Hakim Hayat

Legislative Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat Iswandy bin Ahmad at the third day of the 16th LegCo Meeting yesterday put forward the idea of exporting skilled locals to other countries, to help bring down the unemployment rate in Brunei.

With the unemployment rate standing at 8.7 per cent in 2018, based on statistics released by the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics (JPES), he said the mobility of local skilled workers should be considered, like what some other countries are doing, with government agencies in place to mobilise the export of these individuals overseas.

“Maybe it is time that we export our human resources who are interested, skilled and also suitable to work overseas, as we have skilled workers who are qualified for employment everywhere, especially graduates,” he said, suggesting that a department or secretariat could be established to coordinate this initiative.

Meanwhile, Yang Berhormat Iswandy said a constant review mechanism through key result indicators for achieving Brunei Vision 2035 should be implemented by giving example of a “metre review progress”.

He believed that “foresighting” and “coordination” towards achieving the national mission should not be too late and questioned Brunei’s preparations in realising the goal.

In response to Yang Berhormat Iswandy’s suggestion, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud shared that the Executive Committee of the Brunei Vision 2035 is the main authority tasked to ensure the implementation of strategies and policies as well as its focus areas and goals are met within the set timeframe.

He said the approach taken is not only geared towards mutual understanding and capabilities of the national KPIs, but is also inclined towards the creation of a sense of ownership among them, based on the data to get a realistic picture of the current situation.

The minister also said that as we are faced with a fast-changing environment full of uncertainties, we must also ready ourselves by employing a far-sighted methodology when it comes to creating policies and strategic plans.

“Future ready to face strategic surprises and driving forces… all these can be implemented with the participation of all parties to enhance the effectiveness and parallel initiatives, towards the goal of achieving Brunei Vision 2035, such as those being implemented in other initiatives such as the climate change policy figures, digital economic blueprint and the economic blueprint,” he said.

He added that they will ensure the country is ready to face the future with all parties from the Government, private sector and the people coming together to achieve the aspiration, so as to ensure that “the country will continue to make strides and not be left behind in terms of economic stability and resilient development as well as the guarantee of welfare and safety of the people”.