Legislative Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat Abdul Aziz bin Haji Hamdan said the authorities, especially the Tourism Development Department, should be open and willing to accept views and ideas from local tourism industry players including tourism agencies, the Village Council through the One Village One Product (1K1P) initiative, local tourism bodies and individuals active in this field.

Among the suggestions to empower the tourism industry are Empowering Community- Based Tourism (CBT); Promoting Digital and Innovative Tourism; establishing collaboration with travel influencers and international media and capabilities and challenges study, he said during the Second Meeting of the 21″ LegCo session on Thursday.

Yang Berhormat Abdul Aziz said as one of the economic sectors with great potential and requiring serious attention to continue to develop, comprehensive cooperation from all is important to empower the tourism industry, including the local community which is a core element in making an authentic and effective tourism experience a success.

INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES

Meanwhile, he also proposed for the need to improve infrastructure facilities such as safe jogging paths, adequate lighting and user- friendly recreational areas so that the healthy culture continues to be relevant, grows and suits the society’s lifestyle.

Yang Berhormat Abdul Aziz said this includes creating several specific developments such as the development of special jogging tracks: paths separated from main roads to ensure user safety; collaboration with district authorities; creating a ‘Healthy recreation area’ policy in districts and encouraging local communities to participate in the care and maintenance of jogging areas on a voluntary basis or through corporate social responsibility programmes.

WELFARE ASSISTANCE

Meanwhile, as a suggestion on improving welfare assistance, the LegCo member said several steps can be considered with among them being the introduction of SKN (National Welfare Scheme) membership card; integrated and user-friendly digital system; early renewal period; periodic monitoring and evaluation and user support and assistance services.

He said guidance programmes to help the less fortunate and welfare recipients should always be improved in terms of their effective- ness. Among the programmes that can be considered are the social entrepreneurship programme; skills and vocational training; fi- nancial literacy programme; peer mentorship: life coaching programme; targeted job place ment programme and the graduation from the aid initiative.

He also called for a system where aid recipients are guided in stages to break out of aid dependency, with periodic assessment of their progress. Efforts such as these are in line with the main aspiration of Brunei Darussalam’s Social Blueprint, which is creating people who are self-reliant, resilient and future-ready and able to break out of dependence solely on aid. Yang Berhormat Abdul Aziz said.

BUSINESS AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Speaking of business and employment opportunities, especially among the youth, he said it is important to look at mechanisms that can make the youth agents of national development as this will not only help reduce the unemployment rate, but also boost the country’s economic growth through the creation of new businesses that are more competitive and viable.

Among the new business forms with the potential to be explored by the youth are digital and technology-based businesses, e-commerce, digital services, mobile application/software development, creative industries, modern agriculture and agrotechnology, agropreneur products, community and social services, digital learning/online tuition, green business, recycled/eco-friendly products and environmental consultancy, he added.

The LegCo member said in this regard, it is appropriate for stakeholders to work together in an integrated manner to provide an inclusive and conducive business ecosystem to enable youth to move the national development agenda more comfortably, enthusiastically and confidently, while contributing to sustainable economic development.

INITIATIVES FOR MCYS, MOH

He also proposed initiatives for the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) and the Ministry of Health (MOH).

For the MCYS, he proposed the launching of national campaigns such as ‘One Day, One Step’ or Active Youth. Healthy Nation’ to promote an active lifestyle. He also proposed providing grants or incentives for communities wishing to organise light sports activities such as jogging, aerobics or fun runs.

For the MoH, Yang Berhormat Abdul Aziz proposed to provide health information along jogging routes such as guide boards on healthy heart rates, calorie intake burnt and organising periodic health check-ups in popular jogging areas.

This effort is also one of the strategic targets of the MoH, particularly in increasing the life expectancy of the country’s citizens, which is targeting an average age of 82 by 2035, in line with Brunei Vision 2035 goals, he added.

GRATITUDE FOR ALLOCATION

Meanwhile, LegCo member Yang Berhormat Hajah Safiah binti Sheikh Haji Abdul Salam ex- pressed gratitude for allocating BNDS.35 billion for the 2025/2028 Financial Year with the theme “United to Build a More Prosperous Future’,

She also expressed her appreciation to Minister of Home Affairs Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman and the ministry for their role in making local products from MSME entrepreneurs an official souvenir during the Audience and Conferring of State Medals in conjunction with 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’s 79% birthday celebration.

This approach, she added, not only reflects consistent support for local enterprises, but is also the best example of how national events can be utilised to strengthen the branding of local products and directly contribute to the socio-economic improvement of entrepreneurs.

DEPENDENCE, SOCIAL ISSUES

Yang Berhormat Hajah Safiah also spoke about the continued rate of dependence on assislance among individuals able to work adding that the increase in crime are social issues demanding concerted action to address them.

In this regard, upgrading the national welfare system – not just channeling aid, but empower- ing recipients to be self-reliant and strengthening the National Council for Social Issues (MKIS) as the main coordinator of the country’s social policy, is very important.

She also reiterated her statement during the meeting deliberation that Bangsa Brunei Cemerlang is not just an aspiration but needs to be brought to life as a national agenda.

“We are a united team with high integrity, practicing a culture of delivery and account- ability to build a bright, fair and sustainable future”.

(News & pic source: Borneo Bulletin)