PRESS STATEMENT BY

THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PARTY

NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

22nd Muharram 1428/10th February 2007

 

 

 

1-               Today the National Development Party (NDP) has the great pleasure to welcome the delegation from the Parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany to Limbaruh Hijau, our party’s headquarters here in Jerudong.

 

2-               Our guests are important key players in the socio politics of the Federal Republic of Germany, a nation with a population of 83 million, an affluent and technologically powerful economy and the fifth largest in the world.

Thus, their visit to Negara Brunei Darussalam and particularly to the National Development Party is truly significant. It is a testimony of their keen interest to understand us as a nation and as a people and their genuine desire to strengthen the existing firm relationships between the Federal Republic of Germany and Negara Brunei Darussalam.

 

3-               As the host, NDP is taking this great opportunity to foster mutual understanding between the people of Germany and the people of Negara Brunei Darussalam and to strengthen further the existing relationship between our two nations.

 

4-               Their visit to our headquarters, though a short one, also gives us the opportunity to showcase our Bruneian hospitality, our culture and traditions.

 

5-               We hope that our guests would be able to sample our hospitality, our culture and traditions that have been presented by our members from various ethnic groups in Negara Brunei Darussalam. 

 

6-               During our meeting a while ago, I highlighted to our honourable guests the vision, mission and the principle objectives of the National Development Party.

 

7-               I talked about the idea behind the formation of the party which I told them was transpired with the realization on the need to serve and support the Government of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan in preserving and sustaining Negara Brunei Darussalam as a democratic, Malay, Islamic Monarchy in accordance with the Royal Proclamation of Independence on 1st January 1984.

 

8-               I also told our honourable guests that the formation of NDP also stemmed from the desire to fulfill the vision: “The Nation-state of Brunei Darussalam as a Malay, Islamic Monarchy, a secure, peaceful and prosperous nation-state worthy of the clemency of ALLAH, (Baldatun Thayyibatun Wa Rabbun Ghafuur)” and to uphold the principle of justice and benevolence (Al-‘Adl Wa l-Ihsan) that has been the practice of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan in dispensing his authority as Ulil Amri.

 

9-               I also mentioned about our firm stand to uphold the Malay Islamic Monarchy philosophy that has been at the core of our national identity, resilience, progress and development since the 15th century.

 

10-         From our point of view, striving to help ensure that Negara Brunei Darussalam remains a Malay Islamic Monarchy does not mean that we are against the existence of a society that is pluralistic and diverse in culture, race and religion.

 

11-         We are also of the view that the Malay Islamic Monarchy philosophy is compatible with democracy.

 

12-         To us in NDP, democracy is equated with the ability of citizens to participate and contribute to the decision-making processes in Negara Brunei Darussalam within established legal avenues. In this context, the Government of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan has provided many of these avenues, from the grassroots’ level in the villages up to district and national levels, and it is up to citizens to make the most of, should they wish their views, opinions and ideas to be given due considerations by the Government.

 

13-         However, I told our honourable guests that NDP do not suggest that these are the only avenues that could be taken advantage of for the good of the country. There are undoubtedly many other democratic means that could be introduced for greater and more effective participation of the citizenry in the national decision-making processes.

 

14-         On the need for greater and more effective participation of the citizenry, I told our honorable guests that NDP genuinely believe that His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan knows this very well, exemplified by his command that the Majlis Mesyuarat Negara or National Consultative Council be reinstated two years ago and its membership enlarged.

 

15-         I told our honourable guests that given His Majesty’s visionary leadership, we are certain that greater political reformations would be initiated for the same purpose and in accordance with our national philosophy and way of life.

 

16-         However, what NDP wishes to draw attention to is the view that it is the royal prerogative of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan to decide which appropriate political reformations should be adopted and implemented, and when.

 

This is a national matter for His Majesty to evaluate and decide in consultation with his subjects.

 

17-         In this context, I mentioned that NDP do not welcome any interference or pressure whatsoever from any quarter, particularly foreign, trying to force or compel His Majesty, the Government or the people of Negara Brunei Darussalam, to adopt changes or reforms that are incompatible with our religion, culture, tradition and national interests.

 

We are a sovereign people ruled benevolently by a beloved and sovereign Monarch, and we do not welcome dictation on what is politically good for us.

 

We welcome the sharing of views, opinion and ideas, but not pressure to   accept or implement them. NDP wants Negara Brunei Darussalam to tread very, very carefully so as not to commit the same mistakes that others have suffered in developing their national political structures.

 

18-         NDP would not therefore demand that the Government copy any of the multitudes of parliamentary or legislative systems presently being applied in various parts of the world if it may mean that such a measure would possibly result in Negara Brunei Darussalam becoming a politically corrupt society.

 

We would rather urge the Government of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan to take careful and measured steps, albeit slowly, when trying to  adopt and implement political reformations so as to ensure that these do not  become causes of our nation’s corruption and ruin.

 

19-         I also highlighted the view of NDP that the present system of monarchical leadership as the most suitable to Negara Brunei Darussalam, and thus should be preserved and strengthened.

 

20-         The present monarchical leadership system in Negara Brunei Darussalam has continued to put emphasis on the Islamic concept of Syura (consultation and consensus building) and this is absolutely compatible with the national religion, and the culture and tradition of the majority of Bruneians.

 

21-         From our point of view, the practical mechanism or platform for effective people's participation is through a two-tier formal consultative system compatible with our religion, culture and tradition.

 

I mentioned to our honourable guests that in this regards, NDP proposes that the current consultative system be strengthened and restructured by the formation of two assemblies in the current consultative system, namely the National Consultative Council and the Royal Consultative Council. The National Consultative Council shall function as ‘the lower assembly’ while the Royal Consultative Council shall function as ‘the upper assembly’.

 

22-         I have also emphasized to our honourable guests that “democracy” is not “the end” that the National Development Party is striving for, but simply a “means” among various others that could be employed to achieve our vision of a secure, peaceful and prosperous Brunei Darussalam, worthy of the clemency of ALLAH, The Most Glorious, Exalted. 

 

23-         At the meeting, I also said that members of NDP notice, like all other citizens of the world, that some countries like to impose democracy (which is only a “means” towards an “end”) through invasion and occupation, impressing upon those occupied a system of governance that may not necessarily be right for the latter or incompatible with their own way of life.

 

24-         NDP believes that it would be more fruitful and be mutually beneficial if these countries take measures to enhance its understanding of Islam and the Islamic World, of which Negara Brunei Darussalam is very much a part of. 

 

25-         I mentioned to our honorable guests that NDP humbly implores that they do not judge Islam by what some who profess to be Muslims do, and not to paint all Muslims with the same brush.

 

26-         We suggest that greater and serious understanding of Shariah should also be attempted, to dispel misconceptions that could result in actions that subsequently deny Muslims their democratic rights. On the other hand NDP also call on Muslims to take efforts to understand others, including the West, better and not view everything that the latter do as inherently anti-Islamic or as example of conspiracies to undermine the Islamic Ummah.

 

27-         NDP believes that better and more frequent dialogues between the Islamic World and the West should be organized and held, in an atmosphere of love and friendship among brethrens in humanity. In this, NDP is willing and ready to participate fully.

 

The party wants to play a positive role to bring about greater understanding among civilizations, as a way of promoting peace and prosperity, and ending misery, suffering and conflicts in this world that all of us and future generations have a stake in.

 

NDP is therefore willing to cooperate with like-minded individuals or groups of individuals or organizations to realize such an end.

 

 

 

 

Muhammad Yasin bin Abdul Rahman @ Yasin Affandy

President of the National Development Party