| Azaraimy HH |
THE official opening of the first meeting of the 14th session of the Legislative Council (LegCo) will be held on March 5 at the Legislative Council Building.
The opening ceremony will be officiated 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.
The 14th Legislative Council meeting will be chaired by YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Dato Setia Haji Mohamed Taib as the Speaker of the Legislative Council.
He will be assisted by Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Jaya Dato Paduka Haji Judin bin Haji Asar, Clerk 1 (First) to the LegCo and Rose Aminah binti Haji Ismail, Deputy Clerk to the LegCo.
The LegCo session this year enters its 14th year since it was reinstated in 2004.
The LegCo members comprise official members holding posts, appointed members with titles, appointed meritorious persons in public service and in various fields and appointed members representing the four districts.
This year will see new faces among the ‘official members holding posts’ in the LegCo meeting – the new Cabinet members appointed last January 30, 2018.
As in previous years, the main topic of discussion during the 14th LegCo session this year will be the supply bill for financial year 2018/2019 for government ministries and government departments in the country.
This year’s session is also expected to discuss issues related to the welfare of the people.
The annual meeting has been the platform for citizens and residents in the country to voice their concerns and opinions through discussion with the appointed LegCo members based on the concept of Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB), in the hope to strengthen the solidarity between the people and the government.
As in the previous years, the LegCo session will commence after the opening ceremony by His Majesty or on a date and time set by the Speaker of the LegCo.
The session will be open to the public. Government and private schools and educational institutions interested in attending the session to expose themselves to the guidelines of discussing bills in Brunei Darussalam or their deliberations can also do so.
All the given regulations must be observed, including the dress code while inside the Legislative Council Building.
The session normally starts from 9am to noon and from 2pm to 4.30pm. For queries, call the council Secretariat at 2380501.