Legislative Council of Brunei

The Legislative Council of Brunei (Malay: Majlis Mesyuarat Negara Brunei (مجليس مشوارت نڬارا بروني)) or the "Legco" is a national unicameral legislature of Brunei. The Council holds its sitting annually in March at Legislative Council Building in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Legislative Council of Brunei

Majlis Mesyuarat Negara Brunei

مجليس مشوارت نڬارا بروني
Type
Type
Leadership
Speaker
Abdul Rahman Mohamed Taib[1]
since 11 February 2015
Structure
Seats37[2]
Length of term
5 years
Meeting place
Legislative Council Building,
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Website
Legislative Council of Brunei
Politics of Brunei
Legislative Council of Brunei building

History

The council was established in 1959 by virtue of Article 23 of Brunei's Constitution of 1959. Its first sitting was held at Lapau on 21 October 1959. In 1984, the Council managed to hold 32 meetings; the last one being the 21st Meeting held on 12 February 1984. Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah dissolved the council on the following day. Hence, legislative powers were fully vested in the Sultan.

Brunei had no legislature until 25 September 2004, when the Sultan decided to reinstate the Council using the old system. Brunei, once again, had a legislature. The Sultan disestablished the council on 1 September 2005 and, on the following day, reestablished the Council based on the amended version of Brunei's Constitution.

Roles

Since 1959, the council has played significant roles towards Brunei; not only to consider and approve budgets and revenue estimates, but also to advise the Sultan on the drive of the Government, to review policies implemented by the Government and to pass bills and motions brought by the Government and other members of the council.

Speakers of Legislative Council
Yang Di-Pertua Majlis Mesyuarat Negara Term in Office
Ibrahim Mohammad Jahfar 1960-1961
Ali bin Mohammad Daud 1961-1962
Abu Bakar bin Mohammad Salleh 1962-1971
Mohammad Alam Abdul Rahman 1971-1974
Abu Bakar bin Omar 1974-1981
Kemaluddin al-Haj 1981–1984, 2004-2011
Isa Ibrahim[3] 2011-2015
Abdul Rahman Mohamed Taib[4] 2015–present

Membership

The Council comprises the Sultan, the Crown Prince,[5] cabinet ministers and three types of members: members with titles, members representing districts, and members among outstanding Bruneians. All members, other than the Sultan, are appointed by the Sultan in accordance with Article 24 of Brunei Constitution.

Appointed Members of 2017 Sitting

The subsequent list as below are returning members of LegCo appointed by Sultan on 12 January 2017 as announced in Pelita Brunei,[6][7] except members of cabinet who are appointed in January 2018.

Cabinet

Since 30 January 2018 (reshuffle after 3 years since October 2015), the Council consists of the following:[8]

Ministry Minister
Prime Minister's Office
Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications
  • Hon. Abdul Mutalib Md. Yusof
Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports
  • Hon. Maj. Gen. (Rtd.) Aminuddin Abidin
Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Development
  • Hon. Suhaimi Gafar
Ministry of Education
  • Hon. Hamzah Sulaiman
Ministry of Energy
  • Hon. Dr. Mat Suny Mohd Hussein
Ministry of Finance and Economy
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Ministry of Health
  • Hon. Dr. Md. Isham Jaafar
Ministry of Home Affairs
  • Hon. Abu Bakar Apong
Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism
  • Hon. Ali Apong
Ministry of Religious Affairs
  • Hon. Awang Badaruddin Awang Othman

Clergy and Titled Seats
TitleAppointed MembersNotes
Pehin Datu Imam
Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang		Abdul Hamid bin Bakal Religious Manteri below Manteri 8[9]
Pehin Orang Kaya Putera Maharaja
Dato Paduka Awang Haji

bin

Pehin Datu Pekerma Dewa
Dato Paduka Awang Haji		Abdul Ghani bin Abdul Rahim Manteri 32[10]
Pehin Orang Kaya Pendikar Alam
Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji

bin

Pehin Datu Pekerma Dewa
Dato Paduka Awang Haji		Hasrin bin Sabtu Manteri 32[11]

