BRUNEI (Syllabus: GS Paper 1/2 – Geography/IR)

Context: The Prime Minister arrives in Brunei for visit, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

Brunei

• Location: Situated at along the northern coast of Borneo Island in Southeast Asia.

oSituated in both the Northern and Eastern hemispheres.

• Borders: Bordered by the South China Sea to the north and Malaysia on all other sides. 

oThe country is divided into two non-contiguous parts by Malaysia's Sarawak. Maritime borders are shared with China and Malaysia.

• Capital: Bandar Seri Begawan
• Highest Point: Bukit Pagon, standing at 6,069 feet, is the highest peak, located along the eastern border with Malaysia.
• Major Rivers: Belait, Pandaruan, and Tutong rivers which drain the land.
• Oil Production: A major oil producer in Southeast Asia.
• Demographics: Brunei citizens make up about 76% of the population, with the rest being permanent or temporary residents. Over 80% of the population is ethnically Malay or Chinese.