After 46 years on power, Sultan of Brunei decides to implement shariah legal structure

Nice "party". Feel sorry for the people who have to live under these rules.

 

What motivated him after 46 years? Kinda strange to have a liberal policy for 4/6 of your life and then implement a harsh Sharia law out of nowhere.

 

This guy has historically been at or near one of the richest people in the world.

 

Well good for him. Time for the chump to retire, move to Switzerland, and spend some of that money doing anything but ruling his country.

 

I think the key factor here is 46 years; everyone gets bored, regretful and escapist after that amount of time in the same role or setting, usually they don't have a whole country or billions of dollars to screw up. It could also just be born again moment.

 

Maybe he will die soon and the successor can eventually reverse the decision.

 

I could be that, or a response to a growing religiosity in his Muslim population. It's kinda of a bummer for me because visiting Brunei has been on my list for a long time. But, I don't think I want to bring a Western wife and 3 daughters to a Sharia country.

 

It's quickly becoming The Saudi Arabia of Southeast Asia. 90% of the GDP is based on oil & natural gas production.

 

Or something in anticipation to the oil well running dry soon in the future.

http://www.asiasentinel.com/econ-business/bruneis-uneasy-glimpse-of-the-future/