PACIFIC RIM CIA

Brunei

GROUP 19
ADITYA NAIR 1523504
MEHRAAN Z 1523527
MEHUL S 1523528
JAMES SUP 1523542
1. Introduction:-
Brunei, officially the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace, is a sovereign state located on the north
coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Apart from its coastline with the South China Sea, the
country is completely surrounded by the state of Sarawak, Malaysia. It is separated into two parts by the
Sarawak district of Limbang. Brunei is the only sovereign state completely on the island of Borneo; the
remainder of the island's territory is divided between the nations of Malaysia and Indonesia. Brunei's
population was 408,786 in July 2012.
In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate and was assigned a British resident as colonial manager in
1906. After the Japanese occupation during World War II, in 1959 a new constitution was written. In 1962,
a small armed rebellion against the monarchy was ended with the help of the British.

Facts:-

✢ National Name: Negara Brunei Darussalam

✢ Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese

✢ Ethnicity/race: Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%

✢ Religions: Islam (official religion) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs
and other 10%

✢ Literacy rate: 92.7% (2011 est.)

✢ Government: Constitutional sultanate.

2. Economy in Brunei:-
Brunei's small, wealthy economy is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government
regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for about
90% of its GDP. About 167,000 barrels (26,600 m3) of oil are produced every day, making Brunei the
fourth-largest producer of oil in Southeast Asia. It also produces approximately 25.3 million cubic metres
(890×106 cu ft) of liquified natural gas per day, making Brunei the ninth-largest exporter of the substance
in the world.

Substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. Most of
these investments are made by the Brunei Investment Agency, an arm of the Ministry of Finance. The
government provides for all medical services, and subsidises rice and housing.

Brunei depends heavily on imports such as agricultural products (e.g. rice, food products, livestock, etc.),
motorcars and electrical products from other countries. Brunei imports 60% of its food requirements; of
that amount, around 75% come from the ASEAN countries.
Brunei's leaders are very concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will
undermine internal social cohesion. But, it has become a more prominent player by serving as chairman for
the 2000 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. Leaders plan to upgrade the labour force,
reduce unemployment, which was at 6.9% in 2014; strengthen the banking and tourism sectors, and, in
general, broaden the economic base.
The government of Brunei has also promoted food self-sufficiency, especially in rice. Brunei renamed its
Brunei Darussalam Rice 1 as Laila Rice during the launch of the "Padi Planting Towards Achieving Self-
Sufficiency of Rice Production in Brunei Darussalam" ceremony at the Wasan padi fields in April 2009. In
August 2009, the Royal Family reaped the first few Laila padi stalks, after years of attempts to boost local
rice production, a goal first articulated about half a century ago. In July 2009 Brunei launched its
national halal branding scheme, Brunei Halal, with a goal to export to foreign markets.

3. Religious, Cultural, Society & Political Influence

Religion
Islam is the official religion of Brunei, specifically that of the Sunni branch, as dictated by the Madhhab
of Shafi'i. Two-thirds of the population, including the majority of Bruneian Malays and Bruneian Chinese,
adhere to Islam. Other faiths practised are Buddhism (13%, mainly by the Chinese)
and Christianity (10%). Freethinkers, mostly Chinese, form about 7% of the population. Although most of
them practise some form of religion with elements of Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, they prefer to
present themselves as having practised no religion officially, hence labelled as atheists in official censuses.
Followers of indigenous religions are about 2% of the population.

Culture
The culture of Brunei is predominantly Malay (reflecting its ethnicity), with heavy influences from Islam,
but is seen as much more conservative than Indonesia and Malaysia. Influences to Bruneian culture come
from the Malay cultures of the Malay Archipelago. Four periods of cultural influence have occurred,
animist, Hindu, Islamic, and Western. Islam had a very strong influence, and was adopted as Brunei's
ideology and philosophy. Brunei's official main language is Malay but English is also widely spoken as it
is a compulsory subject in the majority of the schools.
As a Sharia country, the sale and public consumption of alcohol is banned. Non-Muslims are allowed to
bring in a limited amount of alcohol from their point of embarkation overseas for their own private
consumption.

Politics
Brunei's political system is governed by the constitution and the national tradition of the Malay Islamic
Monarchy, the concept of Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB). The three components of MIB cover Malay culture,
Islamic religion, and the political framework under the monarchy. It has a legal system based on English
common law, although Islamic shariah law supersedes this in some cases. Brunei has a parliament but
there are no elections; the last election was held in 1962.
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. Since 1962, this authority has
included emergency powers, which are renewed every two years. Brunei has technically been
under martial law since the Brunei Revolt of 1962. Hassanal Bolkiah also serves as the state's Prime
Minister, Finance Minister and Defence Minister. The Royal family retains a venerated status within
Brunei.

Culture

The Family
The family is the focal point of the social structure. The Bruenian family is the extended family and includes
aunts, uncles, and cousins as well as close friends. Members of the extended family are expected to remain loyal
to each other and the family.
As a result of this Brunei is a hierarchical culture. Age and position are revered. From a young age, children are
taught to subjugate their own desires for the good of the entire family and to respect elders without question. In
addition they also learn that it is through family support that they accomplish goals.

