By Azlan Othman

A total of 1,368 applicants have become Brunei citizens in 2007 compared to 1,189 in 2005.

Meanwhile, some 33 applicants under the category of Contributors to the economic growth and development of the nation, seven applicants under Professional category and 655 applicants under the category of foreign husband married to local Bruneian women have their Permanent Resident status approved in the country since May 2006 till January 2008.

Other conditions that have been set out include requirements to understand the local culture and also be able to read and write in Malay.

This was said by the Minister of Home Affairs, YB Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Awg Adanan at the fourth day of the current legislative council session in response to the YB Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Awg Goh Kin Chin who wanted clarity on the professional and married to the Bruneian women categories.

The session yesterday discussed the budget of the departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs including the Municipal Board of the three districts.

The Minister added, in 2007, there were 242 applicants approved to be the citizens of His Majesty under Chapter 5 (1) & 8 (1) (writing) compared to 139 in 2005. For those who have passed the oral test under Chapter 5 (1) & 8 (1) (oral), there are 101 applicants who've passed the oral test by the independent body in charge of language compared to 14 in 2005. The curriculum for the oral test can be found at the Immigration and National Registration at the cost of $5.

The granting of permanent resident status for the three categories came into effect on May 15, 2006. For the category of foreign nationals who have contributed to the economy and development of the nation, certain conditions must be met such as proof or confirmation reflecting their contribution towards the economic growth of the country. They must also be able to provide proof that they have financial investments or possess assets worth about B$500,000.

Applicants who are engaged in professional employment must prove their contribution in their respective professions towards the development and benefit of the people and the nation.

For male applicants who are born in Brunei and have married women who are citizens of Brunei, they must be married for at least 15 years, while those born outside the country and are married to Bruneian women should be married for at least 20 years before they become eligible to become permanent residents.

The ministry itself has allocated $15,875,575.00, BSB Municipal Board ($22,299,900.00), KB & Seria Municipal Board ($8,713,585.00), Tutong Municipal Board ($2,318,780.00), Labour ($5,951,890.00), Brunei/Muara District Office ($12,232,789.00), Belait ($4,797,480.00), Tutong ($5,503,079.00), Temburong ($5,370,095.00), Immigration & National Registration Dept ($18,133,600.00), Prisons ($14,088,240.00) and Fire & Rescue Dept $30,902,080.00.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin, March 9, 2008

Hadi DP Mahmud
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, March 7, 2008

Defence Ministry allocation cut slightly due to better management

DEPUTY MINISTER of Defence Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yasmin Hj Umar yesterday announced a slight cut in the defence 2008/2009 fiscal year budget allocation.


Attributing the reduction of this year's defence budget allocation to a more systematic management of defence programmes, Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yasmin said the proposed allocations were "realistic" and "within the ministry's capacity to spend during the fiscal year".

The State Legislative Council yesterday passed the Ministry of Defence's annual budget allocation of $508,861,923, a 2.13 per cent decrease from the previous fiscal year. It also approved the budgets of two other ministries (see graphic).

Addressing the council on the breakdown of this year's defence budget allocation, the minister said, "the distribution of programme costs over a period of two to four years has also helped in stabilising annual expenditure, so it can be better predicted".

This fiscal year's defence budget is categorised into three parts — staff salaries, which has increased by five per cent from the previous budget; annual recurrent expenditure, which decreased by two per cent; and special expenditure, which saw a 27.12 per cent decrease.

The increase in staff salaries, said the minister, also takes into account the actual expenditure for the past three years and the annual salary increments for this fiscal year. The two per cent decrease in annual recurrent expenditures is an up-to-date allocation to more closely match the actual expenditure, based on experience during previous years, he added.

"The average decrease in 2.13 per cent (of the annual budget) shows the effectiveness of conservative measures and alternative financing that have been carried out without affecting the military's operational capabilities," he said.

"In fact, the proposed budget will pay for a few main projects for the Royal Brunei Armed Forces valued at $1.5 million to $36 million."

Courtesy of The Brunei Times

Anna Abu Bakar
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Friday, March 7, 2008

THE recent proposal by the State Legislative Council meeting to lower the business tax in stages, from the current 30 per cent to a projected 27.5 per cent in 2008 has evoked a mixed response from the businessmen.

The proposal is aimed at boosting the local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and attracting foreign investment.

Allan Hor, Director for Security Operations for Avant CMS Services Sdn Bhd, had a slightly different opinion on the decision and failed to see this as a good move.

He said that reduction in tax was not the proper way to make more businesses on their feet as "many businesses hire foreign workers that result in a large bulk of money going out of Brunei."

"Local skills and employment should be an incentive because its clear cut that the tax reduction should give more opportunities to local companies and employers as well as employees," he added.

With regard to the three-year tax exemption for new businesses, he felt disappointed that this was not introduced when he started his company a few years ago as this would have especially encouraged new business.

He also added that despite the fact that he is a non-local person running a local company, he employs 100 per cent local people to work for the company and favours the idea of more local companies coming up.

On a different note, a local businessman who wishes to remain anonymous, admitted to not being keeping close attention to the development of the Legislative Council Meetings.

But when explained the business tax developments, he said that it is "a good thing" because it is in line with His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's recent titah to have more SMEs in Brunei."The tax reduction will not only help in more small companies starting businesses, it will also be seen as more sustainable business to develop," he added.

Competition is always something common and will be more prevalent with the tax reduction, he said, adding that he placed his personal hope to see more local entrepreneurs taking advantage of the tax rebate because it should be seen as the government giving them more opportunities.

The Director for MyInvesco Hi-Q Company, a local company, who wished not to be named, said that the tax reduction was not only "good in general as it encourages more foreign companies in Brunei especially Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) set up and incorporate in Brunei."

"This will help them (businesses) through SMEs' legal point of view because in the view of shareholders this will further protect them," he said.

He similarly viewed that the initiative is a form of help extended by the government to reduce costs of local SMEs.

He gave an example on how the reduction will help increase the value of business. In the case of a simple five per cent out of a $300,000 business will be able to save $1,500 after a few months which is a large amount of capital saved."However, in a broader sense and in the perspective of a competitive world, we are trying to keep up with the trends in the region. Take the example of Singapore which has reduced the corporate tax from 27 per cent to 25 per cent," he said, adding "With the new tax reduction in Brunei, we are at par with other countries in the region."

The total budget allocation was presented by Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdul Rahman Hj Ibrahim, the Second Minister of Finance at the State Legislative Council meeting, where the minister disclosed that the initial allowance for expenditure in industrial building and infrastructure will increase from 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

The annual capital allowance will also be raised from four per cent compared to the current two per cent.

In addition to that newly-established businesses will be exempted from tax within their first three years of operating their business.

Courtesy of The Brunei Times