Brunei Dikenakan Tarif 24% oleh Amerika Syarikat: Suatu Tamparan kepada Kedaulatan Ekonomi Negara Kecil

WACANA DARI MEJA PENASIHAT 

6 April 2025

 

Nota: Artikel ini merupakan komentar sivik oleh penulis dalam kapasiti peribadi sebagai Penasihat Parti Pembangunan Bangsa (NDP). Pandangan yang dikemukakan tidak mencerminkan atau mewakili pendirian rasmi Kerajaan Brunei Darussalam.

 

LIMBARUH HUJAU, JERUDONG: – Tatkala dunia masih berusaha bangkit daripada ketidaktentuan ekonomi global, sebuah berita mengejutkan telah melanda bumi Brunei Darussalam: negara kita dikenakan tarif 24 peratus oleh Amerika Syarikat ke atas eksport kita.

 

Tarif ini bukan sahaja tinggi, malah lebih berat daripada apa yang dikenakan terhadap negara-negara besar seperti Jepun (24%), Malaysia (24%), dan Singapura (10%). 

 

Adakah ini adil? Adakah ini berdasarkan data? Atau adakah kita sedang dihukum kerana kecil, senyap, dan tidak strategik dalam mempertahankan kepentingan nasional?

 

Realiti Politik Negara Kecil

 

Brunei bukan gergasi ekonomi. Kita bukan kuasa perdagangan global. Tetapi kita adalah sebuah negara berdaulat, yang sewajarnya dilayan dengan maruah dan timbang rasa.

 

Dalam sistem perdagangan antarabangsa yang kian dipolitikkan, negara kecil seperti Brunei sering menjadi mangsa. 

 

Kita mudah dipinggirkan dalam rundingan, mudah dimasukkan dalam senarai hukuman, dan sukar diberi suara dalam pentas dunia.

 

Persoalan utama yang harus kita tanya: Mengapa Brunei dikenakan tarif lebih tinggi daripada Singapura, sedangkan kita bukan pun pengeksport utama ke AS? 

 

Data menunjukkan bahawa Brunei sebenarnya mempunyai defisit dagangan dengan AS – kita lebih banyak mengimport (BND298.4 juta) daripada mengeksport (BND238.7 juta) pada tahun 2024.

 

Kesan Langsung dan Tidak Langsung

 

Kementerian Kewangan dan Ekonomi (MOFE) sedang menilai kesan tarif ini dan mengatur pertemuan dengan pihak kedutaan AS. 

Eksport utama Brunei ke AS termasuk bahan kimia dan alat-alat jentera – bukan pun komoditi yang kritikal kepada pasaran AS.

 

Tetapi yang lebih membimbangkan ialah kesan tidak langsung: pasaran tenaga global, pelaburan asing langsung (FDI), dan kestabilan fiskal negara.

 

Menurut laporan analisis terbaru, ketidaktentuan dalam dasar perdagangan AS memberi kesan kepada harga minyak dunia. 

 

Ketika perang dagangan AS-China dahulu, harga minyak Brent menjunam dari $86 ke $64 setong. 

 

Brunei, yang ekonominya bergantung 90% kepada hasil minyak dan gas, terdedah sepenuhnya.

 

Bandingan dengan Singapura: Strategi Versus Senyap

 

Singapura, walaupun turut kecil, punya suara yang kuat dan strategi yang jelas. 

 

Mereka menandatangani FTA bersama AS sejak 2004, menyertai mekanisme penyelesaian pertikaian WTO, dan mempelbagaikan ekonomi mereka melalui sektor perkhidmatan, teknologi dan logistik.

 

Brunei pula terus mengharapkan harga minyak, tanpa pelan pemulihan yang tuntas. Bahkan, jumlah FDI Brunei menjunam ke hanya $0.7 bilion pada 2022 – satu angka yang membimbangkan bagi negara yang ingin berdikari secara ekonomi.

 

Tafsiran Politik: Kedaulatan Ekonomi dan Maruah Negara

 

Tarif ini bukan sekadar isu perdagangan. Ia adalah isu kedaulatan ekonomi, maruah nasional, dan kesiapsiagaan strategik. 

