Brunei Darussalam, also known as Brunei or Brunei, is located on the north coast of Borneo in Southeast Asia. [1] Together with Sarawak and Sabah in Malaysia, it is known as the Three Kingdoms of Northern Borneo and is a monarchy. The population is 450000 (2024), with Malays accounting for 73.8%, Chinese accounting for 9.6%, and other races accounting for 16.6%. The state religion is Islam. [1] The capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan has a land area of 5765 square kilometers and is divided into four districts throughout the country. [2]
Formerly known as mud. Islam was introduced in the mid-14th century and the Sultanate was established. [1] At the beginning of the 16th century, China’s national strength was at its strongest. Since the mid-16th century, Portugal, Spain, the Netherlands, Britain, and other countries have successively invaded. [1] In 1888, it became a British protectorate. [1] It was occupied by Japan in 1941. In 1946, Britain regained control over Brunei. In 1971, it signed a contract with the United Kingdom and gained autonomy except for diplomatic and defense affairs. Fully independent on January 1, 1984, and joined ASEAN on January 7 of the same year. [1]
Brunei’s economic situation is quite good, with a per capita GDP ranking fifth in Asia in 2014 and second in Asia except for the Gulf region (after Singapore). The production and export of oil and natural gas account for about 67% of the gross domestic product, and the social welfare system is well-established. It is also known for not having to pay taxes. In 2022, Brunei’s gross domestic product, calculated at constant prices, was 18.7 billion Brunei dollars (about 14.01 billion US dollars), a year-on-year decrease of 1.6%.
Chinese name
Brunei
Foreign Name
Negara Brunei Darussalam
abbreviation
Brunei
Belonging continent
Asia
Capital City
Bandar seri begawan
major city
Malay Yi County, Mora County, etc
National Day
February 23, 1984
National Anthem
God Bless Brunei
Country code
BRN
official language
Malay
Currency
Brunei Ringgit
Time Zone
UTC+8
political system
absolute monarchy
National leaders
Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (Sudan)
population size
450000 (2023)
population density
83 people per square kilometer 13
Main ethnic groups
Malays and Chinese
Main religions
Islam
land area
5765 km²
Water area ratio
8.6%
Total GDP
14.01 billion US dollars (2022)
International telephone area code
six hundred and seventy-three
International Domain Abbreviations
.bn
Road traffic
Drive on the left
National Motto
Always serve the guidance of Allah
The largest city
Bandar seri begawan
Main universities
Brunei University
Alias
Brunei [17]
Brunei is divided into three levels: district, township, and village. There are four districts (known locally as districts) in the country: Brunei Muara, Tutong, Belait, and Temburong. The district heads of each district are responsible for daily administrative affairs within the district, which are managed and coordinated by the Office of the Ministry of the Interior. Under the district, there is a township (Mukim), and the township head is appointed by the government. Under the township, there is a village (Kampong), and the village head is democratically elected by the villagers.
Brunei Muara District: covering an area of 570 square kilometers, with a population of 224100, accounting for 66.2% of the total population. This district is composed of the Brunei capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan and the Muara district. This district is the most populous administrative district in Brunei and also the political, cultural, and commercial center of Brunei.
Tutong District: covering an area of 1166 square kilometers, with a population of 36400, accounting for 10.8% of the total population, mainly concentrated in Tutong Town. This area is a settlement of Brunei’s indigenous people.
Belait District: covering an area of 2724 square kilometers, with a population of 68300, accounting for 20.2% of the total population. Located in the southernmost part of Brunei, it is mainly composed of the towns of Seria and Guaramalaiyi. This area is the economic center of Brunei, where oil and gas extraction and production are concentrated.
Temburong District: separate from the other three districts, it is separated by the Limbang Region of Malaysia, with an area of 1305 square kilometers and a population of approximately 9600, accounting for 2.8% of the total population. Mainly producing wood and sand and stone for construction.
