Day Three of LegCo: When the Questions Turned Practical

KopiTalk LegCo Daily Tracker — Day 3

LegCo’s third day moved beyond formalities into something more revealing: the state of delivery itself. From costly housing approvals to weak road maintenance, public transport reform, and youth anxiety, the real issue was no longer whether the problems were known — but whether the system could still convince the public it could solve them. 

By Malai Hassan Othman | KopiTalk with MHO

 

If Day Two was mostly about tone and broad signals, Day Three felt closer to the ground.

 

The questions were less ceremonial and more practical. Members raised housing approvals, road markings, traffic congestion, public transport, airport security, youth debt, sports pathways, education reform, and finally, the national budget.

 

That made Day Three matter more.

 

This was one of those sittings where the government could no longer stay in the comfort of broad language. It was pulled into the harder language of systems, delivery, delays, weak spots, and public expectations.

 

In that sense, Day Three was not just another sitting. It was the day policy began to meet reality.

 

When the Questions Hit Daily Life

 

One of the most relatable issues raised early was housing. A question was asked on how ABCi could simplify and make approval procedures clearer, especially for people trying to build homes. In reply, the Minister of Development said ABCi has been trying to make the process smoother through one-to-one sessions with Qualified Persons, the One Kick Submission Clinic, outreach on official platforms, and public guidance before formal submission.

 

He also gave a cost illustration that would have caught public attention. For a private house costing around $250,000, professional fees for Qualified Persons could range from about 3.5 per cent to 6.5 per cent, or roughly $8,750 to $16,250, though common charges are often around $8,000 to $10,000. 

 

That answer mattered because it touched a frustration many people already feel quietly: building a house in Brunei can feel expensive, technical and tiring, even before the first brick goes up.

 

Transport and infrastructure then became one of the strongest themes of the day.

 

In one exchange, the Minister of Transport and Info-communications explained the physical and digital security system at Brunei International Airport. He referred to ICAO standards, airport policing, immigration, customs, CCTV, perimeter systems, digital access controls, cyber coordination, and emergency plans. It was a very technical answer, but the message was clear enough. The government wants to show that critical infrastructure is being handled through proper systems and international standards.

 

For ordinary people, however, the more immediate issue was public transport.

 

The minister said the government is now in further negotiations with shortlisted companies after the request for proposal stage, and that the rollout will be done in phases. The first focus will be on Demand Responsive Transit, a more flexible shared transport model using vans or minibuses based on actual demand. Fixed-route services are expected to come later, while bus stop upgrades and new shelters are also being worked on. The first phase will focus on urban areas, although school transport needs may later help expand the model into some kampung areas too. 

 

This was one of the most important practical signals of Day Three. For years, public transport in Brunei has sounded like an idea people keep hearing about. On Day Three, it sounded a little more like an actual system being shaped.

 

Plans Are There. The Public Still Wants to Feel Them

 

Road safety and road quality formed another major part of the sitting. Questions were raised on road markings, signage, drainage, lighting, congestion, and road widening.

 

The Transport Minister referred to the Road Safety Action 2030 plan and said all major roads are being targeted to reach at least a 3-star safety rating by 2030, while noting that the Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Bridge has already achieved 4-star status. 

 

The Minister of Development then added a more grounded picture. He said road marking work on highways is at around 75 per cent, major roads such as Jalan Gadong, Jalan Jerudong, Jalan Tutong and Jalan Muara are around 80 per cent, while village and housing roads are only around 30 per cent. He also said weather and overlapping project works often slow progress, and that road markings generally last only about two years before they need to be redone. 

 

That exchange captured something bigger. In Brunei, the issue is often not the lack of a plan. It is the gap between the plan and what people actually see in front of them.

 

When motorists still drive at night on roads with fading markings, when signs are damaged, when drainage is poor, and when congestion remains part of daily life, people do not judge delivery by frameworks. They judge it by experience.

 

The same point came up in the discussion on underused public facilities.

 

Asked why some public facilities appear underused or poorly maintained, the Minister of Development said projects do go through proper RKN evaluation and prioritisation. But he also acknowledged that some assets become difficult to use because they are old, damaged or in need of repairs. He referred to empty flats under the ministry’s responsibility, old playgrounds in housing areas, and efforts to repair and revive them based on available resources and priority. 

