| Azlan Othman |
MINISTER at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, yesterday said that interaction and balanced communication by means of Syura (consultation) can help make decisions in a mature, precise and purposeful manner.
The minister said this during a dialogue session between the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and members of the Legislative Council (LegCo), at the PMO building in Jalan Menteri Besar.
“We need to find solutions to issues raised, proposed and presented by the community,” he said.
“If possible, these matters should be settled early, without waiting to be brought before the Legislative Council meetings.”
Among those present were Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah and Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Datin Seri Paduka Dayang Hajah Elinda binti Haji CA Mohammad.
The 12 LegCo members, meanwhile, were led by Penghulu of Mukim Kota Batu Yang Berhormat Naim bin Haji Kamis.
In his closing speech at the dialogue session, the minister said, “I hope that we can work together more closely and agreeably to effectively addressing the challenges being faced, as a supportive team with a sense of respect in serving our monarch and our faith.”
In his reply speech on behalf of the LegCo members, Yang Berhormat Naim expressed the hope that no member of the civil service would abuse authority for self-gain or for their families.
“People in this country want the civil service to be trustworthy and sincere in the provision of services,” he said. “The power entrusted to them must be used wisely and nobly, taking into account the laws, regulations and policies to be implemented properly without any prejudice or injustice.”
Yang Berhormat Naim also called on the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) to step up its measures in the prevention of illicit drug trafficking, and urged the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to prevent bribery and corruption from becoming more widespread.
Also present at the session were the Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force; the Auditor General; permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretaries; and the directors and senior officers from the PMO and departments under it.
On January 15, the LegCo members had a similar dialogue with the Media and Cabinet Division at the PMO, which was followed with a visit to Radio Television Brunei. A day later, another dialogue session was held between the LegCo members and the Department of Adat Istiadat Negara.