Voices are growing stronger. So are the questions.”
Bruneians are speaking up—not out of anger, but out of hope.
Hope for fairness. Hope for change. Hope that someone is listening.
Explore the fourth wave of public response to the oil sector layoffs—and why it matters more than ever.
#BruneiOilExit #ListeningToBruneians #HopeInHardTimes
By Malai Hassan Othman
BELAIT, 16 June 2025: Public reaction to the downsizing of Brunei’s oil sector has entered a new phase - more assertive, urgent, and undeniably consequential.
If the third wave represented a reckoning, the fourth signals a clear demand: What now? And who will respond?
Comments across TikTok, WhatsApp groups, Reddit forums, and kopi-shop conversations have shifted from emotional outcries to pointed scrutiny.
The message is unmistakable: people want action, not just another white paper or aspirational blueprint.
“Don’t give us goals. Give us results,” said one reader. “We’re tired of seeing locals let go while expats stay.”
The tension between national loyalty and employment fairness is escalating.
Reactions to the third article have intensified calls to re-evaluate the effectiveness of localisation efforts, especially in light of repeated job cuts affecting Bruneian workers.
For many, this issue transcends economics; it’s about identity. One laid-off engineer remarked: “We’re not just losing jobs. We’re losing the belief that the system truly values us.”
The Department of Energy (formerly known as the Ministry of Energy), once seen as a beacon of industrial promise, is now being looked to for clearer communication and reassurance about Brunei’s industrial future.
Meanwhile, the Manpower Planning and Employment Council (MPEC) is being asked: Where is the impact of the Brunei National Manpower Blueprint 2020–2025?
“There are no consequences when companies sideline local succession planning,” wrote a former HR officer. “We need MPEC to strengthen its enforcement and accountability mechanisms.”
A major public concern is the ongoing practice of laying off locals while retaining foreign consultants or regional staff under fly-in-fly-out arrangements.
“Why are we laying off locals and keeping expats?” echoed another reader. “Is this policy or complacency?” Public suggestions are becoming more targeted and policy-driven:
- Review contractor practices under the Local Business Development (LBD) framework.
- Disclose actual headcounts and localisation ratios.
- Establish an independent oversight body involving civil society and technical experts.
“We’re tired of NDAs and hush-hush dismissals,” said one technician. “We want sunlight, not shadows.”
Labour representation is another pressing issue. While BOWU - Brunei’s oil workers’ union - has a collective agreement with BSP and BLNG, it only covers a small subset of staff.
Thousands of contract workers remain without representation. In contrast, Sarawak’s KAPENAS union recently gained attention for confronting Petronas over its workforce restructuring. Their public stance has resonated with many Bruneians.
“We don’t need protest,” one reader noted, “but we do need a voice.”
The national conversation is evolving from mere complaints to constructive proposals:
· Move into carbon trading and * aquaculture
· Prepare oil workers for green energy and tech * sectors
· Reform technical training to align more closely with real industry demands
“We can’t keep thinking it’s still 2004,” said another reader. “We need a new Brunei for a new economy.”
The Brunei Economic Outlook 2025 by CSPS projects just 1.0% growth, citing vulnerabilities such as low productivity, oil dependence, and labour market mismatches.
These systemic risks are what many on the ground have warned about for years.
As this fourth wave of public response gains momentum, one message is clear: Bruneians are no longer waiting - they’re stepping forward. (MHO/06/2025)
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