 

This was one of the more revealing parts of the sitting because it touched a public concern many people already recognise: sometimes the problem is not building something. The problem is keeping it useful.

 

The Quiet Anxiety Beneath the Debate

 

There was also an important question on public participation in policymaking, especially involving youth and entrepreneurs.

 

In reply, the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office pointed to the Regular Public Engagement approach introduced since 2018, as well as Program Sua Muka, Program Masyarakat Bermaklumat, digital channels and other outreach efforts. 

 

That showed there are already consultation platforms in place. But it also leaves a larger question hanging in the air: are these channels truly shaping policy from the ground, or are they still more about managed consultation than real participatory governance?

 

Another issue with strong public relevance was youth debt and financial pressure.

 

The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and pointed to financial literacy efforts involving PKBN, TAP, LiveWIRE and the broader national financial literacy framework. 

 

This may not sound as dramatic as roads or transport, but it goes to the heart of a deeper national worry. Many young people today are not only worried about getting stable work. Some are also entering adult life already exposed to poor spending habits, weak financial discipline and rising pressure.

 

Then came one of the day’s most substantive policy segments: the Minister of Education’s major statement on “Memperkasa Pendidikan Negara: Keutamaan Strategik Generasi Siaga Masa Hadapan.”

 

The statement framed education as the country’s frontline response to a changing world. It touched on technological disruption, demographic change, the green transition, economic uncertainty, and the need to prepare students for a future shaped by digital skills, AI, adaptability and industry needs.

 

The minister also stressed stronger industry linkages, more work-ready graduates, entrepreneurship, inclusion, and the Ministry’s Gen AI Guidance for Education, alongside efforts by higher education institutions to balance innovation with academic integrity. 

 

This was more than a routine update. It was the Education Ministry trying to position itself as future-facing and reform-minded. In simple terms, education is being presented as the bridge between Brunei’s aspirations and Brunei’s employment reality.

 

And that matters, because underneath many of the day’s topics — transport, youth debt, sports, technology, housing and even the budget — sits the same quiet national anxiety: whether the country is really preparing its people for the economy they will actually face.

 

Budget Reality Enters the Room

 

That concern became even clearer when the Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II tabled the Supply Bill for Financial Year 2026/2027, with a national budget of BND6.3 billion.

 

He framed the budget against a harder global climate marked by geopolitical tension, inflation pressure, trade disruption, energy exposure and Brunei’s continuing structural vulnerabilities. He also signalled that Brunei is projected to face a budget deficit, while noting early labour force findings showing resident unemployment among those aged 18 and above at around 5.0 per cent, pending finalisation of the 2025 Labour Force Survey. 

 

The budget was organised around three priorities: strengthening fiscal stability and financial governance, driving economic transformation and innovation, and ensuring social sustainability and future development. It also pointed to tighter spending discipline, diversification beyond oil and gas, more private-sector and foreign investment partnerships, digital transformation, food security, labour reform, TVET strengthening and more focused social support. 

 

Alongside that, the Development Fund motion of BND480 million was tabled, covering projects in food production, aquaculture, transport, ICT, education, sports, climate-related work, roads and water systems. 

 

Taken together, Day Three showed a government trying to sound realistic.

 

The Development Ministry sounded practical but somewhat defensive: yes, there are weaknesses, but work is ongoing, and resources are limited. The Transport Ministry sounded technical and structured: systems, standards, phases, compliance. The Education Ministry sounded ambitious and forward-looking. The Finance Ministry sounded cautious, reform-minded and aware of fiscal pressure. 

 

But for the public, the strongest takeaway from Day Three may be simpler.

 

Why is it still so costly and difficult to build a house?

Why do some public facilities lose value so quickly?

When will public transport become something people can actually depend on?

Why are road safety problems still so familiar?

Are young people being prepared for real jobs, or just being passed through the system?

And in a tighter fiscal climate, will spending finally lead to visible results?

 

That is why Day Three felt more important than Day Two.

 

It was less about broad official language and more about whether the delivery system can actually earn public trust.

 

And that may now be the real test of LegCo — not whether the right issues are being mentioned, but whether the systems behind them can finally deliver in a way the public can see and feel.

 

The real signal from Day Three was this: Brunei’s official conversation is becoming more practical. That is welcome. But practical talk alone will not satisfy the public. In the end, people do not live on explanations. They live on whether the system delivers. (MHO/03/2026)