The Sultan's Critics: A Dangerous Game In Brunei

Critics of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, have been few and far between, as the country has allowed no opposition and almost no independent civil society to exist since its independence in 1984. However, the international community has been shocked by the country's enactment of the Sharia Penal Code, which imposes stoning, maiming, and other corporal punishments for adultery, gay sex, and theft. In response to international condemnation, the Sultan has stated that the de-facto moratorium on executions will apply to anyone sentenced to death under Sharia.

Sultan's lavish spending and opulent lifestyle

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, is known for his lavish spending and opulent lifestyle. With a net worth of around $30 billion, he is one of the wealthiest monarchs in the world. Here is an overview of his extravagant lifestyle:

The Gold-Plated Private Jet

The Sultan's Boeing 747-400, often referred to as the 'flying palace', reportedly cost around $400 million. An additional $120 million was spent on luxurious upgrades, including a gold washbasin and chandeliers adorned with Lalique crystals. The total cost of this opulent aircraft is approximately $436 million. He also owns two other private jets, a Boeing 767-200 and an Airbus A340-200.

The Largest Palace in the World

The Sultan's residence, Istana Nurul Iman, is the largest palace in the world, covering two million square feet. It features over 1,700 rooms, 257 bathrooms, a banquet hall for 5,000 guests, a mosque for 1,500 people, 110 garages, and air-conditioned stables for 200 horses. The palace is adorned with a dome covered in 22-carat gold, valued at over $2.5 billion.

The Enormous Car Collection

The Sultan's car collection is legendary, boasting over 7,000 luxury vehicles, including 600 Rolls-Royces, 300 Ferraris, Porsches, Lamborghinis, and Bentleys. His collection includes a 24-carat gold-plated Rolls-Royce Silver Spur II, a custom-designed Bentley Dominator SUV worth around $80 million, and a Porsche 911 in Horizon Blue with an X88 power package.

Luxurious Grooming and Personal Care

The Sultan is known to spend $20,000 on flying his barber from London to Brunei for personal grooming sessions. He also reportedly spends $35,000 on haircuts and has been known to fly his polo shoes to matches by helicopter.

Extravagant Weddings and Celebrations

The Sultan is known for his extravagant weddings and celebrations. For his 50th birthday, he hosted a fortnight of celebrations that cost over $36 million. This included a polo match, a gala dinner for 3,000 guests, and three concerts by Michael Jackson, for which he paid $25.8 million. Each of his children's weddings is said to have cost over $5 million.

Private Zoo and Exotic Animals

The Sultan owns a private zoo with around 30 Bengal tigers and other exotic animals such as falcons, flamingos, and cockatoos. These animals are trained to perform tricks, including playing basketball, riding bicycles, and mimicking human speech.

Critics' concerns about the Sultan's hard-line vision of Islam

Critics have raised concerns about the Sultan of Brunei's hard-line vision of Islam, which stands in stark contrast to the royal family's opulent lifestyle. Here is an examination of the issues that have drawn criticism:

Harsh Islamic Penal Code

The Sultan's implementation of a strict Islamic penal code, which includes punishments such as stoning, amputation, and flogging for crimes such as adultery, gay sex, and theft, has sparked international outrage and rare domestic opposition. This stands in stark contrast to the more relaxed and tolerant form of Sunni Islam practised in Brunei previously, which allowed for some pre-Islamic traditions. The Sultan's hard-line stance has raised concerns about the country's commitment to human rights and the potential impact on Brunei's minority groups.

Restrictions on Religious and Cultural Expression

The new laws imposed by the Sultan have restricted the freedom of religious and cultural expression for both Muslims and non-Muslims in Brunei. For example, the display of Christmas decorations in public places has been banned, and non-Muslim groups are prohibited from proselytising or promoting their religions publicly. This has particularly affected Brunei's Christian community, who feel that their religious freedoms are being curtailed.

Lack of Democratic Representation and Freedom of Speech

Brunei is an absolute monarchy, with the Sultan holding significant power and influence over the country's governance. There are no elected representatives, and freedom of speech is limited. This lack of democratic representation and freedom of expression has led to concerns about the Sultan's ability to implement and enforce laws without sufficient checks and balances.

Economic Dependence on Oil and Gas

Brunei's economy is heavily reliant on the oil and gas industry, which generates the majority of its earnings. This dependence on a single industry makes the country vulnerable to fluctuations in oil prices and poses challenges for economic diversification. There are concerns that if the oil sources dry up faster than expected, the Sultan may need to cut extensive social benefits provided to the citizens.

Neglect of Infrastructure

While the Sultan has invested in extravagant mansions and luxurious possessions, the infrastructure of the kingdom has been largely neglected. This includes a lack of investment in roads, electricity, and other essential services. This disparity between the Sultan's spending and the country's infrastructure has led to criticism and a potential risk to the long-term stability of Brunei's economy.

The Sultan's role as the main enforcer of religion in Brunei

The Sultan of Brunei is the monarchical head of state and head of government in his capacity as prime minister. As such, the Sultan is the main enforcer of religion in the country.

The current Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, has been in power since 1967, and the country has been a fully sovereign state since 1984. The Sultan is also the prime minister, defence minister, finance minister, and foreign minister.

