a key test of her administration.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Philippine officials say China blocked access to disputed South China Sea atoll

China sent several ships to a disputed atoll in the South China Sea, preventing Filipino fishermen from accessing traditional fishing grounds and raising tensions in the volatile region, Philippine officials said on Wednesday.

Soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy patrol at Woody Island, in the
Paracel Archipelago, which is known in China as the Xisha Islands, January 29, 2016.

MANILA: China sent several ships to a disputed atoll in the South China Sea, preventing Filipino fishermen from accessing traditional fishing grounds and raising tensions in the volatile region, Philippine officials said on Wednesday.

China had sent as many as seven ships to Quirino Atoll, also known as Jackson Atoll, in recent weeks, said Eugenio Bito-onon Jr, the mayor of nearby Pagasa Island in the Spratly Islands.

The Spratlys are the most contested archipelago in the South China Sea, a resource-rich region and critical shipping lane linking North Asia to Europe, South Asia and the Middle East.

"This is very alarming, Quirino is on our path when we travel from Palawan to Pagasa. It is halfway and we normally stop there to rest," Bito-onon told Reuters.

"I feel something different. The Chinese are trying to choke us by putting an imaginary checkpoint there. It is a clear violation of our right to travel, impeding freedom of navigation," he said.

In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said China's Ministry of Transport had sent vessels to tow a grounded foreign ship and they had since left the surrounding waters.

"To guarantee safety of navigation and of work conditions, China urged fishing vessels near the site to leave," Hong said, adding that China had indisputable sovereignty over the atoll.

The Philippines Foreign Ministry said Chinese coast guard vessels had been seen at the atoll two weeks ago but were not in the area on Wednesday.

"The Department is monitoring reports on the situation on the ground and reiterates its call for China to exercise self-restraint from the conduct of activities that could complicate or escalate disputes in the South China Sea and affect peace and stability in the region," the ministry said in a statement.

TENSIONS ON THE RISE

Earlier, the Philippine military said it was looking into the situation around Jackson Atoll, where a Chinese warship allegedly fired warning shots at Filipino fishermen in 2011.

"We know there are Chinese ships moving around the Spratly area," spokesman Brigadier-General Restituto Padilla told Reuters. "There are also ships around Second Thomas Shoal, so we want to make sure if the presence is permanent."

A spokesman for the U.S. State Department said it was trying to confirm the latest reported incident.

Mark Toner told a regular news briefing that the United States, a treaty ally of the Philippines that has repeatedly expressed concerns about Beijing's methods in pursuit of maritime claims, did not want to China using its ships "to intimidate ... fishing vessels in that region."

Second Thomas Shoal is where the Philippine navy has been occupying and reinforcing a rusting ship it ran aground in 1999 to bolster its claims to the disputed reef.

A military source from Palawan said a surveillance plane had seen four to five ships in the vicinity of Jackson Atoll last week.

"There are no indications China will build structures or develop it into an island," said the source, who was not authorised to speak to the media about the South China Sea.

The Philippines Star newspaper, which earlier reported the story, quoted an unidentified fisherman as saying Chinese boats chased them away when they tried to enter the area last week.

Along with China and the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims on the waters, through which about US$5 trillion in trade is shipped every year.

Tensions have been building recently, with the United States and others expressing concerns about China's land reclamation in the Spratly Islands and deployment of surface-to-air missiles and fighter jets in the Paracel Islands.

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter warned China on Tuesday against what he called "aggressive" actions in the region, saying there would be "specific consequences" to militarization of the South China Sea.

In response, Hong urged Washington on Wednesday to "stop exaggerating and sensationalising" the issue.

For its part, Beijing has been angered by "freedom of navigation" air and sea patrols the United States has conducted near the islands it claims in the South China Sea and says it needs military facilities for its self defence.


Sumber - Channel NewsAsia

Malaysia's Petronas to cut 1,000 jobs; reports fourth-quarter loss of 4.69 billion ringgit

Petronas reported a fourth-quarter net loss of $1.6 billion

Kuala Lumpur (AFP) - Malaysian state energy firm Petronas said Tuesday (March 1) it expects to cut about 1,000 jobs as it struggles with plunging global oil prices that have hammered the energy-dependent country.

