The Prime Minister's Office was
established on 1st January 1984 on the resumption of full independence
and sovereignty of Brunei Darussalam. His Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Wadaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan,
announced a six-member Cabinet led by His Majesty himself who was
concurrently Prime Minister, Home Affairs Minister and Finance Minister.
In October 1986, His Majesty reshuffled the Cabinet. His
Majesty relinquished the ministries of Finance and Home Affairs, and
took over the Defence portfolio which his late father had held since 1st
January 1984. In the reshuffle His Majesty also appointed five new
ministers and eight deputy ministers.
On May 24th 2005, His
Majesty Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin
Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam appointed
a couple of new cabinet ministers in the Prime Minister's Office,
including the post of a Senior Minister, Minister of Energy and a new
deputy minister.
Currently there are 21 departments under the
purview of the Prime Minister’s Office. The Office is led by His Majesty
Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah,
Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam, as the Prime
Minister. Under the Prime Minister is the Senior Minister who is His
Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, the
Minister of Energy and a Deputy Minister. The Office has 6 Permanent
Secretaries. All the Permanent Secretaries are in turn assisted by
Deputy Permanent Secretaries and Head of Divisions.
Prime
Minister’s Office is the central coordinating body for all Government
Ministries and Agencies as it relates to national policies and for the
implementation of those policies; it is also the central agency in the
management and administration of the Government and the Civil Service.
The
offices of the Prime Minister's Office are located at Jalan Kumbang
Pasang and Istana Nurul Iman in the capital. The Energy Division is
located at Bahirah Building at Jalan Menteri Besar.
