Supervisory and monitoring work in broadcasting matters

Supervisory and monitoring work in broadcasting matters, now responsibility of Ministry of Communications

By command of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister’s Office hereby announces that His Majesty has consented that Pehin Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Communications be appointed as Minister Responsible for Broadcasting Matters and for Haji Awang Alaihuddin bin Pehin Dato Seri Utama Haji Awang Mohd. Taha, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications to be the Director of Broadcasting under the Broadcasting Act, Chapter 180, issued through the Government Gazette Section Four Number 9/2008 dated 10th May 2008.

These appointments mark an official amendment for supervision and monitoring work in broadcasting matters from the Prime Minister’s Office to the Ministry of Communications and is effective from Wednesday, 15th Jamadilawal 1429 Hijriah corresponding to 21st May 2008. In conjunction with the transfer of the regulatory function of the Broadcasting Act, Chapter 180, a ceremony to hand over and receive the act was held Wednesday at the Dewan Amar Pahlawan of the Ministry of Communications.

Representing the Prime Minister’s Office was the Minister of Energy, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Yahya; while the Minister of Communications, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abu Bakar represented his ministry. With the amendment of the Broadcasting Act, the regulatory powers will be transferred from the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Yahya as Minister Responsible for Broadcasting Matters, to the Minister of Communications, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abu Bakar as the current Minister Responsible for Broadcasting Matters.

Meanwhile, the responsibility given to the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Ismail as Director of Broadcasting, is handed over to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications, Haji Awang Alaihuddin.

The Amendment of the Broadcasting Act, Chapter 180, also means that all supervisory work in broadcasting affairs such as issuing of licenses and collection of license fees as well as monitoring and enforcement work will be conducted by the Ministry of Communications.

The government media agencies, Radio Television Brunei and the Information Department, remain under the Prime Minister’s Office.

(extracted from RTB News, available online
http://www.rtb.gov.bn/rtbnews/2008/Mei/220508/story_3.html)