DAY 9 MORNING
14TH MARCH 2023 - MORNING
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(The meeting began at 9.30 am)
Clerk
ِIn the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
The First Meeting of the Nineteenth Session of the National Assembly is held today, which is the ninth day, Tuesday, 21st of Shaban 1444H, corresponding to 14th of March 2023M, preceded by a prayer of safety.
PRAYER OF SAFETY
The prayer of safety was recited by Your Honorable Begawan Pehin Khatib Dato Paduka Awang Haji Emran bin Haji Kunchang. (Imam of Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Mosque).
Your Honorable Speaker
In the name of Allah, peace be upon you and His mercy and blessings.
Praise be to Allah,
We thank Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala for His abundant blessings and permission that we are able to gather again this morning for the ninth day of the First Meeting of the Nineteenth Session of the National Assembly.
Salutations and greetings to our great leader, سيدنا محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم, his family, companions, and followers who are obedient and loyal until the end of time.
Honorable Members. The National Assembly is still discussing the Supply Bill (2023), 2023/2024. In order for us to complete and further examine and discuss the next topics in this Bill, I would like to adjourn this National Assembly meeting and reconvene at the Committee level.
(The National Assembly is adjourned) (The meeting continues as a Committee)
Your Honorable Speaker
In the name of Allah, peace be upon you.
Honorable Members.
The Assembly is now in full Committee level and we are considering the Supply Bill (2023), 2023/2024 one by one.
As it is understood that this Bill has been proposed by Your Honorable Minister in the Prime Minister's Department and the Minister of Finance and Economy II.
Before this meeting is resumed to discuss the Ministry of Education topics that have not been completed, we note that yesterday afternoon we adjourned and there are still some members who would like to participate in discussing this topic. There are also some Honorable Cabinet Ministers who would like to make statements regarding some questions raised by appointed Honorable Members that have not been answered yet.
Therefore, I would like to invite Your Honorable Dato Seri Setia Dr. Awang Haji Mohd Hisham bin Haji Jaafar, Minister of Health of Brunei Darussalam. Your Honorable, please proceed.
Honorable Minister of Health
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيْمِ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ وَبَرَكَ
Here, I would like to add on to the issue of bullying that was raised by Your Honorable Awang Haji Salleh Bostaman bin Haji Zainal Abidin yesterday. As everyone is aware, the issue of bullying is closely related to mental health.
From the perspective of the Ministry of Health, several key steps have been identified to increase the knowledge of school students about bullying and to prevent it from happening in schools.
Among them is the need to diversify the methods of delivering information about bullying to students, teachers, and the community.
Alignment of knowledge about bullying with early education of students, where the topic of anti-bullying is necessary to be incorporated into the National Education Curriculum as early as Year 4. And anti-bullying programs that are promoted through school outreach and community outreach programs throughout the country.
The school outreach program, which has been running since 2018, through the Health Promotion Center, particularly the Mental Health Strategy Unit, has successfully conducted the Brunei Anti-Bullying Program Workshop in nearly 50 primary and secondary schools throughout the country.
Before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Mental Health Strategy Unit, Health Promotion Center, has also collaborated extensively with government and private school counselors, both at the primary and secondary levels, in promoting the Brunei Anti-Bullying Day Celebration in schools.
However, only 2 workshop sessions were successfully conducted for clusters 1 to 3 before the country faced the second wave of COVID-19 in early August 2022.
In addition, briefings and lectures related to anti-bullying programs have also been held ad hoc and by invitation at primary and secondary schools, religious schools, and higher education institutions in all four districts.
In addition, close cooperation with the Ministry of Education also ensures that referrals for these students are facilitated. Unlike before, where there were many bureaucratic processes.
In addition, with the existence of the Hope Line and the Child Line 121, it will somewhat help to address children who experience bullying or mental health problems.
However, what is important here that needs to be emphasized by the Ministry of Health is not to stigmatize or discriminate against such people. This requires a whole-of-government approach and a whole-of-nation approach to ensure that those who need it are not stigmatized.
That's all. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.
Your Honorable Speaker
Thank you, Your Honorable Minister of Health, and now I would like to invite Your Honorable Datin Seri Setia Dr. Dayang Hajah Rumaizah, Minister of Education to provide further explanation.
Your Honorable Minister of Religious Affairs
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker, بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم السالم عليكم ورحمة هللا وبركاتهand greetings, Your Honorable Speaker, Your Honorable Members.
Thank you for the opportunity given to me to add to the answers to some of the issues raised by Your Honorable Members yesterday, on Monday, 20th of Sha'ban 1444H corresponding to 13th of March 2023M.
Recommendation from Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim. To establish a Special Scheme for teachers of students with special needs if it does not exist yet, so that it is commensurate with the expertise and responsibilities borne by these teachers who require special skills, patience and high commitment in educating students with special needs.
Kaola is pleased to state that in realizing the increasing number of students with special needs in this country, the Ministry of Education will certainly require more teachers with special needs and also teacher assistants to provide special services and expertise to these students with special needs. Therefore, the Ministry of Education welcomes Your Honorable's suggestion and hopes that this matter will receive support from Your Honorable's colleagues in the Prime Minister's Department and the Ministry of Finance and Economy II.
Questions from Your Honorable Dr. Awang Haji Mahali bin Haji Momin and Your Honorable Dayang Hajah Rosmawaty binti Haji Abdul Mumin regarding the development of Technical and Vocational schools in the Tutong and Temburong districts.
Thank you for the concern and suggestions from Your Honorable Members to increase the infrastructure of Technical Education in Brunei Darussalam. It is acknowledged that applications for admission to IBTE and Brunei Polytechnic are increasing every year.
In this regard, the Ministry is ready to explore other ways to develop TVET education and at the same time welcomes the involvement of the industry, including through public-private partnerships to increase the physical capacity of TVET education. This will also address the issue of 'O' level graduates who have been left behind, as raised by some of Your Honorable Members.For your information, there are several factors that the Ministry of Education needs to consider in placing schools in strategic locations. For example, for primary and secondary schools, they are usually located in residential areas with a high population.
However, for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, they are placed in locations near industries such as the Agrotechnology School, Brunei Institute of Technology Education, and IBTE located in the Wasan and Limau Manis areas, which are suitable for agriculture.
The IBTE Jefri Bolkiah campus, which offers programs in the oil and gas industry, is located in the Belait District, which is close to the oil and gas industry. We all know that investment in TVET is very high, and therefore it is essential for the Ministry of Education to ensure that the economic of skills method is fully utilized at an optimal level.
Currently, the Brunei Institute of Technical Education (IBTE) has seven campuses that serve as centers of excellence for specific programs or niche areas. These campuses can also accommodate students from outside the district. Facilities such as dormitories, tuition allowances, and travel allowances are also provided for out-of-town students.
Question from Your Honorable Awang Haji Salleh Bostaman bin Haji Zainal Abidin regarding university KPIs, is the Ministry of Education also responsible for monitoring and ensuring the quality assurance of private higher education institutions and proposals for the performance of private education institutions that can be reported together using key performance indicators of government institutions?
To answer this, Private Education Institutions or IPTS are under the control of the Ministry of Education, where continuous quality assurance monitoring is carried out by the National Accreditation Council or MKPK of Brunei Darussalam.
For Your Honorable's information, as also mentioned yesterday, National KPI 1.6 is a performance indicator of higher education institutions, namely the graduation rate, where the performance of IPTS is also taken into account. For the MKPI 1.6, IPTS overall produced a graduation rate of 89.3% for the 2021 academic year.
Towards ensuring the quality of the higher education sector, one of the initiatives of the Ministry of Education through the Department of Higher Education in strengthening and further improving the quality of the higher education sector, whether public or private institutions, is the establishment of a framework called the Brunei Darussalam Higher Education Quality Assurance Framework or HEQAF. HEQAF is expected to be an instrument in reducing the quality gap between public and private IPTs.
The main objective of HEQAF is to ensure that the quality of higher education institutions in this country is equivalent and recognized at the regional level through the use of the ASEAN Quality Assurance Framework or AQAF. This equivalence will have a positive impact on our graduates in terms of providing mobility, whether in higher education or after leaving the institution.
This will enable them to penetrate the international job market. HEQAF, adapted from AQAF, is also recognized by our European counterparts. This provides opportunities for student and other forms of mobility.
