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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.
(Information courtesy the Government of
Brunei) |
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