Free Attractions And Activities In Brunei

Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. It is an absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan, who exercises executive power. While Brunei ranks very high on the Human Development Index (HDI), freedoms of the press and assembly are significantly restricted.

In this context, the topic of what is free in Brunei is a complex and multifaceted issue. While the country provides free or heavily subsidised housing, healthcare, and education to its citizens, there are concerns about restrictions on freedom of speech, assembly, and political participation.

This introduction provides a glimpse into the complexities of freedom in Brunei, and further exploration will reveal the nuances and implications of these freedoms and restrictions on the lives of Bruneians.

Free education

Education is free in Brunei, including university education abroad. Schooling is fully subsidised by the government for citizens of Brunei, and this usually extends to post-secondary and university education. Citizens can also benefit from free hostels, food, textbooks and transport.

The Brunei education system is provided or regulated by the Government of Brunei through the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Religious Affairs. The former manages most of the government and private schools in the country, while the latter administers government schools that provide Islamic religious education.

Compulsory education can be of two types: general education, which takes twelve years and consists of preschool, primary and secondary; and Islamic religious primary education, which lasts seven years and is compulsory for Muslim pupils in Brunei.

General education may be attained in government or private schools, while religious education is attained in government religious schools. English is the main medium of instruction in most primary and secondary schools, as well as colleges and universities.

Post-secondary education may consist of sixth form, which allows direct entrance to higher education, and technical and vocational education, which are provided in government institutions and private colleges.

Higher education, from bachelor's degrees onwards, is provided in four government universities.

Free movement

Brunei respects freedom of movement, and all citizens can travel abroad with relative ease. However, all government employees, both domestic and foreign, must apply for permission to travel internationally. This is not a restrictive measure, and permission is typically granted without issue.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Bruneian government maintained some travel restrictions, but these were eased in line with epidemiological data.

Brunei has not relied on the aggressive lockdown measures seen elsewhere in the region.

In terms of internal freedom of movement, Bruneian citizens can generally move around the country without issue. However, the government's emergency powers do restrict the right to assemble. Public gatherings of ten or more people require a permit, and the police may disband unofficial assemblies of five or more people if they are deemed likely to cause a disturbance.

Free healthcare

Brunei has one of the best healthcare systems in Asia and the world. Public healthcare services are either free or highly subsidised by the government. The Brunei Healthcare System is managed and funded by the Brunei Ministry of Health and the General Treasury, respectively.

The country has sufficient health facilities and hospitals to handle most emergencies. There are four government hospitals, one in each district, and 60 health centres and hospitals in the country. The largest hospital is the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital (RIPAS), which has 1260 beds and 257 doctors as of 2005. There are also two private hospitals.

Public healthcare services in Brunei are affordable and accessible to locals, while expats can avail of them at low rates. The Ministry of Health has created a 'one-patient, one-record' system, which allows citizens' health records to be accessible to physicians anywhere and at any time. Most doctors, nurses, and pharmacists can converse in English, so language is not a barrier to healthcare access.

The Brunei Healthcare System is classified into two major categories: the Directorate of Medical Services and the Directorate of Health Services. The Directorate of Medical Services covers areas such as nursing, hospital, laboratory, dental, renal, and pharmaceutical services. On the other hand, the Directorate of Health Services monitors environmental health, community health, and scientific devices.

The government covers the cost of sending citizens overseas to access treatments and facilities not available in the country. For example, in 2011-2012, 327 patients were treated in Malaysia and Singapore at a cost of $12 million to the government.

Free speech

Brunei is an absolute monarchy ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who has been the head of state since 1967. The country has no elected representatives at the national level, and the Sultan exercises executive power.

Freedom of Speech in Brunei

Freedom of speech in Brunei is severely restricted. The country has been rated as ''Not Free' by Freedom House, and Reporters Without Borders ranked Brunei 154th out of 180 countries in its 2021 press freedom index. The US State Department's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices in March 2022 stated that there is no provision for freedom of speech in the constitution or laws of Brunei. Under Bruneian law, it is an offence to challenge the royal family's authority or the 'Malay Islamic Monarchy' concept. The law also criminalises any act or word intended to promote "feelings of ill will or hostility" or to "wound religious feelings". The Sharia Penal Code includes provisions that bar contempt for or insult of the Sultan and make it an offence to challenge the administration of Sharia or any law related to Islam.

The government heavily restricts media and online freedoms. Authorities can close a newspaper without notice or cause, and the law allows the government to bar the distribution of foreign publications. Newspaper publishers, proprietors, or editors who publish content deemed seditious by the government can be prosecuted and punished with suspension of publication for up to a year, prohibition on publishing or editing any other newspaper, seizure of printing equipment, significant fines, and a maximum prison term of three years. Journalists who publish "false and malicious" reports may also be fined or imprisoned. As a result, journalists commonly practice self-censorship due to social pressure, incidents of government interference, and legal and professional concerns.

The government also monitors online speech and has the capability to monitor private online communications. While people still express their views on many topics, the government maintains a hotline for reporting fake or malicious information on social media, and individuals have been charged under the Public Order Act for disseminating false reports.

Free assembly

Brunei is an absolute monarchy ruled by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who has been in power since 1967. The sultan exercises full executive authority, including emergency powers, and there are no elected representatives at the national level. The Legislative Council, which is the country's unicameral legislature, has no political standing independent of the sultan, who appoints its members.

The freedoms of press and assembly are significantly restricted in Brunei. The 1983 Brunei Public Order Act is the primary legislation governing public assemblies. According to this Act, any person wishing to organise or convene a meeting or procession in a public place must first apply for a permit from the Commissioner of Police at least seven days in advance. The Commissioner of Police may deny the permit if they believe the assembly is likely to prejudice the maintenance of peace or good order.

State-of-emergency laws further restrict freedom of assembly, stipulating that no more than 10 people can assemble for any purpose without a permit. These laws are frequently enforced, and their application has been criticised by human rights organisations.

The right of peaceful assembly is considered a fundamental human right under customary international law and is included in the ASEAN Human Rights Declaration, of which Brunei is a member. However, Brunei's 1959 Constitution does not guarantee this right, and the country is not a state party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which governs the right of peaceful assembly.

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