BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei (AP) - Brunei's ruler has allowed a new political party to be set up, led by a former rebel leader who was jailed without trial for 14 years until he swore an oath of loyalty to the monarchy.
The green light for the National Development Party is another step in Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah's pledge to bring more consultation and openness to the oil-rich sultanate.
The NDP said in a statement received Tuesday that the government approved its application and registered it as Brunei's third legal political party as of Aug 31.
The development is significant because of the new party's leader, Muhamad Yasin Abdul Rahman, who is a former leader of a radical party that led an abortive rebellion against the then-sultan on Dec 8, 1962, after the party won elections but was barred from forming a government.
Muhamad Yasin, 83, was detained without trial from 1962 to 1973, when he escaped to live in exile.
He returned in 1997 and was immediately arrested and again held without trial until 1999, when he swore loyalty to the sultan and admitted to political crimes.
"I aim to finish my obligation toward my country," he told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
"I would like to contribute my remaining years to my beloved country."
He said he and other party officials would defend the monarchy.
Membership in Brunei's political parties is open to all citizens except civil servants and security force personnel - who together make up 60% of all employed citizens in this country of about 300,000.
In July 2004, the sultan revived a hand-picked legislative council after a 20-year gap. Last month, he expanded it from 21 members to 29.
An amended constitution allows for a legislature with 45 members, up to 15 of them elected, but the sultan has not scheduled elections.
Besides taking small reform steps, the sultan - who is also prime minister and minister for finance, energy and defence - is also trying to lure more foreign investment and lessen Brunei's reliance on oil and gas exports, its main source of wealth. - AP
