| Brunei Darussalam , a small Islamic Sultanate on the northwest coast of Borneo, is an independent and sovereign state with a total area of 5,765 square kilometres and a population of about 330,000. It is an important source of oil and liquefied natural gas for the expanding marketing of Asia and the Far East.
The country is one of the most ancient sovereign states in Southeast Asia, and references to "Poli" or "Puni" or "Bun-lai", believed to be early names of Brunei, appear in the writings of Chinese historians from the 6th and 7th centuries.
Just 443 km north of the equator, modern Brunei is surrounded by the Malaysian Borneo state of Sarawak, and is close to Sabah. Rainfall and humidity are high, with temperatures averaging 28 degrees Celsius throughout the year.
Brunei comprises four districts: Brunei-Muara, Belait, Tutong, and Temburong. The nation's riverfront capital, Bandar Seri Begawan is in the Brunei-Muara district.
Roughly two-thirds of the population is Malay, the rest are Chinese or members of indigenous tribes. Bahasa Melayu is the official language, although English is widely spoken and understood.
The country is ruled according to Islamic values and traditions by the present monarch, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the 29th ascendant of the world's oldest continuously reigning royal line. Brunei is a Malay Muslim Monarchy, with over 600 years of recorded history.
Brunei has emerged as an active and influential participant in international and regional care groups, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines- East Asian Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA). Such involvements here have raised the awareness of Brunei as one of the world's most important developing economies.
A haven for eco-tourism, over half of Brunei is unspoilt rainforest, a large proportion of which is located in the Temburong district. Here, fish hold station against the swift current of crystalline rivers. An occasional electric blue kingfisher may be seen streaking low across the water. Among the vine-laced trees, unique flora and fauna flourish, from the parasitic pitcher plant to the distinctive hornbill.
In conjunction with the Brunei Museum and the Belalong Rainforest Field Studies Centre, many leading international research and environmental groups, including London's Natural History Museum, continue to find and document newly discovered species
From © Explore Brunei 7th Edition, published by the Publications Unit , Royal Brunei Airlines Sdn Bhd for Brunei Tourism, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Brunei Darussalam |
