DAY 1 MORNING

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📖 Reading time: 8 minutes
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12TH MARCH 2026 MORNING

(The meeting began at 10.00 a.m.)

Yang Mulia Jurutulis

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The First Meeting of the 22nd Session of the Legislative Council convenes today, Thursday, 22 Ramadan 1447 corresponding to 12 March 2026, preceded by the Doa Selamat.

DOA SELAMAT

(The Doa Selamat was recited by Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mustapa bin Haji Murat, Imam of Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque)

Yang Berhormat Yang Di-Pertua

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah Ta’ala and His blessings. Praise be to Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala because by His abundant mercy and permission alone, we are able to be present this morning at the First Meeting of the 22nd Session of the Legislative Council.

Blessings and peace be upon our great leader, Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wassalam, his family, his companions and his followers who are obedient and faithful until the end of time.

Your Honourable Members. Indeed, this morning’s sitting is highly significant and glorious because today the Official Opening Ceremony of the First Meeting of the 22nd Session of the Legislative Council will be officiated by Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam.

Your Honourable Members. Before us are meeting matters that we need to settle. Therefore, I suggest that it would be best for us to proceed to settle them.

Yang Mulia Jurutulis

Correction of the Journal (Minutes of Meeting) for the 21st Session of the Legislative Council.

Yang Berhormat Yang Di-Pertua

Your Honourable Members. Before us is the Journal (Minutes of Meeting) for the 21st Session of the Legislative Council which has already been circulated earlier to all Your Honourable Members.

I believe Your Honourable Members have had the opportunity to examine the said Journal (Minutes of Meeting). Therefore, I would now like to give the opportunity, if there are any Your Honourable Members who wish to make corrections to it, I invite Your Honourable Members to make such statements.

It appears that there are no Your Honourable Members who wish to make any statement, and so I conclude that the Journal (Minutes of Meeting) of the 21st Session of the Legislative Council is correct and approved.

(Gavel struck)

Your Honourable Members. Shortly, the Official Opening Ceremony for the First Meeting of the 22nd Session of the Legislative Council will be officiated by Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam.

Therefore, to enable this assembly to receive His Majesty’s arrival at this ceremony, I adjourn this Council sitting. Thank you. Wabillahit Taufik Walhidayah Wassalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Ta'ala Wabarakatuh.

(The Council was adjourned)

TITAH

ROYAL ADDRESS OF KEBAWAH DULI YANG MAHA MULIA PADUKA SERI BAGINDA SULTAN HAJI HASSANAL BOLKIAH MU'IZZADDIN WADDAULAH IBNI AL-MARHUM SULTAN HAJI OMAR 'ALI SAIFUDDIEN SA'ADUL KHAIRI WADDIEN, SULTAN DAN YANG DI-PERTUAN NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY OF THE FIRST MEETING OF THE 22ND SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON THURSDAY, 22 RAMADAN 1447 CORRESPONDING TO 12 MARCH 2026 HELD AT THE COUNCIL CHAMBER BUILDING, JALAN DEWAN MAJLIS, BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM.

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Praise be to Allah, Lord of all the worlds, and with Him we seek help in the affairs of this world and religion, and prayers and peace be upon the noblest of messengers, our master Muhammad, and upon his family and all his companions, and thereafter.

Praise be to Allah, by whose grace alone we are able to gather for the Official Opening Ceremony of the First Meeting of the 22nd Session of the Legislative Council for the year 2026.

The sittings of the Legislative Council are not merely an annual gathering, but also a strategic platform to debate the real issues faced by the country and the people, based on in-depth scrutiny and solid facts. The approach of dialogue and deliberation sessions together with Ministries and Government Departments must be utilised as best as possible. In My view, such an approach has indeed proven effective in bringing members of the Legislative Council closer to the community, in caring for the people’s needs and listening to their grievances.

The country must always remain alert to international geopolitical upheavals and their effects on global economic challenges.

Our country is also not exempt from the impact of these challenges, especially if such impact affects the prices of energy commodities that are the source of the country’s revenue. This is where members of the Legislative Council must join hands and work together to address any uncertainties that arise.

I wish to see more aggressive implementation measures as well as resilience in formulating national development policies and strategies, particularly towards the goals of Wawasan Brunei 2035, including continuous efforts in exploring strategic investments in new sectors that can further stimulate the country’s economic growth and efforts to strengthen the government’s fiscal position.

What is certain is that the need to develop new things is not an option, but rather a necessity that should be realised. Nevertheless, progress must also be balanced with prudent expenditure, including prioritising high-impact initiatives to enhance the country’s resilience.

New approaches are indeed needed in creating a conducive ecosystem towards empowering the role of the private sector as well as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

From the aspect of infrastructure and public facilities, efforts need to continue by exploring the provision of public transport services that are of higher quality and safer.

I deeply sympathise with the recent tragedy which claimed the lives of two cyclists. Therefore in this matter, I call upon the relevant parties, especially the National Road Safety Council, not only to look at legislation and enforcement but also to give attention to safe infrastructure for use.

From another aspect, My Government will continue to strengthen a work culture that is clean, ethical, with integrity and excellent governance across all sectors. This includes efforts to aggressively combat the scourge of corruption and abuse of power, which continue to be carried out by focusing on the Government and private sectors, particularly those involving service and enforcement aspects.

My Government will not compromise in combating corruption because if it is not curbed it will threaten national security.

Finally, it is My hope that the Legislative Council will debate strategic and priority issues as a source of sound, pragmatic and innovative ideas in line with the country’s current needs. I wish for the members of the Legislative Council to join hands together with the Government to seek solutions to the challenges and problems faced by society and the country.

Our goal is clear, namely to build a progressive and forward-looking nation that balances innovation with financial sustainability while continuing to guarantee the well-being of the people.

Thank you. Wabillahit Taufeq Walhidayah, Wassalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

DOA SELAMAT

(The Doa Selamat was recited by Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr.) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, State Mufti, Negara Brunei Darussalam).

(Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam and the Royal Family departed from the ceremony accompanied by Yang Berhormat Yang Di-Pertua Majlis Mesyuarat Negara).

Yang Berhormat Yang Di-Pertua

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Your Honourable Members, praise be to Allah, we are grateful to Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala because by His grace, mercy and permission as well, the Official Opening Ceremony of the First Meeting of the 22nd Session of the Legislative Council has been duly and perfectly officiated by Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam, on which occasion His Majesty delivered a titah.

To enable this ceremony to receive the departure of Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam for a group photograph and thereafter to leave this Council Chamber Building, I therefore adjourn this sitting of the Legislative Council and God willing, we will reconvene tomorrow, Friday, 23 Ramadan 1447 corresponding to 13 March 2026, starting from 9.30 a.m.

Thank you. Wabillahit Taufeq Walhidayah, Wassalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

(The Council was adjourned)