| During
the 15th and 16th centuries, Brunei was a considerable regional power,
controlling not only most of Borneo but parts of the Philippines as well.
The Spanish and the Portuguese were the first Europeans to arrive, but it
was the British, who arrived in the region in the 17th and 18th centuries,
who began to erode Brunei's influence. Sarawak was ceded to the British in
the 19th century and a series of 'treaties' were forced on the Sultan as
James Brooke, the first White Rajah of Sarawak, consolidated his power
base. In 1888, the sultanate became a British protectorate. |
|
| Brunei
was gradually whittled away until, with a final dash of absurdity, Limbang
was ceded to Sarawak in 1890, thus dividing the country in half. In 1929,
just as Brunei was about to be swallowed up entirely, oil was discovered.
British plans to make Brunei a part of the Malaysian Federation were upset
by a revolt in 1962. The Sultan suspended the constitution and opted for
independence. The country has been under emergency laws ever since and
mooted elections have never eventuated. In 1984, Brunei became completely
independent, and underlined its new independence from Britain by joining
ASEAN. Since then, it has moved towards Islamic fundamentalism. In 1991,
the sale of alcohol was banned and stricter dress codes have been
introduced.
Since then, there have been pockets of
disaffected youths challenging the status quo and agitating for a
loosening of the rules. Arguments for change have been aided by royal
scandals involving the sultan and by the profligate spending of the
sultan's younger brother, Prince Jefri Bolkiah. The polo-playing playboy
has been charged over misappropriation of funds and is now suffering the
indignity of a royal grounding and a reduction in his pocket money. A
tightening of the purse strings to offset both a recent plunge in oil
prices and the prince's spendthrift lifestyle, seems to suggest that
Brunei's wealth isn't limitless after all. |