OPENING SPEECH
YANG BERHORMAT PEHIN ORANG KAYA HAMZAH PAHLAWAN DATO SERI SETIA AWANG HAJI ABDULLAH BIN BEGAWAN MUDIM DATO PADUKA HAJI BAKAR,
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS
"MEGAMAS CELEBRATION ON THE PRESTIGIOUS SAFETY PERFORMANCE MILESTONE OF "25 YEARS LOSS TIME INJURY (LTI) FREE"
ON:
THURSDAY
6 Jamadil Akhir 1436 / 26TH MARCH 2015, 2.00PM
AT:
MEGAMAS TRAINING COMPANY SDN. BHD.
KUALA BELAIT
BISMILLAH HIRRAHMAAN NIRRAHEEM.
ALHAMDULILLAH
HI RABBIL 'ALAMEEN WASSALATU WASSALAMU 'ALA ASYRAFIL AMBIYAA IWAL
MURSALEEN. SAIYIDINA MUHAMMADIN WA'ALA AALIHI WASAHBIHI AJMA'EEN.
Awang Mohammad Roger Ainsworth, the General Manager, Megamas Company Sdn Bhd..
Awang Haji Mahmood bin Haji Idris, Deputy General Manager, Megamas Company Sdn Bhd.
Awang
Abdul Mutalib bin Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Setia Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad
Yusof, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications,
Directors, Officers and Staff of Megamas Company Sdn Bhd, Invited Guests, Senior Officers, Ladies and Gentlemen.
ASSALAMU'ALAIKUM WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH
AND A VERY GOOD AFTERNOON
1.
Firstly, let me extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to Mr.
Mohammad Roger and Megamas Company Sdn Bhd for inviting me to this
auspicious event. I congratulate you and Megamas on:
- Celebrating the prestigious safety performance milestone of Megamas for the "25 years Loss Time Injury (LTI) free"; and
- For
receiving International Safety Award from the British Safety Council in
London for 11 times in 12 years between 2004 to 2014.
2.
You have certainly made Brunei Darussalam proud on these achievements.
I must commend Megamas for your passion and commitment towards raising
the standards of health, safety, security and environment (HSSE) in
general. Your dedication in ensuring the highest standards of safety and
health culture at the work place in particular is duly acknowledged.
3.
I also extend my appreciation to Megamas for your continuous support
to the Ministry of Communications and the National Road Safety Council
in promoting road safety in Brunei Darussalam.
Ladies and gentlemen,
4.
Let me now share with you some global perspective on the importance of
HSSE. According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Report
for 2014 World Congress on Safety and Health at Work, there are about
350,000 fatalities due to occupational accidents and 2 million due to
work-related diseases annually. This means that, approximately 6,300
people die every day due to these causes. In addition, there were also
over 313 million non-fatal occupational accidents in 2010. This means
that, around the world, work provokes injury for approximately 860,000
people every day.
5.
From our national perspective, let me share some statistics as
published in the Brunei Darussalam National Occupational Safety and
Health Profile (2013). According to this report, there has been an
apparent increase in workplace accidents in Brunei Darussalam from 167
cases in 2013 compared to 145 in 2010.
6.
In 2012, the number of reported accident cases peaked during the
four-year period (2010 to 2013) at 189, with the information and
communication sector reporting its first case of compensation claims.
7.
The construction and manufacturing industries have consistently
recorded high numbers of accidents from 2010 to 2013. In 2013, the
construction and manufacturing sectors reported 92 and 33 accident cases
respectively.
8. These
numbers were very low when compared to what happened in reality. This is
evident as the book reported that, there was a high probability of
underreporting as the figures were only based on employers claiming
compensation on behalf of their staff.
9.
The report also indicated that those working in "elementary
occupations", such as workers in mining, construction, manufacturing and
transport, were the most prone to workplace accidents.
Ladies and gentlemen,
10.
With the enforcement of Workplace Safety and Health Order 2009 (WSHO)
in August 2013, several government agencies have put in place HSSE as an
integral part of their respective entities. The Ministry of
Communications is no exception. In fact achieving a SAFE, SECURE and
CLEAN ENVIRONMENT happens to be one of the CORE STRATEGIES under our
Ministry's Strategic Plan 2008-2017. Allow me to elaborate further on
this point.
11. Our
core strategy on Safe, Secure and Clean Environment focuses on the need
to enhance safety, security and to promote environmentally friendly
industry in the transport and communications sector. In upholding the
highest safety standards, we need a competent work force. Hence, in
this regard I would like to see more safety programs for our officials,
drivers and transport industry stake holders to be introduced in the
near future.
12. One
such program conducted by Megamas is the Defensive Driving Skills
Development, that has been well recieved to complement road safety
initiatives. With your international recognition and competent
instructors, I welcome Megamas and other interested industry players to
work with the Ministry in formulating an Industry Competency Framework
for the transport sector with specific emphasis to produce professional
drivers in the country.
13.
On road safety promotion, the public and private sector through the
National Road Safety Council, play very important roles. On the
Ministry's part to promote road safety, we have introduced amongst
others, the following:
- A new demerit point system or SIKAP - Sistem Keselamatan Amalan Pemandu
for all drivers in Brunei Darussalam. This initiative aims to foster a
culture of very good drivers' attitude on the road – for drivers to be
more tolerant, patient and well-disciplined hence reducing the risks of
unnecessary road accidents; and
- Our newly launched
publication - 'Safe and Smart Driving in Brunei Darussalam'. A first of
its kind initiative to help educate the public on the importance of
road safety in Brunei Darussalam. The book illustrates very useful
information on the WHAT TO DOs and what NOT TO DOs while driving,
knowing your vehicle better, knowing the road signages and knowing what
to do during emergencies, among many others. I take this opportunity to
urge all of us here to buy a copy of this book, found available at all
Land Transport Department branches.
Ladies and Gentlemen;
14.
On a national policy perspective, the Ministry of Communications has
also recently launched a White Paper for the National Land
Transportation Systems in Brunei Darussalam. One of the broad strategies
of the White Paper is the emphasis towards reducing road traffic
injuries and fatalities while safeguarding the environment for the next
20 years and beyond. The HSSE training activities offered by Megamas,
and your commitment to share experiences, knowledge and best practices
generally ties up to our White Paper strategy. Hence in this regard, I
certainly welcome your continuous support to help implement the
strategic recommendations of the paper –towards a more improved and
sustainable Land Transport System for Brunei Darussalam.
15.
Finally, I wish to thank Awg Mohammad Roger and the management of
Megamas Company Sdn Bhd once again, for inviting me as the Guest of
Honour for today's event. My heartfelt appreciation also goes to the
whole team of Megamas for your passionate commitment in helping drive
HSSE in Brunei Darussalam. Let me end my remarks with a small reminder
to all of us including myself: -
'The safety and
the wellbeing of our employees in any organization are key elements. Not
just in assuring the continuous growth of our business and operations
but also to ensure that our employees go home safe and well. This can
only be done by making safety a culture in our daily lives at home and
at work!'
Thank you.
