DAY 17 MORNING

For Informational Purposes Only

27TH MARCH 2023 - MORNING

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(The meeting began at 10.00 am)

Clerk

‫للا‬ ‫بس هم ه‬ ‫الرحمن الرحي هم‬The First Meeting of the Nineteenth Session of the National Assembly is held today, which is the seventeenth day, Monday, 5th of Ramadan 1444H corresponding to 27th March 2023M, preceded by a Prayer of Blessing.

PRAYER OF BLESSING

The Prayer of Blessing is recited by Your Honorable Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Awang Haji Emran bin Haji Kunchang (Imam of Masjid Omar ’Ali Saifuddien).

Your Honorable Speaker

ُ‫الرحْ يم السَّال ُم عل ْي ُك ْم ورحْ مةُ للاِ وبركاتُه‬ َّ ‫الرحْ َٰم ِن‬ ِ ‫ِبس ِْم ه‬ َّ ‫ّٰللا‬ ‫أ َ ْل َح ْمدُ ّ ٰلِل‬, we thank ‫للا سبحانه وتعالى‬ for His abundant blessings and permission, which have enabled us to gather again this morning for the seventeenth day of the First Meeting of the Nineteenth Session of the National Assembly.

May blessings and peace be upon our Great Leader ‫للا عليه وسال هم‬ ‫نبي محم هد ص هل ه‬, his family, his companions, and his loyal followers until the end of time.

Honorable Members. The National Assembly is still discussing the Supply Bill (2023) for the year 2023/2024, which has been presented for the First and Second Readings by Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and the Minister of Finance and Economy II.

To enable us to continue discussing and examining the topics contained in this Bill, I propose that we adjourn this National Assembly meeting and reconvene at the Committee stage.

(The National Assembly is adjourned)

(The meeting continues as a Committee)

Your Honorable Chairperson

Honorable Members. The National Assembly is now fully convened as a Committee to consider and discuss the Supply Bill (2023) for the year 2023/2024, item by item.

We held a Committee meeting last Saturday and have completed the discussion and approval of the budgets of the major ministries. Now we will move on to the next topic.

Clerk

Topic SA01A Progress.

Your Honorable Chairperson

Honorable Members. As stated by Clerk, we are now discussing the Progress Schedule.

Before we begin discussing the topic of Progress, as usual, I would like to give way first to Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Second Minister of Finance and Economy to deliver his opening remarks on the Progress Budget that has been prepared.

I now invite the Honorable Minister to speak.

Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Second Minister of Finance and Economy

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. And greetings. I am pleased to say that I wish to extend my wishes for a blessed Ramadan to you, Your Honorable Members and everyone present in this esteemed Parliament. May all your good deeds be accepted and always be under the grace of Allah.

Your Honorable Speaker and Your Honorable Members. As I have mentioned during the presentation of the Supply Bill 2023/2024 on March 6, 2023, the National Development Plan Steering Committee, chaired by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, has approved the extension of the 11th National Development Plan or RKN for another year until the end of the 2023/2024 Financial Year.

This extension takes into account the ability of ministries to complete RKN 11 projects that are still in progress and provides opportunities for ministries to review new projects requested under RKN 12 later to have a positive impact on achieving Brunei Vision 2035. In addition, the ability of ministries to implement projects depends on several factors. Among them are: -

i) Initial work including determining design requirements;

ii) Site adjustments;

iii) Preparation of project documents; and

iv) Alignment of projects that can be shared.

For the 2023/2024 Financial Year, $500 million has been allocated for development spending to finance projects that have been approved under RKN 11, which currently involves 211 projects, including 28 new projects that have been approved.

New projects that have been approved include projects that have a high impact on increasing contributions to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), including those that contribute to digital transformation towards increasing the country's innovation and productivity levels and can increase job opportunities for local children.

Your Honorable Speaker. During the presentation of the Supply Bill (2023) previously, I have shared the allocations for several RKN projects that have been prepared. Therefore, I will briefly mention them here.

From the allocation of $500 million provided, the security sector was allocated $174.7 million, the social services sector was allocated $108.5 million, the public utilities sector was allocated $105.6 million. The transportation and communication sector was allocated $57.3 million. The industrial and trade sector was allocated $20.3 million. The public building sector was allocated $14.6 million, the consolidation sector including financing for completed projects with liabilities was allocated $9.8 million, the information and communication technology sector was allocated $6.2 million. The Science and Technology, Research and Development and Innovation sector was allocated $2.9 million and the Human Capital Development sector was allocated $130,000.00.

In terms of allocation distribution according to the progress of the relevant projects, $368.1 million was allocated for projects that are currently being implemented, $82.1 million was allocated for projects in the bidding stage.

$31.3 million was allocated for projects that are still in the design and planning stage. $14.7 million was allocated to pay for penultimate payment claims, retention money and so on, specifically for completed projects. And $3.8 million was allocated for idea reserves.

Your Honorable Speaker. Out of the 211 RKN projects, a total of 45 projects have been completed physically. However, allocations are still needed to finance payments for consultants, final claims, retention money and so on. Among the completed projects are the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge, upgrading of the Serasa Industrial Road to the Muara Bridge, construction of an overpass on the Muara-Tutong Highway, the Kampung Lugu Intersection, the Kampung Lumut Development Scheme, the Sungai Tutong Floodplain Improvement Scheme, the BruHims system improvement and the construction of the Sultan Hassan Secondary School in Bangar.

A total of 75 projects are currently being implemented, including infrastructure projects such as:

i) Education infrastructure projects such as the construction of the Islamic University of Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA) and UTB phase 4 - School of Applied Sciences and Mathematics; ii) Agriculture, agribusiness, and fisheries projects such as the construction of additional water schemes for rice cultivation throughout the Brunei-Muara District to support rice production. High-tech vegetable production to generate GDP, including electricity supply at the Tungku Agro-Technology Park and Kampung Batumpu; iii) Livestock development plans to generate production, including electricity supply in the Merangking Agricultural Development Area Phase 1, Belait District; and iv) A research and reference analysis center for livestock diseases; v) Advancing and opening sites for the aquaculture industry, including work to provide basic facilities for the Sungai Mangsalut Kampung Tanah Jambu, Sungai Paku, and Kampung Rampayoh aquaculture sites, and a program to increase aquaculture industry production, including improving irrigation systems in the shrimp farming area at Pengkalan Sibabau Zone II, Kampung Mentiri.

3. Electricity supply projects under the Ministry of Energy, the majority of which are aimed at strengthening the electrical network system, as well as asset and inventory management projects for electrical supplies, including network control management, monitoring and control, and data acquisition systems.

4. Water supply, water flow, and dam construction projects, such as upgrading main and tributary rivers, constructing the Bukit Barun Water Treatment Plant Stage 8, and replacing or relocating old main pipes for all districts.

5. New mosque construction projects, such as the new RPN Kampung Mengkubau Mosque, the new RPN Kampung Meragang Mosque, and the new RPN Kampung Lumut Mosque. Meanwhile, 91 projects are still in various stages such as planning, bidding, and design, including upgrading government school network infrastructure, the new RPN Kampung Lugu Mosque, the new STKRJ Kampung Telisai Mosque, constructing a bridge at the Muara-Tutong Highway storage area, the Tanjong Kajar Industrial Site, repairing the runway at the Brunei International Airport Phase II, constructing a new raw water pumping system in Badas, and installing raw water pipes from Badas to the SPARK area. For the information of Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members, a total of 11 projects in the 11th National Development Plan have been canceled, taking into account that 7 projects will be implemented through alternative financing and 4 projects are no longer needed.

Your Honorable Speaker, the amount of allocation for the 11th National Development Plan (RKN) is based on the progress of project implementation or S-curve projects that have been approved, which can cause the allocation to be higher or lower compared to previous financial years or previous RKNs. Allocation based on this S-curve is important to ensure that the allocated funds can be used optimally.

As usual, the RKN Division in the Ministry of Finance and Economy will continue discussions with ministries through the RKN Working Committee to ensure that project implementation follows the established plan.

The progress of RKN projects will not only be monitored through the RKN Working Committee, but also through the National Budget Quarterly Meetings and Monthly Monitoring Meetings, as well as site visits with RKN Project Coordinators in each ministry.

Your Honorable Speaker, that is all I can share as an introduction to the presentation of the 11th National Development Plan allocation for the 2023/2024 Financial Year. If there are any questions related to the implementation of these development projects, I am confident that my fellow colleagues will be able to provide further explanations as the implementing agencies of their respective ministry projects.

That is all, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Speaker

Honorable Members, the statement presented by the Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Second Minister of Finance and Economy II regarding the preparation of the Development Budget is clear and I would like to remind that during our discussions and examination of the previous ministry budgets, the Appointed Honorable Members in particular have discussed matters related to projects under the National Development Plan and indirectly touched on matters under the Development Budget that we are currently discussing.

However, I would like to provide an opportunity for the Appointed Honorable Members who wish to discuss this Development Budget topic. I also want to remind once again to keep questions or explanations short and clear so that we can quickly complete and pass this Bill in front of us this morning.

With me here is a list of Appointed Honorable Members who would like to speak or discuss this topic and I will start by inviting the Honorable Awang Haji Salleh Bostaman bin Haji Zainal Abidin.

