Brunei Darussalam : Kingdom, Culture & Lifestyle

 Brunei Tourist attraction

Information About Brunei, Brunei Darussalam is a nation without equal. Governed by the longest serving family Monarchy in the world, and financially secure because of it's oil and gas resources, Brunei is politically and financially stable. 

With Malay, Borneo native and Chinese traditions, a benevolent monarch, assimilation of modern technologies, an international outlook and Islamic religion at it's foundations, Brunei is a unique cultural and lifestyle experience. 
Brunei Darussalam Location on equatorial Borneo, at the geographic heart of Asia, Brunei's history and culture is intriguing, dynamic and an integral part in the evolution of modern Asia. Brunei share has preserved much of this brief history in it's museums and monuments.

The Brunei Darussalam travel to the museums, Royal Regalia and other attractions help bring this alive. 
Compact and uncongested, touring Brunei is easy. 
Destinations are close because of well developed road networks. 
Traffic is minimal, and we use boats for some tours; boats have been the transport standard for hundreds of years. 

Brunei has been changing rapidly since the mid 1970's, when the nation became a half owner in it's previously foreign owned oil and gas industry, and its income suddenly increased. 
In 1984, Brunei re-took full control of it's government administration from the British protectorate status that had helped preserve it's national integrity through the tumultuous earlier period of the 20th century. 

Advances in medical services, public health administration, education, roads, communication and commercial facilities during the past thirty years has created a modern nation.  

But Brunei's political and financial position has given the unique opportunity to choose a lifestyle that retains community and religious traditions regardless of the financial efficiency pressure which normally accompanies modernisation.  

Brunei's unique Monarchy remains the centre of governance. 
The small population of almost 400,000 has helped preserve this; with a close relationship between the Sultan and the people.   
Brunei Darussalam travel, The kampong Ayer Brunei water village of Bandar Seri Begawan is probably Asia's most outstanding example of  cultural heritage preservation amidst modern commercial development. It is the largest water village in the world, and still houses half the population of Brunei's capital. 

Seria Town

Sultan Birthday Arch

The  unique Brunei Kingdom and Culture tours around Bandar Seri Begawan take visitors to common and uncommon attractions and venues, with lunch beside the Brunei River. 
Special arrangement tours also visit other destinations in Brunei, such as the oil and gas operations 90 kms from the capital.  

The Lifestyle Tours in Temburong give visitors an insight into rural practices and traditional living, including longhouses. 
A visit to Brunei is not complete without a water based tour. 

The Brunei River Tour takes visitors to traditional sites and modern features along the river. The river is also how we also reach the water village, and Temburong. 
It's also the transport corridor to experience the mangroves and its abundant wildlife adjacent to the city. Native animals are not hunted for food around Bandar Seri Begawan so unlike other parts of Borneo, it's possible to see examples of Borneo's unique wildlife close to urban areas. 

The evening Mangrove Safari is a great way to experience the end of the day and see mangrove wildlife close the Sultan's Brunei palace, Sultan Brunei house . 

The  guides provide information to highlight the significance of each attraction and help visitors understand the unique character of Brunei. 

Brunei is totally different to anywhere else in Asia. 

A visit to Asia is not complete without experiencing the unique Kingdom and Culture  of Brunei Darussalam.

Source
http://www.bruneibay.net/

Negara Brunei Darussalam Country Profile

Information About Brunei Darussalam
Background: The Sultanate of Brunei's influence peaked between the 15th and 17th centuries when its control extended over coastal areas of northwest Borneo and the southern Philippines. Brunei Darussalam subsequently entered a period of decline brought on by internal strife over royal succession, colonial expansion of European powers, and piracy. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate; independence was achieved in 1984. The same family has ruled Brunei for over six centuries. Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, the source of one of the highest per capita GDPs in the developing world.

Geography Brunei
Location: Southeastern Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysia
Geographic coordinates: 4 30 N, 114 40 E
Map references: Southeast Asia
Area: total: 5,770 sq km
water: 500 sq km
land: 5,270 sq km
Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Delaware
Land boundaries: total: 381 km
border countries: Malaysia 381 km
Coastline: 161 km
Maritime claims: exclusive economic zone: 200 NM or to median line
territorial sea: 12 NM
Climate: tropical; hot, humid, rainy
Terrain: flat coastal plain rises to mountains in east; hilly lowland in west
Elevation extremes: lowest point: South China Sea 0 m
highest point: Bukit Pagon 1,850 m
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land use: arable land: 0.57%
permanent crops: 0.76%
other: 98.67% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land: 10 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards: typhoons, earthquakes, and severe flooding are rare
Environment - current issues: seasonal smoke/haze resulting from forest fires in Indonesia
Environment - international agreements: party to: Endangered Species, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note: close to vital sea lanes through South China Sea linking Indian and Pacific Oceans; two parts physically separated by Malaysia; almost an enclave of Malaysia

