| Hakim Hayat |

THE Parliament yesterday approved the Ministry of Defence (MinDef)’s budget proposal of BND589,870,450 for the new fiscal year 2019/2020, a six per cent increase from the country’s last defence budget as the ministry ramps up its efforts to enhance its capabilities, human capital capacity and defence diplomacy priorities.

Minister of Defence II Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof tabled the MinDef’s new budget on the third day of the 15th Legislative Council session yesterday.

He highlighted that while the ministry continues to exercise its role of defending the sovereignty of the nation through a Whole of Nation and also Whole of Government approach, they are also committed to ensure their maximum contribution in efforts to enhance the nation’s capacities and the capabilities of its people to ensure the continuous stability, security and harmony of the country.

To ensure the effectiveness of its mission through comprehensive strategic planning, he shared that defence strategies have been formulated and implemented and will be evaluated and updated continuously to allow for a more organised response option towards challenges amid changing landscapes and strategic, domestic, regional and international trends that are also aligned with national development strategies.

The minister outlined three main thrusts of the defence strategy that he said remains relevant – deterrence and response; defence diplomacy and holistic defence which he said are achieved through a credible armed forces in terms of capacity, readiness, response and adaption; active participation in bilateral, regional and international frameworks to enhance capacity and also involvement in various aspects of national security.

With rapid national development and as the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) reaches 60 years of establishment in 2021, the minister also recognised the rapidly changing national strategic landscape that warrants for the update of the current Defence White Paper, citing developments in Pekan Muara, Pulau Muara Besar and also the Brunei Bay with the Temburong Bridge.

“We among others need to change operational concepts, acquire new equipment and weaponry by giving focus to a more balanced and holistic capacity building, by replacing ageing equipment that will be considered obsolete. All these acquisitions Insya Allah will be realised as RBAF reaches a significant age of 60 in 2020,” he added.