Fourthly, there are 3 questions from Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Suyoi bin Haji Osman, namely:
To what extent are the new training or knowledge acquired by teachers applied to bring positive changes to classroom learning and how is it monitored?
I am pleased to share that the MTeach program continues to emphasize evidence-based practices and professional practice and seminars through longer placements in schools and supervision from school mentors and academic staff from the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education or SHBIE. It is hoped that through this process, they will be able to apply whatever they have learned from their respective courses.
Regarding the role of the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education (SHBIE) in producing skilled teachers, to what extent do the programs offered at SHBIE meet the educational needs of this country at various levels?
The MTeach program at SHBIE is currently undergoing a review with consultants from NIE Singapore and the Graduate School of Education to ensure that the knowledge and training processes implemented are equivalent to the best international educational institutions. It is hoped that their best practices will be implemented by SHBIE.
Regarding the percentage of students who obtained 5 'O' levels, which is not much different from previous years. So where will the changes be made in this matter?
The Ministry of Education is still intensifying efforts to further improve student achievement at the secondary level so that their learning does not stop at the secondary level only. In response, the Ministry of Education is in the process of researching best practices from other education systems that can be used to ensure that each student reaches their full potential.
Your Honorable, various efforts have been and are being actively implemented both at the ministry and school levels. In an effort to improve student achievement, particularly in the BCGCE O Level examination, one of the initiatives taken is to strengthen literacy and numeracy skills among students, especially at the early childhood education and primary school levels. With a high level of literacy and numeracy mastery, highly professional and numerate individuals will have a positive impact on the achievement of other subjects.
In terms of curriculum and assessment, the Ministry of Education is actively implementing curriculum alignment and standardization as well as strengthening the assessment system in primary and secondary schools, especially for core subjects, to prepare students before taking public exams such as BCGCE 'O' Level. For example, early selection of Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) questions is done as early as the primary level.
At the school level, various support and interventions have been and will continue to be implemented, especially in assisting students in need. The Ministry will always monitor the effectiveness of programs implemented at the school level to ensure that they truly have a positive impact on student achievement.
On this occasion, the Ministry would like to express its highest appreciation and gratitude for the efforts and commitment of teachers in carrying out their duties beyond the call of duty. That is all, Your Honorable Speaker, that I can convey in response to the Honorable Member's question. Thank you.
Your Honorable Speaker
Thank you, Your Honorable Minister of Education, for the further explanation given earlier. Now, we will continue this discussion by inviting Your Honorable Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin.
Your Honorable Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.
Your Honorable Speaker and wise Honorable Members. Thank you to the Honorable Minister of Education for the introduction presented last Saturday. Your Honorable Speaker, I have two suggestions and three questions.
Allow me to present these suggestions first.
The issue faced by private companies in this country is the quality of skills possessed by technical institute graduates, especially IBTE, which has been less prominent in recent years. It is also concerning that 30% of these IBTE graduates do not get jobs every year, which is about 450 people.
If multiplied by 13 years, including this year until the year of Wawasan Brunei 2035, it means that the potential unemployment rate will reach nearly 6,000 people if nothing is done.
I obtained this information from a discussion with the Ministry of Education on February 6th, 2023. I believe that if the quality is good, companies in our country will certainly welcome IBTE graduates with open arms.
My suggestion is to improve the Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system to prepare local workers to be industry-ready. At the same time, it is an effort to address the skills mismatch for graduates and to meet the needs and demands of the industry. My suggestion is for IBTE to introduce the Dual Technical Vocational Education and Training (Dual TVET) system, which involves two learning and training places, namely the placement company and the vocational school.
This system has been well recognized in European countries such as Austria and Germany, where youth unemployment in those countries is very low because of the well-functioning Dual TVET system.
The Dual TVET system is to facilitate the transition of learning to the world of work and to address the required skills needed in the labor market. In this Dual TVET system, technical institute students will be trained in two tracks, with 70% of learning and training time spent in the Industry VES company, while 30% will be spent in the Vocational Institution.
Logically, if 70% of the trainees take welding, this is not towards vocational assignments and paperwork because paperwork cannot do welding, actually.
Furthermore, they will also undergo training or industrial placement starting from the first week of the program, so that these trainee learners can get used to it from the beginning, namely from the start of the program being implemented, learning job skills theoretically and professional simulation simultaneously in their workplace.
At the same time, ensuring that these trainee learners are equipped with knowledge and training that meets the needs of the company. Companies can also benefit from this system because they always have skilled and sufficient workers in their respective companies.
Logically, as much as 70% if these trainees are in companies, for example, doing welding or installing bricks, they have to work for hours compared to 30% if they are in vocational schools under the roof. It has a different exposure. Following monitoring, of the more than 40 programs offered at the Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE),
One program, namely the conjunction interacting program, has used this dual-track system. This is a very positive development, although it is known that 70% of students are in IBTE, under the roof, doing many tasks and only 30% in industry. If we look at the formula by separating 70% in industry and 30% in IBTE, we believe this course will be of higher quality.
Second recommendation, Your Honorable Speaker. The establishment of Special Education Schools for children with autism under the Ministry of Education. The Special Education Unit (UPK) was initially established as a unit and later upgraded to a department now known as the Department of Special Education (JPK). On June 1, 2021, under the Ministry of Education, the focus is on providing unique education or learning to all students with special needs.
Inclusive education is one of the concepts and processes aimed at addressing or responding to the diversity of needs of all students. This includes matters related to their attendance, involvement, and achievement regardless of their disabilities.
With a six-fold increase in the rate of autism recorded in Brunei Darussalam compared to statistics from 10 years ago, from 2011 to April 2022, it has been shown that approximately 2,567 individuals including children have been confirmed to have autism.
Your Honorable Speaker, I quote from the Borneo Bulletin newspaper, dated 24th April 2022, a statement made by the Minister of Education, Your Honorable Dato Seri Setia Dr. Haji Mohd Hisham bin Haji Jaafar, in giving consideration and attention to the needs of children with autism in the current education system. These children only have an average of 4 hours per week in secondary school, which is insufficient for their learning.
In this regard, it is crucial for all of us to continue investing, whether in terms of time, finances, or effort, in understanding their condition and providing opportunities for them to transform their lives. With the significant increase in children diagnosed with autism, it is time for the education system in this country to establish a new special education school that focuses on providing special needs for these children.
Your Honorable Speaker, currently Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as Pusat Ehsan Al-Meerah Al-Hajjah Maryam and SMARTER are the ones responsible for establishing Special Education Schools which include services such as language therapy, occupational therapy, and others.
Furthermore, these efforts can maximize the potential of children with autism so that they are less dependent and at the same time, improve their quality of life and ensure that they are able to become active contributors in society. It is important to remember Brunei Vision 2035, where we also need to care for the 2,000 children with autism.
At the same time, this is to ensure that the learning programs provided meet the needs of individuals and not just based on academics alone. They should also be given social skills that apply lifelong learning.
Recognizing the talents and potential of children with autism spectrum disorder rather than just focusing on their weaknesses is important in creating a truly inclusive society so that they are equipped with competencies that are acceptable in society. These are my two suggestions, Your Honorable Speaker.
Now, may I ask a question? The country of Brunei Darussalam is currently giving a lot of focus to matters related to food security. Issues or concerns related to food security and economic sustainability have placed the agricultural sector in an important position. With the establishment of the Faculty of Agriculture at the Islamic University of Sultan Sharif Ali (UNISSA), it is seen as capable of injecting new spirit into the agricultural sector.
Your Honorable Chairperson, my first question is regarding the content of the curriculum of the courses offered under this faculty. Will it be able to attract the interest of young people to venture into the agricultural sector, where I mean by venturing is that they will make agriculture their career or profession, and not just take courses after being placed in other fields or just to receive allowances?
My second question is, in other aspects, the MOE through the Islamic University of Sharif Ali (UNISSA) and the University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD) have conducted research on new types of rice plant diseases. By mid-2023, at least 500 acres will be opened in the Kampong Kandul Agricultural Development Area.
If there are any findings from the research, farmers can benefit from it. I believe it can help farmers in dealing with rice plant diseases and provide food security for rice.
My third question is, how many scholarships have been awarded by the Ministry of Education to Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M) courses in the past 5 years?
That is all my suggestions and questions, Your Honorable Chairperson. Thank you for allowing me to provide suggestions and questions. If there are any unpleasant grammar, I apologize to Your Honorable Chairperson. Thank you.
