Brunei: Royal divorce sparks online buzz · Global Voices
Mong Palatino

Last month, Brunei’s official television network, RTB, broadcasted a special announcement on the divorce of His Majesty The Sultan and Yang DiPertuan of Brunei Darussalam to his third wife Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim, a Malaysian.
Brunei Times provided more details
By command of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Chairman of the Council of Adat Istiadat, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah yesterday announced that His Majesty has divorced Her Royal Highness Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim Mazhar.
The statement read: “His Majesty, for specific reasons (which were not disclosed), guided and ordained by Syara’ laws pertaining matrimonial matters, as well as in conformance with an extract of verse 229 of Surah Al-Baqarah in the Holy Quran, (which states) marrying in the proper way (Ma'aruf) and also dissolution of marriage in the proper way (Ihsan), on Wednesday evening (June 16, 2010) has (pronounced) talaq satu (first category of divorce) to His Majesty's spouse, Her Royal Highness Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim Mazhar”.
Effective yesterday, the terasul (royal title) as well as Brunei's Bintang Kebesaran (state decorations) and Pingat Kehormatan (medals of honour) that had been conferred on the former spouse were withdrawn.
Following the announcement, twitter and blogs went buzzing with the news. Many expressed their sadness and at the same time speculated on the reasons behind the divorce
Malaysian blogs such as Oh Bulan, Beautiful Nara, Roti Kaya, Noji and Faish carried out the above news but the commenters from Malaysia and Brunei were lively in their discussion on the marriage, accusing one another on who made the blunder in the marriage.
Roti Kawin blogged about the divorce:
Baca komen pembaca kami dari Brunei di’bawah, rata-rata mereka menyenangi pemergian Azrinaz Mazhar dari istana
Nasir, a reader of Roti Kawin, left this comment
TAK ELOK KITA DUA BUAH NEGRA NI BERGADUH SESAMA SENDIRI….. BERDOSA SALING MENUDUH DAN MENGHAMPIRI FITNAH PULA. JANGANLAH BERGADUH YA.