From
the 14th to the 16th centuries Brunei Darussalam was the seat of a
powerful sultanate extending over Sabah, Sarawak and the lower
Philippines. Thus, the current Sultan represents one of the oldest
continuously ruling dynasties in the world. By the 19th century, the
Brunei Darussalam Empire had been whittled away by wars, piracy and the
colonial expansion of European powers.
In 1847, the sultan
concluded a treaty with Great Britain and in 1888 Brunei Darussalam
officially became a British protectorate. In 1906, the Residential
System was established in Brunei Darussalam. A British Resident was
nominated as a representative of the British government to advise the
sultan in all matters except Malay customs, traditions and Islamic
religion.
The 1959 Agreement established a written constitution
which gave Brunei Darussalam internal self-government. In 1971, the
agreement was amended and revised to assert full internal independence
except defence and external affairs.
In 1967 His Highness Sultan
Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien abdicated in favour of his son
Pengiran Muda Mahkota Hassanal Bolkiah. On January 1, 1984 Brunei
Darussalam resumed full independence and the Sultan took office as Prime
Minister, Finance Minister and Home Affairs Minister, presiding over a
cabinet of six. In October 1986, the cabinet was expanded to 11 members,
with His Majesty relinquishing the portfolios of Finance and Home
Affairs and taking over the Defence portfolio which his late father had
held since 1984. In 1988 another reshuffle brought about the elevation
of the deputy minister to a full minister and the creation of the
Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources designed to boost the
country's development.