Regional location
04:13
Brunei’s area is small enough and it is divided into two parts by Malaysia. How to solve the transportation problem between the two places
Brunei is located in the northwest of Kalimantan Island, bordering the South China Sea to the north and the state of Sarawak in Malaysia to the southeast and west. The land border between the two countries is 381 kilometers long and is divided into two separate parts, east and west, by the state of Sarawak. Brunei has a land area of 5765 square kilometers. [1]
topographic features
The coastline is about 162 kilometers long, with a total of 33 islands. The eastern part has higher terrain and the western part is mostly swampy. The highest peak in Brunei is Mount Bagong, with an elevation of 1841 meters. The four major rivers are Brunei River, Doudong River, Malay River, and Tambulong River. Among them, Brunei River and Tambulong River converge into Brunei Bay and merge with the South China Sea. [1]
Climatic characteristics
Brunei has a tropical rainforest climate, with high temperatures and abundant rainfall throughout the year. The year is divided into two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. The annual rainfall is 2500-3500 millimeters, with the rainy season from November to February and the highest rainfall in December; The dry season is from March to October every year. In recent years, the distinction between the two seasons has not been very clear, and the changes between Brunei’s dry and rainy seasons have gradually become blurred. The average annual temperature in Brunei is 28 ℃, and the average humidity is 82%.
Water system distribution
The four major rivers in Brunei are Brunei River, Doudong River, Malay River, and Tambulong River. Among them, Brunei River and Tambulong River converge into Brunei Bay and merge with the South China Sea. [4]
natural resources
Brunei has abundant oil and gas resources. According to the 2021 BP World Energy Statistical Yearbook, as of the end of 2020, Brunei had discovered oil reserves of 1.1 billion barrels; The natural gas reserves are 300 billion cubic meters, accounting for 0.1% of the global total. In 2020, Brunei’s daily oil production was 110000 barrels, a year-on-year decrease of 9.3%; The daily production of liquefied natural gas was 9600 barrels, a year-on-year decrease of 18.5%, and the annual production of natural gas was 12.6 billion cubic meters, a year-on-year decrease of 2.9%. Except for oil, there are relatively few other mineral resources. Brunei has abundant forestry resources, with a forest coverage rate of over 70%. 86% of the forest reserves are original forests, and there are 11 forest reserves with an area of 2277 square kilometers, accounting for 39% of the country’s total land area.
National symbol
Country name
Brunei Darussalam (English: Brunei Darussalam, code BN; Arabic: نڬارابرونンدارالسلام), also known as the Islamic Monarchy of Brunei. The Malay language is Negara Brunei Darussalam, where Negara means “country” in Malay and Darussalam means “peaceful state”, implying vigilance and seeking stability. Formerly known as “Borneo” in Chinese [3]
national flag
The Brunei national flag is a horizontal rectangle with a length to width ratio of 2:1. Composed of four colors: yellow, white, black, and red. The yellow flag has black and white wide stripes diagonally on the ground, with a red national emblem painted in the center. In 1906, when Brunei was still a British protectorate, the first national flag of Brunei was created – a rectangular yellow flag. The yellow on the flag represents the supremacy of Sudan. Later, in memory of the two meritorious princes, Brunei decided to add black and white diagonal stripes to its national flag. When Brunei achieved autonomy in 1959, it formulated its first constitution, which stipulated that the national emblem of Brunei should be drawn in the center of the national flag. On January 1, 1984, Brunei declared full independence and the national flag has been in use to this day.
national anthem
May Allah bless Brunei! Long live His Majesty the Sultan. With justice and authority, he leads the people to defend the country; Wishing the country prosperity, peace in Sudan, and the supreme God bless the Sultanate of Brunei
national emblem
The central pattern of Brunei’s national emblem is a crescent moon that curves upwards, symbolizing that Brunei is a country that practices Islam. At the center of the crescent moon, a palm paulownia tree trunk stretches its branches and leaves, connecting with the tip of the moon to symbolize peace. A canopy and a triangular flag at the top of the wings represent the supreme authority of Sudan. The golden Malay script in the center of the new moon reads’ Always under the guidance of Allah ‘, indicating the Brunei people’s reverence for Allah. There are two supporting arms on both sides, which represent the prayers of the Malay people, who make up the majority of Brunei’s population, to Allah, as well as the support of Brunei’s subjects for the Sultan. At the bottom of the national emblem, a red ribbon reads’ City of Peace – Brunei ‘.
