2018 Bruneian cabinet reshuffle

Hassanal Bolkiah carried out the sixth reshuffle of his government on 30 January 2018,[1][2] replacing some of the nation's longest-serving ministers.

[3] While the previous cabinet had been reshuffled in 2015 for a five-year term,[4][3] the sultan unexpectedly introduced this significant change at the start of 2018.

[6][7] In the PMO and Ministry of Education, two female deputy ministers took office, marking a notable step forward.

Meanwhile, the sultan retained control of the key portfolios of foreign affairs, finance, defence, and the prime ministership.

[8] The government provided no clear explanation for the reshuffle,[a] which came after the abrupt dismissal of Zulkarnain Hanafi as health minister on 1 December 2014.

[10][11] Addressing the nation, the sultan emphasised that the reshuffle aimed to bring fresh perspectives to senior leadership and accelerate the country's development, particularly in achieving the goals of Wawasan Brunei 2035.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to combating corruption, a priority that gained prominence after Brunei dropped three places in Transparency International's global rankings, from 38 in 2013 to 41 in 2016.