Ethnic Chinese in Brunei explained

Group:	Ethnic Chinese in Brunei
Native Name:	Chinese: 汶萊華人 Orang Cina di Brunei
Population:	42,132 9.6% of the Bruneian population (2021)^[1]
Langs:	English and Malay as medium of communication in schools and governmentMandarin (lingua franca)Chinese varieties such as Hokkien, Cantonese, Teochew, Hainanese, Hakka
Rels:	BuddhismChristianity^[2] TaoismIslam^[3] Chinese folk religion
Related:	Singaporean ChineseMalaysian Chinese Indonesian Chinese Overseas Chinese

Ethnic Chinese in Brunei are people of full or partial Chineseparticularly Han Chineseancestry who are citizens or residents in Brunei. As of 2015, they constitute 10.1% of the country's population, making them the second largest ethnic group in Brunei. Brunei is home to one of the smaller communities of overseas Chinese. Many Chinese in Brunei are stateless.^[4]

Ethnic Chinese in Brunei were encouraged to settle because of their commercial and business acumen. The biggest Chinese group is the Hokkien; many originated from Kinmen and Xiamen in China. The Hakka and Cantonese represent a minority of the Chinese population. Despite their small numbers, the Hokkien have a considerable presence in Brunei's private and business sector, providing commercial and entrepreneurial expertise and often operating joint business ventures with Malaysian Chinese enterprises.^[5]

History

During the Song dynasty (960 AD to 1296 AD) trade was active between Poni (Brunei) and China. By the 17th century, Brunei had a Chinese community. However, trade declined in the 18th and 19th centuries. It was not until Brunei became a British protectorate that immigration increased again. Most of the immigrants arrived from Sarawak, Singapore and Hong Kong. In 1904, there were about 500 ethnic Chinese in Brunei, most of them British subjects. The discovery of oil in 1929 led to an increase in Chinese immigrants as many sought out the new employment opportunities related to this discovery of oil. The Chinese population continued to increase significantly during 1931–1947 when it quadrupled. In 1960, Ethnic Chinese made up slightly more than a quarter of the Bruneian population at 26%. The Chinese population of Brunei has declined significantly since then. Still, the Chinese population comprises 10.3% of the Bruneian population as of 2019, which places them as the second largest ethnic group in Brunei.^{[6] [7] [8]}

Statelessness

As of 1986, it was estimated that over 90% were unable to obtain Bruneian citizenship, despite generations of residence in the country.^[9] In recent years, ethnic Chinese in Brunei are allowed to obtain Bruneian Citizenship, however many encounter significant issues overcoming the Malay language exam which is a major requirement for gaining Bruneian citizenship.^[10] An overhaul of the Nationality Act has been blocked by the Home Ministry.^[11]

Religion

Around 65% of the Chinese population in Brunei practices Buddhism and Taoism. An additional 20% practices Christianity. There are smaller numbers of Muslims, practitioners of other religions, and Irreligious individuals among the Chinese community in Brunei numbering a combined 15%.

Notable people

• Zeke Chan, Olympic swimmer
• Cheok Boon Cheok, nobleman
• Steven Chong Wan Oon, current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
• Queenie Chong, businessperson and member of the Legislative Council
• Goh King Chin, former member of the Legislative Council
• Goh Kiat Chun (Wu Chun), actor and singer.
• Hong Kok Tin, former member of the Legislative Council
• Khoo Ban Hock, former nobleman and chairman of National Bank of Brunei
• Lau Ah Kok, nobleman and founder of Hua Ho^[12]
• Lau How Teck, businessman and member of the Legislative Council
• Amin Liew Abdullah, Minister of Finance and Economy II and Minister at the Prime Minister's Office.
• Lim Jock Hoi, former Secretary-General of ASEAN^[13]
• Lim Jock Seng, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II and Minister at the Prime Minister's Office
• Lim Teck Hoo, nobleman and businessperson^[14]
• Lim Thian Hoo, nobleman
• Lim Cheng Choo, nobleman and politician
• Lim See King, nobleman
• Ng Teck Hock, nobleman^[15]
• Ong Boon Pang, nobleman^[16]
• Ong Sum Ping, nobleman and folklore figure
• Ong Tiong Oh, member of the Legislative Council
• Onn Siew Siong, nobleman
• Pang Boon Ting, nobleman
• Cornelius Sim, first Roman Catholic Vicar Apostolic of Brunei and first Cardinal of Brunei and Borneo.
• Tan Bee Yong, civil servant and diplomat
• Magdalene Teo, diplomat
• Tong Kit Siong, karate practitioner
• Hosea Wong, martial artist
• Hayley Wong, Olympic swimmer
• Faustina Woo Wai Sii, wushu practitioner
• Joshua Yong, Olympic swimmer
• Aziyan Abdullah (formerly Yong Foo), diplomat^[17]
• Roderick Yong Yin Fatt, former Secretary-General of ASEAN^[18]
• Jaspar Yu Woon Chai, Olympic badminton player

