I just went to give a talk at Brunei for the very first time. It is very interesting country. Citizens all get a FREE house (terrace house), free education, free medical care and there are no taxes.
The average fresh graduate earns $3,000 a month (US$2,500). Cars are dirt cheap. A Toyota camry that costs $120,000 in Singapore, costs just $20,000 there, so everyone can own a car. The government is able to fund all this from the billions of dollars they earn from selling oil, and so they give all the benefits to their people.
So what's the catch? Well, there is close to zero entertainment there. Being a very religious country, Alcohol, pubs are banned and smoking is banned in public. Public affection and close contact is also banned. Ladies have to cover themselves up from head to toe (even non muslims need to cover up).
Being in the ramadan period, nobody is allowed to eat or drink in public during fasting month if caught, the fine is $4,000. When I spoke on stage with a sore throat, I was not even allowed to take a sip of water by the authorities.
I guess everything has a catch. Would you want to live there?
Adam Khoo
*Article first appeared on https://www.facebook.com/adamkhoosuccess