Before the advent of Islam, Brunei's early history is somewhat unclear but archaeological discoveries supported by historical data indicate that Brunei had wide contacts with its neighbours on the Asian continent around 518 A.D. Chinese historians of that period, for example, made references in their writing to 'Puni' or 'Poli', two of many names which Brunei was known during ancient times. Islam took root in Brunei in the 14th century when its first ruler, Awang Alak Betatar, embraced Islam and changed his name to Sultan Muhammad Shah.
By the 15th and 16th centuries, especialy during the reigns of the fifth ruler, Sultan Bolkiah and the ninth ruler, Sultan Hassan, Brunei was dominant power in the region with sovereignty embracing the whole Island of Borneo and as far as the Philipines.
Eropean presence made itself felt in the region around mid 16th century, and from the end of 16th century to the 19th century, Brunei began to lose its grip on the empire, which was besieged by problems such as wars, internecine strife, insurrection an piracy. By 1904, Brunei which became a British protected state in 1888, had shrunk to a small sultanate surrounded on three sides by Sarawak and to the north by the South China Sea.
After the turmoil of the second World War, life gradually returned to normal but progress only began to crystalise during the reign of the 28th ruler, Sultan Sir Muda Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien (Al-Marhum Seri Begawan Sultan), who utilised Brunei's oil revenue to finance for the first time a five-year development plan, 1953-1958, which gave Brunei an intensive infrastructure and transformed it from a dull and quiet backwater into a modern thriving state.
The year 1959 saw the promulgation of a written constution, which gave Brunei internal self-goverment and changed the post of British resident, started in 1906, to High Commissioner.
In 1967, after seventeen years of benevolent reign, Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien voluntarily abdicated in favour of his eldest son, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzadin Waddaulah who pledged to carry on his father's policies. His Majesty's succession to the throne further pushed Brunei Darussalam on the road to greater development.
Brunei and Britain signed in 1971 an amended and revised version of the 1959 Agreement, making Brunei fully independent internally and post of High Commissioner a normal diplomatic position. Only external affairs and defence remained in British hands.
The turning points in Brunei's long history came in 1979 when Brunei and Great Britain signed the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation thus paving the way for Brunei's resumption after 1983 of its place in the community of nations.
As anticipated after months of preparation, a new chapter in Brunei's colourful history opened shortly after midnight on 31st December 1983, when His Majesty declared Brunei Darussalam a fully independent sovereign nation ready to resume its international responsibilities.
In consequence, His Majesty announced a six-member Cabinet with himself as the Prime Minister and concurrently holding the portfolios of Home Affairs and Finance.
In October 1986, His Majesty reshuffled the Cabinet. He remained Prime Minister and relinquished the portfolios of Home Affairs and Finance, and took over the Defence portfolio which his late father had held since 1984. His Majesty also announced the appointment of five new Ministers and eight Deputy Ministers.
On 30 November 1988, His Majesty announced another reshuffle of the Cabinet, which took effect from 1st January 1989. In the reshuffle of the, aimed primarily to boost the country's develoment, His Majesty created the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources and elevated a minister to a full minister.
The recent reshuffle of the Cabinet was announced in May 2005, in which His Majesty appointed His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, The Crown Prince, as the Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and announced a new post of a Minister of Energy under the Prime Minister's Office. Meanwhile, the State Mufti and the Attorney-General hold the status of a Minister.
Under His Majesty's leadership, the Government has expanded billions on one development plan after another and will continue to do so in an effort to maintain and improve the quality of life of the people through economic growth, productivity enhancement and wider economic diversification. His Majesty's Government through its 8th National Develoment Plan which begins from 2001 until end of 2005 has allocated BND$7.3 billion for the country's continuing develoment and progress.
(Source - Brunei Darussalam in Brief, 2006 Information Department)
