“Keeping Wawasan 2035 Alive: What Brunei Must Learn from Youth Uprisings Abroad”

The clock is ticking. Wawasan 2035 is not just a vision — it’s a promise. But are we turning that promise into reality, or letting grains of hope slip away?

Image concept by KopiTalk with MHO, generated using AI tools

By Malai Hassan Othman | KopiTalk with MHO

It all started with blocked highways in France, burning streets in Jakarta, and lawmakers being stormed in Kathmandu. Each event was different, but the message was clear: when young people feel excluded and let down by broken promises, their patience runs out, and they take to the streets. These global protests — caused by budget cuts, lawmakers' perks, or censorship — remind us that youth power can be a force to be reckoned with, and ignoring it can cause problems. 

In France, the call to “block everything” came as austerity measures clashed with rising living costs. In Indonesia, a motorbike driver's death caused by a police vehicle fuelled anger over lawmakers' allowances, leading to violent riots. In Nepal, the sudden social media ban by the government sparked a youth uprising that resulted in the Prime Minister's resignation. Across these places, it was the youth — connected online, aware of global issues, and fed up with corruption and inequality — who led the way.

For Brunei, these stories aren’t just warnings; they’re reminders. Our nation is banking on Wawasan 2035 — a vision for a well-educated, skilled, and prosperous society. Expectations are high, especially among graduates who see themselves as key players in a diverse economy. But as I’ve mentioned before, through the J-Curve theory, when expectations outpace reality, frustration takes root, and that’s where things can go wrong.

Brunei faces its own share of challenges. Graduate unemployment and underemployment are real issues, with many young people endlessly applying for jobs that just aren’t there or settling for roles that don’t utilise their skills. Job cuts in the oil and gas sector have shaken our confidence in what was once rock-solid — our economic backbone. Families are feeling the pressure of the “sandwich generation,” where retirees on tight pensions are supporting both adult kids and grandkids. The growing gap between the rich and the poor is obvious, from luxury lifestyles to underpaid contract workers. On top of that, we’re dealing with a budget deficit and slow economic growth, raising questions about whether Brunei can fund its long-term goals without urgent change. Public frustrations over the delivery system— with inefficiencies, delays, and the burden of “Little Napoleons” — are slowly eroding trust in our government. Retailers are also struggling with capital leakage, as cross-border shopping drains millions that could have been spent locally — one reason growth feels sluggish for small businesses.

The takeaways from Paris, Jakarta, and Kathmandu are clear. When the hopes of youth are ignored, small frustrations can turn into big protests. Governments that wait for protests to act have already fallen behind. Brunei’s advantage is in being proactive: we have stability, but that stability needs to be refreshed continuously, especially by addressing youth concerns before they become disillusioned.

Good governance is just as important as growth. Building trust means showing real integrity — a stronger Anti-Corruption Bureau with consequences for wrongdoing. It means true public participation beyond just appearances, and digital government channels that let citizens help shape policy. Prioritising merit over connections and transparency over secrecy — these quieter reforms can turn slogans into real change.

The way forward isn’t about fear, but about constructive renewal. We need to open up platforms for dialogue so youth voices are genuinely heard and not just in token gestures. Job creation should shift from mere slogans to tangible actions — creating real pathways through SMEs, internships, and new industries beyond oil and gas. We need to tackle inequality not just with welfare handouts, but by ensuring fair access to opportunities and upward mobility. Above all, leaders and elites need to stay grounded, listening as much as they speak.

All around the world, young people are shaping their nations’ futures — sometimes through protests, sometimes through innovation. In Brunei, it’s our choice: to channel youth energy into building, not breaking; to make Wawasan 2035 a real experience, not just a fading slogan.

Stability isn’t something we can take for granted; it’s a trust that we need to continually renew. The uprisings abroad aren’t warnings for Brunei, but reminders that harmony is only as strong as the hope we offer our youth. If Vision 2035 is to last, it can’t just be a promise on paper; it must be a promise kept in the daily lives of our people.

In the end, the real measure of Wawasan 2035 won’t be found in speeches or scorecards — it’ll be whether every young Bruneian can say: “This nation gave me a future worth believing in.” (MHO/09/2025)