By James Kon

YB Awg Hj Bakar Mansor. - JASON LEONG

Awang Haji Bakar bin Mansor representing Brunei Muara District, said: "From the rundown of the $9,614,193 allocated for the Narcotics Control Bureau, I don't see any increase on provision for the officers.

"To my knowledge, drug abuse is a serious crime and we must take into importance controlling it especially when most of the people involved in drug abuse are locals. I would like to suggest the enforcement squad to be increased nationwide, and with the increased manpower, we can reduce and prevent drug abuse."

YB Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Hj Awang Abdul Rahman, Minister of Finance II, replied on the issue of increasing the manpower: "Actually there is an increase of manpower, in the bureau this year from 146 to 152. Although its only six posts, the increase took place three years ago in incremental stages. The bureau has been increasing its officers since a few years ago and sometimes as many as 30 positions have been filled up.

YB Awang Haji Mohd Shafiee bin Ahmad, representing Belait District asked, "When will the short term and long term programmes of Narcotics Control Bureau for the rehabilitation of drug addicts start?"

Minister of Energy, YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudin Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, said "The transfer of Rumah Al-Islah Rehab Centre on Feb 1 from the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Prime Minister's Office is one of the long and short term programmes on the fight against drug abuse. Training programmes attended by personnel of the Narcotics Control Bureau in Singapore and others are among the steps taken in the prevention of drug abuse. And it's still ongoing.

"If there is a need, we would make a special request for an increase in the allocated budget."

YB Dato Paduka Awang Hj Yunos bin Mohd Noh raised the questions on whether there is research done on the reasons for drug abuse in Brunei Darussalam. "We understand crimes relating to drug abuse have increased and what is our action in preventing illegal drugs from entering the country?"

The minister said, "the action on illegal drugs entering the country is still on going with other agencies like the police and others."

On research, he said, "What happened in the region on the misuse of drugs has become the guideline for us while especially in Brunei Darussalam, there may not be any proper assessment done on how drug abuse takes place in the country."

On repeat drug addicts, the Minister of Energy said, "Programmes involving a number of sectors like NGO, private and government in the management of Al-Islah is one of the efforts to stop the repeat of drug addicts and we should also handle them properly."

On the issues of corruption, YB Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran (Dr) Haji Mohd Yusof bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahim asked what kind of prevention is needed to stop corruption in the country.

The minister replied: "The budget for the Anti-Corruption Bureau ($7,100,530) includes provision for officers, prevention, enforcement and other issues that may arise.

"In addition to taking action on corruption, the allocation of the budget for the bureau also include prevention activities like education and efforts to introduce educational syllabus on corruption for children so that corruption will not be accepted in society.

"The government of His Majesty indeed takes serious attention on the issues of corruption."

In the fight against corruption, YB Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh Kin Chin has suggested establishing a watchdog in every department to monitor employees in the government sector.