Writing of The Constitution
In July 1953, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III formed a seven-member committee named Tujuh Serangkai to find out the citizens’ views regarding a written constitution for Brunei. In May 1954, a meeting attended by the Sultan, the Resident and the High Commissioner was held to discuss the findings of the committee. In March 1959 Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III led a delegation to London to discuss the proposed Constitution. The British delegation was led by Sir Alan Lennox-Boyd who was the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The British Government later accepted the draft constitution.
On 29 September 1959, the Constitution Agreement was signed in Bandar Seri Begawan. The agreement was signed by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and Sir Robert Scott, the Commissioner-General for Southeast Asia. Some of the points of the constitution were:
- The Sultan was made the Supreme Head of State.
- Brunei was responsible for its internal administration.
- The British Government was now responsible for foreign and defence affairs only.
- The post of Resident was abolished and replaced by a British High Commissioner.
Five councils were also set up:
- The Executive Council
- The Legislative Council of Brunei
- The Privy Council
- The Council Of Succession
- The State Religious Council
| “ | ...The success which we had get in this year (1959) had attract and made us happy, especially as a victory which our people had dreamed of, that is the Written Constitution for Brunei. With this Constitution, our country now faced one great change.
With the enforcement of this Written Constitution, which, hopefully, can be enforced, this mean Brunei will had its internal self government. |
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—Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, on his Titah on his 43rd Birthday celebration on 23 September 1959 |
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Read more about this topic: Omar Ali Saifuddien III, Creation of The Constitution
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