Population and ethnicity
450000 (2024). Among them, Malays account for 73.8%, Chinese account for 9.6%, and other races account for 16.6%. [1] [22] Most of the overseas Chinese in Brunei have ancestral roots in Fujian and Guangdong provinces, with about 80% of them being from Fujian province, mainly from the Greater and Lesser Kinmen areas; About 18% of the population is from Guangdong province, mainly consisting of Hakka and Teochew people. People from Hainan Province account for about 2%. [5]
According to the latest data from the Brunei Economic Planning and Statistics Bureau, the total population of Brunei in 2020 was 453600. Among them, there are 298400 Malays, accounting for 65.7%; 46400 Chinese, accounting for 10.23%; Other indigenous and foreign populations account for 108800, or 24%. The population is mainly concentrated in Brunei Muara, with 316100 people, accounting for 69.69% of the total population; The Belait district has 74800 people, accounting for 16.49%; There are 51500 people in Tutong, accounting for 11.35%; Temburong District has 11200 people, accounting for 2.47%. The main ethnic groups in Brunei are Malays, including BruneiMalay, Tutong, Kedayan, Balait, Bisaya, Murut, Dusun, also known as the Seven Indigenous Peoples. Other indigenous peoples include the Iban, Dayak, and Kelabit tribes.
form of government
Brunei officially declared the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) as its national manifesto since its independence on January 1, 1984. Its connotation is: the state maintains the dominant position of Malay language, culture, and customs, promotes Islamic law and values throughout the country, and the royal family holds supreme status. This program recognizes Islam as the state religion of Brunei and opposes the separation of church and state. [1]
constitution
The first constitution was promulgated on September 29, 1959. The constitution was amended twice in 1971 and 1984. The constitution stipulates that Sudan is the head of state and religious leader, with all state powers including legislation, administration, and judiciary. The country has five committees, namely the Religious Council, Privy Council, Council of Ministers, Legislative Council, and Council of Succession, to assist in the governance of Sudan. The third constitutional amendment in 2004 covered various aspects such as political system, judiciary, religion, and customs, with a total of 13 items, including granting Sudan the power to issue emergency decrees and other laws without the consent of the Legislative Council; Formulate election laws to allow people to participate in politics; Islam is the state religion, but people have freedom of religious belief; Malay is the official language, and English can be used as the language of court proceedings. [1] [22]
law
Brunei still has the death penalty, but Sudan has the power of pardon. The Brunei government promulgated the Islamic Penal Code on October 22, 2013. The first phase of the law came into effect on May 1, 2014. Starting from April 3, 2019, the second and third phases of the law will come into effect. According to the Islamic Penal Code, crimes such as theft, adultery, rape, same-sex sexual activity, injury, and murder can be sentenced to whipping, corporal punishment, stoning, and even death depending on the severity of the circumstances.
The above-mentioned punishments mainly target Muslims. If non Muslims engage in sexual intercourse or extramarital sex with Muslim women, or lure Muslim women to elope, they will also be sentenced under Islamic criminal law. The implementation of the second and third stages of the Islamic Penal Code has caused a stir in Western public opinion. Under pressure, Sudan announced on May 5, 2019 that the provisions of the Islamic Penal Code related to the death penalty would be temporarily suspended.
According to the arrangement between Brunei and the Hong Kong SAR government of China, Sudan can appoint Hong Kong judges as Brunei’s judicial commissioner in their personal capacity for a term of three years.
parliament
Elections were held in 1962. In 1970, elections were cancelled and parliamentarians were appointed by Sudan. In February 1984, Sudan announced the termination of the Legislative Council and enacted legislation in the form of Sudanese Hadith. In 2004, Sudan announced the restoration of the Legislative Council. In January 2023, Sudan appointed members of the current Legislative Council. Speaker Rahman has been re elected, with a total of 34 members including cabinet members such as Sudan and Crown Prince Bira, representatives from various districts and counties, and social elites. [1]
government
On December 1, 1988, Sudan announced the formation of a government. In January 1989, May 2005, May 2010, October 2015, January 2018, and June 2022, Sudan reorganized its cabinet.
