Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah, emphasised the need for a robust digital payment infrastructure, including stable connectivity, during the 20th session of the Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting yesterday.
The minister was responding to a query from LegCo member Yang Berhormat Chong Chin Yee on the role of digital payment infrastructure in Brunei’s economic development who also called for comprehensive digital adoption across all governmental levels.
The minister shared that preparations for an intra-trade environment are underway, with an anticipated launch by next year, while initiatives to ensure widespread digital usage are being carried out with the aim of reaching a 90-per-cent reduction in cash transactions, such as cashless payment option at petrol stations. Yang Berhormat Chong also brought up cybersecurity concerns amid the widespread of digital payments.
She asked, “In the face of rising number of online scams, what steps and strategies are in place to fortify user safety in the digital realm? How does the ministry plan to ensure financial institutions are held accountable for preventing such fraud, particularly those involving mule accounts?”
The minister, in response, acknowledged the gravity of the issue and assured that banks have implemented measures to address the ever-evolving threats.
Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Yang Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha meanwhile said, the introduction of the Cybersecurity Act adds a regulatory layer, a move that shows the government’s commitment to combatting cybercrimes and holding the perpetrators accountable. – Fadley Faisal
