Chapter 1

BRUNEI 1906 - 1941

“Allah increases the provision for whom He wills, and

straitens (it for whom He wills)…”
Surah Ar-Ra’d, Verse 26
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 THE REIGN OF SULTAN MUHAMMAD
1.1 JAMALUL ALAM II (1906 – 1924)

• He became Sultan in 1918

• Had an interest in the progress of the
country, encouraging advancement in
agriculture, medicine and education
• Encouraged the teaching and learning of
Islam

1912: Islamic Law was 1913: Marriage and

officially introduced Divorce Act introduced

Because of the Residential System, all executive power

(except in religious matters) was in British hands.
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 THE REIGN OF SULTAN AHMAD
1.2 TAJUDDIN (1924 - 1950)

• Became Sultan in 1931, at the age of 18

• He was concerned with the expansion and improvement
of formal education
• He encouraged religious education
• He was also a writer

1949: At the Silver

Jubilee ceremony, he
was awarded the
Officer of the Order of
the British Empire by
King George VI.
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1.3 THE RESIDENTIAL SYSTEM (1906 - 1959)

• Introduced in Brunei in 1906

• Result of the Supplementary Protectorate Agreement
signed on 31 December 1905 and on 3 January 1906
• British Resident appointed to advise Sultan on all matters
of administration except those touching on Islam.

Resident as advisers Resident acted as ruler

and the Sultan was
obliged to accept his
advice
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1.3 THE RESIDENTIAL SYSTEM (1906 - 1959)

Advantages Disadvantages

Better Power of Sultan weakened

Administration
Traditional responsibilities disrupted

Social Welfare
Resident did not make effort to
understand locals
Economics
Resident did not work for Brunei’s
interest
Political

Locals could not head departments

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1.3 THE RESIDENTIAL SYSTEM (1906 - 1959)
Before Residential System
After Residential System

Land Enactment
Land governed Act of 1907
according to traditional
land rights
All personal income
earned through payments
Holders of Tulin and on territories became
Kuripan territories rarely state revenue
paid taxes to the Sultan

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1.3 THE RESIDENTIAL SYSTEM (1906 - 1959)
Before Residential System
Monopolies mainly controlled by
Chinese businessmen
After Residential System
Monopoly rights abolished (except
for the Muara Concession)

Before Residential System

Sultan and chiefs as lawmakers
After Residential System
Police force began in Brunei 7
1.4 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
The Discovery of Oil
• F.F. Marriott and T.G. Cochrane
• April 1929 – oil struck at Padang
Berawa (now Seria)
• 1930s – oil production increased
• 1940s – oil export at 7.5 million
dollars (51% of state revenue)

• British Malayan Petroleum Company

formed in 1922
• Paid oil royalties to Brunei government
• Created infrastructure and welfare
programmes 8
1.4 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Coal Industry

• Coal mining concentrated in Brooketon (Muara Town)

and Buang Tawar.
• From 1888 - 1924, more than 600,000 tons of coal
were produced
• 1917 – output began to decrease after closure of Buang
Tawar mine
• 1925 – coal mining activities stopped

With the use of

petrol, demand for
coal fell
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1.4 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Rubber Industry
• Rubber was most important cash crop for
export in first half of twentieth century

•Rubber seedlings were first introduced in

Brunei in 1908 by Haji Mohammed Daud.

• Rubber first planted in Labu area of

Temburong District and Brunei District

• Rubber was first exported to Britain and

the United States in 1914

• Export earnings rose during rubber boom Rubber estate

at the end of World War I
1922: Rubber Enactment
1933: Kilanas Agriculture Station
1936: Agriculture Department 10
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1.4 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Cutch Industry (Ubar)
• Main export of Brunei in early twentieth
century
• Mainly used by fishermen, and as a
colouring for leather
• 1901 – Factory opened at Subok
• Sold mainly to Britain, United States,
Japan and China
• 1911 – Highest recorded export (2,900
tons)
Sultan Hashim visits cutch
factory
Early 1930’s – cutch With emergence of
production drastically oil, cutch industry
reduced never recovered 11
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 CHAPTER 1: SUMMARY
Residential System

• In Administration
• In Social Welfare
• In Economics
• In Politics

• Power of the Sultan weakened

• Disrupted responsibilities and land rights
of the Wazirs
• Lack of commitment, sincerity and
sensitivity to Brunei
• Brunei’s interest not served
• Locals not given opportunities
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CHAPTER 1: SUMMARY

Economic Development of
Brunei 1906 - 1941

Discovery of Set up of Other

oil BMPC economic
resources
• Coal
• Rubber
• Cutch

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BETTER ADMINISTRATION
•Taxation and the collection of revenue were centralised.
•New departments were set up such as Customs and
Excise, Postal services, Agriculture, Public Works, Police,
Medical and Education.
•Brunei was divided into 4 districts, each under a District
Officer who had the powers of a magistrate.
•Each district was divided into mukims and villages under
the ‘Penghulu’ and ‘Ketua Kampong’ with the authority of
a Peace Officer.

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SOCIAL WELFARE
•The Sanitary Board was set up to be responsible for
cleanliness of towns and streets.
•Town Planning bodies were established for the
improvement of housing conditions.
•Communications systems were improved, for example, by
building roads.

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ECONOMICS
•Oil was discovered in Seria, in 1910. This put Brunei on
stronger financial footing, allowing it to introduce social
and welfare services in the country.
•Agriculture was encouraged, especially rubber or fruit
cultivation and fish farming.
•A land policy was introduced whereby land was properly
transferred with land grants and titles being issued.

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POLITICAL
•The dynastic line of Sultan Hashim was guaranteed and
the line of succession survives till today.
•This prevented both Brookes and the Dutch from gaining
territorial control over Brunei.
•The Resident was responsible for Brunei’s foreign affairs.

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DISADVANTAGES
•The Resident assumed more executive control over the
administration. The Sultan’s power weakened.
•Residential System disrupted the traditional responsibilities and
rights of Wazirs, forcing them to give up their land rights and
privileges.
•The Resident did not make the effort to understand local feelings.
There was a lack of commitment and insincerity towards Brunei.
•The Resident did not help to work for Brunei’s interests, as stated
in the Protectorate Agreement, such as to help Brunei recover
Limbang from Brooke’s regime.
•Locals were not given the opportunity to head any departments.

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