| Rokiah Mahmud |
THE Ministry of Defence (MinDef) will continue striving to execute its three thrusts of defence strategy, namely Deterrence, Holistic Defence and Defence Diplomacy to achieve its ‘Key Result Areas’.
Minister of Defence II Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof highlighted this in his adjournment speech on the final day of the 15th Legislative Council (LegCo) session yesterday.
He added that these strategies will continue to be used as a guide and direction for the MinDef and Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) in the formulation of policies and the implementation of defence activities.
To ensure that these strategies remain relevant, the minister said they will always be aligned with changes in the domestic, regional and global strategic environment and adapted to national development strategies.
The minister explained that because the youth are seen as key assets in building the country, the MinDef and the RBAF’s recruitment and training programmes are geared towards producing highly educated and highly capable youth with a strong commitment in defending the sovereignty of the country, nation and religion.
As for financial and economic aspects, austerity measures are continuing in accordance with the needs and priorities of managing the country’s defence directions.
At the same time, the MinDef and RBAF are also actively offering opportunities for local businesses to tender for non-core support services such as catering services, training skills, transportation services, and continuing to explore the public-private partnership (PPP) in the implementation of services in order to achieve the national goals of promoting entrepreneurship, enhancing economic diversification and increasing employment opportunities.
The minister said in implementing the core business of the MinDef and RBAF in defending the country’s sovereignty and protecting its territorial integrity, a Whole of Nation approach will always be the best practice towards achieving Brunei Vision 2035.
“Although investment returns can hardly be measured in defence if compared with other sectors that may be more significant, especially in enjoying peace and prosperity of the country, the maintenance of credible defence is equivalent to the provision of services in other sectors for Brunei as an independent and sovereign developed nation,” he said.
“Basically, the country’s defence is a public good that has multi-tiered benefits to the country, society and individuals. This includes aspects of stability and security.”