Your Honorable Awang Haji Salleh Bostaman bin Haji Zainal Abidin

Peace be upon you and may Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. I have a few questions that I would like clarification on:

1. Regarding the 91 projects that are still in the bidding process and considering that this is the last year of RKN, if these projects are still in the bidding process or in the design phase, can they be completed this year as well?

2. Since the Budget Book for the National Development Plan, the blue book we received, does not show the progress status of the projects and their expenses. We only know the planned cost for RKN-11 and the updated and approved cost, but it does not state the expenditure status of what has been spent and the completion status of the projects. Therefore, those who do not have access to that information cannot assess the effectiveness or viability of these projects being completed. It is a shame if the allocation provided cannot be fully achieved.

3. There are several projects that I would like clarification on, such as in education 1103, there is 022 Permanent Campus of Polytechnic in Ikas Bandung. Is this Ikas Bandung in Brunei or Ikas Bandung in Indonesia with $400,000?

Your Honorable Speaker

Of course, we are discussing the topics of progress that we are implementing in Brunei. So, Ikas Bandung is an area located in, perhaps the location can be stated later by the relevant minister, where is Ikas, Bandung? Please, Your Honorable.

Your Honorable Awang Haji Salleh Bostaman bin Haji Zainal Abidin

There are several issues that I may not know where to ask. Is this the appropriate place or is it a place for annual financial results? If this place is appropriate to ask, if not, I reserve that question and that's all I ask for clarification. Peace be upon you and may Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you.

Your Honorable Speaker

I invite the Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy to answer.

The Minister in the Prime Minister's Office & Second Minister of Finance and Economy

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. Thank you for the questions raised by Your Honorable Awang Haji Salleh Bostaman bin Haji Zainal Abidin.

1. Regarding the 91 projects that are not yet completed or in progress. It is encouraged to complete them this year. Perhaps the reason why these 91 projects have not made significant progress is due to the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the progress of these projects for the past three years. Therefore, it is not possible to complete them within a year, but those that are not yet completed can be brought forward to RKN-12. We will try our best to complete them.

   Status update on the project. At this time, as Kaola mentioned earlier, some projects are completed while others are not. Therefore, a certain allocation is provided. Sometimes, during the implementation period of the project, there may be additional issues such as the site or the design, and so on. The amount allocated may change, some may require more than allocated, while some may require less. So, if there are projects that use more allocation, it will be brought to the attention of the RKN working committee for discussion before approval.

   Although it was shared earlier as requested, the project may end up being different from what was allocated. So, I am not sure of the objective of why the information is necessary, but if there are follow-up questions, Your Honorable can approach the ministry for further information.

2. Regarding Ikas, Bandung. It is in the Tutong District near Lugu, Katimahar. Around that area. Hopefully, that answers the question asked by Your Honorable Awang Haji Salleh Bostaman bin Haji Zainal Abidin. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Speaker

I now invite Your Honorable Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin.

Your Honorable Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. السالم عليكم ورحم هة ه The first question here is regarding the Department of Agriculture.

The title of vote 1101, where the development plan for the livestock industry to generate $106.8 million in 2015 to $300 million in 2020 has been allocated a total plan amount of $26 million.

However, only $4.5 million is needed for this Financial Year 2023/2024. 1101-004.

Kaola's questions are:

i. Is this specifically to continue projects since 2015 that may have been delayed or has it taken into account the current needs of entrepreneurs who require support and assistance in further improving the productivity of crop and livestock production?;

ii. Is this amount sufficient; and

iii. Has the estimation of the needs been discussed with all livestock farmers, farmers, and stakeholders in the agricultural sector?

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. That's all.

Your Honorable Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker and also thank you, Your Honorable Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin for the question regarding the development plan for the livestock industry to generate $106.8 million in 2015 to $300 million in 2020.

Regarding the current projects, there are several new and old projects. These projects are based on the requirements of the entrepreneurs. This means that before we implement the project, we consult with the entrepreneurs to know their requirements. If we do not know their requirements, it will be difficult for us to carry out the project and to make its specifications.

Insha Allah, for the livestock industry project, a budget of over $4.5 million is allocated for the 2023/2024 fiscal year to provide and improve basic infrastructure facilities such as substations, roads, drains, and water for KKP Merangking, Tanah Tuah agricultural development area, Maraburong agricultural development area, and Batang Mitos agricultural development area. These are the projects that will be focused on this year, insha Allah.

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department & Second Minister of Finance and Economy

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. To add to the question asked by Your Honorable Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin, if there is a need to increase the allocation for the National Development Plan within a year, this matter can be brought to the RKN working committee for discussion so that if there is a need, it can be increased.

We do not want the project to be delayed due to the lack of allocation. This development is meant to continue to progress, not because there is an allocation, the project is limited or cannot be continued. Indeed, the amount of $26 million is allocated for this initiative. So, if the $26 million is not enough, we can consider it if there is a need, insha Allah.

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Speaker

I now invite Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim.

Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker for allowing me to join this discussion. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members, may peace be upon you. Thank you also to Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Second Minister of Finance and Economy for the clear, concise, and detailed introduction. I will only make a brief and comprehensive comment and suggest some proposals, Your Honorable Speaker.

Alhamdulillah, in the Financial Year 2023/2024, the amount allocated for the Development Fund Group seems to have increased from $350 million to $500 million. Your Honorable understands that this cautious step is the government's effort to ensure that the country's deficit rate will be more controlled, especially in the current volatile global oil prices, coupled with less encouraging income rates at this time.

Alhamdulillah, Your Honorable observes that the Government under His Majesty Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam is still implementing the fiscal consolidation measures introduced since the Financial Year 2007.

As we are aware, the objective of this measure is to control the level of spending to always be at a sustainable level in the long term to help strengthen the government's financial position. Hopefully, this amount will be spent prudently on matters that bring significant impact to the lives and well-being of the people and to avoid wastages.

In this regard, Your Honorable notes that 45 projects have been completed, and 91 projects are still in the early stages of implementation. Therefore, Your Honorable only wants to know how many projects and programs are expected to be brought forward from RKN-11 to RKN-12, in terms of number and value.

This information is essential so that the number of new projects or programs will increase and act as a driver and catalyst in stimulating economic activities, especially in an economy that is still public-sector driven and heavily dependent on government budget injections to generate growth and expand economic activities.

Capital expenditure is crucial as the basis for capital formation, whose spin-off effects and multiplier effects have a significant impact, given that the private sector is not yet mature and stable. We hope that the lack of government injections will be accommodated by investments from government-owned activities or GLCs and new foreign direct investments in the sectors identified in the industrial roadmap.

Towards this end, Your Honorable suggests that specific policies and regulations must be formulated that require any project to be implemented by GLCs and FDIs to contain local development content as a measure to provide business opportunities to local firms, consultants, and companies so that the construction and related service industries can be revived and sustainable.

Your Honorable, we have previously implemented this matter in the construction of large-scale projects where collaboration between international and local firms has been carried out. This also includes the appointment of site staff consisting of a combination of foreign experts and local engineers, as well as between international and local contractors. Please note that most of these additions have already been committed in specific projects such as Title 110 - Electricity, Title 1107 - Transportation and Communication, Title 1115 - National Housing, and Title 1120 - Safety.

However, there is only about $3,000,000.00 left under the Gagasan Reserve and $475,436.00 with a planned cost of $47,553,597.00 under the Ministry of Finance and Economy II for the development of Micro Economic Cluster that may be involved later.

I have taken note of the opening remarks by Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Minister of Finance and Economy II that these new projects are projects that have a significant impact on economic growth, with a large spin-off and multiplier effect on the country's activities and productivity, and will generate more job opportunities for local citizens.

‫Alhamdulillah‬, I fully support this ‫Hilal‬ initiative, and I hope that these projects will also increase the country's output while helping PMKS to establish and grow, as well as contribute or open up more job opportunities for local citizens.

I hope that the allocated Titles will be implemented as soon as possible in the 2023/2024 financial year to avoid being postponed to the 12th National Development Plan.

Lastly, I would like to touch on Title 001/005, the Opening of Commercial Rice Planting Progress over 500 hectares of Kandol Area Phase 2, which is allocated $5,973,633.00 in this financial year. I am pleased to know what the current rice production target is and how much has been produced so far.

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker, for giving me the opportunity to participate in this discussion. Thank you.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Minister of Finance and Economy II

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. I would like to thank Your Honorable for the questions raised and suggestions for the Ministry of Finance and Economy, especially fiscal consolidation.

This matter has been ongoing for several years, efforts include public-private partnerships, establishment of GLCs to take over services to be run efficiently and also to bring in foreign direct investment into the country to provide more opportunities for locals and further develop our economy.

Our current efforts are to plan for a more promising future in line with the theme of a few years ago, "Invest in Our Future". The projects in this National Development Plan are aimed at creating a foundation for a stronger economic activity and to continue generating jobs for locals and providing opportunities for our local SMEs.

I would like to thank Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abd. Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim for the advice earlier. In addition, to advance these activities, we are not only relying on government funding.

Therefore, if we establish PPPs or GLCs or FDI, it is indeed considered in the capital structure of every organization that we use financing from the banking sector and so on. This is a step towards further developing our banking industry.

