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Brunei Darussalam

 Flag of Brunei


Last reviewed: 27 June 2011

Country information

Map of Brunei

Area: 5,770 sq km (2,226 sq mi)
Population: 407,000 (UN, 2010)
Capital city: Bandar Seri Begawan
People: 67% Malay, 15% Chinese, 6% other indigenous groups, and 12% other communities
Languages: Malay, English, Chinese (Mandarin, Hokkien, Hakka and Cantonese)
Religion: Islam
Currency: Brunei Dollar, pegged at par to the value of the Singapore Dollar
Major political parties: There is one legal political party (a further two were deregistered in 2007 and 2008), which plays little role in the day to-day life of the country.
Government: Since an abortive uprising in 1962, Brunei has been governed by an absolute, but benevolent, monarchy under a State of Emergency. The underpinning political philosophy is that of a ‘Malay Muslim Monarchy’. The Sultan is both Head of State and the Executive; he also holds the portfolios of Defence and Finance Minister. Acting as Prime Minister, he appoints a Cabinet of thirteen other ministers. The non-royal members were reshuffled in May 2010, several new Ministers were also appointed.  They have a fixed five-year term. In 2004, the Sultan revived an appointed Legislative Council and brought in a series of Constitutional Amendments which envisage that in future it will partly be elected, increasing its consultational role. The Council has since met annually to discuss and approve the State Budget.  The first women members were appointed in June 2011 Meanwhile, the State of Emergency remains in place.
Head of State: His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei is also Prime Minister, Defence Minister and Finance Minister.
Senior Minister: Crown Prince Billah
Foreign Minister: Prince Mohamed Bolkiah
Membership Of international organisations: Brunei is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Asia –Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), the Commonwealth, the United Nations (UN), the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

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Contacts

Brunei

Address:

Brunei Darussalam High Commission
19–20 Belgrave Square
London SW1X 8PG

Consular Section
Brunei Darussalam High Commission
19A Belgrave Mews West
London SW1X 8HT

Student Unit/Brunei Hall
35–43 Norfolk Square
London W2 1RX

Telephone:

(020) 7581 0521
(020) 7581 0521 ext 111/137 (Consular)
(020) 7402 0045 (Student Unit)
(020) 7402 0953 (Student Unit)

Fax:

(020) 7235 9717
(020) 7590 7822 (Consular)
(020) 7262 8406 (Students Unit)
(020) 7706 0558 (Students Unit)

Email: mailto:consular@bdhcl.co.uk

Office hours:

Mon–Fri: 0930–1300 and 1400–1630

Website: http://www.bdhcl.co.uk