Source : Press Release JAPEM
Photos : Aiman JAPEM
The Council for the Welfare of Persons with Different Abilities (MKOKU) in collaboration with The Department of Community Development (JAPEM) under the Ministry of Culture,Youth and Sports, and the Brunei Youth Council (MBB), is organising Brunei Darussalam's First National Conference for Persons with Different Abilities, which will be held over from 10 to 11 June 2025 at the International Convention Centre in Berakas. This significant event is part of the Brunei Mid-Year Conference and Exhibition (Brunei MYCE) 2025 calendar.
The conference was officiated today by Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Nazmi bin Haji Awang Mohamad, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.
The event began with welcoming remarks from YM Malai @Sharifah Adila Surya binti Malai Haji Abdullah, President of the Council for the Welfare of Persons with Different Abilities (MKOKU), who described the conference as a platform to discuss strengths, services, and challenges faced by PWDs, international best practices, and the role of the nation in supporting the life cycle needs of persons with disabilities through policy measures.
In his speech, Yang Berhormat Dato stated that the inaugural Conference marks a significant milestone that reflects Brunei Darussalam's commitment to building a more inclusive society and empowering persons with different abilities (PWDs). He also highlighted several key achievements and ongoing national efforts to foster inclusivity. This includes:
1.Brunei Darussalam's comprehensive legislative and social protection framework particularly The Persons with Disability Order 2021, which defines disability in line with international standards, and mandating a National Register of Person with Disabilities, where as of April 2025, a total of 2,724 individuals registered; as well as the Old Age and Disability Pensions Act that has been amended to allow dual benefits, enabling eligible senior citizens with disabilities to receive both the Old Age Pension and the Disability Allowance as well as introducing a Care Provider Allowance of BND250 per month, in recognition of caregivers' vital role in ensuring the well-being of PWDs.
2. Providing more inclusive educational opportunities, whereby Brunei Darussalam launched the Special Education Framework in 2023, to ensure that students with special needs have equitable access to quality education, as well as introducing the Special Education Allowances in 2024 for Special Education schools registered under the Ministry of Education. In addition, the first Special Needs Resources Exhibition and Forum was also held in December 2024, jointly organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Education, and the IMPIAN Project, served as a one-stop resource platform for parents and caregivers, covering educational pathways, skills training, and support services under the Compulsory Education Act. Scholarships, including in specialised fields such as Tahfiz, are now offered to individuals with special needs to strengthen the commitment to inclusive education.
3.Efforts to promote more employment opportunities, whereby in 2024, JobCentre Brunei's Career Tour Recruitment Drive offered over 100 job opportunities, including roles for persons with different abilities, an important step toward inclusive employment. Yang Berhormat Dato called for more action, and urged employers across all sectors to go beyond awareness by providing training, breaking barriers, and creating inclusive workplaces. Yang Berhormat Dato commended agencies such as Department of Community Development, Land Transport Department, Employees Trust Fund, and Public Works Department, for setting positive examples in employing PWDs with a call to make inclusive hiring a standard practice.
The event continued with the presentation of the Outstanding PWD Award to YM Dayang Nurul Huda Awang Haji Muhin from Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam and the PWD in Service Award to YM Pengiran Datin Hajah Noraini Pengiran Dipa Negara Laila Diraja binti Pengiran Haji Abd Momin from Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam in recognition of their contributions. Certificates of appreciation were also presented to sponsors, speakers, and facilitators. The ceremony concluded with a group photo session.
Over 300 participants are expected to attend the conference, including government officials involved in policy and legislative development, private sector human resource personnel, teachers from government and private schools, business owners, associations, and social enterprises engaging with PWDs.
During the Opening Ceremony, a Keynote Speech was also delivered by Mr. PT Lim Puay Tiak, Chairperson of the ASEAN Disability Forum (ADF) and Honorary Treasurer of the International Disability Alliance (IDA), who highlighted the importance of ADF as a platform for advocacy and coordination among disability organisations and the crucial role of including the voices of PWDs in all decision-making processes. He also emphasised the importance of regional collaboration through ADF and international partnerships with organisations such as IDA to achieve inclusive development.