Regarding the Micro Economic Cluster, it is a provision made just in case, because we prepare this National Development Plan every 5 years. So if there are projects that are deemed very important to advance our economy and if there is no allocation provided, this is where the Micro Economic Cluster is provided for such projects that may come up after the National Development Plan is prepared. Regarding the Kandol project, I will leave it to my colleague to answer this question. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker and thank you, Your Honorable and also Your Honorable Second Minister of Finance and Economy.

Regarding the Kandol project. InshaAllah, if the Kandol planting project is fully implemented with Sambada rice which has a productivity of 4-5 tons per hectare per harvest, the Kandol project and the overall project in this country will be able to generate self-sufficiency in 8.4% of the country's rice.

Alhamdulillah, at present, the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood is also conducting studies and trials on several types (varieties) of rice imported from China and Indonesia, which have the potential to produce as much as 7 to 8 tons of rice. So if introduced, InshaAllah, if this successful trial is accepted by the taste of the people of Brunei Darussalam, our self-sufficiency in rice will increase to almost 20% in the next few years. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Speaker

I now invite Your Honorable Dayang Hajah Rosmawatty binti Haji Abdul Mumin.

Your Honorable Dayang Hajah Rosmawatty binti Haji Abdul Mumin

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. The allocation of $500 million for the Progress Title is a significant allocation and all the statistics and preparations should be ready and only waiting for the implementation phase or currently in progress.

The kaola question is generally addressed to Your Honorable Speaker, namely:

1. Kaola seeks clarification, has there been sufficient risk assessments and mitigation? This will enable the projects to be implemented with high quality and meet the set time and budget (high quality, on time and on budget); and

2. Has there been a projection to monitor the progress of these projects at the ministry level, taking into account lessons learned from previous projects?

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Minister of Finance and Economy II

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker and thank you also to Your Honorable Dayang Hajah Rosmawatty binti Haji Abdul Mumin for the two questions raised, namely

1. Whether this project has proper assessments or sufficient mitigation so that the project can be implemented with high quality and so on. For example, the Ministry of Finance and Economy is currently preparing RKN-12, so this process started 2 years ago.

   This involves meetings and consultations with each ministry and also visiting project sites and so on, and several meetings are held before these projects are determined, so that each project is implemented according to requirements and so on. So a lot of effort has been given before we include these projects in the RKN.

2. Regarding lessons learned, yes, there are, some of these projects are sometimes delayed and so on. So we have several suggestions, including:

   i. Front loading, these activities are done first before being included in the RKN, such as the selected sites. Perhaps work is done first in terms of the suitability of the site for the project, so that later when the project is included in the RKN, there are no problems such as some projects where the site is not suitable and have to be postponed for several years before implementation.

   So those are some of the lessons learned from the previous RKN or projects. It is also suggested that we optimize the RKN budget so that what can be used together, we use together and so on. This was discussed in the RKN Working Committee Meeting.

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Speaker

I now invite Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Suyoi bin Haji Osman.

Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Suyoi bin Haji Osman

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. Bismillahirrahmanirrahim and greetings of peace be upon you. I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy for presenting the Title of Progress and the latest status of the National Development Plan 2023/2024, in line with efforts to realize Brunei Vision 2035. Most of this title is for the construction of additional infrastructure such as roads, electricity supply, water supply that can help the development of other industries such as construction, agriculture and livestock, and tourism.

Allocations are also provided for upgrading public facilities and the environment as well as for the National Housing Plan under Title 115, which is still needed to provide housing to applicants who have been waiting on the list.

Similarly, allocations are provided in RKN-11 for the construction and upgrading of schools and religious schools and the addition of several high institution buildings to accommodate the influx of new students. Such projects will help local contractors and building material suppliers and are expected to create jobs.

Kaola hopes that the implementation of projects under RKN-11 will be carried out within the specified timeframe. There are 3 projects that caught Kaola's attention but may have been addressed in the earlier presentation by the Honorable Minister, namely:

1. Regarding the bridge project under Title 1106 - 007 and 008. Kaola is sure that a study has been conducted on its necessity, but Kaola also believes that it should be examined in terms of the use of this bridge.

   There are several bridges that Kaola sees are not frequently used by pedestrians, which is certainly a waste of government allocation that could be used for other projects. Kaola hopes that this will not happen to the bridge project stated in the Progress Allocation in RKN-11; and

2. What caught my attention is the allocation status under the Human Resources Sources Title which, in the plan after being updated, is $137,406,750.00 but for the year 2023, it is only $130,530,000.00 after being updated. Does this mean that the allocation needs under this have been completed?

3. The last thing I noticed under Title 1114 - Public Buildings. There is no allocation for the upgrading of immigration control posts unless I am mistaken in reading this title. Looking at the current state of these control posts, I believe it is appropriate for the relevant parties to consider upgrading these posts.

That's all, Your Honorable Speaker. Thank you.

Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Second Minister of Finance and Economy

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker, and also thank you to Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Suyoi bin Haji Osman.

Answering the 3 questions:

1. Regarding the flyovers. If I may suggest, my colleague will answer that question later;
2. On border control posts, it may also be handed over to my colleague later; and
3. Regarding HR refund if I am not mistaken.

In sha Allah, I will answer in writing later.

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Minister of Development

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker, and also thank you for the questions raised by Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Suyoi bin Haji Osman.

Especially for me to provide a little explanation about the flyovers included in the plan to be built. There are 3 flyovers included in this plan for the 11th National Development Plan. So, as an explanation, these flyovers, 1. seen from the beginning of the idea, is a request from the existing Commercial Complex, especially referring to the flyover on Jalan Perdana Menteri, which is near the roundabout heading to the airport and this is the flyover that connects the road to the Commercial Center at the Airport Mall and it will cross any road for the convenience of customers and users who visit this Commercial Center.

One of the studies conducted is that it was sparked by public demand and the desire to cross the road for visitors to the Commercial Center and also seen from the number of users crossing the road as pedestrians, there is indeed a need for it, and also the main basis is the basis for safety and that is also among the main features, hence the decision to make the flyover.

And in other places where this pedestrian bridge is designed to be built, namely in school areas, mainly in Kampong Jangsak where it is seen that from 2 lanes to a single lane, school children are seen crossing the road if most of them are picked up by their parents on any road. So previously it was crossing the road. From there, the idea of ​​building this pedestrian bridge arose in order to ensure the safety of students and school students crossing the road. These are some of the studies taken before this decision was made.

But however, I take good advice from the suggestion of Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Suyoi bin Haji Osman from observations that there are also difficulties in its use, seen to be reduced in several places where pedestrian bridges have been built before and this matter will be taken into consideration in the consideration of further designing similar projects.

That is the view to answer the previous question, thank you Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Minister of Internal Affairs

"Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker, thank you also to Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Suyoi bin Haji Osman for the question raised regarding the upgrading of Immigration Control Posts.

Indeed, the project to upgrade the Land Immigration Control Posts, a total of 4, has been discussed and included in the 12th National Development Plan.

This is taking into account the joint project managed by the Ministry of Finance and Economy through the Royal Customs and Excise Department and the Immigration and National Registration Department for examination at this time, if seen, inspections at control posts are being trialed to be unified.

Alhamdulillah, with this trial project also between these two departments, inspections that were previously time-consuming have been improved.

That's all Your Honorable Pehin can answer, thank you Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Speaker

Thank you. I now invite Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd. Yusuf.

Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd. Yusuf

"In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Peace be upon you and the mercy and blessings of Allah. Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members."

I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity given to me to discuss the allocation of the Ministry of National Development. Thank you also to Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Minister of Finance and Economy II for presenting the allocation under the National Development Plan.

I would like to raise a concern regarding the delay of projects or plans from time to time. Why does this happen? Is it due to the unavailability of supplies or land sites that have not been determined, or is it due to the lack of attention from the relevant ministries?

What I want to highlight here is that if the allocation has been provided and not utilized within the National Development Plan period, it can affect other necessary plans or projects. Another thing that we should pay attention to is that if this project is delayed, the cost of implementing it will increase over time. This will also harm the government.

What is expected of each ministry is to be prepared, as explained by Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Minister of Finance and Economy II, that there are already well-prepared supplies to ensure that these projects are monitored until they are implemented.

‫Praise be to Allah,‬ hopefully what has been suggested will be implemented to ensure that future projects will not be abandoned and left as they are, thus harming the government. Specifically, I would like to raise two topics:

1. Under the Medical and Health category, the construction of the Pandan Health Center in Kuala Belait is already in the plan, but there is no direct allocation provided in 2023 and 2024. As far as I understand, the land site has already been gazetted. What is the reason for the delay in implementing this project?

2. It is hoped that an allocation under the New Block at the Raja Isteri Anak Saleha Hospital, ‫Praise be to Allah,‬ has been provided in the amount of $3,023,600.00. It is hoped that this project can be expedited because we already know and have identified the needs and facilities required, so that problems such as bed shortages and the like can be addressed.

If this project can be implemented promptly, ‫Praise be to Allah,‬ we will be able to overcome any problems faced at the hospital in question.

Your Honorable, both of them, would like to touch on Topic 118, which is Information Technology and Infocommunications. Many projects have been identified under this topic, and is it possible for us to review or re-examine these projects, and is there a possibility that these projects can be integrated and ensure that there is no duplication, especially those involving personal data and information that already exist, perhaps in one database.

Do we examine this in detail to ensure that this matter, which I mentioned earlier, duplication, can save government expenditure and also increase the cost-effectiveness of implementing a project? That is what I can raise here, once again I thank you for giving me the opportunity and end with "salam". "And with Allah's guidance and blessings be upon you all."

Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Second Minister of Finance and Economy

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. Thank you to Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd. Yusuf for some questions or suggestions.

1. Regarding how we manage projects under the National Development Plan (RKN). I thank Your Honorable for the advice. Actually, what is the experience or lessons learned in RKN, we share with all ministries so that, God willing, future projects will be more efficient because it seems that some of the projects are allocated but take a long time, have not yet started work, and so on.

   We also need to understand that for some ministries that have many projects. To implement these projects, the ministries prioritize which ones are urgent and those are the ones that are implemented first. Then there are those that are less urgent, which may be implemented a year later. That may be one reason. If RKN is prepared with 50 projects for a ministry, all 50 also start from day 1. They do have resource constraints and so on. Even consultants have to be arranged. I take good advice from Your Honorable; and

2. Before I suggest to my fellow colleagues to answer questions about health, one project mentioned by Your Honorable is the Pandan Hospital Project. Actually, this project does not use funding from the government. At this time, it is still in the process of reviewing whether this project can use public-private partnerships, so it does not use funds or allocations from the government.

   Your Honorable Kaola hands over to the Honorable Minister of Health to answer regarding the Pandan Project and further questions about IT 1118 Bruhims System. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Honorable Minister of Health

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd Yusuf.

As mentioned by my colleague regarding the Pandan Clinic using P3, the initial assessment and updating of requirements for the clinic have been completed and, God willing, in the future, it will be decided whether to continue with P3 or not.

As for the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, as also mentioned, it is indeed a plan under RKN-12 to build a new block, but since RKN-11 has been extended for another year and the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital project has been included in RKN-11, $3 million is not enough to build the hospital and this is just a kick start to employ consultants, engineers, architects, and so on.

Regarding Bru-HIMS, with the existing staff, this allocation is needed to improve or extend the existing Bru-HIMS and to migrate to Bru-HIMS 2.0. This requires a large budget initially in terms of the kick start of Bru-HIMS 2.0 later.

In terms of duplication, God willing, there is no duplication. Bru-HIMS 2.0 is a new software and it is different from Bruhealth as explained by me earlier, where this data is extracted by Bruhealth. Between Bruhealth and Bru-HIMS, it is necessary to avoid duplication in terms of obtaining data or big data integration. That's all, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Speaker

I now invite the Honorable Minister of Transport and Infocommunications.

Honorable Minister of Transport and Infocommunications

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. I just want to add to the question that has been asked about delaying government ICT projects. I want to inform that the platform used is the CIO Forum, where all ICT projects to be submitted to RKN have been delayed by the CIO Forum in terms of avoiding duplication as well as updating or alignment between government agencies.

This is in line with the fiscal consolidation program. At the same time, from the learnings of previous projects, that is why the focus is also given to capacity building, especially in the implementation of ICT projects, particularly in terms of project design, management, and change management aspects.

Next, regarding the opportunity to update or use platforms that can be used as data storage, project information under the Digital Economy Masterplan in terms of the national information hub is to provide the platform which, God willing, will be further disseminated for its use. At present, approximately 11 departments have stored their data in the platform. God willing, it can be accessed by other government departments.

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Speaker

I now invite Your Honorable Dr. Awang Haji Mahali bin Haji Momin.

Your Honorable Dr. Awang Haji Mahali bin Haji Momin

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings. Your Honorable Speaker and respected Members of Parliament. First and foremost, congratulations and thanks to the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Minister of Finance and Economy II for the clear and concise opening remarks earlier.

Regarding the topic of Progress, I fully support the proposal presented by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Minister of Finance and Economy II. However, I hope that this allocation will be managed and administered efficiently and effectively without any wastage.

All projects implemented should be closely monitored to avoid delays in their implementation. If this happens, there is a high possibility that the cost will increase. Furthermore, most of the items used in these projects may be imported from abroad. In an uncertain and unpredictable world, this causes obstacles and disruptions in the supply of goods used. Finally, these projects become difficult to complete.

Therefore, I hope that everyone involved in the approved projects will be more proactive and not procrastinate on everything that has been planned. I hope everything will run smoothly and according to the set target dates.

That's all, Your Honorable Speaker. Thank you.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Minister of Finance and Economy II

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker and Your Honorable Dr. Awang Haji Mahali bin Haji Momin. This question has actually been answered earlier, so it may not need to be repeated.

Your Honorable, Kaola would like to take this opportunity to answer the initial question from Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Suyoi bin Haji Osman regarding the HRD Fund, which only has $130,000 allocated for the year 2023/2024.

Kaola would like to explain that previously, the HRD Fund was allocated under the RKN, but since this year, the HRD has been transferred to JPM under the Recurring Allocation. Therefore, this $130,000 is provided for I-ready at this time, which has not yet completed the training period to finance the remaining payment for I-ready who are still undergoing their attachments and so on.

That's all Kaola can answer. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Speaker

And finally, I invite Your Honorable Awang Haji Md. Salleh bin Haji Othman.

Your Honorable Awang Haji Md. Salleh bin Haji Othman

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and greetings.

Kaola has some understanding and requests clarification on several matters, namely:

1. Regarding the RKN 11 projects that cannot be implemented, can these projects still be continued for RKN 12?;
2. If there is an excess allocation due to some of the implemented projects having actual costs lower than estimated, what is the status of the excess project? Is it used to finance projects in RKN 11 or carried forward to the RKN 12 allocation or vice versa? I would like clarification from Your Honorable Minister.

Thank you, peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.

Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Minister of Finance and Economy II

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker and thank you to Your Honorable Awang Haji Md. Salleh bin Haji Othman for the question regarding unfinished projects whether they will be postponed to RKN 12 or not.

At this time, based on estimates, perhaps by the end of 2023/2024, more than 80 projects will be completed compared to 45 projects that have been completed at this time. There are indeed some remaining projects, about 126 projects involving approximately $930 million.

Therefore, before being included in RKN 12, each ministry is reviewing whether these projects will be continued with the same design and so on or will be reapplied under a new project. This is still under review before RKN 12 is finalized. That's all Kaola can answer the question. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Speaker

Thank you, Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Minister of Finance and Economy II, for the answers given and also to the other Ministers who participated in answering the questions raised by the Honorable Members.

Honorable Members. We are now discussing Topic SP01A - Progress. I believe it is time for us to vote on this Topic. I would like to ask the Honorable Members who agree to raise their hands.

(All Members raise their hands in agreement)

Your Honorable Speaker

Thank you, everyone agrees. Then the Progress Budget Schedule is approved.

Deputy Clerk

Topic SPO1A Progress is now part of the Schedule. Chapter 1, which is the Short Title and Commencement.

Your Honorable Speaker

Honorable Members. We are now discussing Chapter 1, which is the Short Title and Commencement, which can be referred to as the Supply Act 2023/2024, and shall come into operation on 1st April 2023 AD.

I think this Short Title and Commencement Topic does not need to be discussed. Therefore, I now want to ask the Honorable Members who agree to approve the Short Title and Commencement date of this Act, to raise their hands.

(All Members raise their hands in agreement)

Your Honorable Speaker

Thank you. Then Chapter 1, which is the Short Title and Commencement, is approved.

Deputy Clerk

Chapter 1, which is the Short Title and Commencement, is now part of the Bill.

Your Honorable Speaker

Honorable Members. ‫أَلْحَمْدُ ِّلل‬ We have finished discussing and approving the Topics in the Schedule for the Supply Act 2023, Supply 2023/2024.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Honorable Members for their cooperation during the discussion and when we were discussing this Bill until today when it is completed.

Therefore, to enable us to discuss further matters, I suggest that we reconvene at the National Assembly Meeting level.

(The Committee Meeting is adjourned)

(The National Assembly Meeting reconvenes)

Your Honorable Speaker

‫بسمه للاه الرحمنه الرحي هم‬. Honorable Members. We are now reconvening at the National Assembly Meeting.

Therefore, as a legislative rule in passing the Supply Act 2023, Supply 2023/2024 proposed by the Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Minister of Finance and Economy II, this Bill will be read for the third time before it can be passed into law.

I invite, Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Minister of Finance and Economy II. Please.

Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Minister of Finance and Economy II

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. ‫الرحْ يم السَّال ُم عل ْي ُك ْم ورحْ مةُ للاِ وبركاتُه‬. and greetings.

Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members. I would like to inform that the Bill entitled: "An Act to Provide for the Withdrawal of a Sum from the Consolidated Fund for the Service of the Financial Year 2023/2024, and to Appropriate that Sum for Certain Purposes" has been considered and examined one by one in the Committee Meeting which has been agreed upon without any amendments.

Therefore, I request permission from Your Honorable Speaker to propose that this Bill be read for the third time and subsequently passed. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Speaker

Honorable Members. Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Minister of Finance and Economy II has just stated that the Bill entitled "An Act to Provide for the Withdrawal of a Sum from the Consolidated Fund for the Service of the Financial Year 2023/2024, and to Appropriate that Sum for Certain Purposes" be read for the third time.

Do any Honorable Members wish to support this proposal? Your Honorable Minister of Religious Affairs, please.

Your Honorable Minister of Religious Affairs

I support. Thank you.

