BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (AFP) - Brunei may be moving towards its first elections in more than 40 years after an appointed parliament reopened, debating a constitutional amendment calling for elected members.
Brunei's absolute ruler Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah addressed the 21-member Legislative Council after which the body, which was abolished in 1984, went into session to discuss amendments to the 1959 Constitution as part of "cautious" political reforms in the oil-rich kingdom.
Member of Parliament and Minister for Industry and Primary Resources Abdul Rahman Taib introduced the proposed amendments on behalf of the government.
The highlight was a call to expand the council to 45 members, 15 of which are to be elected.
"The debate that followed was positive and it looks like the amendment will be adopted," a Brunei official who attended the session told AFP.
A huge crowd, including several foreign diplomats, packed the gallery at the International Convention Centre here.
"It is now 20 years since we gained independence. Now that the country has stabilised both economically and politically, it is time for us to review our constitution to ensure that it stays relevant and that it accurately reflects our traditions and the position of the monarch," Abdul Rahman said.
Having elections "ensures a dynamic and diverse composition of members which will facilitate a full and frank exchange of views from different interest groups and sectors of our society," he said.
It will also mark a "momentous occasion" for Brunei, which last held balloting in 1962, Abdul Rahman said, but added it will take time because of the necessary preparations.
The elected parliament never sat after Hassanal's father and predecessor, Omar Ali Saifuddin, disbanded it after the left-wing Brunei People's Party won the 1962 vote.
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.
The appointed parliament was disbanded in 1984 when Brunei gained full independence from Britain and Sultan Hassanal took on absolute powers.
The 58-year-old sultan is currently the head of state and prime minister as well as the defence and finance minister.
More debate on the proposed amendment is expected on Monday when the session resumes. If passed, it will be sent to the sultan for approval.
Abdul Rahman said the government must ensure the "proper infrastructure" for free and fair elections are in place.
"We will study carefully the practices and experiences of other countries, learn from their successes and mistakes and decide which system is best suited to our circumstances," he said, according to official transcripts.
"It will be a long and difficult process, but one in which we must take time to ensure that we succeed in establishing a good and proper system."
Abdul Rahman said the objective of having elections was to make parliament a "more modern and vibrant institution".
The current council members include the sultan himself, his brother and Foreign Minister Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, several government officials, prominent business executives and community leaders.
In his address to the body earlier Saturday, the sultan said the reform process will be carried out cautiously.
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.