US embassy cable - 98BANDARSERIBEGAWAN209

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SULTAN'S SON TO BE MADE CROWN PRINCE

Identifier: 98BANDARSERIBEGAWAN209
Wikileaks: View 98BANDARSERIBEGAWAN209 at Wikileaks.org
Origin: Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Created: 1998-03-30 09:29:00
Classification: UNCLASSIFIED
Tags: PGOV PREL BX
Redacted: This cable was not redacted by Wikileaks.
R 300929Z MAR 98
FM AMEMBASSY BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7707
INFO ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
UNCLAS BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN 000209 
 
 
DEPT FOR EAP/PIMBS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV, PREL, BX 
SUBJECT: SULTAN'S SON TO BE MADE CROWN PRINCE 
 
1.  AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE PRIME MINISTER'S 
OFFICE ON THURSDAY, MARCH 26, STATED THAT THE 
SULTAN'S ELDEST SON, PRINCE AL-MUHTADEE 
BILLAH, WILL BE CROWNED "PUTERA MAKHOTA" OR 
CROWN PRINCE, AT A CEREMONY TO BE HELD IN 
AUGUST. 
 
2.  THE CEREMONY IS EXPECTED TO BE LARGE AND 
LAVISH, STEEPED IN TRADITION, WITH A 
PROCESSION THROUGH THE TOWN CENTER, AND 
GUESTS FROM ASEAN AND AROUND THE NORLD WILL 
BE INVITED TO ATTEND. 
 
3.  COMMENT.  WHILE THE CONFERRING OF THE 
TITLE "PUTERA MAKHOTA" ON PRINCE BILLAH BY 
SULTAN HASSNAL BOLKIAH CONFIRMS THAT BILLAR 
WILL SUCCEED HIM,  THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO 
INDICATION THAT THE SULTAN INTENDS TO 
ABDICATE IN BILLAH'S FAVOR, A PRECEDENT SET 
BY THE SULTAN'S OWN FATHER, SULTAN OMAR ALI 
SAIFUDDIEN, WHO STEPPED DOWN IN 1967.  MOST 
BRUNELANS BELIEVE THAT THE SULTAN WILL 
CONTINUE TO REIGN FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, BUT 
THAT PRINCE BILLAH WILL BEGIN TO REPRESENT 
THE SULTAN AT SOME OF HIS MANY OFFICIAL 
ENGAGEMENTS WITHIN BRUNEI.  END COMMENT. 
 
 
RASE 

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