The company, the single largest source of Malaysian government revenue and national export earnings, said the layoffs would take place over the next six months.

"Exhaustive efforts are ongoing to redeploy affected employees," the company said in a statement.

On Monday (Feb 29) Petronas reported a fourth-quarter net loss of 4.69 billion ringgit (S$1.6 billion).

The unlisted Petronas, Malaysia's only Fortune 500 company, also announced cuts in capital and operating spending of 50 billion ringgit over the next four years, starting with 15 to 20 billion in 2016.

Petronas is not the only firm to suffer from sinking prices of oil and other commodities, which have battered Malaysia's growth prospects.

Sime Darby Bhd, the world's biggest listed palm oil producer, last Wednesday (Feb 24) announced a 38 per cent plunge in second-quarter profit due to weak commodity prices and China's slowdown.

Full-year growth for Malaysia in 2015 was at five per cent, down from six per cent in 2014.

The government now expects economic growth of 4 to 4.5 per cent this year, down from an earlier projection of five per cent.


Sumber - The Straits Times

Minimum wage issue remains on back burner

BT Reporters
Brunei-Muara

MINIMUM wage seems to be a touchy subject among the public with both government and private sector institutions opting to put it aside rather than deal with it once and for all.

The subject cropped up way back in 2010, changed hands over two ministers and six years later, none seem to be the wiser on this subject.

In April 2015, the Department of Labour said there is no specific law governing minimum wage in Brunei that applies to local or foreign workers, and wages are normally set by mutual agreement (offer and acceptance) between employers and employees.

Meanwhile, Rozan Yunos in his blog The Daily Brunei Resources said that relations between employers and employees in Brunei are generally good with labour disputes being rare, despite there being no minimum wage legislation.

It was previously reported that in the private sector, the most common argument against having a minimum wage is that it might to impede business growth, especially among small enterprises.

A local restaurateur (who wished to remain anonymous) said that costs for him would increase, if his employees qualified for a minimum wage.

“As a small business that does not make much, I would have three choices.

“One, to downsize my business and move to a smaller place; two, to increase my prices; and if increasing prices pushed customers away, my other option would be to close down,” the restaurateur said.

Hazeerah Hj Othman, a private school teacher, said that the development of the country had to be considered, when discussing minimum wage.

“The economic implications could be serious, and the government has to decide if it is willing to bear these implications. If a minimum wage is set at a point where businesses do not see a viable profit because of higher employment costs, they will not invest,” she said.

Hazeerah said all businesses would be more than likely to adapt and push costs onto consumers with higher prices if minimum wage is in place.

“So in this way, society is still affected as a whole,” she said.

To paint a better picture of earnings within the private sector, The Brunei Times interviewed an array of low-income earners — both local and foreign.

A security guard from J-Guard security services company said he and his colleagues were currently earning $500 a month for eight-hour work shifts.

Sometimes, they would work overtime for extra money, which is about two dollars an hour, he said.

“For those who are still single and have no family to support, what we currently earn is fine, and reasonable but for those with families to support, it is not enough.

“They have to pay for the car, fuel, food and clothing for their families and themselves, among other things, so $500 a month is simply not enough for a family breadwinner,” he said.

Bibi, who is an employee at a supermarket in Gadong, said that her monthly pay of $433 was spent primarily on paying for her car and petrol, as well as food.

Although she stays at her parents' house and does not have to spend any of her monthly income on housing expenses, the sales assistant said she still does not have anything left to save at the end of each month.

On the foreign labour side, an Indonesian maid who just wants to be identified as Nurbaya, said that although she likes her job here and her employer is kind, she may not renew her contract in June. She requested for an increase under the new contract for the next two years, but her employer has yet to give a response.

