Brunei, officially the Sultanate of Brunei and Sarawak is a nation occupying the northern half of the island of Borneo south of Philippine Sabah.
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| Capital | Bandar Seri Begawan | ||||||
| Largest city | Kuching | ||||||
| Other cities | Kota Kinabalu | ||||||
| Language official |
Malay | ||||||
| others | Chinese, Indonesian, Chavacano, other native languages | ||||||
| Sultan | Hassanal Bolkiah | ||||||
| Crown Prince | Al-Muhtadee Billah | ||||||
| Area | 5,765 sq km km² | ||||||
| Population | est. 300,000 | ||||||
| Independence | September 26th 1983 (De facto) January 1, 1984 (Official) | ||||||
| Currency | Brunei dollar | ||||||
History
Pre-Doomsday
Post-Doomsday
Brunei was already on the path to complete independence from the United Kingdom at the time of Doomsday. However, Doomsday expedited the process when the leaders of Brunei saw this as their chance to finally secure independence. As the months passed by it became apparent that Doomsday would have a far greater impact on Brunei's economy then initially feared. With almost the entire first world gone and international trade cut off, Brunei once prosperous economy was starting to falter. More important food supplies in the small nation were beginning to dwindle as food imports stopped.
In order to save the small country it turned its eyes south towards the East Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak. Throughout its recent history had several territorial disputes with Malaysia over these territories of which it claimed. And so in 1987 when Malaysia was in a state of martial law most of the Malaysian armed forces were called over from East Malaysia to help put down mass riots that had broken out in Kuala Lumpur and Klang. And so seeing and opportunity in the chaos, Brunei's small army invaded and annexed Sarawak and Sabah in order to take over there vast natural resources; under the pretense of "restoring order."
While several of the troops still stationed in East Malaysia attempted to put up a resistance several high ranking units and officers had been bought off by the Bruneians. Within days the last remaining pockets of Malaysians surrendered. Throughout this time the government in Peninsular Malaysia had threatened to retaliate in a state of war, but these threats were in vain. The social, economic, and political strain on the remaining half of the country was too much because of the wide reaching effects of Doomsday. As Malaysia fell into an extreme Islamic reignite in the summer of 1987, the nation had no choice but to accept the situation for the time being. Some remnant Malaysian authorities in coastal Sabah, reasserted control over their respective communities by 1990, claiming legitimacy; Brunei opted to stay out of this "isolated unrest."
In 1993, Philippine forces made contacted with the Sabah communities; ultimately becoming an autonomous territory of that country two years later. It was on 7 August 1998, however, that Brunei made direct contact, upon learning of its "sovereign infringement"; when a scouting party encountered a Philippine Air Force patrol. In a compromise, the so-called "Treaty of Zambuanga", officials on both sides agreed on Sabah being Philippine territory, although dispute remains to this day on the boundary. Regardless, relations between the two nations are cordial enough for nationals to establish their respective company branches.
Politics and government
Under Brunei's 1959 constitution, His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah is the head of state with full executive authority, including emergency powers since 1962.
The Sultan's role is enshrined in the national ideology known as Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB), or Malay Muslim Monarchy. The country has been under hypothetical martial law since Brunei Revolt of 1962.
The media are extremely pro-government and the Royal family retains a venerated status within the country.
Religion
Islam is the official religion of Brunei at 67 percent, and the Sultan is the head of the religion in the country. Other faiths practised are Buddhism (13 percent, mainly by the Chinese) and Christianity (11 percent). Free Thinkers are mostly Chinese at about seven percent, although most of them practice some forms of religion with elements of Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism, they prefer to present themselves as having professed no religion officially, hence regarded as Atheists in official censuses. Indigenous religions are about two percent of the population.
Agriculture
Most food is imported from the ANZC and Brunei also trades food stuffs with other Pacific nations. Recently the Monarchy decided that Brunei should become more food self-sufficient.
Foreign Relations
As of 2009, it hasn't joined the League of Nations.
See also
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