Your Honorable Speaker

Thank you, Your Honorable Minister of Religious Affairs. Honorable Members. ‫أ َ ْل َح ْمدُ ّ ٰلِل‬ The Bill (2023) Supply, 2023/2024 which has been proposed by Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Minister of Finance and Economy II has now been read for the third time and subsequently passed. This proposal has been supported by Your Honorable Minister of Religious Affairs. Honorable Members agree to this proposal, please raise your hand.

(All Members raise their hands in agreement)

Your Honorable Speaker

It appears that all Honorable Members agree unanimously and there is no objection. Therefore, the Bill (2023) Supply, 2023/2024 is passed.

Deputy Clerk

An Act to Provide for the Withdrawal of a Sum from the Consolidated Fund for the Service of the Financial Year 2023/2024, and to Appropriate that Sum for Certain Purposes.

Your Honorable Speaker

Honorable Members. ‫أ َ ْل َح ْمدُ ّ ٰلِل‬ The session of the National Assembly has concluded the passing of the Supply Bill (2023), 2023/2024 and this Act will come into effect on 1st April 2023. Honorable Members, we now move on to Item 7 of the Order of the National Assembly.

Honorable Clerk

Item 7, the First Resolution under Article 83(7) of the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam, 1959, will be proposed by the Honorable Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Defense.

Honorable Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Defense

‫الرحْ يم السَّال ُم‬ َّ ‫الرحْ َٰم ِن‬ ِ ‫ِبس ِْم ه‬ َّ ‫ّٰللا‬ ُ‫عل ْي ُك ْم ورحْ مةُ للاِ وبركاتُه‬

Your Honorable Speaker, may I briefly explain the Paper presented on the table. Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members.

A total of eleven Orders have been listed and these Orders have been granted permission 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 for use.

For the information of Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members, some of these Orders have already been implemented and used in the previous year of 2022, and some have started to be implemented this year, which is 2023. All of these orders have been published in the Government Gazette in accordance with the Regulations of the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam.

Honorable Members. These Orders have been thoroughly examined to ensure that they run smoothly. Since these Orders have been granted permission by His Majesty Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, kaola believes that it is not necessary for us to discuss them and instead it is appropriate to approve them.

Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members. A brief description of the Orders that kaola mentioned is as contained and listed in the National Assembly Paper No.1 of 2023.

Therefore, kaola now proposes a resolution that reads "This Assembly makes a resolution under Article (7) of Article 83 of the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam, 1959, that each Order made under Article 3 of Article 83 of the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam presented before this Assembly as Paper No.1 of 2023 shall take effect from the date the Order is approved."

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Speaker

Honorable Members. The Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Second Minister of Defense has made a statement regarding whether any of the Cabinet Members would like to support.

The Honorable Minister of Religious Affairs

"Alhamdulillah", I support as presented by the Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Second Minister of Defense. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Speaker

Thank you, Your Honorable. Honorable Members. The Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Second Minister of Defense has proposed a resolution under Article 83(7) of the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam, 1959, and this has been supported by the Honorable Minister of Religious Affairs.

As stated by the Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Second Minister of Defense earlier, most or all of the laws listed in Paper No.1 of 2023 have already been passed through emergency orders, and some of these laws have already come into effect.

Therefore, I also believe that this matter does not need to be discussed. So, it is better to vote on the resolution proposed by the Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Second Minister of Defense. Honorable Members who agree, please raise your hands.

(All Members raise their hands in agreement)

Your Honorable Speaker

Thank you. "Alhamdulillah", all Honorable Members agree unanimously, and this resolution is passed.

Deputy Clerk

The second resolution under Chapter 4 Divorce 2 of the Group Progress Fund Act (Chapter 136) will be proposed by the Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Second Minister of Finance and Economy.

The Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and Second Minister of Finance and Economy

"Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh" (Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings) "Bismillahirrahmanirrahim" (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful)

And greetings of peace. Your Honorable Speaker, I seek permission from Your Honorable Speaker in this noble House to propose that "This House hereby resolves as required by Chapter 4(2) of the Group Progress Fund Act (Chapter 136) that an expenditure of $500 million be authorized and applied from the Group Progress Fund for Specific Purposes as set out in the Progress Budget 2023/2024 presented as Paper No. 2, 2023."

Your Honorable Speaker, the details of the development expenditure for that year are stated in the budget of revenue and expenditure for that year, which was presented on the table as Paper Number 2 of 2023. Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members.

The proposal for the allocation of this National Development Plan has been discussed in detail in a committee meeting and has been approved without amendments.

Therefore, I would like to state the intention of the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam to continue with the plans as they have been formulated.

Therefore, I am pleased to propose that this assembly decides, according to this council, to make a resolution as required by Section 4 (2) of the Development Fund Act (Chapter 136) that an expenditure of $500 million be allowed to be allocated and requested from the Development Fund for Specific Purposes under and specified in the 2023/2034 Development Budget presented as Paper Number 2/2023. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Your Honorable Speaker

Honorable Members. The Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy has proposed a resolution under Section 4 (2) of the Development Fund Act (Chapter 136). Does any Honorable Member wish to support this proposal?

The Honorable Minister of Religious Affairs

Alhamdulillah, I rise again to support what has been presented by my colleague, the Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy earlier. Thank you.

Your Honorable Speaker

Thank you, Honorable Minister of Religious Affairs. Honorable Members. The Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy has presented a resolution under Section 4 (2) of the Development Fund Act (Chapter 136) of Brunei Darussalam and the statement of this proposal has received support from the Honorable Minister of Religious Affairs.

As stated earlier, all allocations from the Development Fund have already been approved and enacted. Therefore, this matter does not need to be discussed further. It is better for us to vote on this resolution. Honorable Members who agree, please raise your hands.

(All Members raise their hands in agreement)

Thank you. All Your Honorable Members have agreed. "Alhamdulillah", therefore this resolution is approved.

Your Honorable Members. "Alhamdulillah", this session of the National Assembly has concluded on the Seven (VII) matters. The National Assembly will now move on to the next matter.

Clerk

As all matters on the agenda have been completed in accordance with the Standing Order, these matters will be proposed by a Member of the Government for the meeting to be adjourned.

The first speech to be delivered, namely the adjournment speech, will be delivered by the Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa bin Pehin Datu Perdana Manteri Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Ibrahim, Special Advisor to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office of Brunei Darussalam.

The Honorable Speaker

Your Honorable Members. The session moves on to the eighth matter, adjournment speeches. I now invite the Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa bin Pehin Datu Perdana Manteri Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Ibrahim, Special Advisor to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office of Brunei Darussalam, to deliver the first speech.

The Honorable Special Advisor to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office

Thank you, Honorable Speaker. "Bismillahirrahmanirrahim", peace be upon you and may the blessings of Allah be upon you. Salutations and greetings to our great leader, Prophet Muhammad, his family, companions, and followers who remain faithful and loyal until the end of time.

To Your Honorable Speaker and Your Honorable Members who are Muslims, I wish you a blessed fasting of the holy month of Ramadan.

Your Honorable Speaker and Your Honorable Members. "Alhamdulillah", all praise and thanks be to Allah for His abundant grace and permission, that we have now reached the end of the First Session of the Nineteenth Legislative Council of Brunei Darussalam for the year 1444H/2023M.

Once again, I would like to express my highest respect to the Honorable Council before His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for the departure, grace, and command of His Majesty during the Official Opening Ceremony of the Ninth Session of the National Assembly Meeting on March 2, 2023.

I also take this opportunity to extend my highest congratulations and appreciation to the Honorable Speaker for successfully leading and presiding over the meeting with excellence, wisdom, firmness, and fairness. I also express my gratitude and appreciation to the Honorable Clerk and the Deputy Clerk for their efficiency in preparing the meeting agenda smoothly and orderly.

Likewise, to all officers and staff who have contributed their services in making this year's meeting a success. I would like to congratulate my colleagues and also the Honorable Members for fulfilling their duties and responsibilities with dedication, especially in upholding the advice of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam during the Official Opening Ceremony of the National Assembly Meeting on March 2, 2023, to use the meeting to the best of our abilities by presenting strategic and important issues and together providing ideas and finding appropriate solutions.

Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members.

Alhamdulillah, throughout this meeting, we have heard and discussed several proposals and ideas from the Honorable Members related to the country's development and the welfare and well-being of the people and residents.

My colleagues and I highly appreciate and always welcome the wise and constructive views, proposals, and ideas from the Honorable Members. This clearly shows the willingness of the Honorable Members representing the people and residents in this country to actively and collectively contribute through the whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach in the process of formulating and implementing strategic policies and development initiatives for the country.

All suggestions and ideas presented by Your Honorable Members will certainly be examined and evaluated in detail by the government, especially in terms of benefits, impact, and its effect on the welfare and well-being of the people and residents of this country, and will be implemented in a prudent manner according to suitability, priority, and capability.

Your Honorable Speaker and Your Honorable Members. As shared by the Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Finance and Economy, the proposal and presentation of the Supply Bill 2023/2024. Alhamdulillah, the country's budget position this year is expected to record a Marginal Budget Surplus.

The Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam will continue to be committed to providing allocations to enable ministries to implement short, medium, and long-term initiatives and investments to generate a resilient and advanced economy.

With all the continuous efforts, commitment, and support from all parties, Insha Allah, the country's economy will continue to grow, and its results will be enjoyed by the current and future generations. Your Honorable Speaker and Your Honorable Members.

