Coordinating Minister for National Security, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof in his motion in Support of Coordinated Efforts towards achieving Brunei Vision 2035 yesterday on the first day of the Second Meeting of the 22nd Legislative Council (LegCo) Session touched on the urgent need for enhanced coordination towards achieving Brunei Vision 2035, Priority Areas of the National Security Cluster, Strategic Momentum Towards Brunei Vision 2035 and Call for Cooperation and Constructive Feedback.

Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi explained, “With less than one decade remaining to realise 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 aspiration of achieving the goals of Brunei Vision 2035, the need for effective coordination across ministries has become increasingly urgent.”

As emphasised in His Majesty’s titah, he said, “Each ministry can no longer operate in isolation (silo). Instead, the Coordinating Ministers are expected to serve as the principal link in uniting the government’s efforts, priorities, and actions towards the common objective of advancing the well-being of the people and the nation’s progress.

“This strategic initiative reflects the need for a more integrated national coordination framework in support of Brunei Vision 2035, where closer and more cohesive collaboration among ministries and government agencies will continue to be strengthened to ensure that national policies and development programmes are implemented more efficiently, effectively, and with greater impact.”

He added, “In this regard, His Majesty also decreed that the Coordinating Ministers are to serve as the main leads for cross-cutting issues involving ministries and are responsible for ensuring that implementation gaps between ministries do not widen. To fulfil this role, the Coordinating Ministers have given mandate to issue appropriate coordination directives.”

However, he also highlighted, “Any decisions involving the formulation of new policies, strategic policy changes, significant resource allocations, and coordination measures with major implications for national interests will continue to require His Majesty’s prior consent. The Coordinating Ministers are also responsible for monitoring the progress of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), identifying challenges or shortcomings that arise, and ensuring that corrective actions are taken promptly.

In upholding His Majesty’s titah, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi expressed, “I, together with Coordinating Minister for Economic Policies and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin, and Coordinating Minister for Social Policies and Manpower and Minister of Home Affairs Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman, have held several discussion sessions on priority areas and the organizational arrangement of the ministries under our respective clusters.”

He added, “I will continue to work closely with my fellow Coordinating Ministers and the other ex-officio members of the Legislative Council, not as separate ministries or clusters operating independently, but as one united and mutually supportive team, committed to realising His Majesty’s vision of unifying and coordinating our collective efforts towards achieving the goals of Brunei Vision 2035.”

As the Coordinating Minister for National Security, Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi shared, “Based on my observations, assessments and experiences throughout my eight years chairing the National Security Committee since 2018, the Prime Minister’s Office has identified seven priority areas that will serve as the main focus of the National Security Cluster, namely Crime and Public Order; Border Security and Integrity; Cybersecurity; Economic Security; Food Security; Energy Security and Sustainability as well as Social Security, reflecting a comprehensive Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Nation approach.”

In addition, matters relating to salary payments and the outflow of funds (remittances) overseas were discussed, as well as the concentration of foreign workers in certain sectors (such as retail, agriculture, and school canteens), which re- quires measures to safeguard business opportunities for locals. From the perspective of Cybersecurity and Public Order, he shared, “The discussions emphasised the growing threats of cybercrime, scam centres, and the risks associated with the misuse of technology, including the implications of artificial intelligence (Al) on the future of employment.” He emphasised that these priority areas will continue to be further refined collectively by the Coordinating Ministers as one cohesive team. The success of cross-cluster coordination can only be achieved through a spirit of cooperation, complementarity, and shared commitment towards a common goal, namely the successful realisation of Brunei Vision 2035.

To support the implementation of this coordination framework, he revealed, “Several governance mechanisms have also been proposed and are currently being implemented, namely the establishment of the National Security Cluster Coordination Meeting; the updating of the structure and membership of the National Security Committee; and the alignment of existing councils and committees to avoid overlapping responsibilities.”

In this regard, he said, “I would like to remind myself and also call upon all honourable members of the Legislative Council, including the appointed members who serve as a bridge and voice representing the people and the wider community, to continue playing a proactive and constructive role in supporting the nation’s development agenda.”

(news source: Borneo Bulletin ; pic source: Info Foto, Jbt Penerangan)