Brunei

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Coordinates: 4°30′N 114°40′E

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Brunei Darussalam
Negara Brunei
Darussalam (Malay)

Flag

Emblem
 Motto:

 ‫الدائمون المحسنون بالهدى‬

 Ad-dāʾimūna al-muḥsinūna bi-l-hudā
 (Sentiasa membuat kebajikan dengan
petunjuk Allah)
Always in service with God's guidance
Anthem:

 Allah Peliharakan Sultan

 ‫ﷲ ڤليهاراکن سلطان‬
 God Bless the Sultan
Duration: 1 minute and 5 seconds.1:05

Show globe
Show map of south-east Asia

Show all
Location of Brunei (green)
in the ASEAN (dark grey) –
 [Legend]
Capital Bandar Seri Begawan
and largest 4°53.417′N 114°56.
city 533′E
Official Malay[1]
language
Other Brunei Malay
languages Brunei English
and Tutong
dialects[2][3][4] Kedayan
Belait
Chinese (Hokkien, Ha
kka Chinese, Standard
Chinese and Cantones
e)
Murut
Dusun
Brunei Bisaya
Official Malay alphabet
scripts (Rumi)
Jawi alphabet[5]
Ethnic grou 73.7% Malays
ps 9.6% Chinese
(2023)[6] 16.6% others
Religion 82.1% Sunni
(2021)[6] Islam (official)
6.7% Christianity
6.3% Buddhism
4.9% other
(includes Indigenous
beliefs)
 Demonym(s Bruneian
)
Government Unitary
Islamic absolute
monarchy
• Sultan and Pr Hassanal Bolkiah
ime Minister
• Crown Al-Muhtadee Billah
Prince and
Senior
Minister
Legislature none[a]
Formation
• Sultanate c. 1368
established
• British 17 September 1888
protected
state
• Independenc 1 January 1984
e from
the United
Kingdom
Area
• Total 5,765[10] km2 (2,226 sq
mi) (164th)
• Water (%) 8.6
Population
• 2020 460,345[11] (169th)
estimate
• 2016 census 417,256
 • Density 72.11/km2 (186.8/sq m
i) (134th)
GDP (PPP) 2024 estimate
• Total $33.875
billion[12] (145th)
• Per capita $76,864[12] (9th)
GDP (nomin 2024 estimate
al)
• Total $15.783
billion[12] (122nd)
• Per capita $35,813[12] (23rd)
HDI (2022) 0.823[13]
very high (55th)
Currency Brunei dollar (BND)
Time zone UTC+8 (Brunei
Standard Time)
Drives on left
Calling code +673[c]
ISO 3166 BN
code
Internet .bn[14]
TLD
a. ^ Also 080 from East Malaysia.

Brunei,[b] officially Brunei Darussalam[c][d], is

a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern
coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on
the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by
the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with its territory
bifurcated by the Sarawak district of Limbang. Brunei is
the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo; the
remainder of the island is divided between its multi-
landmass neighbours of Malaysia and Indonesia. As of
2023, the country had a population of 455,858,[11] of
whom approximately 180,000 resided in the capital and
largest city of Bandar Seri Begawan. Its official language
is Malay and Islam is the state religion of the country,
although other religions are nominally tolerated.
The government of Brunei is a constitutional absolute
monarchy ruled by the Sultan, and it implements a fusion
of English common law and jurisprudence inspired
by Islam, including sharia.
At the Bruneian Empire's peak during the reign of
Sultan Bolkiah (1485–1528), the state is claimed to have
had control over the most of Borneo, including modern-
day Sarawak and Sabah, as well as the Sulu
archipelago and the islands off the northwestern tip of
Borneo. There are also claims to its historical control
over Seludong, the site of the modern Philippine capital
of Manila, but Southeast Asian scholars believe the
name of the location in question is actually in reference
to Mount Selurong, in Indonesia.[18] The maritime state of
Brunei was visited by the surviving crew of the Magellan
Expedition in 1521, and in 1578 it fought against Spain in
the Castilian War.
During the 19th century, the Bruneian Empire began to
decline. The Sultanate ceded Sarawak (Kuching)
to James Brooke and installed him as the White Rajah,
and it ceded Sabah to the British North Borneo
Chartered Company. In 1888, Brunei became a British
protectorate and was assigned a British resident as
colonial manager in 1906. After the Japanese occupation
during World War II, a new constitution was written in
1959. In 1962, a small armed rebellion against the
monarchy which was indirectly related to the Indonesia–
Malaysia confrontation was ended with British assistance
and led to the ban of the pro-independent Brunei
People's Party. The revolt had also influenced the
Sultan's decision not to join the Malaysian
Federation while it was being formed. Britain's
protectorate over Brunei would eventually end on 1
January 1984, becoming a fully sovereign state.
Brunei has been led by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah since
1967, and the country's unicameral legislature,
the Legislative Council, is simply consultative and are all
appointed by the Sultan. The country's wealth derives
from its extensive petroleum and natural gas fields.
Economic growth during the 1990s and 2000s has
transformed Brunei into an industrialised country, with its
GDP increasing 56% between 1999 and 2008. Political
stability is maintained by the House of Bolkiah by
providing a welfare state for its citizens, with free or
significant subsidies in regards to housing, healthcare
and education. It ranks "very high" on the Human
Development Index (HDI)—the second-highest
among Southeast Asian states after Singapore, which it
maintains close relations with including a Currency
Interchangeability Agreement. According to
the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Brunei is ranked
ninth in the world by gross domestic product per capita at
purchasing power parity. Brunei is a member of
the United Nations, the World Trade Organization,
the East Asia Summit, the Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation the Non-Aligned Movement,
the Commonwealth of Nations, and ASEAN.
Etymology
According to local historiography, Brunei was founded by
Awang Alak Betatar, later to be Sultan Muhammad
Shah, reigning around AD 1400. He moved from Garang
in the Temburong District[19] to the Brunei River estuary,
discovering Brunei. According to legend, upon landing
he exclaimed, Baru nah (loosely translated as "that's it!"
or "there"), from which the name "Brunei" was derived.
[20]
He was the first Muslim ruler of Brunei.[21] Before the
rise of the Bruneian Empire under the Muslim Bolkiah
dynasty, Brunei is believed to have been under Buddhist
rulers.[22]
It was renamed "Barunai" in the 14th century, possibly
influenced by the Sanskrit word "varuṇ" (वरुण), meaning
"seafarers".[23] The word "Borneo" is of the same origin. In
the country's full name, Negara Brunei
Darussalam, darussalam (Arabic: ‫ )دار السالم‬means
"abode of peace", while negara means "country"
in Malay. A shortened version of the Malay official name,
"Brunei Darussalam", has also entered common usage,
particularly in official contexts, and is present in
the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical
Names geographical database,[24] as well as the official
ASEAN[25] and Commonwealth[26] listings.
The earliest recorded documentation by the West about
Brunei is by an Italian known as Ludovico di Varthema.
On his documentation back to 1550;
We arrived at the island of Bornei (Brunei or Borneo),
which is distant from the Maluch about two hundred
miles [three hundred kilometres], and we found that it
was somewhat larger than the aforesaid and much
lower. The people are pagans and are men of goodwill.
Their colour is whiter than that of the other sort ... in this
island justice is well administered ...[27]
History
Main article: History of Brunei
Early history