Under her first contract from 2011 to 2013 she received a monthly payment of $280. The employer then raised it to $320 in her second contract. As per her own request, she said, she only collects her salaries every five or six month from her employer. To give example, every five month she will ask for $1,000 or so and sends the money home.

“I don’t send the money every month because I want to save the money used for transaction fee which is required in every time we use the remittance services,” she said.

An Indonesian national labourer at a newly-constructed school said his current daily wage of $18 is just enough for him but would not be enough for a married man.

The 25-year-old spends almost half of his monthly income to support his family in Indonesia while he spends the leftovers for his needs, such as food and toiletries.

He believes local construction workers will struggle if they are working in the construction industry as they will have more responsibilities in the country.

“Minimum wage is important for the locals here because they will have families and other responsibilities so they will need more income, especially for their hard work in supporting their families,” he said.

The necessity for a minimum wage is not really felt in the public sector as its salary packages are set on a pay grade but within the private sector, a defined salary scale could possibly attract more locals to the fore.

In 2014 the Home Affairs ministry’s introduced the ‘Fair package’ paper which addresses the low wages of local employees and differences in benefits packages for local and foreign staff, proposes to balance out the differences.

It was said that local private sector employees will be able to earn and enjoy the same benefits that their foreign counterparts get if stakeholders and employers adapt the paper. To date, very little has been made public to that effect.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

KDYMM: Buat bersungguh-sungguh

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 28 Feb – Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam bertitah mengingatkan bahawa penggubalan Akta Kanun Hukuman Jenayah Syariah (CPC) bukan perkara yang main-main tetapi harus dibuat semata-mata kerana Allah, bukan untuk glamor.

Penggubalannya juga mesti dibuat dengan bersungguh-sungguh untuk mengelak tanggapan Akta Kanun Hukuman Jenayah Syariah sebagai tidak berharga di mata mekanisma undang-undang yang ada.

Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia bertitah demikian ketika berkenan berangkat ke Mesyuarat Khas Majlis Ugama Islam Brunei (MUIB) di Bangunan Dewan Majlis, Jalan Dewan Majlis, di sini.

Turut mengiringi keberangkatan Baginda ialah Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, Menteri Kanan di Jabatan Perdana Menteri.

Dalam mesyuarat berkenaan, Baginda ingin mengetahui status semasa CPC Syariah, berapa banyak fasa pembangunan yang ada dan berapa banyak yang telah pun dilaksanakan.

Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia ketika berkenan bertitah dalam keberangkatan ke Mesyuarat
Khas Majlis Ugama Islam Brunei (MUIB), di Bangunan Dewan Majlis, Jalan Dewan Majlis.

“Fasa pertama, Akta Kanun Hukuman Jenayah Syariah telah pun dikuatkuasakan pada 1 Mei 2014. Kemudian untuk fasa kedua dapat dilaksanakan, kita mesti pula menunggu 12 bulan lagi dari tarikh CPC atau Perintah Kanun Peraturan Jenayah Syariah diwartakan.

“Sekarang masa sudah pun berlalu dua tahun, namun CPC Syariah belum juga diwartakan. Bahkan setakat itu, drafnya pun belum lagi disemak. Bererti, jika ia siap dan diwartakan pada tahun 2016 ini, maka kita akan menunggu pula setahun lagi, iaitu pada tahun 2017 barulah fasa kedua ini dapat dilaksanakan.

“Sementara bagi fasa ketiga pula akan menunggu lagi sehingga ke tahun 2018. Sudahlah tempoh menunggu bagi setiap masa untuk dapat dilaksanakan terlalu panjang, iaitu selama 12 bulan, ditambah lagi membawa lebih lambat ialah penyemakan draf CPC Syariah tidak dibuat dengan sepatutnya. Jadi sampai bilakah lagi Akta Kanun Hukuman Jenayah Syar’iah itu akan dapat dilaksanakan sepenuhnya,” tegas baginda.

Baginda turut mempersoalkan mengapakah para penyemak draf tidak dapat menyemaknya dengan segera, adakah betul tidak dapat menyemaknya dengan segera atau sengaja tidak mahu menyemaknya.