Functional Seats

Pursuant to Second Schedule of Article 24 (1) (a) (iii),[12] these seats given for persons who have achieved distinction on their own professional field or good contribution for communities across Brunei

Returning memberNotes
Hafimi binti Abdul Haadii
Abdul Hamid "Haji Sabli" bin Arshad
Iswandy bin Ahmad
Khairunnisa binti Ash'ari
Ong Tiong Oh
Siti Rozaimeriyanty binti Abdul Rahman
Umarali bin Esung

District Seats
DistrictsReturning memberNotes
Belait 1 Abdul Hamid bin Mumin Previously worked as penghulu of Mukim Liang
Belait 2 Hanapi bin Mohd Siput Previously worked as village head of Kampung Labi I
Tutong 1 Abdul Wahab bin Apong Previously worked as penghulu of Mukim Tanjong Maya
Tutong 2 Ramli bin Lahit Previously worked as penghulu of Mukim Telisai
Temburong Emran bin Sabtu Previously worked as penghulu of Mukim Bokok
Brunei-Muara 1 Ali bin Maon Previously worked as penghulu of Mukim Berakas 'B'
Brunei-Muara 2 Mohammed bin Osman/Othman Previously worked as village head of Pekan Muara and Kampong Sabun before appointed as MP
Brunei-Muara 3 Naim bin Kamis Previously worked as penghulu of Mukim Kota Batu
Brunei-Muara 4 Tahamit bin Nudin Previously worked as penghulu of Mukim Gadong 'A'
Brunei-Muara 5 Mohimin bin Johari Previously worked as village head of Kampong Limau Manis

Legislative procedure

The Council follows the practice of other Commonwealth parliaments. All bills presented in the Council go through three readings. All bills, however, must obtain prior approval from the Cabinet prior to their presentation in the council. Once a bill is passed, a bill must obtain Royal Assent in order to turn such bill to an Act.

See also

References
  1. "Brunei Darussalam". 5 July 2018. Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2021-09-08. Retrieved 2021-09-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Md Zain, Nurliah (2 March 2016). "MMN wadah permuafakatan" (in Malay). Bandar Seri Begawan: Pelita Brunei. Archived from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  4. "IPU PARLINE database: BRUNEI DARUSSALAM (Majlis Mesyuarat Negara), General information". Archived from the original on 2019-10-02. Retrieved 2020-02-02.
  5. He is a member of Cabinet of Brunei. Therefore, he is a member of the Council.
  6. "Pelantikan keahlian Majlis Mesyuarat Negara baharu" [New members' appointment of Legislative Council] (in Malay). Bandar Seri Begawan: Pelita Brunei. 12 January 2017. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  7. "THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL" (in Malay). Legislative Council of Brunei. 2021. Archived from the original on 7 September 2021. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  8. "Pelantikan Menteri-Menteri Kabinet Baharu" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). Bandar Seri Begawan: Department of Information. 31 January 2018. p. 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  9. Senarai Nama-Nama Gelaran dan Orang-Orang yang Dikurniai Gelaran: Manteri-Manteri Berchiri (PDF). Bandar Seri Begawan: Jabatan Adat Istiadat Negara. 8 March 2021. p. 4. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  10. Senarai Nama-Nama Gelaran dan Orang-Orang yang Dikurniai Gelaran: Manteri-Manteri Berchiri (PDF). Bandar Seri Begawan: Jabatan Adat Istiadat Negara. 8 March 2021. p. 10. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  11. Senarai Nama-Nama Gelaran dan Orang-Orang yang Dikurniai Gelaran: Manteri-Manteri Berchiri (PDF). Bandar Seri Begawan: Jabatan Adat Istiadat Negara. 8 March 2021. p. 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  12. "Archived copy" (PDF). www.agc.gov.bn. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-08-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

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