The government of 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 has allocated BND480 million for projects under the 12th National Development Plan (RKN12) in the 2025/2026 financial year.
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah said this during the 21st session of the Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting on Saturday. He reiterated, “As we shared during the Legislative Council for the year 2024, the total cost of the RKN12 Plan for the five-year period (2024 to 2029) is BND4 billion for 305 projects, based on the Manpower Blueprint and Economic Blueprint, in line with the goals outlined in Brunei Vision 2035. This allocation demonstrates the government’s strong support for the National Development Agenda and will have a positive impact on national development, as well as fostering inclusive economic growth.”
The minister also provided updates on the implementation of RKN12 projects. As of February 26, BND126,213,786.74, which is 25.24 per cent of the BND500 million allocated for the 2024/2025 financial year, has been spent. Twenty-two projects have been completed, and 65 are in progress. Meanwhile, 172 projects are in the early stages, with 48 per cent (83 projects) still in the planning phase within the respective ministries. The 22 completed projects support specific clusters.”
He outlined the clusters as follows: strengthening access to education including the reconstruction of Sultan Hassan Secondary School in Bangar, Temburong District and the upgrading of the multi-purpose hall, dormitory kitchen and teachers’ rooms at Hassanal Bolkiah Boys Arabic Secondary School (SMALHB); strengthening the development of Islamic teachings with two mosques completed – the RPN Kampong Meragang Mosque and the RPN Kampong Mengkubau Mosque; increasing housing provision with 1,500 housing units in the RPN Kampong Lugu Phase 2 completed and are occupied by recipients; improving the quality of public services with completed projects include upgrading the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium Phase 2, which has increased facility usage, and the new building of the Rumah Kebajikan Complex Protection Unit, which has enhanced safety and living conditions; and strengthening environmental sustainability including the Reforestation Programme for Degraded Forest Areas.
Other clusters include strengthening the efficiency of the transportation system with three projects completed – replacing the Instrument Landing System and Doppler VHM OMNI Directional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment, replacing the Airport Automatic Weather Observation System and improving the Inspection Equipment and Security Surveillance System at Brunei International Airport; strengthening national security including the Internal Security Detention and Rehabilitation Centre; strengthening food security including construction of additional irrigation schemes for rice plantation areas in all districts; and developing the tourism industry with slope protection and road upgrades in Batang Duri, Temburong and the Outward Bound Brunei Darussalam (OBBD) Camp.
The minister said the clusters also include industrial development with a programme to increase the production of ornamental plants and flowers to generate export markets; addressing natural disaster risk with the Coastal Erosion Control Project along the Kampong Danau Coast completed to reduce coastal erosion to private and government assets; strengthening information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure with government data centre and cloud infrastructure completed to meet the requirements of ministries and government departments’ applications and online services.
Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew also highlighted the upgrade of sewerage system with several projects completed in Kampong Menglait, Kampong Batu Bersurat and Pengkalan Gadong to expand the sewerage system centred in the Bandar Seri Begawan area, including commercial and surrounding areas. In Kampong Lumut, projects have been completed to reduce incidents of pipe blockage and backflow.
The sewerage system in the Kuala Belait and Seria municipal areas has also been upgraded.
In terms of electricity, the 11kV Distribution Network System has been strengthened in the Diplomatic Area of Jalan Kebangsaan.
The minister explained that the four main focuses of the RKN12 allocation are to support the socio-economic stability of the country; to ensure the well-being of the citizens and residents of Brunei Darussalam; to improve skills and create new job opportunities or economic activities; and to increase the development of digital technology to enhance the productivity and efficiency of government services.
He also mentioned that the BND480 million allocation had been proposed and agreed upon by all ministries during the National Budget Committee Meeting. The allocation has been categorised into clearer and more objective clusters, based on the direction and achievements to be attained in each cluster, aimed at supporting the three priority focuses of the 2025/2026 financial year budget.
One notable cluster is the allocation of BND51.6 million for the installation of solar panels in 38 government buildings, which is currently in the early stages of implementation.
The minister shared, “This initiative reflects the country’s determination to achieve the goals of Brunei Vision 2035 and its commitment to Sustainable Development Goals (Sustainable Development Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities and Goal 13 – Climate Action) and the Paris Agreement.”
Heading into the second year of the RKN12, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew iterated, “Actions through a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach will be enhanced, including alignment and coordination between ministries, to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of RKN projects and to achieve the goals of Brunei Vision 2035.” – James Kon
