Sultan Hassanal Of Brunei, The World's Longest-reigning Living Monarch
Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, recuperating in a Kuala Lumpur hospital after being treated for "fatigue", is the world's longest-reigning living monarch -- and one of its richest people.
He ascended the throne at the tender age of 21 in 1967 in the tropical kingdom perched on the northern tip of Borneo in Southeast Asia.
Descending from a family that ruled Brunei for more than 600 years, the absolute monarch today at 78 still holds numerous positions in his oil-abundant state.
He is the country's prime minister, defence minister, finance and economy minister, as well as foreign affairs supremo.
Apart from his political duties, the sultan is also commander-in-chief of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and the Inspector-General of the Royal Brunei Police Force.
Under his stewardship, Brunei became one of the world's richest countries and gained independence from Britain in 1984 after almost a century of colonial rule.
While the sultan has long lost the title of the world's richest man to tech billionaires, his wealth remains the stuff of legend.
The Guinness Book of World Records says his home, Istana Nurul Iman, which translated in English means "Palace of the Light of Faith" is the largest residential palace in the world.
The sultan is also renowned for owning the world's largest private car collection.
His gigantic fleet boasted at least 7,000 cars, valued at more than five billion dollars.
Parties thrown by him and younger brother Prince Jefri Bolkiah in the 1980s and 1990s were said to be extravagant, costing millions of dollars with guests hanging out with stars like Michael Jackson.
Brunei's living standards have soared to among the highest globally under his rule.
But his reign has also been marked by controversies including the introduction of tough Islamic laws legislating penalties such as the severing of limbs and death by stoning.
Brunei was the first country in East or Southeast Asia to introduce sharia law at a national level in 2019 after years of delays.
The harsh laws included death by stoning for adultery and gay sex and the amputation of a hand or foot for theft, which rights campaigners branded as "barbaric".
Those punishments, however, have not been actively enforced following international backlash.
Analysts said at the time the new code might be partly symbolic, as Sultan Hassanal was seeking to burnish his Islamic credentials among conservatives and win more support amid concerns about the economy.
The royal family was also deeply embarrassed by a sensational feud between Sultan Hassanal and Prince Jefri over the latter's alleged embezzlement of $15 billion during his tenure as finance minister in the 1990s.
During the scandal, salacious details emerged of the prince's jet-set, un-Islamic lifestyle, including allegations of a high-priced harem and a luxury yacht he owned called "Tits". A general view of the main gate of Istana Nurul Iman, official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah AFP The National Heart Institute in Kuala Lumpur on May 27, 2025, after Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah was admitted due to fatigue AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Local Germany
a day ago
- Local Germany
US moves a step closer to closing consulates in Germany
First announced in late April, plans to overhaul the State Department were formally presented to Congress by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last week, reigniting fears that thousands of US residents and visitors in the country may soon be stripped of quick access to essential services including emergency assistance in the event of natural disasters and hospitalisations. According to initial reporting in Politico, consulates slated for closure in Germany – as part of President Donald Trump's sweeping plans to downsize the US State Department, slash costs, and improve efficiency – include Dusseldorf, Leipzig, and Hamburg. READ ALSO: Trump administration 'plans to axe US consulates in Germany' If the closures go ahead, US nationals in Germany would need to travel one of the country's other consulates in Frankfurt or Munich or the Embassy in Berlin to access help. Although it has been reported that staff could also be cut at the consulate offices in Frankfurt and Munich, as well as the Embassy in Berlin. In a statement, Rubio said that the plan submitted to Congress was the result of thoughtful and deliberative work by senior Department leadership. 'The reorganisation plan will result in a more agile Department, better equipped to promote America's interests and keep Americans safe across the world,' he said. Advertisement A spokesperson for the US Embassy in Berlin previously told The Local: "The State Department continues to assess our global posture to ensure we are best positioned to address modern challenges on behalf of the American people." The State Department has a workforce of around 75,000 employees, and about two-thirds of these employees are local hires, such as German citizens hired for roles at the US consulates in Germany. These foreign nationals are more likely to be let go than US civil and Foreign Service officers, but workers across the board may be affected. As reported by The Local in March , critics suggest the reorganisation could have the opposite effect, reducing vital functions, hindering efforts to boost American influence abroad, and effectively allowing US adversaries to increase their influence around the world. As well as the plan to close consulates in Germany the US is also reportedly planning to close one in Italy (Florence) and four in France (Rennes, Lyon, Strasbourg and Bordeaux). Advertisement What services do consulates provide? For US citizens living abroad, consulates are the go-to resource for renewing passports, acquiring birth or death certificates, and accessing federal programs like social security, veterans affairs, and the federal voting assistance program. Consulate staff also help US citizens who lose their passports, who are the victims of crime, or are suspected of having committed a crime. They can provide emergency financial assistance when necessary, and offer valuable information on finding services in English in Germany - including translators, tax advisors, international schools, and funeral homes. READ ALSO: How US consulates help American citizens living in Germany If you're dealing with an issue and you're not sure if your consulate can help, try the citizen services navigator tool on the US embassy in Germany website.
Int'l Business Times
6 days ago
- Int'l Business Times
Sidi Ould Tah: Africa's New 'Super Banker'
Sidi Ould Tah is the first Mauritanian to become president of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and will need all his international experience to tackle the challenges facing the institution. The 60-year-old economist was the last to declare his candidacy for the post and ran a whirlwind campaign during which he highlighted his 10 years as head of the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA). He claimed to have transformed it from an institution "unknown to rating agencies" to one of the highest-rated development organisations in Africa. "I have demonstrated my transformative leadership style that has elevated the bank to the level of a leading player in the African development landscape," he said in his application statement to the AfDB. A discreet man who speaks sparingly, his style will be a clear contrast with his flamboyant predecessor, Nigeria's Akinwumi Adesina. Tah's programme is based on four main points: strengthening regional financial institutions; asserting Africa's financial independence in global markets; leveraging demographic dynamics as a development tool; and building resilient infrastructure to climate change. His entourage is touting his ability to replicate his successes at the BADEA at a larger institution like the AfDB, which has $318 billion in capital. "The AfDB has to abandon traditional bureaucratic models for a more fluid approach based on results," he said. Tah, who was Mauritania's economy minister from 2008 to 2015, is calling for a "break with the approaches of the past", in a world where the "challenges and opportunities of Africa have taken a new dimension". The new AfDB president speaks French, English, Arabic and Wolof, which is spoken in several west African countries. He managed the impressive feat of rallying diplomatically diverse supporters behind his candidacy, from Sahel countries such as Mali to France. His score of more than 72 percent among African voters gives him continental legitimacy. His entourage claimed before the vote he had support from the very first round from all African regions. US President Donald Trump's administration has vowed to suspend $500 million in aid to the AfDB, but Tah has argued other financial backers such as Gulf countries could step in. On environmental questions, he intends to promote Africa's natural resources to move towards a "viable energy transition, reconciling economic and environmental imperatives". "Even though Africa is a minimal contributor to global CO2 emissions, it bears the full brunt of the effects of climate change," he said. "It is therefore imperative to integrate sustainable practices and to harness renewable energy in development projects." Tah holds a master's degree in economics from the University of Nouakchott in his native Mauritania and a doctorate from the University of Nice in France.
DW
6 days ago
- DW
Bangladeshi women's rights proposals face Islamist backlash – DW – 05/29/2025
Beenish Javed | Akanksha Saxena 05/29/2025 May 29, 2025 A women's rights commission in Bangladesh has proposed reforms to Bangladesh's interim government, calling for the criminalization of marital rape and equal rights for all women. But the plans have met resistance from Islamic organizations.
