Country report and updates: Brunei

Conscription

Conscription does not exist

Conscription has never existed in Brunei.

The government stated in 1989 that it had no plans to introduce compulsory military service. [2] [3]

Recruitment

Only ethnic Malayans, who form 67 percent of the population, are allowed to join the armed forces. [1]

Conscientious Objection

There is no known legal provision for conscientious objection.

Desertion

No information available.

Annual statistics

The armed forces are 5,000-strong, that is, 1.61 percent of the population. [4]

Sources

[1] The Fareast and Australasia 1997. Europa Publications.

[2] Zulkarnen, Isaak 1995. 'Defending Brunei Darussalam', in: Asian Defence Journal, 5/1995.

[3] UN Commission on Human Rights 1991. Report of the Secretary-General prepared pursuant to Commission resolution 1989/59. United Nations, Geneva.

[4] Institute for Strategic Studies 1997. Military Balance 1997/98. ISS, London.