Understanding The Ethnic Identity Of Brunei Malays

Brunei is a Malay-majority country, with approximately 65.8% of its population identifying as Malay. However, within this Malay population, there are seven distinct ethnic groups: Melayu Brunei, Kedayan, Dusun, Tutong, Belait, Murut, and Bisaya. These groups are characterised by unique cultural aspects, such as native languages, customs, and traditions, that set them apart from the larger Malay populations in neighbouring countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. While they share religious beliefs, following the teachings of Islam, and are ethnically related, Brunei Malays have developed their own distinct language and culture over time.

'Brunei Malay' is an official term

The term "Brunei Malay" refers to a native Malay ethnic group that primarily resides in Brunei, with some also living in the federal territory of Labuan, the southwestern coast of Sabah, and the northern parts of Sarawak. This group is a subgroup of the larger ethnic Malay population found in other parts of the Malay world, including Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Southern Thailand. The term "Brunei Malay" became official after the 1921 Brunei Ethnic Categories Census, marking a shift in how Bruneians perceived their Malay identity.

Brunei Malays have distinct cultural and linguistic differences from the larger Malay populations in neighbouring countries, despite sharing the same ethnic roots and religious beliefs. The Brunei Malay language, also known as the Bruneian Malay language, is the most widely spoken language in Brunei. While Standard Malay is promoted as the official national language, Brunei Malay is socially dominant and is gradually replacing minority languages in the country.

The Bruneian Empire, which was at its peak during the reign of Sultan Bolkiah from 1485 to 1528, once controlled much of Borneo, as well as the Sulu archipelago and the islands off the northwestern tip of Borneo. The maritime state of Brunei was visited by the surviving crew of the Magellan Expedition in 1521. The country has a rich history and was founded by Awang Alak Betatar, who later became known as Sultan Muhammad Shah, the first Muslim ruler of Brunei.

Brunei, officially known as Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, located on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. It is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo, sharing the island with its larger neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia. The official language of Brunei is Malay, and Islam is the state religion, with other religions being nominally tolerated. The country is governed by a constitutional absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan, combining English common law with Islamic jurisprudence.

Brunei gained its independence from the United Kingdom on January 1, 1984, and has since become a member of various regional and international organisations, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The country's wealth is largely derived from its extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, which have transformed Brunei into an industrialised nation.

The Bruneian Malay language is socially dominant

The Bruneian Malay language, also called the Brunei Malay language, is the most widely spoken language in Brunei. It is also a lingua franca in some parts of Sarawak and Sabah, such as Labuan, Limbang, Lawas, Sipitang and Papar. While Standard Malay is promoted as the official national language of Brunei, Brunei Malay is socially dominant and is currently replacing the minority languages of Brunei, including Dusun and Tutong.

Brunei Malay is commonly used for daily communication, coexisting with regional languages and Malay creoles, while Standard Malay is used in formal speech. Code-switching between Standard Malay and Brunei Malay is spoken in informal speech as a lingua franca between Malay creoles and regional languages. It is quite similar to Standard Malay, to the point of being almost mutually intelligible with it, being about 84% cognate with Standard Malay.

Brunei Malay is used by the numerically and politically dominant Brunei people, who traditionally lived on water, while Kedayan is used by land-dwelling farmers, and the Kampong Ayer dialect is used by the inhabitants of the river north of the capital. It has been estimated that 94% of the words of Brunei Malay and Kedayan are lexically related.

The multilingualism in Bruneian Malay is so great that it qualifies to be regarded as supra-regional. For example, there is linguistic evidence that Bruneian Malay is still being used in interactions in Borneo, especially in basic intra-ethnic social interactions in Sabah. In fact, Bruneian Malay's influence has reached further than the Borneo regions, contributing many words to the vocabulary of the ethnic people in the Borneo islands.

The Bruneian Malay language has been influenced by other languages from Borneo Island. A sociolinguistic history of languages in Sabah, which used to be a region under Brunei sovereignty, demonstrates that the Bruneian Malay language is greatly accepted.

