Religious Leaders Lash Out At Brunei's Big Spenders
By Malai Hassan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Religious leaders yesterday gave the 'high rollers' here especially those die-hard big spenders who live beyond their means to keep up with the Joneses a good tongue lashing.

"The religion has taught us to avoid wastage and excesses in the way we live. We must not be excessive not only in our spending but also in the use of utilities such as electricity, water and gas. We must not waste by spending unnecessarily and excessively. Islam abhors this way of life," said the Imams in their Friday sermon yesterday.

They expressed concern that some people have made their life unnecessarily difficult as they tried to keep up with the Joneses.

The trying-hard high rollers chose to live beyond their means, as they wanted to have the same lifestyle as those who could afford it. They were extravagant in their spending even though they could not really afford it. For example they hosted big parties for their family and friends when in fact they did not really have the means to do so.

"This is not good and Islam dislikes such lifestyles as it could only bring hardships all round. Some, for example, ended up paying debts all their lives because of their extravagant lifestyle".

The mosque leaders said people should try to be moderate and spend only on necessary things. They should also avoid wastage, such as by being more prudent in their spending, by saving electricity, water and gas usage, said the Imams.

Their sermon on the issue apparently came in time when many public servants were about to receive their annual bonuses at the end of this month and when many have already burned big holes in their pockets with their extravagant spending during the Hari Raya festivities.

There seems to be also some concern among the religious authorities on the extravagant lifestyle of some families in the Muslim community here. There seems to be also some concern over the fact that the Brunei community is by and large badly debt ridden.

It was learnt that the spending power of many Bruneian consumers have weakened as the two third of their monthly income went to pay for their debts, the wages of their housemaids, car loans and other liabilities. (Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin)

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