People Brunei

Population: 358,098 (July 2003 est.)
Age structure: 0-14 years: 29.6% (male 54,118; female 51,902)
15-64 years: 67.6% (male 128,421; female 113,480)
65 years and over: 2.8% (male 4,804; female 5,373) (2003 est.)
Median age: total: 26.4 years
male: 27 years
female: 25.7 years (2002)
Population growth rate: 2% (2003 est.)
Birth rate: 19.68 births/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Death rate: 3.39 deaths/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Net migration rate: 3.75 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2003 est.)
Sex ratio: at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.04 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.13 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.89 male(s)/female
total population: 1.1 male(s)/female (2003 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 13.5 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 9.71 deaths/1,000 live births (2003 est.)
male: 17.09 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 74.3 years
male: 71.9 years
female: 76.82 years (2003 est.)
Total fertility rate: 2.37 children born/woman (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: 0.2% (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS: less than 100 (2001 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Nationality: noun: Bruneian(s)
adjective: Bruneian
Ethnic groups: Malay 67%, Chinese 15%, indigenous 6%, other 12%
Religions: Muslim (official) 67%, Buddhist 13%, Christian 10%, indigenous beliefs and other 10%
Languages: Malay (official), English, Chinese
Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 91.8%
male: 94.8%
female: 88.5% (2003 est.)

Government Brunei

Country name: conventional long form: Negara Brunei Darussalam
conventional short form: Brunei
Government type: constitutional sultanate
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Administrative divisions: 4 districts (daerah-daerah, singular - daerah); Belait, Brunei and Muara, Temburong, Tutong
Independence: 1 January 1984 (from UK)
National holiday: National Day, 23 February (1984); note - 1 January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK, 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection
Constitution: 29 September 1959 (some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962, others since independence on 1 January 1984)
Legal system: based on English common law; for Muslims, Islamic Shari'a law supersedes civil law in a number of areas
Suffrage: none
Executive branch: chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Legislative branch: unicameral Legislative Council or Majlis Masyuarat Megeri (a privy council that serves only in a consultative capacity; NA seats; members appointed by the monarch)
elections: last held in March 1962
note: in 1970 the Council was changed to an appointive body by decree of the monarch; an elected Legislative Council is being considered as part of constitutional reform, but elections are unlikely for several years
Judicial branch: Supreme Court (chief justice and judges are sworn in by the monarch for three-year terms)
Political parties and leaders: Brunei Solidarity National Party or PPKB in Malay [Haji Mohd HATTA bin Haji Zainal Abidin, president]; note - the PPKB is the only legal political party in Brunei; it was registered in 1985 but became largely inactive after 1988; it was revived in 1995 and again in 1998; it has less than 200 registered party members; other parties include Brunei People's Party or PRB (banned in 1962) and Brunei National Democratic Party (registered in May 1965, deregistered by the Brunei Government in 1988)

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: APEC, ARF, ASEAN, C, ESCAP, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDB, IFRCS, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador PUTEH ibni Mohammad Alam
FAX: [1] (202) 885-0560
telephone: [1] (202) 237-1838
chancery: 3520 International Court NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Gene B. CHRISTY
embassy: Third Floor, Teck Guan Plaza, Jalan Sultan, Bandar Seri Begawan
mailing address: PSC 470 (BSB), FPO AP 96507
telephone: [673] (2) 229670
FAX: [673] (2) 225293
Flag description: yellow with two diagonal bands of white (top, almost double width) and black starting from the upper hoist side; the national emblem in red is superimposed at the center; the emblem includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands

Economy Brunei

Economy - overview: This small, wealthy economy encompasses a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation, welfare measures, and village tradition. Crude oil and natural gas production account for nearly half of GDP. Per capita GDP is far above most other Third World countries, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes rice and housing. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion, although it became a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC (Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum. Plans for the future include upgrading the labor force, reducing unemployment, strengthening the banking and tourist sectors, and, in general, further widening the economic base beyond oil and gas.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $6.5 billion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate: 3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $18,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 5%
industry: 45%
services: 50% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line: NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): -2% (2002 est.)
Labor force: 143,400
note: includes foreign workers and military personnel; temporary residents make up about 40% of labor force (1999 est.)
Labor force - by occupation: government 48%, production of oil, natural gas, services, and construction 42%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing 10% (1999 est.)
Unemployment rate: 10% (2001 est.)
Budget: revenues: $2.5 billion
expenditures: $2.6 billion, including capital expenditures of $1.35 billion (1997 est.)
Industries: petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas, construction
Industrial production growth rate: 5% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production: 2.497 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
nuclear: 0%
Electricity - consumption: 2.322 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports: 0 kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports: 0 kWh (2001)
Oil - production: 217,200 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption: 13,000 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports: NA
Oil - imports: NA
Oil - proved reserves: 1.255 billion bbl (January 2002 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: 315 billion cu m (January 2002 est.)
Agriculture - products: rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo
Exports: $3 billion f.o.b. (2000 est.)
Exports - commodities: crude oil, natural gas, refined products
Exports - partners: Japan 40.8%, South Korea 13.2, Thailand 12.3, Australia 9.3, US 8.3, Singapore 5.8, China 4.8 (2002)
Imports: $1.4 billion c.i.f. (2000 est.)
Imports - commodities: machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food, chemicals
Imports - partners: Singapore 31.1, Japan 21.6, Malaysia 18.3, UK 6.2, Hong Kong 3.8, US 3.2 (2002)
Debt - external: $0
Economic aid - recipient: $4.3 million (1995)
Currency: Bruneian dollar (BND)
Currency code: BND
Exchange rates: Bruneian dollars per US dollar - 1.7906 (2002), 1.7917 (2001), 1.724 (2000), 1.695 (1999), 1.6736 (1998)
Fiscal year: calendar year

