STATE MEMBERS OF

THE ASEAN

Prepared by
Jessica Barredo
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:

Discuss the Geographical, Socio-economic,

Cultural and Tourism of Brunei
GROUP ACTIVITY: FILL THE MAP
BRUNIE
 Alternate titles: Negara Brunei
Darussalam, State of Brunei, Abode
of Peace
 Capital: Bandar Seri Begawen
 Population: 0.4 million
 Member Since: 1984
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
 It is bounded to the north by the 
South China Sea and on all other
sides by the East Malaysian state
of Sarawak, which also divides the
state into two disconnected
segments of unequal size.
 The western segment is the larger
of the two and contains the capital
city of Bandar Seri Begawan.
LAND (Physical features )
 Brunei consists of a narrow
coastal plain in the north, which
gives way to rugged hills in the
south. The country’s highest
point is Pagon Peak (6,070 feet
[1,850 metres]), in the southeast. 
 The soils of Brunei are deeply
weathered, highly leached, and
generally infertile. 
CLIMATE
 Equatorial monsoon winds.
 The northeast monsoon typically blows from December to
March, and the southwest monsoon blows from May to
September. April, October, and November are transitional
months.
 Temperatures in Brunei are warm throughout the year,
typically dropping into the mid-70s F (about 23 °C) and
rising to about 90 °F (32 °C) on a daily basis. 
PLANT and ANIMAL WILDLIFE

 Three-fifths - virgin tropical rainforest

 One-fifth - secondary forest.
 The undisturbed rainforest consists mainly of hardwoods of
the Dipterocarpaceae family (notably of the genus Shorea),
most of which are of commercial value.
 Large expanses of freshwater and peat swamps are found in
the poorly drained lowlands of the Belait and Tutong rivers,
while mangrove swamps are common along the lower
riverine reaches and sheltered coastal areas.
 Notable birds (Argus
pheasants and hornbills)
 Species of reptiles large
python inhabit the
country’s swamps and
woodlands.
PEOPLE
 Ethnic groups composition
Nearly two-thirds of the population
of Brunei is classified officially as Malay
. This category, however, includes not
only ethnic Malays but also a number of
the indigenous peoples, namely the
Dusun, Belait, Kedayan, Murut, and 
Bisaya (Bisayah). Chinese make up
about one-tenth of the population. 
LANGUAGES
The official language is Malay, with English as a major
second language. Many Chinese speak southern
varieties of Chinese, and many learn Mandarin in
school.

• Mahal kita/I love you- saya saya

ng awak
• Magandang Araw/Good morning-
Selamat pagi
RELIGION
 Brunei: Religious affiliation

Brunei’s population is
predominantly Sunni Muslim, although
the Chinese usually
follow Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism,
or Christianity. Some of the indigenous
peoples are Christian, while others follow
their own local religions.
SETTLEMENT PATTERNS
Brunei: population density
 The forested uplands of
Brunei’s interior are sparsely
populated by indigenous
peoples, who practice 
shifting agriculture.
 About two-thirds of Brunei’s
population is found in and
around Bandar Seri Begawan,
ECONOMY OF BRUNEI
 Brunei’s economy is almost totally dependent on the
exploitation of its vast reserves of petroleum and natural gas.

 Agriculture, fishing, and forestry

Declined in importance after the discovery of petroleum
resources in the 1920s. By the end of the 20th century, these
three activities accounted for just a tiny fraction of the gross
domestic product (GDP) and employed a comparably small
segment of the workforce.
Resources and power
 The petroleum industry (including the manufacture of 
liquefied natural gas [LNG]) generates more than half of Brunei’s
GDP, although it employs a very small portion of the labour force. The
country’s energy is generated almost entirely from fossil fuels.
Finance and trade
 Instead of a central bank, the Financial Institution Division and the
Brunei Currency Board, both part of the Ministry of Finance, are
responsible for most central banking services.
 Monetary Unit: Brunei dollar (B$)3
 Currency Exchange Rate: 1 USD equals 1.324 Bruneian dollar
GOVERNMENT and SOCIETY
 Government Type: Absolute Monarchy or Sultanate
 Head Of State And Government: Sultan and Prime
Minister: Sir Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muʿizzaddin Waddaulah
 Constitution: Adopted: 1959: Dictates the government
including the executive head of state and various councils.
Eliminated the need for elections.
Education
 Both free and compulsory from age 5 to 16, the vast majority of
Brunei’s population is literate. Malay, English, and Chinese are the
three official languages of instruction. Malay is used in government
schools, although English is the medium for certain subjects, beginning
at the upper primary level.

Sports and recreation

 Brunei has fine facilities for a wide range of sports, including
badminton, squash, tennis, field hockey, football (soccer), and
aquatics, and the country’s strongest athletes are internationally
competitive. Golf enthusiasts enjoy several championship courses, and
polo has been popular for decades, particularly with members of the
royal family.
Health and welfare
 Brunei is essentially a welfare state, with well-developed
social facilities. Citizens receive basic medical and dental
services at no charge. Primary care is provided by a
network of government health centers and clinics
scattered throughout the country. Remote rural areas are
visited regularly by the government’s flying doctor service.
There is a state hospital in each of the four districts,
including a large facility in Bandar Seri Begawan. Private
clinics and a few private hospitals also operate in the
urban areas.
TOURISM
 Brunei offers a wide variety of attractive places. It offers
tourists grand mosques, river journeys and virgin rainforests
that cover 70% of country.
 The government is now actively promoting tourism as an
important part of its economic diversification.
 Brunei Tourist Spots
“Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque”
A place of worship for the Muslim
community, a major historical site, and a
famous tourist attraction of Brunei. It is
named after Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the
28th Sultan of Brunei, who initiated its
construction.
Location: Jalan McArthur, Bandar Seri Begawan
Jame ‘Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque
The biggest mosque in Brunei, and also
one of the most iconic. Built in honor of
the current Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, it
is one of the two national mosques of
Brunei.
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan
 Brunei River & Proboscis
Monkey
The scenic mangrove-lined Brunei
River. The highlight of this trip, if you
are lucky, is getting to see Proboscis
monkeys in the wild.
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
“Kampung Ayer”
Means “water village” in Malay, is one of the
largest stilt house settlements in the world. It is
located across the river from the city center of
Bandar Seri Begawan. Flag a water taxi (ferry)
from the waterfront for a quick tour around
Kampung Ayer to see local life in the village.
Location: Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
 Ulu Temburong National
Park
The first National Park in Brunei
Darussalam. The park covers approximately
50,000 hectares of pristine rainforest and
home to centuries-old evergreen that has
seen the passing of time through the ages.
This Park provides visitors with a chance to
visit a section of this virgin rainforest. Only
1% is open with strictly regulated access.
Visiting the national park offers one of the
best ecotourism-related activities to do in
Brunei.