Shocking at the Palace: Full List of New Brunei Ministers
Since early morning on June 4, 2026, black limousines began entering the Nurul Iman Palace area in Bandar Seri Begawan. In a live announcement at 10 a.m., Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah — who remains as Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Finance — announced the most significant cabinet reshuffle since 2021. Three new Coordinating Minister positions were created for the first time, while the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism was renamed the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
"This change aligns with the desire to empower the national economy and accelerate the Vision 2035 agenda," the Sultan stated. He also confirmed the appointment of three women as Deputy Ministers — a historic move welcomed positively by local gender rights groups.
Three Coordinating Ministers: New Responsibilities
The position of Coordinating Minister was established to coordinate policies across ministries — a new approach in Brunei's usually siloed administrative structure. The three coordinating ministers will focus on: (i) Economy and Finance, (ii) Social Affairs, and (iii) Security and Law. According to palace sources, this model is intended to reduce overlapping tasks and speed up the policy approval process. Local political observers have described it as a strategic adjustment for a small government, where speed and accuracy in decision-making are priorities.
Women's Promotion: A Historic Moment
Dayang Hajah Mazuin binti Haji Hamzah, Dayang Hajah Noorashidah binti Haji Metussin, and Dayang Hajah Zainab binti Haji Mohd Salleh were appointed as Deputy Ministers — the highest positions ever held by women in the Brunei cabinet. All three previously served as Permanent Secretaries and senior officials in different ministries. The Brunei Women's Secretariat, an active social media-based gender rights group, issued a statement: "This is not just a symbolic promotion, but recognition of the long-standing leadership of women who have served in the civil service. We hope it opens up more opportunities for women at all levels of leadership."
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: New Focus
The rebranding of the ministry reflects a strategic shift from reliance on natural resources toward economic development based on trade, investment, and high-value industries. Brunei still depends on oil and gas — both contributing over 60% of GDP — but unstable global prices and pressure to diversify the economy make this change important. Local economists emphasized that the new name aligns with the government's efforts to attract foreign investment in manufacturing, logistics, and professional services sectors.
Meaning of the Restructuring for Bruneians
The direct impact on citizens may not be immediately visible, but the new structure suggests more aggressive policies in business facilitation, liberalization of certain sectors, and a more holistic approach to social issues. The Coordinating Minister of Economy and Finance is expected to drive initiatives such as simplifying business license procedures and improving the investment framework. Meanwhile, the female deputy ministers are likely to place greater emphasis on inclusive policies in education, health, and social protection.
According to a senior official who wished to remain anonymous, the restructuring also aims to enhance accountability: "Each coordinating minister will hold weekly meetings directly with the Prime Minister. This is not just a coordination forum — it places clear responsibility for policy outcomes involving more than one ministry."
Online Reactions and Future Challenges
Local social media platforms like BruneiTalk and the r/Brunei subreddit recorded increased discussions after the announcement. Most users praised the appointment of women as a progressive step, although there were critical voices: "The coordinating positions could become additional bureaucracy if they lack clear operational powers," wrote one user on BruneiTalk. However, the general tone remained positive and hopeful.
The main challenge ahead remains the same: reducing dependence on oil and gas without compromising fiscal stability or citizen well-being. This new structure does not guarantee success — but it provides a more suitable framework for the implementation of targeted and coordinated policies.
Full List and Technical Details
Although the full list of appointments was released by the Prime Minister's office, the main changes are:
- The Sultan remains as Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Minister of Finance;
- Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah remains as Senior Minister;
- Coordinating Minister of Economy and Finance: Dato Seri Setia Dr. Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah (also Second Finance Minister);
- Coordinating Minister of Social Affairs: Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Mohd Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid;
- Coordinating Minister of Security and Law: Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Mohd Rosli bin Haji Mohd Yusof;
- Women Deputy Ministers: Dayang Hajah Mazuin binti Haji Hamzah (Ministry of Home Affairs), Dayang Hajah Noorashidah binti Haji Metussin (Ministry of Health), and Dayang Hajah Zainab binti Haji Mohd Salleh (Ministry of Education).
The name change of the ministry will take effect on July 1, 2026. The formal transition process is expected to be completed within two weeks.
Bold Step, Real Test
This cabinet reshuffle is not just a rearrangement of names and positions — it is a clear statement of intent to accelerate Brunei's administrative and economic transformation. Emphasis on policy coordination and expansion of women's roles in leadership is a clear signal towards Vision 2035. However, like any institutional reform, its true value will be judged not by the structure, but by the speed of implementation, accuracy of policies, and real impact on people's lives.