judicial
The judicial system is based on English customary law. Generally, criminal cases are tried in the courts of appeal or intermediate courts, more serious cases are tried in the higher courts, and civil cases can ultimately be appealed to the Privy Council in the United Kingdom. The Supreme Court is composed of the Court of Appeal and the High Court, and the current Chief Justice Dato Paduka Steven Chong Wan Oon is Brunei’s first native Chinese Chief Justice. Establish an Islamic court to handle cases that violate Islamic teachings, with Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Awang Haji Salim Bin Awang Haji Besar as the current Chief Justice of the Islamic court. The first phase of Islamic criminal law has been implemented since May 2014, and the second and third phases of Islamic criminal law have been implemented since April 3, 2019. The current Attorney General, Haji Ahmad Pehin Dato Haji Isa. [22]
party
On May 30, 1985, Sudan announced the permission for political party registration, followed by the emergence of the Brunei National Democratic Party and the Brunei National Unity Party.
The National Democratic Party was the first political party to emerge in Brunei after independence, but was banned by the government in January 1988 due to different political views. Brunei National Unity Party: Formed in February 1986 from the National Democratic Party, it claims to be a multi-ethnic political party, supports monarchy, advocates the establishment of a democratic Malay Islamic monarchy, and demands the restoration of parliamentary elections. The party is loyal to the rule of the Sudanese royal family, cooperates with government policies, and supports the government as a civilian force when necessary. The party is currently the only legal political party in Brunei, but its influence in society is not significant and its activities are not extensive. Strictly speaking, Brunei has not formed a political party system.
Political dignitaries
Haji Hassanal Bolkiah: Sudan, Head of State, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Minister of Finance and Economy, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Supreme Commander of the Royal Armed Forces, five-star general, and Chief Inspector of the Royal Police Force. Mastering legislative power. Born in July 1946 in Bandar Seri Begawan. He received palace education in China during his childhood and attended Victoria College (secondary school) in Kuala Lumpur in 1959. In 1961, he was conferred the title of Crown Prince. In 1966, he received training at the Royal St. Hurst Army College in the United Kingdom and was awarded the rank of captain. On October 5, 1967, he succeeded as the 29th Sultan after his father abdicated, and was crowned on August 1 of the following year. [22]
Brunei’s economy is mainly based on the oil and gas industry, with underdeveloped non oil and gas industries such as manufacturing, construction, finance, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. In recent years, the growth of the cultural economy has gradually recovered. In 2024, the gross domestic product of China will be 20.66 billion yuan at constant prices, a year-on-year increase of 4.2%.
In order to break free from the constraints of a single economy, the Wen government has vigorously developed downstream industries such as oil and gas, Islamic finance and halal industries, logistics and communication technology industries, and tourism in recent years. It has increased investment in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and infrastructure construction, actively attracted foreign investment, and promoted diversified economic development. [22]
In 2016, in order to accelerate the attraction of foreign investment and further promote diversified economic development, the Brunei government carried out a series of reforms, established a one-stop service platform, and optimized and reduced various administrative approval and decision-making processes. Newly established Darul Enterprise (DARe) and established the Foreign Direct Investment Action and Support Center (FAST Center) to provide more comprehensive and rapid services for foreign investors.
The currency of Brunei is the Brunei dollar, which is pegged to the Singapore dollar at a 1:1 exchange rate, with 1 US dollar equivalent to 1.33 wen yuan. [1]
Agriculture, forestry, fisheries
With the development of oil and gas and public service industries in the 1970s, traditional agriculture in Brunei was impacted, and now only a small amount of tropical fruits such as rice, rubber, pepper, coconut, and papaya are grown. Brunei’s vegetables, fruits, decorative plants, and flowers can partially meet the domestic market demand, while the self-sufficiency rate of meat, rice, and fresh milk is still very low. About 90% of the food still needs to be imported, and beef and products are mainly imported from Australia, India, and other places. The government strongly supports the domestic poultry farming industry, which mainly focuses on raising chickens. The self-sufficiency rate of chicken meat has reached 96%, and eggs have achieved complete self-sufficiency. Under the personal supervision of Sudan, the Brunei government has been committed to developing rice cultivation in recent years, aiming to increase rice production to 18000 tons and achieve a self-sufficiency rate of 60% by 2015. But in 2015, Brunei’s actual rice production was only 1983 tons, far from the original target. From 2017 to 2019, Brunei’s average annual rice production was about 2363 tons, with rice production remaining stable at around 1500 tons. The Brunei Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism plans to increase rice production to 3900-5200 tons by 2025 through multiple measures, with a self-sufficiency rate of 11% -15%. These measures include using high-yield hybrid rice planting techniques to increase rice yield per unit area. China, South Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and other countries have participated in Brunei’s rice experimentation and development projects through various forms, but have not achieved substantial results. In the 2021/2022 fiscal year, the budget of Brunei’s Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism is 68.56 million wen yuan, of which 15.7 million wen yuan will be used for the rice program.