 

Ia adalah petanda bahawa dunia tidak menunggu negara kecil untuk memahami sistem - kita harus menyusun strategi, menggugat persepsi, dan membina posisi.

 

Sebagai Penasihat Parti Pembangunan Bangsa (NDP), saya menyeru agar negara ini mengambil iktibar:

 

1.  Tubuhkan Pasukan Strategik Perdagangan Antarabangsa – untuk mengkaji, menasihati dan merancang rundingan ekonomi jangka panjang dengan kuasa-kuasa besar.

 

2.  Perluas Diplomasi Ekonomi Melalui ASEAN dan OIC – agar suara Brunei bergema bersama rakan serantau dan negara Islam lain.

 

3.  Pelbagaikan Struktur Ekonomi – agar kita tidak lagi bergantung kepada satu sumber pendapatan semata-mata.

 

4.  Aktif dalam Pertubuhan Perdagangan Dunia (WTO) – bukan sekadar menjadi ahli, tetapi sebagai pembela hak negara kecil yang berdaulat.

 

Kata Penutup: Dari Hujung Meja, Untuk Seluruh Bangsa

 

Kita tidak akan selamanya duduk selesa di bawah naungan kekayaan minyak. Dunia berubah, dan kuasa besar akan terus menguji daya tahan kita.

 

"Jikalau kita tidak berani menyoal, kita akan terus menjadi negara yang disoal."

 

Sebagai pewaris kemerdekaan dan amanah generasi akan datang, mari kita bangkit dengan kesedaran, keberanian dan strategi. 

 

Brunei yang kecil tidak semestinya lemah. Tetapi Brunei yang diam pasti akan terus dikecewakan. (MHO/04/2025)

 

Wallahu a'lam.

 

The Circle of Uncertainties: Are We Passing Down Burnout to the Next Generation?

What if burnout isn’t just a personal issue—but a national failure?

What if the long hours, unpaid Saturdays, and silent mental struggles aren’t isolated cases, but signs of a deeper problem no one wants to fix?

We talk about Vision 2035 like it’s a destination. But how do we get there with tired minds, empty wallets, and broken trust?

This isn’t just about work-life balance. It’s about a generation asking:

“So who’s really willing to act?”

Read what Bruneians are really saying—before the silence becomes permanent.

☕ Kopi Talk with MHO

📍 Introduction

“A broken system thrives when everyone shifts blame. Citizens want change without sacrifice; governments want trust without transparency.” 

This comment struck a chord. Since publishing Burnout Nation, public feedback has been pouring in. 

Not just complaints—but reflections from exhausted citizens trying to make sense of a system that seems increasingly detached from their realities.

📉 “As we can't cope with inflation with our cut-cost salary every year.”

🗣 “So who’s really willing to act? Or kitani akan biarkan sampai generasi kemudian akan melaluinya?”

These are not isolated sentiments. They’re becoming the norm.

🔹 Part II: Salary Stagnation and the Cost of Coping

“As we can't cope with inflation with our cut-cost salary every year.”

No meaningful salary revision in nearly five decades. Living costs are rising. Yet many civil servants continue working six days a week—with no overtime and diminishing morale. 

Gratitude is important—but when it replaces fairness, it breeds quiet resentment. Burnout has become our national baseline.

“We’re heading for Vision 2035 with broken minds.”

🔹 Part III: Burnout Is Not a Weakness—It’s a Warning

Mental health isn’t a buzzword. It’s a growing crisis. Over 7,000 people received treatment by 2021. Many more never come forward.

 

“Mental illness is still taboo. If you're struggling, you're seen as weak.”

We praise resilience but punish vulnerability. Some suffer silently. Others just… disappear.

🔹 Part IV: The People Are Speaking—So Why Aren’t We Listening?

Bruneians are not just venting. They’re offering solutions:

• ✅ Pay revisions tied to inflation
• ✅ Flexible hours across sectors
• ✅ Tech-driven processes to reduce overload
• ✅ Healthier work cultures based on trust

At the core: No vision will succeed if the people behind it are depleted.

