Teah criticized [1] the slow action of the Brunei government in fixing bad roads and how road repairs are usually done when foreign dignitaries are visiting the country
To fix an area to impress foreigners is crucial, I think, but what's even more important is the fact that citizens who have to deal with these problems every single day for years now.
Potholes is a metaphor in Brunei. It's a chip, a massive chip, in our society. It's a chip that no one wants to fix because it isn't viewed as important to appear good for your citizens. We talk big to foreigners–like how Brunei is great, peaceful and calm–but we ourselves can't seem to improve our own livelihoods.