Image by Infofoto (c) 2009His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has told the National Disaster Council to anticipate events which have not yet occurred in the country, but may still hit Brunei Darussalam, such as terrorism, tsunamis and earthquakes. The council's role, His Majesty pointed out, stretched beyond merely receiving and listening to reports from it's members but covers the drawing up of preparation plans in the contingency of a disaster, which His Majesty in his Titah said, may bring calamities. The monarch was addressing a Special Meeting of the National Disaster Council about containing the A H1N1 Influenza pandemic in the country. His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, Chairman of the National Disaster Council was present at the meeting held Monday at the Fire and Rescue Department in Berakas. In the thirty-five minute long Titah, His Majesty touched on celebrations for his birthday anniversary, the National Education System for the 21st Century, tithe issues and more stringent measures towards preventing the spread of the A H1N1 Influenza pandemic.
His Majesty stated that although floods and high tides seldomly occurred before in Brunei, they had recently touched areas never before affected. Incidents of landslides on such a wide scale, His Majesty said, had never been a problem until recently, where they damaged houses, buildings and even claimed lives. His Majesty underlined that vigilance and preparation was required as opposed to waiting around until incidents happen. On A H1N1, His Majesty talked of how the current pandemic plaguing the country, represented a fearful scourge as it disrupted social activities, including His Majesty's own birthday celebrations. Nevertheless, the monarch was sure that the spirit of 15th July would remain high and vibrant.
In expressing gratitude to everybody involved in preparing for the birthday celebrations, His Majesty also expressed displeasure in some of the initiatives made to mark the event. His Majesty believed that some of the government's initiatives were viewed as a burden to society. He noted that the celebration's committees in arranging huge events, lobbied the public for donations and mainly targetting large companies, prompting widespread news coverage and publicity by the print media and television covering the donation ceremonies. In the forefront, to receive these donations, said His Majesty, are ministers and high ranking officials, making it look as though the birthday celebration serves as a front for lobbying and campaigning to get donations.
His Majesty questioned if this lobbying and campaigning was the right way, as it prompted people to compete to donate. His Majesty believed that by name of the royal birthday celebrations, donations pour in, prompting the questions: if it is right, and were the donors sincere or were they forced to donate? All these issues, said His Majesty, need to be looked at closely and not made an annual trend, as frankly, said His Majesty, he does not like for his birthday to be made a tool to accumulate donations. His Majesty went on to ask if whether the allocated budget was not sufficient? His Majesty also questioned as to how glorious and grand the celebration needed to be - adding that he does not want it to be wasteful or bring hardship to the rakyat. It is adequate for the celebration to run properly and not to go all out in excessive fashion.
On the A H1N1 Influenza pandemic, His Majesty states that while steps are taken to contain the disease, based on advice of health authorities, such as maintaining cleanliness and cutting down on social events, it's more important and effective to include measures to restrict overseas travel for Bruneians. His Majesty states that travel should be temporarily prohibited to affected countries. This move was not enforced until the Prime Minister's Office issued a circular to this effect on July 7th 2009. Prior to that, ministries and departments continued to send officers overseas, including to affected countries, even though those officers are said to have put forward their views against being sent abroad, as it meant endangering themselves as well as their family upon returning home. Nevertheless, said His Majesty, their superiors insisted on going through with sending them overseas until the Prime Minister's circular put a stop to it. This, said His Majesty, is an example of always waiting for instruction, even though these superiors have their own mandate to make their own decisions and take appropriate steps towards protecting the safety of their charges.
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam continued on the subject of the A H1N1 pandemic, noting that as a country with strong faith, Brunei Darussalam had confronted the pandemic with special prayers as well as tackled it through normal procedures, with the Health Ministry's guidance. His Majesty said, the spiritual weapon was more important now that we seem to have lost physical control and flu cases continue to rise. His Majesty said, spiritual efforts should be multiplied, as His Majesty noted a lack of effort in that respect. His Majesty noted that the hajat prayers at mosques on Friday were not as prominent as they should be. And Qunut Nazilah were only held on Fridays, while in fact they could be performed during other prayers without being guided or led. While religious officers are many in number, said His Majesty, none have come forward to conduct special programs on radio or television to inform and guide the public on the importance of doa and zikir as means of protecting the country from the pandemic. The monarch expressed disappointment in waiting, as although the ministry is capable of taking such action, none has been taken. His Majesty pointed out television's usefulness in screening quranic verses and zikir at this testing time. Although schools are now re-opened - the initiative to lead school children to read a doa for protection against the pandemic before entering class, hasn't been witnessed noted the ruler. His Majesty believes that religious people know the effectiveness of prayers on young children.
