by B. R. GOWANI
Sultan of Brunei Sir Hassanal Bolkiah PHOTO/Daily Mail
Austrailan writer Charles Arthur once said: “I’m trying to think of a place that’s duller” than Brunei. The answer he came up with was: “Maybe a British village in midwinter.”
Neither Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien’s 102 letters or 16 words name could make Brunei an interesting place nor Sir Sultan of Brunei’s 1800 room palace named Istana Nurul Iman could brighten up his country.
So what is he going to do to make his country a lively place? He is getting help from God. Sultan, in power since 1967, explains thus:
“It is because of our need that Allah the Almighty, in all his generosity, has created laws for us, so that we can utilize them to obtain justice.”
The barbaric spectacle of 40 lashes with a rattan cane for drunkenness, stoning by death for adultery, and cutting off hands with sword for theft will enliven Sultan’s fiefdom. Of course, Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace’s (or Negara Brunei Darussalam in Malay) peace will get disturbed by the noise of stoning, sword-swinging, and lashing.
Official demonstration of caning of a dummy in Brunei PHOTO/Corpun & Photo Bucket
Brunei’s top Islamic scholar Mufti Awang Abdul Aziz tried to calm travelers’ fear:
“Please listen to our answer. Sir, do all potential tourists to Brunei plan to steal? If they do not, then what do they need to fear.”’ “Believe me when I say that with our Shariah criminal law, everyone, including tourists, will receive proper protection.”
But can the travelers steal anything when the big thief and his family have stolen and are still stealing the wealth of the nation?
Sultan’s net worth is about $20 billion. He owns over 6,000 rare and expensive cars and a Boeing 747 worth $400 million. He gets a $21,000 haircut. The barbaric punishments are meant to keep people under control and has nothing to do with justice.
If the intention of harsh punishment is to punish the real culprits then it should begin with Sultan and his family:
the stoning for adulteration of religion and politics;
the cutting off of hands for stealing nation’s wealth and treating Brunei as a personal property; and
the canning for drunkenness-intoxication of power.
If this was to happen, Brunei will need lots and lots of stones, rattan canes, and swords.
All quiet on the Western front
Don’t expect the United States, Britain (who has been involved in Brunei since 1888), or other Western powers to raise hue and cry over these medieval punishments. (The canning is practiced in Brunei, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and some other countries for long time. In Brunei, gay people can end up in jail for a ten year period). Yes, the US State Department lists Brunei too in its annual list. In one such report, it noted how Brunei discriminates against Christians:
“The government routinely censored magazine articles on other faiths, blacking out or removing photographs of crucifixes and other Christian religious symbols.”
But that’s it-because Brunei is United States’ “East Pacific Cash Cow“. And so the US is not going to harass or destroy a cow that gives lots of money.
B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com