Legislative Council

The Legislative Council (LegCo) is Brunei Darussalam’s Parliament, acting as the official arena for airing and resolving issues or problems within the country.

First established in 1959, the council held a total of 32 meetings until it was frozen in 1984 after the country resumed independence. Later in September 2004, the LegCo was revived and the council continued to handle internal issues and concerns over the next 12 years.

In August 2016, the Department of Councils of State under the Prime Minister’s Office announced the dissolution of the LegCo. His Majesty commanded the re-establishment of LegCo in January 2017. New members were sworn in on March 1, 2017 and received attention for being predominantly young, placing emphasis on LegCo’s new angle of youth involvement, invoking optimism from the local community.

Besides the annual expenditure, the LegCo meetings also discuss relevant and significant issues for the benefit of the people.

Judiciary System

Brunei Darussalam’s legal system implements the English Common Law and the Islam-ordained Syariah law simultaneously to preside over the country’s residents. The two laws are overseen by the Supreme Court and co-exist to administer a system that is well-rounded and fair towards the nation.

The Attorney General’s Chambers is responsible for overseeing the execution of the laws and enacting any amendments to existing acts. The Attorney General is the principal legal advisor to the government and is also responsible for the drafting of legislation. In carrying out the task of legislative drafting, the Attorney General’s Chambers works closely with the relevant ministries and departments.

To ensure a thorough and meticulous implementation of the Syariah law, a group of specialists spearheaded by the Chief Syar’ie Judge oversees the process.