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 on Tuesday stressed on the importance of leadership that is honest and fair, instead of prioritising their own self-interest over the betterment of their organisation, including the welfare of its officers and staff.
The monarch said this in a titah during a visit to His Majesty the Sultan’s Flight (HMSF) in Rimba, adding that the lack of leadership is a source of stress in the workforce. As such, aberrant management practices ought to be stamped out immediately, he said.
His Majesty believes that the workforce “plays a crucial role” in an organisation, thus employee welfare must be the focus, with career progression and skills development given due attention.
“I wish to know if the flight office has succession plans and competency framework, especially for the staff,” the monarch asked, adding that those in leadership positions “must be aware of the issues and grievances faced by their staff and find ways to help them overcome these challenges”
His Majesty also asked the leadership: “Do you know when an employee wants to resign or wishes to be transferred out of the flight office? What is the reason behind it? What actions do you take?”
The monarch warned against the mishandling of funds provided for the flight office. “The expenditure needs to be accounted for, in accordance with the procedures stipulated to avoid any misappropriation.”
Similarly, His Majesty said the management of expenses needs to be deliberate to ensure quality operations without going over budget.
The monarch added, “I was made to understand that there are buildings under the authority of the HMSF that have been left abandoned. If they are not being utilised, why not turn them into resting areas for staff?
“Instead, employees have been using containers as resting spots, which begs the question: ‘Is it the ideal way to handle employee welfare?’”
His Majesty also warned against cronyism and nepotism at all levels of the administration. “The leadership will fail if there is no transparency, fairness and integrity,” the monarch said, adding that favouritism is the crux of poor management, leading to the overcritical assessment of those falling outside of the ‘inner circle’.
Meanwhile, His Majesty extended his appreciation to the HMSF workforce for “executing their tasks responsibly”. The monarch added, “I give great trust in the office to guarantee my safety as well as members of the royal family, with permission from Allah the Almighty.”
