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Brunei |
A tiny country with a population of 370.1 thousand (2005), Brunei was the only Malay state in 1963 which chose to remain a British dependency rather than join the Malaysian Federation. It gained independence on January 1st 1984 and a week later, joined the ranks of ASEAN.
The country is led by the head of state Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who is concurrently the Prime Minister, Defence Minister, Finance Minister, and head of the religion of Brunei Darussalam.
The Sultan whose title has passed within the same dynasty since the fifteenth centuryis advised by several councils and a cabinet of ministers although he is effectively the supreme ruler. There is no elected legislative body. The Sultan assembled an appointed Parliament in September 2004, which mainly functions to advise the monarch.
The country has one of the highest standards of living in the world, due to its large oil and gas reserves. Crude oil and natural gas production account for nearly half of its GDP and with many in the country enjoying work from, or related to, the oil industry, one of the challenges ahead is to look beyond the wealth that the natural resources offer to Brunei.
A large number of Bruneians also work for the government which provides for its people, free medical services and subsidized food and housing. Finding a way to widen the economic base by upgrading the labour force, reducing unemployment, and strengthening the banking and tourism sectors is another major challenge for Brunei.
Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei Darussalam is famed for its centuries old Water Village(Kampong Ayer) which is home to about ten percent of the population and reflects the roots of the people and country. Noticed by Spanish explorers in the 1500s, Kampong Ayer consists today of not just homes and mosques, but also restaurants, shops, a school, and even a hospital built on stilts over the Brunei River. At last count, there were more than 4000 structures and 36 kilometers of boardwalks at Kampong Ayer. Residents and visitors to the village get there by water taxis or small boats.
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