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Bandar Seri Begawan
- The Industry and Primary Resources
Deputy Minister Dato Paduka Hj
Hamdillah Hj Abd Wahab believes in
the feasibility of the ambitious
Heart of Borneo (HOB) project, but
only if it receives the political
backing and support of all parties
involved to work together and
achieve its goals.
A fervent champion of the cause who
regards the HoB as his "personal
passion", Dato Hamdillah realises
that a project of such magnitude and
complexity won't be easy to carry
out. However, with cooperation and
commitment from the three Bornean
governments, he is confident that it
can be done.
This cooperation is already secured
with the signing of the Heart of
Borneo Declaration in February last
year.
When asked to respond to Victor
Savage's comments on the HoB, Dato
Hamdillah acknowledged that it is
less of a problem for Brunei to
embark on the HoB.
"Ours is the smallest economy and
the smallest country in the island.
It's not even separated all over the
island... So for that reason we must
deliver ahead of the two countries,
and we have," he said.
He was referring to Brunei's
progress in terms of delivering a
roadmap that outlines what the
Sultanate's strategies are in terms
of its proposed management of its
part of the HoB, its initiatives on
transboundary collaboration and
institutional capacity building,
among others.
Under the HoB declaration, the three
countries are obligated to prepare
project documents stating their
strategic and operational plans,
which will form the basis for the
development of their respective
roadmaps.
"Theirs (Malaysia and Indonesia's)
is a more challenging environment
geographically," he said.
The administrative centres of
Malaysia and Indonesia are not
located on the island. "So there is
that political challenge already on
managing the HoB on the part of
Indonesia and Malaysia."
He was quick to assert that, while
problematic, this situation does not
make the HoB impossible to
implement.
"I'm just saying we have to
recognise those challenges as we
partner with them," he said.
Working together is the key to the
success of the HoB, he added, and
noted that trilateral meetings are a
useful vehicle in this regard.
The first such meeting was chaired
by Brunei in July last year. This
year it will be Sarawak's turn. The
meeting will take place some time
next month.
Because Brunei has made the most
progress to date, Dato Hamdillah is
adamant that the Sultanate become
the "beacon" for its partners in the
HoB project.
"We can be a beacon, we can be the
role model, and we can be the
example for the others to follow.
And we have built enough credibility
to earn that status of a role
model," he remarked. |
