Izah Azahari
It must be acknowledged that the budget discussed and passed this year and in the previous years yielded numerous benefits for the people in the Sultanate, while the results of government expenditure have been predominantly enjoyed by citizens and permanent residents.
This was highlighted by Special Advisor to His Majesty and Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa bin Pehin Datu Perdana Manteri Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Ibrahim in his motion of thanks during the 19th Legislative Council session yesterday.
The special advisor noted that 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’s Government will remain dedicated to providing resources that enable ministries to carry out short-term, medium-term, and long-term initiatives and investments, resulting in a robust and sustainable economy.
“With the persistent commitment and support of all stakeholders, it is expected that the national economy will continue to flourish, benefitting both current and future generations,” he added.
The special advisor emphasised some of the government expenses that have benefitted the people. These include free health services and treatment at government hospitals and clinics where citizens are charged BND1 only while permanent residents are charged BND3; free-of-charge medications and fully-funded health treatments are provided by the government to patients referred for medical care at private hospitals, locally and internationally, with high costs averaging around BND150 million annually, without any cost being charged back to the patient; and free services such as disposable diapers and breastfeeding aid since 2017, with the government’s average expenditure for this initiative in the four years since its implementation until 2021 is around BND1.5 million per year.
Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di Raja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa also noted the provision of free education from primary to secondary level, and religious education, student allowances, transportation services, and scholarships for higher studies inside and outside the country. Scholarships are also offered under the name of Brunei Shell Petroleum Company Sdn Bhd (BSP), in which the government holds a 50 per cent share.
Another provision, the special advisor highlighted was the provision of welfare benefits such as the elderly pension scheme, initiated under the reign of Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam and subsequently expanded and increased by His Majesty, as well as allowances for persons with disabilities, the visually impaired, leprosy patients, and individuals with mental illness.
Also emphasised in his motion of thanks were the various subsidies in the Sultanate for its people, such as the government’s provision of an average of BND130 million per year in petrol subsidy during the period of five years spanning from 2016 to 2021; government subsidies of National Housing Scheme of approximately BND842 million (excluding land value) for six public housing projects in Kampong Meragang, Kampong Tanah Jambu, Kampong Bukit Beruang, Kampong Panchor, Kampong Panaga, and Kampong Lugu; and the government subsidy for rice, where the total subsidy for rice imported from Thailand and Cambodia, along with its management expenses, amounted to BND11.3 million during the financial year 2020-2021.
The special advisor also noted that the people and residents of the country are provided subsidies in basic services like electricity and clean water, and are exempted from various taxes like personal income tax, property tax, sales and services tax. “We cannot perceive all the amenities and advantages we have as entitlements; rather, they are privileges bestowed by His Majesty’s Government to every citizen and resident of the country. Hence, we should always express our gratitude for these privileges.”