Brunei has a forest coverage rate of 72.11%, with 11 forest reserves covering a total area of 2277 square kilometers, accounting for 39% of the country’s land area. 86% of the forest reserves are primary forests. Forest protection zones are divided into five categories: protected forests, primary protected areas, secondary protected areas, regenerated forest areas, and forest production areas. Brunei restricts deforestation and timber exports, implementing forest management policies with a focus on protection. Since 1997, in order to promote the long-term development of forestry and protect the natural environment, Brunei has implemented a logging policy of “cutting down one tree and planting four trees” and an annual quota of 100000 cubic meters (worth less than 27 million wen yuan) (mainly to meet the needs of the domestic market).
Brunei has a coastline of 162 kilometers and abundant fishery resources within a 200 nautical mile fishing area. The water is pollution-free and free from typhoon attacks, making it suitable for aquaculture of fish and shrimp. There are a total of 50 fish and shrimp farms in the country. The Brunei government is implementing an economic diversification development strategy, with fisheries being listed as a key development area. Currently, 50% of Brunei’s domestic fishery product consumption relies on imports. One of the purposes of the government’s development of the fishing industry is to reduce the country’s dependence on imported fishery products, thereby reducing the loss of foreign exchange. The government’s fishery development policies include modernizing port facilities, establishing new fishery facilities, improving internal and external port facilities, providing rewards and training, etc. The Brunei government encourages foreign investment to engage in fisheries cooperation with local companies in Brunei. To promote the development of the fishery processing industry, the government plans to establish storage and distribution centers as well as import and export centers to provide various services for the processing industry. Chinese enterprises have entered the field of fisheries and aquaculture in Brunei. The Brunei government implements policies to protect marine fishery resources and vigorously develops aquaculture. According to the information released by the Fisheries Bureau, Brunei plans to increase the average annual output value of its fisheries industry to around 400 million Brunei dollars by 2023, including 112 million Brunei dollars for fishing, 200 million Brunei dollars for aquaculture, 61 million Brunei dollars for processing, and 27 million Brunei dollars for marine ecotourism
industry
Brunei has a weak industrial foundation and a single economic structure, mainly focused on oil and gas extraction and production. On the one hand, the Brunei government actively explores new oil and gas areas, and on the other hand, implements a policy of restraint on oil and gas extraction. According to the BP World Energy Statistical Yearbook, Brunei’s oil production in 2021 was approximately 5.2 million tons, with a daily output of approximately 107000 barrels; The natural gas production is about 11.5 billion cubic meters. As of the end of 2024, Brunei has discovered oil reserves of 1.1 billion barrels; The natural gas reserves are 200 billion cubic meters, accounting for 0.1% of the global total. [22]
tourism
Tourism is one of the priority areas that Brunei has vigorously developed in recent years. The Brunei government has taken multiple incentive measures to attract tourists to travel to Brunei. The main tourist attractions include the Water Village, Royal Exhibition Hall, Mosque, Tambulong National Forest Park, etc. In 2024, there will be approximately 360000 international tourists traveling to China
finance
After the outbreak of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, Brunei’s economic development was greatly affected. The government is cautious in investment and rarely launches large-scale projects, resulting in slow development of small and medium-sized enterprises that rely on government investment for survival. In 2000, Brunei established the International Financial Centre, laying the foundation for Brunei’s vision of becoming a regional financial services center. Several internationally renowned banks have registered in the center to develop offshore financial services. Royal Bank of Canada became the first offshore bank to register in the center, and Citibank, HSBC, and others have also registered in the center. In 2013, Citibank withdrew from the Brunei market; In 2016, Bank of China Hong Kong Limited was approved to establish a branch in Brunei. Due to its unique advantage in avoiding financial risks during the 2008 global financial crisis, Islamic finance received strong promotion from the Brunei government.
