Brunei Darussalam, Share The Window into Borneo

Borneo is that large and mystical island in South East Asia
that  many have heard about, but few have seen.

The largest section, which stretches inland from the eastern coastline, is Kalimantan, part of Indonesia. The Malaysian states of Sabah (to the north) and Sarawak (to the south) lie along the western and northern coastline. 

Near the border of Sabah and Sarawak is Brunei Bay, and the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. Brunei Darussalam Location on Borneo.With a population around 300,000, and a coastline barely 150 kms long, it is by far the smallest of all the Borneo states. It is also the only nation with its territory solely on Borneo. 

Only Brunei’s future is inextricably tied  and share to Borneo’s destiny.
Borneo has large reserves of  petroleum and gas

Omar Ali Saifudin Mosque

Most of this resource lies either close to the coast, or below shallow seas just offshore. 

Being the only nation residing solely on Borneo, Brunei's income from this resource has remained tied to Borneo. 

 

The results are substantial in terms of environmental protection, social services, and standards of living.

The world renowned Kuala Belalong Field Studies Centre is a focal point where researchers from all nations come to learn more about rainforest ecology. New species are uncovered every year.

Brunei has not needed to cut it’s trees to finance development. Almost eighty percent of Brunei remains uninhabited jungle. Much of that is preserved as Forest Reserve or National Park.

Brunei’s recent development has continued to focus around the traditional water based transport routes that have dominated Borneo’s settlement and trading for centuries. 

Towns are located close to the coast, around Brunei Bay, or along rivers. 

Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei’s capital, sits astride the Brunei River, with the modern commercial centre on one side separated from Kampong Ayer Brunei traditional water village housing on the other. 

There is no bridge; boats carry people as they have always done.

But the people in those water village houses are now connected to the world community with satellite TV dishes and mobile phones.  Many work in modern air conditioned office blocks using up to date technologies and services.

At work, their tools, practices and communication align with modern international practices. 

When they go home they return to many traditional styles, dress, customs and  community practices.

This unique combination of up-to-date services contrasting with traditional lifestyles makes Brunei Darussalam a unique Window into Borneo. 

If you have just a few days, Brunei Darussalam travel’s compact size, diversity of venues, well established natural and cultural museums, activities, attractions and transport services let’s you conveniently experience the amazing contrasts that are Borneo.

With more time, Brunei Darussalam travel  is your practical Gateway to Borneo, and the well serviced support base from where you can make excursions to explore the whole island.

• Brunei’s national airline – Royal Brunei Airlines  RBA Brunei– is the only international airline that flies direct to Borneo from major regional and international centres.
• Royal Brunei airlines has an extensive network linking out to Borneo, and the region.
• Communication services are world class, and reliable. Disappear into a different world, knowing you can fax, phone or e-mail if needed.
• Pubic health standards are amongst the highest in the region. You can enjoy the cheap and traditional foods at roadside stalls and markets.
• Road transport services are well developed and uncongested. Get to places quickly, either with modern air-conditioned public buses, tour operator services, taxis, rental cars - or a bike.
• Crime rates are extremely low, guns are illegal, and alcohol is limited. It’s safe to wander the streets, night stalls, beachfronts, fishing jetties and shops in the cool of the evening. 

So bring the family, learn something new, and have some fun!

  Enjoy Borneo and  Visiting Brunei!

source :

http://www.bruneibay.net/

Brunei Country in Fact Again

About Brunei Darussalam Country, Brunei is a Malay state the only one who in 1963 chose to refuse to join the Federation of Malaysia and remain a part of Britain.
Country with a small population was finally gained independence in 1984 and due to supply gas and big oil, is one of the countries that has the highest living standards in the world.

Head of state, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, has a reputation as one of the richest men in the world.

Overview

The country is pick the dense forest and mangrove swamps, Brunei citizenship benefits, while the people enjoy high subsidies and pay no taxes.

Brunei is almost entirely dependent on imports for their food needs. Despite having enormous wealth, almost all of the countryside outside the capital remain undeveloped and are not exploited.
So far, Brunei has failed to exploit oil and gas revenues to diversify the economy. However, income from investments abroad was greater than oil and gas revenues.

Brunei Government is also promoting the country as an ecotourism destination.

Approximately two-thirds of the population of Brunei is Malay, and they benefit from earth policy sons. The remaining residents of Chinese descent, which reached 16% of the total population, there are those who hold passports that are protected by the British.

There are also descendants of Indian and traditional groups, such as Murut, Dusuns, and Iban.
Since 1962 the Sultan of Brunei has ruled the country by decree. Although there are two political parties allowed in 1985, but one broke thirteen years later, while the party remained the target of threats and harassment that is now no longer active.

Brunei's financial condition declined in recent years. Shares and their assets hit by the fall in the Asian financial crisis in the late 1990s, and also as a result of falling oil prices. In 1998, a family owned company  Sultan brother, Prince Jefri, went bankrupt and left a huge debt burden.

Leadership
Born in 1946, became Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei in October 1967 after his father, Haji Omar Ali Saifuddin abdicated. Coronation as Sultan of Brunei made in August 1968.

Sultan Bolkiah was educated in Malaysia and the UK. In 1991, Bolkiah introduced a conservative ideology called Malay Muslim Monarchy, which can be said to alienate the Chinese community.

Media

Media Brunei is not only diverse but also not free. Press the private, not owned or controlled if the sultan's family, tended to perform self-censorship on issues of politics and religion.
In September 2000, the Borneo Bulletin newspaper reported that authorities in censoring the foreign and domestic publishing seems to loosen their control.

The report also states that the censorship of television, including state television Television Brunei, also began to be reduced. But it added that some religious leaders are not happy with the recent developments, which they consider to speed up the process of moral decline in society.

The only media broadcaster Radio Television Brunei operations are controlled by the government. Foreign broadcasts can be accessed via the network cable.

Radio Television Brunei is controlled by the state with TV broadcasts in Malay and English, while there is also a radio broadcast in Mandarin.

Fact

Population: 358,000 (UN, 2003)
Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
Main Languages​​: Malay, English, Chinese
Home :: religions Islam, Buddhism, Christianity
Average age: 74 years (men), 79 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Bruneian dollar = 100 cents
Main exports: crude oil, liquefied natural gas, petrol products natural gas
Average revenue per year: U.S. $ 26.800 (World Bank, 1997)
Internet domain:. Bn

Newspaper

Borneo Bulletin, in English
Brunei Direct, an online news service
Media Permata, in Malay

source :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/indonesian/news/story/2003/11/031103_brunei.shtml

Radio Televisyen Brunei New Building

Radio Televisyen Brunei New Building

Well, after more than one year of building this new and modern station, the new Radio Television Brunei (RTB Brunei) building is expected to be completed by this year...

Problem is, how are the staff going to stand the pugent smell which will be emitted from the 30 years old rubbish dump just next to the building???

Radio Televisyen Brunei New Building

Source :
http://phoenix4bn.blogspot.com/2007/02/new-rtb-building.html