We must all realize that the Budget that has been discussed and approved this year and in previous years has and will provide many benefits to all layers of the people in this country. The government's spending has been enjoyed, especially by citizens and permanent residents of Brunei Darussalam. Government spending includes the following:

1. Free health services and treatment at government hospitals and clinics, where citizens are charged only $1.00, while permanent residents are charged $2.00 for a doctor's appointment at government hospitals and clinics.

2. Medications are given for free, and the government also fully finances health treatments for patients who are referred for treatment at private hospitals, whether in the country or abroad, which require high expenses, averaging around $150 million per year without charging patients.

3. Free services also include the provision of disposable diapers and breastfeeding aids, which began in 2017, where the government's average spending for this initiative in the four years since its implementation until 2021 is approximately $1.5 million per year.

4. Free education from primary to secondary level including religious education.

5. Provision of allowances for students.

6. Transportation services provided for students to go to school and scholarships awarded for higher education in various fields both locally and abroad, including scholarships offered on behalf of Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) in which the government holds a 50% stake.

7. Provision of welfare allowances such as Old Age Pension which was initiated during the reign of the late Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien and continued and increased by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

8. Allowances for the disabled, blind, leprosy patients, mental patients, and others.

9. Vehicle fuel subsidy, for example, over a period of 5 years from 2016 to 2021, His Majesty Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's Government has provided an average of $130 million per year in fuel subsidies.

10. Government subsidy in the provision of the National Housing Scheme where the total amount of government subsidy for 6 public housing projects in Kampung Meragang, Kampung Tanah Jambu, Kampung Bukit Beruang, Kampung Panchur, Kampung Penaga and Kampung Lugu is approximately $842 million, excluding the value of land.

11. Rice subsidy, for example, the amount of government subsidy for rice purchased from foreign countries such as Thailand and Cambodia including its management expenses for the Financial Year 2020/2021 is $11.3 million.

12. In addition, the people and residents of this country are also provided with subsidies in basic services such as electricity and clean water supply and are exempted from paying taxes such as personal income tax, property tax, sales and services tax, and others as practiced in other countries.

All the facilities and benefits that we enjoy cannot be considered as rights, but rather they are privileges granted by His Majesty Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's Government to all of us, the people and residents of Brunei Darussalam, for which we must always be grateful. All that I have explained earlier is my answer if asked what is in the budget for me?

Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members,

In this holy month of Ramadan, let us together offer our prayers to the presence of Allah, may His glory and exaltation be praised, that His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the royal family members will always be under His protection, in good health, well-being, happiness, and always enjoy His blessings and shelter.

We also pray that our country, people, and residents will always receive the mercy and protection of Allah and be saved from all disasters and epidemics, and be granted long-lasting security, development, prosperity, and well-being in this world and the hereafter.

Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members, with gratitude and trust in Allah, I am pleased to propose that the First Meeting of the Nineteenth Session of the National Assembly be adjourned. In concluding this speech, I would like to share an old poem,

If there is a well in the field, We can take a bath there, Hopefully, we will meet again with a long life, Insha'Allah.

Thank you. Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings. And with Allah's guidance and success.

Deputy Clerk

The second adjournment speech will be delivered by Your Honorable Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman, Minister of Religious Affairs, Brunei Darussalam.

Your Honorable Minister of Religious Affairs

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. I am grateful and thankful for the opportunity to speak in this adjournment session. Alhamdulillah, with the wisdom of Your Honorable Speaker, our first session of the Nineteenth Session of the National Assembly has come to an end.

Although most of the Members of the National Assembly have just been appointed, our session has proceeded smoothly like in previous years under the leadership and wisdom of Your Honorable Speaker.

Therefore, I respectfully express my congratulations, gratitude, and best wishes, while asking for forgiveness for any shortcomings, including my own weaknesses during this year's session.

Next, I would like to express my gratitude to the Clerk and Deputy Clerk who have organized our day's work in this meeting so well, especially for always being available to inform them of my apologies or absence at any given time.

Truly, we are in a calm atmosphere, which is important to remember. We happen to start it in the days leading up to the month of Ramadan and end it a few days into Ramadan until today. I apologize that Ramadan is not the main factor for our calm and smooth meeting.

On the contrary, Your Honorable Pehin, in my opinion, the main factor that makes our meeting run smoothly and in a very calm and comfortable atmosphere is that we are aware that we are here, in this hall, the National Assembly Council Chamber. Not anywhere else, we are not in any hall where we usually attend gatherings in meetings or events related to certain occasions.

Your Honorable Speaker. In the context and scope of the calm meeting, our meeting has passed several laws, including the national budget, the Annual Budget, and the Progress Budget for 2023/2024.

Our meeting has approved a significant amount of funding, as part of which has been mentioned by Your Honorable Special Advisor to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and the Minister in the Prime Minister's Office. And throughout the meeting, the council has heard and recorded matters presented by Official Members of the Position Regarding their respective service areas, as well as matters raised by Your Honorable Members of Parliament.

Both have been discussed, in addition to enlightenment from Your Honorable Ministers, the voices of Your Honorable Appointed Members have also been heard inside and outside this hall. It makes the public excited to follow ideas, suggestions, as well as just questions and answers.

Overall, it covers the welfare and well-being of the people. To what extent the government service machinery is effective in implementing the programmed plans. So, in terms of religious service matters, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and appreciation for receiving useful inputs and suggestions for the Ministry of Religious Affairs to review and examine further in efforts to improve and enhance the quality of religious services.

There are specific suggestions regarding the need to monitor the needs of successful religious education, its effectiveness in preparing for the long term, and meeting the needs of future education patterns.

Meanwhile, in matters of zakat, efforts to advance and improve it are not only focused on collection methods, but also on distribution methods, while its management is being improved. The management of waqf has also been discussed by the appointed Honorable Members.

In matters of mosques, the efforts are not only to accelerate the implementation of construction plans, but also to enhance its administration by involving more congregants, especially youth and women, in its management, including its maintenance.

Similarly, in matters of Shariah, starting with issues related to the implementation of halal food assurance, it leads to Islamic legislation, especially related to marriage and divorce, and cases that have been proven.

Furthermore, in the field of da'wah, the Council has also heard that the welfare of new brothers and sisters should be given attention to strengthen their faith and religious practices. The general affairs of da'wah are also recommended to be more effective.

This is what has been voiced in our consultation. I hope there will be follow-ups from time to time, where the Ministry of Religious Affairs is open to holding meetings with the appointed Honorable Members.

In this way, I hope that my colleagues in the Ministry of Religious Affairs will truly fulfill the meaning of the whole-of-nation approach, where the public who are interested will also be involved in improving the religious services provided by our monarchy government, which has continuously supported it by providing a large annual budget allocation.

In this regard, I highly respect and honor the leadership of 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, our King and Ulil Amri in governing our country. Furthermore, I seek permission from the Honorable Speaker to continue with our Meeting.

I repeat again that we have been discussing throughout this 19th Consultation in a calm and comfortable atmosphere because we all realize that we are in the National Assembly. The National Assembly is not a gathering of people.

If we were to follow the literal meaning of the word, according to the Dewan Bahasa Malaysia Dictionary, 4th Edition, page 978, "Majlis" refers to an institution or state body appointed or elected with specific powers, as among other meanings of the word "Majlis" mentioned in the dictionary.

In the context of our country, Brunei Darussalam, the equivalent state body at the national level is this council, the council we are in now, namely the National Assembly which was established and its members appointed, with membership rules and responsibilities specified by law in specific chapters, in Part VI and Part VII of the Constitution.

Furthermore, the word "Majlis" also means beautiful, elegant, and splendid, which in our pronunciation in Brunei is "Majalis", which is synonymous with politeness, refinement, gentleness, and can be referred to in the Malay Archipelago Dictionary, the Language and Literature Bureau of Brunei in 2003.

Therefore, Your Honorable Speaker and fellow Honorable Members and Honorable Friends, rest assured that our smooth and peaceful deliberations are due to our application of these meanings, which make us deliberate and negotiate in compliance with the rules in a polite, refined, gentle, and sweet manner, in a state body, namely the National Assembly (MMN).

In this regard, Your Honorable Speaker and fellow members and friends, I am pleased to draw the attention of all those present in this Chamber and also outside that this National Assembly was re-established and its first meeting was inaugurated on September 25, 2004, which was a Saturday, 10th of Syaaban, 1425H, almost 20 years ago.

This means that this National Assembly was re-established to fulfill the desire of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, as His Majesty himself stated in the opening and inauguration speech of the first meeting on September 25, 2004.

Your Honorable, with permission, "I have the intention to establish a more formal negotiation structure by holding a National Council Meeting. Today's conference, which is on September 25th, 2004, marks the beginning of the process towards what I desire."

Thus, the expression of the decree in the historic meeting of the establishment of the current National Council Meeting according to the provisions of the State Constitution, as in its 2004 edition.

Another important point, Your Honorable Speaker, that His Majesty commanded in the Opening Ceremony of the First Meeting on that date is that I quote, "We are aware that Bruneians have their own way of expressing hopes and problems through various levels of negotiations. They will certainly welcome the re-establishment of this National Council Meeting, which adds another forum or platform to express opinions and views."

Thus, the decree states and His Majesty continues by emphasizing the importance of making and achieving the pure purpose of the re-establishment of the National Council Meeting as we sit now.

