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Brunei: tropical sultanate with oil wealth and sharia law
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei, April 3, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Brunei, a tiny
sultanate on tropical Borneo island, found itself the target of worldwide
condemnation Wednesday after implementing an Islamic penal code that critics
have labelled “barbaric”.
It includes punishments such as stoning to death for gay sex and adultery,
and the severing of limbs for theft. It remains to be seen whether the sleepy
country will carry out the harshest punishments given Brunei has long had
capital punishment, but has not executed anyone for decades.
Here are some facts about the country, which is ruled by the all-powerful
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah:
— Long history –
The coastal sultanate, surrounded by Malaysia, was at its peak in the 15th
century when it had an empire controlling large swathes of Borneo.
It declined as European powers extended their colonial rule across Asia,
and in 1888 became a British protectorate. However, it was not subsumed into
the new states that were formed during the colonial era and after World War
II — as many sultanates in the region were.
The country gained full independence from Britain in 1984, and saw its
economy grow at a rapid pace as it reaped the benefits of its abundant oil
and gas reserves.
— Economic woes –
Brunei’s per capita GDP remains among the highest in the world due to its
rich energy reserves. The government and government-linked institutions
provide most employment, and its approximately 400,000 citizens enjoy
generous state benefits.
But as the oil price collapsed a few years ago, energy-dependent Brunei was
plunged into a lengthy recession.
The government has announced plans to diversify the economy, but analysts
warn they have still not done enough and there is a risk they may not be able
to provide the same sort of secure employment for young people as for
previous generations.
— Vast wealth and excesses –
The sultan is one of the world’s richest men and tales of the royal
family’s extravagant lifestyles are the stuff of legend. He is reported to
have a vast collection of luxury vehicles and his official residence — a
vast pile that sits on a riverbank — is one of the world’s largest palaces,
with about 1,800 rooms.
His playboy younger brother Prince Jefri Bolkiah has, however, attracted
the most attention. He had a spectacular falling-out with Hassanal over
allegations he embezzled billions during his time as finance minister in the
1990s.
Ensuing court battles and investigations shone an unwanted spotlight on the
family’s vast wealth and excesses. The prince’s lavish lifestyle has been
reported to include everything from gold toilet paper holders to harems of
Western women and pornographic statues he used to keep at a property he owned
in the US.
— Shift towards hardline Islam –
The new sharia penal code is the latest sign that Brunei, where about 80
percent of the population is Muslim, is shifting towards hardline Islam.
The sultan announced the code in 2013 and the first phase came into effect
the following year.
Fines or jail terms were introduced for offences including indecent
behaviour, failure to attend Friday prayers and out-of-wedlock pregnancies.
The code was fully implemented on Wednesday, bringing into force the far
harsher punishments, such as death by stoning for a number of offences.
As part of the hardline shift, Christmas celebrations were banned in 2015
with religious leaders warning that putting up festive trees and singing
carols ran counter to Islam.
Analysts say the new code may be partly symbolic, as Hassanal is seeking to
burnish his Islamic credentials among conservatives and win more support amid
concerns about the economy.
BSS/AFP/RY/1710 hrs