“Sekali lagi beta bertanya, mana menteri dan mana peguam negara? Tidakkah mereka mahu menyubuk-nyubuk di mana kerja itu dibuat oleh pegawai dan kakitangan mereka,” tegas Baginda.

Baginda bertitah menegaskan bahawa kerja kerana Allah tidak boleh tidak, mestilah dibuat dengan bersungguh-sungguh.

Titah Baginda lagi, pelan strategik Kementerian Hal Ehwal Ugama meliputi objektif misi dan visi kementerian. Semua itu akan memperkasa formaliti dan amalan Islam sebagai satu cara hidup yang lengkap untuk mencapai Negara Zikir; menyokong dan memulihara formaliti Islam serta untuk membangunkan Islam melalui dasar-dasar dan pentadbiran yang berkesan dan dinamik untuk pembangunan dan kemakmuran negara berdasarkan Undang-undang Syariah, perlembagaan negara, undang-undang dan falsafah Melayu Islam Beraja.

“Bercakap tentang undang-undang, di hadapan kita sekarang ialah CPC Syariah,” titah Baginda.

Mesyuarat dimulakan dengan bacaan Surah Al-Fatihah dan doa selamat yang dipimpin oleh Mufti Kerajaan, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr.) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned diikuti dengan sembah alu-aluan oleh Menteri Hal Ehwal Ugama, Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, selaku Yang Di-Pertua MUIB.

Turut hadir ialah Ketua Adat Istiadat Negara, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Cheteria Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Anak Haji Abdul Aziz; Yang Di-Pertua Majlis Mesyuarat Negara, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Haji Abdul Rahman bin Dato Setia Haji Mohamed Taib; dan Timbalan Menteri Hal Ehwal Ugama selaku Timbalan Yang Di-Pertua MUIB, Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud.

Selepas mesyuarat itu, Baginda berkenan berangkat melawat Kementerian Hal Ehwal Ugama, di mana Baginda berkenan melawat Bahagian Kutipan dan Agihan Zakat di bawah Jabatan MUIB, Jabatan Urusan Haji, Dasar, Perancangan dan Bahagian Penyelidikan, Bahagian Kemajuan Syi’ar Islam dan Bahagian Teknologi Maklumat.

Baginda berkenan meneruskan lawatan ke Pusat Dakwah Islamiah di mana Baginda melawat Unit Penerbitan Tafsir Darussalam, Bahagian Pembangunan Dakwah, Bahagian Pembangunan Muallaf dan Dewan Pameran Pusat Dakwah Islamiah.


Sumber - Media Permata



HM questions delay in Syariah law enforcement


Rasidah HAB and Rachel Thien
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, yesterday ordered authorities to explain the two-year delay in the phased enforcement of Syariah Penal Code Order.

The monarch said the Syariah law has remained “stagnant” without any progress after being actively pursued for a brief period following the launch of the Order in 2014.

Delivering his titah during a meeting with the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) at the Legislative Council (LegCo) building, His Majesty questioned how many of the Syariah law provisions have been enforced.

“How long has passed since it was launched and gazetted until now? It has already been two years but it is still at the stage where only general offences are dealt with.

“What about the other phases? When will they be implemented? I expect the ministry concerned might respond by saying that the Syariah Penal Code could not be fully enforced at this stage because the CPC (Syariah Courts Criminal Procedure Code) has not been finalised,” the Sultan added.

The CPC outlines the rules for conducting criminal proceedings, from the investigation to prosecution.

His Majesty said authorities might respond by saying they are still waiting for the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) to finalise the vetting of the draft documents.

“My next question is when will the draft law be sent to the AGC? Their response might be that it was already sent in 2014,” His Majesty said.

The Sultan went on to say that if this was the case, it is most regrettable because two years have passed and yet the CPC has not been completed.

“How thick is the draft? The AGC might tell us there are many other legal documents that need to be urgently dealt with too. The vetting of the CPC will only be able to be finalised in June 2016, after it has stalled for two years,” the monarch said.

