Let's not leave our future, post-oil era, to foreigners

DEAR EDITOR,

Like many of your readers, I have followed with great interest the correspondence triggered by the letter "Time to start swinging, Brunei". I am truly relieved that the scenario of a post-oil Brunei is finally discussed and policy alternatives considered in a public context. However, I was somewhat disappointed by the letter "Brunei Must Act Now with full vigor and urgency" which identifies commitment, empowerment, accountability and foreign talent as crucial factors that will make the difference and proposes to hire a consulting firm and appoint a high-powered committee to deal with the issue. Have we ever heard that one before? I seem to remember previous occasions when such formulas were proposed: buzzwords elevated to slogans supposed to motivate us to change, foreign consultants or advisors employed to give us advice that we already know but cannot muster the courage to express, and high-power committees appointed that may be high, but are not particularly empowered. What we need are not more consultants and committees, but more frank discussion among ourselves of what the problems we as a society face are, what their causes are, and how we can solve them. Foreign consultants and high-level committees are more part of the problem, than they are part of the solution because we pass on to them the uncomfortable responsibilities that we should shoulder ourselves. I am very glad that The Brunei Times provides a public space for precisely such discussions.

Haji Hayy bin Yaqzan

Jalan Tutong