Call For Progressive Private Sector Lauded
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - Local entrepreneurs praised and expressed their gratitude to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam for the New Year Titah in which His Majesty called for undivided efforts for a progressive private sector.

A prominent figure in the development of education in Brunei Darussalam, Dr Pg Amir Mohd Yussof bin Pg Abas al-Haj said it was an excellent New Year Titah for everyone including government agencies and local entrepreneurs to work together towards the development and progress of small and medium enterprises (SMEs).

"We must work as a team towards realising the vision of His Majesty for a solid, dynamic and progressive private sector in order for the nation to achieve better and swift economic progress in the long run.

"We must all cooperate towards the realisation of His Majesty for the nation to be a superpower in economy, trade and industry," he said.

Dr Pg Amir Mohd Yussof urged local entrepreneurs to exercise dedication, sincerity, trustworthiness, responsibility and tolerance in realising the vision of His Majesty for all entrepreneurs to cooperate towards economic prosperity.

He said his success in business was due to his excellent and honourable business traits without petty jealousies of the successes of others.

"We must cooperate and help each other. Unfortunately a few of us use back stabbing and `trade assassination' to kill off competitors.

"We should never blame others for our economic failure as our rise and fall in business is mainly our own efforts," he said.

Another prominent businessman, Dr Hj Abdul Latif bin Chuchu, the President of Persekutuan Peniaga-Peniaga Melayu Brunei (PPPMB) praised the New Year Titah.

In a telephone interview from Indonesia, Hj Abdul Latif, who is currently on business trips overseas, said the private sector should be the one to lead the national economy as well as investment spending.

"Industrial countries such as Japan and Korea started its economic development, progress and prosperity through SMEs such as cottage industries and not through giant corporations which came later.

"Government agencies should realise that their responsibility is to facilitate local SMEs. Their role includes expediting SME applications such as business licences.

"The public agencies should utilise high technology in helping SMEs," he said.

He also called for micro credit facilities to be provided for local entrepreneurs and for the government to prepare an economic policy for the SMEs.

BIMP-EAGA Country Director, Hj Osman Hj Omar, said His Majesty's Titah should be followed so all difficulties of SMEs in conducting business could be overcome.

"His Majesty in his Titah called for a solid and dynamic private sector with priorities given to SMEs. The progress of local SMEs will also lead to the realisation of the key players' objective on the BIMP-EAGA trade plan through their participation," he said.

The deputy president of PPPMB, Pg Shahminan bin Pg Hj Ismail also hoped those concerned would work towards the progress of local SMEs.

"We don't want anymore excuses and as suggested by His Majesty in his Titah, everyone should cooperate towards the eradication of law violators who hinder the development and progress of SMEs," he said. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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