Brunei
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Name: The Sultanate of Brunei National Name: Negara Brunei Darussalam Introduction: In the fifteenth century a Sultanate was established in Brunei and it became so powerful that it controlled almost all Borneo and Southwestern Philippines. By the nineteenth century as the power of the Sultan declined it became a pirates paradise. Then in 1888 it became British proctorate till it got its independent in 1984. Brunei got its elected legislature under the rule of the Sultan since then same family of the Sultans has ruled it for over six centuries. Location: It is located on the island in North western Borneo, in South Eastern Asia. Borders: Sarawak, Sabah, East Malaysia and South China Sea. Terrain: Limbang Rivers divide Brunei in two parts. It has a narrow coastal plain and rough densely forested interior, in the east are mountains and hilly lowland in west. Typhoons, earthquakes and severe flooding are rare. Climate: The climate is equatorial tropical, with high temperatures, high humidity, sunshine and heavy rainfall (100 to 200 inches) annualy. Ethnic Group: About 67% (two-thirds) of the Brunei population are of Malay origin, Chinese are 15%, indigenous 6% and other are 12%. Religion: Islam is the official religion of Brunei, 67% of the population follows it. Other religions followed are; Buddhism 13%, Christianity 10% and others including indigenous beliefs 10%. Area: 5,770 sq km Coastline: 161 km Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan Currency: Bruneian dollar or Brunei Ringgit (BND) Life Expectancy: Total population - 75.3 years, men - 74 years and women - 79 years (2007 est). Population: 374,577 (July 2007 est) Population Growth Rate: 1.81% (2007 est) Language: Malay is the official language although English and Chinese are also widely spoken here. Literacy: 93.9% Internet TLD: .bn Calling Code: +6731 Nationality: Bruneian Independence: 1 January 1984 (from UK) Government: Constitutional sultanate Constitution: On 29 September 1959, some provisions suspended under a State of Emergency since December 1962 and others since independence on 1 January 1984. Executive Branch: Sultan is the chief of the state and the Prime minister is the head of the Government. The Cabinet consists of the ministers appointed by the Monarch; he also has the power to dissolve it. There is also a Religious Council whose members are appointed by the monarch to advice on religious matters, a Privy Council whose members are appointed by the monarch to deal with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession whose members are also appointed by the monarch to determine the succession to the throne if the need ever arises. Legislative Branch: Members of Legislative Council are appointed by the Sultan. Judiciary Branch: Supreme Court is the highest court and chief justice and judges are sworn in by monarch for three-year terms. Judicial Committee of Privy Council in London is final court of appeal for civil cases and the Shariah courts deal with Islamic laws. Military Branch: National army is called Royal Brunei Armed Forces and consists of Royal Brunei Land Forces, Royal Brunei Navy and Royal Brunei Air Force. Legal System: It is based on English common law. For Muslims, Islamic Shari’ a law supersedes civil law is used in a number of areas. National Flag: It is yellow with two diagonal bands of white on top, and black starting from the upper hoist side, These colours symbolises the traditional standards of the Sultan (yellow) and the two principal Wazir who signed the history agreement (white and black). Embodied in the center is the national emblem in yellow Arabic script with the motto saying Always Render Service by God's Guidance in red, the emblem also includes a swallow-tailed flag on top of a winged column within an upturned crescent above a scroll and flanked by two upraised hands. National Anthem: Allah Peliharakan Sultan (God Bless the Sultan). National Holiday: National Day, 23 February (1984). First January 1984 was the date of independence from the UK and 23 February 1984 was the date of independence from British protection. Motto: Translation; “Always in service with God's guidance" Coat of Arm: It was adopted in 1932. It consists of the flag, the royal umbrella, the wing, the hand, and the crescent. On the crescent national motto is writen in Arabic which means "Always in service with God's guidance". Below this is a banner with the name of the nation written in Arabic script as "Brunei Darussalam" or Brunei, the land of peace. Economy: Brunei benefits from extensive petroleum and natural gas fields they are the foundation of the economy and accounts for more than 90% of the exports and half of the GDP. Brunei has one of the highest standards of living in the world. The government provides for all medical services, free education through the university level, subsidizes rice and housing and is trying to widen the economic base beyond oil and gas. GDP Total: $ 9.009 billion (2005 est) GDP Per capita: $25,600 (2005 est) GDP Growth Rate: 0.4% (2005 est) Agriculture: Rice, vegetables, fruits, chickens, water buffalo, cattle, goats and eggs. Industries: Petroleum, petroleum refining, liquefied natural gas and construction. Export: Rubber, crude oil, natural gas, refined products and clothing. Import: Machinery and transport equipment, manufactured goods, food and chemicals. |