Why not Brunei join Malaysia?
This is the question that always comes into my mind, whenever, there are news about dignitaries visiting each other’s nation, and the things common between the two countries are mentioned.
Malaysian Malays and Brunei Malays have very similar cultures, and even speak the same language -Malay- even though the slang may differ a little. Brunei is also ruled by a sultan. Any royal functions being held in both the nations always have the royal attendance of both the countries. Islam is also the official religion of both the nations. And when you see a map of Brunei it can be seen as a tiny nation that it is squeezed in the Malaysian state of Sarawak.
Ok, Brunei, with a population of about 400,000, may not be willing to share oil riches with Malaysia, which has a population of about 28 million. But let it manage its own economy. The defense and other aspects of administration can be left to Putrajaya of Malaysia to handle.
It is hoped that both nations give it a serious thought.