Brunei Darussalam

There is no indication of any change in Brunei's political direction and outlook for the coming year. In the short term (one to three years) it will be “business” as usual.

The Head of State and Government, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, at sixty-one, is still as much the revered monarch as he was forty years ago when he was installed as the young sultan. The Crown Prince, Al-Muhtadee Billah, continues to deputize for his father on several occasions while discharging his portfolio of Senior Minister in the Prime Minister's office and also taking an active interest in government affairs. There seems to be no apparent reason to alter the status quo in the short term, if not in the medium term (three to five years).

It is the mid-way stage for the current Cabinet that is appointed for a five-year term — an innovative plan in a political system that sees no change in the government. It has spurred more dynamism into the various ministries led by committed ministers who will soon face their evaluation. In the short term, there will be no change in the Cabinet size or composition. A couple of older Cabinet ministers may leave at the end of their tenure and are likely to be succeeded by their deputies or the permanent secretaries.

The governmental system will continue to be highly centralized even though the district and village level councils have been given some semblance of participatory politics. The kampong (village) and mukim (sub-district) councils regularly elect their heads. However, the eligible candidates will continue to be pre-selected by the Ministry of Home Affairs, which exercises authority over the District Office.