Borneo Brunei Bulletin
Brunei
The country's largest circulation daily newspaper, the Borneo Bulletin, appeared to practice self-censorship in its choice of topics to avoid angering the Government. However, letters to the editor often included comments critical of the Government's handling of certain social, economic, and environmental issues. In 1999 a second daily English-language newspaper, the News Express, began publication. It also features a letters page where citizens and residents expressed their views and complaints, often about government services and, increasingly, about government policy. The newspapers' willingness to publish these expressions of opinion represented a modest extension of press freedom. The Government on occasion has been responsive to public opinion on some issues concerning social or environmental problems. ... [Read More]
Op-Ed on World AIDS Day
Op-ed published in the Borneo Bulletin ... [Read More]
Background Notes Archive - East Asia and the Pacific
Background Notes: Brunei, October 1998Released by the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific AffairsU.S. Department of StateOFFICIAL NAME: Brunei DarussalamPROFILEGeographyArea: 5,769 sq. km. (2,227 sq. mi.), slightly larger than Delaware.Cities: Capital--Bandar Seri Begawan.Terrain: East--flat coastal plains with beaches; west--hilly with a few mountain ridges.Climate: Equatorial; high temperatures, humidity, and rainfall.PeopleNationality: Noun and adjective--Bruneian(s).Population (1998 est.): 320,000.Annual growth rate: 2.5%.Ethnic groups: Malay, Chinese, other indigenous.Religion: Islam.Languages: Malay, English, Chinese; Iban and other indigenous dialects.Education: Years compulsory--9. Literacy--90%. (1996)Health: Life expectancy--74 years. Infant mortality rate(1996)--6.9/1,000. GovernmentType: Sultanate.Independence: January 1, 1984.Constitution: 1959.Branches: Executive--Sultan is both head of state and prime minister, presiding over an 11-member cabinet. Judicial (ba ... [Read More]
Brunei
While there are no laws restricting freedom of speech and freedom of the press, the Government used its authority to protect public safety, morals, health, and domestic security to restrict these freedoms. Editions of foreign newspapers or magazines with articles that are found objectionable, embarrassing, or critical of the Sultan, royal family, or government are not allowed into the country. Magazine articles with a Christian theme reportedly invariably are censored. However, the growing use of fax machines, the Internet, and access to satellite transmissions make it increasingly difficult to keep such material from entering. The independently owned local newspaper, the Borneo Bulletin, appears to practice self-censorship in its choice of topics to avoid angering the Government, but it has instituted a new feature of letters to the editor, by which citizens--some by name and some anonymously--criticize the Government's handling of certain social, economic, and environmental issues. I ... [Read More]
Brunei
While there are no laws restricting freedom of speech and freedom of the press, the Government used its authority to protect public safety, morals, health, and domestic security to restrict these freedoms. Editions of foreign newspapers or magazines with articles that are found objectionable, embarrassing, or critical of the Sultan, royal family, or government are not allowed into the country. Magazine articles with a Christian theme reportedly are censored. However, the growing use of fax machines, the Internet, and access to satellite transmissions make it increasingly difficult to keep such material from entering. The country's largest circulation daily newspaper, the Borneo Bulletin, appears to practice self-censorship in its choice of topics to avoid angering the Government, but it has instituted a new feature of letters to the editor, by which citizens some by name and some anonymously criticize the Government's handling of certain social, economic, and en ... [Read More]
Brunei
The Government's tolerance of political criticism was not tested because there was no organized opposition. In the past, the Government has arrested those who attempted to propagate unwelcome political views. The Borneo Bulletin continued to heed advice from the police not to publish any reports about the activities of the Consumers' Association of Brunei, a quasi-human rights organization (see Section 4). ... The country's largest circulation daily newspaper, the Borneo Bulletin, practiced self-censorship in its choice of topics to avoid angering the Government. However, letters to the editor often included comments critical of the Government's handling of certain social, economic, and environmental issues. On occasion, the Government responded to public opinion on some issues concerning social or environmental problems. There was a Malay-language newspaper, the Media Permata, that circulated approximately 5,000 copies. There also were several Chinese‑language newspapers. ... [Read More]
Brunei
The government's tolerance of political criticism was not tested because there was no organized opposition. However, the English language newspaper, the Borneo Bulletin was advised by police not to publish any stories about the activities of the Consumers' Association of Borneo's (CAB), a quasi-human rights organization (see Section 4). During the year, citizens generally made almost no criticism of the Government for fear of official disapproval and risk of surveillance. In the past, the Government did not hesitate to arrest those who attempted to propagate unwelcome political views. The Government placed no apparent restrictions on Internet use, which was widespread. Two popular electronic bulletin boards contained postings that sometimes were critical of government actions. The country's primary Internet service provider was state owned. ... [Read More]
Brunei
The Government's tolerance of political criticism was not tested because there was no organized opposition. The English-language newspaper, the Borneo Bulletin, was advised by police not to publish any stories about the activities of the Consumers' Association of Brunei (CAB), a quasi-human rights organization (see Section 4). In the past, the Government arrested those who attempted to propagate unwelcome political views. ... The country's largest circulation daily newspaper, the Borneo Bulletin, practiced self-censorship in its choice of topics to avoid angering the Government. However, letters to the editor often included comments critical of the Government's handling of certain social, economic, and environmental issues. The Government on occasion responded to public opinion on some issues concerning social or environmental problems. There was 1 Malay-language press, the Media Permata, which circulated approximately 5,000 newspapers. There was also one Chinese-language newspaper. ... [Read More]
US Department Of State Post Report
Leake Jr., David. Brunei — The Modern Southeast Asian Islamic State. A former journalist with the Borneo Bulletin, Brunei’s leading English-language newspaper, Leake examines Brunei’s history and its future. Hundreds of anecdotes and insights onto the Brunei Malay character. Written after the author was expelled from Brunei. ... MacDonald, Malcolm. Borneo People. Oxford University Press: 1985. A look at the racial and tribal make up of North Borneo written by a former British High Commissioner from Singapore. ... [Read More]
Brunei Facts
Borneo Bulletin Online Newspaper ... [Read More]
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