🔹 Part IV-A: Between Entitlement and Exhaustion

“Overtime is only worth it if the paycheck is comfortable and you get actual respect.”

“Rights must come with responsibility. Someone had to work the fields to feed you.”

Some voices caution against rising entitlement. Younger workers seek passion but face a harsh job market with few options.

Balance means shared responsibility—not just policy shifts, but mindset shifts too.

🔹 Part V: Breaking the Circle of Uncertainties

“Ani bukan circle of life, tapi ani circle of uncertainties.”

Change starts with asking the right questions—and being ready to hear the hard truths. Public voices aren’t just noise. They’re warnings. And maybe, just maybe, a map out of the mess.

📣 So who’s really willing to act? Not as an accusation—but as a shared challenge. Let’s break the circle—together.

🗨️ Share your thoughts. Tag someone who needs to read this. Let’s keep this Kopi Talk going.

#KopiTalkWithMHO #BurnoutNation #WorkLifeBalance #Vision2035 #MentalHealth #PublicVoices #BruneiLeadership #LinkedInBrunei

 

 

 

Tariff Shock: Why Brunei Faces a 24% Tariff and What It Means for Us

🔍 Why is Brunei being slapped with a 24% U.S. tariff—more than Singapore, Japan, or even Malaysia?

📉 We actually import more from the U.S. than we export—but still got hit harder. Something doesn’t add up.

🇧🇳 In my latest Kopi Talk with MHO, I investigate what’s really behind this trade shock, what it means for our small economy, and why Brunei must speak up on the global stage.

📰 Kopi Talk with MHO

By Malai Hassan Othman | Investigative Column Published: April 5, 2025

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Brunei Darussalam is facing a significant economic challenge with a newly imposed 24% tariff on its exports to the United States. 

For a small, open economy like ours, this is not just a numerical change - it represents a potential loss of confidence, credibility, and competitiveness. 

This tariff is part of a broader directive by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has introduced what he refers to as a "reciprocal tariff regime." 

While all countries face a minimum tariff of 10%, those with trade surpluses are subjected to higher rates. 

To our dismay, Brunei has been placed in the 24% category. 

To put this into perspective, even Singapore, a major export powerhouse, is only facing the standard 10%. 

With our exports to the U.S. totalling a modest BND238.7 million last year, we are struggling under a disproportionately heavy burden.

---

The Confusing Numbers Game

How did we end up in this situation? 

The U.S. administration justifies the new tariffs as “reciprocal” and based on trade deficits. 

However, the numbers do not support this claim. In 2024, Brunei recorded a trade deficit with the U.S., importing more (BND298.4 million) than it exported. 

This does not indicate a surplus. Thus, the question arises: are we being penalized based on outdated data, incorrect assumptions, or simply grouped with others? 

Discussions on Reddit and other trade forums suggest that this approach is akin to punishing a neighbourhood grocery store because you spend more there than they spend on you. In essence, it’s a case of economics turned upside down.

---

Small Nation, Big Problems

For Bruneian exporters - especially those dealing in chemicals, fuels, and machinery - this tariff means an immediate challenge. 

A 24% duty makes Brunei's products more expensive for American consumers, and in the competitive landscape of global trade, price is crucial. 

According to the Ministry of Finance and Economy (MOFE), consultations with affected exporters are ongoing, and meetings with the U.S. embassy have been arranged to seek clarification. 

However, behind closed doors, officials express confusion and frustration. “Even Singapore got hit with only 10%, while we received 24%,” a senior officer shared. 

“Why?”

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ASEAN Pushback, Brunei’s Dilemma

This issue extends beyond Brunei's borders. ASEAN countries are equally displeased. 

Malaysia, as the chair for 2025, is organizing a special meeting of economic ministers to discuss a collective response. 

Nations like Cambodia (49%), Vietnam (46%), and Thailand (36%) have faced even steeper tariffs. 

Unlike Brunei, many of these countries are under scrutiny for allegedly serving as backdoors for Chinese exports - a charge that does not apply to us. 

This raises another question: why are we categorised with them? 

The hard truth is that size matters. Small economies like ours lack significant bargaining power. 

Our voices in global trade forums often go unheard, and our dependency on larger partners like the U.S. exposes us to vulnerabilities.