The Concept of Face

The role of face, shame and honour is crucial to Bruneians. Consequently they are very polite and well-
mannered. Maintaining face is of upmost importance and they do their best not to cause issues or problems
which could jeopardize this. In order to maintain face their communication style is very indirect and can come
across as somewhat ambiguous to those from a culture where direct communication is the norm. By being
indirect Bruneians avoid embarrassing another person, which would cause that person to lose face. Most
Bruneians find emotions such as impatience, anger, or irritation embarrassing and try to avoid them since
expressing them could result in a loss of face and disharmony.

The Monarchy

Bruneians are proud to have centuries of royal heritage and to be the only remaining Malay Islamic Monarchy in
the world. The Sultan of Brunei comes from a family line that dates back to 1405. In 1967 His Majesty Sultan
Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah was made the 29th ruler of Brune and led the country’s
independence from the United Kingdom in 1984.

4. Influence of Islam
Islam is Brunei's official religion, 67 percent of the population is Muslim, mostly Sunnis of Malay origin
who follow the Shafi School of Islamic law. Most of the other Muslim groups are Malay Brunei,
Malay Kedayans (converts from indigenous tribal groups) and Chinese converts.

Islam was adopted in the 15th century when a Malay Muslim was installed as sultan. The sultan
traditionally was responsible for upholding Islamic traditions, although the responsibility was usually
delegated to appointed officials.
Since the 1930s sultans have used rising oil revenues to provide an extensive social welfare system and
promote Islam, including subsidizing the Hajj, building mosques, and expanding the Department of
Religious Affairs.
With the constitution in 1959, Islam became the official religion of the country.
On 30 April 2014, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah announced the implementation and enforcement of the first
phase of Sharia law in Brunei starting 1 May 2014.

5. Effects of cold war on Brunei

• A new constitution was written declaring Brunei a self-governing state, while its foreign
affairs, security, and defense remained the responsibility of the United Kingdom.
• Brunei's decision to opt out of the Malaysian Federation due to Brunei revolt.
• Brunei gained its independence from the United Kingdom on 1 January 1984.

6. Influence of USA on Brunei

 • Brunei-United States relations have been characterized by strategic and security interests, in
contrast to the economic.
• US also have been ultimate guarantors of its independence and sovereignty against larger and
more powerful neighboring states.
• For United States, Brunei is invaluable because of the tending and influence within ASEAN
of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, whose support is crucial for the smooth implementation of US
policy in the region.
• Brunei’s offer US$30 billion of financial reserves to US presidents.
• Important US partner in the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations.
• Brunei-US English-Language Enrichment Program for ASEAN and the US-Asia Pacific
Comprehensive Energy Partnership are the act of Brunei and the US as platforms for both
countries to further enhance their bilateral relations.

• The UK would still be responsible for external affairs and defence.

• Brunei and the UK agreed to share the responsibility for security and defence.
• Rich in oil resources.

7. Setup of the Sultan

To understand the setup of the sultanate of Brunei we have to first understand a brief history
of the nation and how it came to be under a sultanate. Brunei was trading with China during
the 6th century, and, through allegiance to the Javanese Majapahit kingdom, it came under
Hindu influence. In the early 15th century, with the decline of the Majapahit kingdom and
widespread conversion to Islam, Brunei became an independent sultanate. It was a powerful
state from the 16th to the 19th century, ruling over the northern part of Borneo and adjacent
island chains. But Brunei fell into decay and lost Sarawak in 1841, becoming a British
protectorate in 1888 and a British dependency in 1905. Japan occupied Brunei during World
War II and it was then liberated by Australia in 1945. The sultan regained control over
internal affairs in 1959, but Britain retained responsibility for the state's defense and foreign
affairs until 1984, when the sultanate became fully independent. Sultan Bolkiah was crowned
in 1967 at the age of 22, succeeding his father, Sir Omar Ali Saifuddin, who had abdicated.

The sultan has been ruling over Brunei ever since 1967. The sultan of Brunei essentially
holds the title of being the head of state and absolute monarch of Brunei. He also holds the
same powers as a prime minister since he is the head of government. The sultan’s decisions
and policies affect Brunei in terms of foreign relations, defense, administration etc. Under the
present sultanate Brunei has made itself into a small, wealthy economy due to various
regulations and welfare measures undertaken by the government.
However of late the sultan of Brunei introduced the sharia law which people believe will
derail the country in future. The royal Brunei airlines under the government also provide for
the economy of the country. Thus the decisions of the sultan affect the state in many ways.
8. Japanese Industrial Movement
The Industrial Revolution began in Japan under the Meiji period around 1870. It began the Japanese
leaders wanted to catch up to the West.
The government build railroads and improved roads. It also inaugurated a new Western- based
education system for the youth, sent thousands of students to the United States and Europe, and hired
more than 3,000 Westerners to teach modern science, mathematics, technology, and foreign languages
in Japan. 
The Bank of Japan, founded in 1877, used taxes to fund model steel and textile factories. Education
was expanded and japanese students were sent to study abroad in the West.
The Meiji molded Japan into a global industrial and modern power. The Japanese economy allowed
for mass production and complex infrastructure. Railway construction began in the early 1870s and
grew exponentially across the island nation.