Communications Brunei

Telephones - main lines in use: 79,000 (1996)
Telephones - mobile cellular: 43,524 (1996)
Telephone system: general assessment: service throughout the country is excellent; international service is good to East Asia, Europe, and the US
domestic: every service available
international: satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Indian Ocean and 1 Pacific Ocean); digital submarine cable links to Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore (2001)
Radio broadcast stations: AM 3, FM 10, shortwave 0 (1998)
Radios: 329,000 (1998)
Television broadcast stations: 2 (1997)
Televisions: 201,900 (1998)
Internet country code: .bn
Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 2 (2000)
Internet users: 35,000 (2002)
Transportation Brunei
Railways: total: 13 km (private line)
narrow gauge: 13 km 0.610-m gauge (2001 est.)
Highways: total: 1,712 km
paved: 1,284 km
unpaved: 428 km (1996)
Waterways: 209 km; navigable by craft drawing less than 1.2 m
Pipelines: crude oil 135 km; petroleum products 418 km; natural gas 920 km
Ports and harbors: Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait, Muara, Seria, Tutong
Merchant marine: total: 8 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 465,937 GRT/413,393 DWT
ships by type: liquefied gas 8
note: includes some foreign-owned ships registered here as a flag of convenience: UK 7 (2002 est.)
Airports: 2 (2002)
Airports - with paved runways: total: 1
over 3,047 m: 1 (2002)
Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 1
914 to 1,523 m: 1 (2002)
Heliports: 3 (2002)

Military Brunei

Military branches: Land Forces, Navy, Air Force, Royal Brunei Police
Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age (2003 est.)
Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 110,888 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service: males age 15-49: 63,966 (2003 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually: males: 3,277 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $329.7 million (FY02)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 5% (FY02)

Transnational Issues Brunei

Disputes - international: Involved in dispute over the Spratly Islands with China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam; Brunei established an exclusive economic fishing zone encompassing Louisa Reef in southern Spratly Islands in 1984 but makes no public territorial claim to the offshore reefs; claimants in November 2002 signed the "Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea", a mechanism to ease tension but which fell short of a legally binding "code of conduct"
Illicit drugs: drug trafficking and illegally importing controlled substances are serious offenses in Brunei and carry a mandatory death penalty

source :

http://www.alloexpat.com/brunei_expat_forum/brunei-country-profile-t8.html

About Negara Brunei Darussalam Country

Information About Brunei Darussalam country all in main aspect


OFFICIAL NAME

Negara Brunei Darussalam (The Country of Brunei, Abode of Peace)

 

Brunei Darussalam Flag

Yellow with two diagonal bands:
white (top band, double-width) and black (starting from the upper hoist side).
The national emblem is superimposed in red at the flag's centre.
The emblem includes the following components:

• Swallow-tailed flag, representing Royalty
• The Royal umbrella
• Winged column, symbolizing the protection of justice, tranquillity, prosperity and peace
• Two upraised hands, signifying the Government's pledge to promote welfare, peace and prosperity
• An upturned crescent, symbol of Islam, the national religion of Brunei
• Embodied within the crescent in yellow Arabic script is the nation's motto, which can be roughly translated: Always in Service by God's Guidance
• A scroll beneath the crest with Arabic script reading "Brunei Darussalam" or "Brunei, the Abode of Peace" 

Location

 

Located on the northern shore of the Island of Borneo, between longitudes 114'04" and 114'23" East and latitudes 4'00" and 5'05" North. 

Brunei, although occupying less  than 1% of Borneo's land area, is the only sovereign country on

the island, which it shares with the Indonesian provinces of West, East, South and Central Kalimantan and the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak.

LAND AREA	5,765 sq. km.
POPULATION	372,360 (2005 est.)
DENSITY	65 persons/sq. km.
CAPITAL CITY	Bandar Seri Begawan
POPULATION	236,200 (district)
ETHNIC GROUPS
Malay	67%
Chinese	15%
Indigenous tribes	6%
Others	12%

LANGUAGE

 

Bahasa Melayu (Malay) is the Brunei official language, but English is widely spoken. Mandarin, Chinese dialects and native languages of Borneo are also spoken by segments of the population.

RELIGIONS

Islam is the official religion of Brunei Darussalam as stated in the Brunei Constitution, with His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan as the head of the Islamic faith in the country.

Thus Islam plays a central role in the life of every Muslim in Brunei Darussalam.
Other faiths practiced in the State include Christianity and Buddhism.

NATIONAL PHILOSOPHY

Since gaining independence from the British in 1984, Brunei has adopted the national philosophy of the Malay Islamic Monarchy (Melayu Islam Beraja), a system that encompasses strong Malay cultural influences, stressing the importance of Islam in daily life and governance, and respect for the monarchy as represented by His Majesty The Sultan.
It is a philosophy of tolerance, which allows other cultures to follow individual traditions and to practice other religions.

CLIMATE

Temperate equatorial climate year round, characterized by temperatures ranging between 23 to 32 degrees Celsius, and an average annual rainfall of 320 cm. There is no distinct rainy season, though the period from November to March tends to bring heavier rains.

 ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS

4 Districts: Brunei-Muara (housing the capital city), Tutong, Belait, and Temburong


HEAD OF STATE

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
His Majesty is the 29th ruler of his line, which began with Sultan Muhammad in 1405. 

SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT

Independent sovereign constitutional Sultanate, with His Majesty The Sultan as the supreme executive authority.
His Majesty is advised by an appointed Council of Cabinet Ministers, Religious Council, Privy Council, a Council of Succession and a Legislative Council.

ECONOMY

With a total GDP of around US$6.5 billion and a per capita GDP of around US$18.3 thousand (2002), Brunei's resource-rich (oil & natural gas) economy affords its population high living standards, resulting in positive social indicators such as high literacy rates, longer life expectancy, and low unemployment and crime rates. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes rice and housing.

Government, construction, services, retail and some light manufacturing are the other major sectors in Brunei's economy.
The government is currently working towards economic diversification — in which tourism plays an important role — as well as encouraging foreign investment and developing education and human resources. These measures are designed to prepare the nation for the challenges of the future when the oil and gas reserves will have been depleted and new sources of income will be needed to maintain the current high standards of living enjoyed by Bruneians.

 

TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE
 
With over 2,500 rooms spread among 30 establishments ranging from guesthouses to the super luxurious Empire Hotel and Country Club, and with a dozen or so active inbound tour operators, Brunei has a well-established, yet underutilized tourism infrastructure attracting an increasing number of regional and international visitors.  

TOURISM ARRIVALS

Brunei recorded approximately 1 million foreign visitors in 2003, the vast majority arriving from Malaysia through land entry points.
Based on estimates derived from hotel occupancy rates and on market intelligence gathered from inbound operators, Brunei Tourism estimates the number of bona fide leisure and business tourists to be around 100,000 in 2003, with a 3-day average length of stay.
Most of these tourists originated from the short- and medium-haul markets, though a significant portion originated from long-haul markets, mainly UK and Germany.
Brunei Tourism’s objective is to increase international tourist arrivals by a minimum average rate of 7% yearly, as well as to increase average length of stay and expenditure.

INTERNATIONAL TRANSPORT LINKAGES

Brunei enjoys a convenient location at the heart of Southeast Asia and is well-connected to destinations worldwide.

Air  

Royal Brunei Airlines, the nation’s flagship carrier, flies non-stop or direct to most major Asia-Pacific destinations and the Middle East, as well as to Europe via London and Frankfurt. Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Thai Airways, Dragonair and Philippines Airlines serve Bandar Seri Begawan and offer one-stop connections to the rest of the world through their hubs in Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Hong Kong and Manila. 

Sea
Ferries link Brunei with the Malaysian island of Labuan off the coast of Sabah, and to the Malaysian towns of Limbang and Lawas in Sarawak.

Road
An extensive overland road network also connects Brunei to Sarawak and Sabah, while the Indonesian province of Kalimantan can be reached by road, air or boat via Sarawak or Sabah.

HEALTH, SAFETY AND SECURITY

Brunei is free from malaria and other tropical diseases, is outside the typhoon belt, has no volcanoes, and is not prone to earthquakes or other major natural disasters.
The country also enjoys government stability and economic prosperity, resulting in a very low crime rate.

Ok readers, thats it the information About Brunei Darussalam.

Source :
http://www.bruneitourism.com/

Demographics of Brunei

Demographics
Information About Brunei Darussalam demographic, The official language of the nation is Malay (Malay: Bahasa Melayu), although an important minority speak Chinese. The local variety of Malay (Kedayan or Bukit Malay), spoken natively by two thirds of the population, is quite divergent from and unintelligible to Standard Malay. The most important aboriginal languages are Iban, and two languages called Tutong, each with about 20,000 speakers.

English is also widely spoken and there is a relatively large expatriate community with significant numbers of British and Australian citizens.

Ethnicity
* Malay 66.3%,
* Chinese 11.2%,
* Indigenous 3.4%,
* Other 19.1% (2004 est.)

Brunei Darussalam is a ASEAN country

Information About Brunei Darussalam is an oil rich sultanate that obtained independence in 1984. It offers tourists grand mosques, river journeys and virgin rainforests that cover 70% of country. Located on the island of Borneo, it is one of the smallest nation in ASEAN covering just 5,765 square kilometres. Brunei Darussalam is a sovereign, independent, democratic islamic monarchy.

The capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, is dominated by the picturesque Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque. The Istana Nurul Iman is the most impressive site in Brunei Darussalam  and the world's largest residential palace. The sculpture nearby celebrate ASEAN unity. The Kampong Ayer or water village has been describe as the "Venice of the East". It is home to 30,000 people and features stilthouses over the water.
The Royal Ragalia Building is hoe to a collection of ceremonial jewels. Brunei History Centre has a display on the history of the Sultans. The Royal Ceremonial Halla or Lapau is where traditional royal ceremonies are normally held. Tasek Recreational Park has natural waterfalls, gardens and a lake. The market or tamu, located on the banks of the Kianggeh river, is open daily and the Tamu Hujung Minggu opens at the weekend and offers many exciting goods.
At Kampong Parit, just out of Bandar Seri Begawan, there is a mini replica of a rural village. Easy access to the rainforest and waterfalls is possible at Wasai Kandal. Jerudong Theme Park Brunei is an adventure theme park open free to public. The nearby polo complex is one of the world's largest. The Arts and Handycrafts Centre in Kota Batu has weaving and silverware displays.

