Here are the leaders of Asean nations and issues surrounding their rule:Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 70, is one of the world’s richest men thanks to his 49-year absolute rule over tiny oil-rich Brunei. His luxurious lifestyle is legendary yet in 2014 he introduced a strict sharia criminal code that includes severing of limbs and death by stoning for various crimes. The 2014 election victory of the former furniture trader fuelled hopes of a new era in the world’s third-biggest democracy. The landlocked nation has been one of Asia’s fastest growing economies of the last decade. But while much admired for its economic success, Singapore’s government has been criticised by human rights groups for clamping down on political freedoms.

Source: The Nation Bangkok September 07, 2016 07:30 UTC