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Country : Brunei Official name: Negara Brunei Darussalam (The Sultanate of Brunei) Head of State: Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam (since 1997) Head of government: Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam Ruling party: There is no ruling party. Area: 5,765 square km Population: 371,100 (2004) Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan Official language: Behasa Melayu Currency: Brunei dollar (B$) = 100 cents Exchange rate: B$1.65 per US$ (Nov 2004) (the Brunei dollar is set at parity with the Singapore dollar.) GDP per capita: US$12,335 (2003) GDP real growth: 3.00% (2003) Labour force: 143,400 (2003) Unemployment: 4.60% (2003) Inflation: 1.00% (2003) Oil production: 214,000 bpd (2003) Balance of trade: US$2.96 billion (2003)

Historical profile

1839 When an English explorer, James Brooke, arrived on the island of Borneo, he helped the Sultan to suppress an uprising against the rule of the Brunei Sultanate. As a reward for the role he played in quelling the rebellion, in 1841, the Pengiran Mahkota of Brunei made Brooke the Rajah of Sarawak on the north-west coast of Borneo (Sarawak is now the largest state in Malaysia). The British North Borneo Company was expanding its influence on the island.

1888 Brunei became a British protectorate, keeping the Sultanate out of the Malaysian confederacy. Brunei's monarch retained control over internal matters while the British took charge of external affairs.

1906 A treaty with Britain assured Brunei's status as a protectorate and the succession of the ruling dynasty. Executive power, including the right to advise the Sultan on all affairs except religion, was transferred to the British.

1929 Oil was discovered in the Seria field, ensuring the country's future prosperity.

1941–45 Brunei was occupied by the Japanese.

1959 An agreement was drawn up to allow Brunei internal self-government.

1962 In the run-up to Brunei's proposed amalgamation with Malaysia, the British pressured Sultan Omar Saifudd (the present Sultan's father) into holding elections. The opposition Partai Rakyat Brunei (PRB) (Brunei People's Party) won a convincing victory, campaigning against unification, for complete independence from the UK and the creation of a constitutional monarchy. The Sultan's rejection of the result and his plans to unite with Malaysia led to an armed uprising which was quickly crushed (with British backing). The Sultan decided against union with Malaysia.

1979 Brunei concluded a treaty of friendship with the UK.

1984 Brunei became independent from the UK, under Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, who had ruled since the abdication of his father in 1967.

1991 The sale of alcohol was forbidden. Nationals were required to wear muslim garments.

1998 Prince al Muhtadee Billah, the Sultan's eldest son, was inaugurated as crown prince.

2000 Legal action was initiated against Prince Jefri Bolkiah, younger brother and former favourite of the Sultan, for misusing US$15 billion while head of the state investment agency.

2001 The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit was held in Brunei and agreed to step up co-operation to combat terrorism in the region.

2002 Licences were awarded to two foreign consortiums, Royal Dutch/Shell and TotalFinaElf, to explore for oil deposits in Brunei's 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea.

2003 A battalion of the British Brigade of Gurkhas is to continue to be stationed in Brunei for another five years from the end of September 2003.

2004 Crown Prince Muhtadee Billah Bolkiah, the heir to the throne, married commoner, Sarah Salleh.

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