Your Honorable Menteri Pendidikan
Thank you, Your Honorable, بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ. Your Honorable Speaker extends his gratitude to Your Honorable for the 2 suggestions and 3 questions. I will answer the questions first before giving comments on the suggestions.
Regarding the curriculum software for degree programs at UNNISA. To answer, I am pleased to share the following information: Types of Agricultural Programs offered at the Sinaut Campus of UNNISA:
Agriculture Bridging Certificate Program;
Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences (Agribusiness);
Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences (Agrotechnology);
Bachelor of Agriculture (Agribusiness) by research;
Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences by research;
Doctor of Philosophy in Agriculture (Agribusiness) by research; and
Doctor of Philosophy in Agricultural Sciences by research.
Regarding the software for these programs, I am pleased to share an example, the Agribusiness Program. The courses taught contain a coherent and cumulative core curriculum to produce graduates with a strong foundation in agricultural science based on the teachings of the Quran and Sunnah.
This program is designed by combining agricultural science and business. The program aims to produce trained graduates who can play a role in developing the agricultural sector based on the latest technology and can identify entrepreneurial opportunities towards the development of the agricultural industry in both our country and other countries.
I am pleased to add that among the courses taught include farm management, ecological knowledge, soil science and management, regenerative knowledge, hydroponic, aquaponic and aeroponic technology, smart farming, agricultural yield management, agricultural economic chains, entrepreneurship, and other interesting and relevant topics to support the development of agriculture in Brunei Darussalam.
Regarding research in agriculture, Your Honorable has asked about research in agriculture at public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) under the Ministry of Education. In response, أ ْلح ْمدُ ِ هلِل, through the allocation provided by the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam through the Ministry of Finance and Economy, IPTA has conducted various research in the field of agriculture.
We are pleased to share some of the research topics, and I will touch on their respective fields only:
From UBD, there are Fishing Brunei Darussalam, Biochar Agriculture, Halal and Tayyib Food Analysis, Fishing, Rice Species, Sustainable Development, Agricultural Heritage, and Manpower for Bio-Censes Halal Science and Detection for Research Group;
Meanwhile, UNNISA focuses on the economy or sustainable economic growth in the field of agriculture; and
UTB has conducted two research, namely Agrifood Research Trust and Wellness, and Developing Food Supplement direct form locally mushroom.
In addition to the annual allocation provided, IPTA also uses funding sources from the council for research and investment and technology and science create under the supervision of the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications. It is hoped that the results of this research can be utilized by relevant parties, including the agricultural sector.
Regarding the question on scholarships for veterinary science, in response to the question about scholarships for students studying abroad, I am pleased to share that since the past 5 years, the Ministry of Education has advertised scholarships in the field of veterinary science.
أ ْلح ْمدُ ِ هلِل Currently, there are two scholarship recipients who are pursuing their studies abroad. For Your Honorable's information, the Ministry of Education has also advertised the same field for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 intake sessions.
Regarding the suggestion from Your Honorable:
- The program structure for courses offered by IBTE, namely Dual Vet which involves 2 places such as construction and so on. Previously, the Ministry of Education through IBTE offered programs or courses, and the program structure was more towards providing hands-on experience in certain industries or Registered Training Organizations (RTOs), for example.
A large percentage of them learn and if, for example, it is a Construction Program. Although 70% of them are still on campus, the classroom is not a typical classroom, but it is a workshop where we hardly see chairs and tables. What happens is that they are taught the basic materials for construction and they practice before going to the site to practice what they have learned.
In this opportunity, because some of Your Honorable Members have touched on jobs after they have completed their studies in schools or educational institutions, whether public or private, allow me to provide some facts.
Actually, supply and demand must co-exist in a balanced ecosystem. The Ministry of Education, as the most important supply agent in the supply chain, will continue to hope that industries, as constituents to the demand, can cooperate more closely.
Therefore, to the demand side, please support us as the supply agent. If there are job opportunities, please offer them to local children who we have shaped their thinking patterns and personalities.
If there are new needs, knock on our door, and share those competencies so that our instructors and educators will be aware of these changes.
In this opportunity, the Ministry of Education would like to express gratitude for the proposed work that has been shared with the Ministry of Education as it has helped the Ministry of Education in estimating the crowd or the number of students that will be absorbed or included in certain programs.
Regarding the second suggestion, which is Authentic, I would like to express my gratitude for that suggestion and I would like to add that the Ministry of Education through the Department of Special Education (JPK) will continue to support institutions and associations that provide services to these special children.
Therefore, the Department of Special Education will continue to work closely with associations such as SMARTER in a reciprocal collaboration, for example in conducting an introductory course related to support and assistance for these special students. The Department of Special Education is also involved in charity activities, jointly organized with SMARTER, especially during Autism Day, and providing Learning Resources such as computers and iPads, organizing workshops, and placing home room teachers in SMARTER, placing pre-vocational students in SMARTER, and conducting study visits to SMARTER by schools that run pre-vocational programs.
At the same time, the Ministry of Education has also established Centers of Excellence in several schools that provide services to autistic students regardless of their diagnosis level.
This is in consideration of the existence of special facilities for these special students. Insha'Allah, the Ministry of Education will continue to explore opportunities for cooperation with such associations and institutions in relevant fields, especially related to the development of learning for these special students. I would like to remind once again that I have made a statement that any organization or institution interested in registering special schools for all priority levels 1 to 5, please do so.
Your Honorable Speaker, the participation of the private sector is highly welcomed. That's all, thank you.
Your Honorable Speaker
I now invite Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd Yusuf.
Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd Yusuf
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh and greetings. Your Honorable Speaker, I am pleased to express my highest gratitude to Your Honorable Speaker for providing me with the opportunity to participate in the discussion on the allocation of the Ministry of Education.
I would also like to record my thanks to the Honorable Minister of Education for presenting a comprehensive budget for the Financial Year 2023/2024 for the Ministry of Education, which explains the direction of this ministry.
Your Honorable Speaker, we were briefed by the Honorable Minister of Education yesterday on the challenges and issues faced by students in indicators such as PISA, which require serious attention, such as bullying and lack of self-confidence. This is something that we need to address together.
What is expected is that we identify the root cause of these issues and introduce more effective methods or procedures to prioritize and overcome these problems.
It is expected that issues like this are not solely the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, but require close cooperation and commitment from all stakeholders, including the people and residents of Brunei Darussalam. We pray to Allah for guidance and enlightenment so that these issues can be resolved.
Your Honorable Speaker, the teaching profession plays an important role in educating high-quality, skilled, and highly educated people, as desired in one of the visions of Brunei 2035.
What we want to encourage is for teachers to have a skilled, high-quality profession, high qualifications, dedication, full commitment, and pure and commendable work ethics.
Sometimes we see teachers who are very concerned and caring, to the point where they are willing to sacrifice by holding tuition classes or extra classes, and some even sacrifice financially to help students from less fortunate families.
This is solely to ensure that their students continue to learn until they achieve academic success and pass their exams.
Alhamdulillah, in Brunei Darussalam, Teacher's Day is celebrated every year, including awarding Outstanding Teachers and Distinguished Teachers to appreciate and recognize the dedication of teachers in educating our nation's children to become assets and productive members of society, and to help further develop the country's social progress.
In observing the importance of principals and headmasters, we see that their role is not only challenging in terms of school management but also extends to various aspects such as discipline, the welfare of teachers and students, well-being, and various student issues. They are also measured and evaluated based on their achievements and success in the respective institutions in terms of examinations and others.
I will not touch on this matter further, as Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Suyoi bin Haji Osman has already highlighted the importance of the role of principals and headmasters in schools.
In this regard, considering the importance and role of principals and headmasters, I suggest that the category of outstanding principals and headmasters be included in organizing the annual Teacher's Day.
Secondly, I would like to raise an issue that has already been touched upon by other Honorable Members, which is the problem of students who do not complete all school terms recognized as dropouts.
We should also appreciate the initiatives of the Government under the leadership of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam through the relevant ministries, which have been steadfast in providing various courses or skills needed solely to enable them to be more marketable in the future.
In this matter, I would like to know the current number of dropouts until 2022.
Secondly, how many of them have obtained employment after attending courses or skills training, whether in the government sector, private sector, or self-employment. In addition, I suggest that the courses or skills training currently being developed be expanded to ensure that they are more marketable and become productive citizens in the future, rather than liabilities.