The tomb of a Bruneian

king in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Areas comprising what is now Brunei participated in
the Maritime Jade Road, as ascertained by archeological
research. The trading network existed for 3,000 years,
between 2000 BC to 1000 AD.[28][29][30][31] The settlement
known as Vijayapura was a vassal-state to the
Buddhist Srivijaya empire and was thought to be located
in Borneo's Northwest which flourished in the 7th
Century.[32] Vijayapura itself upon earlier in its history,
was a rump state of the fallen multi-ethnic: Austronesian,
Austroasiatic and Indian, Funan Civilization; previously
located in what is now Cambodia.[33]: 36 This alternative
Srivijaya known as Vijayapura referring to Brunei, was
known to Arabic sources as "Sribuza".[34]
One of the earliest Chinese records of an independent
kingdom in Borneo is the 977 AD letter to the Chinese
emperor from the ruler of Boni, which some scholars
believe to refer to Borneo.[35] The Bruneians regained
their independence from Srivijaya due to the onset of a
Javanese-Sumatran war.[36] In 1225, the Chinese
official Zhao Rukuo reported that Boni had 100 warships
to protect its trade, and that there was great wealth in the
kingdom.[37] Marco Polo suggested in his memoirs that
the Great Khan or the ruler of the Mongol Empire,
attempted and failed many times in invading "Great
Java" which was the European name for Bruneian
controlled Borneo.[38][additional citation(s) needed]
According to Wang Zhenping, in the 1300s, the Yuan
Dade nanhai zhi or "Yuan dynasty Dade period southern
sea records" reported that Brunei or
administered Sarawak and Sabah as well as the
Philippine kingdoms of Butuan, Sulu, Ma-i (Mindoro),
Malilu 麻裏蘆 (Manila), Shahuchong 沙胡重 (Siocon
or Zamboanga), Yachen 啞陳 Oton, and 文杜陵 Wenduling
(Mindanao),[39] which would regain their independence at
a later date.[40]
In the 14th century,
the Javanese manuscript Nagarakretagama, written
by Prapanca in 1365, mentioned Barune as the
constituent state of Hindu Majapahit,[41] which had to
make an annual tribute of 40 katis of camphor. In 1369,
Sulu which was also formerly part of Majapahit, had
successfully rebelled and then attacked Boni, and had
invaded the Northeast Coast of Borneo[42] and afterwards
had looted the capital of its treasure and gold including
sacking two sacred pearls. A fleet from Majapahit
succeeded in driving away the Sulus, but Boni was left
weaker after the attack.[43] A Chinese report from 1371
described Boni as poor and totally controlled by
Majapahit.[44] When the Chinese admiral Zheng He visited
the Brunei in the early 15th century, he founded a major
trading port which included Chinese people who were
actively trading with China.[45]
During the 15th century, Boni had seceded from
Majapahit and then converted to Islam. Thus
transforming into the independent Sultanate of Brunei.
Brunei became a Hashemite state when she allowed the
Arab Emir of Mecca, Sharif Ali, to become her third
sultan.
As customary for close affiliation and alliances in
Southeast Asia, the royal family of Luzon intermarried
with the ruling houses of the Sultanate of Brunei.
 Intermarriage was a common strategy for Southeast
[46]

Asian states to extend their influence.[47] However, Islamic

Brunei's power was not uncontested in Borneo since it
had a Hindu rival in a state founded by Indians
called Kutai in the south which they overpowered but
didn't destroy.
Nevertheless, by the 16th century, Islam was firmly
rooted in Brunei, and the country had built one of its
biggest mosques. In 1578, Alonso Beltrán, a Spanish
traveller, described it as being five stories tall and built
on the water.[48]
War with Spain and decline

