The First Meeting of the 2nd Session of the Legislative Council is now adjourned until a new session that would be announced at a latter date. The Legislative Council’s Meeting which began six days ago has ended on a successful note. Many issues were examined, commented and debated upon, and agreed on through the spirit of consultation. All the issues raised revolved around the life of the rakyat at large, from welfare, agriculture, education to discussion on future of entrepreneurs and the like. This clearly shows how dynamic the Legislative Council is, consistent with its creation to further improve, sustain, update and strengthen the national aspiration as desired by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
Arising from these deliberations, the Council Tuesday, after three and a half days of debate at committee level, approved the budget proposal for a sum of more than 4.53 billion dollars out of the Consolidated Fund sought by the Second Minister of Finance for the Service of the Financial Year 2006/2007. This budget is now known as the Supply 2006/2007 ‘bracket’ 2006 Act, to go into effect from the 1st of April 2006.

Of the total, nearly three billion dollars is to be appropriated for services at ministries and government departments and agencies. 1.6 billion dollars is for capital expenditures, of which 900 million dollars is to be used for developments in government departments and agencies under them, while nearly 700 million dollars is to be used as special expenditures for programmes and projects to assist developments of the private sector especially small and medium enterprises, SME’s.

When presenting the bill last Thursday, the Second Minister of Finance, Yang Berhormat Pehin Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Rahman said the country’s economy, due to the injection of special expenditures for the development of the private sector, is forecast to grow by between 2.5 and 3.5 percent during the 2006/2007 fiscal year. Hence, he added, the national revenue for the period is estimated to be around 5.2 billion dollars, of which 91 percent will be earnings from oil and gas, while 9 percent or about 500 million dollars from government services and non oil and gas sectors.

Meanwhile, members Wednesday morning raised more issues and brought forward suggestions in their adjournment speeches. An appointed member, Yang Berhormat Dato Paduka Haji Yunos bin Mohd. Noh proposed that privately owned lands that are isolated and difficult to develop or build houses on, be replaced or readjusted to settlement areas that have all the basic facilities. He said the cost of such a relocation scheme could be subsidized and be borne by the land-owners. He added this could be more cost-effective for the government and reduce the number of people leaving their lands, as they sought houses at national housing areas.

The issue of small and medium enterprises or SMEs was the focus of Yang Berhormat Dato Paduka Haji Puasa bin Haji Tudin who quoted His Majesty’s titah that called on government agencies to support the private sector and give priority to the establishment of SMEs. He proposed that priority is also given to locally owned SMEs. Yang Berhormat then raised the issue of housing developers, and said that they should register with relevant authorities in order to safeguard the interests of the citizens and residents of the country. On agriculture, he proposed building a sugar factory, with local planters as the suppliers of sugar cane to the facility.

Yang Berhormat Orang Kaya Maha Bijaya Haji Othman bin Uking highlighted the fate of single mothers, widow or divorcees, and conveyed their appeal for assistance, including pensions or allowances. Another proposal from Yang Berhormat was the setting of an agriculture-concept settlement area that could help to reduce the number of people moving to urban areas.

SMEs were again raised by Yang Berhormat Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Awang Goh King Chin. Among other things, he suggested the formation of a task force to monitor partnerships between local and foreigners to determine who benefits from the arrangement.Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Idris bin Haji Abas has given special emphasize on environment. Among issues he touched were the Environment Act and the need for a law to be enforced for offenders who threw garbage indiscriminately. Yang Berhormat also highlighted forest conservation. Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Sulaiman in Haji Ahai proposed for the corporate tax to be reduced from the current 30 percent to 20 percent in order to attract foreign investment. He also proposed for retirement age in the government service to be extended from 55 to 60 years old. Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Sulaiman bin Ahad proposed for the construction of a bridge linking the Temburong District to Bandar Seri Begawan be seriously considered for the
convenience and security of residents in the district.

Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Abu Bakar bin Haji Ibrahim, meanwhile highlighted the increase of cost of living among government servants and for the pension scheme to be extended to women employees. The provision of a bridge was also highlighted by Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Bakar bin Mansur to link Kampung Menunggol in Pulau Berambang which among others will contribute to the enhancement of the tourism industry.

Yang Berhormat Orang Kaya Jaya Putera Haji Taha bin Raub highlighted on the issue of the placement of land boundary stone marker pertaining to the divisions of land. He proposed the obscure markers be moved accordingly. Ex-officio members in their adjournment speeches said all the proposals put forward will be taken into consideration.

An Electricity Generator Project with the concept of ‘Combined-Cycle’ is being installed in this country. It would be the first of such generator placed in a move that aims to upgrade the country’s electrical supply capacity to meet anticipated rising demand. The Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office, Pehin Dato Seri Paduka Haji Awang Yahya was present to lead the concrete-laying ceremony. It was followed by the Ambassadors of Japan, US and France and other senior officials.