Press Release

TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY UNDER THE BROADCASTING ACT (CHAPTER 180) FROM THE PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE TO THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

Wednesday, 15 Jamadilawal 1429 corresponding to 21 May 2008
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

By command of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Prime Minister’s Office is pleased to announce that His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam has consented to the new appointment of Yang Berhormat Pehin  Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Communications as Minister responsible for broadcasting matters and Yang Mulia Haji Awang Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Awang Mohd Taha, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications  as Director of Broadcasting under the Broadcasting Act (Chapter 180) as published in Part IV Government Gazette Number 9/2008 dated the 10th May 2008. This appointment signifies the official transfer of the regulatory and monitoring functions pertaining to broadcasting matters from the Prime Minister’s Office to the Ministry of Communications and will take effect from today, 15 Jamadilawal 1429 corresponding to 21 May 2008.  

To commemorate the transfer of the regulatory function of the Broadcasting Act (Chapter 180), a ceremony took place this morning at Dewan Amar Pahlawan, Ministry of Communications, Jalan Menteri Besar, Bandar Seri Begawan. Representing on behalf of the Prime Minister’s Office was Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office, whilst the Ministry of Communications was represented by Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Communications. Also present was Yang Mulia Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Ismail bin Pengiran Haji Mohamed, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office and Yang Mulia Haji Awang Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Awang Mohd Taha, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications.  

The regulatory powers will now be transferred from Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office (the current Minister responsible for broadcasting matters) to Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Communications as the new Minister responsible for broadcasting matters.  Meanwhile, the power conferred to Yang Mulia Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Ismail bin Pengiran Haji Mohamed, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office as Director of Broadcasting is also handed over to Yang Mulia Haji Awang Alaihuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Awang Mohd Taha, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Communications.  

The transfer of the Broadcasting Act (Chapter 180) will also mean that all regulatory functions with respect to broadcasting matters such as the issuance of broadcasting licenses, collection of licensing revenues, as well as monitoring and enforcement, will now be carried out by the Ministry of Communications. Government media agencies like Radio Television Brunei (RTB) and the Department of Information will not be affected by the transfer and will remain under the administration of the Prime Minister’s Office.

Prime Minister’s Office
Istana Nurul Iman
Bandar Seri Begawan
Brunei Darussalam
15 Jamadilawal 1429 / 21 May 2008