His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office has consented to continue the series of his working visits to ministries and government agencies. Tuesday, His Royal Highness consented to make a visit to the Prime Minister’s Office at Istana Nurul Iman and at the Secretariat Building in the capital and the ASEAN-EC Management Centre in Gadong. His Royal Highness itinerary began at the Prime Minister’s Office at Istana Nurul Iman in Jalan Tutong. Upon arrival at the Prime Minister’s Office at Istana Nurul Iman, His Royal Highness was greeted by the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office, Pehin Dato Seri Paduka Haji Awang Yahya and the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, Dato Paduka Haji Eusoff Agaki. Also present during the visit were Permanent Secretaries at the Prime Minister’s Office, Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Hamid, Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Abu Bakar, Dato Paduka Haji Sulaiman, Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Ismail and the both Deputy Permanent Secretaries at the Prime Minister’s Office. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince consented to tour the various sections of the Prime Minister’s Office at Istana Nurul Iman.
The Prime Minister’s Office was established on the Ist of January 1984 on Brunei Darussalam’s resumption of full independence and sovereignty. This followed the announcement by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on the setting up of a ministerial form of government and the creation of the post of Prime Minister. His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam himself took up the Prime Minister in 1984 and has been in the position since.
On arrival at the Prime Minister’s Office at the Secretariat Building in Bandar Seri Begawan, His Royal Highness was greeted by the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office, Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was presented with a briefing on the Strategic Planning, the Organisation’s Structure and Function as well as the Implementation of the E-Government of the Prime Minister’s Office. The briefing was presented by the Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office, Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Hamid. Then, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince consented to visit several sections under the Prime Minister’s Office.
On May 24th 2005, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam appointed new cabinet ministers including a Senior Minister, a Minister of Energy and several new deputy ministers. His Majesty consented to appoint his son, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince as Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office. There are twenty departments under the Prime Minister’s Office whose mission is to enhance the effectiveness of executive decision making by the Government of His Majesty in the pursuit of excellent leadership and good governance for national security and sustainable development.
From the Secretariat Building, His Royal Highness proceeded to the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan to perform the Mass Zuhur prayer before attending a luncheon at a restaurant in the capital.
In the afternoon, His Royal Highness consented to continue his itinerary with a visit to the ASEAN-EC Management Centre, AEMC, where His Royal Highness consented to attend a Special Meeting of Permanent Secretaries. Upon arrival at the centre in Gadong, His Royal Highness was welcomed by the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office, Pehin Dato Seri Paduka Haji Awang Yahya, the Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, Dato Paduka Haji Eusoff Agaki, Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretaries. His Royal Highness consented to deliver a speech and hold a question-and-answer session at the Special Meeting of Permanent Secretaries at the ASEAN-EC Management Centre.
Among the questions His Royal Highness raised were on the action the ministries have taken after each titah (speech) made by His Majesty and whether the implementation of the e-government meets the schedule and objective as planned. The meeting discussed among other matters, improving work culture, making it more ethical and competitive as well as creating a responsive government administrative system that is adaptive to present and future development and challenges.
After the meeting, His Royal Highness consented to tour AEMC Building. The centre is the product of an inter-regional dialogue on development cooperation between ASEAN and the European Communities now known as the European Union or EU. The focus of AEMC is on strategic issues relevant to the corporate development of both private and public sectors of the region. The centre was established on the 23rd of July 1991. The Senior Minister was briefed by the Acting Director of ASEAN-EC, Pengiran Harun bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin on the roles and regulations of the centre. The centre’s vision is to become a centre of excellence for management development and a focal point for policy dialogue and networking in Brunei and ASEAN.
His Royal Highness then consented to visit the various sections of the centre. The centre aims to fulfill the enhancement of management development of the private organisations, individuals and the public sector in Brunei Darussalam. His Royal Highness then proceeded to the surau of the Royal Brunei Police Force in Gadong to perform the mass Asar prayer.
(10th August 2005)