Brunei territorial losses from 1400 to

1890
Brunei briefly rose to prominence in Southeast Asia
when the Portuguese occupied Malacca and thereby
forced the wealthy and powerful but displaced Muslim
refugees there to relocate to nearby Sultanates such as
Brunei. The Bruneian Sultan then intervened in a
territorial conflict between Hindu Tondo and Muslim
Manila in the Philippines by appointing the Bruneian
descended Rajah Ache of Manila as admiral of the
Bruneian navy in a rivalry against Tondo and as the
enforcer of Bruneian interests in the Philippines. He
subsequently encountered the Magellan
expedition[49] wherein Antonio Pigafetta noted that under
orders from his grandfather the Sultan of Brunei, Ache
had previously sacked the Buddhist city of Loue in
Southwest Borneo for being faithful to the old religion
and rebelling against the authority of Sultanate.
[50]
However, European influence gradually brought an
end to Brunei's regional power, as Brunei entered a
period of decline compounded by internal strife over
royal succession. In the face of these invasions by
European Christian powers, the Ottoman
Caliphate aided the beleaguered Southeast Asian
Sultanates by making Aceh a protectorate and sending
expeditions to reinforce, train and equip the
local mujahideen.[51] Turks were routinely migrating to
Brunei as evidenced by the complaints of Manila Oidor
Melchor Davalos who in his 1585 report, say that Turks
were coming to Sumatra, Borneo and Ternate every
year, including defeated veterans from the Battle of
Lepanto.[52]
Spain declared war in 1578, planning to attack and
capture Kota Batu, Brunei's capital at the time. This was
based in part on the assistance of two
Bruneian noblemen, Pengiran Seri Lela and Pengiran
Seri Ratna. The former had travelled to Manila, then the
centre of the Spanish colony. Manila itself was captured
from Brunei, Christianised and made a territory of
the Viceroyalty of New Spain which was centered in
Mexico City. Pengiran Seri Lela came to offer Brunei as
a tributary to Spain for help to recover the throne
usurped by his brother, Saiful Rijal.[53] The Spanish
agreed that if they succeeded in conquering Brunei,
Pengiran Seri Lela would be appointed as the sultan,
while Pengiran Seri Ratna would be the new Bendahara.
Brunei (汶莱國) delegates in Beijing, China, in 1761. 萬國來朝圖
In March 1578, a fresh Spanish fleet had arrived from
Mexico and settled at the Philippines. They were led
by De Sande, acting as Capitán-General. He organized
an expedition from Manila for Brunei, consisting of 400
Spaniards and Mexicans, 1,500 Filipino natives, and 300
Borneans.[54] The campaign was one of many, which also
included action in Mindanao and Sulu.[55][56] The racial
make-up of the Christian side was diverse since it were
usually made up of Mestizos, Mulattoes and Amerindians
(Aztecs, Mayans and Incans) who were gathered and
sent from Mexico and were led by Spanish officers who
had worked together with native Filipinos in military
campaigns across the Southeast Asia.[57] The Muslim
side was also equally racially diverse. In addition to the
native Malay warriors, the Ottomans had repeatedly sent
military expeditions to nearby Aceh. The expeditions
were composed mainly
of Turks, Egyptians, Swahilis, Somalis, Sindhis, Gujaratis
and Malabars.[58] These expeditionary forces had also
spread to other nearby Sultanates such as Brunei and
had taught new fighting tactics and techniques on how to
forge cannons.[59]
Eventually, the Spanish captured the capital on 16 April
1578, with the help of Pengiran Seri Lela and Pengiran
Seri Ratna. The Sultan Saiful Rijal and Paduka Seri
Begawan Sultan Abdul Kahar were forced to flee to
Meragang then to Jerudong. In Jerudong, they made
plans to chase the conquering army away from Brunei.
Suffering high fatalities due to
a cholera or dysentery outbreak,[60][61] the Spanish decided
to abandon Brunei and returned to Manila on 26 June
1578, after 72 days.[62]
Pengiran Seri Lela died in August or September 1578,
probably from the same illness suffered by his Spanish
allies.[citation needed] There was suspicion that the legitimist
sultan could have been poisoned by the ruling sultan.[citation
needed]
Seri Lela's daughter, a Bruneian princess, "Putri",
had left with the Spanish, she abandoned her claim to
the crown and then she married a Christian Tagalog,
named Agustín de Legazpi de Tondo.[63] Agustin de
Legaspi along with his family and associates were soon
implicated in the Conspiracy of the Maharlikas, an
attempt by Filipinos to link up with the Brunei Sultanate
and Japanese Shogunate to expel the Spaniards from
the Philippines.[64] However, upon the Spanish
suppression of the conspiracy, the Bruneian descended
aristocracy of precolonial Manila were exiled to Guerrero,
Mexico which consequently later became a center of
the Mexican war of independence against Spain.[65][66]
The local Brunei accounts[67] of the Castilian War differ
greatly from the generally accepted view of events. What
was called the Castilian War was seen as a heroic
episode, with the Spaniards being driven out
by Bendahara Sakam, purportedly a brother of the ruling
sultan, and a thousand native warriors. Most historians
consider this to be a folk-hero account, which probably
developed decades or centuries after.[68]
Brunei eventually descended into anarchy. The country
suffered a civil war from 1660 to 1673.
British intervention
See also: British Brunei Administrators and British
Borneo

British adventurer James

Brooke negotiating with the Sultan of Brunei, which led
to the signing of the Treaty of Labuan, 1846

Boundaries of Brunei (green) since

1890
The British have intervened in the affairs of Brunei on
several occasions. Britain attacked Brunei in July 1846
due to internal conflicts over who was the rightful Sultan.
[69]

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 Raj 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.
[70]
The "Treaty of Protection" was negotiated by Sir Hugh
Low and signed into effect on 17 September 1888. The
treaty said that the sultan "could not cede or lease any
territory to foreign powers without British consent"; it
provided Britain effective control over Brunei's external
affairs, making it a British protected state (which
continued until 1984).[71][72] But, when the Raj of Sarawak
annexed Brunei's Pandaruan District in 1890,[73] the
British did not take any action to stop it. They did not
regard either Brunei or the Raj of Sarawak as 'foreign'
(per the Treaty of Protection). This final annexation by
Sarawak left Brunei with its current small land mass and
separation into two parts.[74]
British residents were introduced in Brunei under the
Supplementary Protectorate Agreement in 1906.[75][76] The
residents were to advise the sultan on all matters of
administration. Over time, the resident assumed more
executive control than the sultan. The residential system
ended in 1959.[77]
Discovery of oil
Petroleum was discovered in 1929 after several fruitless
attempts.[78] Two men, F. F. Marriot and T. G. Cochrane,
smelled oil near the Seria river in late 1926.[79] They
informed a geophysicist, who conducted a survey there.
In 1927, gas seepages were reported in the area. Seria
Well Number One (S-1) was drilled on 12 July 1928. Oil
was struck at 297 metres (974 ft) on 5 April 1929. Seria
Well Number 2 was drilled on 19 August 1929, and, as of
2009, continues to produce oil.[80] Oil production was
increased considerably in the 1930s with the
development of more oil fields. In 1940, oil production
was at more than six million barrels.[80] The British
Malayan Petroleum Company (now Brunei Shell
Petroleum Company) was formed on 22 July 1922.[81] The
first offshore well was drilled in 1957.[82] Oil and natural
gas have been the basis of Brunei's development and
wealth since the late 20th century.
Japanese occupation
Main article: Japanese occupation of British Borneo
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Ahmad Tajuddin, the 27th Sultan of