In 2008, the Brunei Ministry of Finance issued the Islamic Banking Ordinance and the Islamic Insurance Ordinance to strengthen the regulation of the financial system and to instill Islamic financial investment concepts to the public through various propaganda channels. On January 10, 2011, the Brunei National Monetary Authority was officially established to carry out central bank functions, responsible for formulating national monetary policies and supervising the operation of the financial system, with Crown Prince Birla serving as the Chairman of the Board. On June 26, 2021, the Brunei Monetary Authority was renamed as the Central Bank of Brunei, with unchanged functions. Datuk Amadin, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy of Brunei, serves as the Chairman, while other members of the Board of Directors include the Permanent Secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Finance and Economy. The Central Bank Law (2021) will come into effect on June 27, 2021, and the original Financial Management Bureau Law will also become invalid.
foreign trade
Mainly exporting crude oil, petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas, importing machinery and transportation equipment, industrial products, food, pharmaceuticals, etc. According to official statistics from Brunei, the total import and export trade volume in 2024 is 24.786 billion Brunei dollars, a year-on-year increase of 0.1%. The main trading partners of Wen are Singapore, China, and Australia. The main export markets are Singapore, Japan, and China, while the main import sources are Malaysia, China, and Saudi Arabia. The main export markets for crude oil are Australia, India, and Thailand; The main export markets for natural gas are Japan, China, and Malaysia. The Hengyi Brunei PMB project is a multi million ton integrated refining and chemical project jointly funded and operated by Zhejiang Hengyi Group of China and the Brunei government. It is the largest industrial investment project in Brunei to date, with a first phase investment of 3.45 billion US dollars, covering an area of 370 hectares, and an annual crude oil processing capacity of 8 million tons. It was completed and put into operation in November 2019 with stable operation. In 2021, 8.83 million tons of crude oil and auxiliary materials were processed, achieving a total sales value of 5.3 billion US dollars and accounting for 7.5% of Brunei’s GDP, making important contributions to Brunei’s economic recovery and diversified development. [22]
foreign capital
According to data from the Brunei Economic Planning and Statistics Bureau, in 2020, Brunei absorbed foreign investment of 593 million US dollars, a year-on-year increase of 56.46%; As of the end of 2020, Brunei’s stock of foreign investment was 7.534 billion US dollars.
International multinational companies investing in Brunei include Zhejiang Hengyi Group, Shell, Total of France, Mitsubishi Gas of Japan, and Itochu Trading Company of Japan.
language
Brunei’s national language is Malay, and the common language is English. Simultaneously using Javanese script (written in Arabic) for various occasions such as personal signatures, public buildings, etc. In addition to English and Malay, Brunei Chinese also speak Hokkien and Cantonese, and the vast majority of Chinese can speak Mandarin (locally known as Mandarin). Brunei’s main newspapers are published in English, Malay, and Chinese.
religion
Islam is the state religion. Brunei Malays all believe in Islam and belong to the Sunni sect. Muslims make up 67% of the population, Buddhists make up 10%, Christians make up 9%, and other faiths include Taoism. Brunei is an Islamic country with unique religious culture and customs. The Islamic Penal Code has strict regulations on religious management.
custom
Due to unique historical, social, and cultural reasons, Brunei has a strong religious color and Malay ethnic traditions, forming a harmonious, gentle, and humble Malay culture. Its basic characteristics are: valuing the harmony of society, ethnicity, and interpersonal relationships, and not taking extreme actions; Pay attention to vulnerable groups; Emphasize etiquette and tradition, follow rules and regulations, and have a variety of etiquette.
