SPEECH BY
His Excellency Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong
Minister of Communications
Rizqun International Hotel, Gadong
Thursday, 15 May 2008
BISMILLAHIR RAHMAN NIR RAHIM
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
Yang Mulia Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yusoff bin Haji Abdul Hamid, Deputy Minister of Communications
Yang
Mulia Awang Haji Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela
Dato Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Taha, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of
Communications, Chairman of AITI
Yang Mulia Pengiran Haji Mohd Zain bin Pengiran Haji Abd Razak, Chief Executive of AITI
Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen
Firstly,
praises to Allah Subhanahu Wataala for His blessings and for giving us
the opportunity to gather here today, celebrating the World
Telecommunications and Information Society Day.
With
the theme “Connecting Persons with Disabilities: ICT Opportunities for
All”, I would also like to thank the Authority for Info-communications
Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI), for coming up with such
a timely event in highlighting the importance and the availability of
ICT opportunities for everyone even for those with special needs.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I
would like to invite you to take a brief look at the society and the
scenario that we are living in today. We are living at a time where the
influence and the force of ICT is something that we cannot ignore. It is
something that we cannot live without and I would say that we may even
have grown to be too dependent on our mobile phones, on our gadgets and
also the Internet. This is a known fact. I have seen how the Internet
has turned hobbies such as photography and baking into lucrative
businesses. Simple examples such as these show that we are moving
towards a Sophisticated Information Society, where anyone can access,
share, innovate and use ICT to maximize their potentials. We are,
indeed, moving towards the right direction.
What
these examples also tell us is that, slowly but surely, the society is
embracing and adopting ICT in their daily lives. However, this does not
reflect the whole population. While we have an almost 100% penetration
of fixed line telephone, the Internet users per 100 people is at 46%.
This figure indicates that 54% of the population has still not used the
Internet. We can speculate on a number of factors that can attribute to
why more than half of the population of Brunei Darussalam are not
Internet users, perhaps it was lack of awareness and education,
affordability or lack of content to stimulate their interest. We are
working very hard on that or maybe, just maybe, these are not the only
reasons. Perhaps, the other 54% are simply not ready… not ready to try,
to learn and to use the technology.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Readiness
is important in making every investment, efforts and initiatives
worthwhile. The Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan
of Brunei Darussalam has put in heavy infrastructural investment. The
Government is also coming up with initiatives to improve and enhance
service delivery to the public through e-Government initiatives and
programmes. Local content development is very much supported now with
the establishment of the iCentre under the helm of the Brunei Economic
Development Board. Competition has been greatly facilitated whereby
choices are now available for consumers at competitive prices. These are
just a few examples of initiatives by the Government and various
agencies in ensuring that the public are offered with varieties of
options and opportunities to utilize and gain benefit from ICT.
However,
without readiness, these investment and efforts will be wasted. Without
readiness, people may resist change and may also defy any learning
process. As a result, they may also find these technologies and gadgets
difficult to use, feels awkward to utilize them and may even be afraid
to use the gadgets and equipments. What they need is support and
encouragement for them to embrace and learn something new.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The
prevalence of such problem is recognized and acknowledged. We need to
face this challenge head on and it is certainly not an easy feat. It
requires the commitment not just from the Government and the private
sectors, but also importantly from the public as the target recipient
and beneficiary of the investments and initiatives.
As
the highest national body on ICT, The Brunei Information Technology
Council (BIT Council) will ensure that efforts will be focused on
facilitating the development of SMEs. The BIT Council will also further
develop e-Society through empowering the use of ICT by the public so
that they are able to fully utilize and participate in the ICT
initiatives and programmes offered by both the Government and the
private sector.
