Bandar Seri Begawan
Sultan's Pride

overall rank: 8

country: Brunei

population: 50,000

snapshot: The City at a Glance

What do you get with a small population and a big budget? A very pleasant little city. Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, has a population of just 50,000 and a municipal board budget of $12 million this year, with more cash available from the Treasury when needed. Petroleum prices may have plummeted and the oil-rich sultanate on the northern coast of Borneo may be facing an unprecedented liquidity crunch, but so far any financial squeeze is not showing up in the landscaping or street cleaning.

The municipal board's mandate to make Bandar Seri Begawan the most pleasing capital in the region comes straight from Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, who wants his subjects and visitors to feel proud of the city. Landscaping takes up almost 10% of the budget. With Brunei boasting one of the world's highest per capita income levels and the attendant high percentage of car ownership, streets are another priority for the city, so 10% goes to maintaining and cleaning roads and drains. "There's no doubt they have far better city roads than their neighboring states," says journalist Seman Endawie. Traffic congestion is limited to peak hours, and with an almost-complete phase-out of leaded fuel, there is good air quality.

Municipal services, including garbage collection, are practically free. This is, after all, a nation that levies no income tax. There is a small charge on households and businesses outside the municipal board's area of jurisdiction. An ongoing campaign gets householders to sweep their neighborhoods and keep them clean. Littering carries a fine. Problems do crop up - the newspapers carry letters complaining of choked drains and overgrown grass verges, but the government says it is on top on things. "We respond to them quickly by investigating and taking action," says municipal board secretary Awang Mohammad Ramli. "Our instruction is for the board to be proactive and service-oriented." Businessman Michael Kong mostly agrees: "The services are generally very well run, although they could be better in some areas."

- By S.C. Chan