|
|
 |
   |
|
| |
Brunei |
| |
HM
Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin
Waddaulah |
| |
A
working monarch |
| |
As His Majesty the King celebrates
60 years as Thailand's constitutional
monarch this year, many of the world's
royalty will be joining in this auspicious
occasion. Among those invited is the
world's richest man, the ruler of the
Brunei Darussalam, the tiny enclave
on the edge of the South China Sea.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah
Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah has a special
relationship with Thailand and HM the
King in that both men have a strong
personal attachment to their people
Call him active. Call him involved.
Call him rich.
The 29th of his line, which dates back
to the 14th century, His Majesty Sultan
Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin
Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan
of Brunei Darussalam, is reputed to
be the wealthiest man in the world,
thanks to the oil and gas reserves of
his tiny kingdom.
His palace is the largest in the world,
a US$400-million (Bt15-billion) home
composed of 1,788 rooms on 20 hectares
in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital
city.
In four computerised giant garages are
stabled thousands of Rolls-Royces, Aston
Martins, Jaguars and Ferraris, worth
billions, for the use of family members,
ministers of state and government officials.
Born in 1946, His Majesty ascended the
throne in 1967, after completing his
studies at Sandhurst Royal Military
Academy in the United Kingdom.
In addition to being the Sultan and
the Ruler, His Majesty is also the prime
minister, defence minister, finance
minister and head of the religion of
Brunei Darussalam, Islam.
Technically, Brunei is under a state
of emergency. Some provisions of the
Constitution, instituted in 1959, have
been suspended since December 1962,
others since independence in 1984.
In 2004, His Majesty, describing the
move as “cautious” according
to the BBC, reconvened Parliament, which
had not met since independence.
“Cautious” is the key word.
The country’s heavy dependence
on revenues from its oil and gas fields
may come to an end when, according to
the predictions of experts, the state’s
reserves could run out in around 20
years.
Today, crude oil and natural gas production,
exported to Japan, South Korea, Australia,
the United States, Thailand, Indonesia
and China, account for nearly half of
the GDP.
These reserves make the 358,000 citizens
of Brunei the most well-off in the region.
National income per head is estimated
at $26,800. The government provides
all medical and educational services
and subsidises rice and housing.
About two-thirds of the population are
of Malay origin, and the largest minority
ethnic group are the Chinese, making
up around 15 per cent. Malay is the
official language, though Mandarin and
English are also spoken.
Apart from its coastline with the South
China Sea, Brunei is completely surrounded
by East Malaysia.
A member of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (Asean), it was admitted
to the UN in 1984, when His Majesty
addressed the United Nations General
Assembly.
All is not perfect in this financial
paradise though. Unemployment is growing,
and in addition to concerns that the
country might lose its internal social
cohesion as contacts with the outside
world grow, leaders understand the need
for continued diversification into sectors
apart from gas and oil.
In addition to on-going work to modernise
the Constitution, stated plans for the
future include upgrading the labour
force, reducing unemployment, strengthening
the banking and tourist sectors and
continuing to widen the economic base.
By Laurie Rosenthal
The Nation
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
