The Legislative Council (LegCo) delegation attended the 45th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly, hosted by the Laos in Vientiane from October 18 to 22.
Led by the Speaker of the LegCo Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Dato Setia Haji Mohamed Taib, the Brunei delegation included Clerk to the Privy Council, Secretary to the Cabinet Ministers’ Council and Clerk to the LegCo Dr Hajah Huraini binti Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Jaya Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hurairah and 10 LegCo members.
The assembly, themed ‘The Role of Parliaments in Enhancing Connectivity and Inclusive Growth of ASEAN’, concluded with the adoption of 38 resolutions covering various critical issues, including political, economic, social, organisational, women’s and youth parliamentarian matters.
Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman and Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Md Salleh bin Haji Othman participated in discussions on cybersecurity threats and the need for parliamentary cooperation.
Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim, Yang Berhormat Haji Salleh Bostaman bin Haji Zainal Abidin and Yang Berhormat Hajah Rosmawatty binti Haji Abdul Mumin focused on cyber resilience, digitalisation and responsible investment in agriculture. The Brunei delegation proposed and successfully passed a resolution on strengthening ASEAN’s cyber resilience through parliamentary cooperation.
Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Mohd Yusof and Yang Berhormat Hajah Safiah binti Sheikh Haji Abdul Salam were involved in discussions on social issues like plastic pollution, digital health innovation, drug abuse and elderly welfare.
Yang Berhormat Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin and Dr Hajah Huraini participated in discussions on AIPA’s administration, including financial matters, budget proposals, guidelines, procedures and the AIPA Distinguished Service Awards.
Yang Berhormat Hajah Safiah and Yang Berhormat Chong Chin Yee were involved in discussions on gender equality, violence against women and children as well as women’s political participation.
Yang Berhormat Chong Chin Yee and Yang Berhormat Lawi bin Haji Lamat participated in discussions on youth empowerment, mental health and digital innovation.
The assembly concluded with the unanimous signing of a joint communiqué by all participating delegations. Malaysia will host the 46th AIPA General Assembly next year. – Daniel Lim & Lyna Mohamad
