Brief History
Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka is one of the Government Departments under the Ministry of
Culture, Youth and Sports, Brunei Darussalam. The Department is responsible for language
and literary development and propogation, cultural research and documentation and book
publication besides to provide library services to all over the country.
Since September 29, 1959, with the signing of Brunei 1959 Constitution, Malay Language
became the State Official Language.
In 1961, Brunei government approved the formation of the board called LANGUAGE BOARD. As
the name was thought to be inappropriate, it was later changed to the Language and
Literary Section, under the jurisdiction of the Education Department.
By January 1, 1965, the Language and Literary Section was separated from the Education
Department. It became a new department known as Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.
