Brunei Darussalam

Brunei Darussalam is officially known as the State of Brunei. The country is located on the north coast of the Borneo Island, in Southeast Asia. The South China Sea bounds the nation in the north. The country comprises two completely disjoined land parts, separated by state of Sarawak, and Malaysia. It is reigned by a strong sultanate since the 14th century. It is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, and ASEAN. Brunei has given ‘Not Free’ status to the press. The famous Panaga Club is situated in the country.


HISTORY:- Brunei was engaged in trading with China since 6th century. With the influence of Javanese Majapahit kingdom, the region was predominantly Hindu. The Javanese Majapahit kingdom collapsed in the early 15th century. Hinduism was replaced by Islam. The state had been converted into a strong sultanate in the 16th century. The territory of the sultanate was spanned from the coasts of present-day Sarawak and Sabah, the Sulu archipelago, to the islands off the northwest tip of Borneo. With a war against Spain, it lost some territories. In 1841, it lost Sarawak. In 1888, it became a British protectorate and in 1905, a British dependent territory. During the World War II, Japan gained the control of the region, which was lost to the Australians in 1945. During the Brunei Revolt, a rebellion against the sultanate was suppressed by the British. In 1959, the sultan repossessed the power of the land on the internal affairs while the British looked after the defense and foreign affairs. In 1984, the sultanate gained full autonomy. Sir Omar Ali Saifuddin was abdicated and his son Sultan Bolkiah seated on the throne of Brunei.

 

GEOGRAPHY:- Brunei is located at 4 30 N, 114 40 E in the southeastern Asia. The country consists of two separate pieces of lands; capturing total 5,270 sq km land area and 500 sq km water area on the surface on the universe. These two parts are disjoined by Limbang. The coastline is 161 km long along with the South China Sea. The lowest point is situated at the South China Sea (0 m) and the highest point is Bukit Pagon (1,850 m). Brunei is mostly composed of flat coastal plains. Eastern region is mountainous and western region is hilly low land.

 

CLIMATE:- The climate of Brunei is tropical to semi-tropical. The climate is hot, and humid. Bandar seri begawan area is sub-tropical.  The temperature ranges from 14 to 34 degrees Celsius.

 

GOVERNMENT:- Absolute Islamic Sultanate reigns in the nation. The country is governed by a hereditary Monarchy. The constitution was adopted on 29th September 1959. The legal system is based on the English common codes. But for the Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law is imposed. The three major branches of the government are:

Executive branch consists of The Sultan (chief of state, head of government) and cabinet (14 members). The sultan is also the Prime minister. Sultan appoints and leads the Council of Cabinet Ministers.

Legislative branch consists of the Legislative Council (45 seats), which is formed to play an advisory role for the Monarch. The council is appointed by the Sultan.

Judicial branch consists of the magistrate's courts, High Court, Court of Appeals, Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.

There is only one large prominent political party in Brunei- National Development Party. Other parties are small. Suffrage is universal at the age of 18 in the village elections.

Sultan  Hassanal Bolkiah

 

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Brunei is divided into 4 districts:

Brunei-Muara

Belait

Tutong

Temburong.

These districts are further subdivided into 38 mukims.

 

CULTURE:-The influence Malay culture is predominant in Brunei with touches of Hinduism and Islam.

 

ECONOMY:- Brunei has a small but steady economy, which ensures a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition.

GDP/PPP (2005 est.): $9.531 billion; per capita $23,600.

Real growth rate: .4% (2005)

Inflation: 1.1% (2005).

Unemployment: 4.0% (2006).

Arable land: 1%.

Agriculture: rice, vegetables, fruits; chickens, water buffalo, eggs.

Labor force: 180,400; note: includes foreign workers and military personnel; temporary residents make up about 40% of labor force; agriculture, forestry, and fishing 2.9%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 61.1%, government 36% (2006 est.).

Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction.

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber.

Exports: $6.247 billion f.o.b. (2005 est.): crude oil, natural gas, refined products.

Exports - partners: Japan 30.8%, Indonesia 20.1%, South Korea 15%, Australia 11.6%, US 7.8% (2006)

Imports: $1.481 billion c.i.f. (2005 est.): machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals.

Imports - partners: Singapore 31.6%, Malaysia 19%, UK 8.1%, Japan 5.6%, China 5.5%, Thailand 4.6% (2006)

Major trading partners: Japan, South Korea, Australia, U.S., Thailand, Indonesia, China, Singapore, Malaysia, UK (2004).

Budget:  

Revenues: $3.765 billion

Expenditures: $4.815 billion (2004 est.)

Debt - external: $0 (2005)

Monetary unit: Brunei dollar

 

LANGUAGE:- Malay is the official language. English, Chinese are also widely spoken.

 

CITIES:- capital city Bandar Seri Begawan is the largest city. Other large cities are Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria. Seria possesses a huge oil reserves.

 

POPULATION:- The total population of Brunei is estimated 991,000, among which approximately 367,912 inhabit in the capital city Bandar Seri Begawan. The population growth rate is 1.8%.

Density per sq mi: 190

Literacy rate: 93% (2003 est.)

RACE:-

Malay 67%

Chinese 15%

Indigenous 6%

Other 12%

 

RELIGION:- Muslim is the official religion of Brunei.

Muslim (official) 67%

Buddhist 13%

Christian 10%

Other (includes indigenous beliefs) 10%

 

HEALTH:- Brunei has no medical schools. A Nursing school was set up in 1951. No hospitals or health clinics of the country has international healthcare accreditation.

Birth rate: 18.39 births/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 3.28 deaths/ 1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 12.69 deaths/ 1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 75.52 years

Total fertility rate: 1.94 children born/ woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 200 (2003 est.)

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 421

 

UNICEF:- UNICEF is not active in the country.

 

TRANSPORTATION:-

Highways: total: 3,650 km; paved: 2,819 km; unpaved: 831 km (2005).

Waterways: 209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m (2004).

Ports and harbors: Lumut, Muara, Seria.

Airports: 2 (2004 est.). Brunei International Airport is the main airport.

 

 
COUNTRIES    US STATES    US CITIES    CLASSIFIEDS    EVENTS    YELLOW PAGES    MAJOR CITIES    CATEGORY SITES     AVOO SEARCH     WORLD NEWS    POLLS     YSpan