Rokiah Mahmud
On the sixth day of the 18th Legislative Council (LegCo) Meeting yesterday, LegCo members unanimously passed an allocated budget of BND108,029,200 for the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunciations (MTIC) for the financial year 2022-2023.
Minister of Transport and Infocommunciations Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof disclosed that BND34,416,971 is provisioned for development expenditures.
He said an estimated BND28 million has been allocated for recurring expenses of the E-Government National Centre (EGNC) to fund shared services, skills training, system maintenance and strengthening on the security front, in view of cyber threats.
Meanwhile, BND9.24 million has been allocated to fund software licences for all ministries, BND4.8 million for Darussalam Line 123, and BND6.6 million for connectivity network for all ministries.
“BND5 million has been allocated for the Public Transportation e-System project, under the 11th National Development Plan (RKN). A cost plan of BND370,000 to improve the public transportation service is estimated for financial year 2022-2023,” Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Abdul Mutalib said.
“Among the initiatives include providing an inter-change bus stop at Jalan Kianggeh and Jalan McArthur in Bandar Seri Begawan, and providing and upgrading bus stop infrastructures and facilities in Temburong District,” he added.
Around BND5.4 million is provisioned for the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA) to enhance infrastructures at the Brunei International Airport, including a detention pond for flood mitigation, installation of an advanced lightning protection system and airfield ground lightning system.
Meanwhile, under recurring DCA expenses, BND3.5 million has been allocated for operations and maintenance of passenger facilities as well as for baggage handling and screening; BND1.8 million for the maintenance of navigation system equipment; and BND1.5 million for building maintenance and cleaning of surroundings.
Around BND10 million has been allocated under MTIC to fund Cyber Security Brunei (CSB) operation absorption, BND300,000 to fund initiatives under the National Road Safety Council (MKKJR); and BND8.5 million for Land Transport Department (JKR).
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the transportation sector, recording a decrease in terms of passenger traffic movement and cargo.
For air transport, the passage movement had been affected by about 70 per cent from March to July 2020; however, a 22.1 per cent increase was observed in March to July 2021. The minimal rate of increase is seen in sea and maritime transport services, particularly in the number of ship containers and conventional cargo.
