Brunei
 Brunei
Darussalam is situated on the north-west of the island of Borneo. It has
a total area of 5,765-sq. km. with a coastline of about 161-km along the
South China Sea. It is bounded on the North by the South China Sea and
on all the other sides by Malaysian State of Sarawak. The Sultanate of
Brunei's heyday occurred between the 15th and 17th centuries, when its
control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern
Philippines. Brunei subsequently entered a period of decline brought on
by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European
powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate;
independence was achieved in 1984. Brunei benefits from extensive
petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per
capita GDPs in the less developed countries. The same family has now
ruled in Brunei for over six centuries.
The land surface is developed on bedrock of tertiary age comprising of
sandstone, shale and clays. The terrain in the western part of Brunei
Darussalam is predominantly hilly lowland below 91 metres, but rising in
the hinterland to about 300 metres. The eastern part of the state
consists predominantly of rugged mountain terrain, rising 1,850 metres
above sea level at Bukit Pagon. The coast has a wide, tidal and swampy
plain.Brunei Darussalam is divided into four districts namely Brunei/Muara, Tutong,
Belait and Temburong. Bandar Seri Begawan is the capital of Brunei Darussalam
with an area of about 16 sq. km. And a population of about 46 thousands (1991
census) including Kampong Ayer (Water Village). It is located in the Brunei/Muara
District, and is the Centre of government and business activities.
 Other towns are Muara, about 41 km to the north east of Bandar Seri Begawan
where the chief port is located, Seria which is the seat of oil and gas
industry, and Kuala Belait, Pekan Tutong and Bangar which are the administrative
centres of Belait, Tutong and Temburong Districts respectively.
From the 14th to the 16th centuries Brunei Darussalam was the seat of a powerful
sultanate extending over Sabah, Sarawak and the lower Philippines. Thus, the
current Sultan represents one of the oldest continuously ruling dynasties in the
world. By the 19th century, the Brunei Darussalam Empire had been whittled away
by wars, piracy and the colonial expansion of European powers.
In 1847, the sultan concluded a treaty with Great Britain and in 1888
Brunei Darussalam officially became a British protectorate. In 1906, the
Residential System was established in Brunei Darussalam. A British
Resident was nominated as a representative of the British government to
advise the sultan in all matters except Malay customs, traditions and
Islamic religion.
The 1959 Agreement established a written constitution which gave Brunei
Darussalam internal self-government. In 1971, the agreement was amended and
revised to assert full internal independence except defence and external
affairs.
 In 1967 His Highness Sultan Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien abdicated in
favour of his son Pengiran Muda Mahkota Hassanal Bolkiah. On January 1, 1984
Brunei Darussalam resumed full independence and the Sultan took office as Prime
Minister, Finance Minister and Home Affairs Minister, presiding over a cabinet
of six. In October 1986, the cabinet was expanded to 11 members, with His
Majesty relinquishing the portfolios of Finance and Home Affairs and taking over
the Defence portfolio which his late father had held since 1984. In 1988 another
reshuffle brought about the elevation of the deputy minister to a full minister
and the creation of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources designed to
boost the country's development.^top^
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