ABSTRACT
The small, independent Islamic state of Brunei Darussalam is located on the island of Borneo between the Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak (Figure 17.1). Bordering the South China Sea to the north, this tiny state of only 5,765 square kilometres, is of interest to social planners and demographers for at least two reasons. First, the country is amongst the ten richest in the world by virtue of its oil and investment revenues: the onshore and offshore oil fields around Seria contribute massively to a per capita GNP which, in 1996, stood at $20,400. That wealth has created important economic and social benefits for the citizen population-no income taxes or national insurance charges, coupled with free healthcare and education, characterize the state (Cleary and Wong 1994; Leake 1990). A second fundamental feature of Brunei Darussalam is the importance of the Islamic faith. It is the state religion and Islamic codes of behaviour and social welfare-including care of the elderly-imbue all aspects of daily life. The importance of Islam is further reflected in the nature of the political system where the ideology of the Malay Muslim Monarchy is fundamental to the daily life of the state (Gunn 1998).