The Malay Technology Museum provides an insight into the past lifestyle of the people. The Jame 'Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque in Gadong area is Brunei largest mosque. The Bukit Shahbandar Forestry Park provides over 70 ha of forest, ponds, trails and obsrvation towers. Meragang, Serasa and Muara beaches are popular recreational areas.
The geographically distinct, Temburong District contains dense forest and patches of land utilized for hill rice. The isolated Rainforest Centre at Kuala Belalong is a focus for learning about the lowland tropical forests. Ulu Temburong National Park, the nation's first, provided access to recreation and accommodation facilities.
There are several festivals including National Day on 23rd February, the Sultan's birthday on 15th July, Chinese New Year and many Muslim religious festivals like Hari Raya where open house is common.

source :
http://www.asean-tourism.com/aseancountries/brunei.shtml

Country Brief of About Brunei Darussalam

Country Brief of Information About Brunei Darussalam

Geography

The Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam is situated on the northwest coast of the island of Borneo. The capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, lies inland on the Brunei River. Brunei occupies 5,765 square kilometres and is divided into two parts, both of which are surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. Relatively little of Brunei's landmass is cultivated and around 60 per cent is covered by primary forest.

Brunei's coastline stretches for 161 kilometres along the South China Sea. Brunei is one of many nations with outstanding claims regarding South China Sea boundaries.
Brunei's tropical climate is hot, humid and rainy. The average annual temperature is 27.1°C and the country receives an average of almost 2.9 metres of rain annually.

Population

The population of Brunei is estimated at 427,000 (2011 IMF data), about 66 per cent of whom are ethnic Malay. A further 11 per cent are ethnic Chinese and about three per cent are indigenous. The relatively large population of foreign contract workers is drawn from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand, as well as from South Asia.
Malay is the official language, although a sizable minority speak Chinese dialects and English is widely used in commerce, education and government. The local variety of Malay (Kedayan or Bukit Malay) is quite different from standard Malay.
Islam is the official religion of Brunei Darussalam and the Islamic faith permeates the social and cultural fabric of the country. There are minority groups of Buddhists, Christians, Hindus and a small number of people who practise indigenous religions.

Political overview

Brunei's National Day is 23 February – a date associated with Brunei's independence in 1984. Its political structures are informed by the national philosophy of Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB), or Malay Islamic Monarchy.
Brunei is constitutionally an absolute monarchy. It is ruled by the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, who is both the head of state and Prime Minister. He is also the head of the Islamic faith in Brunei. His Majesty is the 29th Sultan in one of the oldest continuous hereditary royal lines in the world.
The Sultan's eldest son, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, was proclaimed Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam and heir to the throne of Brunei on 10 August 1998. Brunei achieved internal self-government in 1959 following a period of British rule when Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III (the father of the present Sultan) assumed executive authority. However, under Brunei's first constitution written in 1959, the country's foreign relations remained under Britain's control.

In the District Council elections in July-August 1962, the Brunei People's Party (PRB) won 54 of the 55 seats. Then, in a September 1962 poll dominated by the PRB's campaign against Brunei's proposed absorption into the planned Malaysian Federation, the PRB won all the elected seats in the Legislative Council. The Sultan delayed convening the Legislative Council and affirmed his intention to take Brunei into Malaysia. In December the military wing of the PRB revolted. The revolt was rapidly quelled with the assistance of British troops, its leaders forced into exile and the PRB banned. The elective provisions of the Constitution were suspended and no elections have been held since.
Brunei ultimately declined to join the Malayan Federation due to disagreements over financial arrangements and difficulties in determining the rank of the Sultan among the Malay rulers.
On 4 October 1967, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III abdicated in favour of his 21 year-old eldest son, the present Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III passed away on 7 September 1986.
Under a November 1971 agreement, Brunei obtained full internal autonomy and ceased to be a protected state. Britain continued, however, to retain responsibility for Brunei's foreign relations and accepted a potential role in Brunei's defence. The two countries signed a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation in 1979 terminating the 1971 agreement. They also committed to realising full independence for Brunei in 1984. His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei declared Brunei's political independence from Britain on 1 January 1984 and independence from the United Kingdom was achieved on 23 February 1984.
In 1984, Brunei's Government was restructured into a formal ministerial system with the Sultan as Prime Minister. The Sultan also serves as Minister of Defence and Minister of Finance. He is advised by, and presides over, four policy councils: the Council of Cabinet Ministers, the Legislative Council, the Privy Council and the Religious Council. The Sultan appoints the members of each of these Councils.
After a 20 year hiatus, the Sultan reconvened the Brunei Legislative Council on 25 September 2004, appointing 21 members. His Majesty then appointed a new Council with 29 members in September 2005. A 24 member Legislative Council was appointed for a five year term on 1 June 2011.
The Crown Prince, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, now holds the position of Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office. The Sultan's brother, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, is the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The thirteen other Cabinet Ministers are not members of the royal family.
Brunei has one legal political party, the Parti Pembangunan Bangsa (National Development Party or NDP).
Brunei's judicial system reflects the strong influence of British common law. The Supreme Court comprises the High Court and the Court of Appeals, while the Subordinate Court consists of the Magistrates' Courts. The Chief Justice and Judges of Brunei's Supreme Court are sworn in by the monarch for three-year terms. The Privy Council in London remains the final court of appeal for civil cases. The jurisdiction of the Islamic Courts, which coexist with the Supreme Court, is limited to family law and property matters for Muslims including inheritance.
The royal family retains a venerated position within the country and adverse comment regarding royal family matters is forbidden in Brunei.

