His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, delivering his 'titah' during the Bali Democracy Forum in Nusa Dua on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on December 9, 2010. Picture: Infofoto
Friday, December 10, 2010
HIS Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday underscored the government's duty to empower the people to achieve what they want to do with their lives in order to sustain peace and stability in the country.
In a largely buoyant titah talking about the Brunei experience and was delivered during the 3rd Bali Democracy Forum (BDF), the monarch outlined two ways to measure success in sustaining peace and stability within the Sultanate — by the way it empowers Bruneians in realising their hopes and dreams, and how it helps them take responsibility for their personal decisions and choices.
"The world's political landscape is still darkened by 20th century legacies" which have damaged and threatened the world's political, natural and social landscape. Such destructive elements are a reminder that they cannot be eliminated by anything governments seeks to impose on their own, said His Majesty.
"We believe that it can only be dispelled by the people themselves. And therefore, it is the government's duty to help each of them gain the capacity to do this."
The Sultan said his government is aware that personal empowerment among Bruneians would only come when all the people have reached the highest possible levels of education, health and when the country has fully met the immediate challenges of the new century in the environment, security and biodiversity.
The monarch stressed in his titah that the "collective will of our people" is the government's "powerful source of energy ... far more lasting than oil and gas" to reach the abovementioned goals.
"We are a small country and of course that has many limitations. But one great advantage is the closeness it develops among us all. I meet our people from all walks of life almost daily. And the constant request they have for the government is to give them the means to enjoy modern life well and benefit from its opportunities", said the monarch.
"Not as anonymous masses, but personally as distinct individuals, families, and communities and specifically in accordance with their values, customs and beliefs. In other words specific, personal empowerment."
The monarch noted improvements in "universal healthcare, education and a dramatic increase in women's opportunities and employment", which he referred to as "real targets" set out in the country's short-and long-term economic and social plans.
However, Brunei "is in no position to fulfil all (its) hopes alone", he said, remarking that Brunei's diligence in being a part of regional and world community such as the United Nations and Asean is due in part to its limited population, small domestic market and finite natural resources.
"That is why I find it encouraging that a decade into this new century, there seems to be an approach that matches our own in the great organisations to which we belong,"he said, exemplifying his point with growing efforts in Asean to reach development targets set for the next decade and the "Non-Aligned Movement being increasingly aligned with the Commonwealth to bring development to the southern hemisphere".
"Certainly, there are still disagreements and even disputes to settle but I see far less direct confrontation and far more attempts at dialogue," he told the audience.
Following a general debate, His Majesty attended an official lunch hosted by Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. The monarch is scheduled to depart Bali with his entourage this afternoon.
courtesy of--The Brunei Times
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