| Hakim Hayat |
THE people of this country should be grateful for the range of benefits and facilities still provided by the government amid a challenging economic landscape but remain steadfast and avoid complacency in efforts to boost the economy and realise national development agendas, the Speaker of the Legislative Council (LegCo) said yesterday.
In his adjournment speech for the first meeting of the 14th LegCo session yesterday afternoon, YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Dato Setia Haji Mohamed Taib said there is no room for complacency even though the economic landscape has shown gradual recovery and underlined the importance of continuous empowerment of drivers of growth.
“It is important for us to continuously empower strategic and innovative growth and maintain efforts to multiply or diversify the economy, in the direction of boosting various sectors such as agriculture, agrifood as well as the tourism industry, all of which can enhance our economy and evolve our economic landscape from one which is dependent on hydrocarbon resources into one that is less so, with the involvement of all stakeholders,” he said.
“Although we have made significant efforts to diversify our main revenue stream into other areas, we should be grateful that our hydrocarbon resources are still there.”
The Speaker also underlined the significance of our youth in national development and in empowering the economy.
“Their mentalities should be trained and polished to mould them into becoming reliable leaders, as they are the next generation who will continue our legacy today in a competitive global landscape and so that we can continuously bring honour to Brunei Darussalam’s name,” YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman said.
Throughout the 12 days of the first meeting of the 14th LegCo Session, the Speaker said that the plans, initiatives, suggestions and opinions brought forward to the national front to enhance the government’s policies have become a guide for the government to strengthen the country’s move towards prosperity and security, and realising Brunei Vision 2035.
A whole-of-nation approach and a “give and take” concept in raising issues of mutual importance during the deliberations, the Speaker said, shows the reliability of LegCo members in building the nation together and in ensuring the welfare of the people.
The Speaker also stressed the importance of maintaining Brunei’s Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) values to fortify the country’s traditional culture which has been practised for many years.