Covid-19 has changed Brunei’s landscape

Abu Bakar said the government has had to make changes to policies and legislation to meet the challenges brought on by the pandemic and beyond. - Borneo Bulletin/Asia News Network

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/Asia News Network): Covid-19 has changed the world’s landscape, and Brunei Darussalam is no exception. There is no denying that the pandemic has been a huge impact on various aspects of life.

This was said by Minister of Home Affairs Abu Bakar Apong in his capacity as the co-chairman of the Steering Committee for the Knowledge Convention 2021 held to mark the 75th birthday celebration of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

The theme of the Knowledge Convention 2021 is "Covid-19: A Lesson", to which the minister said, “Covid-19 has demanded that the government makes changes to policies and legislation to meet the challenges brought on by the pandemic and beyond, including transparency in our communication with the public.”

He commended Minister of Health Mohd Isham Jaafar for briefing the populace on Covid-19 developments on a daily basis in a manner that is both informative and transparent.

He noted the shift in Brunei Darussalam towards a Smart Nation with the increasing use of innovative means in education, enterprise and security, inching the Sultanate closer to realising the Digital Economy Masterplan 2025.

“In terms of education,” the minister said, “we see teachers and students adapting to online learning and teaching. Alhamdulillah, we have had a lot of public support in ensuring that underprivileged students are not left behind in the online learning platform”.

He also saw a positive trend towards financial planning in the workforce, especially for those who have been working from home since the second wave of Covid-19, as well as a makeover in the business landscape, where retailers and restaurateurs embrace technologies to help them work around the restrictive measures.

Another positive shift in the Covid-19 era, Abu Bakar said, is in international relations. The minister believed that the pandemic strengthened cooperation between regional and global partners through the donation of vaccines and medical equipment.

“These contributions clearly showcase the close friendly and diplomatic ties between Brunei Darussalam and other Asean member countries as well as the commitment of the region in jointly addressing the Covid-19 crisis,” he said.

He said the Covid-19 Steering Committee will continue to monitor the pandemic situation and formulate strategies under the National Covid-19 Recovery Plan Framework ahead of the transition to the endemic phase.

He added that plans are being drawn up to ease restrictive measures, such as the re-opening of mosques, suraus and religious halls when 70%t of the population is fully vaccinated, and re-opening of other public places when the vaccination rate reaches 80%.

“Covid-19 is a discourse that unites every member of the society, regardless of age, race and religion,” the minister said. “Insya Allah, with cooperation, we will be able to put the lid on its spread.”