The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA; Malay: Kementerian Hal Ehwal Luar Negeri, KHELN), formerly known as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT),[5][6] is the cabinet-level ministry in the government of Brunei which is responsible for handling Brunei's external relations, the management of its international diplomatic missions and the nation's foreign trade policy. It was established immediately upon Brunei's independence on 1 January 1984.[1] It is currently led by a minister and a second minister, in which the incumbents are Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan of Brunei, and Erywan Yusof[a] respectively.[3] The ministry is headquartered in Bandar Seri Begawan.
From 1888 until 1984, Brunei was a protectorate under British rule, but the nation began the foundations of a foreign ministry by creating a Diplomatic Service Department.[7] After achieving full independence from the United Kingdom in January 1984, Brunei immediately established an independent foreign ministry, then known as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[8]
In 2005, the government merged the ministry with the former International Relations and Trade Department of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources. The addition of "Foreign Trade" to the ministry's official name was made to reflect the full scope of its responsibilities.[8] From 2005 until 2018, Lim Jock Seng was the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs & Trade.[9] The current Second Minister is Erywan Yusof.[10]
Budget
In the fiscal year 2022–23, the ministry has been allocated with a budget of B$127 million[b], a 4.3 percent increase from the previous year.[2]
^ a bThe current official Malay name is Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd. Yusof.[4]
^≈US$91 million as of July 2022[11]
References
^ a bMenon 1987, p. 92.
^ a bHaris, Nabilah; Bandial, Ain (27 February 2022). "Foreign affairs ministry proposes $127 million budget". The Scoop. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
^ a bThe Scoop (7 June 2022). "HM announces major cabinet shakeup — full list of appointees". The Scoop. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
^ a bAli Rahman, Muhammad Khairulanwar (8 June 2022). "Perlantikan, Pertukaran Menteri Kabinet, Timbalan Menteri" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). No. 67 #69. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
^Hj Abu Bakar, Rashidah (19 September 2018). "Gov't renames foreign affairs and finance ministries". The Scoop. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
^"Government adds Economy in Finance Ministry, drops Trade from Foreign Affairs". The Bruneian. 20 September 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2018.
^"Background Note: Brunei". State.gov. The Office of Electronic Information, Bureau of Public Affairs. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
^ a b c"About Us". mofat.gov.bn. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei. Archived from the original on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
^PEHIN ORANG KAYA PEKERMA DEWA DATO SERI PADUKA LIM JOCK SENG, SECOND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS - BRUNEIresources.com
^"Berkenan umum pelantikan kabinet baharu". Pelita Brunei (in Malay). Department of Information, Brunei. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
^"127,000,000 BND to USD - Bruneian Dollars to US Dollars Exchange Rate". XE.com. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
^ a b"New Cabinet unveiled » Borneo Bulletin Online". New Cabinet unveiled. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
^"The Cabinet 2010". The Cabinet 2010. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
^"Background". Anti-Corruption Bureau. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
Menon, K.U. (1987). "BRUNEI DARUSSALAM IN 1986: In Search of the Political Kingdom". Southeast Asian Affairs. 1987: 85–101. doi:10.1355/SEAA87F. JSTOR 27908570.