Brunei, with members of his court in April 1941, eight
months before the Japanese invaded Brunei
The Japanese invaded Brunei on 16 December 1941,
eight days after their attack on Pearl Harbor and the
United States Navy. They landed 10,000 troops of
the Kawaguchi Detachment from Cam Ranh
Bay at Kuala Belait. After six days' fighting, they
occupied the entire country. The only Allied troops in the
area were the 2nd Battalion of the 15th Punjab
Regiment based at Kuching, Sarawak.[83]
Once the Japanese occupied Brunei, they made an
agreement with Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin over governing
the country. Inche Ibrahim (known later as Pehin Datu
Perdana Menteri Dato Laila Utama Awang Haji Ibrahim),
a former Secretary to the British Resident, Ernest Edgar
Pengilly, was appointed chief administrative officer under
the Japanese Governor. The Japanese had proposed
that Pengilly retain his position under their
administration, but he declined. Both he and other British
nationals still in Brunei were interned by the Japanese
at Batu Lintang camp in Sarawak. While the British
officials were under Japanese guard, Ibrahim made a
point of personally shaking each one by the hand and
wishing him well.[84][85]
The Sultan retained his throne and was given a pension
and honours by the Japanese. During the later part of
the occupation, he resided at Tantuya, Limbang and had
little to do with the Japanese. Most of the Malay
government officers were retained by the Japanese.
Brunei's administration was reorganised into five
prefectures, which included British North Borneo. The
Prefectures included Baram, Labuan, Lawas,
and Limbang. Ibrahim hid numerous significant
government documents from the Japanese during the
occupation. Pengiran Yusuf (later YAM Pengiran Setia
Negara Pengiran Haji Mohd Yusuf), along with other
Bruneians, was sent to Japan for training. Although in
the area the day of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima,
Yusuf survived.
The British had anticipated a Japanese attack, but
lacked the resources to defend the area because of their
engagement in the war in Europe. The troops from the
Punjab Regiment filled in the Seria oilfield oilwells with
concrete in September 1941 to deny the Japanese their
use. The remaining equipment and installations were
destroyed when the Japanese invaded Malaya. By the
end of the war, 16 wells at Miri and Seria had been
restarted, with production reaching about half the pre-
war level. Coal production at Muara was also
recommenced, but with little success.

Nagato, Tone, Yamato and Musashi

in Brunei Bay in October 1944
During the occupation, the Japanese had their language
taught in schools, and Government officers were
required to learn Japanese. The local currency was
replaced by what was to become known as duit
pisang (banana money). From 1943 hyper-inflation
destroyed the currency's value and, at the end of the
war, this currency was worthless. Allied attacks on
shipping eventually caused trade to cease. Food and
medicine fell into short supply, and the population
suffered from famine and disease.
The airport runway was constructed by the Japanese
during the occupation, and in 1943 Japanese naval units
were based in Brunei Bay and Labuan. The naval base
was destroyed by Allied bombing, but the airport runway
survived. The facility was developed as a public airport.
In 1944 the Allies began a bombing campaign against
the occupying Japanese, which destroyed much of the
town and Kuala Belait, but missed Kampong Ayer.[86]
 Major-General Wootten of the
Australian 9th Division with Lieutenant-General Masao
Baba (signing) of the Japanese 37th Division at the
surrender ceremony at Labuan on 10 September 1945
On 10 June 1945, the Australian 9th Division landed at
Muara under Operation Oboe Six to recapture Borneo
from the Japanese. They were supported by American
air and naval units. Brunei town was bombed extensively
and recaptured after three days of heavy fighting. Many
buildings were destroyed, including the Mosque. The
Japanese forces in Brunei, Borneo, and Sarawak, under
Lieutenant-General Masao Baba, formally surrendered at
Labuan on 10 September 1945. The British Military
Administration took over from the Japanese and
remained until July 1946.
Post-World War II
After World War II, a new government was formed in
Brunei under the British Military Administration (BMA). It
consisted mainly of Australian officers and servicemen.
[87]
The administration of Brunei was passed to the Civil
Administration on 6 July 1945. The Brunei State Council
was also revived that year.[88] The BMA was tasked to
revive the Bruneian economy, which was extensively
damaged by the Japanese during their occupation. They
also had to put out the fires on the wells of Seria, which
had been set by the Japanese prior to their defeat.[88]
Before 1941, the Governor of the Straits Settlements,
based in Singapore, was responsible for the duties of
British High Commissioner for Brunei, Sarawak,
and North Borneo (now Sabah).[89] The first British High
Commissioner for Brunei was the Governor of Sarawak,
Sir Charles Ardon Clarke. The Barisan Pemuda ("Youth
Front"; abbreviated as BARIP) was the first political party
to be formed in Brunei, on 12 April 1946. The party
intended to "preserve the sovereignty of the Sultan and
the country, and to defend the rights of the Malays".
[90]
BARIP also contributed to the composition of the
country's national anthem. The party was dissolved in
1948 due to inactivity.
In 1959, a new constitution was written declaring Brunei
a self-governing state, while its foreign affairs, security,
and defence remained the responsibility of the United
Kingdom.[91] A small rebellion erupted against the
monarchy in 1962, which was suppressed with help of
the UK.[92] Known as the Brunei Revolt, the rebellion
contributed to the Sultan's decision to opt out of joining
the emerging state now called Malaysia under the
umbrella of North Borneo Federation.[91]
Brunei gained its independence from the United
Kingdom on 1 January 1984.[91] The official National Day,
which celebrates the country's independence, is held by
tradition on 23 February.[93]
Writing of the Constitution

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III

In July 1953, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III formed a
seven-member committee named Tujuh Serangkai, to
determine the citizens' views regarding a written
constitution for Brunei. In May 1954, the Sultan, Resident
and High Commissioner met to discuss the findings of
the committee. They agreed to authorise the drafting of a
constitution. In March 1959, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien
III led a delegation to London to discuss the proposed
Constitution.[94] The British delegation was led by Sir Alan
Lennox-Boyd, Secretary of State for the Colonies. The
British Government later accepted the draft constitution.
On 29 September 1959, the Constitution Agreement was
signed in Brunei Town. The agreement was signed by
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and Sir Robert Scott, the
Commissioner-General for Southeast Asia. It included
the following provisions:[75]
 The Sultan was made the Supreme Head of State.
 Brunei was responsible for its internal administration.

 The British Government was responsible for foreign

and defence affairs only.

 The post of Resident was abolished and replaced by a

British High Commissioner.

