THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN BRUNEI darussalam COUNTRY PROFILE 2017–18 BRUNEI DARUSSALAM SUMMARY The vision includes thirteen (13) strategies Brunei Darussalam is a constitutional that have been identified to ensure all monarchy with no local government. aspects of development are implemented accordingly and effectively they are: 1. NATIONAL GOVERNMENT (i) education, (ii) economy, (iii) security, (iv) institutional development, (v) local Negara Brunei Darussalam is a business development, (vi) infrastructure constitutional monarchy. The Sultan of development, (vii) social security, (viii) Brunei Darussalam is appointed by the environment, (ix) health, (x) religion, (xi) Council of Succession. The Council of land use, (xii) infrastructure and info- Ministers is appointed by and presided communication technology, and (xiii) over by the sultan. His Majesty is assisted manpower planning. Medium term and advised by six councils, namely the planning is over seen by the Tenth Privy Council, the Religious Council, the National Development Plan (2012–2017).8.2d Council of Ministers, the Adat Istiadat Council, the Legislative Council and the Council of Succession. The Council of 3. STRUCTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT Ministers handles executive matters; the 3.1 Local government within the state Privy Council advises His Majesty on the There is no local government in Brunei, appointment of people to customary although local administration takes ranks, titles, honours and positions; and place through the four districts and the remaining four councils advise on three municipal boards responsible for other state matters. In early 2017, 9.1% urban areas. (3/33) of council members were women. After being dissolved in 1985, the 3.2 Ministerial oversight Legislative Council was re-established The district and municipal boards are in 2004 and is partly and indirectly overseen by the Ministry of Home Affairs.8.3c KEY FACTS elected8.1c with the elections being overseen by the Ministry of Home Affairs. 3.3 Council types POPULATION (estimate 2017): No further information on the district 428,990 2. LEGAL BASIS FOR and municipal boards is available. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA (UN 2006): 2.1 & 2.2 Constitutional and legal provisions 5,765 sq km 3.4 Traditional leadership There is no constitutional or legislative provision for local government.8.2a At the local level, people are represented CAPITAL: by their respective (heads of villages) and Bandar Seri Begawan heads of longhouses. The village leaders 2.3 Proposed legislative changes and heads of longhouses are elected CURRENCY: No known proposed legislative changes. by the residents themselves in their Brunei dollar (BND) respective areas, and have responsibility for 2.4 National urban policy their respective communities’ welfare and HEAD OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT: The Bandar Seri Begawan Development wellbeing. Any concerns which cannot be HM Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Master Plan8.2b was adopted in 2010 resolved are brought to the attention of and guides the government’s land either the district officer of the local village FORM OF GOVERNMENT: use allocation, transport systems (Kampongs), the Kampong’s Consultative constitutional monarchy development, and environmental Council or the Legislative Council, by the protection. This is developed in line with appointed district representatives. STATE STRUCTURE: the Wawasan Brunei 20358.2c Brunai unitary Darussalam’s national vision and has 4. ELECTIONS significant cross over with the SDGs. There is no elected local government. LANGUAGES: Malay (official) NATIONAL ELECTIONS: last: March 1968, turnout: na Table 8.1. Distribution of wards and population WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT (2017): 9.1% Districts Mukim Towns/ Kampongs Population Population (Daerah) (wards) municipalities (villages) 2011 Census 2017 estimate LOCAL ELECTIONS: Brunei Muara 17 3 151 279,842 na there is no elected local government Belait 8 4 52 60,609 na WOMEN COUNCILLORS: na Tutong 8 3 70 43,855 na Temburong 5 1 56 8,856 na LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE as a percentage of total government TOTAL 38 11 329 393,162 428,990 expenditure 2017/18: na Source: 2011 Census8.3a and Economic Planning and Development, latest figures8.3b 40 www.clgf.org.uk/brunei_darussalam COUNTRY PROFILE 2017–18 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN BRUNEI darussalam 5. SYSTEMS FOR REFERENCES AND USEFUL WEBSITES. 