Project: Brunei/Country

Brunei Darussalam
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Contents

Location

Brunei, known officially as Brunei Darussalam, is located in Southeast Asia on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. The country is divided into two non-contiguous territories that are separated by the Sarawak district of Limbang.

See also: Geography of Brunei

Administrative Divisions

The is the first level of administrative division in Brunei are its four daerah (districts): Brunei-Muara, Belait, Tutong, and Temburong. The daerah are divided into 38 mukims (subdistricts). There are 38 mukims, with 17 in Brunei-Muara, 8 in Tutong, 8 in Belait, and 5 in Temburong District. The mukims are further divided into kampung (villages). In addition to these, there are a few municipal divisions which are considered outside the hierarchy of the main administrative divisions.

See also: Districts of Brunei

The capital and largest city of Brunei is Bandar Seri Begawan. Other significant towns include Kuala Belait, Seria, and Tutong.

History

The history of Brunei before the arrival of Magellan’s ships in 1519-1522 is based on speculation, the interpretation of Chinese sources, and local legends. Brunei was known to be trading with and paying tribute to China in the 6th century. It then came under Hindu influence for a time through allegiance to the Majapahit empire, based in Java.

The Islamization of Brunei began in the fifteenth century, with the formation of the Bruneian Empire, a thalassocracy which covered the northern part of Borneo and the southern Philippines. The fifth sultan, the great Bolkiah, controlled practically the whole of Borneo, the Sulu Archipelago, and neighboring islands. However, the territory was torn by internal strife towards the end of the 16th century.

Brunei became a British protectorate in 1888. In 1906, administration was vested in a British resident, whose advice the sultan was bound to accept. Despite the presence of a foreign administration, Brunei’s significance began to revive with the start of petroleum production in 1929. During World War II, Brunei was occupied by the Japanese, but the British returned after the War.

Brunei achieved independence in 1984. Since then, it has prospered due to the discovery of oil.

See also: History of Brunei

Ethnicities

Malays make up approximately 65% of Brunei's population. Chinese constitute about 10% to 15% of the population. Indigenous groups, such as the Dusun, Bisaya, Murut, and others, make up about 5% of the population. Others, including foreign-born workers, make up approximately 20% of the population.

Languages

Malay is the official language of Brunei, and the local dialect, Brunei Malay, is the country's most widely spoken language. It is used in informal occasions, at home, between friends, and in shops. English is also widely spoken in Brunei and is primarily used in business and official dealings. Brunei’s Chinese minority speak different varieties of Chinese, with Mandarin serving as the lingua franca among Brunei's Chinese community. Brunei also has a significant population of Indians who originate primarily from southern India and who speak the South Indian language of Tamal. Arabic, the language of the Quran, plays an important role in the country. Most adherents of Islam can speak and write in Arabic to some proficiency level. Religious and other schools in the country teach Arabic. Brunei also recognizes several indigenous minority groups inhabiting the country. These ethnic groups speak their own languages, namely Lun Bawang, Tutong, Bisaya, Belait, and Dusun. All of these languages are at risk of extinction.

See also: Languages of Brunei

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Religions

Islam is the official religion of Brunei, practiced by about 80% of the population. Sharia Law, a strict Islamic penal code based on the Quran and other religious works, is currently in place in Brunei. Although religious freedom is protected under the Bruneian constitution, there are some limitations. For example, the distribution of non-Islamic religious materials tightly forbidden. Christianity is practiced by about 9% of the population, while Buddhism is practiced by about 8%. The remainder of the population subscribes to various religions, including indigenous religions, Hinduism, and Confucianism.

See Also: Religion in Brunei

See Also: Demographics of Brunei

Bruneian Naming Conventions

Bruneian naming conventions are based on the Muslim norms, which usually do not include family names. Brunei women keep their names after marriage. Brunei names may contain Arabic elements such as bin (“son of”) and binti (“daughter of”).

Some Bruneians may also have hereditary or honorary titles, such as Pengiran, Dato, or Pehin, which are used as forms of address.

For example, a person named Awang Muhammad bin Awang Hassan may be addressed as Awang Muhammad, or Pengiran Muhammad if he is married to a Pengiran. His daughter, Dayang Nurul binti Muhammad, may be addressed as Dayang Nurul, or Datin Nurul if she is married to a Dato.

See Also: Global Sourcebook for International Data Management: Brunei Darussalam - Personal names and forms of address



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