The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) must be implemented without hindrance, especially as immediate actions in the fight against climate change, said Speaker of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Dato Setia Haji Mohamed Taib during the 44th ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in Jakarta, Indonesia recently.
The LegCo speaker highlighted that uncertainties brought about by global climate change have hampered many nations’ ability to effectively mitigate both direct and indirect impacts on their social and economic progress.
The LegCo speaker said that governments are the executive bodies in driving SDGs and will need to partner and cooperate with Parliaments, which are actively involved in the efforts to build a stable and prosperous ASEAN community.
The LegCo speaker highlighted that parliamentarians are representatives of the people, and will need to ensure that their decisions and actions are made in accordance with the needs of the people.
He called for transparency in actions, so that the gap between governance and people’s aspirations are reduced.
Meanwhile, the LegCo speaker said that Brunei Darussalam remains committed in achieving the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, which is in line with Brunei Vision 2035.
LegCo members attended the 44th AIPA from August 5 to 10 in Jakarta. The delegation was led by the LegCo speaker and Secretary to Cabinet Ministers’ Council and Clerk to the LegCo Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Jaya Dato Paduka Haji Judin bin Haji Asar and comprised 11 LegCo members and officials from the Department of Councils of State.
In line with ‘Spirit of Asean’, AIPA serves as an important platform for ASEAN parliamentarians in achieving peace, stability and growth in region. The theme for the 44th AIPA is ‘Responsive Parliaments for a Stable and Prosperous Asean’.
A total of 30 resolutions were discussed and approved in various committees, including Young Parliamentarian (YPA), Women of AIPA (WAIPA), Political, Economic, Social and Organisation. The assembly ended with a joint communique unanimously signed by the member countries of the AIPA Parliament.
Next year, Laos will host the AIPA as the next chairman.