These are the two issues that I would like to raise, as all the issues that I wanted to raise have already been addressed by other Honorable Members.
The issues raised earlier have already been addressed by other Honorable Members. I conclude, peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. With Allah's help and guidance, I would like to once again express my gratitude to Your Honorable Speaker for giving me the opportunity to discuss the Ministry of Education budget. Thank you.
Honorable Minister of Education
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker and thank you to the Honorable Pehin for the suggestions and support.
The first one is about the challenges involving PISA and the Ministry of Education's direction to find route courses and to find more effective methods. Thank you for the suggestion.
So far, the Ministry of Education has benchmarked best practices from other countries and conducted further studies on student well-being, strengthened counseling services, and diversified approaches to addressing growth mindset issues.
In addition, the Ministry of Education will continue to strive for several other initiatives to improve the quality of teachers and school leaders, provide a more conducive learning and teaching environment and infrastructure, enhance the quality of curriculum and assessment pedagogy, provide support programs to improve student achievement, ensure the well-being of students, teachers, and school leaders, and strengthen co-curricular and non-academic programs for students.
I would like to take this opportunity to share a few more challenges that the Ministry of Education has undertaken to address the challenges mentioned earlier, namely:
- Addressing the issue of holistic mental growth.
- Ensuring student attendance during curriculum hours.
- Ensuring the well-being of students such as nutrition, health and school needs are always prioritized and maintained.
- Strengthening the database system that is still not well-organized; and
- Upgrading facilities that provide a conducive and enjoyable infrastructure environment.
I strongly agree with the Honorable Member's suggestion on what needs to be done, not just from the Ministry of Education but also through integrated assistance or involvement from all parties including parents, the public and industries.
Secondly, the Teaching Profession. We do have outstanding and meritorious teachers. One of these categories does include school leaders. However, this matter will be taken note of and reviewed again for its suitability whether to be given a special category for school leaders.
Thirdly, providing skills for the number of students who drop out at the school level and student reports. Kaola found data on student reports that were missing from 2017 to 2021.
In 2017, overall, there were 331 missing students, not necessarily those who failed the exam but were missing due to reasons such as not attending school or others. In 2018, there were 278 students, in 2019 there were 251 students, in 2020 there were 260 students and in 2021 there were 205 students. If there is further data, the Ministry of Education will share it with the Honorable Member as these may only be missing students. This is also what Kaola shared yesterday. Students who are not employed in education and training, but this is only for the graduate employment study report from 2021.
In sha Allah, I will share data from previous years to make it more cumulative.
That's all I can convey, Your Honorable Speaker. Thank you.
Your Honorable Speaker
I now invite Your Honorable Dayang Chong Chin Yee.
Your Honorable Dayang Chong Chin Yee
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. I would like to raise 2 questions under the topic SF01A - Others.
Programs and Educational Institutions under Account Code 007/006 - Educational Technology Center.
According to the Royal Command of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in conjunction with the celebration of the New Year 2023, His Majesty emphasized the importance of digital technology in providing efficient services, including online learning, during the pandemic. Therefore, it is important for us to use this experience to diversify the country's economy and create job opportunities for the younger generation in new fields such as big data, cloud computing, green energy, and environmentally friendly technology.
At present, children are surrounded by technology from a very young age. We will see that some 5-year-old children are more knowledgeable and understand technology better than some adults. However, the current school curriculum does not take this situation into account. Therefore, it is less challenging for students in this digital age. Kaola's question is:
When will the Ministry of Education begin to integrate computational thinking and coding into the national school curriculum for primary and secondary school students?
Kaola would like to suggest that the Ministry of Education collaborate with the Authority for Infocommunications Technology Industry (AITI) to develop a standardized 3-day program and start offering it to primary schools, as it has already been offered and implemented in private schools. Computational thinking and coding are different from ICT, although they may appear similar. Computational thinking involves breaking down complex problems into small, easily understood steps and creating new applications, while ICT focuses on practical computer systems, software, and networks for users.
Kaola would like to emphasize that computational thinking and then computer science provide students with the necessary skills to succeed in the digital age. It also opens up learning opportunities for strong methods such as algorithms and Programming languages can enhance the creativity and innovation of individuals, which are the foundation of many disciplines including science, mathematics, engineering, arts, and humanities.
It also prepares students for future careers that require computational skills and digital literacy. Therefore, many countries have incorporated computational thinking into the early childhood education curriculum. It has been recognized by experts as an important life skill in the 21st century.
The Ministry of Education and Transport, as well as Infocommunications, have successfully introduced initiatives such as Teens in AI, Coding.bn, and others. However, we need more resilience and a stronger foundation if we want to move towards our goal as a smart nation.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) cannot be denied as it is becoming an increasingly important part of our lives, and it is important to acknowledge its impact on society as a whole. Chat Gpt is an artificial intelligence tool that has become a phenomenon since it was released for general use in December 2022. It is a smart chatbot that can be used for free by anyone with internet access.
With Chat Gpt, users can request to write essays, stories, letters, speeches, poems, and more. In addition, it can also translate entire task reports into other languages with high accuracy.
Our neighboring countries have taken immediate action to address the use of this technology by teachers and students. Therefore, it is important for us to take immediate action as well in developing a plan to maintain the academic integrity and national education system so that our education system is aligned with the international education system and not left behind.
Although plagiarism has been an issue since the existence of Google, we now also need to address the challenge of differentiating between content produced by AI and original content. If we continue to use the same assessment methods for learning, it may lead to a significant increase in overall grades in schools this year.
However, we need to ensure that students' academic achievements reflect their true abilities and not the result of dishonesty.
Therefore, I suggest that the Ministry of Education research AI and consider approving Artificial Intelligence Large Language Models such as Chat Gpt in the context of education at the national level and then plan steps to combat AI misuse such as academic dishonesty. That's all, thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.
Your Honorable Minister of Education
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker and thank you to Your Honorable Dayang Chong Chin Yee, for two very interesting questions.
Regarding the integration of computational thinking and coding into the national school curriculum for primary and secondary school students.
Alhamdulillah, the Ministry of Education is aware of the importance of computational thinking and coding skills for 21st century students.
In this regard, the Ministry of Education has implemented the introduction of basic coding in the primary and secondary school curriculum. For example, basic coding programs such as Turtle Logo have been taught to Year 5 students in the ICT subject and also the Scratch program. It has been introduced to Year 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 students and for Year 7 and 8 students, it is taught in the Business Art and Technology (BAT) subject.
In addition, the Ministry through the Curriculum Development Department and the Science, Technology and Environment Partnership (STEP) Center has collaborated with the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry (AITI), the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications (MTIC) to conduct various programs and workshops to introduce and enhance not only coding skills but also other skills such as innovation among students aged 6 to 11 years old. At the higher education level, various innovative modules or courses have been offered such as at UBD. It has established the School of Digital Science in 2021. The courses offered cut across various disciplines such as Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics, Cyber Security and Forensics, and Applied Artificial Intelligence.
Meanwhile, for the 2022/2023 intake, a new program, Bachelor of Artificial Intelligence, has been offered for a duration of 3 years. It is in collaboration with COURSERA and carries certification from renowned companies such as Google and IBM.
At UTB, it offers a BSc in Digital Media, where students can major in digital content and also offers lifelong courses that focus on the needs of upskilling and reskilling, skills and competencies in ICT through micro-credentialing methods.
In sha Allah, the Ministry of Education hopes that our students will become a generation with high levels of literacy and competency in ICT. On this occasion, I would like to share that our students have participated in national competitions such as BICTA and regional and international competitions such as the Young Inventors Challenge (YIC) organized by the Association of Science, Technology and Innovation (ASTI) Malaysia, Alhamdulillah, for the past three years, in 2020, 2021, and 2022, our students have won medals. In 2020, they won bronze medals in various events and competitions, in 2021, some won gold medals, and in 2022, they won silver medals.
For your information, as mentioned in my opening speech last Saturday, the Ministry, through the Curriculum Development Department, is actively developing the Brunei Darussalam Digital Literacy Standards, which includes coding and computational thinking skills. This initiative is planned to begin this fiscal year, in sha Allah.
Regarding the second question, Chat GPT, once again, I would like to express my gratitude to Your Honorable Chong Chin Yee. The issue of Chat GPT is a hot topic as its usage is becoming more widespread and significant.