Islam is the state religion of Brunei, and the government implements a fusion of English common law and jurisprudence inspired by Islam, including Sharia. The Sultan has advocated for a hard-line vision of Islam, which has been at odds with the royal family's opulent lifestyle.

In 2014, the Sultan declared the implementation of strict Islamic criminal penalties, including stoning, amputation of limbs, and death by stoning for crimes such as adultery, gay sex, and theft. This sparked international outrage and rare domestic opposition. The Sultan dismissed these criticisms, stating that the action was a "must" in light of Islam.

The Sultan has the power to make and enforce laws, and the country has technically been under martial law since the 1962 Brunei Revolt, in which the Sultan's authority included emergency powers. The Sultan's role as the main enforcer of religion in Brunei is, therefore, absolute, and any criticism of the Sultan's interpretation and enforcement of religious law can result in harsh punishments.

The Sultan's response to international condemnation of Brunei's laws

The Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, has been the target of international condemnation for his country's laws, which include stoning to death as a punishment for homosexuality, removal of hands or feet for stealing, and the introduction of the Sharia directive, which punishes Muslims who do not pray on Fridays and imposes prison sentences on women who have children out of wedlock or are found drinking alcohol. In response to this criticism, the Sultan has remained defiant, describing the implementation of the new penal code as "a great achievement." He has also continued to defend the country's laws, stating that "the merit of the law will be evident."

Despite the international outcry, the Sultan has made no indication that he plans to repeal or amend the controversial laws. In fact, he has doubled down on his support for them, announcing that Brunei will maintain its long-standing record of not implementing death sentences, even under the new Syariah Penal Code Order (SPCO). The Sultan has also stated that Brunei will ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture, which prohibits corporal punishment in all its forms, such as stoning, amputation, or whipping.

The Sultan's response to the international condemnation has been mixed. On the one hand, he has welcomed the dialogue and engagement from the international community, as evidenced by his participation in negotiations with British officials over the stationing of British troops in Brunei. On the other hand, he has also taken steps to insulate himself and his country from external pressure, such as by amending Brunei's constitution to make himself infallible under Bruneian law.

The Sultan's refusal to back down in the face of international condemnation can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, he is one of the world's wealthiest and most powerful leaders, with a personal wealth of about $20 billion and control over the country's politics and economy. Secondly, he has support from other countries, such as Bahrain, with which Brunei has close bilateral connections. Finally, the Sultan's interpretation of Islam, which influences Brunei's laws and governance, may play a role in his refusal to compromise on issues that he believes are aligned with his religious beliefs.

In conclusion, the Sultan of Brunei's response to international condemnation of his country's laws has been mixed. While he has engaged in dialogue and negotiations with foreign powers, he has also defended the laws and taken steps to insulate himself from external pressure. The Sultan's wealth, power, and religious beliefs likely play a significant role in his refusal to back down in the face of international criticism.

The Sultan's powers and background

The Sultan of Brunei is the monarchical head of state and head of government in his capacity as prime minister. Brunei is an absolute monarchy and is the only ruling monarchy in Southeast Asia. The Sultan holds absolute power in the state for administrative purposes and has full executive authority, including emergency powers. The Sultan's role is enshrined in the national philosophy known as "Melayu Islam Beraja" (MIB), or Malay Islamic Monarchy.

The current Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, is the eldest son of the previous Sultan, Omar Ali Saifuddien III, and became Sultan in 1967 following his father's abdication. He is one of the few remaining absolute monarchs in the world and is the world's longest-reigning current monarch and the longest-serving current head of state. As of 2023, he has a net worth of $30 billion, largely amassed from the country's oil and gas industry.

The Sultan has extensive powers and control over the country's affairs. He is the Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Finance, and appoints all the members of the Legislative Council, the unicameral body with no political authority. The Sultan also appoints the state secretary, the attorney general, and the state financial officer, who are the three senior critical officials.

The Sultan's powers are further bolstered by the country's lack of national elections, which limits legitimate political involvement and keeps opposition forces from rising to prominence. Social movements offer restricted channels for contesting unpopular policies, and racial and religious minorities have little chance to get involved in politics, even locally.

The Sultan has also been criticised for his opulent lifestyle, with rumours of extravagant parties involving alcohol and foreign women. However, he is generally well-regarded by his people, who call themselves the "spoiled children of the sultan" due to the extensive social services he provides, including free healthcare, education, and housing development programs, as well as 0% income tax.

The Sultan has also been praised for his quick response to the COVID-19 pandemic, promptly instituting lockdown procedures and detaining returning citizens in quarantine centres. As an Islamic authority, his leadership during the pandemic was especially significant, reminding Bruneians that for Muslims, the virus was sent by God and emphasising the obligation to observe social distancing and take sanitary precautions.

In terms of foreign relations, the Sultan has prioritised maintaining the monarchical political structure and has worked to strengthen ties with other countries, including Singapore, the United States, the United Kingdom, China, and various Southeast Asian nations.

The Sultan has also faced international criticism and protests for implementing strict Islamic criminal penalties, including capital punishment for homosexuality and adultery by stoning, as well as the banning of public Christmas celebrations for Muslims. However, he has since extended a moratorium on capital punishment for homosexuality and ratified the United Nations Convention Against Torture.

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