His Majesty said this is an “unacceptable excuse”.

“It is as if people will be under the impression that the Syariah Penal Code is worthless as a law mechanism. Where is the Minister of Religious Affairs? And where is the Attorney General? Why have they not come forward to remedy this unsatisfactory situation?” the Sultan questioned.

The first phase of the Syariah Penal Code was enforced on May 1, 2014. His Majesty added that before the second phase can be implemented, the country has to wait for another 12 months after the CPC can be gazetted.

“Now two years have gone by, but the CPC is not gazetted yet and the vetting process has not even started. This means that after it is gazetted in 2016, we have to wait another year, until 2017 before the second phase can be implemented.”

He said it will be 2018 by the time the third phase of the Syariah law can be enforced.

“So when will the penal code be ready to be fully implemented? Is it true to say that the officers responsible in vetting the draft legislation could not do so as a matter of urgency? Is it just a matter of vetting or did they intentionally refuse to vet?” His Majesty questioned.

The monarch asked why had the religious affairs minister and attorney general failed to keep tabs on how the work was being done by their officers.

“May I remind all that we did not formulate the law out of whims and fancies but we do it solely for the sake of Allah, not in pursuit of glamour. Working for Allah must be done earnestly,” His Majesty said.

Religious education

His Majesty also raised concerns on the direction and future of Arabic education in the country.

Arabic schools are established to bring forth those who are competent in religious knowledge, with the objective of eventually getting Islamic scholars or ulama. With this in mind, Arabic schools must prioritise religious subjects such as Arabic language, fiqh, tauhid, Quran, hadith and tafsir, he said.

He added that this must be done without ignoring the importance of subjects such as Malay language, English language and Mathematics.

Everything went well since the inception, but Arabic schools introduced the science stream from the 1980s, making it compulsory to take Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Additional Mathematics – subjects that are available in mainstream schools under the Ministry of Education, he said.

This meant that students who took the science subjects are required to reduce the number of religious subjects so that it will not be too burdensome, and thus science subjects came to gain more prominence than religious subjects, he continued.

Science stream classes at Arabic Schools currently only offer classes up to O-levels. After completing their O-levels, the students would have to transfer to mainstream schools if they wish to pursue the sciences.

“At that point, they are no longer considered students of Arabic schools and they completely stop studying religious subjects after their O-levels,” he said.

The monarch said there is a need to review the impact of introducing the sciences in Arabic schools when it was implemented in the 1980s.

“Unfortunately, no such research has been done, we do not know the implications whether good and bad of introducing Science stream classes back in the 1980s,” he said.

The Arabic religious education system is experiencing major changes with the implementation of the National Education System for the 21st Century (SPN21).

Under the education system, Arabic school students will be able to master both religious and Science stream subjects. Year 11 students at Arabic secondary schools will have to sit for two major examinations, including the O-levels for their mainstream subjects and the Brunei Islamic Studies Certificate (SPUB) for their religious curriculum.

In Year Nine, the students will be divided into three streams based on their results: 1) fast track Science stream for students who obtained excellent results; 2) normal track Science stream for students who obtained ‘very good’ results; and 3) Arabic stream for students who obtained ‘good’ results and below.

The Sultan said the grading of the three streams reflects that the Arabic stream is of third class level, not on par with the other two categories.

They are also required to study all subjects for their SPUB and O-level examinations simultaneously, possibly doubling the number of subjects that need to be taken in mainstream schools, he added.

“Wouldn’t such a system make it burdensome for Arabic school students and difficult for teachers to teach and complete the syllabus with that many subjects?”

He added that this can cause students to choose the Science stream over the Arabic stream.

The monarch said it is generally known that religious education subjects are more difficult and taxing compared to the other subjects, a factor that can push students away from Arabic classes in favour of the sciences.

“All these need to be deliberated on as thoroughly as possible to save and popularise religious subjects so that they will be seen as a good choice, more attractive and more appealing than non-religious subjects, not a means to open an opportunity for them to get away or escape from.