Foreign policy

Brunei's foreign policy aims to promote national policies through bilateral and multilateral forums, by encouraging cooperation in all fields. The goal is to contribute towards promoting peace, security, stability and prosperity in the region, particularly by fostering deeper understanding among countries. To this end, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) remains the cornerstone of Brunei's foreign policy. Brunei became a member of ASEAN in 1984.
The guiding principles of Brunei's foreign policy include: mutual respect for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, independence and national identity of all nations; recognition of the equality of all nations large and small; non-interference in internal affairs; peaceful settlement of disputes and cooperation for mutual benefit.
Brunei is active in a range of regional and multilateral forums, including Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum, the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus, the Asia-Europe Meeting, the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation, and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue. Brunei will chair ASEAN and host the EAS in 2013. It is a member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and the World Trade Organization (WTO), and joined the United Nations (UN) when it became independent in 1984. Brunei was one of the four original members of the 2006 Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership which has the potential to expand to include Australia, the United States, Malaysia, Vietnam, Peru, Canada and Mexico through the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) negotiations currently underway

Economic overview

Brunei's small, high-income, open economy is underpinned by revenue from the oil and gas sector, with per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP)  over US$38,000 in 2011. In 2010, oil and gas accounted for around 60 per cent of Brunei's GDP. Brunei's extensive foreign investments form a large, yet unreported contribution to the national budget.
Small scale manufacturers and primary production (including agriculture, fisheries and forestry) make up the rest of Brunei's economy. Brunei imports nearly all of its major manufactured products and nearly 90 per cent of its total food requirements.
Despite Brunei's high dependence on oil and gas, this sector employs only three per cent of the workforce. The public sector is by far the largest employer of Brunei's population, providing employment for over half the workforce.
Brunei has a low tariff regime and no capital gains or personal income tax, although private businesses pay company tax. Company tax for oil and gas exploration and production companies is 55 per cent. For all other companies it is 22 per cent. Brunei's monetary policy and banking regulation is administered by the Brunei Monetary Authority (AMBD), created in 2011, and the Brunei Dollar (BND) is pegged to the Singapore Dollar. Both currencies are legal tender in Brunei and Singapore.
The Brunei Government aims to diversify the economy away from heavy dependence on oil and gas by promoting private non-energy sector development and attracting more non-oil and gas related investment. The Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) was formed in November 2001 to stimulate the growth, expansion and development of the economy by promoting Brunei as an investment destination and facilitating diversification projects.
In January 2008, the Brunei Government released its Vision 2035 (Wawasn 2035) , which sets out the overarching goal of delivering economic diversification by 2035 and the broad development strategies which Brunei will pursue over this period. Five year National Development Plans (RKNs) then set out detailed project and budgets for delivering Vision 2035. The RKN for the period 2012 to 2017 was announced in April 2012 and it continued to target an annual growth rate of 6 precent over the life of the Plan.

Recent economic performance

The global economic crisis had limited impact on Brunei, mainly due to limited global exposure in its capital markets. The fall in oil prices following the global economic crisis and subsequent decline in energy production saw Brunei's GDP contract by 1.9 per cent in 2008 and 1.8 per cent in 2009. Brunei saw a return to positive growth with  GDP increasing by 2.6 per cent in 2010 and 2.2 per cent in 2011, due in part to more favourable external conditions and the large fiscal and current account surpluses built up in recent years.
Brunei's domestic banks are adequately capitalised and profitable. Banks are also highly liquid, with more than half of total deposits parked abroad. Further stability was provided by the Government's October 2008 guarantee of all Brunei-dollar and foreign currency deposits until the end of 2010. This measure has since been replaced by long term deposit protection under the Brunei Deposit Protection Corporation.

Economic outlook

Brunei's heavy dependence on the oil and gas sector means that its economy is highly vulnerable to fluctuations in oil and gas prices. This dependence looks set to continue in the medium term.
Brunei's existing oil and gas reserves were expected to last for at least the next two decades. A phase of extensive new exploration and investment in enhanced recovery has commenced which includes the development of two major new offshore deep-water blocks. While it is still too early to determine precisely the size of any new reserves, the Brunei Government's Energy White Paper had set the ambitious target of a doubling of Brunei's daily oil and gas production by 2035.

Australia-Brunei bilateral relations

Australia and Brunei enjoy a warm relationship dating back to well before 1959, when Brunei achieved internal self-government. The relationship has strengthened in recent years, with growing links across a range of areas including defence and security, education and trade.
Brunei is an important partner for Australia in the Commonwealth, APEC, the EAS, the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations, and multilateral organisations like the UN and WTO. Brunei was the ASEAN Coordinator in negotiations for the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA), which was signed in Thailand on 27 February 2009 and entered into force on 1 January 2010.
In June 2005, Brunei's Foreign Minister, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, agreed to an Australian proposal to erect a permanent memorial to mark the 1945 landings in Brunei of the Australian force, which ended Japanese occupation and commenced reconstruction. A delegation of Australian veterans, led by the then Minister for Veterans Affairs, the Hon Alan Griffin MP, travelled to Brunei to attend the inauguration ceremony for the memorial in December 2008.
Australia is developing a strong education and training relationship with Brunei. It is keen to facilitate linkages between Australian and Bruneian education institutions, including increasing the number of Bruneian students undertaking Australian tertiary courses.

