BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (AFP) - Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah opened an appointed parliament which he revived after a 20-year gap as part of "cautious" political reforms in the tiny oil-rich kingdom.
Speaking to the 21-member Legislative Council, Sultan Hassanal made no mention of elections and said any decision to expand the parliament's membership would depend on the current body's performance.
The council members include the sultan himself, his brother and Foreign Minister Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, several government officials, prominent business executives and community leaders.
Clad in a white and dark military uniform, Brunei's absolute monarch said the newly convened parliament would be an avenue to further consult with his 350,000 subjects, but stressed the reform process would be carried out cautiously.
"We are aware that Bruneians have ways to express their ambitions and resolve grievances. For sure they will accept the revival of the State Legislative Council (as) one more layer of forum for them to channel their views and opinions," he said.
"However, the revival of the State Legislative Council will not jeopardize the peace and prosperity that we enjoy all this time. Its existence is not designed to spark chaos and apprehension among the community," he said according to an official translation of his speech.
"Any mistakes carries risk that takes time to ameliorate. As such, we begin this process with caution. I will see the work and effects of the State Legislative Council and decide whether to continue the process by adding more members."
The swearing in ceremony at the International Convention Centre here was witnessed by the diplomatic community.
Calling the opening a "historic day for Brunei," the sultan urged parliament members to be examples of morality and to avoid "strife and animosity, trivia and bigotry."
"All members should be aware that they are being watched by those at home and abroad. Everything they do is being studied, including their dispositions," he added.
The elected version of parliament has not sat since 1962, when Hassanal's father and predecessor, Omar Ali Saifuddin, disbanded it after the left-wing Brunei People's Party won parliamentary elections.
Demands by the party for greater democracy and an end to the monarchy were rejected, leading to an armed revolt that the Brunei government quickly crushed with the help of British forces.
Omar invoked a state of emergency which is still officially in place.
A constitutional amendment in 1970 abolished the provision for elected members and another change in 1980 called for a 21-member unelected body.
However, the appointed parliament was disbanded in 1984 when Brunei gained full independence from Britain and the sultan, whose Islamic dynasty dates back 600 years, took on absolute powers.
Sultan Hassanal is currently the head of state and prime minister as well as defence and finance minister in the Malay Islamic monarchy.
Political reforms are rare in the kingdom on Southeast Asia's Borneo island, so the resurrection of the appointed body and its subsequent moves are being closely watched.
"The mood here is wait-and-see. But we should not also belittle the significance of the re-opening of the parliament," an Asian diplomat told AFP.
"The sultan wants a more consultative political process, but at the same time he is also very cautious. I don't think there's a rush towards elections."