Values in a global village

IT'S a borderless world, said His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday in his National Day titah. Bruneians should not just focus on internal or domestic issues, he added, but should also learn from events unfolding all around the world, especially in charting the country's development strategies.

However, while keeping up to date with global trends, Bruneians must strengthen their "jati diri", and not to forget their religious responsibilities and must hold on to our traditions and cultural values, as much as possible.

All the elements that make up a Bruneian, including being able to converse and understand the national language and uphold high moral values are "penanda" or markers for our existence in this world.

Our values and principles define us. The country's Malay Islamic Monarchy (Melayu Islam Beraja or MIB) national philosophy is unique in the world. While strengthening our centuries old cultural values and traditions, we are a nation that is quick to embrace new technologies. Our young people, comprising over 60 per cent of the population, are tech and Internet savvy. In 2009, Internet users in the Sultanate totalled over 300,000, which is about 75 per cent of the population.

However, the monarch cautioned against just following trends or "cepat-cepat mengikut arus". While we live in a global village, we should not forget our roots and values.

This is a blessed peaceful country and outsiders or foreigners recognise this. Brunei, said a defence expert, is not interested in "going to war with anyone". On Tuesday, Dr Richard Danzig, said that Brunei, even though small in size, has the capacity to carry "big messages".

As ASEAN chair in 2013, the Sultanate is well positioned to influence its counterparts and help to build a stronger identity for the nation and regional organisation.