| Dr Muhammad Hadi Bin Muhammad Melayong, Senior Special Duties Officer, Secretariat Office, MIB Supreme Council |
ALHAMDULILLAH, the concept of Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) has become this country’s philosophy as set out in the documents of the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam 2008 (amendments) in Part VII of Article 42 (1) “Except with the prior approval of 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, a member of the Legislative Council shall not introduce or propose, and the Legislative Council shall not proceed upon, any Bill, any amendment to any Bill, or any motion, petition or business which, in the opinion of His Majesty, falls within any of the following classes – (e) any Bill, motion, petition or business which may have the effect of lowering or adversely affect directly or indirectly the position or the supremacy of the national philosophy of Melayu Islam Beraja (known in English as Malay Islamic Monarchy).”
However, since MIB was declared 34 years ago, Brunei’s community appreciates the values which have indeed become the soul of the Bruneians since 650 years ago, as mentioned by Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud in his closing remarks during the closing Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting on March 20 this year.
In order to maintain and strengthen the Bruneian identity, the Supreme Council of MIB was set up in 1985 to promulgate the practice of MIB values within the community and State.
In this regard, through the Secretariat Office of the MIB Supreme Council, several programmes and activities have been carried out based on the Strategic Action Plan of the Secretariat Office of the MIB Supreme Council for the years 2015-2019.
In this case several programmes in the form of briefings, lectures, forums, seminars and workshops have been held based on the needs of government agencies and the private sector.
In addition, the Secretariat Office of the MIB Supreme Council also collaborated with government departments and the private sector to spread and strengthen the understanding among the people about the MIB philosophy through the publication of articles and textbooks written in Malay, English and also Chinese.
MIB values were spread to the local population in Brunei as well as foreigners residing in the country.
The sharing of information on Brunei’s heritage has been conducted through seminars and conferences internationally throughout Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and other Asian countries.
This matter has been discussed and explained by the Minister of Home Affairs in his capacity as Deputy Chairman of the Secretariat Office of the MIB Supreme Council Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, when responding to the recommendations put forward by LegCo member Yang Berhormat Haji Abdul Hamid bin Haji Mumin, during the first meeting of the 14th Session of the LegCo meeting this year; that is for foreign workers to be given courses or briefings on MIB.
Thus, for this purpose, the Secretariat Office of the MIB Supreme Council is open to cooperating with interested parties to consolidate and enhance the practice and appreciation of the MIB values, seeing that it is an important source of wellbeing and prosperity in the country.
Alhamdulillah, in his capacity as Deputy Chairman of the MIB Supreme Council, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar published his book entitled Melayu Islam Beraja: Dalam Pendidikan Negara Abad 21, which includes a number of articles authored by himself containing his own ideas and perceptions on the implementation of the MIB concept in Brunei’s education system.
Therefore, the responsibility in disseminating and strengthening of the practice and appreciation of these values falls on Bruneians regardless of race, religion or culture – this is to ensuring the continuity of the philosophy.
His Majesty has been repeating his address about the duty of the young generation to continue to adopt this particular Bruneian identity among students studying abroad.
The most recent example of this was His Majesty’s titah to Bruneian students studying in Australia on March 7, 2018:
“Di samping itu, para pelajar juga janganlah mudah lupa diri, bahawa mereka adalah anak-anak Brunei sejati. Selaku orang Brunei, mereka adalah dengan pegangan, budaya dan identitinya sendiri. Bawa dan peganglah kuat-kuat pegangan, budaya dan identiti ini, jangan ia dilepaskan atau ditukar ganti. Inilah aset kita. Inilah ‘harga’ diri kita.
“Dengan bahasa yang mudah, kita adalah pemilik MIB. MIB itulah sistem kita, MIB itulah identiti kita. Jika kita membuang MIB, bererti, sama dengan kita menolak sistem dan mengaburi identiti sendiri. Jadi, siapa kita pada ketika itu?
“Namun Beta yakin, para pelajar kita tidaklah perlu untuk diragui lagi, kerana mereka sudahpun matang, dengan banyaknya membaca dan mendengar tentang sejarah bangsa dan tanahair, Brunei Darussalam.
“Brunei, Beta yakin, tidak miskin dengan warga pelajarnya yang bersemangat keBruneian. Demikian juga, Brunei boleh berbangga dengan warga pelajarnya yang berdisiplin tinggi. Tidak seperti di tempat lain, ada pelajar-pelajar yang lemah disiplin, sehingga jadi duri kepada masyarakat. Mereka menubuhkan kumpulan-kumpulan samseng, membuli dan mendera sesama mereka, belum lagi termasuk yang terlibat dengan dadah dan seumpamanya.
“Ini semua, Beta tidak mahu berlaku kepada pelajar-pelajar kita. Tetapi sebaliknya, pertahankanlah Brunei untuk terus mempunyai rekod bersih mengenai pelajar-pelajarnya. Janganlah dihitamkan rekod ini untuk selama-lamanya.”
Thus, in heeding His Majesty’s call and in honour of its duties and responsibilities, the Secretariat Office of the MIB Supreme Council will continue to hold briefings, lectures, workshops and other appropriate programmes on the subject for local students studying in local universities and also colleges and secondary schools throughout the country.
The Secretariat Office of the MIB Supreme Council has given briefings on the concept of monarchy and MIB to private companies, to enhance their understanding on the matter and encourage the practice of these values among their staff.
The latest of this was a seminar conducted for some 150 employees of Progresif Cellular Sdn Bhd.
The seminar was facilitated by the author and lecturers from the Academy of Brunei Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam.
Parties interested in engaging the services of the MIB Supreme Council may contact its Secretariat Office at 2463001 ext 2462 or fax: 2460598, or send an email to sekretariat.mtmib@ubd.edu.bn.