Defence and security links

Australia has a strong Defence relationship with Brunei, with avenues of engagement including strategic dialogue, bilateral military exercises and technical assistance. Military exercises conducted with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces include reciprocal army and navy exercises. Australia also provides some training and military expertise.
On 15 February 2005, Australia and Brunei signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Cooperation to Combat International Terrorism during the visit to Australia by His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei. The MOU provides for cooperation on customs, finance, immigration, intelligence, law enforcement, security and transport. During then Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Keelty's visit to Brunei in May 2008, the two countries signed an MOU on combating Transnational Crime and Developing Police Cooperation.

Bilateral visits

His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei made his first official visit to Australia in February 2005, visiting again in September 2007 for the APEC Summit in Sydney and in October 2011 to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Perth. The Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce, visited Brunei on 2-4 October 2012.
The Second Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, and Minister for Energy in the Prime Minister's Department, Pehin Yasmin, visited Australia in July 2012. In August 2008, Brunei's Minister for Education visited Australia and in March 2009, the Deputy Minister of Education also visited. Brunei's second Minister for Defence, Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, visited Australia in February 2012.
The Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs and Foreign Affairs, the Hon Richard Marles MP, visited Brunei in August 2012. The Parliamentary Secretary for Sustainability and Urban Water, Senator the Hon Don Farrell, visited Brunei in October 2010 to attend the second EAS Environment Ministers' Meeting. Minister for Resources and Energy, the Hon Martin Ferguson AM MP, visited Brunei in September 2011 to attend the fifth EAS Energy Ministers' Meeting.

Bilateral economic and trade relationship

Brunei was ranked as Australia's 35th largest merchandise trading partner in 2011-12, though this ranking likely understates the level of transhipped trade between Australia and Brunei via Singapore.
Trade and investment is an important focus of Australia's bilateral relationship with Brunei. Total direct bilateral trade with Brunei in 2011-12 amounted to $1.38 billion, with Australia's imports of crude petroleum from Brunei comprising just over $1.34 billion. Australia's merchandise exports to Brunei in 2011 totalled $37 million, consisting mainly of food and food products including meat excluding beef ($5 million), live animals ($5 million), beef ($3 million) and specialised machinery and parts ($3 million).
In the services sector, a number of Australian teachers and other professionals work in Brunei. In 2011-12, Australia's service exports to Brunei (mainly education) were worth $45 million. Australia is now the second preferred destination for Bruneian students.

Australian trade and investment strategies

The ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement

On 27 February 2009, the former Minister for Trade Simon Crean joined trade ministers from the ten member states of ASEAN (including Brunei) and New Zealand in signing the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (AANZFTA) in Thailand. As lead ASEAN Coordinator in the negotiations, Brunei played an important role in securing this Agreement.

Export opportunities

There are good trade and investment opportunities in Brunei including in the oil and gas, education, food and agriculture, financial and service sectors.

Australian Trade Commission (Austrade)

Austrade has identified potential opportunities for Australian suppliers of goods and services in a number of sectors. Austrade's Brunei country page has general information on doing business and on specific export opportunities. Austrade Brunei can also provide advice on accessing opportunities in Brunei.

Australia-Brunei Darussalam Business Council

The Australia-Brunei Darussalam Business Council (ABDBC) was established in 1994 in response to the growing interest in trade and investment between Australia and Brunei. The Council's objectives are to foster friendship and understanding between the business communities of both countries, promote technical cooperation, trade, investment and tourism, and facilitate the development of new business strategies to enhance the bilateral business relationship. The ABDBC's founder and President is Mr Francis Wong. The contact details for the ABDBC are:

• Ph: 618 8221 5722
• Fax: 618 82215001
• Address: 63 Grote St, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000

Updated November 2012

source :
http://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/brunei/brunei_brief.html

Spread of Islam In Brunei

Go to Masjid (Mosque) in Brunei

Brunei Brief History
Brunei Darussalam has been an independent nation since 1984. It is one of Southeast Asia's oldest sovereign nations with a long and colourful history. Its recorded history spans 600 years.
Prior historical references have been found Chinese and Hindu chronicles of the sixth and seventh centuries referring to Brunei as "Polo", "Puni" and "Poli". Early writers have also called it "Brunei" and "Brune".
Brunei rose to prominence in the 15th and 16th centuries when the country extended throughout Borneo and the whole of the present day Philippines.
The first sultan to embrace Islam in Brunei was Sultan Muhammad I who reigned for 39 years in the 14th century. About the year 1478, the sultans in the region were strong enough to free themselves from the influence of Hindu rulers.

