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Chris Patten saw a lot of emerging Asia from the vantage point of the last British Governor of Hong Kong. While reading his opinion article published in The Brunei Times recently, something struck me. The most salient of the underlying themes of his well-written article seemed to be how a judicious balance could be struck between accepting any and every technology that changes the lifestyle and making any new technology serve the needs of the society.

Every society does and has to bear the pains of change be it due to a technological or any other influence. Sometimes that experience of adjusting to inevitable changes transforms society for the better.

Agents of such changes therefore are lauded, given a prime place in the society.

Brunei has been, and for a considerable time to come, will be an attractive place for expatriate community for well-known reasons.

Having lived and worked in this veritable abode of peace, how does it feel if one comes back on a visit after leaving Brunei a long time ago? Modern, state-of-the-art infrastructure will meet the eye no doubt. Good roads but, unfortunately, also difficult traffic conditions during some hours of the day; big shopping malls with all latest consumer goods and new restaurants added to the already impressive array; but also piles of waste finding way to the rivers and pristine beaches; a strong, visible push to promote tourism but no matching care of the traditionally attractive tourist spots like the lakes, beaches and recreational forests. Sure, students, professional bodies from schools have started a praiseworthy trend to voluntarily go and clean up these areas. But, open burning also continues unabated with no qualms for the announced measures of restriction.

A measure of consumerism has taken hold of the Bruneian society as it is the case elsewhere. Much of it is perhaps bringing the changes of the unwelcome sort drug addiction, for example. It may not be easy to pinpoint a technology responsible for each one of these changes but it would be safe to say that the aggregate effect of a few seems to be responsible. Brunei used to be different, it still is, with the unique national philosophy Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB). And above all, it is fortunate to have a visionary, benevolent leader in His Majesty the Sultan, who has outlined his vision, directives in clear terms on nearly every aspect of the life in the Sultanate with emphasis on the Islamic precepts.

What are these changes triggered by unbridled consumerism as a result of globalisation? Promiscuity and other social ills like theft and shoplifting, drug abuse (a most prominent case among few is the arrest of two RBA cabin crew with cannabis in their baggage at Brunei airport on the first day of Ramadhan). Profligate nature evident in advertising for various sungkai promotions and the resulting huge wastage of food (it was reported recently in an article in one of the two English dailies that 20-30 per cent of the food taken by patrons on the plate is destined to go waste. This does not sit well with the intention of achieving self-sufficiency in rice, with the spirit of Ramadhan.

It might appear to some that linking these incidents or habits to consumerism or globalisation may be tenuous, but the point here is these behaviour patterns indicate a change in the norms of Bruneian society and it is arguable that such behaviours did not exist before when consumerism was not so blatant. And it is obviously the case that such changes being introduced to the society by consumerism are not in line with the letter and spirit of MIB. Hence the concern, which also has been expressed by His Majesty in some of his titahs.

Let this write-up be concluded with a practical example of what would be desirable. First, the awareness building in terms of stopping food waste, done so admirably by lovefoodhatewaste website. Second, a reader's letter published in The Brunei Times on August 27, 2010, in which the author appeals that the wasted food in hotels and restaurants during Ramadhan buffet be donated to the needy people.

Yet another would be the conservation efforts being pursued by His Majesty's government, let the subjects pay heed and stop open burning which seems to be the prime cause of forest fires in Brunei every season.

Brunei can and should be doing a lot of things by herself for which she relies on others. It may not be quite known that there are many expatriates who would love to see this country remain what it is known for an Abode of Peace and a Kingdom of unexpected treasures.

Concerned Friend of Brunei