The Most Famous
POLITICIANS from Brunei
This page contains a list of the greatest Bruneian Politicians. The pantheon dataset contains 19,576 Politicians, 4 of which were born in Brunei. This makes Brunei the birth place of the 186th most number of Politicians behind Samoa, and Seychelles.
Top 5
The following people are considered by Pantheon to be the most legendary Bruneian Politicians of all time. This list of famous Bruneian Politicians is sorted by HPI (Historical Popularity Index), a metric that aggregates information on a biography’s online popularity.
1. Hassanal Bolkiah (b. 1946)
With an HPI of 70.06, Hassanal Bolkiah is the most famous Bruneian Politician. His biography has been translated into 85 different languages on wikipedia.
Hassanal Bolkiah Muiz'zaddin Wad'daulah (born 15 July 1946) is Sultan of Brunei since 1967, and prime minister of Brunei since its independence from the United Kingdom in 1984. He is one of the few remaining absolute monarchs in the world. The eldest son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit, he is the 29th sultan to ascend to the Bruneian throne, following the abdication of his father in 1967. The sultan has been ranked among the wealthiest individuals in the world. As of 2023, Hassanal Bolkiah is said to have a net worth of $30 billion. He is the world's longest-reigning current monarch and the longest-serving current head of state. On 5 October 2017, Bolkiah celebrated his Golden Jubilee to mark the 50th year of his reign.
2. Omar Ali Saifuddien III (1914 - 1986)
With an HPI of 58.07, Omar Ali Saifuddien III is the 2nd most famous Bruneian Politician. His biography has been translated into 24 different languages.
Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien (Jawi: عمر علي سيف الدين سعد الخير والدين; 23 September 1914 – 7 September 1986) was the 28th Sultan of Brunei, reigning from 1950 until his abdication in 1967 to his oldest son, Hassanal Bolkiah. Over the course of his 17-year reign, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III significantly altered Brunei. He also created the Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) philosophy, which is the country's guiding ideology. In order to prepare his people for the restoration of the state's sovereign rights—which had been started by his predecessor and spurred by the Brunei nationalist movement toward the close of World War II—he also started social and economic reform. He became known as the Architect of Modern Brunei, Royal Poet, Father of Brunei Negara Zikir and Father of Independence.
3. Muhammad Shah of Brunei (1301 - 1402)
With an HPI of 54.38, Muhammad Shah of Brunei is the 3rd most famous Bruneian Politician. His biography has been translated into 17 different languages.
Muhammad Shah (born Awang Alak Betatar; died c. 1402) established the Sultanate of Brunei and was its first sultan, from 1368 to his death in 1402. The genealogy of Muhammad Shah remains unclear. He converted to Islam in the 14th century and assumed the name Sultan Muhammad Shah. Subsequent sovereigns of Brunei, governed by a Muslim administration, were referred to as sultans.
4. Muhammad Jamalul Alam II (1889 - 1924)
With an HPI of 53.00, Muhammad Jamalul Alam II is the 4th most famous Bruneian Politician. His biography has been translated into 16 different languages.
Muhammad Jamalul Alam II (1888/1889 – 19 September 1924) was the 26th Sultan of Brunei from 1906 until his death in 1924. He was succeeded by his eldest son Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin. During Jamalul Alam's reign, he aimed to encourage new developments in agriculture, medicine, and education, while also promoting Islamic learning. His rule saw Brunei through one of its most impoverished periods, as the country faced economic decline and social challenges. Jamalul Alam was the first Bruneian sultan to speak English, reflecting British influence as Brunei navigated its relationship with the British Residency established in 1906. Initially, the Sultan encountered resistance from conservative royal family members opposed to British administrative reforms. Nevertheless, he eventually became known as a "model ruler" and a loyal British ally, admired for his intelligence and diplomatic approach. His unexpected death in 1924 left Brunei under a regency during the minority of his son, Ahmad Tajuddin, sparking continued debates over the future of Brunei's education and governance.
5. Al-Muhtadee Billah (b. 1974)
With an HPI of 48.33, Al-Muhtadee Billah is the 5th most famous Bruneian Politician. His biography has been translated into 29 different languages.
Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni Hassanal Bolkiah (Jawi: المهتدي بالله ابن حسن البلقية; born 17 February 1974) is the eldest son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his wife Queen Saleha. He is the Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam, and is first in the line of succession to the Bruneian throne. He is expected to eventually lead the state and government, and is regarded as the second most significant figure in the political hierarchy.
People
Pantheon has 5 people classified as Bruneian politicians born between 1301 and 1974. Of these 5, 2 (40.00%) of them are still alive today. The most famous living Bruneian politicians include Hassanal Bolkiah, and Al-Muhtadee Billah. The most famous deceased Bruneian politicians include Omar Ali Saifuddien III, Muhammad Shah of Brunei, and Muhammad Jamalul Alam II. As of April 2024, 1 new Bruneian politicians have been added to Pantheon including Muhammad Jamalul Alam II.
Living Bruneian Politicians
Go to all RankingsDeceased Bruneian Politicians
Go to all Rankings
Omar Ali Saifuddien III
1914 - 1986
HPI: 58.07
Muhammad Shah of Brunei
1301 - 1402
HPI: 54.38
Muhammad Jamalul Alam II
1889 - 1924
HPI: 53.00
