OF
HIS MAJESTY SULTAN HAJI HASSANAL BOLKIAH MU’IZZADDIN WADDAULAH
IBNI AL-MARHUM SULTAN HAJI OMAR ‘ALI SAIFUDDIEN
SA’ADAUL KHAIRI WADDIEN
THE SULTAN AND YANG DI-PERTUAN
OF
BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
12 REJAB 1429
JULY 15, 2008
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Thank Allah the Compassionate and the Merciful for his diving grace in allowing this morning’s ceremony to run smoothly and perfectly.
Firstly, I would like to extend my thanks to my special guests for attending this ceremony to celebrate my 62nd birthday anniversary.
I also wish to express similar appreciation to those who have sent their greetings to my family and I, in conjunction with this celebration.
In retrospect, we have seen crises and calamities afflicting a number of countries, in this region in particular.
This has brought us to be more thankful as it is fated that our country is safe from painful adversity.
We are confident that the safety granted by Allah the Compassionate and the Merciful is an intrinsic blessing of our nation-state, “Brunei Darussalam, the land of zikir”.
This year, we have both witnessed and experienced an increase in oil price at the global market. It has triggered anxiety the world over.
However, thank Allah the Compassionate and the Merciful, for my government is still able to maintain domestic fuel price at the existing rate.
We are also aware that an increase in fuel price is matched by an increase in fuel subsidy. In 2007, it was worth B$200 million, which means that for this year the subsidy is set to rise higher.
As such, in line with the government’s resolve to conserve so as to retain the subsidy mechanism, each member of society must shoulder the responsibility by economising especially in vehicle fuel consumption.
In addition, do not neglect efforts to stem fuel smuggling by irresponsible quarters.
Equally important is savings in the daily use of electricity, which is directly produced by our natural gas reserve.
The talk of these days is the issue of price hike, especially the daily necessities.
This is a global phenomenon where no country is spared from it.
Thank Allah the Compassionate and the merciful, citizens and population of Brunei are mature and calm in coming to terms with this issue.
Nevertheless, for the good of everyone, I wish to remind all suppliers and retailers not to raise prices on a whim or impulse.
In addition, we should also become mindful of the world food crisis. It has triggered global concern when the production of cereals including rice has suddenly dropped among the major producing countries.
This is compounded when the producing countries are forced to release their stock of rice reserve for their population.
Concern has surged when world bodies disclose a continuing decline in agricultural output, which is not commensurate with world population increase.
The world population is set to rise from 6.5 billion in 2006 to 7 billion in 2012. Such increase is a mismatch with the continuing decline in food production.
Also in view is the issue of world climate change. Global warming is causing impact to the environment. And this is a new threat to life.
Across the world, natural disasters such as earthquakes; typhoons; and floods jeopardise food resources.
My government has identified rice as a basic necessity, which is given subsidy.
As with fuel, subsidy for rice has risen. But for the wellbeing of citizens and population, the price for rice remains as it is.
But it does not mean that we are free from concern for food supply. Especially given the fact several producing countries have stopped exporting cereals to other countries.
For this reason, Brunei Darussalam should no longer become dependent on the mercy of weather in other countries in order to acquire rice even though we have the means to pay for it.
The relentless dependence on money to fulfil our food needs is no longer relevant against the backdrop of a food crisis.
If a certain rice producing country that has met 70 per cent of its domestic needs is still designing policy to achieve 100 per cent self-sufficiency, why shouldn’t we—who could produce only 3.12 per cent to date—strive to increase our industrial output for rice?
As I remember, I have raised this matter repeatedly for the past few years.
It is therefore fitting for us to have a strategic plan and a national agricultural policy, which, among other things, underpin our national food security as one of their main strategic purposes.
Speaking of efforts to enhancing the economy, we need to harness our resources and increase efforts to fulfil our needs.
For this purpose, we need to update all of our planning and human resource implementation and all relevant policies.
As an example, my government has allocated B$28 million from the Human Resource Fund for the Special Programme for Job-seeking Graduates and School-leavers Scheme.
It should relieve the private sector’s dependence on foreign labour and at the same time reduces local unemployment.
Lately, there have been discussions on social security especially on life after retirement in the public sector, the private sector, and self-employment.
For this purpose my government is currently studying mechanisms that could provide better security during old age for citizens and population; and spearheading the implementation; and improving policy and retirement system in this country.
Plans to change lifestyle habits from a consumer society to a saving society should begin early.
In areas of development, I am inclined to support an approach that monitors waste and solids disposal, which includes chemical and dangerous bio-chemical disposal.
From my observation, the time has come for us to seriously overcome this issue. The consequence is not trivial if we are negligent or complacent in managing the environment.
There is no benefit in leaving waste to accumulate without proper disposal.
We would never achieve the coveted developed country status if our management of waste disposal remains weak.
As such, relevant agencies should become more determined; prompt; and forward-looking in overcoming this matter.
Members of the public should also cooperate by using the waste disposal areas that have been provided.
A consolidated approach such as this should, by the will of Allah, provide us with a guarantee of clean air and a healthy environment.
Health is precious in life. It should be nurtured and sustained.
One of the ways to care and sustain health is by monitoring food intake and making physical exercise as compulsory.
In line with food control, I welcome the control of using and marketing tobacco products.
Given that the Tobacco Order 2005 has been enforced since June, I hope that diseases caused by tobacco consumption would become reduced.
When this happens, the quality of health and living in our country becomes improved and enhanced.
In our country, curbing the habit of smoking is not a difficult issue, unlike in other countries. This is because we do not have an interest with cigarettes. We could set our habits and resolve at will any time.
I think we are capable of becoming a leading country in curbing smoking. We should also not forget the rules regarding smoking in our country, which is Haram.
Are we not aware that a reduction in serious diseases caused by smoking would reduce our country’s expenses in providing healthcare?
Another important area is education. My government is now updating plans towards a national education system by introducing the 21st Century Education System or the SPN 21. Its implementation is set for early next year, by the will of Allah.
It is designed to respond to challenges in human development and the economy, in addition to providing support for the National Vision.
In the international arena, our relations with neighbouring and friendly countries are becoming closer and enhanced. This is because of our principled and pragmatic policy.
Our commitment towards regional peace, security, and prosperity is now reinforced by the signing of the ASEAN Charter at the ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Singapore last year.
Through bilateral trade agreements, and memberships and regional cooperation in ASEAN and international organisations including APEC, OIC, the Commonwealth, WTO, and so on, my government would continue to strive for improvement for the purpose of opening more opportunities in new markets.
My government would also not neglect security, in fact would cooperate to enhance and improve it regionally and internationally.
I am aware that security challenges in this century are difficult to predict. As such our ability to overcome it is important.
Diplomacy and defence cooperation would continually become widened through forums and training that establishes beneficial opinion sharing on joint security problems.
With the awareness of everyone on security, our country and the world is set to experience peace by the will of Allah.
On this happy event, I wish to thank all members of society for their support and contribution to my government.
I also wish to thank all members of the Celebration Working Committee for their efforts in organising my 62nd birthday celebration.
extracted from 62nd official Royal Birthday website, image (c) Information Department 2008.
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