Attractive
plans and activities are made for the public in order to stimulate
their interest and create their demands for ICT. At this juncture I
would like to applaud AITI for coming up with various initiatives in
this direction, promoting awareness as well as stimulating the interest
and participation of the public in ICT. Through the ICT Competency
Training Program, AITI is providing 50%-80% subsidies on selected
courses, ranging from introductory ICT courses to specialized technical
and advanced courses. In the near future, AITI will be coming up with a
scholarship program which will not only be aimed for the working
professionals but also to reward outstanding academic achievers by
furthering their studies overseas in specialized areas. Such
opportunities will also be extended to those with special needs,
particularly with the emergence and advance in Assistive Technologies
nowadays. I regard these initiatives as simply not just to promote the
readiness of the public but also to achieve long-term benefits by
supporting a sustainable learning process.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I
would also like to emphasize that opportunities exist for everyone, and
that it greatly depends on us on how to fully utilize these
opportunities. As stated earlier, in promoting readiness, the commitment
and participation of the public is very much needed. Reciprocity is a
key to success in promoting readiness, and if the commitment and
initiatives of the Government and various supporting agencies are
equally reciprocated by the public, together we will achieve a
successful synergy leading to a win-win situation, greatly benefitting
everyone, not just the provider but also the recipient and the industry
as a whole.
This
is why I feel that the event today is very timely and appropriate in
highlighting the importance of readiness and as well as proving that we
are actively moving towards not just a Sophisticated Information Society
but rather towards an Inclusive and Sophisticated Information Society.
Resonating
the theme of “Connecting Persons with Disabilities: ICT Opportunities
for All”, the Land Transport Department (LTD) has proven that
opportunities does exist for everyone, even for those with special
needs. Since 1999, the Land Transport Department has been taking in
people with special needs as employees. As of today, there are 9 people
with special needs employed by the Land Transport Department.
(The mentioned LTD staffs may proceed to the stage)
Ladies and Gentlemen,
They
are the 9 employees of Land Transport Department, whereby most of them
are doing ICT-based job functions and significantly contributing to the
roll-out and implementation of the Sistem Pengangkutan Darat (SPD). They
have illustrated their readiness in facing the challenges, proving
their independence and are able to make a difference in their lives. I
have witnessed them working. They are committed, dedicated, hard
working and by all, productive. And more importantly, they are also
able to contribute to the country.
For
their remarkable courage and determination, I would like to invite
everyone in this room to give a round of applause to these admirable and
inspiring people.
(Applause for LTD staffs who will then bow to the guests and proceed from the stage)
I
would also like to praise the Land Transport Department for not putting
any boundaries and discrimination in their consideration, as well for
their enthusiasm and their noble initiative in giving equal
opportunities for people with special needs. I hope that the initiatives
of the Land Transport Department will be emulated not just by the
public sector but also the private sector by not excluding and
discriminating people with special needs. With the emergence and
development of Assistive Technologies, which are able to address various
special needs today, there is no reason to put boundaries in
considerations, let it be for educational opportunities or employment
prospects.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today,
we will see several more remarkable people who have made outstanding
achievement despite their shortcomings. Ten recipients will be awarded
today as a reward for their notable achievements. These ten recipients
are people with special needs. Their courage and determination shall be
made as an example and shall be emulated among us and our younger
generations.
I
would like to extend my words of encouragement for the recipients
today, in the hope that your courage and strength in facing challenges,
your determination in going against all odds and proving your
capabilities will inspire the people out there to not take things for
granted and to strive for the best. Each and every one of you are truly
inspiring people.
To
conclude, I would like to applaud AITI again for gathering today’s
event which has put a light on a very important issue, that people with
special needs deserves equal opportunities and that ICT is one of the
many ways for them to prove their capabilities and potentials. My
sincere appreciation also goes to Universiti Brunei Darussalam and the
Special Education Unit of the Ministry of Education, for their
cooperation and contribution in supporting an Inclusive Information
Society.
I
would also like to thank other supporting agencies out there who are
actively conducting activities in conjunction with the World
Telecommunications and Information Society Day. Your efforts are greatly
appreciated.
Thank you.
WABILLAHI TAUFIK WALHIDAYAH ASSALAMUALAIKUM WARAHMAHTULLAHI WABARAKATUH.
