LegCo’s Budget Debate: Are We Moving Forward or Just Going in Circles?

 

🔎 Is Brunei on the right path, or are we repeating the same policy missteps?

The latest LegCo session saw fierce debates on budget transparency, economic sustainability, and governance efficiency. But will these discussions lead to real change?

 

By Malai Hassan Othman

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 14 MARCH 2025: Brunei's 11th-day Legislative Council session sparked intense debates over budget allocations, policy inefficiencies, and governance transparency. Are these policies paving the way for progress, or are we stuck in a cycle of unfulfilled promises?

 

📊 Budget Allocation: Where is the Money Going?

The government’s BND 652.6 million health budget included hospital upgrades, workforce expansion, and non-communicable disease programs, sparking debate over spending efficiency.

 

Concerns arose over foreign workers’ unpaid hospital bills, totalling BND 11 million over five years. 

YB Haji Salleh Bostaman urged stricter employer enforcement, questioning why existing policies had failed to curb rising unpaid medical costs. 

A proposal to increase insurance coverage to BND 100,000 per worker was also discussed.

 

The education budget hit BND 1.2 billion, fueling discussion on school maintenance, flood-proofing, and vocational training, yet the graduate unemployment rate remains a pressing issue.

 

👨‍💼 Employment Woes and the Future Workforce

Despite the government’s 76.40% graduate employment KPI, YB Dayang Hajah Safiah argued that many graduates remain underemployed in short-term contracts or fields outside their qualifications. 

She called for industry-relevant education programs and stronger university-employer collaborations, highlighting concerns over skill gaps and the long-term sustainability of job sectors.

 

Brunei’s workforce is shifting towards AI, big data, and renewable energy, supported by BND 21.5 million allocated to UTB for research in green technology and commercialising research outcomes. 

However, concerns persist about the disconnect between academic programs and industry demands, with experts calling for stronger industry placements and incentives to ensure workforce readiness.

 

UNISSA’s employment rates, projected at 58-61%, lag behind national targets, sparking calls for policy reform to strengthen Islamic finance and agriculture job placements.

 

🏠 Housing Shortages and Infrastructure Gaps

A BND 2.7 million allocation for the National Housing Scheme sparked criticism, with YB Pengiran Haji Aliuddin questioning why recurrent complaints of housing defects and slow delivery timelines** remain unresolved.

 

Drainage issues remain unresolved, with BND 236,000 budgeted for flood mitigation, alongside BND 32.1 million allocated for asset maintenance, which includes critical flood mitigation projects. 

However, experts argue this falls short, given increasing climate risks and rapid urban expansion.

 

Education infrastructure also saw a BND 22 million commitment, including BND 4.2 million under RKN-12 for the reconstruction of Sultan Hassan Secondary School in Temburong. However, public concerns over rural school safety persist. 

 

🔍 Public Services Under Fire & Digital Transformation

LegCo members demanded accountability, pushing for BND 60 million in digital transformation funds to modernise public services and introduce performance-based incentives for government efficiency. 

However, scepticism remains over whether these funds will translate into tangible improvements, or if they will be absorbed by administrative overhead and inefficiencies.

 

A proposal to ease teachers' administrative burden gained traction, but policymakers remain divided on implementation, citing workforce limitations and bureaucratic resistance.

 

Despite the BND 92 million transport budget, YB Awang Haji Zainol criticised a lack of transparency on how these funds would address critical gaps in inter-district connectivity, urban congestion, and outdated bus infrastructure. 

He questioned whether the funds were being directed towards sustainable improvements or used to patch up an outdated system without meaningful reform.

 

📢 What Does This Mean for Brunei’s Future?

The session highlighted deep-rooted concerns about fiscal discipline, governance transparency, and economic sustainability amid growing public frustration over slow reforms.

 

With Wawasan 2035 on the horizon, is Brunei truly moving toward economic transformation, or are we witnessing another cycle of policy announcements without concrete results? 

The nation faces a defining moment - will these reforms bring real change, or will stagnation continue?

 

🔥 Final Thought: Change or More of the Same?

 

Brunei stands at a crossroads—are we seeing bold reforms or just political theatre? The nation watches closely.

 

💬 What are your thoughts on these issues? Do you believe these policies will improve Brunei’s future, or are we caught in a cycle of inaction? Join the conversation below! 👇

As Brunei edges closer to Wawasan 2035, the LegCo’s decisions must produce visible results or risk deepening public doubts about governance and national progress. (MHO/03/2025)