Brunei

Brunei (brOOnī') [key]or Brunei Darussalam (där"usuläm') [key], officially State of Brunei Darussalam, sultanate (2005 est. pop. 372,400), 2,226 sq mi (5,765 sq km), NW Borneo, on the South China Sea. Its two sections, separated by Brunei Bay, are surrounded by Sarawak, Malaysia. The capital and major port of Brunei is Bandar Seri Begawan. (formerly Brunei; 1991 est. pop. 46,229). The mountains in the nation's east give way to a flat coastal plain; western Brunei consists of hilly lowlands. The tropical climate is typically hot and humid with frequent rain. The country is divided into four administrative districts.

A majority of the population are Malays, but the Chinese community, consisting of about 20% of the people, dominates the economy. Malay is the official language, but English and Chinese are also spoken. Islam is the predominant and official religion; there are minorities of Buddhists, Christians, and those holding traditional beliefs.

Crude oil and liquefied natural gas are Brunei's main exports and the country's economic mainstays. Petroleum products are also produced, and since independence the government has attempted to promote economic diversification. Rice, bananas, cassava, pineapples, and other crops are raised. Forests are strictly protected and timber cutting is allowed only for local use. Brunei is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

A native sultanate was established on Brunei in the 15th cent. At one time the sultan controlled nearly all of Borneo, but by the 19th cent. his power had declined and Brunei had become a haven for pirates. In 1888 the British established a protectorate over Brunei, administered by a British resident, although the sultan retained formal authority. The Japanese overran the area during World War II.

In 1959 a written constitution went into effect. Under it, the sultanate remained and the protectorate was governed by a chief minister, council of ministers, and elected legislative council. Following elections won by an antimonarchist left-wing party in 1962 and an abortive uprising by its military wing, a state of emergency was proclaimed and the legislative council disbanded. In 1970 the legislative council was made an appointed body. Following the signing of a treaty with the British in 1979, Brunei became fully independent in 1984, and the legislative council was suspended the same year.

Following independence the sultan became an absolute monarch, and oil revenues were used to create a prosperous welfare state. The current sultan, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, has ruled Brunei since 1967. Belalong National Park opened in 1996. Brunei was affected by the 1997–98 Asian economic crisis, losing billions of dollars in investments. In 1998 the sultan's son, Prince al-Muhtadee Billah, was installed as heir to the throne. After a 20-year hiatus, the sultan reconvened the appointed 21-member legislative council in 2004 and signed a constitutional amendment calling for a partially elected council.

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

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