Who Controlled Brunei And When: A Historical Overview

Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a small country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. It is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo; the remainder of the island is divided between Malaysia and Indonesia. The country has a rich history, with its powerful sultanate extending over Sabah, Sarawak, and the lower Philippines from the 14th to the 16th centuries.

In the 19th century, the Bruneian Empire began to decline due to wars, piracy, and the colonial expansion of European powers. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate and remained under British rule until it gained independence in 1984. During this period, it faced territorial losses, ceding land to the White Rajahs of Sarawak, resulting in its current small landmass and separation into two parts.

Today, Brunei has one of the world's highest standards of living thanks to its bountiful oil and gas reserves. The country is governed by a constitutional absolute monarchy, with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world's longest-reigning monarchs, at its head.

The Sultanate of Brunei and the British Empire

The Sultanate of Brunei, also known as the Brunei Empire, was a Malay sultanate centred around Brunei on the northern coast of Borneo in Southeast Asia. It became a sovereign state in the 15th century, when it substantially expanded after the fall of Malacca to the Portuguese, extending throughout coastal areas of Borneo and the Philippines. However, by the 17th and 18th centuries, the Bruneian Empire began to decline.

In the 19th century, the Sultanate ceded Sarawak (Kuching) to James Brooke, who became known as the White Rajah, and ceded Sabah to the British North Borneo Chartered Company. In 1846, the Sultanate was reduced to its present size after ceding the island of Labuan to Britain.

In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate, and in 1906, a British resident was assigned as a colonial manager. This marked the beginning of the Residential System, where a British Resident was nominated to advise the Sultan in all matters except Malay customs, traditions, and the Islamic religion. This treaty provided Britain with effective control over Brunei's external affairs, making it a British protected state.

During this period, the British also intervened in Brunei's internal affairs on several occasions. In July 1846, Britain attacked Brunei due to internal conflicts over who was the rightful Sultan. Later, in the 1880s, the Sultan appealed to the British to stop further encroachment by the Brookes, who had been granted land (now known as Sarawak) by the Sultan.

In 1959, a new constitution was written, declaring Brunei a self-governing state, while its foreign affairs, security, and defence remained under British control. However, in 1962, a small rebellion against the monarchy, known as the Brunei Revolt, erupted and was suppressed with British assistance. This led to the ban of the pro-independence Brunei People's Party and influenced the Sultan's decision not to join the Malaysian Federation.

Finally, on January 1, 1984, Brunei gained full independence from the British Empire and became a fully sovereign state.

Brunei's independence from Britain

Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a small state in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. It was a British protectorate from 1888 until it gained its independence in 1984.

The decline of the Bruneian Empire

During the 19th century, the Bruneian Empire began to decline. The Sultanate ceded Sarawak (Kuching) to James Brooke, who became known as the White Rajah, and Sabah to the British North Borneo Chartered Company. Brooke and his nephews, who succeeded him, leased or annexed more land, and Brunei lost much of its territory to them.

Treaty of Protection

In 1888, Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin appealed to the British to stop further encroachment by the Brookes. The "Treaty of Protection" was signed with Sir Hugh Low, giving Britain effective control over Brunei's external affairs. However, the treaty's shortcomings were exposed in 1890 when Charles Brooke annexed Limbang, and Britain did nothing to stop it.

Japanese occupation

In 1941, Japanese forces invaded and occupied Brunei and the island of Borneo. A new constitution was written in 1959, after the Japanese occupation during World War II.

Rebellion and the path to independence

In 1962, a small armed rebellion against the monarchy, known as the Brunei Revolt, was suppressed with British assistance. The revolt influenced the Sultan's decision not to join the Malaysian Federation. In 1971, amendments to the 1959 agreement asserted Brunei's full internal independence, except for defence and external affairs.

On January 1, 1984, Brunei Darussalam resumed full independence, and the Sultan took office as Prime Minister, Finance Minister, and Home Affairs Minister. Brunei became a member of the United Nations on September 21, 1984.

Brunei's oil and gas industry

The history of the oil industry in Brunei began in 1899 when the first exploration well was drilled near the capital, Brunei Town (now Bandar Seri Begawan). This was followed by the discovery of the Seria field in the Belait District in 1929, and the country's first oil export in 1932.

Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) is the largest oil producer in the country and contributes around 90% to Brunei's oil and gas revenues. BSP also operates the country's only refinery and, along with four sister companies, is the largest employer in Brunei after the government.

Brunei is the third-largest oil producer in Southeast Asia, producing an average of about 180,000 barrels per day. It is also the ninth-largest producer of liquefied natural gas in the world. Almost all of Brunei's natural gas is liquefied at the Brunei Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant, which is one of the largest LNG plants globally. Over 82% of the LNG produced is sold to Japan under a long-term agreement.

