Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei announced a major cabinet reshuffle, appointing "Prince Abdul Mateen," a popular royal figure on social media, as Minister of Foreign Affairs. Additionally, "Prince Abdul Malik" was also appointed to the cabinet. This move is seen as an important step in preparing for the transfer of power to a younger generation within the Brunei royal family.
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei, aged 79, issued a statement via the state’s special broadcast television and the official government website announcing the first major cabinet reshuffle since 2022, highlighting the appointment of his two sons as ministers.
Prince Abdul Mateen, the fourth son, was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs—a post previously held by the Sultan himself. The 34-year-old prince is a military officer trained in the United Kingdom, a helicopter pilot in the Brunei armed forces, and a polo player. He is also a highly popular royal figure on social media, with over 3 million Instagram followers, earning the media nickname "The Instagram Prince." He will continue his military duties alongside his diplomatic role.
Prince Abdul Malik, aged 42 and the second son, was appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, marking his first ministerial role in the cabinet.
The Sultan stated that the appointments of his two sons were based on "their willingness and their early immersion in the administrative system." With these changes, the cabinet now includes four members of the royal family.
Despite delegating key positions to his sons, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the world’s longest-reigning living monarch, affirmed he will retain his primary roles as Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Minister of Finance.
Meanwhile, Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, aged 52 and the eldest son and first in line to the throne, continues to serve as Senior Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office.
This cabinet reshuffle occurs amid scrutiny over the Sultan’s health, as he has appeared less frequently in public this year following knee replacement surgery and previous hospitalization for severe exhaustion during the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Besides royal appointments, the reshuffle includes structural changes to address economic challenges. The "Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism" was merged and renamed the "Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry" to accelerate development in key sectors and diversify the economy away from heavy reliance on oil.
The reshuffle also marks a historic moment with the appointment of the highest number of female ministers and deputy ministers ever, including the Minister of Education.
Brunei, rich in oil and natural gas resources, faces pressures from the global energy crisis triggered by the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Although Brunei has benefited from increased crude oil and gas exports recently, the government bears heavy subsidies to keep domestic fuel prices among the lowest in the region.
Last month, Brunei’s government issued regulations prohibiting foreign-registered vehicles with less than three-quarters full fuel tanks from entering the country to prevent fuel smuggling and conserve resources. Recently, Brunei’s energy authorities established a special committee to monitor and coordinate responses to the Middle East conflict’s impacts ahead of the upcoming celebration of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah’s 60 years on the throne.
Source: AFP /Reuters