Brunei media guide

This page is no longer being updated. It was last updated on 24 February 2023

Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque in Bandar Seri Begawan - it is one of Brunei's two national mosques

Brunei's media is neither diverse nor free. The private press is either owned or controlled by the royal family, or exercises self-censorship when covering politics and religion.

Broadcast media are dominated by government-controlled Radio Television Brunei.

Self-censorship is the rule for journalists working for the state broadcaster and the main press titles, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

RSF says "repressive legislation is rendered even harsher" by the enforcement of a strict version of Islamic Sharia law, which discourages comments deemed to be blasphemous or critical of the royal family.

There were 531,800 registered internet users by December 2021, comprising more than 100% of the state's population (Internetworldstats.com).

• Media guides by BBC Monitoring

Press

• Borneo Bulletin - English-language daily

• Media Permata - Malay-language

• BruDirect - English-language news site

• The Scoop - English-language news site

Television

• Radio Television Brunei - state-controlled, broadcasts in Malay and English

Radio

• Radio Television Brunei - state-controlled, broadcasts in Malay, English, Mandarin Chinese and Gurkhali

• Kristal FM - private