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 yesterday highlighted the Sultanate’s success in upholding peace, stability and prosperity in the 40 years since independence.
The monarch attributes the accomplishment to “our combined efforts with the consent of Allah the Almighty” and expressed hope that the upcoming National Day celebration will see a heightened spirit of patriotism among the population that is determined to bring the country towards the goals of Brunei Vision 2035.
His Majesty said this in a New Year 2024 titah broadcast on Radio Television Brunei (RTB) last night.
His Majesty also brought up the integration of religious subjects into general education, which the monarch said had sparked a range of public reactions.
“I hope all parties, especially parents, will come to understand that such a move is aimed at looking after the well-being of students by ensuring the learning environment is balanced.”
The monarch also highlighted the encouraging development outside the oil and gas industry in the past year and applauded the concerted efforts from both the government and the private sector in diversifying the economy.
His Majesty also hopes to see such efforts in the new year with the creation of a dynamic and sustainable economy in mind.
“The public sector must continue to fine-tune its policies and regulations, as well as services, to establish an ecosystem conducive to economic growth while promoting the practice of accountability among its personnel,” said the monarch, adding that incorporating Islamic values in governance is vital for the stability and survival of the nation.
His Majesty expressed hope to see more meaningful changes in the coming year including updating the development blueprints to inch the nation closer to realising Brunei Vision 2035.
“I hope to see my government make use of whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approaches to ensure that the plans for the nation remain relevant and without gaps in implementation.”
His Majesty acknowledged that 2023 had been challenging to the world due to crises such as geopolitical tensions, trade wars and climate change, and believes that these issues will continue to influence the global direction.
As such, the monarch called on the populace to “face these changes with an open mind and take advantage of the opportunities that arise”.
On climate change, His Majesty vows to continue to push for global efforts in tackling the issue, while highlighting the national commitment through the establishment of the Brunei Darussalam National Climate Change Policy (BNCCP) and the Sultanate’s being appointed the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change.
His Majesty also underlined two significant initiatives being put forward in the past year – the National Retirement Scheme (SPK) and the introduction of minimum wage, which the monarch hopes will “encourage the strengthening of the workforce in both public and private sectors”.
His Majesty also expressed deep concerns for Palestine and called for the people to come together and help the Palestinians through religious rituals and contributions to the humanitarian fund.
“Let us pray for the people of Palestine, that they will be under the protection of Allah the Almighty,” the monarch said. – Azlan Othman
