Brunei may be one of the richest nations in the world, due to its huge resources of oil, but financial problems have beset even their royal house. The sultan is one of the world's few remaining absolute monarchs and is also the supreme commander of the armed forces. He has been absolute ruler of the oil-rich Asian state for nearly four decades. Recently he has made moves towards some form of partial democracy - but even that seems to have been put on hold for now. As the sole Executive Authority in his state, it is up to him whether or not he introduces it. Why did he make a move to do so, and then let it drop?