| Rokiah Mahmud |

THE formation of reserve units can only take place in times of war and during a state of emergency, as stated in the General Order of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) Act under Section 5, Chapter 50.

Similarly, under Section 149 of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Act, there is no allocation for the establishment of reserve units, with the exception of retired RBAF personnel.

Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud was responding to a question by Legislative Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat Naim bin Haji Kamis, on whether it would be feasible to reduce the unemployment rate among graduates by recruiting them into temporary reserve squads for a period of three years under the RBPF and RBAF, and then later on as full-time personnel.

He also asked whether the RBAF and RBPF had any mandates on the formation of temporary reserve squads.

Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti replied that the RBPF regularly conducts recruitment for new police personnel and officers for interested applicants who fulfil certain requirements.

He also explained that any formation of reserve units for the RBAF and RBPF would be on a long-term basis with the full commitment of the personnel, rather than a temporary one.

“The formation of reserve squads for a temporary period does not meet the needs of both forces,” he said. “At the same time, it does not conform to the initiatives carried out by the government, in further strengthening the development of private sectors and industries.”