History of Brunei in Timeline

Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a Southeast Asian country located on the island of Borneo. It is bordered by Malaysia and has a coastline on the South China Sea. As of 2025, its population was 466,330, with the capital being Bandar Seri Begawan. The official language is Malay, and Sunni Islam is the state religion. Brunei is an absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan, with a legal system blending English common law and Islamic jurisprudence, including Sharia.

1904: McArthur's Report On Brunei

In 1904, Consul Malcolm Stewart Hannibal McArthur produced his Report On Brunei where he recommended the implementation of the Malayan British Residency system and the continued protection of Brunei.

1906: British Residents Introduced

In 1906, British residents were introduced in Brunei under the Supplementary Protectorate Agreement to advise the sultan on all matters of administration.

July 1922: Formation of British Malayan Petroleum Company

On July 22, 1922, the British Malayan Petroleum Company (now Brunei Shell Petroleum Company) was formed.

1926: Smell of oil near Seria river

In late 1926, F. F. Marriot and T. G. Cochrane smelled oil near the Seria river.

1927: Gas seepages reported

In 1927, gas seepages were reported in the Seria area.

July 1928: Drilling of Seria Well Number One (S-1)

On July 12, 1928, Seria Well Number One (S-1) was drilled.

April 1929: Oil struck at Seria Well Number One (S-1)

On April 5, 1929, oil was struck at 297 metres (974 ft) in Seria Well Number One (S-1).

August 1929: Seria Well Number 2 Drilled

On August 19, 1929, Seria Well Number 2 was drilled.

1940: Oil Production Increased

In 1940, oil production reached more than six million barrels.

September 1941: Seria oilfield oilwells filled

In September 1941, troops from the Punjab Regiment filled in the Seria oilfield oilwells with concrete.

December 1941: Japanese Invasion of Brunei

On December 16, 1941, eight days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Japanese invaded Brunei, landing 10,000 troops at Kuala Belait.

1941: Switch to Latin Alphabet

Around 1941, Malay switched to the Latin alphabet.

1941: British High Commissioner

Before 1941, the Governor of the Straits Settlements was responsible for the duties of British High Commissioner for Brunei, Sarawak, and North Borneo (now Sabah).

1943: Hyper-inflation destroys the currency's value

From 1943 hyper-inflation destroyed the duit pisang (banana money) currency's value and, at the end of the war, this currency was worthless.

1943: Japanese naval units based in Brunei Bay and Labuan

In 1943, Japanese naval units were based in Brunei Bay and Labuan during the occupation.

1944: Allied bombing campaign

In 1944, the Allies began a bombing campaign against the occupying Japanese, which destroyed much of the town and Kuala Belait, but missed Kampong Ayer.

June 1945: Australian 9th Division landed at Muara

On June 10, 1945, the Australian 9th Division landed at Muara under Operation Oboe Six to recapture Borneo from the Japanese, resulting in extensive bombing and heavy fighting in Brunei town.

July 1945: Administration of Brunei was passed to the Civil Administration

On 6 July 1945, the administration of Brunei was passed to the Civil Administration.

September 1945: Japanese Surrender at Labuan

On September 10, 1945, Japanese forces formally surrendered at Labuan, and the British Military Administration took over.

April 1946: Formation of Barisan Pemuda (BARIP)

On April 12, 1946, the Barisan Pemuda (BARIP) was formed, the first political party in Brunei.

July 1946: British Military Administration ends

In July 1946, the British Military Administration ended.

1947: HSBC Entry

HSBC entered Brunei in 1947 and closed operations in November 2017.

1948: Dissolution of Barisan Pemuda (BARIP)

In 1948, the political party Barisan Pemuda (BARIP) was dissolved due to inactivity.

July 1953: Formation of Tujuh Serangkai Committee

In July 1953, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III formed a seven-member committee named Tujuh Serangkai, to determine the citizens' views regarding a written constitution for Brunei.

1953: Malaria Eradication and Death Rate Reduction

In 1953, efforts to eradicate malaria were underway with the help of the World Health Organization, and the death rate was reduced to 11.3 per thousand.

1953: Formation of Brunei Press PLC

In 1953, the government allowed a printing and publishing company, Brunei Press PLC, to form.

1953: Introduction of first plan

The first was introduced in 1953. A total sum of B$100 million was approved by the Brunei State Council for the plan. E.R. Bevington, from the Colonial Office in Fiji, was appointed to implement it.

May 1954: Meeting to discuss the findings of the committee

In May 1954, the Sultan, Resident and High Commissioner met to discuss the findings of the Tujuh Serangkai committee.

1954: Exploration work by Brunei Shell Petroleum

In 1954, survey and exploration work were undertaken by the Brunei Shell Petroleum on both offshore and onshore fields.

1954: Reconstruction at Berakas Airport

Reconstruction at Berakas Airport was completed in 1954.

1956: Oil production reached 114,700 bpd

By 1956, oil production reached 114,700 bpd.

1957: First Offshore Well Drilled

In 1957, the first offshore well was drilled in Brunei.

1958: Expenditure on education

By 1958, expenditure on education totalled at $4 million.

March 1959: Delegation to London to discuss the proposed Constitution

In March 1959, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III led a delegation to London to discuss the proposed Constitution with the British government.

September 1959: Constitution Agreement was signed in Brunei Town

On 29 September 1959, the Constitution Agreement was signed in Brunei Town.

1959: New constitution for Brunei

In 1959, a new constitution was written declaring Brunei a self-governing state, while its foreign affairs, security, and defence remained the responsibility of the United Kingdom.

1959: Reduction of Malaria Cases

In 1959, malaria cases in Brunei were reduced to 66 cases, a significant decrease from 300 cases in 1953.

1959: Residential System Ended

In 1959, the residential system in Brunei ended.

1959: Constitution

In November 1971, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah left for London to discuss matters regarding the amendments to the 1959 constitution.

1959: Constitution Guarantees Religious Freedom for Non-Muslims

In The Laws of Brunei, the right of non-Muslims to practice their faith is guaranteed by the 1959 Constitution.

1962: Brunei Revolt

Following the Brunei Revolt of 1962, the Sultan's authority included emergency powers.

1962: Second National Development Plan Launched

In 1962, Brunei launched its second National Development Plan.

1962: Last Election Held

The last election in Brunei was held in 1962.

1963: Major Oil and Gas Field Discovery

In 1963, a major oil and gas field was discovered in Brunei.

1967: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah leadership

Since 1967, Brunei has been led by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.

1969: Brunei Joins FIFA

In 1969, the Brunei national football team joined FIFA.

November 1971: Discussions and Agreement with the UK

In November 1971, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah went to London to discuss amendments to the 1959 constitution, and a new agreement was signed on November 23, 1971, with British representative Anthony Royle.

January 1979: Treaty Signed with the United Kingdom

On January 7, 1979, Brunei and the United Kingdom signed a treaty granting Brunei international responsibilities as an independent nation, with Britain agreeing to assist in diplomatic matters.

1979: Brunei Foreign Relations

Until 1979, Brunei's foreign relations were managed by the UK government.

May 1983: Announcement of Independence Date

In May 1983, the UK announced that Brunei's date of independence would be January 1, 1984.

December 1983: Mass Gathering Before Independence

On December 31, 1983, a mass gathering was held in mosques throughout Brunei's districts in anticipation of independence.

January 1984: Membership in the Organisation of the Islamic Conference

In January 1984, Brunei became a full member of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference at the Fourth Islamic Summit in Morocco.

January 1984: Brunei Independence Date

In May 1983, the UK announced that the date of independence of Brunei would be 1 January 1984.

January 1984: Brunei Becomes Fully Sovereign

On January 1, 1984, Brunei became a fully sovereign state, marking the end of Britain's protectorate.

January 1984: Independence and Commonwealth Membership

On January 1, 1984, Brunei gained independence and became the 49th member of the Commonwealth.

January 1984: Proclamation of Independence

On January 1, 1984, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah read the Proclamation of Independence, assuming the title "His Majesty".

September 1984: Admission to the United Nations

On September 22, 1984, Brunei was admitted to the United Nations as its 159th member.

1984: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

After independence in 1984, the Brunei Diplomatic Service was upgraded to ministerial level and is now known as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1984: Brunei British Protectorate

The treaty that said that the sultan "could not cede or lease any territory to foreign powers without British consent" continued until 1984.

1989: Accession to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC)

In 1989, Brunei joined the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC).

1990: Forest Cover in Brunei

In 1990, Brunei's forest cover was 413,000 hectares.

1990: Borneo Bulletin Becomes Daily

In 1990, The Borneo Bulletin became a daily newspaper, evolving from a weekly community paper.

March 1994: BIMP-EAGA Formation

In March 1994, Brunei became a major player in BIMP-EAGA, which was formed during the Inaugural Ministers' Meeting in Davao, Philippines.

January 1995: Founding Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)

On January 1, 1995, Brunei became a founding member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

1996: Brunei Debuts at the Olympics

Brunei debuted at the Olympics in 1996.

1999: Economic growth in Brunei

Between 1999 and 2008, Brunei's GDP increased by 56%.

1999: Southeast Asian Games Hosted in Brunei

In 1999, the first major international sporting event to be hosted in Brunei was the Southeast Asian Games.

November 2000: APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting

In November 2000, Brunei hosted the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.

2000: Maritime Jade Road

Around the year 2000 BC areas comprising what is now Brunei participated in the Maritime Jade Road.

2000: Chairman for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum

Brunei served as chairman for the 2000 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

July 2002: ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)

In July 2002, Brunei hosted the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).

2004: Number of Arabic Schools

As of 2004, there are six Arabic schools and one religious teachers' college in Brunei.

2006: The Brunei Times Published

Since 2006, The Brunei Times, an English independent newspaper, has been published in Brunei.

2008: Economic growth in Brunei

Between 1999 and 2008, Brunei's GDP increased by 56%.

2008: Brunei Absent from Olympics

Brunei did not compete at the 2008 Summer Olympics edition.

April 2009: Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Philippines

In April 2009, Brunei and the Philippines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen bilateral cooperation in agriculture and farm-related trade and investments.

April 2009: Launch of Padi Planting Ceremony

In April 2009, Brunei renamed its Brunei Darussalam Rice 1 as Laila Rice during the launch of the "Padi Planting Towards Achieving Self-Sufficiency of Rice Production in Brunei Darussalam" ceremony at the Wasan padi fields.

July 2009: Launch of Brunei Halal Branding Scheme

In July 2009, Brunei launched its national halal branding scheme, Brunei Halal, with the goal to export to foreign markets.

August 2009: Royal Family Reaps First Laila Padi Stalks

In August 2009, after years of attempts to boost local rice production, the Royal Family reaped the first few Laila padi stalks.

2009: Seria Well Number 2 produces oil

As of 2009, Seria Well Number 2 continues to produce oil.

2009: Border Dispute with Malaysia Reportedly Settled

In 2009, it was reported that the status of Limbang as part of Sarawak, disputed by Brunei since 1890, was settled with Brunei accepting the border in exchange for Malaysia giving up claims to oil fields in Bruneian waters.

July 2010: Population Statistics

As of July 2010, the total population of Brunei was approximately 408,000, with around 150,000 residing in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.

2010: U.S. Department of State Report on Discrimination Against Women

A 2010 U.S. Department of State report stated that discrimination against women is a problem in Brunei.

2010: Urbanization Rate

From 2010 to 2015, The rate of urbanization is estimated at 2.13% per year.

July 2012: Air Force Bell 212 Crash

On July 20, 2012, a Bell 212 operated by the air force crashed in Kuala Belait, resulting in the loss of 12 of the 14 crew members on board.

October 2013: Announcement of Sharia Penal Code Implementation

In October 2013, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah announced the intention to impose Penal Code from Sharia on the country's Muslims.

2013: Chair of ASEAN and Host of ASEAN Summit

In 2013, Brunei was the chair for ASEAN and hosted the ASEAN summit.

April 2014: Implementation of Revised Penal Code

Brunei's revised penal code came into force in phases, commencing on 22 April 2014, with offences punishable by fines or imprisonment.

2014: Population Demographics

In 2014, 65.7% of the population in Brunei were Malay, 10.3% were Chinese, 3.4% were indigenous, with 20.6% smaller groups making up the rest.

2014: Unemployment Rate

In 2014, Brunei's unemployment rate was at 6.9%.

2014: Citibank Closes Operations

In 2014, Citibank, which entered in 1972, closed its operations in Brunei.

2014: Initial Introduction of the Sharia Penal Code

In 2019, Brunei announced that it would no longer be implementing the second phase of its controversial sharia penal code. The code, which was first introduced in 2014.

December 2015: Christmas Celebrations Amidst Sharia Penal Code

On 25 December 2015, 4,000 out of 18,000 estimated local Catholics attended the mass of Christmas Day and Christmas Eve.

2015: Forest Ownership

For the year 2015, 100% of the forest area was reported to be under public ownership in Brunei.

2015: Urbanization Rate

From 2010 to 2015, The rate of urbanization is estimated at 2.13% per year.

April 2016: Bank of China Opens Branch

In April 2016, the Bank of China received permission to open a branch in Brunei.

2016: Proposed Increase in Defence Budget

In 2016, Brunei's Legislative Council proposed an increase of the defence budget for the 2016–17 fiscal year of about five per cent to 564 million Brunei dollars.

2016: Target Completion Date for Sharia Penal Code Implementation

In October 2013, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah announced his intention to impose Penal Code from Sharia on the country's Muslims. This would be implemented in three phases, culminating in 2016.

November 2017: HSBC Closes Operation in Brunei

In November 2017, HSBC, which had entered in 1947, closed its operation in Brunei.

May 2019: Extension of Moratorium on Death Penalty

In May 2019, the Brunei government extended its existing moratorium on the death penalty to the Sharia criminal code.

2019: Road Network Statistics

As of 2019, the country's road network constituted a total length of 3,713.57 kilometres (2,307.51 mi), out of which 86.8% were paved.

2019: Announcement to Halt Implementation of Second Phase of Sharia Penal Code

In 2019, Brunei announced that it would no longer be implementing the second phase of its controversial sharia penal code.

March 2020: Opening of Muara to Temburong Roadway

On 17 March 2020, a new 30-kilometre (19 mi) roadway connecting the Muara and Temburong districts opened to traffic.

2020: Electricity Production Based on Fossil Fuels

In 2020, Brunei's electricity production was largely based on fossil fuels; renewable energy accounted for less than 1% of produced electricity in the country.