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Brunei
Darussalam |
The
coastal state of Brunei Darussalam lies in the northwest corner
of Borneo, surrounded on three sides by Sarawak (Malaysia)
and the South China Sea on the fourth. This tranquil
country has heavy equatorial forests with most human
activity taking place on the coastal areas or estuaries.
The
capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan has a balance of both traditional
and modern buildings. These include the golden-domed
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque and the Istana Nurul
Iman, the Sultan’s magnificent palace. The Brunei
Museum is situated on top of a hill overlooking the Brunei
River and another spectacular landmark is the Jame’Asr
Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque in Kampong Kiarong.Water villages with houses
built on stilts on the Brunei River are
another a surprising mix of modern and ancient in centuries-old
Kampung Ayer. Jerudong has the Sultan’s polo ground,
a massive amusement park and the beach, which has magnificent cliffs.
|
| Joined
Commonwealth |
1984 |
| Capital |
Bandar
Seri Begawan |
| Population |
350,898
(July 2002) |
| Age
structure (15-64 years) |
67%
(male: 125,051; female: 110,257) |
| Youth
Population (15-24) |
56,724
(2000) |
| Youth
Population (15-24) in % |
17.4%
(2000) |
| HIV/AIDS
(adult prevalence rate) |
0.2%
(1999) |
| HIV/AIDS
(people living with HIV/AIDS) |
less
than 100 (1999) |
| HIV/AIDS
deaths |
NA |
| Literacy
(age 15 and over can read and write) |
88.2%
(male: 92.6%; female: 83.4%) (1995) |
| GDP
p.c. growth |
-0.7%
p.a. 1990-2000 |
| Currency |
Brunei
dollar (Br$) |
| Official
language |
Malay |
| Time |
GMT
plus 8 hours |
|
| History |
|
The
Brunei Sultanate rose to prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries.
With the advent of European occupiers, Brunei’s
powers gradually declined. In the 19th century the Sultan
of Brunei sought British support in defending the coast
against Dayak pirates. In 1888 Brunei voluntarily accepted
the status of a British protected state under the Sultan.
In 1971, under an agreement with the UK, Brunei ceased to be a
British protected state. Brunei became a
fully independent sovereign state on 1 January 1984. |
| Constitution |
The
Sultan is the head of the state with full executive authority and
is assisted and advised by five councils – the Religious
Council, the Privy Council, the Council of Cabinet Minister,
the Legislative and the Council of Succession. The Legislative
Council was suspended in 1984, since when the Sultan
has ruled through emergency decree.
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