Brunei’s self-reliance tested by Asia, Saudi and waning oil

Crackdown on press symptomatic of the country in decrease

Luke Search, Bangkok

Updated: Might 17, 2018 10:24 AM GMT

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Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Queen Saleha trip in a procession to mark their golden jubilee in Bandar Seri Begawan on Oct. 5, 2017. (Picture by Roslan Rahman/AFP)

But that liberty will be challenged by dwindling oil reserves with coal and oil manufacturing anticipated to come to an end over the following two decades prompting Brunei’s ruler, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, to start financial reforms and look for investment that is foreign.

Reports have actually emerged that Asia has moved just as much as US$6 billion in to the enclave even though the United states Enterprise Institute’s Asia worldwide investment tracker put that figure at $4.1 billion. More is originating from Saudi Arabia, enormous numbers for Bolkiah whose subjects quantity simply 440,000.

It has resulted in conjecture that in exchange Brunei will stay peaceful in the maritime dispute when you look at the Southern Asia water and it is ready to flex towards Saudi, and Wahabi, interpretations of Shariah frequently cited for camfuze.com inflaming jihads.