Brunei Darussalam in 2009: Addressing the Multiple Challenges

While the full impact of the global recession of 2008 and early 2009 spared Brunei Darussalam, it nevertheless had to tread cautiously and avert any negative consequences from the economic fallout on the socio-political landscape. Brunei Darussalam — the abode of peace — is often characterized by outsiders as a place where life is easy and nothing much ever happens. To the casual observer it may appear that no dramatic events upset this state of affairs. But Brunei Darussalam has had its share of significant issues, and 2009 will be seen as an eventful year in the socio-political annals of the state.

Maturing Nation

Brunei entered its twenty-fifth year of statehood with the theme Kedewasaan Bernegara (maturity of the nation) for its national day celebrations. The aspirations of a maturing nation were emphasized in leaders' pronouncements and policy implementations. Although a modernizing monarchical system with an appointed cabinet, the system has nevertheless become entrenched for ministers and civil servants to follow a well trodden behavioural system established over the decades. This particular attitude and work ethic finally drew a hard hitting speech from the monarch, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. He berated the state's ministers and officials for their lack of initiative and failure to be proactive in a number of areas that required appropriate action plans, and remarked his abhorrence of the practice of acting like robots. Although welcoming his frank observations, the nation was taken aback by such a forceful speech by the Sultan. Moreover, it became a recurrent theme in his addresses throughout the year; he has been expressing his deep concern over the state of affairs through a few other equally intense remarks, for instance, on the issue of unspent zakat money in the face of prevalent poverty within certain sections of the community, the direction the newly created Islamic University was pursuing against the original intentions that it was established for, and the lack of obligatory religious education in the revamped syllabus for public schools.

As in previous years, the legislative council met for its annual deliberations in March. As expected, the Sultan highlighted a number of national concerns and strategies; he announced the formation of a sustainability fund to ensure the long term viability of the state's finances (heavily dependent on the volatility of hydrocarbon revenues tied to global markets), and a supplementary national budget of B$30 million for repair and reconstruction following damages from one of the worst floods and landslides to hit Brunei in early 2009. The legislative sessions continue to be one of the important venues where details on development and other matters are aired publicly and debated. Certain issues relating to budget allocation and the responsibilities of the various ministries were highlighted by the ministers in their statements and responses to queries, giving the public a clearer insight.

In keeping with the progressive intent of the government, a number of new policies were announced. The retirement age for Brunei's public sector employees is to be increased from the present fifty-five to sixty years as of the next calendar year. A new supplemental pension scheme was introduced especially for the lower income category, in addition to the existing Employee Provident Fund for the public and private sectors. Workers were also provided with a better work environment with the enactment of the Employment Order 2009, that takes into account standards set by the International Labor Organization, of which Brunei has been a member for the past two years. Previously, the Labor Act 1955 set the guidelines on employment issues and was deemed to be out of sync.

In line with national aspirations, the welfare of Brunei's citizens is a priority, including land and housing allocations. A new programme had been introduced a year earlier which tasked the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) with constructing low cost houses for a long list of eligible recipients registered several years earlier. The BEDB had in turn engaged the private sector which would potentially accelerate the construction process. It was reported that the waiting list of...