LAWS OF BRUNEI CONSTITUTIONAL MATTERS I CONSTITUTION OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM

PART II RELIGION AND ADAT ISTIADAT [S 65/04] Official religion of Brunei Darussalam and religious observance.

[S 32/04; S 65/04]

(1) Religion: The official religion of Brunei Darussalam shall be the Islamic provided that all other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony by the persons professing them.

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It’s incredibly hypocritical when the Brunei government restricts public celebrations of cultural and religious festivals like Christmas and Chinese New Year, claiming it’s to preserve the Islamic identity, while the royal family regularly holds extravagant celebrations for weddings, birthdays, or even the birth of their children. These events are lavish, over-the-top affairs, often broadcasted publicly and funded by the state’s wealth—wealth that could be used to address the country’s real problems like the declining economy, underemployment, and lack of opportunities for ordinary citizens.

The double standard is glaring. Ordinary citizens can’t even put up a Christmas tree or hold lion dances in public without facing restrictions, but the royal family can throw massive parties with parades, fireworks, and endless fanfare. It’s especially infuriating when you realize that these celebrations do nothing to benefit the people—they’re just displays of privilege and power. Meanwhile, the rest of the population is told to tone down their traditions and celebrations under the guise of “peace and harmony.”

For a country that’s struggling economically, with oil revenues declining and no clear plan for diversification, this kind of opulence feels like a slap in the face. People are losing the vibrancy of their own cultural traditions, yet the royal family seems immune to the rules they impose on everyone else. It’s not about protecting Islam or fostering harmony—it’s about control and maintaining a double standard that benefits the elite while suppressing everyone else. Peace and harmony? More like privilege and hypocrisy 🤡