The Sultan Is Not Amused
Brunei continued in 2016 to suffer from declining oil and gas prices. The budget deficit grew. The Sultan made economic diversification and ‘‘prudent spending’’ the year’s central political themes. He criticized several government institutions during ‘‘surprise visits’’ and sharply attacked the Ministry of Religious Affairs for ‘‘delaying’’ the full enforcement of an Islamic legal reform.
K E Y W O R D S : Brunei, oil price crisis, economic diversification, legal reforms, Sharia