The Contemporary Face Of Brunei: A Modern Country

Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a small but wealthy country located on the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. With a population of approximately 455,858 as of 2023, it is one of the least populous countries in the world. The country gained its independence from British rule in 1984 and has since been led by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, making him one of the world's longest-reigning monarchs. Brunei's economy is heavily reliant on its abundant oil and natural gas reserves, which have transformed it into an industrialised nation with a high standard of living. While the country has a constitutional absolute monarchy, it has also implemented Islamic Sharia law, which has sparked international criticism.

Brunei's economic modernisation

Brunei's economy is heavily reliant on its oil and natural gas reserves, which account for about 90% of its GDP. The country has been working to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on these finite resources.

Oil and Gas

Crude oil and natural gas production make up a significant portion of Brunei's economy, with the country being the third-largest oil producer and fourth-largest producer of liquefied natural gas in Southeast Asia. The country's extensive petroleum and natural gas fields have transformed Brunei into an industrialised nation, with its GDP increasing by 56% between 1999 and 2008.

Economic Diversification

Brunei has recognised the need to diversify its economy away from oil and gas and has made efforts to develop other sectors. The government has promoted food self-sufficiency, particularly in rice production, and has invested in eco-tourism to capitalise on the country's rich natural resources.

Foreign Investment

Brunei has also sought to attract foreign investment to support its economic diversification efforts. The country has received substantial income from overseas investments, mainly managed by the Brunei Investment Agency.

Human Resource Development

Human resources are crucial for Brunei's transformation into a diversified industrial economy. The country has placed a strong emphasis on education and skill development, particularly in managerial, industrial, entrepreneurial, and technical areas.

Non-Oil and Gas Activities

The government's initiatives to promote non-oil and gas activities have shown success, with these sectors contributing 64% of GDP in 1996, up from only 24.3% in 1991.

The country's political system

Brunei's political system is a constitutional absolute monarchy, with the Sultan of Brunei as both head of state and head of government. It is the only ruling monarchy in Southeast Asia and one of seven monarchic dictatorships in the world as of 2023. The country gained independence from the United Kingdom on January 1, 1984, and has been led by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah since 1967.

Under the 1959 constitution, the Sultan, currently Hassanal Bolkiah, holds full executive authority and serves as the head of state and government. The Sultan also serves as the state's prime minister, finance minister, and defence minister. The country's unicameral legislature, the Legislative Council, is appointed by the Sultan and simply has a consultative role.

In addition to the Legislative Council, the Sultan has appointed four other advisory councils: the Religious Council, the Privy Council, the Council of Succession, and the Council of Cabinet Ministers. The Council of Cabinet Ministers, which includes the Sultan as prime minister, performs the day-to-day administrative functions of the government and advises the Sultan on matters of national administration.

Brunei's political stability is maintained by the House of Bolkiah, which provides extensive social services, including free education and healthcare, to its citizens. The country's wealth is derived from its petroleum and natural gas fields, which have transformed Brunei into an industrialised country.

Brunei's international relations

Brunei's foreign policy is one of balance and caution. As a small but wealthy nation, it is friendly but deliberate in its bilateral and regional relations.

Brunei maintains diplomatic relations with 170 out of 193 countries and 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 the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It gives its ASEAN membership the highest priority in its foreign relations.

Brunei has close relations with Singapore, with which it shares an interchangeable currency regime and close military ties. It also has extensive relations with the Muslim world and the Arab world outside its own region. It has a number of diplomatic missions abroad, including in Australia, Cambodia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Vietnam.

Brunei's foreign relations are influenced by the Sultan's personal experiences. For example, its close ties with Singapore are due in part to the Sultan's father's friendship with Lee Kuan Yew.

The Sultan has close personal ties with leaders of many Arab Gulf countries and has consistently opposed the use of force to solve international disputes. He is an ardent supporter of multilateral organizations, and Brunei conforms closely to ASEAN consensus positions. The Sultan is also the only APEC leader to have attended all 15 APEC Leaders Meetings.

A sense of solidarity with the global community of Islam plays a growing role in the Sultan's foreign policy. There is a popular perception in Brunei that the US-led Global War on Terror has morphed into a Global War on Islam, leading to increased sympathy for fellow Muslims, particularly in the Middle East.

The influence of Islam

Islam is the official religion of Brunei, with 82.1% of the population identifying as Muslim. The state follows the Shafi'i school of Sunni Islam, with the Sultan acting as the head of the official religion and the Prime Minister. The country's legal system is based on English common law, but Islamic law (sharia) takes precedence in some cases.

The Arrival of Islam in Brunei

The exact date of Islam's arrival in Brunei is unknown, but evidence suggests it dates back to the 10th century when P'u-lu-shieh, a Chinese Muslim diplomat and trader, arrived in 977. A delegation from Brunei, led by another Muslim, P'u A-li (Abu Ali), visited China soon after, indicating that Islam was practised in the royal court, even if the monarch was not yet a Muslim. Islamic tombstones, such as that of the Chinese Muslim Pu Kung Chih-mu, buried in 1264, further support the presence of Islam in Brunei long before its first Islamic monarch, Sultan Muhammad Shah, in the late 14th century.

The Spread of Islam

Arab immigrant Sheikh Syarif Ali, a descendant of Prophet Muhammad, had a significant impact on the spread of Islam in Brunei. He promoted Islam in Java and constructed a mosque in Brunei, giving Friday lectures. Islam was carried throughout Borneo and into the southern Philippines by him and other Sultans. By the 16th century, Islam was firmly rooted in Brunei, with one of its biggest mosques built during this time.

Islam in Modern Brunei

Today, Islam continues to play a significant role in Brunei, with the country's philosophy described as Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB), or Malay Islamic Monarchy. This philosophy encompasses strong Malay cultural influences, the importance of Islam in daily life and governance, and respect for the monarchy. The government actively promotes Islam through its national MIB philosophy and initiatives such as religious seminars for older citizens, Quran reading competitions, and incentives for prospective converts.

The day-to-day management of religious affairs falls under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, established in 1986. The country enforces the Sharia Penal Code (SPC), which includes harsh punishments for crimes deemed against Islamic law, such as amputation, stoning, and death by stoning for homosexuality and adultery. While some have criticised these laws, the government maintains that they are necessary to preserve the country's Islamic values and protect against "extremism".

Brunei's media landscape

The country's media is state-owned and faces no major funding difficulties due to its direct benefit from the country's oil and gas reserves. However, this also means there is a complete absence of editorial independence. The sultan's family directly owns the leading daily newspapers and the state-owned Radio Television Brunei (RTB), the only TV station in the state. Journalists working for these outlets practice self-censorship on political and religious matters to avoid harsh penalties for any content deemed critical of the government or sultanate.

Newspapers in Brunei are required to obtain a permit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to operate, further tightening the government's control over the media. The 2019 revision of the Syariah penal code authorises the death penalty for journalists whose publications are considered sacrilegious or supportive of religious deflection. Additionally, publishing content that undermines the "prominence of the national philosophy" is punishable by up to three years in prison under the sedition law.

There are a few private newspapers in operation, such as BruDirect and The Scoop, but they avoid covering contentious topics related to the royal family and religion. The Brunei Times, another private newspaper, ceased operations unexpectedly in 2016 following a controversy over one of its articles. This incident highlighted the government's power to legally shut down media outlets for publishing alleged false news.

The digital media market in Brunei is experiencing a surge in online video consumption, with a preference for locally produced content. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter have a significant number of users in the country, with Facebook reaching 67.3% of the total population in early 2022.

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