OPENING SPEECH

 BY 

 YANG BERHORMAT

 PEHIN ORANG KAYA AMAR PAHLAWAN

 DATO SERI SETIA  AWANG HAJI ZAKARIA BIN

 DATU MAHAWANGSA HAJI SULAIMAN

 MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS

 BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

At the Launching of Cyber Café on

Thursday, 18th October, 2001

Ground Floor Canteen, Ministry of Communications Building,

 Brunei Darussalam

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

Assalamu’ Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh

And a very Good Morning,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen.

Let me first extend my sincere thanks to the management of Cyber Café of the Ministry of Communications, WYWY Enterprise, for inviting me to officiate at the opening this morning.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is  another milestone in our efforts to enhance and broaden the use of Information Technology in Brunei.  Technology has long played an important part in traditional canteens but this may be the first  canteen in Government building that offers the services of Information Technology, i.e. Internet.    I hope it will not be long before we see the trend extended to other Government buildings even schools and commercial buildings.

I understand that the cyber café will be in operation during  official business hours and are opened to the public.   This is indeed a move in the right direction – where facilities for social interaction is made available – where the atmosphere is pleasant.  I hope  we can all appreciate that  certain rules and regulations must be adhered to  by both the operator and customers.  The operator  should provide a fast and efficient service to the customers in term of safety, convenience, comfort and value.    We must strive to maintain the right atmosphere – for learning, to interact with friends and seek knowledge.  The customers, on the other hand must show some restraint and respect  for the rules and regulations of the establishment.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Your presence today certainly reaffirms our commitment in our responsibility to see a wider spread of IT usage.  I am happy to have a cyber café at the Ministry of Communications for the convenience of our visitors and general public who can gain access to IT facilities, to exchange views, communicate and meet at this pleasant environment.  Hopefully this will help us move a step closer  in our efforts to narrow the digital divide, help  promote IT literacy and widen the use of Internet, in line with our vision to make  Brunei Darussalam as a cyber hub in the region.

However, whilst the Government is committed to develop the positive aspects of  the use of  Internet and the tremendous benefits and opportunities it can bring to our society, we are also well aware of the negative or the dark side of it.  Therefore,  the operator should ensure that the proliferation of undesirable contents or sites such as cyber porn sites or Internet gambling sites should  not be allowed at all times.  We should strive to maintain our religious and social values for the good of the Nation and the Society.  We should exercise self regulation and ensure that we do not violate any rules or regulations – for the good of all.

Once again, I would like to thank the management of the Cyber Café for inviting me to this occasion.

With the kalimah BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM dan selawat kepada junjungan besar kita Nabi Muhammad S.A.W., I am pleased to officiate the launching of the Cyber Café this morning and wish it every success and a bright future.

Sekian, Wabillahit Taufik Walhidayah Wassalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

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