Regarding Your Honorable's suggestion on Chat GPT, the Ministry of Education is taking note of it as it is a new technology and foreign universities are still conducting research on its suitability. Even renowned universities are still conducting research on it.
In the meantime, the Ministry of Education will continue to monitor the development of this technology and is prepared to take necessary steps to combat academic dishonesty, as Your Honorable mentioned earlier.
In fact, all these drastic and rapid changes bring opportunities and challenges that are still challenging for the education system in Brunei Darussalam because Chat GPT has its own strengths and weaknesses.
For example, it only predicts solutions based on a very large set of data, and it may not be suitable for the intended context. Therefore, the answer may not be 100% accurate, and human intervention is still needed to determine its accuracy.
In conclusion, although the Ministry of Education acknowledges that the education system must always keep up with technological advancements, ان شاء هللا before it is implemented, a strong policy and guidelines must be established while considering the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
That is all I have to convey, Your Honorable Speaker. Thank you.
Your Honorable Speaker
Honorable Members. We have discussed Topics SF01A to SF06A - the Ministry of Education, which took more than a day to debate. We also want to thank the Honorable Minister of Education for answering the questions raised with patience and fortitude.
I think it is appropriate for us to now vote on this matter. Honorable Members, if you agree, please raise your hands.
(All members raise their hands in agreement)
Your Honorable Speaker
It seems that all members agree. Therefore, the Ministry of Education topic is approved.
Deputy Clerk
Topics SF01A to SF06A are now part of the Schedule for the Ministry of Education.
Your Honorable Speaker
Honorable Members. I think it is appropriate for us to take a 20-minute break to freshen up before we move on to the next topic.
(The Committee Meeting takes a short break) (The Committee Meeting resumes)
Your Honorable Speaker
Honorable Members, بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم the meeting now resumes at the Committee level to consider the Supply Bill (2023) for Supplies, 2023/2024 one by one.
Earlier, before this Committee Meeting was adjourned for a break, أ ْلح ْمدُ ِ هلِل we have already approved the Ministry of Education topic. Now, the Committee will move on to the next ministry topic.
Yang Dimuliakan Jurutulis
The Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism topic, namely Topics SH01A to SH06A.
Your Honorable Speaker
Honorable Members. The Committee Meeting now moves on to the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism topic. Before the topics under the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism are opened for discussion as usual, I would like to give way to the Honorable Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism to deliver his opening remarks on the preparation of the budget for the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism for the Financial Year 2023/2024.
I invite the Honorable Minister to speak.
Your Honorable Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.
بسم هللا الرحمن الرحيم َّالْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَى أَشْرَفِ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ وَالْمُرْصَّسليۡنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وجلوتله َُوَإِخْوَانِهِ ِأَجْمَعِينَ
Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members, Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh and greetings. First and foremost, I would like to express my gratitude to Your Honorable Speaker for giving me the opportunity to deliver the opening remarks before discussing the proposed budget for the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism.
Furthermore, with utmost respect and reverence, on behalf of all the staff of the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism and its departments, I would like to extend my highest gratitude to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for the gracious allocation of $84.38 million for the expenditure of the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism for the Financial Year 2023/2024, which includes $65.27 million under the recurrent expenditure allocation to finance the salaries of staff amounting to $39.93 million and the operating expenses of $25.34 million, and $19.11 million under the development budget or RKN allocation.
At this juncture, I would also like to express my appreciation to the Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II for presenting the proposed Supply Bill (2023), 2023/2024. Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members. The issue of food security is one of the important agendas that is being discussed and needs to be addressed immediately, not only at the global and regional levels but also in our own country.
In the past 3 years, efforts to increase food production in the country, especially from agricultural, fisheries, and other agricultural-based food processing products, have faced various challenges due to global issues such as the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, geopolitical conflicts, and uncertain economic situations, including issues of labor shortages, rising logistics and transportation costs, and also increasing costs for farm inputs such as fertilizers, animal feed, and others, which mostly still depend heavily on imports.
However, through planning and implementing several programs and initiatives that have been and are being continuously carried out by the relevant ministries and departments under it, and with the commitment and perseverance of entrepreneurs, farmers, breeders, fishermen, and also through the cooperation of agencies and other relevant parties through a whole-of-nation and whole-of-government approach, these issues and challenges have been successfully addressed together.
Despite these challenges, we are still able to improve the performance of the food sector and we are still able to contribute to generating food supplies such as chicken, chicken eggs, fish, and vegetables for the country's population last year.
Overall, the output performance of the food sector, which includes output from the agricultural and agri-food industries and also the fisheries industry, has recorded an increase of around 3.13%, from $781.26 million in 2021 to $805.75 million in 2022, which is generally contributed by an increase in the output value of the agricultural and fisheries industries by around 0.72%, from $590.31 million in 2021 to $594.54 million in 2022, and the fisheries industry by around 10.6%, from $190.9 million in 2021 to $211.21 million in 2022.
In addition, in terms of self-sufficiency achievements for the main commodities that are focused on, we have successfully achieved 100% self-sufficiency in the supply of chicken meat and chicken eggs, and 85% self-sufficiency for the supply of fish. Meanwhile, for tropical vegetables and fruits, each has achieved around 68% and 37% self-sufficiency, and rice around 8.4% self-sufficiency.
The ministry is determined to continue to strive to increase the output of the main commodities under the agricultural and fisheries sectors, not only to ensure food supplies in the country are guaranteed but also to contribute to the increase in the number and value of exports.
In efforts to increase the production of rice and paddy, the ministry through the Department of Agriculture and Agri-food will continue research efforts on rice to identify superior rice varieties, high yields, and meet consumer tastes by continuing to establish and strengthen cooperation with agencies and educational institutions, including Yuan Longping High Tech Agriculture Co. Limited from the People's Republic of China and the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) based in the Republic of the Philippines, with the aim of increasing rice production from 4.5 metric tons per hectare per season through the planting of Sembada188 rice varieties at this time to 7 to 8 metric tons per hectare per season in the near future.
Towards this end, the Department of Agriculture and Agri-food is actively implementing pilot projects for planting several hybrid rice varieties that have the potential to produce up to 7.5 metric tons per season.
In addition to that, through continuous efforts and cooperation between the department and relevant parties under this ministry, as well as the commitment and dedication of entrepreneurs and other relevant parties, we have successfully exported chicken eggs to Singapore for the first time. On February 1st, 2023, around 300 thousand eggs were successfully exported to Singapore, followed by a second shipment on February 22nd, and this will continue to be improved over time.
In addition to the export of shrimp produced by Golden Corporation Sendirian Berhad, Tuna from Yamako Pacific (Brunei) Sendirian Berhad and Gemilang Seri Shunfan Venture, we have also successfully exported barramundi fillets, a value-added processed product produced by FDI Barramundi Asia Sendirian Berhad to Singapore starting in August last year, and will begin exporting whole barramundi fish soon.
Overall, the export value of agricultural and fisheries products in 2022 has increased by approximately 20.4%, from $53.53 million in 2021 to $64.44 million in 2022.
The ministry, through relevant departments, will continue to cooperate with entrepreneurs and other relevant parties in coordinating, planning, and preparing for the export of other agricultural and fisheries products such as chicken meat, processed meat-based products, and others.
In particular, to emphasize the importance of complying with the requirements and regulations set by importing countries, such as ensuring food safety aspects are met, and the value chain for industries under this agricultural sector will continue to be strengthened.
In addition, as a continuous effort to assist entrepreneurs and farmers in marketing their farm produce, the ministry has reintroduced the Pasar Kitani Program, and it is hoped that this will encourage farmers and micro, small, and medium-sized entrepreneurs to strive harder to increase their farm output in the future to generate more income.
In an effort to strengthen the value chain for the fisheries industry, through a company called Barramundi Group (B) Sendirian Berhad, the UVAXX laboratory has been operational since November 2022, offering Fish Health Diagnostics Services to help local entrepreneurs monitor and prevent disease outbreaks and ensure the health of their fish stocks, including facilitating exports.
In addition, the ministry is also grateful and appreciative of the efforts of the Ministry of Finance and Economy and Brunei Fertilizer Industries Sdn Bhd (BFI), because through the production of local UREA fertilizer, to some extent, local farmers have been able to obtain alternative UREA fertilizer supplies that are guaranteed with competitive costs compared to imports.
