Wawasan 2035: Are We Still on Track - Or Just Talking?

"The clock isn’t the enemy. Timid thinking is.

Brunei’s Wawasan 2035 has less than a decade left, but the real challenge isn’t time—it’s whether we dare to use our full strengths as a sovereign nation. We have the tools, talent, and resources. What’s missing is the bold execution to match our ambitions."

 

By Malai Hassan Othman | KopiTalk with MHO 

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: With just under ten years left to hit the goals of Wawasan Brunei 2035, the recent Legislative Council sessions put accountability to the test. Lawmakers urged ministries not just to share plans but to actually deliver results that people can see and feel.

The discussions revolved around the Manpower Blueprint, Social Blueprint, and Economic Blueprint, which are the guiding frameworks for national policy. 

Members repeatedly stressed that the time for trial and error is running out, and we need to focus on bold actions, quick implementation, and rebuilding public trust in the coming years.

Legislative Pressure Meets Public Voice

Ministers faced tough questions about slow progress, agencies working in isolation, and the gap between what officials say and what citizens experience. 

Outside the chamber, these talks spilt into the public sphere. 

Commentators pushed for a stronger emphasis on concrete steps and fully using policy options to tackle youth unemployment, speed up infrastructure projects, and boost essential industries. 

Inside, the main supporter of the motion highlighted that Wawasan 2035 needs to lead to real outcomes that people can feel, backed by a whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach, along with transparency and accountability.

Ministry Highlights and Pledges

Transport & Infocommunications: Reported 98.7% 5G coverage, ongoing smart transport integration, and aims to handle 1.5 million air passengers in 2024, with seaports expected to manage 38.6 million tonnes of cargo.

Health: Improvements in life expectancy, reduced NCD mortality, a decline in smoking rates to 13.4%, and an 8.4-point rise in physical activity through preventive health and wellness programs.

Culture, Youth & Sports: Over BND40 million funnelled into youth-led projects across creative, digital, agri-tech, and sports sectors under the Boost scheme, along with capacity-building programs and regional competitions to showcase Brunei’s youth talent.

Home Affairs: The Strategic Plan 2023–2027 commits to working together, urban renewal in districts, village entrepreneurship initiatives, and stricter oversight to regain public trust.

Primary Resources & Tourism: Pushing forward with precision agriculture, modern aquaculture, conservation-linked tourism, and a national cold-chain logistics initiative for food security and MSME competitiveness.

Economy & Finance: Non-oil and gas sectors now make up over 50% of GDP, with about 60% of exports coming from these industries. Major projects include the Triple-A chemical plant (2027), PMB Decommissioning Yard (2026), JETS solar-AI aquaculture, and targeted fiscal policies to attract foreign investment while boosting SME financing.

Education: Targeted reforms to tackle skills mismatches, modernise curricula, expand STEM and technical education, improve teacher training, upgrade school facilities, and strengthen industry partnerships to ensure graduates are employable.

Religious Affairs: Programs aligning with Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) principles to instil moral and cultural values into governance, with initiatives to enhance religious literacy and community harmony.

Foreign Affairs: Expanding ASEAN integration, establishing targeted bilateral agreements, and promoting regional skill exchanges to boost Brunei’s global competitiveness.

Defence: Strengthening defence diplomacy, joint readiness, and inter-agency coordination for national resilience, plus investing in cybersecurity and humanitarian assistance capabilities.

From Plans to Action

Youth unemployment remains high at 18.3%, highlighting the need for targeted employment programs, quicker project approvals, and a results-oriented public service culture. 

Brunei has the frameworks; the real challenge is whether it can leverage its strengths - sovereign policy space, unity, and financial stability - to make bold investments in people and infrastructure. 

The clock is ticking, and 2035 will reveal the nation’s political will and ability to turn promises into real progress. (MHO/08/2025)