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55 INVESTMENT POTENTIAL
According to a 2017 report on ,
more than half of the population in Southeast Asia
uses the Internet. The number of new users across
the region grew by more than 80 million in the past
12 months. Mobile Internet use is the driving force of
this growth. Brunei leads the Southeast Asian region
in Internet usage at 86 per cent with Singapore at
82 per cent.
Brunei also leads in mobile social media usage in
Southeast Asia, with 76 per cent of active mobile
users. Singapore comes second with 70 per cent and
Malaysia is third with 65 per cent.
The Government of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal
Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum
Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi
Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei
Darussalam, through the E-Government National
Centre, has embarked on the Digital Government
Strategy 2015-2020 driven by the goals of Vision
2035.
To realise the vision of Digital Government
Strategy 2015-2020, six focus areas and six
programmes have been identified. The focus areas
are: service innovation, security, capability and
mindset, enterprise information management,
optimisation and collaboration and integration.
The programmes are: advancing digital services,
implementing universal access for government
systems, strengthening security output, enhancing
stakeholder engagement output and optimising
digital assets output.
During the 14th Conference of ASEAN Ministers
Responsible for Information (AMRI) and Related
Meetings at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore inMay
2018, Singaporean Minister of Finance Heng Swee
Keat praised Brunei’s digital government strategy
that included programmes for enhanced delivery of
digital services, while providing a unique identity
for all citizens and businesses, along with improved
tools and processes for information management.
The Singaporeanminister emphasised the importance
of ASEAN to come together in preparing citizens
for opportunities and challenges in technological
advances.
Based on the theme ‘Inclusive and Informed Digital
ASEAN’, the 14th AMRI focussed on building a strong
ASEAN Community through information and media,
nurturing a digitally-inclusive and literate ASEAN
and promoting stronger cooperation with ASEAN
dialogue partners.
Digitalising the economy also comes with spreading
of rumours. The Prime Minister’s Office of Brunei
has devised a plan to establish an online portal to
contain spreading of fake news on social media. This
was highlighted by Minister at the Prime Minister’s
Office, Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Mokti bin
Haji Mohd Daud, during the 14th Legislative Council
session.
“The Prime Minister’s Office in cooperation with
the departments responsible for information and
communication technology, is also planning to frame
guidelines for the sensible use of social media,” said
the minister.
The minister added fake news on social media would
be analysed and statements would be issued to
correct unverified news.