BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) will harness artificial intelligence to streamline civil servant recruitment and enhance policymaking, aiming for greater efficiency and effectiveness in governance.
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, Pehin Dato Hj Halbi Hj Mohd Yussof, said a smart applicant screening and validation system has already been integrated into the hiring process at government ministries.
The initiative is being carried out by the Public Service Commission to simplify and accelerate the hiring process, he told the Legislative Council in a statement on Saturday.
Currently, jobseekers apply for government vacancies via the Public Service Commission portal that was last upgraded in 2021.
He further said the Public Service Department is collaborating with the Commonwealth Secretariat to integrate AI into the civil service, which will improve efficiency, innovation and decision-making.
Government ministries are expected to test and use the AI-driven tool known as StrategusAI to formulate policies and regulations.
Launched last August, the AI toolkit was developed in partnership with Intel to empower public sector leaders and bridge the digital divide.
Brunei is one of the two pilot countries using the AI tool, along with Fiji.
According to the World Bank, at least 50 governments have developed or were in the process of developing an AI strategy, but the pace of AI adoption in the public sector remains uneven.
Pehin Dato Hj Halbi said the two AI initiatives are part of efforts to enhance public welfare and productivity – one of the three priorities in PMO’s budget for the 2025/26 financial year.
PMO to cut budget by 2.4%
PMO has tabled a budget of $552.34 million for FY 2025/26, a 2.4 percent decrease from the previous year.
The majority, or 58%, of the budget allocation will be spent on staff salaries and the remaining $228.04 million has been set aside for recurring expenses.
Similar to last year, the budget will also focus on promoting economic diversification and sustainable development, as well as developing human capital.
Pehin Dato Hj Halbi said Brunei will continue to develop the downstream oil and gas sector, which has had a positive impact on the economy.
“While this sector is being developed, there is still much potential to explore, especially in increasing the added value contribution of downstream products,” he said.
Downstream activities have been a major driver of Brunei’s economic growth since 2020, and exports of petrochemical products now make up 61% of the country’s total exports.
The minister added that Brunei will become a “stronger producer of high-value chemicals and petrochemical products” once the second phase of the Pulau Muara Besar refinery starts operations.
In terms of public security, the minister said a steering committee has been established to oversee the procurement and leasing of vehicles involving enforcement agencies, such as the Royal Brunei Police Force, Narcotics Control Bureau and Internal Security Department.
The move is aimed at improving response time in handling incidents, increasing law enforcers’ visibility in the community and building public confidence in enforcement agencies.