His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah has announced a long-awaited reform to Brunei’s land ownership law through the Land Code (Amendment) Order 2025, which will come into effect on August 1.

The amendment seeks to simplify and improve land ownership processes for citizens and several categories of residents, including individuals with stateless status, marking a significant step toward more inclusive access to property rights. It represents the most substantial update to Brunei’s land legislation in nearly a decade, following the last amendment in 2016.

The announcement was made during His Majesty’s 79th birthday titah, broadcast nationwide from Istana Nurul Iman. While the land code amendment was the only new policy introduced, His Majesty also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to key national initiatives under Brunei Vision 2035, including the Human Resource Development, Social, and Economic Blueprints.

In light of evolving socio-economic challenges, the government will continue reviewing and strengthening governance approaches, policies, and legal frameworks to ensure sustained public well-being.

Several national initiatives were reiterated, including the upcoming Digital Brunei Transformation Plan, which will emphasise the use of artificial intelligence across sectors to enhance innovation and efficiency. The Personal Data Protection Order is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, with the aim of strengthening safeguards against data misuse and cyber threats.

The government will also expand the Minimum Wage Order to cover seven additional industries from April 1, 2025. These include banking and finance, information and communications technology, security, tourism and accommodation, architecture and related professional services, medical and dental services, and private higher education.

On workforce development, continued support was reaffirmed for upskilling initiatives, including the introduction of 16 new SKILLPLUS courses aligned with industry needs to prepare citizens for future economic transitions, with particular emphasis on youth development and resilience.

Source: The Scoop