The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) today welcomed the Legislative Council of Brunei Darussalam as its 182nd Member Parliament, thus becoming the last remaining national Parliament in Asia to join the IPU.
Brunei Darussalam’s accession follows a process of engagement with the IPU. The Legislative Council first attended the 149th IPU Assembly in 2024, where its delegation held discussions with IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong. Building on this initial dialogue, the Council subsequently undertook the necessary steps to formalize its membership, which was confirmed at the 151st IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
With a population of 455,000, Brunei Darussalam is the smallest country in Asia. Its Legislative Council is composed of up to 45 members appointed to five-year terms, with 34 currently serving.
Women occupy 11.8% of seats. The Speaker of Parliament, Mr. Abdul Rahman, has presided since 2015, while the Secretary General of Parliament, Ms. Huraini Hurairah, appointed in 2024, is among a growing cohort of women parliamentary Secretaries General in Asia.
The affiliation of Brunei Darussalam brings the IPU one step closer to universal membership of all the world’s national parliaments.
The IPU is the global organization of national parliaments. It was founded in 1889 as the first multilateral political organization in the world, encouraging cooperation and dialogue between all nations. Today, the IPU comprises 182 national Member Parliaments and 15 regional parliamentary bodies. It promotes peace, democracy and sustainable development. It helps parliaments become stronger, younger, greener and more gender-balanced. It also defends the human rights of parliamentarians through a dedicated committee made up of MPs from around the world.