I quote His Majesty again, "However, the re-establishment of this Council, in any situation, will not disrupt the stability and prosperity that we have enjoyed so far.

Its existence is also not to create chaos or anxiety among the people."

Any mistake will invite risks where it will take a long time to fix it. Therefore, we start this process very carefully. I will observe the work and effects of the establishment of this Council and then make a decision whether this process can be continued by adding more members."

Thus, these decrees express the intention and hope and then remind us not only as members but also remind the public and residents to understand what this Council has been established for.

Therefore, these decrees, Your Honorable Speaker, and also colleagues and friends, become a guide in the process of advancing and achieving the National Council Meeting, which according to its definition is a state body or institution.

In the context of Brunei Darussalam, our small and beautiful country has a National Council Meeting that has been revived and re-established for almost 20 years, and this year's meeting is the 19th Council Meeting.

We are sitting here in a 'bisai' arrangement, unlike the arrangement in a parliament where its members are divided into factions, the government and the opposition, but not so in this Council.

Instead, we sit facing the same direction, towards where Your Honorable Speaker is leading and directing the deliberations. If we tilt slightly, about 45 degrees, we will see beautiful calligraphy inscribed with the words "Barakallahu biyadihil mulk" which affirms the greatness of Allah, the Almighty and All-Powerful.

The lesson from this verse is to encourage us in this Council, or in any government and society, to work together as a team, specifically as members of the National Councils for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the interests of the people, their well-being, the security and integrity of the nation, the effectiveness of the government, all of which are under the leadership of the King's Government, in the blessed shade of the verse "Subhanahu wa Ta'ala" and "Barakallahu biyadihil mulk" which we tilted to see earlier, the first verse of Surah Al-Mulk.

This means that we are all here to deliberate, negotiate, and consult. What we deliberate, negotiate, and consult on are all matters of national interest. Remember that the meaning of the word "nation" is more than just a geographical area on a world map with a name like Brunei Darussalam located on the northern part of the island of Borneo.

Rather, a nation includes its people and inhabitants who enjoy freedom and have a social and political system that governs the lives of individuals, communities, and nations, and ultimately governs the position of the government and administration. Therefore, these are the matters that need to be deliberated, negotiated, and consulted on.

In this opportunity, I would like to reiterate that all of us are thinking about national affairs. We, as members of this Council, are thinking about national affairs, its security and sovereignty, which includes the affairs of the people, their well-being, governance, stability, and the effectiveness of the government.

So, I would like to express my gratitude to Your Honorable Speaker for giving me the opportunity to address this matter. In my opinion, not only us here but also the public and the people outside must understand well the existence of the National Assembly in the context of our country.

That is all I can say. I apologize again and thank you to all who are present in this meeting. I am grateful that I can still carry out my duties in this Parliamentary session at my current age. I also express my gratitude to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for granting me this opportunity.

Thank you, peace be upon you and may Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you. And with Allah's guidance and blessings.

Deputy Clerk

The third adjournment speech will be delivered by Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abd. Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim.

Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abd. Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim

Thank you. Your Honorable Speaker for giving me the opportunity to deliver this Adjournment Speech. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

Peace be upon you all.

Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members, all praise be to Allah, we are grateful to His presence for allowing us to reach the closing session of the First Meeting of the 19th Parliamentary Session for the National Assembly in the year 1444 Hijri, equivalent to 2023 AD.

I would also like to express my highest respect to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for inaugurating this Assembly and for His Majesty's gracious speech in this august House.

I would also like to extend my highest congratulations and appreciation to Your Honorable Speaker for your wisdom in leading and guiding this meeting smoothly and perfectly in a calm and harmonious atmosphere, full of patience, openness, and mutual understanding.

Under the leadership of Your Honorable Speaker, this House has been able to steer discussions towards strategic and prioritized issues in line with its nature as an institution that symbolizes the excellence of the government system in this country.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to all Your Honorable Ministers who have patiently and attentively listened to the questions and suggestions, openly answered the questions asked, accepted proposals, and provided detailed information with accurate facts, even though sometimes with intense emotions.

We understand and comprehend all of this because our sincere intention here is the same, which is to achieve a common goal of prospering and developing the country, as well as safeguarding the interests of the people and residents in it, both now and for future generations.

Working as a team to achieve the Wawasan Brunei 2035, as repeatedly commanded by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

I am grateful and take note of the assurance given by Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa bin Pehin Datu Perdana Manteri Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Ibrahim, Special Advisor to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, that the suggestions made by the Honorable Members here will be thoroughly examined, followed up, and if viable, will be implemented as soon as possible, especially those that involve the well-being and interests of the people holistically.

I also agree with the advice of Your Honorable Speaker that any issues raised by the appointed Honorable Members that have not been answered or have not been fully answered will be followed up either in writing or by holding follow-up discussions in the future.

Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members, we realize that in this country, ‫أَلْحَمْدُ ِّلل‬, we are not lacking in ideas and initiatives. Several blueprints have been and are being developed. Leaders have also been identified and appointed.

What is important is that we address the implementation system that needs to be more efficient and effective, coupled with a transparent monitoring system. All of this requires hard work and strong and steady coordination.

The delivery and coordination procedures for implementing these initiatives need to be improved and updated. Similarly, the monitoring system needs to be transparent and have independent assessments to measure its impact on the ground.

I, Your Honorable, feel that this challenge cannot be solved solely through the introduction of advanced technology or digital transformation. It requires us to address all these issues with consistency, humility, and self-reflection. This requires us to transform ourselves to attain blessings, work proactively, efficiently, and sincerely unite our efforts and thoughts to help our country achieve its desired goals.

In other words, we need to implement a change in mindset and attitude in fulfilling our responsibilities, in our work, planning, research, evaluation, implementation, monitoring, coordination, interaction, and reassessment.

Your Honorable Speaker, if we observe the experience of other countries and the willingness of the people to participate without disregarding their own interests and safety in handling crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is clear that with the permission and guidance of Allah and the compassionate and wise leadership of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, we can overcome any challenge and achieve any set target.

We firmly believe that the resilience, identity, and solid coordination demonstrated by the entire population in handling the COVID-19 pandemic can serve as a foundation or benchmark in implementing the Wawasan Brunei 2035 program. With the help of Allah, we will undoubtedly be able to achieve what is written in the Wawasan Brunei 2035.

However, the involvement of the people needs to be honed so that their potential and expertise can be utilized to the fullest in practicing a whole-of-nation approach, as we often advocate.

Your Honorable Speaker, what I mean here is that the involvement of intelligent experts and experienced individuals in specific aspects outside of the government should be equally considered in formulating policies.

Especially in the fields of industry, business, socioeconomics, management, finance, and others. However, the criteria for appointing members outside of government officials must be clearly based on meritocracy and performance-based.

In other words, the appointed members must have qualifications, integrity, strong performance, and governance, as well as trustworthy, sincere, and forward-looking vision.

This proposal is not only intended to gain knowledge and expertise from individuals who are experts, excellent and experienced in their respective businesses and fields, but it can also strengthen check and balance in governance while providing industry and business perspectives.

Your Honorable Speaker, we already have a strong foundation in every government agency. Processes and procedures are already available. Strategic plans, blueprints, work plans, action plans, and roadmaps have been designed and developed.

Key Performance Indicators, targets, and public awareness have been presented. However, if the implementation or delivery is still lagging and coordination is still weak and unstable, it needs to be improved and updated. What is difficult needs to be simplified, what is easy needs to be simplified further, what is slow needs to be accelerated, what is less good needs to be improved, and equally important is the wide, comprehensive, and continuous dissemination of government initiatives.

This notification will not only provide fast, accurate, and reliable information but also aims to provide the correct and clear perspective on government efforts and initiatives. We have matured with this experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It needs to be taken into account and made a boundary so that any initiative will be well received not only by all levels of public officials but also by the entire people and stakeholders.

If we prioritize this practice, I believe all stakeholders and the entire people will certainly give strong support to any policies and programs implemented by the country and the Wawasan Brunei 2035, God willing, with the permission and guidance of Allah, we will be able to achieve it together.

This is where the role of the government media in any form is important in presenting and improving the country's image in the eyes of the people and the world. Especially in our efforts to attract more new FDI to this country.

It needs to have an out-of-the-box strategy to enhance the country's reputation in terms of investment choices or destinations as well as for tourism by providing accurate, fast, and precise information.

Your Honorable Speaker, the national values based on the Malay Islamic Monarchy practice need to be deeply and carefully understood. In this practice, there is no winner and no loser.

All parties need to support each other, unite, and work together in agreement and unity towards achieving the country's aspirations under the wise and virtuous leadership of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

We must strive for blessings with humility, hard work, sincerity, never knowing fatigue for the sake of the people's interests and the country's prosperity. After all our efforts have been carried out, all options have been explored, the only thing left is to rely on and surrender ourselves to ‫هللا سبحانه وتعالى‬ because is not ‫هللا‬ the best planner and executor who is the Most Magnificent.

I believe this is the essence of the main core of the state's remembrance. Obedience to ‫هللا‬, humility and steadfastness, always obeying ‫ هللا‬and His messenger, loyal to the king, love for the country and respect for its laws.

Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members. On this occasion, allow me to express my sincere thanks to the Honorable Pehin Clerk, Deputy Clerk and all members of the Parliament Department for their tireless efficiency, cooperation and support throughout this session.