Five councils were established:[95]
 The Executive Council
 The Legislative Council of Brunei
 The Privy Council
 The Council of Succession
 The State Religious Council
National development plans
A series of National Development Plans was initiated by
the 28th Sultan of Brunei, Omar Ali Saifuddien III.
The first was introduced in 1953.[96] A total sum of B$100
million was approved by the Brunei State Council for the
plan. E.R. Bevington, from the Colonial Office in Fiji, was
appointed to implement it.[97] A US$14 million Gas Plant
was built under the plan. In 1954, survey and exploration
work were undertaken by the Brunei Shell Petroleum on
both offshore and onshore fields. By 1956, production
reached 114,700 bpd.
 British soldiers in the British
protectorate of Brunei on guard in the Seria oilfield,
January 1963
The plan also aided the development of public
education. By 1958, expenditure on education totalled at
$4 million.[97] Communications were improved, as new
roads were built and reconstruction at Berakas
Airport was completed in 1954.[98]
The second National Development Plan was launched in
1962.[98] A major oil and gas field was discovered in 1963.
Developments in the oil and gas sector have continued,
and oil production has steadily increased since then.
[99]
The plan also promoted the production of meat and
eggs for consumption by citizens. The fishing industry
increased its output by 25% throughout the course of the
plan. The deepwater port at Muara was also constructed
during this period. Power requirements were met, and
studies were made to provide electricity to rural areas.
[99]
Efforts were made to eradicate malaria, an endemic
disease in the region, with the help of the World Health
Organization. Malaria cases were reduced from 300
cases in 1953 to only 66 cases in 1959.[100] The death
rate was reduced from 20 per thousand in 1947 to 11.3
per thousand in 1953.[100] Infectious disease has been
prevented by public sanitation and improvement of
drainage, and the provision of piped pure water to the
population.[100]
Independence
On 14 November 1971, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah left for
London to discuss matters regarding the amendments to
the 1959 constitution. A new agreement was signed on
23 November 1971 with the British representative
being Anthony Royle.[101]
Under this agreement, the following terms were agreed
upon:
 Brunei was granted full internal self-government
 The UK would still be responsible for external affairs

and defence.
 Brunei and the UK agreed to share the responsibility

for security and defence.

This agreement also caused Gurkha units to be
deployed in Brunei, where they remain up to this day.
 Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (right),
handing his credentials to ambassador Janin Erih in
2004
On 7 January 1979, another treaty was signed between
Brunei and the United Kingdom. It was signed with Lord
Goronwy-Roberts being the representative of the UK.
This agreement granted Brunei to take over international
responsibilities as an independent nation. Britain agreed
to assist Brunei in diplomatic matters. In May 1983, it
was announced by the UK that the date of independence
of Brunei would be 1 January 1984.[102]
On 31 December 1983, a mass gathering was held on
main mosques on all four of the districts of the country
and at midnight, on 1 January 1984, the Proclamation of
Independence was read by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
The sultan subsequently assumed the title "His Majesty",
rather than the previous "His Royal Highness".[103] Brunei
was admitted to the United Nations on 22 September
1984, becoming the organisation's 159th member.[104]
21st century
In October 2013, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah announced
his intention to impose Penal Code from Sharia on the
country's Muslims, which make up roughly two thirds of
the country's population.[105] This would be implemented
in three phases, culminating in 2016, and making Brunei
the first and only country in East Asia to introduce Sharia
into its penal code, excluding the subnational Indonesian
special territory of Aceh.[106] The move attracted
international criticism,[107] the United Nations expressing
"deep concern".[108]
Geography
Main article: Geography of Brunei

A topographic and geographic

limits map of Brunei
Brunei is a southeast Asian country consisting of two
unconnected parts with a total area of 5,765 square
kilometres (2,226 sq mi) on the island of Borneo. It has
161 kilometres (100 mi) of coastline next to the South
China Sea, and it shares a 381 km (237 mi) border with
Malaysia. It has 500 square kilometres (193 sq mi) of
territorial waters, and a 200-nautical-mile (370 km;
230 mi) exclusive economic zone.[71]
About 97% of the population lives in the larger western
part (Belait, Tutong, and Brunei-Muara), while only about
10,000 people live in the mountainous eastern part
(Temburong District). The total population of Brunei is
approximately 408,000 as of July 2010, of which around
150,000 live in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan.
[109]
Other major towns are the port town of Muara, the oil-
producing town of Seria and its neighbouring
town, Kuala Belait. In Belait District, the Panaga area is
home to large numbers of Europeans expatriates, due
to Royal Dutch Shell and British Army housing, and
several recreational facilities are located there.[110]
Most of Brunei is within the Borneo lowland rain
forests ecoregion, which covers most of the island. Areas
of mountain rain forests are located inland.[111]
The climate of Brunei is tropical equatorial that is
a tropical rainforest climate[71] more subject to
the Intertropical Convergence Zone than the trade
winds and with no or rare cyclones. Brunei is exposed to
the risks stemming from climate change along with
other ASEAN member states.[112][113]
Politics and government
Main articles: Politics of Brunei and Government of
Brunei
 Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei.
Brunei's political system is governed by the constitution
and the national tradition of the Malay Islamic Monarchy
(Melayu Islam Beraja; MIB). The three components of
MIB cover Malay culture, Islamic religion, and the
political framework under the monarchy.[114] It has a legal
system based on English common law, although Islamic
law (sharia) supersedes this in some cases.[71] Brunei has
a parliament but there are no elections; the last election
was held in 1962.[115]
Under Brunei's 1959 constitution, the Sultan,
currently Hassanal Bolkiah, is the head of state with full
executive authority. Following the Brunei Revolt of 1962,
this authority has included emergency powers, which are
renewed every two years, meaning that Brunei has
technically been under martial law since then.
[91]
Hassanal Bolkiah also serves as the state's prime
minister, finance minister and defence minister.[116]
Foreign relations
Main article: Foreign relations of Brunei
 Brunei's Sultan and Foreign
Minister Hassanal Bolkiah meets with U.S.
President Barack Obama, 18 November 2015

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah with

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, 6 October 2017
Until 1979, Brunei's foreign relations were managed by
the UK government. After that, they were handled by the
Brunei Diplomatic Service. After independence in 1984,
this Service was upgraded to ministerial level and is now
known as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[117]
Officially, Brunei's foreign policy is as follows:[118]
 Mutual respect of others' territorial sovereignty,
integrity and independence;
 The maintenance of friendly relations among nations;
 Non-interference in the internal affairs of other
countries; and
 The maintenance and the promotion of peace, security
and stability in the region.
With its traditional ties with the United Kingdom, Brunei
became the 49th member of
the Commonwealth immediately on the day of its
independence on 1 January 1984.[119] As one of its first
initiatives toward improved regional relations, Brunei
joined ASEAN on 7 January 1984, becoming the sixth
member. To achieve recognition of its sovereignty and
independence, it joined the United Nations as a full
member on 21 September of that same year.[120]
As an Islamic country, Brunei became a full member of
the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (now
the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) in January
1984 at the Fourth Islamic Summit held in Morocco.[121]
After its accession to the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation forum (APEC) in 1989, Brunei hosted the
APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in November 2000
and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in July 2002.
[122]
Brunei became a founding member of the World
Trade Organization (WTO) on 1 January 1995,[123] and is
a major player in BIMP-EAGA, which was formed during
the Inaugural Ministers' Meeting in Davao, Philippines,
on 24 March 1994.[124]

