BANDAR SERI BEGAWABN: Awang Md Salleh Othman on Wednesday (Aug 5) said artificial intelligence (AI) should complement, rather than replace, the workforce as Brunei advances its digital transformation in pursuit of Wawasan Brunei 2035.
Speaking during the Legislative Council meeting in support of the motion on coordinating efforts towards achieving Wawasan Brunei 2035, he said AI has the potential to drive national development by improving productivity, enhancing public service delivery and creating higher-value employment opportunities.
However, he stressed that the adoption of AI must be balanced with human capital development, ethical governance and digital security to ensure technology benefits society without displacing workers.
He said the public should also be equipped with the digital skills needed to use emerging technologies responsibly and productively.
Awang Md Salleh encouraged Brunei to learn from international best practices in technology and innovation while adapting them to the country’s values, needs and national priorities.
Beyond digital transformation, he described the appointment of three Coordinating Ministers as a strategic move to strengthen policy coordination, government administration and national development.
He said the Coordinating Ministers for National Security, Economic Policies, and Social and Human Capital Policies would improve cross-ministerial collaboration, accelerate policy implementation and enhance public service delivery.
The Legislative Council member said today’s challenges span interconnected sectors, including the economy, education, healthcare, infrastructure, food security, technology, the environment and social welfare, making stronger coordination essential.
He also called for collaboration beyond the public sector to include the private sector, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), educational institutions, industry and local communities under a Whole-of-Government and Whole-of-Nation approach.
Highlighting human capital as a cornerstone of Wawasan Brunei 2035, he proposed strengthening education by placing greater emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, communication, digital literacy, entrepreneurship, and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), while fostering closer links between education providers and industry.
Awang Md Salleh also stressed the importance of measuring progress through clear key performance indicators (KPIs) and the Brunei Vision 2035 Index to ensure development initiatives deliver tangible benefits for the people.
He reaffirmed his support for the motion, expressing confidence that stronger coordination, quality human capital and the responsible adoption of AI would help accelerate the achievement of Wawasan Brunei 2035. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