In the development of the tourism sector, despite the challenging situation during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have successfully organized several series of activities to support the development and stimulate economic activities related to the tourism industry in the country. By focusing on activities to support domestic tourism, including the following:
The organization of the Know Our Country Program (KNK) aims to promote and increase awareness among local residents about domestic tourism products and tourism packages offered in each district.
The Brunei December Festival, which will be held for the first time in 2022, will feature a Local Product Expo that aims not only to provide a platform for local entrepreneurs to market their products directly to buyers but also indirectly provide additional attractions to support domestic tourism.
In addition, the ministry in collaboration with the Brunei Economic Development Board through the involvement of FDI Company, Sundaland Resorts Private Limited, a company registered in this country by Mandai Global (Private) Limited Singapore (a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings) is in the process of upgrading the Accommodation Complex in Ulu Temburong National Park. This accommodation complex will be upgraded to a luxurious resort which, God willing, will be managed by a leading international hotel chain. This will also enhance the image and attractiveness of this park as an attractive tourist destination in the country.
Alhamdulillah, with the relaxation of control measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 last year, the number of tourist arrivals to this country has increased from around 3,543 tourists in 2021 to 35,700 tourists in 2022.
Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members. In implementing programs and initiatives to enhance the output of industries under the primary resources sector, the ministry does not forget the importance of involving the youth.
The involvement of youth in the fields of agriculture and fisheries is very important because this group is the pillar for continuing and leading the country's progress in the future.
In this regard, the ministry through its relevant departments has and will continue to implement programs and initiatives to attract more youth involvement in these fields. Alhamdulillah, in recent years, through the implementation of programs such as the Agriculture Pioneer Project, Company Expansion Program, Youth Agriculture Exposure Program, and others, indirectly succeeded in attracting the involvement of several young entrepreneurs in the field of agriculture including fisheries.
Overall, the number of young entrepreneurs actively involved in agricultural and fisheries activities has increased from 137 people in 2021 to 162 people in 2022. Of these 162 young entrepreneurs, 151 are active in the field of agriculture and 11 in fisheries.
On this occasion, I would like to call on the youth who are currently looking for employment to come forward and make agricultural enterprise activities one of their career choices to generate income and at the same time contribute to the country's economic growth, ensure food security and exports.
In addition to initiatives and programs that focus on young people, the ministry also pays attention and supports the implementation of initiatives involving community participation and village residents, for example in communal farming activities in rural agricultural areas, including supporting the "1 Product 1 Village" initiative.
Towards this end, the ministry works closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs and Darussalam Enterprise in assisting and strengthening the production capacity and market channels for products produced by the communities and village communities involved.
Your Honorable Speaker. The Ministry of Primary Industries and Tourism will continue to strive to ensure that the output and contribution from the primary industries and tourism sector towards economic growth will continue to increase from year to year.
Towards this end, the main emphasis in the proposed allocation provided for the Ministry of Primary Industries and Tourism for the Financial Year 2023/2024 focuses on planning and implementing programs and initiatives that lead towards efforts to:
- Support the growth and increase the output of the food industry sector.
- Support the development and conservation of forest resources, not only towards environmental conservation but also towards contributing to the country's economic development.
- Support the growth and development of the tourism industry.
In supporting the growth and increasing the output in terms of the food sector, it not only focuses on efforts to increase primary production activities but also focuses on efforts to increase output from agricultural and fisheries-based processing and value-added activities, including strengthening the overall ecosystem and value chain related to this industry.
The main emphasis of the allocation usage this year will be focused on efforts to upgrade and provide basic infrastructure for the industry that is conducive. This is to facilitate entrepreneurs to start and develop companies in contributing towards food security. Priority will also be given to the implementation of capacity-building programs and departmental competency as a competent authority. This includes facilitating market access through facilities such as recognized reference laboratories and expertise through Qualified Personnel to meet international standards and best practices such as GAP, GAqP, GAHP, and HACCP.
In addition, allocations will also be channeled towards efforts to encourage entrepreneurs to use modern technology and techniques, practice good farm management and governance, and identify and encourage more new entrepreneurs to engage in agriculture, fisheries, and so on.
This focus and emphasis are in line with the Food Industry Roadmap, which serves as a guide towards driving growth and increasing output in the food sector, particularly in halal, safe, and quality food products.
With the development and positive growth of the output, as well as strengthening the overall ecosystem and value chain related to the food industry, it is hoped that it will significantly contribute to the increase in GDP, Food Security, and also the growth in the quantity and value of the country's exports.
Furthermore, in supporting the development and maintenance of the country's forest resources, the ministry through the Forestry Department will continue to ensure that efforts to protect and restore the country's forest resources, including biological diversity, are continuously implemented to ensure that the country's development activities are in line with sustainable development and at the same time, to support the implementation of the National Climate Change Policy of Brunei Darussalam.
This includes Forest Resource Inventory, Forest Area Gazette, and reforestation of degraded forests. In addition, the ministry will continue to identify innovative steps and approaches to increase the output of the forestry industry, particularly the wood-based processing and value-added industry, to achieve economic benefits and opportunities that can be explored, particularly the potential through carbon trading.
Meanwhile, in supporting the growth and development of the tourism industry, the ministry through the Tourism Development Department will continue to emphasize efforts towards the development, diversification, strengthening, and promotion of culture-based tourism products, adventure activities, and natural attractions, as well as ensuring that tourism facilities, infrastructure, and services are continuously improved to attract and increase the number of tourists to the country.
In addition to promoting foreign tourist arrivals, the ministry will also continue its efforts to promote domestic tourism through programs such as "Kenali Negara Kitani", "Brunei December Festival", "Local Product Expo", and others to encourage residents in the country to vacation and shop domestically, especially during school holiday seasons, to stimulate and further boost economic activity in the country.
Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members. In supporting the growth and increasing the output of the food sector under the provisions of the Recurrent Expenditure of around $9.38 million, funds are allocated to finance the rice buyback scheme to support the country's rice production program, including financing the purchase of rice from farmers, purchasing high-yielding hybrid rice seeds, financing rice processing services into rice, and others.
Approximately $2.06 million is allocated to finance infrastructure maintenance projects, buildings, machinery and agricultural equipment. Among the projects that will be funded are maintenance work on main plantation roads, maintenance of drains and culverts for flood prevention programs, and others.
Approximately $3.03 million has been allocated to continue the implementation of projects to build and anchor artificial reefs and fish shelters towards increasing the country's fishing resources and subsequently increasing fish catches.
Meanwhile, under the RKN expenditure allocation, a total of $18.03 million is earmarked to finance major projects in the agriculture and fisheries sectors. Among the projects that will be funded are the commercial paddy cultivation area opening project in the Kandol area, Phase 2, amounting to $5.97 million, and the additional irrigation system construction project to upgrade the irrigation system in the Wasan, Junjungan, Batang Perhentian paddy cultivation area, around $0.64 million to increase the country's rice production.
Projects to support livestock industry development, amounting to $4.52 million, will be provided to provide farm infrastructure such as electricity supply, farm roads, and drainage in the Merangking Agricultural Development, Maraburong, Tanah Tuah, and Batang Mitus areas. Basic infrastructure provision in other areas of the Ministry of Agriculture and Industry (KKP) to increase agricultural industry production throughout the country is around $0.40 million.
A project to supply machines for the purpose of the export program will be provided with a budget of $0.22 million. Strengthening quality assurance and accreditation centers will be established with an allocation of $5.12 million to increase the output of ornamental plants and flowers by $0.12 million, and to increase the output of vegetables using high technology by $5.0 million. Projects will also be implemented to advance and improve the output of the aquaculture industry, including infrastructure in existing aquaculture sites, with a budget of $1.16 million.
Around $0.49 million has been allocated under the RKN expenditure to finance programs towards strengthening environmental sustainability, to restore the country's forest resources and development.
Meanwhile, to support the growth and development of the tourism industry, around $0.58 million has been allocated under the RKN expenditure to strengthen tourism products. However, in implementing these tourism infrastructure and facilities development projects, the ministry does not solely rely on government funding but also explores more efficient methods and approaches that can reduce dependence on government allocations, such as through PPP methods as currently being implemented in the upgrading of accommodation facilities in Ulu Temburong National Park.