“This is a matter of much concern to me – the future direction of Arabic schools. Are their roles fading into irrelevancy or diverting towards another direction. All these call for a thorough reassessment to turn back to its original course. Let it not be changed,” he added.

Islamic propagation

The monarch said da’wah (dissemination of Islamic teachings) in the country is still weak and needs to be strengthened amid uncertain times and social ills affecting the country.

Among the issues raised were the number of propagators at the Islamic Da’wah Centre and whether they were properly trained.

“In addition to having many propagators, we want the da’wah delivered to be effective. Effective da’wah is successful da’wah,” he said.

His Majesty pointed out that one important medium of the da’wah is through the mimbar. The mimbar is a pulpit where the imam delivers the sermon in mosques.

“It is vital to deliver effective messages in the sermons. That is why all aspects must be taken into account, starting from preparation, content, writing, policy guidelines and lastly, the individual who will deliver the sermon,” he said.

His Majesty said it is important to practise discretion in deciding the content of the sermon, adding that the content must be appropriate.

He gave an example of an incident where SEA Games become the topic of a sermon. “The khatib (sermon readers) called upon congregants and Muslims to flock to the stadium to witness the events that would take place. We might say that sports is not something Islamically impermissible, but for a khatib to persuade and herd people to the stadium, in my opinion, is something that needs to be given thorough deliberation.

“Have we exhausted all topics and there is no other more important issue other than the SEA Games? This is what discretion is in the choice of topic along with the need to adhere to policy guidelines on sermons,” he added.

The Sultan said khatibs need guidelines on the correct way of delivering the sermon.

“Some readers are too tense and some were repetitive in their presentation. Is this what is expected of them by the Mosque Affairs Department? Where are the mosque affairs officers? Have they not come across incidents like these,” he asked.

Official visits and functions

His Majesty went on to say that it is not necessary for both the Minister of Religious Affairs and his deputy to make visits together as one should stay at the ministry and attend to pressing matters, such as the need to formulate policies for schools and the Islamic Da’wah Centre.

“The minister and his deputy minister should not simply enjoy making visits upon visits, for instance to schools, mosques and elsewhere. In doing so, both of them pay a visit to the same place and enjoy media coverage,” His Majesty said.

The monarch also said there is no need for all senior government officials to attend official functions that were held either in the day or at night.

“It is alright to make a visit and hold a function, but if the events are becoming too many and frequent, what about office work and worse, if too many attend them – the minister, his deputy minister and a horde of other officers! Is it not more reasonable for one of them to make the visit while the other stays behind?

“Is it not true that there are a lot of more pressing matters that need to be dealt with and given serious thought in the office?

He said other pressing matters include formulating policies for schools, Islamic Da’wah Centre, mosques, zakat (tithes), following up on the development of new converts, maintenance and upkeep of Muslim cemeteries and burial grounds, as well as halal certification.

Following the meeting, His Majesty visited the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which houses several units under the Islamic Religious Council before making a stop at the Islamic Da’wah Centre.


Sumber - The Brunei Times

ASEAN ‘Seriously Concerned’ By China’s South China Sea Behavior

Foreign ministers react to recent Chinese actions.

By Prashanth Parameswaran

Foreign ministers from the ten Southeast Asian countries said Saturday that they were “seriously concerned” by recent developments in the South China Sea.

China’s assertiveness in the South China Sea has shown few signs of easing, with Beijing positioning a surface to air missile system on Woody Island, one of the disputed Paracel Islands in the northern half of the South China Sea last week just after the conclusion of a historic US-ASEAN Summit in Sunnylands (See: “Why the US-ASEAN Sunnylands Summit Matters”). Newly released satellite imagery this week also showed that Beijing had built what could be a high-frequency radar system on Cuarteron reef in the Spratlys in the southern portion of the South China Sea.