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

and Vladimir Putin during APEC 2000
Brunei shares a close relationship with Singapore and
the Philippines. In April 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.[125]
Brunei is one of many nations to lay claim to some of the
disputed Spratly Islands.[126] The status of Limbang as
part of Sarawak has been disputed by Brunei since the
area was first annexed in 1890.[126] The issue was
reportedly settled in 2009, with Brunei agreeing to accept
the border in exchange for Malaysia giving up claims to
oil fields in Bruneian waters.[127] The Brunei government
denies this and says that their claim on Limbang was
never dropped.[128][129]
Brunei was the chair for ASEAN in 2013.[130] It also hosted
the ASEAN summit on that same year.[131]
Military
Main articles: Royal Brunei Armed Forces and British
Military Garrison Brunei
Brunei maintains three infantry battalions stationed
around the country.[91] The Brunei navy has several
"Ijtihad"-class patrol boats purchased from a German
manufacturer. The United Kingdom also maintains a
base in Seria, the centre of the oil industry in Brunei.
A Gurkha battalion consisting of 1,500 personnel is
stationed there.[91] United Kingdom military personnel are
stationed there under a defence agreement signed
between the two countries.[91]
A Bell 212 operated by the air force crashed in Kuala
Belait on 20 July 2012 with the loss of 12 of the 14 crew
on board. The cause of the accident has yet to be
ascertained.[132] The crash is the worst aviation incident in
the history of Brunei.
The Army is currently acquiring new equipment,
[133]
including UAVs and S-70i Black Hawks.[134]
Brunei's Legislative Council proposed an increase of the
defence budget for the 2016–17 fiscal year of about five
per cent to 564 million Brunei dollars ($408 million). This
amounts to about ten per cent of the state's total national
yearly expenditure and represents around 2.5 per cent of
GDP.[135]
Administrative divisions
Main article: Administrative divisions of Brunei
Brunei is divided into four districts (daerah),
namely Brunei-Muara, Belait, Tutong and Temburong.
Brunei-Muara District is the smallest yet the most
populous, and home to the country's capital Bandar Seri
Begawan. Belait is the birthplace and centre for the
country's oil and gas industry. Temburong is
an exclave and separated from the rest of the country by
the Brunei Bay and Malaysian state of Sarawak. Tutong
is home to Tasek Merimbun, the country's largest natural
lake.
Each district is divided into several mukims. Altogether
there are 39 mukims in Brunei. Each mukim
encompasses several villages (kampung or kampong).
Bandar Seri Begawan and towns in the country
(except Muara and Bangar) are administered
as Municipal Board areas (kawasan Lembaga
Bandaran). Each municipal area may constitute villages
or mukims, partially or as a whole. Bandar Seri Begawan
and a few of the towns also function as capitals of the
districts where they are located.
A district and its constituent mukims and villages are
administered by a District Office (Jabatan Daerah).
Meanwhile, municipal areas are governed by Municipal
Departments (Jabatan Bandaran). Both District Offices
and Municipal Departments are government departments
under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Legal system
Brunei has numerous courts in its judicial branch. The
highest court, though subject in civil cases to the
appellate jurisdiction of the Judicial Committee of the
Privy Council,[136] is the Supreme Court, which consists of
the Court of Appeal and High Court. Both of these have
a chief justice and two judges.[71]
Women and children
Main article: Women in Brunei
Headscarves called tudong are compulsory for Brunei's
Muslim schoolgirls
The U.S. Department of State has stated that
discrimination against women is a problem in Brunei.
[137]
The law prohibits sexual harassment and stipulates
that whoever assaults or uses criminal force, intending
thereby to outrage or knowing it is likely to outrage the
modesty of a person, shall be punished with
imprisonment for as much as five years and caning. The
law stipulates imprisonment of up to 30 years, and
caning with not fewer than 12 strokes for rape. The law
does not criminalise spousal rape; it explicitly states that
sexual intercourse by a man with his wife, as long as she
is not under 13 years of age, is not rape. Protections
against sexual assault by a spouse are provided under
the amended Islamic Family Law Order 2010 and
Married Women Act Order 2010. The penalty for
breaching a protection order is a fine not exceeding
BN$2,000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months. By
law, sexual intercourse with a female under 14 years of
age constitutes rape and is punishable by imprisonment
for not less than eight years and not more than 30 years
and not less than 12 strokes of the cane. The intent of
the law is to protect girls from exploitation through
prostitution and "other immoral purposes", including
pornography.[137]
Bruneian citizenship is derived through parents'
nationality rather than jus soli. Parents with stateless
status are required to apply for a special pass for a child
born in the country. Failure to register a child may make
it difficult to enroll the child in school.
LGBT rights
Main article: LGBT rights in Brunei
Male and female homosexuality is illegal in Brunei.
Sexual relations between men are punishable by death
or whipping; sex between women is punishable by
caning or imprisonment.
In May 2019, the Brunei government extended its
existing moratorium on the death penalty to the Sharia
criminal code as well that made homosexual acts
punishable with death by stoning.[138]
In 2019, Brunei announced that it would no longer be
implementing the second phase of its controversial
sharia penal code. The code, which was first introduced
in 2014, included a range of punishments for crimes
such as theft, drug offences, and same-sex relationships,
including amputation and death by stoning.
The decision to halt the implementation of the second
phase of the code came after significant international
backlash and pressure from countries and human rights
organizations, who criticized the harsh punishments as
inhumane and a violation of human rights.
The government of Brunei stated that the decision was
made in order to maintain peace and stability in the
country, and to avoid any negative impact on the
economy and reputation of the country. The Sultan of
Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, also issued a statement
saying that the country would continue to "strengthen
and improve" its legal system in line with international
norms and best practices.
It is worth mentioning that the first phase of the sharia
penal code, which includes fines and imprisonment for
offenses such as failure to attend Friday prayers and
consuming alcohol, remains in place.
Religious rights
Main article: Freedom of religion in Brunei