The first day of the conference continued with insightful panel discussions:
1. Panel Discussion 1, titled Career-Oriented Education and Employment was moderated by YM Pg Salimatul Sa'ada Pg Saleh from the Special Education Department, Ministry of Education. The session featured distinguished panelists including Dr. Siti Norhedayah Haji Abdul Latif, Assistant Professor at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Education, Universiti Brunei Darussalam; Dr. Hjh Mawarni Haji Abdul Hamid, Head of the Child Development Centre, Ministry of Health; and Mr. Rezki Achyana, Founder of Parakerja from Indonesia. The discussion focused on aligning the education system with current labour market demands, especially for students with special needs. It also emphasised the importance of a coordinated, cross-sectoral approach involving education, health, and employment sectors to ensure a more inclusive and practical pathway for special needs learners.
2. Panel Discussion 2: "Beyond Education: Addressing Current Issues for PWDs Post-Education" – moderated by YM Dayang Nurul Huda Awang Haji Muhin from Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam, with panelists Dk Khairah Wadihah binti Pg Haji Zainurin, Social Work Officer, Pusat Bahagia, Ms. Robin Ann Jones, Director and Lead Researcher at Great Lakes ADA Center, USA, and Mr. PT Lim Puay Tiak, ADF Chair and IDA Treasurer. This session addressed post-education challenges and solutions including vocational training, employment opportunities, and inclusive policies.
3. Panel 3: "Best Practices for Inclusive Education" – moderated by Malai @Sharifah Adila Surya binti Malai Haji Abdullah, President of MKOKU. Panelists included Dr. Eddy Fazlin bin Haji Amzan, Acting Director of Special Education, Ministry of Education; Suzie Rush, Head of Inclusion at International School Brunei (ISB); Ms. Liz McCulloch, Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Jerudong International School (JIS); and Ms. Ku Geok Boon from Singapore's Ministry of Social and Family Development. The session offered expert perspectives on effective strategies for inclusive education.
4. Panel 4: "Bridging the Accessibility Gap: How Technology Empowers Education and Employment for PWDs"– an interactive session moderated by Sheikh Mohamed Izzat bin Sheikh Haji Khalid, member of Brunei Darussalam National Association of the Blind (BDNAB) and educator at the Special Education Department, Vision Sensory Unit. Panelists included Mr. Wong Yoon Loong, Executive Director of the National Council for the Blind, Malaysia, and Ms. Robin Ann Jones. This session explored the role of assistive and accessible technology in empowering PWDs across education and employment.
5. Panel 5: "Training and Employment: Is the Workforce Inclusive?" – moderated by Ayla binti Malai Haji Abdullah from Brunei LNG, with panelists Ms. Melline Jaini, General Manager, Uniklearn, Ms. Ku Geok Boon, Singapore Ministry of Social and Family Development and Mr. Rezki Achyana, Parakerja, Indonesia. This panel discussed the inclusion of PWDs in the workforce and initiatives to expand access to inclusive employment and training opportunities.
6. Panel 6: "From Insight to Action: Personalized Strategies for Implementing Accessible Tech Solutions" – led by Ms. Robin Ann Jones, who presented practical approaches to integrating assistive and accessible technologies into the daily lives of persons with different abilities, including in education, workplace adaptation, and independent living. The session was designed for a broad audience including PWDs, families, educators, and employers.
The conference aspires to serve as a platform to learn and exchange best practices from both local and international perspectives, and to produce a discussion report and recommendations that ensure national policies are more inclusive and impactful in meeting the needs of the PWD community.
Also in attendance at the conference were Their Excellencies the Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Türkiye, the United States of America, the Federal Republic of Germany, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of the Philippines, and Japan; the High Commissioners of Canada and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; representatives from the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, the Royal Thai Embassy and the High Commission of Malaysia; Permanent Secretaries and senior officials from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports, as well as representatives from partner organisations.