Your Honorable Speaker and Honorable Members. The Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism and its departments will continue to be committed to implementing existing programs and initiatives, as well as identifying and considering new strategies and initiatives to ensure that the output of the agriculture, fisheries, forestry, and tourism industries continues to increase by intensifying efforts to attract new entrepreneurs in the field of agriculture and fisheries, including the involvement of GLCs (Government Linked Companies) and Foreign Direct Investment.
Encouraging these entrepreneurs to remain committed, progressive, and enthusiastic in developing their respective companies and farming activities.
Utilizing modern technology and techniques and practicing good governance to ensure that output continues to increase from year to year and contributes significantly to GDP growth, food security, and exports.
The following is the introduction and basic information regarding the achievements and latest developments of the activities conducted by this ministry.
As a guide, before we discuss the provisions provided by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. Your Honorable Speaker, I express my highest gratitude for the opportunity given.
That is all, with Allah's guidance and direction. Peace be upon you and may Allah's mercy and blessings be upon you.
Your Honorable Chairman
Your Honorable Members of Parliament. I believe the statement presented by Your Honorable Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism is clear and comprehensive in providing the budget for his ministry for the Financial Year 2023/2024.
Here with me is a long list containing the names of the appointed Honorable Members of Parliament who would like to participate in discussing the topic of the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism. I now invite Your Honorable Awang Abdul Aziz bin Haji Hamdan to begin.
Your Honorable Awang Abdul Aziz bin Haji Hamdan
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker, In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and His blessings.
Alhamdulillah, first of all, I would like to express my gratitude for the introduction given by Your Honorable Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism under the title SH01A of the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism regarding the direction of the ministry for the year 2023.
Your Honorable, I would like to raise some questions regarding the matter of Topic SH06A - Department of Tourism Development:
Taman Rekreasi Sungai Basong is one of the attractions in the Tutong District that is frequently visited by the public and is famous for recreational and sports activities. In addition, Taman Rekreasi Sungai Basong also holds some history and was once famous for the unique cultural houses of the ethnic and Tutong community.
This place has contributed to the increase in the number of visitors and tourists to the Tutong District and at the same time has a positive impact on the socio-economic development of the community and tourism in the Tutong District. However, since its reopening in 2015 until now, the demand for visitors to this place is still high. But now it has been closed and has become a public concern. My question is, what is the status of Taman Rekreasi Sungai Basong, especially the area of cultural houses?
We cannot deny that the role of social media is important in the development of the tourism industry. The influence of YouTubers and influencers on social media can be seen by millions of viewers worldwide. Other countries have shifted to social media as an effective method and promotional strategy, and at the same time, as a channel and method of promotion that needs to be seen as important by the Department of Tourism Development towards helping to strengthen the local tourism industry. Is there a plan by the Department of Tourism Development to use social media as a method of promoting the tourism industry in Brunei Darussalam?
In addition, besides the Brunei December Festival, is there a plan to hold a Visit Brunei Year as a continuous effort towards making the local tourism sector continue to grow and making Brunei Darussalam one of the preferred destinations for international tourism? Thank you.
Your Honorable Menteri Sumber- Sumber Utama dan Pelancongan
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker and thank you to Your Honorable for the three questions asked earlier.
Regarding the status of Sungai Basong Recreational Park, at present, this area has been identified by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project. The Tourism Development Department is working closely with the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) to seek potential investors to develop this site.
To answer the second question from Your Honorable earlier, the Tourism Development Department does indeed use social media as one of the mechanisms to promote tourism products and activities, not only in the domestic market but also internationally, including Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, websites, and so on.
In addition to uploading promotional pictures and videos on social media, the Tourism Development Department is also actively implementing various types of campaigns using social media as a medium. One of them is the Social Media Influencers Experience Project, a collaboration with social media influencers from both local and foreign countries to further strengthen promotional campaigns on social media.
The DJ Experience Project, a collaboration with local radio stations to promote tourism products and activities. Radio presenters are taken to interesting places and share their experiences on social media and radio stations.
The User Generated Content Activity, a social media contest where the public can upload pictures, videos and share their experiences of getting to know our country (KNK) according to the themes set for each week.
Meanwhile, for the Tourism Development Department's next plan, it includes collaborating with International Online Travel Agencies such as Expedia, Tripadvisor, Agoda and the like to enable tourism service providers to increase their best reach performance in the international market.
Expanding the use of social media platforms such as Weibo, Wechat, LineApp and Naver, which are the main social media applications used in China, Japan and Korea to further strengthen promotional campaigns on social media in these countries.
Regarding the proposal for Visit Brunei Year, the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism welcomes the proposal. This proposal will be further studied for its suitability as it will involve joint cooperation from all parties. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.
Your Honorable Speaker
I now invite Your Honorable Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin.
Your Honorable Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.
Thank you to Your Honorable Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism and congratulations on successfully exporting eggs to Singapore.
Your Honorable Speaker and wise Honorable Members. I would like to propose a special strategy regarding self-sufficiency in the supply of buffalo meat in this country, which will not only enable the country to be self-sufficient but also reduce the price of buffalo meat from the current price, and the impact on food prices related to meat will decrease.
I would like to refer to the discussion session with the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism on February 14th, 2023, which stated that Brunei Darussalam only produces about 2.9% of buffalo and cattle. Although our land is green and there is grass everywhere, the performance of these buffalo and cattle is very low.
Before that, allow me to give a little explanation about the issue that has affected 30 local children consisting of farmers, entrepreneurs, and meat sellers in the market recently. As we know, the price of buffalo before the COVID-19 pandemic was an average of $13.00 per kilogram.
As a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on transportation costs and other related expenses, the current price of meat during the pandemic ranges from $15.00 to $17.00. Currently, imported meat from Australia and locally sourced meat are priced at $13.00 to $14.00.
Recently, the sales of raw meat from the 30 local farmers have been severely affected by a company that sells imported meat from India at a much cheaper price than the local farmers. This could lead to the closure of local farms if something is not done urgently. This was shared by me in this honorable House after discussing with the 30 local entrepreneurs on February 22, 2023.
Your Honorable Speaker, initially, the company that was allowed to import buffalo meat from India was only permitted to use it for processing purposes such as making sausages, meatballs, and the like. The raw meat cannot be sold in the local market, as it is a condition for importing the meat.
However, when the raw meat arrives in the country, the initial permission issued has been changed by the relevant party to direct selling in the local market on the grounds that the amount imported from India is excessive.
The imported buffalo meat from India is sold at an average price of $8 per kilo compared to the cost, insurance, and freight (CIF) of only $4 per kilo upon arrival at the Muara port. This means that the profit taken by the company is 100 percent.
At present, the same permission for direct selling has also been given to 4 or 5 other companies. If this continues, Kaola can confirm that 100% of 30 local farmers will disappear.
In Kaola's analysis, taking into account only one company that was allowed for direct selling, the company has imported 1,000,612 kilos equivalent to 1,612 metric tons of 62 containers along with a net profit of $6.4 million, a profit of $4 per kilo, easy money.
If we follow the logic, the person who processes this will not raise them for breeding because it is very easy to make money.
Kaola would like to draw the attention of Your Honorable Speaker. If we use this $6.4 million, we can buy 130 male breeding buffaloes and 3,250 female buffaloes with a ratio of 1:25 that will be imported for breeding purposes. In the estimation of Your Honorable, together with these experienced farmers and also local and foreign entrepreneurs as well as animal doctors, through this process, the number of cattle can breed up to 6,500 in one and a half years.
If we buy, we must also ensure that the female cattle that have reached maturity can give birth. This means that in 12 years, in 2035, the year of Wawasan Brunei 2035 أ ْلح ْمدُ ِ هلِل, Brunei Darussalam can breed up to 42,250 cattle and this is just one company.
As a strategic step that I mean, Your Honorable, for representing 30 local farmers who are almost extinct, what if the permit or permission given to these 5 or 6 companies is given to these 30 farmers?
This is not for the purpose of continuing the era of importing meat, but to help the country ensure that we are self-sufficient through local meat farming.
It should be remembered that this cattle meat is a traditional meat from ancient times in Brunei. This is truly self-sufficient meat because it does not require commercially grown grass, it can be naturally grown, but if you want to plant grass, you can also do so.
The first step for this strategy is permission for 30 farmers to survive and restore their financial system. The second step, after their finances are strong from this $6.4 million, they will be able to buy the best breeding cattle to enable them to continue their farming activities, which will certainly increase the number of cattle raised in the country.