When Brunei people shake hands, they usually bring their hands back to their chest and lightly touch them to show sincerity; When passing in front of someone with status or elders, hang your hands down and lean against your body, walking lightly sideways; It is generally not advisable to actively shake hands with Malays of the opposite sex; Do not touch the head or back of Malays with your hands, as this is believed to bring disaster to them. When visiting a mosque or visiting a Malay household, one should take off their shoes before entering to show respect and cleanliness. Do not walk in front of believers who are praying, and non Muslims are not allowed to step on the prayer carpet inside the mosque. Do not cross your legs or cross your feet in formal occasions. Do not casually inquire about privacy issues such as personal emotions, salary income, etc. Brunei people like to be addressed with honorific titles by others.
Malay names usually consist of two parts, with the first half being their own name and the second half being their father’s name, separated by bin (meaning “son”) or binti (meaning “daughter”). Generally, male names are preceded by the honorific Awang, and men who have traveled on pilgrimage usually add Awang Haji before their names. Women usually add the honorific Dayang before their names, and those who have traveled on pilgrimage are usually referred to as Dayang Hajah.
Sultan and Sultan are referred to as His Majesty (in person as Your Majesty, not in person as His Majesty or Her Majesty), while Consorts, Princes, Princesses, Princesses, and Princesses are referred to as His Royal Highnesses (in person as Your Royal Highnesses, not in person as His Royal Highnesses or Her Royal Highnesses). Other members of the royal family and their blood relatives are referred to as Pengiran, while those with titles or honors are referred to as their titles or honors, mainly Pehin and Dato, and their wives are all referred to as Datin.
The left hand is considered unclean and should be used when picking up and dropping off items; When pointing at people or objects, do not use your index finger. Instead, gently clench your four fingers together into a fist, with your thumb pressed tightly against your index finger. When calling for people or taxis, do not use your index finger and wave your entire palm.
food and drink
Brunei’s food is very similar in taste to Malaysia, but with a stronger emphasis. The main staple foods are rice and noodles, while famous snacks include satay, whole roasted chicken, and grilled fish steamboats， There are also many tropical fruits in the area, such as mangoes and durians, which are also quite famous. [3]
festival
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Brunei holds National Day celebration to commemorate 40th anniversary of independence
Brunei government departments have public holidays every Friday and Sunday, including: (1) New Year’s Day (January 1st); (2) Chinese Spring Festival (January in the lunar calendar every year); (3) National Day (February 23rd); (4) Army Day (May 31st); (5) His Majesty the Sultan’s Birthday (July 15th); (6) Lunar New Year (January every year); (7) The birthday of Prophet Muhammad (June 15th according to the Islamic calendar); (8) Fasting month (September in the Gregorian calendar every year); (9) Eid al Fitr (in early October of the Gregorian calendar, determined by observing the new moon); (10) Christmas.
dynasty
The Brunei Dynasty (Bolkiah Royal Family) is the longest surviving dynasty in Asia after the Japanese royal family. In 1993, the Cambodian Dynasty was restored, and the longest surviving Asian dynasty was replaced by the Cambodian Dynasty with a history of over 700 years. The current Sultan of Brunei is the 29th Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. The Brunei Dynasty has been in existence for over 600 years since 1363 until 2014. Moreover, there is no sign of the end of the Brunei monarchy. [3]
The Brunei Malay Army was established on May 31, 1961 and renamed the Royal Brunei Regiment in May 1965. The command of the army had long been under British control. After independence in 1984, it was renamed the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, consisting of five parts: Army, Navy, Air Force, Support Command, and Training Academy. In 2009, the Support Command was disbanded and a Joint Forces Command was established. The cultural army is mainly composed of the army, navy, and air force, joint force headquarters, and training institutes. The article implements a voluntary military service system. Sudan is appointed as the Minister of Defense and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, a five-star general, while the Crown Prince and Senior Minister of the Prime Minister’s Office, Bira, is appointed as a four-star general. In March 2022, Hazimi was appointed as the Commander of the Armed Forces.
The total force is about 6000 people, including about 4000 in the army, 1300 in the navy, and 700 in the air force. There is also a Gurkha reserve force (Nepalese mercenaries) of about 2000 people. [1]