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Brunei’s journey to Smart Nation
| James Kon |
BRUNEI Darussalam, like other
ambitious countries, is forging ahead
with efforts to become a Smart Nation,
part of its vision to take advantage of
rapid technological developments to
provide better living for its citizens.
The renaming of the Ministry of
Communications to the Ministry of
Transport and Infocommunications
(MTIC) on December 15, 2018 marks
the first step in this journey for the
ministry.
With the name change, the MTIC’s
purviewandportfoliohasnowexpanded
to include current issues of increasing
significance and importance, such as
cybersecurity and digital economy.
These are significant issues that are
closely related.
This is in line with a number of
titahs in which His Majesty Sultan
Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin
Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji
Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi
Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan
of Brunei Darussalam emphasised the
emergence of the Fourth Industrial
Revolution, digital economy and
Smart Nation, something the monarch
says Brunei Darussalam needs “to
be prepared for”, also reminding the
country to “embrace the opportunities”
brought about by these civilisational
advancements.
Four aspects make up the MTIC’s
policy approaches in driving Brunei
towards Smart Nation status:
1. Infrastructure improvement and
readiness, without which any initiative
to create a Smart Nation would be
difficult. On this important aspect,
the MTIC is working closely with the
Ministry of Finance and Economy to
ensure that the ICT infrastructure in
Brunei Darussalam is able to facilitate
business, reduce cost of doing
business and increase productivity. The
Building the future workforce
| Danial Norjidi |
THE arrival of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) has
accentuated the importance of having an innovative
workforce capable of contributing to the country’s
industrial and economic development.
The 4IR or Industry 4.0 is linked to the emergence of
advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence
(AI), robotics, Internet of Things (IoT), cloud
computing, biotechnology, nanotechnology and 3-D
printing.
The aftereffects brought on by the 4IR to the nation
and its people, particularly its workforce, was one of
the key topics of discussion during the 15th Legislative
Council (LegCo) Meeting held in March earlier this
year.
Minister of Energy, Manpower and Industry Dato Seri
Setia Dr Awang Haji Mat Suny bin Haji Mohd Hussein,
in response to a question at the LegCo session,
highlighted that lifelong learning and upskilling are
vital components for the continuous development
of human resources to boost competency in the
workforce and allaying concerns arising from
unemployment when facing the 4IR.
On the imminent changes on daily life and
work caused by the 4IR, he said, “To maintain
competitiveness, we not only must embrace changes
brought about by the 4IR, but also support its
implementation to increase the competitiveness of
the industry that will spur the country’s economic
development. Thus, the government is currently
actively involved in preparing its workforce to make
sure that changes will only result in minimum impact
to workers and the community as a whole.”
The minister noted that the government is also
A significant progress made in this
aspect is the formation of the Digital
Economy Council (DEC), consented to
by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-
Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam earlier
this year.
Minister of Transport and
Infocommunications Dato Seri Setia
Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang
Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd
Yusof in his recent message for World
Telecommunication and Information
Society Day (WTISD) 2019, said,
“Brunei Darussalam is experiencing high
connectivity in the ICT sector. Mobile
broadband penetration among the
population has reached 130 for every
100 people in 2018.
“This data suggests high prevalence
in the usage and adoption of mobile
broadband among the population. It
also indicates a high level of readiness of
users in Brunei Darussalam to embrace
new technologies and services. This is
a very encouraging trend in line with
the current ICT industry restructuring
policy.
“To conclude, a digital economy
[working] in tandem with a digital
government and digital society are
important components of a Smart Nation.
Alhamdulillah, Brunei Darussalam is on the
right track with Smart Nation becoming a
national priority.
“While plans and initiatives may
vary between each ministry in relation
to [their] respective focus areas, a
common underpinning factor is the
need to invest and continue to invest
to grow future ICT talents in Brunei
Darussalam. It is imperative for Brunei
to be equipped with skilled and
professional individuals who will play
important roles towards achieving the
aspirations of Vision2035. In the journey
towards bringingBrunei to Smart Nation
status, a coordinated approach among
stakeholders is important to create a
conducive environment for growth.”
This infrastructural improvement is
anticipated to widen the platform for
innovation, competition at the retail level
Hamzah bin Haji Sulaiman shared that the MoE
aims to continue its work to improve the standard
of education in the country and raise the quality of
students, by spending prudently and implementing
education programmes through cost-effective steps
while delivering maximum results.
To do so, the minister highlighted, the MoE has
devised the Strategic Plan 2018-2022, which consists
of three strategic objectives: transforming existing
human resources to a culture-based achievement;
providing equal and equitable access to quality
education; and enhancing accountability sharing
with stakeholders in the development of teaching
and learning.
“These three strategic objectives are designed to
enable the ministry to lead the development of our
generation to be ready to weather the effects of
Industry 4.0,” he said.
Meanwhile, during the 26th Institute of Brunei
Technical Education (IBTE) Convocation at the
International ConventionCentre inBerakas onOctober
25, 2018, Minister of Education Dato Seri Setia Awang
Haji Hamzah highlighted that wise decision-making
is required to sustainably upgrade the quality of the
nation’s workforce and spur economic development
amid the 4IR wave.
The wave of change will present “several impacts
and challenges” to all the country’s sectors, he said,
adding that according to the World Economic Forum’s
Future of Jobs Report in 2016, 65 per cent of children
entering primary school today will work in new jobs
that have not existed.
The minister also touched on the 4IR while speaking
during the Teacher’s Day conference at Universiti
Brunei Darussalam on November 14, 2018.
restructuring of the ICT industry project
which is currently implemented with
the formation of the Unified National
Networks Sdn Bhd (UNN), is steered by
both the MTIC and Ministry of Finance
and Economy.
This infrastructural improvement
is anticipated to widen the platform
for innovation and competition at the
retail level, hence providing users with
more choices of innovative services at
competitive prices.
2. Cybersecurity, is a prerequisite to
the growth of a Smart Nation. The MTIC
is currently in close coordination with
the Prime Minister’s Office to bring
about a more holistic and coordinated
governance in cybersecurity for Brunei
Darussalam. This coordination is
intended to provide amore efficient and
effective governance at the national
level in addressing cybersecurity
matters as a further measure to ensure
a secure ecosystem for users.
3. Agility, which means the need to
keep pace with the development of
technologies and the needs of society.
In this regard, the MTIC is actively
looking into its governance process
by encouraging the use of digital
technology to improve efficiency
and productivity. At the same time,
legislations are also being reviewed.
An example is the corporatisation of
the Postal Services Department, a
priority of the MTIC and scheduled to
be realised within this financial year.
4. Engagement, an underpinning
component in Brunei’s journey towards
a Smart Nation and something that
cannot be done by the MTIC alone. It
requires the involvement of various
stakeholders working together in a
concerted and coordinated manner.
preparing a number of platforms to enable locals to
attend reskilling and upskilling courses and to prepare
the education system according to the needs of the
current industries.
The minister added that as part of a move to
support the creation of an industry-driven workforce,
the Ministry of Energy, Manpower and Industry (MEMI)
has plans to establish an Industry Steering Committee
comprising ministries, industries, educational
institutions and regulators.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) is also playing its
part. In his turn to speak at the 15th LegCo Meeting,
Minister of Education Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji
Borneo Bulletin, Monday July 15, 2019 Page 4 Royal Birthday