With this strategy, Your Honorable believes it will yield results for the short and long term, namely:
We may not need to import raw meat from foreign countries and instead, if there are more than 42,000 in 12 years, we can export.
The selling price of local raw meat will return to the original price before the COVID-19 pandemic or maybe even cheaper. If we import, it should not be trusted because the price will always increase with the price of the ship and they know that Brunei is very desperate for cattle meat, not beef, so they sell it at a high price, that's what we need to remember.
The price of food that uses buffalo meat sold in restaurants in this country can be lowered. Currently, Indian meat can enter Brunei Darussalam, and even satay is equally expensive during COVID-19.
The country's revenue has increased in terms of raw meat sales and leasing of livestock farming sites.
If this buffalo meat is already raised, then the Agricultural Development Area (KKP) sites will be expanded and the rent can generate revenue.
And of course, the sales are worth millions per year, if it's already 42 thousand. The country's GDP is also believed to increase, with many spin-offs such as sausage meat, canned goods, frozen goods, leather made into crackers, can be made into bags and furniture, horns for handicraft decorations, buffalo manure can be composted or made into biochar, internal organs such as intestines and spleen for rendering to produce oil or animal feed.
Automatically, it provides job opportunities for local children in the field of livestock farming. This provides many opportunities for local workers who will also help us achieve Wawasan Brunei 2035, which is:
- High-skilled people in the field of agriculture, where they are experts in buffalo farming. In religion, it is advised to leave it to the experts, so they live in the buffalo pen, they will be fine.
- People who have a high quality of life. Because they are all about business, their quality of life will be okay.
- Increasing the country's resilient economy, where we will no longer rely on imports.
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. That's all the suggestions I can give for now, and God willing, if there is permission from Your Honorable Speaker, I would like to give way to other Honorable Members to speak, and God willing, I will ask again later if there is permission. That's all.
Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.
Your Honorable Menteri Sumber- Sumber Utama dan Pelancongan
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker, and also thank you to Your Honorable for the discussion regarding the import of cattle and the proposal to raise cattle here for local produce for domestic consumption.
From the perspective of the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, one of the strategies to ensure food security is to establish the capability of farmers to produce food in Brunei. This includes encouraging farmers and livestock breeders to raise livestock in Brunei.
Alhamdulillah, the Ministry has approved a proposal from PDS Sdn Berhad to establish a feedlot where we can raise calves and cattle here and slaughter them here. This means strengthening the whole value chain.
The Ministry welcomes Your Honorable's proposal and hopes to discuss it with the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood to implement it. This is our priority rather than importing, which may be due to the current market prices.
To alleviate the high cost of meat due to inflation, the Ministry is seeking alternatives to these meats. For the time being, to address the price escalation, we allow the temporary direct selling of cattle from India to the public, especially for low-income people, to enable them to enjoy cheap meat in addition to imported Australian meat at a price of $17.00 to $18.00 per kilogram.
This is a temporary measure to enable the public to enjoy meat at a low cost. However, once the price is stabilized to pre-COVID levels, the Ministry will revert to the policy that imported meat is for processing.
To farmers who are interested in breeding and raising buffalo and cattle, please come to the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, where the ministry will support them in breeding with the PDS and also in breeding their own buffalo here and raising them here, and eventually replacing imports. That's all, Your Honorable Speaker, thank you.
Your Honorable Speaker
Your Honorable, I am not trying to participate in the discussion, I just want to know the actual situation. If only one company is allowed, doesn't that mean there is a monopoly, and isn't that a problem in carrying out our duties?
Your Honorable Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism
Your Honorable Speaker, other entrepreneurs can also apply to the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, and there are no restrictions for them. All they have to do is to apply to the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism for import direction. We have no limitations on who can import.
Your Honorable Speaker
Another thing that needs to be asked is whether the imported meat is halal and healthy for us to sell to the public. We may like to help those with low income, but we must ensure that the interests of those with low income are protected and that they can buy halal and healthy products.
Your Honorable Menteri Sumber-Sumber Utama dan Pelancongan
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. Actually, before importing meat or livestock into this country, there are two stages that must be undergone. The first stage is a health inspection and also inspection for animal diseases.
Before we import, the Veterinary Services and the Department of Agriculture will conduct two stages, namely a desktop study and also an audit of the importer's premises to ensure that the area is free from diseases and also free from any food hazards.
Once approved by the Veterinary Services, the second stage is to cooperate with the Ministry of Religious Affairs regarding halal and toyyiban to send inspectors there.
They also conduct an audit first and only then will they send the halal and cleanliness of the abattoir, and every time they want to import to Brunei, they will send halal inspectors to be there to ensure that what comes to Brunei is observed and scrutinized so that it is truly halal. Thank you.
Your Honorable Speaker
Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd Yusuf.
Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd Yusuf
Regarding this meat, we must also pay attention to its health aspects.
Has it been analyzed for its fat or cholesterol content? What I understand is that there are restrictions like this in Singapore.
In terms of health, Your Honorable Speaker, perhaps the Honorable Minister of Health can explain.
Your Honorable Speaker
I invite the Honorable Minister of Health to speak.
Your Honorable Menteri Kesihatan
Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker. To answer the question regarding health assurance, every food, especially raw food such as meat, that is brought in is under the supervision of the Brunei Darussalam Food Authority (BDFA). It is a statutory body where the Minister of Health is responsible for it. BDFA will conduct inspections, as mentioned by Your Honorable Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd Yusuf earlier, particularly for infections and other aspects, and not only that, but also in terms of transportation, from where it originates to the store.
So, from the country or region to the store, it will be monitored by BDFA to ensure its health assurance. That's all, thank you. So, it is monitored.
Your Honorable Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism
Your Honorable Speaker. There are three stages before entering here. First, it is checked in its own area, free from animal diseases such as foot and mouth disease.
Furthermore, it is checked for its halalness, the cleanliness of the abattoir, and before coming here, make sure the transportation, as stated by Your Honorable Minister of Health.
They will be checked again and lab tests will be conducted to ensure that the microbiology does not contain any germs. If there are any, they will have to be rejected or destroyed. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.
Your Honorable Minister of Religious Affairs
I will interrupt a little, Your Honorable Speaker.
What has been explained by both of my fellow ministers, Your Honorable Minister of Primary Resources and Your Honorable Minister of Health, are the processes that have been carried out.
As far as those processes are concerned, they have been assured in terms of their health by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism and also under the Ministry of Health, and that is what is called Halalan Thayyiban.
So, its halalness is under the law that requires meat to be imported into Brunei Darussalam to be certified first for its place of slaughter and to obtain a halal slaughter certificate.
This is done through strict inspections according to the strict implementation of Halalan Thayyiban. The meaning of strict is that the place of slaughter cannot be mixed with non-halal slaughter. If there is such a thing, even though the separation and so on have been determined, it must be ensured that it does not go through the same process as non-halal slaughter and non-halal meat.
It is the inspector's duty to inspect and determine the halalness of the place. Once this is confirmed, the place of slaughter is recognized. After it is recognized, the relevant importers will import from there.
During the process of importing to this country, an observer will be sent to observe the slaughter process to determine if it complies with the established procedures.
For example, if we do not use stunning and do not allow stunning, but stunning is used, we will reject it.
After that, the observer will determine which meats will be placed in certain boxes, then placed in a container and sealed.
The seal is the Kitani inspector seal until it is confirmed by the Royal Customs and Excise Department in this country.
That is all about the halal assurance. What we are concerned about is the role of the public, from the port to the destination. There is no law enforcement carried out or made for such control because we do not know where the meat comes from and enters the same place.
Then it is distributed to retailers who are not known whether the meat is truly certified and carefully inspected by the assigned Inspector Officer. "Alhamdulillah," so far the public has been very cooperative.
These are the cases that have been found following reports from the public. Thank you, Your Honorable Speaker.
Your Honorable Speaker
"Insha Allah," I think it is appropriate to adjourn this committee meeting for now and we will reconvene at the National Assembly Meeting.
(The Committee Meeting is adjourned) (The National Assembly Meeting reconvenes)
Your Honorable Speaker
Honorable Members. We are now reconvening at the National Assembly Meeting. I would like to adjourn this meeting and "Insha Allah," we will reconvene at 2.30 pm as usual, thank you.
(The National Assembly Meeting is adjourned until 2.30 pm)
ADJOURNED
(The National Assembly Meeting is adjourned)
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