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Brunei to become a police state as economy now Asia's worst-performing?



- 30 years jail for non-Muslims found guilty of mocking religion



- GDP fell 1.4% in 2013, only Asian state to record a drop



- Country condemned by ICJ and other international human rights organizations





Under Section 190 of the new Syariah Penal Code, anyone found insulting the Sultan's authority as the Head of Religion for Brunei Darussalam or any religious committees, members, officers and mosque officers is committing an offence and therefore liable to one-month imprisonment or a fine of BND$1,000. For non-Muslims who are found guilty of irreverently mocking Al-Quran or Hadith, they will be sentenced to 30 years imprisonment or not more than 40 lashes.





Brunei: imprisonment and whips for those who voice opinion against the government and religious establishements



Similar offences committed outside the country could also be dealt with and the Sultanate will seek cooperation from relevant agencies from the specific country that harbors the offender. Brunei's enforcement agencies - such as the Royal Brunei Police Force, Internal Security Department and Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) - will carry out investigation under the powers within their mandate and portfolio.



These rulings was announced yesterday by the Minister of Religious Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad Pg Hj Abd Rahman during the 10th Bruneian LegCo (Legislative Council) Meeting. According to him, any act of 'humiliating' the Syariah Penal Code Order 2013 or causing alarm among the public, and providing support to such offence that could 'taint the country’s image and influence or mislead the public' is a crime. "Action against the perpetrators may be taken under the Internal Security Act," the minister added.





Will the US and EU impose sanctions on Brunei if it goes too far?



Criticizing the authority through online or other social medium is also a crime. Those who profanely mock at the Syariah Penal Code Order 2013 and stirring anxiety or provoking independent thoughts among the public through social media, SMS, WhatsApp, or through the printed media will be considered as having committed different offences under different laws. It was made clear during the meeting that the first out of three phases of Syariah Law will deal with insults.



Earlier this month, the Sultan of Brunei threatens his own citizens amid rising dissent in social media, saying that those who use social media to express their opinions against the new Syariah Penal Code and the authority may be committing offences under the General Offences Chapter of the new law. This provoked a condemnation from the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). "Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's statement illustrates that human rights, particularly respect for freedom of opinion and expression, is widely disregarded by the authorities in Brunei," said Sam Zarifi, ICJ's Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.





GDP of Brunei expected to fall 1.4% in 2013 - the only Asian state to record a drop



On the other hand, the country's Minister of Finance II, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdul Rahman Hj Ibrahim, said that due to the decrease in oil drilling activity, Brunei's economy is expected to register negative growth of 1.4%, compared to 0.9% growth in 2012. The economy of Brunei has been stagnated since the Asian financial crisis 1997-1998. A growth of -1.4% is unfavorably compared to its neighbors, in fact, it would be the worst-performing among all Asian states. The Malaysian economy, for instance, grew by 4.7%, Singapore +4.1%, Indonesia +5.8%, and riot-hit Thailand +2.9%.



One great Asian surprise is North Korea. The North Korean economy is expected to grow the fastest pace since 2008, according to calculations released by South Korea's central bank in Seoul, even as Kim Jong Un's regime faced increasing isolation over its missile tests and nuclear-weapons program. GDP in the totalitarian state increased by 1.3% percent in 2012, actually an improvement over the 0.8% rise in 2011, and is expected to remain around that level in 2013. Asia's fastest-growing economy is Macau, with a consensus growth of 11.75% in 2013.





Macau remains Asia fastest growing economy, but will be overtaken by Mongolian this year



According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Mongolia will overtake Macau to become Asia's fastest-growing economy this year. It is expected to grow 15.3% in 2014. "Mongolia has rocketed from being a largely nomadic and relatively unknown country, at least in investment terms, to being a key hostspot due to the discovery of its incredible mineral reserves, worth an estimated US$1.5 trillion. The wealth generated by the mining industry has flowed rapidly through the country, with the result that demand for high end accommodation and western style luxury shopping and leisure facilities are popping up at an incredible pace. This will be an exciting country to watch as developers try to keep up with the Mongolian population's demands," the report said.



Laos is projected again to be Southeast Asia's fastest growing economy in 2014 with a growth of 8.5%. It has maintained the 7-8% growth rate for the past several years. According to the Asian Development Bank and World Bank, the Lao economy has seen remarkable growth over the past five years due to the export of natural resources including mining, rising investment and hydropower output. The banks have urged Laos to cash on the opportunities to diversify its economy if it wishes to sustain economic growth in the longer term as the export of natural resources will undoubtedly one day be depleted.





Blessed country: Mongolia found US$1.5 trillion worth of mineral resources



In South Asia, yet another surprise. The fastest-growing economy there is not India, but a tiny country called Bhutan, known for its 'Gross National Happiness'. Based on The Economist report, the Bhutanese economy is scheduled to grow 8.8% in 2014, after attaining a 8.5% growth in 2013. The Dungsam cement plant, which is expected to add around Nu 6 billion to the economy, will be commissioned this year. In the next decade, Bhutan could record perhaps the highest growth rate, when more of its huge hydropower projects are commissioned. In 2007, when the 1,020 megawatt (MW) Tala hydropower project was commissioned, the economy recorded an impressive growth rate of around 17%.







