| Hakim Hayat |
THE emerging and complex security situation faced by today’s world calls for Brunei Darussalam’s increased collaboration with its counterparts towards maintaining regional and international peace and security and to remain robust and perpetually relevant, 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, Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of the RBAF said in a titah yesterday.
Addressing the grand parade to mark the occasion of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces’ (RBAF) 55th anniversary at the Defence Academy RBAF in Kampong Tanah Jambu yesterday, His Majesty said today’s volatile security landscape presents diverse range of cross-border threats that do not exempt us from the prospect of traditional and non-traditional challenges such as terrorism, maritime and cyber security as well as natural disasters.
His Majesty underscored that such volatile environment calls for multi-level collaboration with various parties, not just between security agencies at home, but also in the international front. “Therefore, it is crucial to review procedures and best practices and share knowledge and skills through bilateral and multi-lateral exercises to remain relevant,” His Majesty added.
The monarch also highlighted some of the laudable efforts RBAF accomplished to step up Brunei’s defence diplomacy, such as the co-hosting of the recently concluded multi-national military exercise, the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM)-Plus Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism Exercise and also Brunei’s proposal for a hotline dubbed the “Direct Communications Link” between defence ministers within Asean bloc that will be launched this year.
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, Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces inspecting the military personnel. PHOTOS: BAHYIAH BAKIR
His Majesty delivers a titah
The success of the ADMM-Plus Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism Exercise, His Majesty said, reflects Brunei Darussalam’s commitment and capability in strengthening its position amid a dynamic security landscape. “It also shows that despite being a small country, Brunei Darussalam is capable of contributing to regional security and can provide platforms for a range of cooperation in the defence and military fields,” the monarch said, adding that this is inevitably a huge contribution that will go a long way to help attain peace, stability and prosperity between Asean neighbours and its dialogue partners in the Asia-Pacific region.
Drawing attention to security at home, His Majesty reminded that although the RBAF’s capabilities can be recognised through its acquisition of the latest and advanced military equipment, this should not put a stop to continuous progress. The Ministry of Defence (MinDef) still needs to continue its development and research planning in tandem with changing needs and priorities.
Touching on the recently launched Defence Academy RBAF, His Majesty said that fitting to the academy’s role to produce a generation of young RBAF officers equipped with basic military leadership and knowledge, it must constantly plan and widen its learning span, to produce quality military officers with tactical, operational and strategic capabilities, which he said is vital to overcome a challenging and uncertain “contemporary operating environment”.
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