A Biography of Brunei
A glance at the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam (“Abode of Peace”):
GEOGRAPHY: 2,226 square miles on northern coast of Borneo. Divided into two parts by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. Climate is steamy tropical.
POPULATION: 215,000 ethnic Malays, 46,000 ethnic Chinese. Official language is Malay; English widely spoken. Islam is official religion.
GOVERNMENT: All secular, religious and military power rests with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 46, the hereditary ruler.
ECONOMY: Based almost entirely on oil and natural gas exports. Foreign currency reserves estimated at $37 billion, more than total of Australia, India and South Korea. No national debt or trade deficit. Citizens pay no taxes, enjoy free medical care and get interest-free loans for houses and cars.
HISTORY: Brunei ruled most of northern Borneo and part of the Philippines from 14th to 16th centuries, but withered in the face of European colonial expansion until it became a British protectorate in 1905. Never a full colony, has been self-governing since 1959 and gained full independence in 1984.
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