8.3b Economic Planning and COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 8.1a Government of Brunei Darussalam Development: Prime Minister’s 5.1 Modes of citizen participation www.gov.bn Office: Latest Key Indicators The Government of Brunei Darrusalam 8.1b Women in national parliaments. www.depd.gov.bn/SitePages/ has undertaken a number of initiatives Inter-Parliamentary Union National%20Statistics.aspx to encourage citizen participation in www.ipu.org/wmn-e/classif.htm 8.3c Ministry of Home Affairs governance.8.5a These include the Open 8.1c Brunei Darussalam: an electoral www.home-affairs.gov.bn Forum online platform for citizen feint www.eastasiaforum. 8.4 No references for this section feedback and discussion, a series of org/2012/05/26/brunei- 8.5a Citizen Participation interactive online surveys and polls on darussalam-an-electoral-feint www.brunei.gov.bn/SitePages/ electoral reform, the government’s own, 8.2a 1959 Constitution of Brunei Participation.aspx Social Media Hub, the Talian Darussalam Darussalam with amendment to 8.5b Digital Government Strategy 2015- 123 – non-emergency line for citizen 2006 www.constituteproject.org/ 2020 www.digitalstrategy.gov.bn/ enquiries, and, the Business Support constitution/Brunei_2006.pdf Themed/index.aspx Centre, a one-stop-shop for all business- 8.2c Wawasan Brunei 2035 www.hok. 8.7 No references for this section related assistance to the general public, com/design/service/planning- 8.8 No references for this section providing information on such as urban-design/bandar-seri-begawan- starting up a business, getting approvals 8.9 No references for this section development-master-plan for business premises, getting halal 8.10 Wawasan Brunei 2035 8.2d Tenth National Development Plan certification for food imports, and other www.brunei.gov.bn/SitePages/ (2012 – 2017) http://depd.gov.bn/ processes needed for business activities. Wawasan Brunei 2035.aspx DEPD%20Documents%20Library/ 8.11a UN 2012 statistics surface area NDP/RKN%20English%20as%20 http://unstats.un.org/unsd/ 5.2 ICT for citizen engagement of%2011.12.12.pdf and service delivery demographic/products/dyb/ 8.3a Population: Census 2011 dyb2006/Table03.pdf The government has developed a Digital www.depd.gov.bn/projects/BPP/ 8.5b 8.11b Commonwealth Local Government Government Strategy 2015–2020 which Preliminary Report of BPP 2011_ Knowledge Hub www.clgf.org.uk/ has six focus areas: service innovation; updated_20Feb2012.pdf security; capability and mind-set; enterprise resource-centre/knowledge-hub information management; optimisation; 8.11c UNDP HDR Brunei Darussalam and, collaboration and integration. country profile http://hdr.undp.org/ en/countries/profiles/BRN www.clgf.org.uk/brunei_darussalam 41 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SYSTEM IN BRUNEI darussalam COUNTRY PROFILE 2017–18 Annex 8a Summary of service provision in different spheres of government in Brunei Darussalam Delivering authority Services Central government Towns/municipalities Kampongs (villages) Remarks GENERAL ADMINISTRATION Police n Fire protection n Civil protection n Criminal justice n Civil status register n Statistical office n Electoral register n EDUCATION Pre-school (kindergarten and nursery) n Primary n Secondary n Vocational and technical n Higher education n Adult education n SOCIAL WELFARE Family welfare services n Welfare homes n Social security n PUBLIC HEALTH Primary care n Hospitals n Health protection n HOUSING AND TOWN PLANNING Housing n Town planning n Regional planning n TRANSPORT Roads n Transport n Urban roads n Urban rail n Ports n Airports n ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC SANITATION Water and sanitation n Refuse collection and disposal n Cemeteries and crematoria n Slaughterhouses n Environmental protection n Consumer protection n CULTURE, LEISURE AND SPORTS Theatres and concerts n Museums and libraries n Parks & open spaces n Sports and leisure facilities n Religious facilities n UTILITIES Gas services n District heating n Water supply n Electricity n ECONOMIC Agriculture, forests and fisheries n Local economic development/promotion n Trade and industry n Tourism n n sole responsibility service n joint responsibility service n discretionary service 42 www.clgf.org.uk/brunei_darussalam.