ABSTRACT: When Britain decided to end its 1959 Agreement with Brunei, the latter was unrelenting in its desire to retain British protection over the Sultanate. Brunei proposed that Britain be jointly responsible with Britain over latter’s defense. However, Brunei’s proposal was rejected as Britain was committed to ending its agreement with Brunei in November 1970. This has also shown that Brunei was persistent in rejecting the British offer of a new treaty between Brunei and Britain as it did not include the defense of Brunei. This article is about the 1971 Agreement between Brunei and Britain. This agreement is significant for Brunei as it reversed the earlier decision of the British government under the Labour Party to end its 1959 Agreement with Brunei in November 1970. This decision put Brunei in difficulties as Brunei was incapable to defend itself against any internal and external threats and attacks without British protection. Brunei tirelessly tried to retain Britain’s protection over Brunei, but was unsuccessful. Nonetheless, the coming of the Conservative Party to power reversed the earlier decision made by the Labour Party to end its agreement with Brunei. By the signing of the 1959 Agreement, Brunei’s defense became the consultative responsibility of both Brunei and Britain, and Brunei’s external affairs came under Britain’s full control. By this agreement, the British government terminated its responsibility for advising the Sultan on the internal affairs of the state. Indeed, this term reduced the possibility of continued pressure for constitutional reforms in Brunei.

KEY WORDS: Agreement between Britain and Brunei, defense of Brunei, Labour and Conservative Parties in the British, Sultan of Brunei, and internal affairs of the state.

About the Author: Dr. Nani Suryani Abu Bakar is a Lecturer at the International and Historical Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences UBD (University of Brunei Darussalam), Jalan Tunku Link, Gadong, Negara Brunei Darussalam. For academic interest, the author can be contacted via e-mail at: nani.bakar@ubd.edu.bn

How to cite this article? Abu Bakar, Nani Suryani. (2015). “Brunei and the British Reversal of Policy 1971” in TAWARIKH: International Journal for Historical Studies, Vol.7(1) October, pp.33-44. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press, ISSN 2085-0980.

Chronicle of the article: Accepted (August 13, 2015); Revised (September 27, 2015); and Published (October 28, 2015).

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