BOLKIAH GARRISON, Friday 4 December 2015 – The 12th Executive Development Programme (EDP) on Public Policy and Management for senior government officials conducted by the Ministry of Defence concluded today with a closing ceremony held at the Officers’ Mess, Bolkiah Garrison.
Present as the Guest of Honour was the Acting Minister of Defence, First Admiral (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit. In his speech, he stressed the importance of cooperation and collaboration in addressing the range of complex challenges that are occurring in today’s fast changing environment. It is an enduring obligation for policy makers to confront the constant changes, adapt to remain relevant and keep up with the pace of change. Leadership becomes vital in delivering service that benefits one’s organization and the nation. He also stressed that good governance founded on the principles of the rule of law, accountability, transparency, effectiveness and efficiency, equity and inclusiveness as well as being mindful of the nation’s core beliefs and values is of upmost important in policymaking.
Professor Donald Low, the Associate Dean of Research & Executive Education from Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKY School), National University of Singapore, also made some remarks on behalf of LKY School while the representative from the participants of the 12th EDP, Lt Col Haji Mohd Huzaimi bin Pehin Datu Harimaupadang Major General (Retd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Husin shared their experience throughout the programme.
This year, 26 participants joined the EDP, comprising senior officials from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Royal Brunei Police Force, Attorney General’s Chambers, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Development and Authority for Info-Communication Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI). In addition, MINDEF also sponsored senior military officers from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. The diversity of different backgrounds and countries is an important component to further enrich their learning experience.
Initiated in 2004, the programme this year was developed and conducted in collaboration with the renowned Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore in Singapore. The 3-month Programme equips senior officials with the necessary knowledge and skills to be more innovative in understanding policy making processes and challenges.
During the programme, the participants visited several government agencies in Brunei Darussalam to better familiarise themselves with policy making approaches practiced in the country.
Also present at the ceremony were the members of the Defence Executive Committee, Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force, High Commissioners, Ambassadors, Permanent Secretaries, Service Chiefs, Deputy Permanent Secretaries, Defence Advisers/Attaches and other senior officers from the MINDEF/RBAF and government ministries/agencies.
