Words such as "crisis" and "recession" which are being hurled around much of the rest of Asia, do not seem very appropriate in Brunei's capital Bandar Seri Begawan. Riots and political unrest may be gripping its immediate neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia, but Brunei Darussalam (The abode of peace) is living up to its name. The autumn storms can be loud and flashy but they are short-lived and the rain they bring is warm and not unpleasant. Brunei is a peaceful, very orderly city. A senior government official recently left his kerbside parking space and drove around in his car until he could find the blue uniformed lady to whom he had to pay the Br$1 ($0.57) parking fee.
The Malays who make up the great majority of this small nation of around 300,000 people which nestles into 5,765 square kilometres in the northern part of the island of Borneo, are a charming, polite and laid-back people. They have become accustomed to steady and growing prosperity since the country acquired complete independence from the British in 1984. There is no personal income tax, a relatively high per capita GDP of just over $14,700 (in 1997) and cradle-to-grave health and welfare provision.