SOS:



http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sidevie...-penal-code-icj



http://brudirect.com/national/national/nat...oning-authority



http://bt.com.bn/news-national/2014/03/14/...fence-under-law



http://www.bt.com.bn/frontpage-news-nation...-budgetproposed



This post has been edited by rivost: Mar 14 2014, 12:38 PM

Under Section 190 of the new Syariah Penal Code, anyone found insulting the Sultan's authority as the Head of Religion for Brunei Darussalam or any religious committees, members, officers and mosque officers is committing an offence and therefore liable to one-month imprisonment or a fine of BND$1,000. For non-Muslims who are found guilty of irreverently mocking Al-Quran or Hadith, they will be sentenced to 30 years imprisonment or not more than 40 lashes.Similar offences committed outside the country could also be dealt with and the Sultanate will seek cooperation from relevant agencies from the specific country that harbors the offender. Brunei's enforcement agencies - such as the Royal Brunei Police Force, Internal Security Department and Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) - will carry out investigation under the powers within their mandate and portfolio.These rulings was announced yesterday by the Minister of Religious Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pg Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad Pg Hj Abd Rahman during the 10th Bruneian LegCo (Legislative Council) Meeting. According to him, any act of 'humiliating' the Syariah Penal Code Order 2013 or causing alarm among the public, and providing support to such offence that could 'taint the country’s image and influence or mislead the public' is a crime. "Action against the perpetrators may be taken under the Internal Security Act," the minister added.Criticizing the authority through online or other social medium is also a crime. Those who profanely mock at the Syariah Penal Code Order 2013 and stirring anxiety or provoking independent thoughts among the public through social media, SMS, WhatsApp, or through the printed media will be considered as having committed different offences under different laws. It was made clear during the meeting that the first out of three phases of Syariah Law will deal with insults.Earlier this month, the Sultan of Brunei threatens his own citizens amid rising dissent in social media, saying that those who use social media to express their opinions against the new Syariah Penal Code and the authority may be committing offences under the General Offences Chapter of the new law. This provoked a condemnation from the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ). "Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's statement illustrates that human rights, particularly respect for freedom of opinion and expression, is widely disregarded by the authorities in Brunei," said Sam Zarifi, ICJ's Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.On the other hand, the country's Minister of Finance II, Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdul Rahman Hj Ibrahim, said that due to the decrease in oil drilling activity, Brunei's economy is expected to register negative growth of 1.4%, compared to 0.9% growth in 2012. The economy of Brunei has been stagnated since the Asian financial crisis 1997-1998. A growth of -1.4% is unfavorably compared to its neighbors, in fact, it would be the worst-performing among all Asian states. The Malaysian economy, for instance, grew by 4.7%, Singapore +4.1%, Indonesia +5.8%, and riot-hit Thailand +2.9%.One great Asian surprise is North Korea. The North Korean economy is expected to grow the fastest pace since 2008, according to calculations released by South Korea's central bank in Seoul, even as Kim Jong Un's regime faced increasing isolation over its missile tests and nuclear-weapons program. GDP in the totalitarian state increased by 1.3% percent in 2012, actually an improvement over the 0.8% rise in 2011, and is expected to remain around that level in 2013. Asia's fastest-growing economy is Macau, with a consensus growth of 11.75% in 2013.According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), Mongolia will overtake Macau to become Asia's fastest-growing economy this year. It is expected to grow 15.3% in 2014. "Mongolia has rocketed from being a largely nomadic and relatively unknown country, at least in investment terms, to being a key hostspot due to the discovery of its incredible mineral reserves, worth an estimated US$1.5 trillion. The wealth generated by the mining industry has flowed rapidly through the country, with the result that demand for high end accommodation and western style luxury shopping and leisure facilities are popping up at an incredible pace. This will be an exciting country to watch as developers try to keep up with the Mongolian population's demands," the report said.Laos is projected again to be Southeast Asia's fastest growing economy in 2014 with a growth of 8.5%. It has maintained the 7-8% growth rate for the past several years. According to the Asian Development Bank and World Bank, the Lao economy has seen remarkable growth over the past five years due to the export of natural resources including mining, rising investment and hydropower output. The banks have urged Laos to cash on the opportunities to diversify its economy if it wishes to sustain economic growth in the longer term as the export of natural resources will undoubtedly one day be depleted.In South Asia, yet another surprise. The fastest-growing economy there is not India, but a tiny country called Bhutan, known for its 'Gross National Happiness'. Based on The Economist report, the Bhutanese economy is scheduled to grow 8.8% in 2014, after attaining a 8.5% growth in 2013. The Dungsam cement plant, which is expected to add around Nu 6 billion to the economy, will be commissioned this year. In the next decade, Bhutan could record perhaps the highest growth rate, when more of its huge hydropower projects are commissioned. In 2007, when the 1,020 megawatt (MW) Tala hydropower project was commissioned, the economy recorded an impressive growth rate of around 17%.SOS: