Functions of the Legislative Council

Photo (c) Infofoto, 2010

According to the Brunei Resources.com, there are 5 Councils formed under the Constitution 1959 of Brunei Darussalam:

1. Council of Ministers (Majlis Mesyuarat Menteri Cabinet) - advises His Majesty in the exercise and performance of his duties.
2. Legislative Council (Majlis Mesyuarat Negera) - advises His Majesty on the enactment of legislations.
3. Privy Council (Majlis Mesyuarat Diraja) - advises His majesty in relation to the exercise of the prerogative of mercy
4. Council of Succession (Majlis Mesyuarat Menangkat Raja) - advises His Majesty on matters related to the succession of the throne.
5. Council of Islamic Religion (Majlis Mesyuarat Agama Islam) - advises His Majesty on matters of Islamic Religion.

I guess a lot of us are unaware or curious with what are the functions of the Legislative Council. RTB news highlighted this last Thursday during the opening of the 1st meeting of 6th session of the Legislative Council:

Among the functions of the Legislative Council are to deliberate and approve legislation, impose financial restrictions, review government policies and other related matters pertaining to the Legislative Council.

The Brunei Legislative Council was established by the late Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, father of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. He ascended the throne as Brunei's 28th ruler at the age of 35. On May 12th, 1953, Almarhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien first expressed his desire to have a constitution for Brunei Darussalam and establish a constitutional government for his rakyat. The Brunei Written Constitution was formally endorsed and signed on September 29, 1959. Signing for Brunei was the architect of Modern Brunei himself, Almarhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, while Great Britain was represented by the British Commissioner General for Southeast Asia, Sir Robert Scott.

The constitution was amended in 1971 and 1984 to include provisions that enabled Brunei to function as an independent sovereign nation state. The motto of the legislative council is to uphold justice in decision-making for the happiness and prosperity of the people and rakyat of Brunei Darussalam. The legislature held its last sitting on December 27, 1983.

On the 15th of July, 2004, His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddien Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, consented to reinstate the Legislative Council of Brunei Darussalam after a 21 year suspension. The reinstatement of the Legislative Council reflects the wisdom of His Majesty in ensuring that the country's future is well-planned towards the future.

The 25th of September 2004, marked another momentous day for the country with the convening of the first meeting of the first session of the Legislative Council after 21 years. This marks yet another moment in history in what has been regarded as a 'ground breaking' step or beginning in the formation of the Legislative Council with His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam himself becoming an ex-officio member.

Also becoming ex-officio members are His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Officer at the Prime Minister's Office,
and His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, the Minister pf Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Other ex-officio members are;

• the Minister of Education, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman;
  
• the Minister of Religious Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Doktor Ustaz Haji Awang Mohamad Zain;

• the Minister of Culture Youth and Sports, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Doktor Awang Haji Ahmad;
• the Minister of Communication, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abu Bakar;
• the Minister of Home Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan;
  
• the Minister of Health, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi;
• the Minister of Development, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdullah;
  
• the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister's Office, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Retired Major General Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Haji Mohammad;
  
• the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya;
• the Second Minister of Finance, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman ;
• the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng.

Meanwhile, two appointed titled persons are;

• Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran Doktor Haji Mohamad Yusof;
• Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Retired Colonel Dato Seri Paduka Haji Awang Mohamad Yasmin

Members also comprise those who have achieved distinction:

• Yang Berhormat Pehin Kapitan Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Goh King Chin;
  
• Yang Berhormat Orang Kaya Maha Bijaya Awang Haji Othman bin Uking,
• Yang Berhormat Dato Paduka Awang Haji Idris bin Haji Abas,;
  
• Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Sulaiman bin Haji Ahai,
• Yang Berhormat Dato Paduka Awang Haji Puasa bin Orang Kaya Seri Pahlawan Tudin;
• Yang Berhormat Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Yunos bin Mohamad Noh.

Appointed members for Districts are:

• Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Bakar bin Mansor , Brunei Muara District;
  
• Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Mohamad Shafiee bin Ahmad for the Belait District;
• Yang Berhormat Orang Kaya Jaya Putera Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Taha bin Abdul Rauf for the Tutong District;
  
• Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Sulaiman bin Haji Ahad for the Temburong District.

To strengthen the role of the legislative council as part of the nation building machinery, His Majesty has consented to the construction of a magnificent new building for the council in Jalan Kebangsaan. The new Legislative Council Building was constructed on a 10.7 hectare site at a cost of about 62-million dollars under the 8th National Development Plan.

References:
Brunei Resources.com http://www.bruneiresources.com/civilservicebackground.html
RTB News (online) http://www.rtbnews.rtb.gov.bn/?c=newsDetail&news_id=6521

Good read:
Brunei Times, March 11, 2010. "Brunei's State Legislative Council"
http://www.bt.com.bn/en/news-national/2010/03/11/bruneis-state-legislative-council

Councils of State (website)
http://www.councils.gov.bn/