Rokiah Mahmud
There is a growing need to strengthen the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in these challenging times by engaging dialogue partners on issues that are of mutual concern regionally and internationally.
This was said by Speaker of the Legislative Council (LegCo) Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Dato Setia Haji Mohamed Taib during the closing ceremony of the 41st AIPA General Assembly hosted by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam yesterday.
The Legislative Council of Brunei Darussalam has been appointed to host the 42nd AIPA and the Speaker as new President of AIPA.
On the presidency, the LegCo Speaker said, “We look forward to working closely with the AIPA Secretariat and AIPA Members of Parliament to build on past efforts in ensuring that AIPA visions and aspirations come to fruition.
“As such, I seek support and cooperation from speakers and parliamentarians of AIPA Members of Parliaments as well as our dialogue partners and relevant stakeholders to ensure the success of our AIPA presidency.”
Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman also shared that the LegCo has begun making preparation works for the next AIPA General Assembly to be held in Bandar Seri Begawan next year.
“There is some much uncertainty still surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
“However, we will make use of whatever means permitted in the future to ensure the success of the next assembly.”
He vouched that the LegCo will commit to putting “our best efforts forward during our AIPA presidency in the coming year”.
The closing ceremony saw the presentation of the Transfer of Office gavel to Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Pengiran Haji Sahari bin Pengiran Haji Salleh on behalf of the LegCo Speaker to mark the assumption of responsibility by the LegCo of Brunei Darussalam from the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
The 41st AIPA General Assembly was carried out for three days via video conferencing, which saw the passing of 26 resolutions in a Joint Communique signed by heads of AIPA delegation.
Yesterday also saw the 2nd Plenary Session being held.
Among the agendas in focus were regional issues relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.