Council of Cabinet Ministers
{{Short description|Executive branch of the Brunei government}}
{{Infobox government agency
| name = Council of Cabinet Ministers
| native_name = Majlis Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Kabinet
| seal = Emblem of Brunei.svg
| seal_width = 200px
| seal_caption = National emblem of Brunei
| type = Cabinet
| formed = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1959|10|18}}
| agency_type =
| jurisdiction = Government of Brunei
| headquarters = Prime Minister's Office
| chief1_name = Hassanal Bolkiah
| chief1_position = Prime Minister
| chief2_name = Judin Asar
| chief2_position = Secretary
| website = {{URL|https://www.councils.gov.bn/SitePages/Home.aspx|www.councils.gov.bn}}
}}
{{Politics_of_Brunei}}
The Council of Cabinet Ministers ({{Langx|ms|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.
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.{{Cite book|url=http://www.agc.gov.bn/AGC%20Images/LOB/cons_doc/constitution_i.pdf|title=Constitution of Brunei Darussalam|publisher=Attorney-General's Chambers, Brunei|year=2010|location=Bandar Seri Begawan}}
History
The cabinet was established in 1959. Immediately upon Brunei's independence on 1 January 1984, the following portfolios were introduced as the first cabinet line-up:{{sfn|Menon|1987|p=92}}
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
- 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
{{div col end}}
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.{{sfn|Menon|1987|p=93}} The reshuffle saw the cabinet being enlarged to a total of 13 ministerial and 8 deputy ministerial posts.{{sfn|Menon|1987|p=93}}
The cabinet was reshuffled again in 1986, 1988,{{cite news |first=Pg. Hajah Fatimah |last=Pg. Haji Md. Noor |title=Rombakan Kabinet |date=22 October 2015 |publication-date=24 October 2015 |newspaper=Pelita Brunei |page=1 |issue=127 |language=ms |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/2015/Oktober/pelitabrunei_241015.pdf |access-date=19 July 2022 }} 2005, 2010, 2015, 2018, and 2022. Since 2005, cabinet reshuffle typically happened every five years. However, the 2015 cabinet term lasted less than five years with a "surprise" reshuffle in 2018, with no official reason given,{{cite news |title=Brunei ruler replaces top ministers in surprise cabinet reshuffle |date=30 January 2018 |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brunei-politics-idUSKBN1FJ19K |access-date=19 July 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214195015/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brunei-politics-idUSKBN1FJ19K |archive-date=14 December 2018 }} although it was speculated that corruption could be a reason.{{cite book |first=Oliver |last=Ward |title=The underlying reason behind Brunei's cabinet reshuffle |work=ASEAN Today |date=20 February 2018 |url=https://www.aseantoday.com/2018/02/the-underlying-reason-behind-bruneis-cabinet-reshuffle/ |access-date=19 July 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805010831/https://www.aseantoday.com/2018/02/the-underlying-reason-behind-bruneis-cabinet-reshuffle/ |archive-date=5 August 2021 }} 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.
On 1 April 1993, the post of Secretary to Council of Cabinet Ministers was created, with Judin Asar as the inaugural holder.{{Cite news |date=April 1993 |title=Secretary to Council of Cabinet Ministers post created |url=https://www.information.gov.bn/English%20Publication%20PDF/BD%2015-30%20Apr%2093.pdf |access-date=2025-02-04 |work=Brunei Darussalam Newsletter |publisher=Department of Information |pages=2 |issue=116}}
The State Mufti and Attorney General were included in the cabinet and declared ministry-level positions in the reshuffles of 2005,{{cite news |author= |title=Jawatan Mufti Kerajaan dan Peguam Negara bertaraf Menteri |date=24 May 2005 |newspaper=Pelita Brunei |publication-date=25 May 2005 |issue=21 |page=1 |language=ms |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/2005/25%20MEI%202005.pdf |access-date=19 July 2022 }} 2010, 2015,{{cite news |author= |title=Jawatan Mufti Kerajaan, Peguam Negara bertaraf Menteri |date=22 October 2015 |publication-date=24 October 2015 |newspaper=Pelita Brunei |page=3 |issue=127 |language=ms |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/2015/Oktober/pelitabrunei_241015.pdf |access-date=19 July 2022 }} and 2018.{{cite news |author= |title=Jawatan Mufti Kerajaan, Peguam Negara bertaraf Menteri |date=30 January 2018 |publication-date=31 January 2018 |newspaper=Pelita Brunei |page=4 |issue=14 |language=ms |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/2018/Januari/pelitabrunei_310118.pdf |access-date=19 July 2022 }}
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.{{cite news |first=Jaafar |last=Ibrahim |title=Rombakan keahlian Majlis Mesyuarat Menteri-menteri Kabinet |date=24 May 2005 |newspaper=Pelita Brunei |publication-date=25 May 2005 |issue=21 |page=1 |language=ms |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/2005/25%20MEI%202005.pdf |access-date=19 July 2022 }} Meanwhile, the 2018 cabinet line-up saw the introduction of the new Second Minister of Defence,{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} but the position was not renewed in 2022 reshuffle.
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.{{cite web |url=https://btarchive.org/news/national/2010/05/30/hm-reshuffles-cabinet-appoints-first-woman-deputy-minister |first=Ubaidillah |last=Masri |title=HM reshuffles Cabinet, appoints first woman deputy minister {{pipe}} The BT Archive |website=btarchive.org |date=30 May 2010 |access-date=19 July 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220719130135/https://btarchive.org/news/national/2010/05/30/hm-reshuffles-cabinet-appoints-first-woman-deputy-minister |archive-date=19 July 2022 }} Meanwhile, the 2022 reshuffle saw the appointment of Romaizah Mohd Salleh as the first female minister, holding the Minister of Education portfolio.{{cite news |first1=Rasidah |last1=Hj Abu Bakar |first2=Ain |last2=Bandial |title=HM: New cabinet must carry out duties with "full loyalty and responsibility" |work=The Scoop |date=7 June 2022 |url=https://thescoop.co/2022/06/07/hm-new-cabinet-must-carry-out-duties-with-full-loyalty-and-responsibility/ |access-date=19 July 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706085753/https://thescoop.co/2022/06/07/hm-new-cabinet-must-carry-out-duties-with-full-loyalty-and-responsibility/ |archive-date=6 July 2022 }}{{cite news |author= |title=Sultan Brunei rombak Kabinet, menteri wanita pertama dilantik |date=8 June 2022 |work=Berita Harian |language=ms |url=https://www.bharian.com.my/dunia/asean/2022/06/963527/sultan-brunei-rombak-kabinet-menteri-wanita-pertama-dilantik |access-date=19 July 2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617115536/https://www.bharian.com.my/dunia/asean/2022/06/963527/sultan-brunei-rombak-kabinet-menteri-wanita-pertama-dilantik |archive-date=17 June 2022 }}
Current members
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite journal |first=K.U. |last=Menon |title=BRUNEI DARUSSALAM IN 1986: In Search of the Political Kingdom |journal=Southeast Asian Affairs |date=1987 |volume=1987 |pages=85–101 |jstor=27908570 |url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/27908570 |access-date=19 July 2022 }}
{{refend}}
External links
- [http://www.councils.gov.bn/Theme/Home.aspx Councils of State official website] (Malay)
- [http://studentsrepo.um.edu.my/708/7/BAB6.pdf 1984 and 1986 Cabinet] (Malay)
{{Government of Brunei}}
{{Current Brunei Cabinet}}
{{Brunei topics}}
{{Asia topic|Cabinet of |title=National cabinets of Asia|BN=Council of Cabinet Ministers}}