As I noted in a previous piece, the United States and ASEAN had already expressed a strong stance on the South China Sea issue before these developments had occurred, with the outcome document at the Sunnylands summit explicitly calling for respect for arbitration and non-militarization (See: “A US-ASEAN South China Sea Failure At Sunnylands?”). This weekend, in a statement issued at the end of the foreign ministers’ annual retreat in the Lao capital of Vientiane, the ministers noted their worries about these new events in a joint statement.

A joint statement said that the ministers “remained seriously concerned over recent and ongoing developments and took note of the concerns expressed by some members on the land reclamations and escalation of activities” in the South China Sea. It also added that these activities have “eroded trust and confidence, increased tensions and may undermine peace, security and stability in the region.”

The statement, in line with previous ones issued by ASEAN in the past, indicates the group’s growing frustration with Chinese actions in the South China Sea as well as Beijing’s foot-dragging on a binding code of conduct that Southeast Asian states have been pushing for. But as the language of the statement suggests (note, for instance, that it says “concerns” on land reclamations and escalation were expressed by only “some members), it also indicates the traditional divisions among the grouping, which comprises four countries which actually have claims in the South China Sea – Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam – along with interested countries like Singapore and less interested ones which have very close ties to China such as Cambodia and Laos (See: “Does ASEAN Have a South China Sea Position?”).

Laos currently holds the ASEAN chairmanship – which rotates annually – and will preside over regional meetings to take place in September including the East Asia Summit, which is usually attended by leaders including U.S. president Barack Obama.

Apart from the South China Sea which tends to dominate media attention, the ministers also addressed other significant regional issues ranging from combating Islamic extremism to forging greater economic integration since with the recent formation of the ASEAN Economic Community.

They also called for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as they have done so before. Following Pyongyang’s rocket launch on February 7, the foreign ministers had issued a separate statement expressing its concern.


Sumber - The Diplomat

ASEAN, China And The US: An Uneasy and Fragile Triangle

ASEAN-US Special Leaders’ Summit – February 2016

Jean-Pierre Lehmann

THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT that, symbolically at least, the recent U.S.-ASEAN Special Leaders’ Summit in California was a historic event.

I was in the ASEAN region 50 years ago when ASEAN per se did not yet exist; it was founded the following year, 1967, by five of its current ten members: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, which were later joined by Brunei, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia. At the time Southeast Asia was the world’s bloodiest battlefield, with not only the Vietnam War raging but also insurrections and risks of wars between countries. With the establishment at the end of 2015 of the ASEAN Economic Community, the group has had a highly successful journey.

This is all the more remarkable in that no region in the world contains such religious, political and economic diversity (as well as diverse colonial histories) as Southeast Asia. In recent decades, notwithstanding its multiple fault lines, ASEAN has been an island of comparative stability in what has been and is increasingly a turbulent world. The contrast between Southeast Asia and Southwest Asia (the Levant) is particularly striking. In this context it has to be said that the U.S., since its defeat in the Vietnam War 40 years ago, has been, on balance, a benign force, both in respect to security and economic development.

This stability, however, must not be taken for granted. It is fragile: There are various social, environmental, economic, political and ideological threats within countries, and potential areas of conflict between countries. Furthermore, while one cannot say that the U.S.’ role has become hostile in the region, it is ambivalent. The U.S.-ASEAN summit is presumably a component of the “pivot to Asia” strategy, but it is not clear what the “pivot to Asia” means, nor to what it is directed.

The really grave threat would be if ASEAN becomes a proxy battlefield between the superpower U.S. and the rising great power China, somewhat comparable to the position of the Balkans between the great powers on the eve of World War I. Many issues could exacerbate not only tensions between China and the U.S. but also among ASEAN member states. Two especially stand out.

TPP – The Exclusive (no China) Partnership

With the collapse of the multilateral WTO Doha Round, Washington has been pursuing various regional and megaregional trade policy initiatives. The TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) consists of a dozen Pacific countries from Latin America, North America and East Asia, including four ASEAN member states: Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam. It excludes China. Whereas the Washington rhetoric argues that TPP (like its Atlantic counterpart, TTIP) is a building block to a more liberal global trade order, others, notably but not only in Beijing, see it as a stumbling block, divisive and exclusive. The regional trade dynamics could become highly geopoliticized.