Let us pray together that ‫ هللا سبحانه وتعالى‬will grant us guidance and enlightenment. Opening our minds and uniting our hearts towards virtuous paths so that we can face these challenges with sincerity, perseverance, and full of acceptance and responsibility.

I also apologize to all Honorable Members if I have made any missteps, spoken harshly, or hurt anyone's feelings in expressing my views and opinions. All good comes from ‫هللا‬, and all shortcomings are from me as a humble human being.

Finally, I pray that His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and all members of the Royal Family will always be healthy and blessed with longevity, guidance and enlightenment, blessings, protection and preservation from ‫هللا سبحانه وتعالى‬, leading the country towards prosperity and all the people and residents in this country will always be blessed with prosperity, grace, blessings and protection from ‫هللا سبحانه وتعالى‬.

Lastly, allow me to conclude this speech with a few lines of poetry about our country:-

Brunei, my beautiful Abode of Peace, Creating history since ancient times, Famous throughout the world, Like a precious gemstone.

My country, beautiful and renowned, Green forests pleasing to the eye, Fertile land with abundant yields, My people are courteous, my country is splendid.

My people work hard to sow good deeds, Responding to the call of the mighty king, Contributing to the nation and the people, My country is peaceful and serene.

Brunei is a beautiful country of remembrance, with a generous and unselfish King, always caring and never breaking promises, with the welfare of the people engraved in his heart.

Oh Allah, the Merciful Lord, we pray for blessings upon our beloved country, with everlasting peace and prosperity, and abundant blessings that never cease.

In the end, we humbly pray for our wishes, with our King bestowed with grace, always healthy and blessed, leading the country towards prosperity and safety.

May Allah ease our fasting during this blessed month of Ramadan.

Peace be upon you and Allah's mercy and blessings.

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

Deputy Clerk

Fourth Adjournment Speech by Dr. Awang Haji Mahali bin Haji Momin.

Your Honorable Dr. Awang Haji Mahali bin Haji Momin

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, peace be upon you.

Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members. All praise be to Allah.

We are grateful, with the permission of Allah Almighty, for being able to convene for 17 days in the First Meeting of the Nineteenth Session of 2023, with a sense of camaraderie and smooth proceedings.

I, as myself, with sincere joy, express my highest congratulations and appreciation for the leadership, wisdom, and patience of Your Honorable Speaker throughout this meeting. Especially in guiding the newly appointed members of the National Council in this Chamber.

I also extend my gratitude to The Clerk and Deputy Clerk, as well as all the officers and staff of the Department of Council Meetings for their efficiency and cooperation throughout this meeting.

On this occasion, I also do not forget to express my appreciation and gratitude to the Ministers for providing explanations and enlightenment to the questions raised. Your Honorable Speaker, I am pleased to focus this Adjournment Speech on the Supply Bill (2023) 2023/2024, which has been passed.

The Ministry of Education is a ministry that receives a very large allocation. I hope that this allocation will be used wisely, especially in making our country have highly educated and skilled people.

It should be used to improve the facilities of all educational institutions within the Ministry of Education. Furthermore, with these improvements, it is also hoped that it will enhance the achievement of teaching and learning in all relevant institutions.

Next, I would like to suggest that teachers in schools who only have a certificate or diploma in education be given the opportunity to upgrade themselves by pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Education and Bachelor's Degree in various subjects at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE), Universiti Brunei Darussalam.

Teachers who have outstanding performance, full dedication, and commitment are encouraged to take these courses. Your Honorable, I still remember when Your Honorable was the Minister of Education, you said that schools are a battlefield for teachers.

I fully believe in this view, and wet and dry teachers in schools should be given recognition and opportunities to learn at higher levels according to their abilities and also be considered for promotion. This will inject enthusiasm into the teachers I mentioned earlier.

In terms of the 3M skills, Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic, efforts should be doubled so that students will not be left behind at the beginning of their schooling. No student should be left behind.

This is important for them to pursue further learning at higher levels, and it is necessary to master the fields of Sciences, Technology, and Engineering.

Finally, before closing this adjournment speech, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for the trust in appointing me as a Honorable Member of this noble Council.

With this appointment, I can participate for the first time in discussions, debates, provide ideas, suggestions in the proceedings of this noble council with the intention that all of this is for the welfare and well-being of the people and residents of this country.

This opportunity and opportunity are the greatest honor for me personally. Finally, in this blessed month of Ramadan, I ask for forgiveness and apologize if there are any unpleasant words and actions.

Your Honorable, all goodness comes from Allah, and all mistakes, weaknesses, and shortcomings come from oneself. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.

"O Lord, forgive us and enter us into Paradise with the righteous. Peace be upon you, and the mercy and blessings of Allah."

Clerk

The fifth adjournment speech will be delivered by Your Honorable Abdul Aziz bin Haji Hamdan.

Your Honorable Abdul Aziz bin Haji Hamdan

Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. "Bismillahirrahmanirrahim Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh." "Alhamdulillah," first of all, I would like to congratulate Your Honorable Speaker for leading the meeting with friendliness and efficiency, and sometimes with firmness, but I understand very well the heavy duties and responsibilities that Your Honorable Speaker carries out.

I would also like to express my gratitude to The Clerk and the Deputy Clerk, the Officers of the Department of Parliamentary Meetings, for managing and carrying out this Parliamentary Session perfectly and smoothly.

Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members. Regarding the importance of professionalism among public servants.

In realizing all the plans for the progress of the country, we must move according to the desired time. Therefore, I suggest that every public servant should be professional in all aspects of work, including decision-making and policy-making.

High professionalism will give the public an idea of how public servants have high commitment and dedication in carrying out their entrusted duties.

This professionalism will increase the public's confidence and perception of the quality of the system, the delivery of government services in general, and achieve the goals to support Brunei Vision 2035.

Regarding the transformation of work culture. Therefore, in promoting this professionalism, every government department needs to undergo transformation.

This cultural transformation cannot be done in a day or through courses and workshops. It requires continuous determination, commitment, and effort from all parties, from the top level to the lowest level of the organization.

I would like to refer to the following wise words: "Wise people do not hope to get a valuable life, they make their own lives valuable."

The country needs innovative and creative officers and staff who can think of the best solutions. Every government employee should always be creative, equip themselves with current skills, innovative in seeking new opportunities, and aggressive in learning to improve themselves.

This practice should be continuously practiced until it becomes a culture and followed by other staff in their respective organizations. The values of Bruneian culture are always applied so that all achievements are in line with the true Bruneian path, Insha'Allah.

Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members. I am speaking about balanced development.

In this honorable chamber, I have already raised several issues and suggestions regarding public concerns that require the government's attention.

This includes issues of employment and unemployment. Many views and suggestions have also been given by Honorable Members as an effort to help reduce the unemployment rate and provide more job opportunities for local youths.

However, I am confident that balanced development in all sectors needs to be implemented through a national approach so that all development objectives can be achieved.

If we look at countries that are in the group of developed countries, they have not only succeeded in bringing physical development but also have a highly cultured and forward-thinking society that practices a quality lifestyle. We do not want Brunei Darussalam to be seen as a country that has first-class infrastructure but a third-class mindset. In other words, people and societal development do not go hand in hand with physical development.

Every development agenda should always be relevant to changing times. At the same time, this balanced development can be utilized for planned progress in the regions.

The development plan for the Tutong District should be aligned with other districts. Balance in development needs to be a priority and the main focus of the government to create sustainable development.

Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members. Regarding perfect planning, I refer to the words "There is no shortcut for us to reach a destination that is far away.

The journey always involves step by step and level by level. There is no shortcut for us to achieve success. The key to success is to rely on Allah and keep striving, make sure all efforts and initiatives can be implemented one by one before moving on to the next phase."

Your Honorable, let us not be too eager to draft something that is uncertain in its direction. Any good effort that has not yet been implemented should be continued with full confidence and patience.

I hope that the Supply Bill (2023) for the year 2023/2024, which has been presented and discussed, can be managed perfectly so that every penny of expenditure can be seen and enjoyed by the people and bring Brunei Darussalam to a consistent and stable level of progress, God willing. Finally, I conclude this postponement speech with a few lines of poetry for everyone.

Noble assembly place to meet, To discuss and speak, Let us bring knowledge back, When the nation rises, the country will prosper.

Dadap flowers above the people, Villagers light up the lamps, If we make a mistake in speaking, We apologize and ask for forgiveness.

Brunei, a respected traditional country, Shariah Islam as a guide, Now Ramadan is approaching, If we make a mistake in language, please forgive us.

Thank you very much, Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.

Your Honorable Speaker

Your Honorable, Members of Parliament. As we all know, we have successfully passed the Supply Bill 2023/2024 and we have also passed the resolutions as listed. We have started to hear postponement speeches.

Personally, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Members of Parliament who have made the relevant postponement speeches. I think it is enough for today that we have heard the postponement speeches from the Members of Parliament. God willing, we will hear more postponement speeches tomorrow, which can be said to be quite long and certainly encourage us to examine those speeches the next day.

I hereby propose that we adjourn this National Assembly Meeting and we will reconvene tomorrow on Tuesday, 28th March 2023, God willing, starting at 10.00 am.

That is all, Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.

ADJOURNED

(The National Assembly Meeting is adjourned)

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