Azlan Othman
Civil servants must always prepare themselves by continuously nurturing their capabilities and abilities to adapt the benefits of the process of globalisation and industrial revolution as well as based on one’s intention to safeguard the welfare and interests of the people and the country, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud said.
He made these comments at the opening of the 29th Executive Development Programme for Senior Government Officers (EDPSGO) and 31st and 32nd Executive Development Programme for Middle Management Officers (EDPMMO) at the Prime Minister’s Office building yesterday.
The minister added, “Brunei Darussalam is grappling with challenges including those brought by globalisation whose impact is increasingly felt in terms of economy, health, security, well-being, technological transition and challenges related to the environment.”
Some challenges occur on a worrying scale. An example is the COVID-19 pandemic transmission compounded by the risk of mutation of new variants that have been shown to have higher transmission rates, the minister said.
He added, “This challenge triggered many new norms in various aspects of daily life and employment, and it is undeniable that it also has a significant impact on national expenditure and resources as well as affects the delivery of the Public Service.
“What can be learned from this fact is that globalisation never allows us to be complacent or be satisfied with the norm without having to explore the paths of reform. Despite the benefits that can be achieved, it comes along with the challenges that may be in a form and scale that we have never seen before.”
Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti said, “As civil servants and responsible leaders, it is a trust that we must bear to work together in overcoming and controlling the challenges that have been or will arise brought by the currents of globalisation with an innovative and proactive approach.
“In these programmes, participants from various ministries with different backgrounds of qualifications, experience as well as assignments can be seen as a replica of the whole-of-government approach that need to be practiced in a real work environment,” he added.
“Meanwhile, modules such as study tours and community projects involving government-linked companies (GLCs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) expanded the scope of training towards further strengthening the use of whole-of-nation methods in achieving the national vision.
“These were arranged to help further enhance the participants’ ability in formulating the planning and implementation of action plans as well as strengthening resilience in the face of challenges.
“The needs related to innovation, industrial revolution, Maqasid Syariah, whole-of-government and whole-of nation approach, clean and sustainable leadership and governance were also emphasised by 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 in His Majesty’s titah. These will be implemented through the development programmes later.”
The 29th EDPSGO and 31st EDPMMO are coordinated by Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) while the 32nd EDPMMO is coordinated by Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA). The programme content covers current issues and policies as well as best practices in management and administration of public service practiced globally in Islamic and
conventional perspective.
Participants will also go through work placement, community projects, study visits and dialogues with local experts.
