Hassanal Bolkiah
Hassanal Bolkiah is the Sultan of Brunei, serving as the country’s absolute monarch, head of state, prime minister, and defense minister since 1967.
Standing...
Stories...
Sep 3, 2026
Lean Right
The Sultan of Brunei is central to the Limbang question, a border dispute with Malaysia dating to British colonial times.
Market Liberals see this unresolved dispute as an impediment to regional trade and investment, calling for pragmatic resolution.
Jun 11, 2026
Lean Right
Brunei's Sultan reshuffled his cabinet this week, appointing his son as foreign minister and concentrating key posts within the direct line of succession.
The dynastic consolidation in Brunei exemplifies the rentier-state model that market liberals criticize: resource wealth enabling a ruling family to bypass meritocratic governance and close off economic and political competition.