Rokiah Mahmud
The defence budget would be allocated according to priority and take into account the economic situation, regional and global security environment as well as developments under Brunei Vision 2035.
This was said by Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof yesterday.
He said geopolitical changes, threats to the country’s sovereignty, economic fragility, climate change, terrorism and extremism are expected to continue shaping and affecting national security while globalisation, digitalisation, automation and migration will also be driving factors.
The minister said the Ministry of Defence (MinDef) will continue to defend Brunei’s sovereignty and territorial integrity while upholding the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) philosophy.
He said it is vital for the ministry, and Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) in particular, to maintain a high level of combat capability and readiness as well as have high credibility.
Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi said MinDef and RBAF remain committed to the Sultanate’s defence and ready to deal with traditional or non-traditional threats from within or outside the country. They will prioritise on modernisation and upgrading capability assets to enhance capacity of human resources to safeguard the sovereignty and security of Brunei in accordance to mission statement ‘A Formidable Armed Forces and A Reliable Partner’.
With Defence White Paper 2021 themed ‘Defending the National’s Sovereignty : A Secure and Resilient Future’ launched on May 31, 2021, a comprehensive plan outlined steps to improve RBAF by addressing capability gaps, focus on jointry methods and Defence Lines of Developments (DLODs) as well as leveraging modern technology and innovation.
The minister said the need to improve capabilities of assets and weaponry to maintain the readiness of RBAF cannot be underestimated because national security cannot be compromised. He said the responsibility not only rests on the shoulders of MinDef and RBAF but collectively through the whole-of-nation approach involving all levels of society.
Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi said the value of peace cannot be measured in monetary terms and costs will be incalculable without peace and safety. He added that the development and progress of a country depend on peace and safe environment.
To strengthen national security, the MinDef and RBAF identified several priorities with goals and benchmarks to ensure initiatives are realistic and focussed.
The minister said a challenge faced not only by MinDef and RBAF but across ministries and agencies is obsolescence in assets with equipment, machinery and infrastructure becoming outdated or in critical condition.
He said it requires repair or replacement, particularly to reduce capability gap. The MinDef and RBAF are drafting a write-off policy that is more efficient and effective.
An initiative to reduce unemployment and increase the number of personnel at the armed forces was an update to the recruitment and training policy seeing a shorter period at the RBAF Training Institute. The recruits will only undergo 14 weeks of training with the remaining three months spent at Special to Service (STS) training at the branches.
The policy will see 960 recruits per year compared to the previous 540.
There will also be recruitment through the reservist scheme including the Royal Brunei Malay Reserve Force members. These efforts will help the government to reduce unemployment in the Sultanate.
