Energy Week/Oil Money

This black and white picture was taken in early sixties. The location was in Kampung Air (KLD) facing the Makam. Who at that time could predict that these kampung boys would steer the development of Brunei. Good education under the new government policy pull them away from humble and poor family and surrounding. Two of them are now government Ministers, one was a former Permanent Secretary, the rest are either senior officers in public and government sectors and pensioners. Could you identify them ?

Brunei Darussalam will be celebrating Energy Week on 24th May. Mentioning about energy, it cross into you head; the oil and gas. That black gold was founded in early 1950ies. The then ruler, Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan utilized the oil money for building the backward Brunei. First, the infra structure. DYTM Baginda focused on building up school, mosques, roads, hospitals. Next was human resource. Nobody manned the new modern Brunei except its citizens. The first intake was those who administered Brunei by experience. Then came students who went to England after passing Senior Cambridge (O level) to take up degree courses. The next group was those who managed to get through A level and lucky enough to further study taking up the degrees. Most of them are now ministers and senior officers.

Universiti Brunei Darussalam, technical and religious institutions boost the brain need. Now there are a lot of degree holders including those waiting for the right jobs. Time has change. So do the approaches. The dynamic and borderless world does not wait for those who sit on the laurel.

Since oil money is the catalyst for development for both infra structures and man power, we have to conserve the energy. It is not a sustainable product. Some day it won’t be around anymore. Use energy wisely. Gunakan tenaga secara berhemah.