The second and potentially most explosive issue is the South China Sea. It is an immensely complex issue not only for the Asia-Pacific region but also the world. Territorial disputes are especially acute between China and four ASEAN states, three of which (Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam) are also members of TPP (the fourth is the Philippines).

From the perspective of the U.S. and the threatened ASEAN countries, China appears in the South China Sea as a rising territory-grabbing imperialist nation impeding freedom of navigation. From the Chinese perspective the South China Sea is as critical to its security as the Caribbean was to the U.S. at a time when it was seeking its place in the global sun. The U.S. transformed the Caribbean into an American lake, as the Chinese wish to transform the South China Sea into a Chinese lake.

With China highly dependent on supplies of vital resources, notably energy, minerals and food, any disruption in the South China Sea, particularly the geopolitically critical Malacca Strait, threatens the lifeline to China’s 1.3 billion people.

Just as there is no unanimous view among ASEAN member states about TPP, there is no unanimous view about the South China Sea. To avoid transforming the region once again into a battlefield, visionary statesmanship will be called upon from all key actors: China, the U.S. and the ten member states of ASEAN.

It is, to put it mildly, a bit worrying.


Sumber - Forbes

Private sector,youth urged to step up diversification efforts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Sumber - The Brunei Times

Ahli NDP turut serta perbarisan sambutan Hari Kebangsaan Negara Brunei Darussalam ke-32 tahun

Seramai lebih 100 orang di kalangan ahli-ahli Parti Pembangunan Bangsa di ketuai oleh TYT Presiden dan Timbalan Presiden telah menyertai Perbarisan Sempena Sambutan Ulangtahun Hari Kebangsaan Negara Brunei Darussalam ke-32 tahun pada 23hb Februari 2016.

China mengesahkan ‘senjata’ di pulau pertikaian

BEIJING, 18 Feb (AFP) – China mengesahkan ia mempunyai senjata di sebuah pulau yang dipertikaikan di Laut China Selatan, kata media negeri hari ini, tatkala Setiausaha Negara AS John Kerry mengecam Beijing atas ‘penenteraan’ rantau penting itu.

AS dan Taiwan berkata China telah menghantar peluru berpandu ke Pulau Woody, sebahagian daripada rangkaian Paracels, selepas Fox News melaporkan senjata itu telah tiba di sana sejak seminggu lalu.

Beijing menuntut kesemua Paracels, walaupun Hanoi dan Taipei mempunyai tuntutan bertindan. China merampas beberapa pulau dari Selatan Vietnam dalam pertempuran berdarah pada akhir Perang Vietnam.

Kementerian Pertahanan China mengesahkan “China telah menghantar senjata di pulau itu untuk masa yang lama,” lapor akhbar Global Times, yang mempunyai hubungan erat dengan parti pemerintah Komunis. Ia tidak menyatakan senjata tersebut berada di pulau.

Namun ia berusaha tidak mengheboh penghantaran berkenaan, berkata laporan terbaru merupakan contoh media Barat yang memain ‘helah yang sama’ mengenai ‘ancaman China,’ akhbar memetik pejabat berita kementerian sebagai berkata.

Ketegangan di laut di mana satu pertiga daripada minyak dunia melaluinya telah meningkat dalam beberapa bulan ini sejak China memindah terumbu di pulau Spratly ke selatan di pulau tiruan yang berupaya menampung kemudahan tentera.

Washington berkata tindakan Beijing mengugut laluan bebas di kawasan penting itu dan telah menghantar kapal perang berhampiran dengan pulau yang dipertikaikan untuk menuntut kebebasan pelayaran, sekaligus menimbulkan kebimbangan perluasan.

Sementara itu Beijing menegaskan ia mempunyai hak untuk membina sistem ‘pertahanan diri’ di rantau tersebut. Satu editorial pada hari ini dalam akhbar Global Times berkata AS telah “menyuntik elemen paling banyak tentera di rantau.”


Sumber - Media Permata