Brunei paves way for polls

The Sultan appears keen to introduce limited reforms

The Sultan of Brunei has signed a constitutional amendment allowing the first elections in more than 40 years.

Fifteen members of the next parliament will be directly elected, while the Sultan will hand-pick the other 30.

Brunei's last direct polls, in 1962, ended in violence when the vote was won by a party opposed to royal rule.

Its demands for a union with Malaysia were rejected, triggering a rebellion which was crushed by the father of the present Sultan, with British help.

No date has yet been set for elections in the oil-rich kingdom, which has one of the world's last remaining absolute monarchies.

'Stronger foundation'

In a regal ceremony in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah signed a series of amendments to the 1959 constitution, allowing for some members of parliament to be directly elected.

"With these amendments, the constitution becomes a stronger foundation to fulfil my vision for this nation-state," he said.

While a third of parliament will be chosen by voters, all nine cabinet ministers will continue to be appointed.

In recent months the Sultan has moved quickly to introduce limited reforms in Brunei.

In July he announced that the state legislative council would reconvene for the first time since 1984.

Since assembling on Saturday, its 21 unelected members voted through the amendment measures which were approved by the Sultan on Wednesday.

Some hope the reforms will give the kingdom's 350,000 citizens a greater say in government.

But according to the BBC's correspondent Jonathan Kent, others believe the new parliament will merely dress the sultan's absolute powers in democratic garb.