Brunei International Airport Mosque

In The Laws of Brunei, the right of non-Muslims to
practice their faith is guaranteed by the 1959
Constitution. However, celebrations and prayers must be
confined to places of worship and private residences.
[139]
Upon adopting Sharia Penal Code, the Ministry of
Religious Affairs banned Christmas decorations in public
places, but did not forbid celebration of Christmas in
places of worship and private premises.[140] On 25
December 2015, 4,000 out of 18,000 estimated local
Catholics attended the mass of Christmas Day and
Christmas Eve.[139] In 2015, the then-head of the Catholic
Church in Brunei told The Brunei Times, "To be quite
honest there has been no change for us this year; no
new restrictions have been laid down, although we fully
respect and adhere to the existing regulations that our
celebrations and worship be [confined] to the
compounds of the church and private residences".[139]
Brunei's revised penal code came into force in phases,
commencing on 22 April 2014 with offences punishable
by fines or imprisonment.[141][142] The complete code, due
for final implementation later, stipulated the death
penalty for numerous offenses (both violent and non-
violent), such as insult or defamation of Muhammad,
insulting any verses of the Quran and
Hadith, blasphemy, declaring oneself a prophet or non-
Muslim, robbery, rape, adultery, sodomy, extramarital
sexual relations for Muslims, and murder. Stoning to
death was the specified "method of execution for crimes
of a sexual nature". Rupert Colville, spokesperson for
the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human
Rights (OHCHR) declared that, "Application of the death
penalty for such a broad range of offences contravenes
international law."[143]
Animal rights
Brunei is the first country in Asia to have banned shark
finning nationwide.[144]
Brunei has retained most of its forests, compared to its
neighbours that share Borneo island. There is a public
campaign calling to protect pangolins which are
considered a threatened treasure in Brunei.[145]
Economy
Main articles: Economy of Brunei and Tourism in Brunei
 BIMP-EAGA meeting in the office of
Brunei Prime Minister on 25 April 2013. From left: Brunei
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Indonesian President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono, Malaysian Representative and
Filipino President Benigno Aquino III. Brunei is part of
the BIMP-EAGA, a subregional economic co-operation
initiative in Southeast Asia.
Brunei has the second-highest Human Development
Index among the Southeast Asian nations,
after Singapore.[146][147] Crude oil and natural gas
production account for about 90% of its GDP.[91] About
167,000 barrels (26,600 m3) of oil are produced every
day, making Brunei the fourth-largest producer of oil in
Southeast Asia.[91] It also produces approximately
25.3 million cubic metres (890 million cubic feet)
of liquified natural gas per day, making Brunei the ninth-
largest gas exporter in the world.[91] Forbes also ranks
Brunei as the fifth-richest nation out of 182, based on its
petroleum and natural gas fields.[148] Brunei was ranked
87th in the Global Innovation Index in 2023.[149]
Substantial income from overseas investment
supplements income from domestic production. Most of
these investments are made by the Brunei Investment
Agency, an arm of the Ministry of Finance.[91] The
government provides for all medical services,[150] and
subsidises rice[151] and housing.[91]
The national air carrier, Royal Brunei Airlines, is trying to
develop Brunei as a hub for international travel between
Europe and Australia/New Zealand. Central to this
strategy is the position that the airline maintains
at London Heathrow Airport. It holds a daily slot at the
highly capacity-controlled airport, which it serves from
Bandar Seri Begawan via Dubai. The airline also has
services to major Asian destinations including Hong
Kong, Bangkok, Singapore and Manila.
Brunei depends heavily on imports such as agricultural
products (e.g. rice, food products, livestock, etc.),
[152]
vehicles and electrical products from other countries.
[153]
Brunei imports 60% of its food; of that amount, around
75% come from other ASEAN countries.[152]
Brunei's leaders are concerned that increasing
integration in the world economy will undermine
internal social cohesion and have therefore pursued an
isolationist policy. However, it has become a more
prominent player by serving as chairman for the
2000 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.
Brunei's leaders plan to upgrade the labour force, reduce
unemployment, which was at 6.9% in 2014;[154] strengthen
the banking and tourism sectors, and, in general,
broaden the economic base.[155] A long-term development
plan aims to diversify growth.[156]
The government of Brunei has also promoted food self-
sufficiency, especially in rice. Brunei renamed its Brunei
Darussalam Rice 1 as Laila Rice during the launch of the
"Padi Planting Towards Achieving Self-Sufficiency of
Rice Production in Brunei Darussalam" ceremony at the
Wasan padi fields in April 2009.[157] In August 2009, the
Royal Family reaped the first few Laila padi stalks, after
years of attempts to boost local rice production, a goal
first articulated about half a century ago.[158] In July 2009
Brunei launched its national halal branding scheme,
Brunei Halal, with a goal to export to foreign markets.[159]
In 2020, Brunei's electricity production was largely based
on fossil fuels; renewable energy accounted for less than
1% of produced electricity in the country.[160]
Infrastructure

Royal Brunei Boeing 787

Dreamliner at London Heathrow Airport.
As of 2019, the country's road network constituted a total
length of 3,713.57 kilometres (2,307.51 mi), out of
which 86.8% were paved.[161] The 135-kilometre (84 mi)
highway from Muara Town to Kuala Belait is a dual
carriageway.[114]
Brunei is accessible by air, sea, and land
transport. Brunei International Airport is the main entry
point to the country. Royal Brunei Airlines[162] is the
national carrier. There is another airfield, the Anduki
Airfield, located in Seria. The ferry terminal at Muara
services regular connections to Labuan (Malaysia).
Speedboats provide passenger and goods transportation
to the Temburong district.[163] The main highway running
across Brunei is the Tutong-Muara Highway. The
country's road network is well developed. Brunei has one
main sea port located at Muara.[91]
The airport in Brunei is currently being extensively
upgraded.[164] Changi Airport International is the
consultant working on this modernisation, which planned
cost is currently $150 million.[165][166] This project is slated
to add 14,000 square metres (150,000 sq ft) of new
floorspace and includes a new terminal and arrival hall.
[167]
With the completion of this project, the annual
passenger capacity of the airport is expected to double
from 1.5 to 3 million.[165]
With one private car for every 2.09 persons, Brunei has
one of the highest car ownership rates in the world. This
has been attributed to the absence of a comprehensive
transport system, low import tax, and low unleaded petrol
price of B$0.53 per litre.[114]
A new 30-kilometre (19 mi) roadway connecting the
Muara and Temburong districts of opened to traffic on
March 17, 2020.[168] Fourteen kilometres (9 mi) of this
roadway would be crossing the Brunei Bay.[169] The bridge
cost is $1.6 billion.[170]
Banking
Bank of China received permission to open a branch in
Brunei in April 2016. Citibank, which entered in 1972,
closed its operations in Brunei in 2014. HSBC, which had
entered in 1947, closed its operation in Brunei in
November 2017.[171] May Bank of Malaysia, RHB Bank of
Malaysia, Standard Chartered Bank of United Kingdom,
United Overseas Bank of Singapore and Bank of China
are currently operating in Brunei.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Brunei

