Rokiah Mahmud
The titah by 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 during the opening ceremony of 19th session of the Legislative Council (LegCo) contained advice and reminders that reflected the monarch’s wisdom, visionary insights as well as continuous attention in empowering and strengthening the economic growth of the country, while improving the citizens’ and residents’ well-being that should be upheld by all levels of society.
The matter was underlined by Special Advisor to His Majesty and Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Diraja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa bin Pehin Datu Perdana Manteri Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Ibrahim in his deliberation of motion of thanks at the 19th LegCo session.
Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Diraja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa said His Majesty’s titah touched on several matters such as the issue of unemployment, the role played by the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in progressing the country’s economic growth, the National Retirement Scheme (SPK) and the country’s international commitment of which Brunei Darussalam will be the host country for the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change.
On unemployment, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Diraja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa said the matter needs to be given attention, not only through the whole-of-government approach, but also through the whole-of-nation approach. “Parties including government and private sectors as well as the community need to give full cooperation and strong support towards reducing the unemployment rate in the country,” he said.
On the role that needs to be played by MSMEs in advancing the country’s economic growth, he said His Majesty’s titah highlighted the importance in providing a conducive and customer-friendly ecosystem to encourage locals to get involved in business and drive existing enterprises continuously towards progress.
Therefore, efforts to improve the country’s position in the ease of doing business index shall continuously be carried out to shape the country to become pro-business and pro-investment, while attracting more foreign investors to carry out their business operations in the country.
Regarding the SPK scheduled to be launched in July, it is hoped that the scheme to replace the Employees Trust Fund (TAP) and Supplemental Contributory Pension (SCP) will strengthen the people’s social protection and welfare towards their retirement and by taking into account several factors as well as challenges being encountered at the moment.
In addition, he also touched on the country’s international commitment to addressing on the climate change issue. His Majesty has consented for Brunei Darussalam to become the host country for the ASEAN Centre for Climate Change. Through the platform, the centre not only will serve as a research hub pertaining to climate change, but it will enhance the ability and awareness of local experts, especially in the field of climate change through knowledge transfer, he said.
