i always see brunei like the cooler version of Malaysia.
Singapire is cool but it moved in the wrong direction. too much urbanization
Discussion
Cooler than M'sia? Really?
Its landscape is beautiful in photos, but nothing Sarawak and Sabah can't match.
I haven't ever visited Brunei, but my impression from others is "UAE with jungles" - an autocratic petrostate that practises a strict form of Sharia in public and who-knows-what in private.
Its wealthier than Malaysia, but also more economically fragile, government-centered and petro-dependant.
But I haven't been there! What can you tell us about Brunei?
Sarawak is cool, studied there, graduated from there. but as a peninsular malaysian, i am as good as a foreigner there. plus income is marginally similar to KL.
Brunei is petrodollar dependent. no doubt. but education, healthcare, economy is execellent without the urbanisation issues faced by singaporeans. development is balanced with forest preservation.
syariah law is practiced (and the same can be said for Malaysia) but their syariah reform is better. more evidence based law, more uniform and detailed management of law. my wife is a syariah lawyer so she could see the startling differences in this sense. frankly it is not as dregatory as UAE and if want some night life you can travel to Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia, the sin city of borneo. lol
most of the people who worked there said brunei is boring 🤣