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque at

night.
Ethnicities indigenous to Brunei include
the Belait, Brunei Bisaya (not to be confused with the
Bisaya/Visaya of the nearby Philippines),
indigenous Bruneian Malay, Dusun, Kedayan, Lun
Bawang, Murut and Tutong.
The population of Brunei in 2021 was 445,373,[172][173] of
which 76% live in urban areas. The rate of urbanisation
is estimated at 2.13% per year from 2010 to 2015. The
average life expectancy is 77.7 years.[174] In 2014, 65.7%
of the population were Malay, 10.3% are Chinese, 3.4%
are indigenous, with 20.6% smaller groups making up
the rest.[175] There is a relatively
large expatriate community.[176] Most expats come from
non-Muslim countries such as Australia, United
Kingdom, South Korea, Japan, The Philippines,
Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and India.
Religion
Main article: Religion in Brunei
Religion in Brunei (2021)[6]
Islam 362,035 (82.1%)
Christianity 29,462 (6.7%)
Buddhism 27,745 (6.3%)
Others: indigenous beliefs and non-religious, Atheist
or Agnostic 21,473 (4.9%)
Islam is the official religion of Brunei,[71] specifically that of
the Sunni denomination and the Shafi'i school of Islamic
jurisprudence. More than 82% of the population,
including the majority of Bruneian
Malays and Kedayans identify as Muslim. Other faiths
practised are Christianity (6.7%) Buddhism (6.3%, mainly
by the Chinese).[6] Freethinkers, mostly Chinese, form
about 2% of the population. Although most of them
practise some form of religion with elements of
Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, they prefer to
present themselves as having practised no religion
officially, hence labelled as atheists in official censuses.
Followers of indigenous religions are about 2% of the
population.[177]
Languages
Main article: Languages of Brunei
The official language of Brunei is Standard Malay, for
which both the Latin alphabet (Rumi) and the Arabic
alphabet (Jawi) are used.[178] Initially, Malay was written in
the Jawi script before it switched to the Latin alphabet
around 1941.[179]
The principal spoken language is Melayu Brunei (Brunei
Malay). Brunei Malay is rather divergent from standard
Malay and the rest of the Malay dialects, being about
84% cognate with standard Malay,[180] and is mostly
mutually intelligible with it.[181]
English is widely used as a business and official
language and it is spoken by a majority of the population
in Brunei. English is used in business as a working
language and as the language of instruction from
primary to tertiary education.[182][183][184][185]
Chinese languages are also widely spoken, and
the Chinese minority in Brunei speaks a number
of varieties of Chinese.
Arabic is the religious language of Muslims and is taught
in schools, particularly religious schools, and also in
institutes of higher learning. As of 2004, there are six
Arabic schools and one religious teachers' college in
Brunei. A majority of Brunei's Muslim population has had
some form of formal or informal education in the reading,
writing and pronunciation of the Arabic language as part
of their religious education.
Other languages and dialects spoken include Kedayan
Malay dialect, Tutong Malay dialect, Murut, and Dusun.
[180]

Culture
Main article: Culture of Brunei

Royal Regalia Museum

The culture of Brunei is predominantly Malay (reflecting
its ethnicity), with heavy influences from Islam, but is
seen as much more conservative
than Indonesia and Malaysia.[186] Influences to Bruneian
culture come from the Malay cultures of the Malay
Archipelago. Four periods of cultural influence have
occurred: animist, Hindu, Islamic, and Western. Islam
had a very strong influence, and was adopted as
Brunei's ideology and philosophy.[187]
As a Sharia country, the sale and public consumption of
alcohol is banned.[188] Non-Muslims are allowed to bring in
a limited amount of alcohol from their point of
embarkation overseas for their own private consumption.
[114]

Media
Main article: Media of Brunei
Media in Brunei are said to be pro-government; press
criticism of the government and monarchy is rare. The
country ranks "Not Free" in media by Freedom House.
[189]
Nonetheless, the press is not overtly hostile toward
alternative viewpoints and is not restricted to publishing
only articles regarding the government. The government
allowed a printing and publishing company, Brunei Press
PLC, to form in 1953. The company continues to print
the English daily Borneo Bulletin. This paper began as a
weekly community paper and became a daily in
1990[114] Apart from The Borneo Bulletin, there is also
the Media Permata and Pelita Brunei, the local Malay
newspapers which are circulated daily. The Brunei
Times is another English independent newspaper
published in Brunei since 2006.[190]
The Brunei government, through state broadcaster Radio
Television Brunei (RTB), owns and operates three
television channels with the introduction of digital TV
using DVB-T (RTB Perdana, RTB Aneka and RTB
Sukmaindera) and five radio stations (National FM,
Pilihan FM, Nur Islam FM, Harmony FM and Pelangi
FM). A private company has made cable television
available (Astro-Kristal) as well as one private radio
station, Kristal FM.[114] It also has an online campus radio
station, UBD FM, that streams from its first
university, Universiti Brunei Darussalam.[191]
Sport
Main article: Sport in Brunei
The most popular sport in Brunei is association football.
The Brunei national football team joined FIFA in 1969,
but has not had much success. Brunei's top football
league is the Brunei Super League, which is managed
by the Football Association of Brunei
Darussalam (FABD). The nation has its own martial arts
called "Silat Suffian Bela Diri".[192]
Brunei debuted at the Olympics in 1996 and has
competed at all subsequent Summer Olympics except
the 2008 edition. The country has competed in
badminton, shooting, swimming, and track-and-field, but
has yet to win any medals. The Brunei Darussalam
National Olympic Council is the National Olympic
Committee for Brunei.
Brunei has had slightly more success at the Asian
Games, winning four bronze medals. The first major
international sporting event to be hosted in Brunei was
the 1999 Southeast Asian Games. According to the all-
time Southeast Asian Games medal table, Bruneian
athletes have won a total of 14 gold, 55 silver and 163
bronze medals at the games.