Brunei
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| بروني دارالسلام Negara Brunei Darussalam State of Brunei Darussalam |
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| Motto: "Always in service with God's guidance" (translation) | ||||||
| Anthem: Allah Peliharakan Sultan "God Bless the Sultan" |
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| Capital (and largest city) |
Bandar Seri Begawan |
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| Official languages | Malay (national), English | |||||
| Government | Absolute monarchy | |||||
| - | Sultan | Hassanal Bolkiah | ||||
| Independence | ||||||
| - | End of British protectorate |
January 1, 1984 |
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| Area | ||||||
| - | Total | 5,765 km² (170th) 2,226 sq mi |
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| - | Water (%) | 8.6 | ||||
| Population | ||||||
| - | 2006 estimate | 379,444 (177th) | ||||
| - | 2001 census | 332,844 | ||||
| - | Density | 65 /km² (127th) 168 /sq mi |
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| GDP (PPP) | 2005 estimate | |||||
| - | Total | $9.009 billion (138th) | ||||
| - | Per capita | $24,826 (26th) | ||||
| HDI (2004) |  0.871 (high) (34th) |
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| Currency | Brunei ringgit (BND) |
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| Internet TLD | .bn | |||||
| Calling code | +6731 | |||||
| 1 | Also 080 from Malaysia. | |||||
Brunei, (IPA: [bru·ˈnaʲ]) officially the State of Brunei, Abode of Peace (Malay: Negara Brunei Darussalam, Jawi: برني دارالسلام ), is a country located on the island of Borneo, in Southeast Asia. Apart from its coastline with the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the states of Sarawak and Sabah, East Malaysia. Brunei, the remnant of a very powerful sultanate, regained its independence, from the United Kingdom, on 1 January 1984.
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[edit] History
The Sultanate of Brunei was very powerful from the fourteenth to the sixteenth century AD. Its realm covered the whole island of Borneo and the southwestern Philippines. European influence gradually brought an end to this regional power. Later, there was a brief war with Spain, in which Brunei was victorious. The decline of the Bruneian Empire culminated in the nineteenth century when Brunei lost much of its territory to the White Rajahs of Sarawak, resulting in its current small landmass and separation into two parts. Brunei was a British protectorate from 1888 to 1984.
There was a small rebellion against the monarchy during the 1960s, which was suppressed by the United Kingdom. This event became known as the Brunei Revolt and was partly responsible for the failure to create the North Borneo Federation. The rebellion also affected Brunei's decision to opt out of the Malaysian Federation and was the first stage of the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation.
[edit] Politics and government
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Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, whose title has passed within the same dynasty since the fifteenth century, is the head of state and head of government in Brunei. The Sultan is advised by several councils and a cabinet of ministers although he is effectively the supreme ruler. The media is extremely pro-government and the Royal family retains a venerated status within the country. There is no elected legislative body. In September 2004, the Sultan convened an appointed Parliament which had not met since independence in 1984, although it lacks any capacity beyond advising the monarch. Due to the absolute rule of the Sultan, Brunei is one of the most politically stable countries in Asia.
The country has been under hypothetical martial law since a rebellion occurred in the early 1960s and was put down by British troops from Singapore.
Brunei claims territory in Sarawak, such as Limbang, and it is one of many nations to lay claim to the disputed Spratly Islands. Several small islands situated between Brunei and Labuan, including Kuraman island, are contested between Brunei and Malaysia. However, they are internationally recognised as part of the latter.
[edit] Administrative divisions
Brunei is divided into four districts (daerah):
The districts are subdivided into thirty-eight mukims.
[edit] Geography
Brunei consists of two unconnected parts. 97% of the population lives in the larger western part, while only about 10,000 live in the mountainous eastern part (the district of Temburong). The total population of Brunei is 383,000, of which around 46,000 live in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. Some major towns are the capital Bandar, the port town Muara, the oil producing town of Seria and its neighboring town, Kuala Belait. In the Belait district, the Panaga area is home to large numbers of expatriates due to Royal Dutch Shell and British Army housing and recreational facilities. The well-known Panaga Club is situated here.
The climate in Brunei is equatorial tropical, with high temperatures, high humidity, sunshine and heavy rainfall throughout the year.
[edit] Economy
This small, wealthy economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for nearly half of its GDP. Substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion although it became a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Stated plans for the future include upgrading the labour force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourism sectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base. The national airline, Royal Brunei is trying to make Brunei a hub for international travel between Europe and Australia/New Zealand. It also has services to major Asian destinations.
[edit] Demographics
- See also: Islam in Brunei
About two-thirds of the Brunei population are of Malay origin and have long dominated the nation's economy. The official languages of the nation are Malay (Malay: Bahasa Melayu) and English, although an important minority speak Chinese. English is also widely spoken and there is a relatively large expatriate community with significant numbers of British and Australian citizens.
Islam is the official religion of Brunei, and the sultan is the head of the religion in the country. Other faiths practised are Buddhism (mainly by the Chinese), Christianity, and primarily in isolated and very small communities, indigenous religions.
[edit] Culture
The culture of Brunei is predominantly Malay, with heavy influences from Hinduism and Islam, but is seen as more conservative than Malaysia. The sale and public consumption of alcohol is banned, with foreigners and non-Muslims allowed to bring in twelve cans of beer and two bottles of spirits every time they enter the country. After the introduction of prohibition in the early 1990s, all pubs and nightclubs were forced to close.[1]
[edit] Brunei in fiction
Anthony Burgess's novel Devil of a State is set in Brunei. The construction of Bandar Seri Begawan's Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque is a major theme in the book.
[edit] See also
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[edit] Notes and references
- ^ For a discussion of religious freedom, see http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71334.htm (United States Department of State).
[edit] Bibliography
- This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a U.S. government publication, is in the public domain.
- U.S. Department of State website (2003)
- L. W. W. Gudgeon, British North Borneo, Adam and Charles Black: London, 1913.
[edit] External links
- Government of Brunei Darussalam website
- CIA World Factbook entry on Brunei
- The Daily Brunei Resources blog. Contains extra information on the country through the eyes of a Bruneian.
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Countries and territories of Southeast Asia
Disputed territories |
