BRUNEI |
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The Sultanate of Brunei, more commonly referred
to as Brunei Darussalam or simply Brunei, is an oil-rich country located on
the island of Borneo, in south-east Asia. Apart from its coastline with the
South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by Malaysia.
Brunei is one of the 10 members of ASEAN. |
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Politics
The Sultan of Brunei, which has been from the same dynasty since the 14th
century, is the head of state and head of government in Brunei. The Sultan
is advised by several councils and a cabinet of ministers. There is no
elected legislative body. In September 2004, the Sultan convened an
appointed Parliament which had not met since independence in 1984.
Districts
Brunei is divided into four districts, called daerah. These are:
Belait
Brunei and Muara
Temburong
Tutong
Demographics
About two-thirds of the Brunei population are of Malay origin. The most
important minority ethnic group are the Chinese, with about 15%. These
groups also reflect the most important languages: Malay, which is the
official language, and Chinese. English is also spoken.
Islam is the official religion of Brunei, and the sultan is the head of the
religion in the country. Other faiths practised are Buddhism (mainly by the
Chinese) and Christianity.
Culture
The culture of Brunei is similar to Malay culture, with heavy influences
from Hinduism and Islam. |
