Sultan gives rare gift on his birthday

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei, July 16 (UPI) -- During a celebration of his 60th birthday, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei said he plans to give all state employees their first raise in more than 20 years.

The BBC reported that Bolkiah, one of the richest men in the world and the country's ruler for over 40 years, told his 10,000 birthday guests of the planned raise and warned his employees to use it wisely.

The party is but a fraction of an elaborate monthlong birthday celebration planned for the sultan in Brunei, which included his arrival in his Rolls-Royce in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, surrounded by thousands of schoolchildren.

While his 50th birthday party drew the likes of Prince Charles and Michael Jackson, Saturday's celebration for Bolkiah, one of the world's last absolute monarchs, attracted numerous regional leaders and dignitaries, the BBC said.