Negara Brunei

Darussalam

(Country of Brunei, Abode of Peace)

Brief History
• Archeological evidence shows Brunei to
have been trading with the Asian
Mainland as early as CE 518.
• Islam become predominant during the
14th century and the Brunei Sultanate
rose to prominence during the 15th and
16th century.
• The Brunei Sultanate controlled coastal
areas of North-West Borneo, parts of
Kalimantan and Philippines.
• Brunei subsequently entered a period of
decline due to internal strife over royal
succession.
• Spain declared war over Brunei in 1578.
• Manila was captured by the Spanish from
Brunei, and Christianized.
• The Spanish captured the capital of Brunei of
that time, Kota Batu on April 16,1578.
• Because of cholera or dysentery outbreak, the
Spanish abandoned Brunei and returned to
Manila.
• The country suffered from civil war from 1660
to 1673.
• Britain attacked Brunei in July 1846 due to
internal conflicts over who was the rightful
sultan.
• In the 1880s, the decline of the Bruneian
Empire continued.
• The sultan granted land (now Sarawak) to
James Brooke, who had helped him quell a
rebellion and allowed him to establish the
Kingdom of Sarawak.
• Over time, Brooke and his nephews (who
succeeded him) leased or annexed more land.
Brunei lost much of its territory to him and his
dynasty, known as the White Rajahs.
• Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin appealed to
the British to stop further encroachment by the
Brookes.
• British residents were introduced in Brunei under the
Supplementary Protectorate Agreement in 1906. The
residents were to advise the sultan on all matters of
administration.
• Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien promulgated the nation’s
new Constitution on September 29, 1959 which
ended the residential system.
• In the 1960s, Brunei considered merging with the
Federation of Malaysia, which at the time included
the provinces of the Malaysian peninsula, Sabah,
Sarawak and Singapore.
• A revolt occurred on December 1962, led by the
opponents of its monarchy and its proposed inclusion
in the Federation of Malaysia.
• The idea was opposed by the Brunei People’s Party,
which at that time held 16 seats in the 33-member
legislative council, and which proposed instead the
creation of a state comprising Northern Borneo,
Sarawak and Sabah. The Sultan finally decided
against joining the Federation.
• In 1971, under an agreement with the UK, Brunei
ceased to be a British protected state. The constitution
was amended to give the Sultan full control over all
internal matters, the UK retaining responsibility for
defence and foreign affairs. Brunei became a fully
independent sovereign state on 1 January 1984.
• Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah is the 29th and current
Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei. He is also the
first and incumbent Prime Minister of Brunei. The
eldest son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and Raja
Isteri (Queen) Pengiran Anak Damit, he succeeded to
the throne as the Sultan of Brunei, following the
abdication of his father on 4 October 1967.
Background
• Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
• Population: 436,620 (July 2016 est.)
• Ethnic Groups: Malay 65.7%, Chinese 10.3%, other
indigenous 3.4%, other 20.6% (2011 est.)
• Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese dialects
• Religions: Muslim (official) 78.8%, Christian 8.7%, Buddhist
7.8%, other (includes indigenous beliefs) 4.7% (2011 est.)
• Location: Southeastern Asia, along the northern coast of the
island of Borneo, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
• Total: 5,765 sq km
Politics of Brunei
• Government: Unitary Islamic Absolute Monarchy
• Sultan of Brunei is both head of state and head of
government (Prime Minister of Brunei).
• Brunei has a Legislative Council with 36 appointed
members, that only has consultative tasks.
• Under Brunei's 1959 constitution, His Majesty
Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah
Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, is the head of state with full
executive authority, including emergency powers
since 1962.
Executive branch
• The Sultan is the head of state and head of
government in Brunei and exercises absolute powers
and full executive authority under the framework of
the 1959 Constitution.
• The Sultan is advised by and presides over five
councils, which he appoints:
 Privy Council
 Council of Succession
 Religious Council
 Council of Ministers
 Legislative Council
Legislative branch
• The Legislative Council of Brunei is a national
unicameral legislature of Brunei.
• Roles:
1. Consider and approve budgets and revenue estimates
2. Advise the Sultan on the drive of the government
3. Review policies implemented by the government
4. Pass bills and motion brought by the government and
other members of the council
• The Council comprises the Sultan, the Crown Prince,
cabinet ministers and three types of members: members
with titles, members representing districts, and members
among outstanding Bruneians.
• All members, other than the Sultan, are appointed by the
Sultan in accordance with Article 24 of Brunei
Constitution.
• Since 13 January 2017, the Council has 33 members,
including 13 cabinet ministers.
• The Council follows the practice of other Commonwealth
parliaments. All bills presented in the Council go through
three readings. All bills, however, must obtain prior
approval from the Cabinet prior to their presentation in
the Council. Once a bill is passed, a bill must obtain
Royal Assent in order to turn such bill to an Act.
Judicial branch
• Highest court(s):
Supreme Court (consists of Court of Appeal and
High Court, each with a chief justice and 2 judges);
Sharia Court of Appeal (consists of judges
appointed by the monarch);

*Brunei has a dual judicial system of secular and

sharia (religious) courts; the Judicial Committee of Privy
Council in London serves as the final appellate court for
civil cases only
• Judge selection and term of office:
Supreme Court judges appointed by the monarch
to serve until age 65, and older if approved by the
monarch;
Sharia Court of Appeal judges appointed by the
monarch; judges appointed for life
• Subordinate courts:
Intermediate Court, Magistrate's Courts, Juvenile
Court, Small claims courts; Lower Sharia Courts
Foreign relations
• Brunei has a number of diplomatic missions abroad and
has close relations with Singapore, sharing an
interchangeable currency regime as well as close military
relations with the latter island-state. Aside from relations
with other ASEAN states, of which the Philippines,
Indonesia, and Malaysia are key partners, Brunei also has
extensive relations with the Islamic and Arab world
outside its region.
• In 2009, Brunei and the Philippines signed a
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that seeks to
strengthen the bilateral co-operation of the two countries
in the fields of agriculture and farm-related trade and
investments.
Transnational issues
• Territorial disputes
Brunei claimed the Limbang territory in Sarawak,
Malaysia. But in 2009, a solution was achieved between
the two governments when Brunei dropped all claims to
Limbang, thus recognising it as a Malaysian territory.
The nation also is one of many nations to lay claim to
the disputed Spratly Islands. Several small islands
situated between Brunei and Labuan, Malaysia,
including Kuraman island, are contested between
Brunei and Malaysia. However, they are internationally
recognised as part of the latter.
• Refugees and internally displaced persons:
stateless persons: 20,524 (as of2016); thousands
of stateless persons, often ethnic Chinese, are permanent
residents and their families have lived in Brunei for
generations; obtaining citizenship is difficult and
requires individuals to pass rigorous tests on Malay
culture, customs, and language; stateless residents
receive an International Certificate of Identity, which
enables them to travel overseas; the government is
considering changing the law prohibiting non-
Bruneians, including stateless permanent residents, from
owning land
• Illicit drugs:
Drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled
substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a
mandatory death penalty.