Adib Noor
A budget of BND573,189,035 has been allocated to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), said Minister at the PMO and Minister of Defence II Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof during the 19th Legislative Council session yesterday.
The minister said the budget is planned with an emphasis on the goals and priorities supporting the national budget theme of the year, ‘Building a Prosperous Future Together’.
It was further explained that the PMO as the agency plays an important role in leading and coordinating the implementation of the functions of the Government of 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 and fully upholds the wishes of the monarch, in continuing to develop and improve the delivery of public service, the development of economy as well as safeguarding the interests, peace, and harmony of the state which includes the people and residents of the country, which is in line with the vision of the strategic plan of the PMO – ‘Excellent leadership and governance’ – and the goals of Brunei Vision 2035.
Accordingly, the PMO will target the implementation of their expenditure budget based on efforts that support the three National Budget priorities set.
The first priority is to maintain public welfare. The PMO will continue to act to formulate strategies to preserve political stability, defend national sovereignty and linking defence capabilities and diplomatic capabilities as well as preparations in dealing with security threats.
The national security agencies will work together with the public through whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approaches, in maintaining the well-being, security and peace of the Sultanate.
The second priority, which is to support inclusive and resilient national recovery, the PMO will to work diligently to manage the production of oil and gas resources to help develop the national economy.
Overall, he said, the energy sector continues to play an important role in improving the economy where the energy sector has contributed approximately 60 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP) and as many as 22,000 jobs.
Thirdly, the development of a dynamic, proactive and innovative human capital. The PMO will continue to implement capacity development programmes, including a new job placement programme, Public Service Development Programme to Singapore, aimed at providing opportunities for outstanding officers in the public service to be placed in government agencies or government-related agencies in Singapore for a period, according to the fields in line with the needs and strategies of ministries, departments and government agencies in the Sultanate.
