Brunei's leader celebrates but offers a warning

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah walks to inspect honour guards during his 60th birthday celebrations. Picture / Reuters

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN - Brunei's ruler feted Southeast Asian leaders on his 60th birthday at a lavish dinner for 10,000 people and gave a rare pay rise to Government workers.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world's richest men, served veal and chicken liver for leaders and ministers from Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand at his sprawling 1788-room Nurul Iman palace, the world's biggest.

He earlier announced salary increases for the country's 30,000 civil servants, the first in 22 years, on the back of high prices of oil, the tiny sultanate's main source of revenue.

The sultan, however, warned against over-reliance on oil resources, saying the nation of 380,000 people must prepare now for the day when the oil taps run dry.

The sultan, who has ruled for nearly four decades, is worth an estimated US$20 billion ($32.78 billion).

At US$23,600, Brunei's citizens have one of the highest per capita incomes in Asia.

They do not pay taxes, enjoy free education and medical treatment and cheap fuel.

- REUTERS