Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with its territory bifurcated by the Sarawak district of Limbang. Brunei is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo; the remainder of the island is divided between its multi-landmass neighbours of Malaysia and Indonesia. As of 2023, the country had a population of 455,858, of whom approximately 180,000 resided in the capital and largest city of Bandar Seri Begawan. Its official language is Malay and Islam is the state religion of the country, although other religions are nominally tolerated. The government of Brunei is a constitutional absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan, and it implements a fusion of English common law and jurisprudence inspired by Islam, including sharia.
The economy of Brunei, a small and wealthy country, is a mixture of foreign and domestic entrepreneurship, government regulation and welfare measures, and village traditions. It is almost entirely supported by exports of crude oil and natural gas, with revenues from the petroleum sector accounting for over half of GDP. Per capita GDP is high, and substantial income from overseas investment supplements income from domestic production. The government provides for all medical services and subsidizes food and housing. The government has shown progress in its basic policy of diversifying the economy away from oil and gas. Brunei's leaders are concerned that steadily increased integration in the world economy will undermine internal social cohesion although it has taken steps to become a more prominent player by serving as chairman for the 2000 APEC forum. Growth in 1999 was estimated at 2.5% due to higher oil prices in the second half.
Districts are the principal administrative divisions of Brunei. The country is divided into four districts, namely Brunei-Muara, Belait, Tutong and Temburong. Temburong is an exclave; it is physically separated from the three other districts by the Brunei Bay and Malaysian state of Sarawak. Each district has a town as its administrative and main economic centre, with the exception of Brunei-Muara, where the principal centre is Bandar Seri Begawan, a city and the country's capital.
The Brunei–Muara District or simply Brunei-Muara is one of the four districts of Brunei. It has the smallest area among the four districts, with 571 square kilometres (220 sq mi), yet is the most populous, with 289,630 people as of 2016. Bandar Seri Begawan, the country's capital, is located in this district, which is also de facto the district's capital. It is also home to Brunei International Airport, the country's only international airport, as well as Muara Port, the main and only deep-water port in the country. The Brunei River flows within this district and is home to Kampong Ayer, the traditional historic settlement on stilts above the river.
Tutong District or simply Tutong is one of the four districts of Brunei. It has an area of 1,166 square kilometres (450 sq mi); the population was 48,313 in 2016. The administrative town is Pekan Tutong. It is home to Tasek Merimbun, the country's largest natural lake.
Temburong District, or simply Temburong, is the easternmost district in Brunei. It is an exclave surrounded by Malaysia and the Brunei Bay. Temburong is accessible from Brunei's mainland via the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge. It has a total area of 1,306 km2 (504 sq mi). As of 2016, its population was 10,251; it is the least populous district in Brunei. Bangar is the administrative centre of the Temburong District.
Bangar is a town and administrative centre of Temburong District, Brunei, an isolated territorial exclave separated from the rest of the country by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The population of the town proper was 451 in 2021. A number of tiny retail establishments may be found throughout the town, providing everything from clothing to handicrafts to basic needs.
Muara Town or simply Muara is a port town in Brunei-Muara District, Brunei, about 28 kilometres (17 mi) from the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The population of the town proper was 2,102 in 2016. It is home to Muara Port, the country's primary deep water port.
The Royal Brunei Police Force, RBPF (Malay: Polis Diraja Brunei is in charge of keeping law and order in Brunei. The RBPF has been one of the 190 members of INTERPOL, an intergovernmental organisation worldwide since 1984.
Lim Jock Seng, also known as Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, is a Bruneian nobleman, anthropologist, politician and diplomat who served as first Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade II. Additionally, he was a member of the Privy Council in 2003, and Legislative Council of Brunei in 2004. Other than holding government offices, he was also the chairman of Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) and Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) from 2008 to 2010.
Kampong Sungai Akar or commonly known as Sungai Akar, is a village in Brunei-Muara District, Brunei, as well as a neighbourhood in the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The population was 5,467 in 2016.
Kampong Kumbang Pasang, or simply Kumbang Pasang, is a village within Mukim Kianggeh in Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. It is also part of the municipal area of the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The population was 563 in 2016. It has the postcode BA1511. The village formerly hosts a rubber plantation and was named Kumbang Pasang Estate. Notably the village was once its own Mukim, known as Mukim Kumbang Pasang.
The Ministry of Development is a cabinet-level ministry in the government of Brunei which is responsible for public works, land use, environment, public housing, and surveying in the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. It was established immediately upon Brunei's independence from the United Kingdom (UK) on 1 January 1984. It is currently led by a minister, and the incumbent is Muhammad Juanda Abd. Rashid who took office since 7 June 2022. The ministry is headquartered in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam.
The Ministry of Finance and Economy is a cabinet-level ministry in the government of Brunei which is responsible for the monetary, fiscal and economic policies and development in the country. It was established immediately upon Brunei's independence on 1 January 1984. It is currently led by a minister in which the incumbent is Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, as well as a second minister and two deputy ministers.
The Istana Darussalam is the former residence of Omar Ali Saifuddien III and birthplace of Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah. The palace is located at Jalan Darussalam, Sumbiling Lama, Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. The building has become a tourist attraction and currently under the protection of the Antiquities and Treasure Trove Act of the Museums Department.
The Serasa Ferry Terminal, also known as Serasa Muara Terminal and Serasa Terminal, is a passenger terminal operated by the Department of Immigration and National Registration in Mukim Serasa, Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. It is one of the two ferry terminals in Brunei, which is located in Kuala Belait Port and Serasa.
The Department of Fisheries, also referred to as the Fisheries Department, is a department overseen by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT). The country's fisheries authority is the Department of Fisheries under the MPRT.
Hazair bin Haji Abdullah is a Bruneian nobleman and politician who formerly held the position of Deputy Minister of Health (MOH) from 2005 to 2010, and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) from 2010 to 2015. Notably, he was also the Brunei Representative of Human rights commission to ASEAN, chairman of the Royal Brunei Airlines and subsidiaries from 2003 to 2005, Public Service Reform Committee, Public Service Day Committee, E-Government Executive Committee, Chairman of the Police Commission, Criminal Law Act Advisory Committee, and the deputy chairman of the Employee Trust Fund.
Ahmad Morshidi bin Abdul Rahman is a Bruneian businessman and politician who became a member of the Brunei Legislative Council (LegCo) from 2011 to 2015.
The National Development Plan (NDP) or natively known as Rancangan Kemajuan Negara (RKN), is the name assigned by the government of Brunei to a plan designed to carry out Wawasan Brunei 2035 and diversify the economy by putting projects, programs, and initiatives into action. The RKN and planning were carried out under the direction of the Department of Economic Planning and Statistics (DEPS).
