One Billion Dollars Again But How Much Will Be Spent, That's The Question
By Malai Hassan Othman and Lyna Mohammad

Bandar Seri Begawan - Brunei yesterday pledged to spend more development money this year than it had managed during the past two years.

One billion Brunei dollars has again been allocated for national development programmes this year and the government has projected that it would be able to spend some 80 per cent of it by the end of the year.

Last year $1 billion was allocated for the same purpose, yet only $514 million or about 51 per cent was, in fact, spent.

And out of the amount that received the expenditure warrant authorisation, only $415 million or about 42 per cent of the billion-dollar allocation got through the government's coffer as pay cheques.

However, last year's performance in terms of the amount spent from the development budget allocation was much better than 2001.

The expenditure in the year 2002 showed an increase of $303 million or 152 per cent compared to the previous year, according to the Department of Economic Planning and Development (JPKE) at the Prime Minister's Office.

JPKE has attributed this anomaly to "capacity deficiency" of the government machinery in implementing its development programmes.

This problem has been addressed and is now showing good progress in the sense that the government is steadily on track as far as its national development programmes are concerned.

"All ministries and departments will continue to improve the implementation of the plan. Beginning this year, JPKE has been given the responsibility to determine and enforce policies, strategies, regulations and implementation schedules on the implementing agencies," announced Awang Haji Kamis bin Haji Tamin, the Acting Director General of JPKE.

"With the work improvement programme in place, the government's projection on this year's expenditure is in the region of 80 per cent of the $1 billion allocated for 2003," he added as he announced the new budget allocation for this year.

According to him the $1 billion allocation for 2003 will be distributed to implement 384 new projects worth $579 million while $ 421 million is meant for 158 completed and ongoing projects from year 2002.

He made the announcement at a press conference held at JPKE building in Beribi, Gadong yesterday. Also present were Haji Awang bin Haji Mat Daud, the Acting Director of Implementation and Monitoring, and Pg Osman bin Pg Haji Abas, the Acting Director of Administration and ICT.

Awang Haji Kamis, at the meet-the-press session, stated that the emphasis on development budget this year would be given more on social services to facilitate the improvement on the quality of life of the people.

"Out of the 8 main sectors in the 8th National Development Plan (NDP), the Social Services which includes education, medical and health, government housing, religious affairs, public amenities and environmental projects get the largest allocation.

"This sector gets $211 million or 21 per cent of the overall budget which the government has allocated for 2 consecutive years. It is expected that this substantive allocation will improve the quality of life of the people including more housing for the public," stated the Acting Director General.

He said public utility has been allocated $178.5 million (18 per cent), while $72.6 million has been set aside for new projects under electricity and water, which includes projects on sewerage and sanitation.

To boost development in the ICT and Science and Technology sectors, the government, stated Awang Haji Kamis, has allocated $177 million, an increase of 13 per cent from the $51 million that has been allocated earlier.

The increase in the budget is for the purpose of implementing the new E-government projects as well as science and technology awareness programmes, he added.

The Transport and Communication Sector meanwhile is given $165 million this year. Awang Haji Kamis said almost $96 million out of the budget is allocated for the implementation of new projects under this sector that include, roads, civil aviation, marine and ports, telecommunications, postal services and radio and television.

To further boost the construction sector, the Public Building Sector is given $92 million, a 1 per cent increase from the previous budget. Out of this, $29 million is allocated for new projects, said Awang Haji Kamis.

He also mentioned that agriculture, forestry, fishery, enterprises and entrepreneurial development as well as trade under the Industry and Trade Sector would see new programmes and projects to improve various infrastructures and create more job opportunities.

The sum of $90 million has been set aside to realise this goal. Out of the amount $20 million has been earmarked for new projects, explained the Acting Director General.

He said that other components in the Industry and Commerce Sector, such as Semaun Holdings and Industrial Development Fund and High Tech Industries, are also getting realistic amounts.

Indeed these other components have been placed under special arrangements for further topping up as and when necessary.

"As far as the security sector is concerned the government is committed in allocating nearly $70 million to it and some $17 million goes to the miscellaneous sector.

"This $1 billion injection and coupled with various investments from oil and gas and the private sector is expected to generate rapid economic activities to boost economic growth. The investment and the spill-over effects will be sufficient to maintain and create job opportunities," concluded Awang Haji Kamis. (Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin)

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