See also

• Malaysian Chinese
• Singaporean Chinese
• Indonesian Chinese
• Filipino Chinese
• Thai Chinese
• Vietnamese Chinese
• Cambodian Chinese
• Laotian Chinese
• East Timorese Chinese
• Burmese Chinese
• Chinese folk religion in Southeast Asia
• Brunei–China relations

Notes and References

1. Web site: Population by Religion, Sex and Census Year.
2. Web site: Brunei. state.gov. 14 September 2007.
3. Islamic banking in Southeast Asia, By Mohamed Ariff, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, pg. 24
4. Web site: Tolman . Alana . Brunei's stateless left in a state of confusion . New Mandala . 23 April 2022 . en-AU . 8 April 2016 . Many ethnic Chinese residents of Brunei have lived in the kingdom for generations, accounting for 15 percent of the population. Yet, due to difficult and slow bureaucratic measures around immigration, they remain permanent residents, not citizens – they are essentially stateless..
5. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=piNfUHUmPG8C&pg=PA192. Overseas Chinese and Overseas Indian Business Networks. Frank-Jürgen. Richter. Business Networks in Asia: Promises, Doubts, and Perspectives. Greenwood. 1999. 9781567203028. 2012-05-16.
6. de Vienne . Marie-Sybille . 2011 . The Chinese in Brunei: From Ceramics to Oil Rent . Archipel . 82 . 1 . 25–48 . 10.3406/arch.2011.4254.
7. Web site: My China Roots . 2022-07-26 . www.mychinaroots.com.
8. Web site: Minority. Rights. May 2020. Brunei Darussalam Chinese. World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples.
9. Book: Limlingan, Victor Simpao . The Overseas Chinese in ASEAN: Business Strategies and Management Practices . 1986 . 240–241.
10. Web site: MINORITIES IN BRUNEI - Facts and Details. Jeffrey. Hays. factsanddetails.com.
11. Web site: Proposal to amend Brunei's law on citizenship turned down, AsiaOne Asia News . 2016-09-19 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161221025329/http://news.asiaone.com/news/asia/proposal-amend-bruneis-law-citizenship-turned-down . 2016-12-21 . dead.
12. Book: Li Li, Pang . Minority Participation in an Islamic Negara . Policy Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam . 2015 . 54.
13. Web site: Dato Lim Jock Hoi assumes office as new Secretary-General of ASEAN - ASEAN - ONE VISION ONE IDENTITY ONE COMMUNITY. 5 January 2018.
14. Web site: 2022-10-22 . Late philanthropist's legacy continues » Borneo Bulletin Online . 2023-09-19 . Late philanthropist’s legacy continues . en-US.
15. Web site: Sultanate - News Negara Brunei Darussalam His Majesty attends CNY get-together . 2023-09-19 . sultanate.com.
16. Book: Li Li, Pang . Minority Participation in an Islamic Negara . Policy Studies, Universiti Brunei Darussalam . 2015 . 58.
17. Web site: Haji Abdul Rahman . Abu Bakar . 2013-09-15 . 24 orang dikurniakan bintang-bintang dan pingat-pingat . 2024-04-14 . www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn . ms.
18. Web site: Bruneian who became ASEAN secretary-general | the Brunei Times . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160308200943/http://www.bt.com.bn/2013/04/15/bruneian-who-became-asean-secretary-general . 2016-03-08 . 2015-06-07.