The Bruneian Malay people are native to Brunei

Bruneian Malays are distinct from the larger Malay populations in nearby Malaysia and Indonesia due to cultural and linguistic differences, although they are ethnically related and share the Muslim religion. The Bruneian Malay language, also known as Bahasa Melayu Brunei, is the most widely spoken language in Brunei and has socially dominant status. It is used by the numerically and politically dominant Brunei people, who traditionally lived on water.

Brunei has a population of approximately 450,000 people, with about 65% identifying as Malay. The country gained independence from British rule in 1984 and is now a constitutional absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan, with Islam as the state religion. Brunei's wealth is derived from its extensive petroleum and natural gas fields, which has allowed the government to provide its citizens with high-quality healthcare, education, and housing.

The Bruneian Malay people have a rich cultural heritage, with unique customs, language, and traditions that set them apart from other Malay subgroups in the region. They are known for their traditional dress, including the tudong, a head covering worn by women, and the songkok, a traditional Malay cap worn by men. The Bruneian Malays also have their own cuisine, with Ambuyat, a dish made of sago, being the official national dish.

The Bruneian Malay people are ethnically related to other Malay populations

The Bruneian Malay people are a native Malay ethnic group that lives in Brunei, the federal territory of Labuan, the southwestern coast of Sabah and the northern parts of Sarawak. They are a subgroup of the larger ethnic Malay population found in other parts of the Malay World, namely Peninsular Malaysia and the central and southern areas of Sarawak, including neighbouring lands such as Singapore, Indonesia and Southern Thailand.

While the Bruneian Malays are ethnically related to these other Malay populations, there are visible differences, especially in language and culture. For example, the Bruneian Malay language is the most widely spoken language in Brunei and a lingua franca in some parts of Sarawak and Sabah. It is quite similar to Standard Malay, which is promoted as the official national language of Brunei, but there are distinct differences in pronunciation and vocabulary.

In addition to these linguistic differences, the Bruneian Malays also have their own unique customs and traditions that set them apart from other Malay populations. For instance, the national dish of Brunei is Ambuyat, which is made from sago and was a staple food during World War II. Another example is the traditional song and dance of the Bruneian Malays, the Adai-adai, which was originally sung by fishermen.

Despite these differences, the Bruneian Malays are still considered to be ethnically related to the larger Malay populations in Malaysia and Singapore, as well as other neighbouring lands. This is due to their shared Malay heritage and the fact that they follow the teachings of Islam, with the majority of Bruneian Malays being classified as Muslims at birth.

The Bruneian Malay people follow the teachings of Islam

Islam is believed to have been introduced to Brunei by traders from Persia, Arabia, China, and the Indian subcontinent. Evidence suggests that Islam was present in Brunei as far back as the 10th century, with the arrival of P'u-lu-shieh, a Chinese Muslim diplomat and trader, in 977. A Muslim, P'u A-li (Abu Ali), then led a Bruneian delegation to China, indicating that Islam was practised in the royal court, even if the monarch was not yet Muslim.

The conversion of Awang Alak Betatar, the first Sultan of Brunei, to Islam in the late 14th century, marked a significant wave of Islamisation in the country. Previously, Brunei is believed to have been under Buddhist rulers. The impact of Islam developed rapidly following the Sultan's conversion, and by the 16th century, Islam was firmly rooted in Brunei.

Today, Islam remains the official religion of Brunei, with 82.7% of the population identifying as Muslim. The majority of Bruneian Malays and Kedayans follow the Sunni denomination and the Shafi'i school of Islamic jurisprudence. The country boasts numerous mosques, including two state mosques in the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, built by the Sultans to demonstrate the devotion of the general public to their religion.

The day-to-day management of religious affairs in Brunei falls under the purview of the Ministry of Religious Affairs, established in 1986. The country's legal system is based on a fusion of English common law and jurisprudence inspired by Islam, including Sharia law. While other religions are nominally tolerated, the government has strict policies against other Islamic sects, including a complete ban on Shia Islam.

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