Leadership development in the current environment marked by uncertainty and rapid change, is important, said Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof.
He made these comments as the guest of honour at an event where 30 participants were awarded certificates of course completion for the 18th Executive Development Programme for Senior Government Officials (EDPSGO) on Public Policy and Management, hosted by the Ministry of Defence.
The closing ceremony was held at the Officers’ Mess in Bolkiah Garrison.
The participants were from the government sector, including senior officers from the PMO, Ministry of Defence , Ministry of Finance and Economy, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Development and Royal Brunei Police Force.
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi also highlighted the significance of achieving the One Ministerial Approach and Whole-of-Nation Approach through collaborative civil and military integration, as outlined in the Defence White Paper 2021.
The minister stressed the need for individuals who are professionals to adapt to future demands while preserving the national identity guided by the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) philosophy.
Acting Director of the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies Haji Abdul Malik bin Haji Kamis acknowledged the enhanced quality of the 18th EDPSGO participants and expressed the institute’s commitment to improving the programme to align with current developments.
Professor of Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP), National University of Singapore Caroline Brassard and representative of the 18th EDP participants Lieutenant Colonel (U) Mohammad Khairul bin Pehin Datu Indera Dato Paduka Seri Haji Sulaiman shared insights into the participants’ experiences throughout the programme.
Additionally, the programme featured six foreign participants including from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Oman.
The three-month programme by the LKYSPP National University of Singapore aimed to provide knowledge and training for senior executive officers on perspectives and conceptual frameworks within the field of public policy and management.
This year’s participants completed a four-day study tour to Singapore from September 11 to 14.
Since its inauguration in 2004, 447 senior officers have completed the EDPSGO programme to date. – Rokiah Mahmud
