Council of Cabinet Ministers

The Council of Cabinet Ministers (Malay: Majlis Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Kabinet) is the body of high-ranking Brunei officials, consisting of the top leaders of the executive branch of Brunei government. Led by the Sultan himself, who has also been the Prime Minister of Brunei since 1984.

Council of Cabinet Ministers
Majlis Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Kabinet
National emblem of Brunei

Flag of Cabinet Ministers
Cabinet overview
Formed18 October 1959 (1959-10-18)
JurisdictionGovernment of Brunei
HeadquartersPrime Minister's Office
Cabinet executives
Websitewww.councils.gov.bn
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The Council consists of the Prime Minister (the Sultan), the Senior Minister (the Crown Prince), ministers and the second ministers, and deputy ministers of respectives ministries. All of the ministers and deputy ministers are appointed by the Prime Minister-Sultan. The ministers are responsible directly to the Sultan and hold their seats at His Majesty's pleasure, usually reshuffle and nominate every 5 years.[1]

History

The cabinet was established in 1959.[2] Immediately upon Brunei's independence on 1 January 1984, the following portfolios were introduced as the first cabinet line-up:[3]

  • Prime Minister
  • Minister of Communications
  • Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports
  • Minister of Defence
  • Minister of Development
  • Minister of Education
  • Minister of Finance
  • Minister of Foreign Affairs
  • Minister of Home Affairs
  • Minister of Law
  • Deputy Minister of Finance

On 20 October 1986, after the demise of the late Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the cabinet was reshuffled which saw the introduction of new ministerial posts, namely the Ministers of Health and Religious Affairs, and Special Adviser in the Prime Minister's Office.[4] The reshuffle saw the cabinet being enlarged to a total of 13 ministerial and 8 deputy ministerial posts.[4]

The cabinet was reshuffled again in 1988,[5] 2005,[6] 2010,[7] 2015,[5] 2018,[8] and 2022.[2] Since 2005, cabinet reshuffle typically happened every five years.[8] However, the 2015 cabinet term lasted less than five years with a "surprise" reshuffle in 2018, with no official reason given,[8] although it was speculated that corruption could be a reason.[9] In contrast to the previous cabinets which served or intended to serve for five years, the 2022 cabinet shall serve for a four-year term.[2]

The State Mufti and Attorney General were included in the cabinet and declared ministry-level positions in the reshuffles of 2005,[10] 2010,[7] 2015,[11] and 2018.[12]

The 2005 cabinet line-up saw the introduction of new ministerial posts, namely Senior Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Minister of Energy in the Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister of Finance, and Second Minister of Foreign Affairs.[6] Meanwhile, the 2018 cabinet line-up saw the introduction of the new Second Minister of Defence, but the position was not renewed in 2022 reshuffle.[2]

The 2010 reshuffle saw the appointment of Adina Othman as the first female deputy minister, holding the Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports portfolio.[7] Meanwhile, the 2022 reshuffle saw the appointment of Romaizah Mohd Salleh as the first female minister, holding the Minister of Education portfolio.[2][13]

Current members

Since 24 October 2023 (reshuffle after 4 years since October 2018), the Council consists of the following:[14]

Ministry Minister Deputy Minister
Prime Minister's Office
  • Hon. Awang Mohd. Riza Mohd. Yunos (Deputy Minister)
  • Hon. Awang Sufian Sabtu (Deputy Minister)
  • Hon. Awang Mohd. Azmi Mohd. Hanifah (Deputy Minister of Energy)
Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications
Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports
Ministry of Defence
  • HM Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
  • Hon. Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Awang Halbi Mohd. Yussof (Second Minister)
Ministry of Development
  • Hon. Awang Mohd. Juanda Abd. Rashid
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Finance and Economy
  • HM Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
  • Hon. Dr. Awang Mohd. Amin Liew Abdullah (Second Minister)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Home Affairs
Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism
Ministry of Religious Affairs
  • Hon. Pengiran Tassim Pengiran Hassan

See also

References
  1. Constitution of Brunei Darussalam (PDF). Bandar Seri Begawan: Attorney-General's Chambers, Brunei. 2010.
  2. Hj Abu Bakar, Rasidah; Bandial, Ain (7 June 2022). "HM: New cabinet must carry out duties with "full loyalty and responsibility"". The Scoop. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  3. Menon 1987, p. 92.
  4. Menon 1987, p. 93.
  5. Pg. Haji Md. Noor, Pg. Hajah Fatimah (22 October 2015). "Rombakan Kabinet" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). No. 127 (published 24 October 2015). p. 1. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  6. Ibrahim, Jaafar (24 May 2005). "Rombakan keahlian Majlis Mesyuarat Menteri-menteri Kabinet" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). No. 21 (published 25 May 2005). p. 1. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  7. Masri, Ubaidillah (30 May 2010). "HM reshuffles Cabinet, appoints first woman deputy minister | The BT Archive". btarchive.org. Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  8. Reuters Staff (30 January 2018). "Brunei ruler replaces top ministers in surprise cabinet reshuffle". Reuters. Archived from the original on 14 December 2018. Retrieved 19 July 2022. {{cite news}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  9. Ward, Oliver (20 February 2018). The underlying reason behind Brunei's cabinet reshuffle. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2022. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  10. "Jawatan Mufti Kerajaan dan Peguam Negara bertaraf Menteri" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). No. 21 (published 25 May 2005). 24 May 2005. p. 1. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  11. "Jawatan Mufti Kerajaan, Peguam Negara bertaraf Menteri" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). No. 127 (published 24 October 2015). 22 October 2015. p. 3. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  12. "Jawatan Mufti Kerajaan, Peguam Negara bertaraf Menteri" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). No. 14 (published 31 January 2018). 30 January 2018. p. 4. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  13. "Sultan Brunei rombak Kabinet, menteri wanita pertama dilantik". Berita Harian (in Malay). 8 June 2022. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  14. "Pelantikan, Pertukaran Menteri Kabinet, Timbalan Menteri" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). Bandar Seri Begawan: Department of Information. 8 June 2022. p. 3. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
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