---

A Silver Lining? Or a Wake-Up Call?

For now, MOFE is maintaining a composed response. Some officials view this as a hidden opportunity.

“We need to diversify and look beyond the U.S.,” stated one official. 

This perspective is gaining traction. It’s not only about seeking new markets; it’s about becoming smarter, faster, and more resilient. 

It’s crucial to understand the realities of global trade rather than merely reacting to them.

---

🟫 Kopi Talk Takeaway

Brunei may be small, but silence in global trade allows others to dictate our future. It’s time for us to speak up - clearly and strategically.

 

Burnout Nation: Why Brunei’s Work-Life Balance Promise Can’t Wait?

☕ Kopi Talk with MHO

In 2022, Brunei promised a bold transformation in how we work and live - flexible hours, two-day weekends, and a healthier, more balanced workforce.

In 2025, that promise remains at a standstill. Meanwhile, burnout rises, mental health suffers, and families are left juggling impossible schedules.

This investigative piece dives into what was pledged, what’s holding us back, and why the time to act is now - not after Vision 2035.

🧠💼 Let’s talk about what’s really costing us productivity—and peace of mind.

By Malai Hassan Othman

Saturdays are not weekends for Aina, a 35-year-old civil servant and mother of two. She still clocks in at the office while her children spend their weekends at home. "I only get Sunday off," she sighs, visibly worn out. 

Over in the private sector, Hamzah, a retail assistant, clocks more than 50 hours weekly. He’s paid minimum wage and receives no overtime pay. "Six days a week, one day to rest, but even that day I used to catch up on errands," Hamzah says. "I feel like a machine."

They are not alone. Bruneians are working some of the longest hours in Southeast Asia. 

According to ILO data, Brunei averages 47 hours a week. In comparison, Malaysia averages 45 hours, the Philippines 43.2, and Indonesia 40.6. Singapore and Thailand hover around 44–45 hours, while Vietnam stands at 48. 

Cambodia tops the ASEAN list with over 49 hours per week. Laos reports slightly less. 

Despite its small population, Brunei is among the highest in the region. 

Many Bruneians, especially in the private sector, are burnt out, exhausted, and unseen. The numbers back up what the people have long been feeling.

In 2022, the Brunei government unveiled its Mental Health Action Plan 2022–2025. 

It wasn’t just a policy idea - it was a strategic, multi-year blueprint shaped by input from multiple stakeholders. 

The Action Plan laid out four overarching strategies, thirteen priority actions, and thirty-two activities aimed at promoting mental health, improving services, and embedding psychological well-being into national development. 

Among these was a flagship commitment: a national work-life balance policy. 

Flexible working hours. Two-day weekends. Standardized work schedules. Workplace daycares and crèches. Designated school bus drop-off points.

But in 2025, none of it has been implemented. A study on flexible working hours for civil servants commenced in 2024. To date, it remains just that - a study. Still no policy. 

While the issue of work-life balance was brought up during the 2024 Legislative Council sessions, it was notably absent from the 2025 deliberations. Mental health was discussed - but the promised work-life balance policy? Not a word.

The silence is telling. It’s not mere bureaucratic inertia - it’s a failure with real-life consequences for Bruneians’ mental and emotional health. 

In 2021 alone, 1,515 Bruneians were diagnosed with anxiety and depression. That number has only increased. Mental illness is a growing crisis. 

A 2020 survey by the Health Promotion Centre found that 17.6% of civil servants showed signs of depression. Some 35.4% reported burnout. 

Yet only 262 government employees were surveyed - barely a glimpse into the real picture. What about the thousands working under stricter conditions in the private sector?

Let’s break it down. Adding to the growing strain on families is the newly integrated academic-religious education schedule, now merged into a single full-day schooling system. 

While this reform eliminated previously taxing double school runs, it brought a new challenge: managing drop-offs and pick-ups during standard work hours. 

School now runs from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and resumes from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. 

This places significant pressure on working parents, particularly with limited midday flexibility. 

Civil servants find it hard to leave work mid-day. Private sector workers with fixed hours face even greater difficulty. 

