The wheel of change has to move faster for sultanate

IF there is one constant in life, it is this: nothing is finite and that change is inevitable. with the advent of technology and globalisation, no force in the world is able to ignore the inescapable pressure to change.

But for a country like Brunei, with its predominantly affluent and blessed society, there is too often an almost begrudgingly slow and reluctant reaction to everything that requires change.

This point was hammered home forthrightly by His Majesty in his titah two days ago for the new Hijrah year 1429, when the monarch put forward several fundamental questions to all Bruneians that was broadcast nationwide.

His Majesty began by pointing out that "we have actually faced a lot of problems and in fact, we have many visions that have preceded others but we are always late when it comes to finding solutions."

Issues such as transparency and the reduction of red-tape, economic diversification have in fact been catchwords since the turn of the century. Yet, eight years on, the monarch is still asking us why this change has yet to be implemented.

His Majesty used the recent flashfloods that have swamped Brunei as an example and asked whether blocked drainage was caused by human neglect or development factors; specifically contractors having free rein to dump soil and rubbish wherever they please. The monarch further points out that if this was the case, why legislation is not in place to overcome this problem.

Administration is what the government agencies are entrusted to carry out. Yet His Majesty asked why this was not happening. He asked: "If there are issues that only require simple administration, then we should administer it in any normal way. Otherwise, if there are issues that require special laws or acts, then why aren't the administration approved by enforcing these respective acts? If we currently do not have any laws or acts on the subject, is there anything wrong with revising laws or acts relating to it?" As examples, 'economic diversification' has been a national catchword since independence in 1984. Yet, close to three decades later, very little has been made. We continue to rely heavily on oil and gas. Is talking all we are good for?

Another exampleis the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, which forced the nation to open its mind to the world. In 2000, the government reconsidered its economic policy and calls were made by His Majesty for more accountability, responsibility and transparency within the civil service.

When the Internet came along, it had as much impact on Brunei as it did with other countries around the world. In 1998, when the Amedeo conglomerate collapsed under the weight of its debts, there was minimal local media coverage on the scandal. While the goverment kept a tight lid on the subject and restrained the local media from digging deeper, the nation instead turned to their computer screens, raking in as much readily available information as they could from the internet.

Bruneians today are more exposed to information than they have ever been before. The youth today are now talking freely in internet blogs, chatrooms and forums. If the emphasis on youth as the fu-ture engines of generating this change is stifled, then all these talks and questions for changing the country for the better will again,have all been for nothing. Brunei has been talking about change for some time now, yet that change has been excruciatingly slow in coming.

His Majesty aptly sounded it out by asking us all: "If this is true, is it not important enough to be taken seriously and make immediate changes?"

The Brunei Times