The institutions of Penghulu (head of sub-district or Mukim) and Ketua Kampong (head of a village) are an important part of Brunei Darussalam's administrative structure, officially seen as the 'eyes, ears and mouth' of the government. However, due to the advancement of information communication technologies (ICTs) as well as the rise of a large bureaucratic state, are these institutions still relevant in this small absolute monarchy? What are the challenges faced by the Penghulus and Ketua Kampongs in this modern age and what do the youth think of them? Is it still necessary for the government to increase the financial benefits of Penghulus and Ketua Kampongs in order to attract younger, educated generation to fill up vacancies for those positions? This paper attempts to provide a preliminary investigation on these under-research issues in Brunei Darussalam as well as providing an insight into the local administration of a small rentier state in Southeast Asia.
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