| James Kon |
THE national development agenda faces numerous challenges which are increasingly complex; for example, the maritime security alone is multifaceted, intertwined with the socio-economy and environment.
As such, policymakers would need a holistic approach and be focussed on the interests of the country.
In other words, policymakers shouldn’t limit to departmental priorities only.
This was highlighted by Minister of Defence II Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof at the closing ceremony of the 14th Executive Development Programme (EDP) for senior government officials.
He was the guest of honour at the event yesterday, conducted by his ministry.
The minister said while a strong and credible armed forces is needed to protect the country’s sovereignty, cooperation with international partners is a must.
Such cooperation is important for the armed forces to have a high level of preparedness in its military capabilities, he said.
It provides peace-support missions where the armed forces can play a role in contributing to peace and safety, which in turn supports the national development agenda.
Meanwhile, the minister said, “A short-term assessment of the effectiveness of a policy will not be enough; it is important to think long-term.
“Therefore, a detailed and systematic approach is crucial. My experiences working at several ministries have proven the importance of innovative cooperation,” he added.
“Innovative cooperation not only benefits numerous departments but also instil an attitude of synergy cooperation,” the minister said.
Synergy cooperation means engaging relevant parties with a spirit of consultation and discussion so that valuable and sustainable outcomes could be achieved for the benefit of the public.
The minister also highlighted that to achieve the national development agenda, the commitment of all is needed.
“We must work together to achieve Vision 2035. We who serve 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 have a big responsibility to together contribute significantly to the nation,” he added.