A bold new vision charts Brunei’s course to 2029 — with renewed focus on healthcare, jobs, digital access, and community uplift.
The challenges of the past still echo, but a brighter future is within reach — if we choose to confront them. #BruneiRKN12 #HopeInAction #NationBuilding #KopiTalkWithMHO
By Malai Hassan Othman | Kopi Talk with MHO
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, 02 JULY 2025: Brunei’s Twelfth National Development Plan (RKN12) sets out an ambitious roadmap to strengthen the nation's socioeconomic foundations and move us closer to achieving Wawasan 2035.
However, how we deliver it matters more than how we design it.
At the heart of this plan is the wise and visionary guidance of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, who reminded all stakeholders to ensure that RKN12 does not merely remain a plan on paper.
“Let us ensure that this Plan does not merely remain on paper…”
This powerful reminder sets the tone for what the people hope will be a turning point.
His Majesty has entrusted this vision not only to institutions but also to every citizen who wants to see the country prosper.
The rakyat has a role to play - not as passive recipients, but as engaged partners.
This is not a matter of criticism. It is a shared responsibility to ensure no promise is left unfulfilled.
RKN12 outlines 305 development projects with a proposed budget of BND4 billion.
However, behind the numbers lies a critical question: how many of these are new, and how many are carried forward from RKN11?
By March 2024, only 54 out of 221 projects under RKN11 had been completed.
The rest were delayed or shelved - some reportedly due to unresolved procurement issues or a lack of cross-agency coordination.
One such example is the long-stalled infrastructure enhancement project in Temburong District - initially celebrated as a local economic enabler, but now cited in private contractor circles as a textbook case of midstream delays and cash flow strain.
These figures are more than statistics; they mirror real-life frustrations.
“Our invoices are approved, but payments take months,” one local contractor shared quietly. “We’re not asking for more - just for the system to honour its end of the deal.”
His Majesty’s concern about inefficiencies is echoed in the Brunei Economic Blueprint, which charts a path toward a dynamic and diversified economy.
Yet progress has been uneven, and the gap between vision and delivery persists.
The public today seeks transparency, urgency, and follow-through.
A national plan must be more than a document - it must drive transformation, especially in how government agencies interact with the public and the private sector. Key questions arise:
- Why do payments lag despite budget approvals?
- Why are SMEs struggling with cash flow and confidence?
- Why hasn’t diversification translated into stronger economic resilience?
This is not about assigning blame. It is about aligning action with vision - and ensuring that the public service becomes a force for delivery, not delay.
We write not to criticise, but to uphold the trust placed in this nation’s future.
To ensure that planning is matched by performance, and ambition by accountability.
RKN12 must not only look good on paper - it must lead to visible, measurable progress in people’s lives.
That requires disciplined execution, timely decisions, and a genuine culture of service.
If the Plan succeeds, it is a shared victory. If it falters, the consequences are national.
The stakes are not political - they are about the future of Brunei and the well-being of its people.
We remain watchful - not with suspicion, but with resolve.
We stand with His Majesty’s vision, watching, listening, and doing our part to ensure the promise of RKN12 reaches every corner of this country.
We echo His Majesty’s call - not just in words, but through active engagement and constructive vigilance. Because true loyalty is not silent. It speaks with care and with courage. (MHO/07/2025)
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