Though educationally sound, many parents argue the policy lacks logistical planning. There’s little formal support for working families adjusting to this transition.

What Parents Are Saying

"Now that school is full-day, I can't leave work every afternoon just to fetch my child," says Liyana, a government clerk in Bandar. 

Sahrul, a private sector technician, added: "I get off at 5. My kids finish at 3. It’s a daily panic rush. We need better coordination." 

Nora, a mother of three, shared: "Why not adjust school times slightly or arrange official childcare bridging programs? We’ve been left on our own to figure it out." 

The integration policy, though rooted in good intentions, lacks logistical foresight. 

The emotional, financial, and professional burden on families continues to grow.

Amid this discontent, civil servants and reform-minded citizens have begun calling for adjustments to the workweek itself. 

A widely discussed proposal calls for Friday to be a half-day, with Saturday and Sunday as full rest days. 

This would provide families with two uninterrupted days of recovery and bonding. 

Supporters argue the proposal better aligns Brunei with international practices while respecting religious observance. 

The idea isn’t new. In the UAE, similar reforms were made to enhance productivity and align with global markets.

In the government sector, the current workweek spans Monday to Thursday and Saturday. Friday and Sunday are designated rest days. 

While rooted in religious tradition, many believe it no longer suits modern demands. 

In contrast, the private sector, especially oil and gas, typically follows a Monday-to-Friday schedule, offering full weekends off. 

Brunei Shell Petroleum, for example, has implemented flexible hours and remote work options. 

These policies reflect forward-thinking, globally aligned workforce practices. But this is not the norm. 

Many private companies still impose six-day workweeks, unpaid overtime, and blurred work-life boundaries through late-night messages and weekend demands.

Under Brunei’s current Labour Law, employers are required to provide just one day off per week. Technically, working 24 days straight remains legal. 

One letter to the editor described this as a “zombie workforce.” Another wrote, “We’re heading for Vision 2035 with broken minds.”

Social media is flooded with similar frustrations: long hours, stagnant pay, and no time to rest. 

“Our people are breaking,” one user lamented. Yet the government continues to urge citizens to help realize Wawasan 2035. But with what energy? And at what cost?

The government recognized the problem. It even proposed a solution in 2022. But three years later, the policy remains at a standstill while the public continues to suffer. 

Flexible working isn’t a luxury. It’s a basic right. And in Brunei, it’s long overdue. 

In countries like Estonia, 29 days of paid leave are standard. In Brunei, burnout has become the default. 

The Civil Service Department was designated to lead the policy. Ministries were expected to follow. Yet, three years on - silence.

Awareness campaigns were launched. The Ministry of Health even opened the MOH Intelligence Hub in late 2022, aiming to improve health data systems and services like BruHIMS. 

Plans for telemedicine and telehealth were discussed. Community care models, including continuity of care, social inclusion, and decentralized mental health access, were part of the broader strategy. 

Importantly, the Action Plan acknowledged the entrenched stigma surrounding mental illness. It called for preventive efforts - not just treatment - including workplace support for healthy eating, physical activity, and mental wellness. 

But again, talk outpaces action. And public patience is wearing thin.

A comprehensive systematic review published in Healthcare (Basel) in 2022 reinforces the case: flexible, employee-oriented work schedules - such as working from home or self-managed hours - lead to measurable reductions in depression, burnout, and emotional fatigue. 

Though modest, these improvements matter. They show that autonomy over how and when people work can prevent mental health issues before they spiral into crises. Brunei has the framework. It has public backing. And now, it has the science to justify real change. So why the delay? Is it caution? Complacency? Or is the system too comfortable squeezing workers dry while preaching compassion?

Even top-performing civil servants are drained. Some have quietly resigned. Others remain, silent and worn out, afraid of being labelled as weak. 

It’s time leaders acknowledged that true national progress isn’t built on overworked bodies. It’s built on motivated, healthy, balanced people. 

Vision 2035 is not just about infrastructure. It’s about investing in human resilience. 

A work-life balance policy isn’t optional. It’s urgent. And Brunei must decide - will it keep postponing change, or finally honour the promise it made? (MHO/04/2025)