This paper uses institutional and elite theories to interpret research interviews concerned
with public sector governance in the Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam over the period 1998–
2005. Despite the suggestion from international agencies(such as the WTO and the IMF)to
improve governance in the public sector,the recent governance reform in the post-royal
dynasty crisis period in Brunei is overtly displayed and covertly ignored by the ma in actors.
The results show that public governance is not well developed.Using elite and institutional
theories it is understood that the royal family played a dominant role in legitimizing their
absolute power(using elites)over governance in public sector organizations.