His Majesty in his titah also pointed at some other examples of major weaknesses that are often overlooked, such as food shortage. His Majesty asked the question as to who should be thinking about the issue seriously?
His Majesty said that though the country had been independent for some time now, only a three point one percent level of self sufficiency in the basic food has been achieved - as though nothing had been done. No one, said His Majesty, has pointed this figure out to the ministers, and the monarch questioned as to why it had not been emphasized. His Majesty suggested it might be because, we are afraid to make plans and take action until His Majesty himself repeats it many times, and what if, by the will of Allah the Al-Mighty, there suddenly occurs a worldwide food shortage crisis and we have only achieved three point one percent food self sufficiency. His Majesty asked the Council, to just imagine if suppliers did not want to supply Brunei, in the case of a crisis. His Majesty mentioned how our neighbouring countries which although have still to achieve 70 percent self sufficiency, still continue to make plans towards a one hundred percent self sufficiency goal. His Majesty reiterated how it was only after His Majesty himself repeats this point over and over, that the ministries concerned rise to respond. By the grace of Allah, said the Monarch, it is heartening to hear that Brunei will achieve twenty percent self sufficiency in basic food by the year 2010, and sixty percent by the year 2015. His Majesty summarised that the way to look at something is with vision and not with a "wait and see" approach.
His Majesty spent a lot of time on the issue of tithe, recapping that at the meeting of the Brunei Islamic Council six months ago, he had raised the issue regarding the huge balance in the tithe fund which was in excess of one hundred million dollars. His Majesty questioned how such a large balance could accumulate, whether it was because there were no more poor people who needed it or they were just illegible to receive it. His Majesty threw focus on three groups of poverty in brunei, comprising the poor, the poorer and those in debt and asked if it was true that this group of people no longer existed in Brunei. The answer is they do still exist said His Majesty, who then questioned how such a large balance of tithe can still exist as it is obligatory for zakat to be given to those eligible. Zakat must not be with held, stated His Majesty, as poverty can drive an individual to disaster, illustrating this, by pointing out the various crimes committed because of poverty which can even drive an individual to suicide. Furthermore, stated the ruler, poverty can force individuals to change religion, which is a major disaster. Many evil things can happen to those in debt. This is why, says His Majesty, that Allah the Al-mighty places these people in the poverty category. It is a welcome move that the islamic religious council recently approved to settle arrears in tithe to 190 people who were in debt, under housing programmes amounting to more than two million dollars.
Touching on the policy of assigning officers and staff to overseas assignments such as conferences, His Majesty said that some ministries and departments were being insensitive to the welfare and well-being of their employees. The ruler pointed out how lower ranking officers or staff, were sent overseas on their own to attend conferences and seminars, while higher ranked officials such as directors, ministers and deputy ministers, were accompanied by other officers, whose work could be done by diplomatic mission staff in the countries concerned. When His Majesty questioned the purpose of sending so many - the answer received was "to assist", as well as excuses of bringing more officers for "discussion purposes" and so on. Why then, asked His Majesty, is there no such need for the lower ranked officers? His Majesty suggested that such decisions were based on self interest and not for the welfare and well-being of employees. His Majesty questioned who could the lower ranking officers hold discussions with? If such officers get into difficulties or become ill, where do they turn to? Another issue that senior officers have neglected to think of, is regarding the sending of two people, a male and a female who are unrelated to each other, overseas, which goes against islam. His Majesty questioned the possibility that such procedure might destroy homes, break up marriages or at least, cause disturbances and asked why this had not crossed the minds of the wise administrators and managers?
On the national education system for the 21st century, His Majesty pointed out an obvious flaw in the system - religious education is not included as a compulsory core subject. The compulsory core subjects only comprise of the Malay language, English language, mathematics and science. His Majesty said it was surprising that the islamic religious subject was placed in the same group as complementary subjects such as music and drama, and questioned why Ugama was not one of the compulsory core subjects? As malay is the official language according to constitution and therefore a compulsory core subject, then so should Islam be, as the official religion of the country according to the constitution. His Majesty expressed his opinion, that Ugama should be a compulsory core subject and studied by all muslims, as it is a sin not to, and a potential burden to the country. Another disastrous flaw of the new education system said His Majesty, is that Ugama is placed in the same group as music and drama. In this respect, said the monarch, even a psychologist would agree, that it would lead to music and drama being more popular, while leaving Ugama behind. His Majesty questioned the whereabouts of the nation's vision to produce a generation well versed in the holy al-qur'an if this teaching is disrupted.
Source: RTB News
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