A DELEGATION from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports – led by Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Pahlawan Colonel (Rtd) Dato Paduka Haji Abdu’r Rahmani bin Dato Paduka Haji Basir, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar as the representative of the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof – attended the 4th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Sports and the 1st Asean Plus Japan Ministerial Meeting on Sports in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar recently.
The 4th Asean Ministerial Meeting on Sports – chaired by Dr Myint Htwe, Minister of Health and Sports, Republic of the Union of Myanmar – endorsed the Asean Work Plan on Sports 2016-2020 for the rapid advancement of sports for recreation and sports for performance in the Asean community as a platform to strengthen Asean integration, as stated in the Ministers’ Joint Statement.
The ambassador said Brunei Darussalam is in agreement with Asean’s aspirations that sports can contribute to a variety of positive outcomes; not least improvements to health, unity, and regional integration, as well as patriarchal cultivation, increased discipline and giving rise to a competitive society.
Relaying the messages of Brunei Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, the ambassador said the 2016-2020 Sports Work Plan should undergo periodic reviews to be dynamic and in line with the latest methods, thinking and technology, development, and needs of sports in this region and beyond.
He said to realise the terms of the framework, community involvement is key.
“A habit of being involved in sports should be cultivated at a young age and should be a community effort.
“The way sports activities and physical education are carried out in schools need to be improved to identify potential young talents,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the 1st Asean Plus Japan Ministerial Meeting, Brunei Darussalam welcomed Japan’s involvement with Asean on the Work Plan on Sports 2016-2020.
The ambassador said sports for recreation and sports for high performance (athlete coaching and performance coaching) should be developed simultaneously with different emphases.
The proper development of sports in Brunei – through the provision of recognition, respect and support – can lead to a cascade of positive effects in Brunei’s other sectors, bringing about for the country sustainable national development, unity and continuous stability.
Accompanying the ambassador at the meetings was Haji Noor Jusmin bin Haji Abdul Samad, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports.
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