The stability of the sultans that followed this period firmly rooted Islam in Brunei. In the pre Islamic Brunei the first capital Puni was established in the district of Temburong. Later the capital was moved to Kota Batu where the Brunei Museum now stands.
Finally it was established in Bandar Seri Begawan during the reign of Sultan Muhyiddin I in the 17th century. In the past Brunei's wealth was founded on the export of camphor, pepper and gold.
Brunei's golden age centred round two remarkable rulers Sultan Bolkiah and Sultan Hassan. Under their rule the Royal Court developed a splendour and ritual on par with that of anywhere in the world and the territorial and religious influence of the country reached its peak.
However, the thrust of European influence within the region in the 17th and 18th century saw a marked decline in the power and territory of Brunei a process which was hastened in the 19th century.
The British influence was predominant and Brunei lost much of its territory to Sarawak under its white raja, James Brooke. In 1888, Brunei became a British protectorate and in 1906, the British Residential system was introduced in Brunei. In 1959, Brunei resumed full internal sovereignty. Yet Britain remained responsible for defence and foreign affairs.
In 1918, Sultan Muhammad Jamulul Alam, the 20th ruler and the great grandfather of the present sultan, was installed as the Yang Di Pertuan.
The year 1929 marked the historic discovery of oil in Seria during the rule of the 27th Sultan of Brunei, Ahmad Tajuddin, who ruled for 26 years from 1924-1950. Brunei History - 2 remained under the Residency Agreement until 1959, when domestic and internal rule was granted by the Constitutional Amendment of the year.
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien, the father of the present sultan became the 28th Sultan of Brunei in 1959. His rule lasted from 1950 to 1967 during which period his vision and prudence propelled Brunei towards prosperity and modernity.
It was a period of transition but the Sultan was keen to maintain a separate Bruneian identity and opposed all attempts made to merge Brunei with Sarawak and North Borneo.
He fought many obstacles but fought to restore Brunei to its former glory.
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien abdicated in 1967, paving the way for his eldest son , the current sultan to ascend the throne as the 29th Sultan of Brunei
After an alliance of 96 years with Britain, His Majesty the Sultan Hj Hassanal Bolkiah, proclaimed Brunei Darussalam a sovereign , independent , democratic Muslim monarchy on January 1st, 1984.

General Information About Brunei
Total Land Area: 5,270 km
Land boundaries: 381 km
Coastline: 161 km
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Other Large Cities: Seria, Kuala Belait
Official Language: Malay
National Currency Unit: Brunei Dollar
National Day: February 23

Location and Geography
Brunei Darussalam location on the southwest of the island of Borneo. It faces the South China Sea along the northwest coast of the Island of Borneo and is bordered with Malaysia with the exception of the north coastline. Brunei has an exclusive fishing zone of 200 nautical miles in its territorial sea of 12 nautical miles.
The majority of the country (about three-quarters) is covered with tropical rainforests. Brunei's terrain is made up of flat coastal plain rising to the mountains in the east. Hilly lowland lies to the west. Brunei has a very small area of arable land. There are a few permanent crops, meadows and pastures. The country has an equatorial climate characterized by high temperature, high humidity and heavy rainfall. There is no distinct wet season.

Demography
Population: 0.32 million (1999)
Crude Birth Rate: 23 per thousand people (1998)
Crude Death Rate: 3 per thousand people (1998)
Infant Morality Rate: 6 per thousand (1999)
Life Expectancy: Male: 72 years, Female: 77 years (1998)
Urban Population: 66.6 percent (1998)
Adult Literacy: 89.00 percent (1998)

Economy
Brunei is the third largest oil producer in South Asia and the fourth largest producer of liquefied natural gas in the world. The country depends on revenues from crude oil and natural gas to finance its development programs. Oil and natural gas being the economic backbone of the country, also constitutes major exports. In addition, forestry is playing an increasing role in the economy. The Government is also encouraging agricultural development to reduce the dependency on imported foodstuffs.
GDP at Current Market Prices: 4828 million US$ (1998)
Per Capita GDP: 15574 US$ (1998)
Share of Sectors in GDP: 2.0% Agriculture, 32.5% Industry, 34.1% Services, (1998)
Total Exports: 2552 million US$ (1999)
Total Imports: 1328 million US$ (1999)
Major Exports: Crude oil, petroleum products and liquefied natural gas
Major Imports: Machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, foodstuffs
Major Trading Partners: Japan, US, UK, Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan

Landmarks
1841 Brunei ceded Sarawak to James Brooke
1846 Brunei ceded Labuan to Britain
1847 Brunei signed Trade Relations Treaty with Britain
1888 Brunei became a British-protected State
1906 British Resident appointed
1906-41 A new form of government emerged which included a State Council
1931 Exploration for oil commenced
1929 Oil was struck at Seria
1941-45 Japanese occupation during World War II
1950-67 Reign of Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien
1962 Armed rebellion put down
1967 Brunei issued its own currency
1967 The voluntary abdication of the 28th Sultan, His Highness Sir Muda Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien (Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien)
1968 Coronation of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan
1970 The State capital, Brunei Town, was renamed Bandar Seri Begawan
1971 The 1959 Agreement was amended and brought up-to-date
1972 LNG plant began operation
1973 Deep Water Port opened in Muara
1973 Official opening of the world's largest LNG plant
1974 Brunei International Airport opened
1975 The launch of Royal Brunei Airlines
1979 Brunei and Britain signed the Treaty of Friendship and Co-operation
1984 Brunei resumed full political sovereignty
1984 Brunei joined ASEAN, OIC and the United Nations
1984 Brunei celebrated its first National Day
1985 University of Brunei Darussalam was formed
1986 The demise of Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, His Majesty's father, the 28th Sultan.
1987 University of Brunei Darussalam opened
1988 Opening of the Malay Technology Museum
1989 The first convocation of University Brunei Darussalam
1990 The first Al-Hafiz of Brunei Darussalam
1991 The setting up of the Brunei Islamic Trust Fund (TAIB).
1992 Brunei joined Non Aligned Movements (NAM)
1992 Silver Jubilee of the reign of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam
1998 Proclamation of His Royal Highess Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah as the Crown Prince

source :
http://www.imamreza.net/eng/imamreza.php?id=2021