Brunei's proven oil and gas reserves are expected to last until at least 2035. The country has made substantial investments in the expansion of its downstream industries to diversify its product portfolio in the oil and gas value chain. The energy sector underwent transformation and growth, and the government established independent authorities to ensure the industry's sustainability and alignment with national priorities.

Brunei's oil and gas fields produce approximately 127,000 barrels of oil per day and 243,000 barrels of oil equivalent of natural gas per day. The country aims to increase production through new extraction technology and by exploring mature fields and new ventures into deep waters. Regional discoveries have generated optimism about additional reserves, further boosting Brunei's interest in ramping up production.

The Department of Energy plays a crucial role in strengthening sustainable energy efforts through energy efficiency initiatives. The Brunei Darussalam National Council on Climate Change launched the National Climate Change Policy in 2020, aiming to reduce industrial emissions and increase renewable energy usage.

Brunei's adoption of Islamic law

Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia. It is the only sovereign state entirely on the island of Borneo, with the remainder of the island divided between Malaysia and Indonesia. The official language of Brunei is Malay, and Islam is the state religion, although other religions are tolerated.

Islam is the official religion of Brunei, with over 80% of the population identifying as Muslim. The country's official religion is Sunni Islam, and the propagation of modernist ideologies such as Wahhabism is forbidden.

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), later visited China, indicating that Islam was practised in the country's royal court, even if the monarch was not a Muslim.

Islamic tombstones, such as that of the Chinese Muslim Pu Kung Chih-mu, who was buried in 1264, further suggest that Islam was prevalent in Brunei long before Awang Alak Betatar (later Sultan Muhammad Shah) converted to Islam in the late 14th century. However, some European historians argue that Brunei did not become a Muslim nation until the 15th century.

Arab immigrant Sheikh Syarif Ali, a descendant of Prophet Muhammad, had a significant impact on the spread of Islam in Brunei and the surrounding region. He promoted Islam in Java and constructed a mosque in Brunei, giving Friday lectures.

In the 19th century, the Bruneian Empire began to decline, and the Sultanate ceded territory to European colonial powers. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate, and in 1906, a British resident was appointed as a colonial manager, increasing British influence over the Sultan. This unintentionally strengthened the Sultan's position as the protector of Islam, which had been undermined by colonialism.

A set of Sharia laws, known as the Mohammedan Enactments, were created in 1912-1913 to govern civil matters pertaining to marriage, family, and inheritance. In 1959, Islam was formally recognised as Brunei's official religion under the country's constitution.

In 1967, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah assumed the throne and accelerated the process of fortifying Islamic customs in the country. Large sums of money were spent on numerous Muslim programmes, and the nation's oil wealth was used to support Islamic education and the construction of mosques.

Following Brunei's independence in 1984, the Sultan committed significant resources to the sultanate's Islamic development. He established the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation in 1992 to support secular and religious studies and began steering the country towards a stricter interpretation of Islam through state-run media and the educational system.

On April 30, 2014, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah announced the implementation of the first phase of the Syariah Penal Code Law, with the second phase following in 2019. This Sharia law penal code included severe punishments such as flogging, stoning, and limb amputation for offences like abortion, adultery, and same-sex acts. It also imposed the death penalty by stoning for homosexuality and insulting the Prophet Muhammad.

The adoption of these laws sparked international condemnation and protests, with human rights groups criticising the inclusion of cruel and inhumane punishments. Despite a moratorium on carrying out the death penalty for common law cases, the Sultan stated his intention to fully implement Sharia law.

The Bruneian monarchy

The Sultanate of Brunei has been ruled by the House of Bolkiah since the 14th century. The current Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, is the 29th of his line and has been in power since 1967. He is the head of state and absolute monarch of Brunei, as well as the head of government in his capacity as Prime Minister. The Sultan's two sons, Al-Muhtadee Billah and Abdul Mateen, also carry out government duties full-time, mainly for the Prime Minister's Office and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

The Sultan's sister, Princess Masna Bolkiah, is the ambassador-at-large to the United Nations and the only extended royal member to be part of the working royals. Other members of the royal family with royal rank who do not carry out official duties are the Sultan's siblings, and their children are considered to be part of the lesser royal members.

The Sultan holds absolute power in the state for administrative purposes and has ruled by decree since 1962, when a state of emergency was declared that is renewed every two years. The monarchy is absolute, with the Sultan wielding broad powers and being counselled by appointed advisory bodies and the appointed legislature. The Legislative Council has no political standing independent of the Sultan, who appoints its members.

Brunei gained independence from Britain in 1984 and has operated as a constitutional monarchy under the auspices of the Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) state philosophy, which combines Islamic law, Malay culture, and monarchical rule. The country's wealth derives from its extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, and it has one of the world's highest standards of living. The Sultan regularly allocates land lots and housing to deserving residents under various government schemes.

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