brunei

• Negara Brunei Darussalam

  In Malay – ‘Negara Brunei’ means ‘the state of Brunei’, and ‘Darussalam’ means ‘abode of peace’
• The official religion in Brunei is Islam, but other religions may be practiced in peace and harmony as stated in the Constitution of Brunei Darussalam
• Brunei achieved independence in 1984, having been a British protectorate since 1888
• The family is the focal point of the social structure in Brunei
• Bahasa Melayu (Malay language) is the official language, but English is also widely spoken
• Brunei is a hierarchical culture where age and position are revered, and children are taught to respect elders and prioritize family goals
• Sajak is a Malay free-form style full of nationalistic symbolism, historically used as a means of propaganda during the Japanese occupation in WWII
• Memberships of Brunei

  • Commonwealth and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)
• Brunei is an independent Islamic sultanate on the northern coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia
• Brunei’s population is predominantly Sunni Muslim, with other communities following Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Christianity, and local religions
• Languages used in Brunei

  • Malay, English, Various Chinese and Indian dialects
• The Bruneian family is the extended family, including aunts, uncles, cousins, and close friends, who are expected to remain loyal to each other and the family
• The Language and Literature Bureau in Brunei promotes the development of literature and folklore in Malay and English, with sajak being a popular poetry style
• The most famous work from Brunei is the epic poem called Sya’ir Awang Simawn, which constitutes a traditional history of the sultanate
• Famous work from Brunei

  • Epic poem called Sya’ir Awang Simawn
• Brunei Darussalam is a multi-ethnic society in which one ethnic group, the Barunay, has a monopoly of political power. Variations in tradition among other ethnic groups are not regional but cultural, social, and linguistic. Indigenous Muslims usually are referred to as Brunei Malays even if they are not native speakers of the Malay language