| Danial Norjidi |
THE Ministry of Communications (MinCom) has been allocated a budget of B$54,880,500 for the Financial Year 2018/2019.
YB Awang Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusof, the Minister of Communications, announced this during the Legislative Council (LegCo) session yesterday.
The minister shared that among the major projects under the development expenditure for 2018-2019 is the Public Transport System Project, which is expected to cost B$15 million.
“This project is in line with the Land Transport Masterplan which, among others, is to reduce reliance on private vehicles and further strengthen governance of the public transport sector,” he said.
“This financial allocation is the trust and responsibility that have been given to the Ministry of Communications for the development and advancement of the communications and transportation sectors.”
The minister touched on a number of key initiatives of the MinCom that have been implemented, as well as the ministry’s development plans and direction for the Financial Year 2018/2019.
He said throughout the Financial Year 2017/2018, the ministry implemented a number of initiatives in streamlining policies, governance and processes.
“The implementation of these policies has contributed to budget savings, facilitating the public and business as well as increasing productivity levels.”
This, he continued, is as emphasised in the MinCom Strategic Plan 2008-2017.
“In line with this, the Ministry of Communications will ensure the continuity of the policy in planning for the coming year,” he said.
“At the same time, a number of reviews will be conducted to strengthen the implementation of policies and objectives.”
He added that the ministry will also continue to identify more cost-effective services to be provided by the private sector, which will further reduce the expenses incurred by the government. Among these policies are corporatisation and privatisation; commercialising services that were previously carried out by departments under the MinCom; and facilitating public affairs and private sector involvement.
“In the privatisation and corporatisation drive, a major development in the transportation sector was the privatisation of the Muara Port container terminal on February 21, 2017 and the corporatisation of the Marine Department and Ports Department into the Brunei Darussalam Maritime and Ports Authority (PBMP) starting September 28, 2017.”
The minister said the establishment of the PBMP and privatisation of the container terminal brought positive changes to the quality of service at Muara Port in 2017 compared to 2016.
This includes an increase of 37 per cent in handling productivity for shipping containers; and a 48-per cent reduction in container Haulier Turnaround Time from 60 minutes in 2016 to 30.8 minutes in 2017.
“The improvement of the above services is hoped to enhance shipping activities in the country,” he said.
Additionally, the privatisation of these container terminals has opened employment opportunities in the field of shipping for locals, he continued.
“Since taking over the Muara container terminal, Muara Port Company Sdn Bhd (MPC) now has 163 workers, of which 87 per cent – 141 people – are locals.”
“Furthermore, the privatisation of Muara container terminal will reduce the cost of financing that the government has to allocate for the maintenance and operation of the terminal, which is B$8.6 million a year.”
Moving on, the minister said to further facilitate the public, vehicle inspection services previously carried out by the Land Transport Department (JPD) are now provided by private companies that act as Vehicle Inspection Stations in the Brunei-Muara District.
He shared that MinCom, through the JPD, is working on establishing such inspection stations in other districts.
“This move not only provides convenience and choice to the public, but has also saved the government B$850,000 a year, while at the same time opening up opportunities for private sector participation in providing service options to the public.
“Procedures at departments have also been improved with the aim of facilitating private sector involvement,” he continued.
“For example, the filling of spaces that can be rented out at the Brunei International Airport since its terminal was modernised in 2014. The rate of filling space that can be rented out has shown a consistent increase from year to year.”
To date, it is estimated that nearly 80 per cent of the available space for rent has been filled up by tenants comprising local and foreign companies.
The minister said this initiative has enhanced the convenience and comfort of visitors and passengers at Brunei International Airport where retail companies and eateries have employed 342 employees, comprising 73 per cent locals.
Touching on the information and communication technology (ICT) sector, the minister said through the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI), “coverage and usage of mobile phone services have shown a positive development with the continued efforts of service providers, namely DST Communications and Progresif Cellular.” He said there has been an improvement in telecommunications tower infrastructure, where the ongoing effort has provided mobile phone coverage to 341 villages out of the total 432 villages, or almost 80 per cent of all villages in the country.
This includes providing coverage for users in the vicinity of the Lumut-Telisai Highway by installing a tower that recently began operation.
“The Ministry of Communications and AITI realise that there is still room for improvement, especially in some villages where there are still mobile phone coverage problems,” he said.
“Cooperation and consultation with the relevant parties will be intensified to ensure mobile phone coverage is available for residents in these villages.”
Meanwhile, in the field of ICT capacity building, the minister said AITI has also implemented an ICT literacy programme that has been well-received, including by village consultative councils, particularly for supporting the One Village, One Product initiative.
He added that this programme involved a total of 85 participants from 50 village consultative councils throughout the country and that AITI will further enhance this programme to attract more involvement from interested members of the public.