Public housing in Brunei

Last updated October 22, 2019

Public housing in Brunei comprises government development programmes which aim to provide ownership of land or homes to the citizens of Brunei.^[1]^[2] They are managed by the Housing Development Department (Malay : Jabatan Kemajuan Perumahan), a government department under the Ministry of Development. There has been three main public housing programmes in the country, namely the National Housing Scheme (Malay : Rancangan Perumahan Negara), the Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme (Malay : Skim Tanah Kurnia Rakyat Jati) and the National Resettlement Scheme (Malay : Rancangan Perpindahan Negara).

Public housing is a form of housing tenure in which the property is owned by a government authority, which may be central or local.

Brunei, officially the Nation of Brunei, the Abode of Peace, is a country located on the north coast of the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia. Apart from its coastline with the South China Sea, the country is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak. It is separated into two parts by the Sarawak district of Limbang. Brunei is the only sovereign state completely on the island of Borneo; the remainder of the island's territory is divided between the nations of Malaysia and Indonesia. Brunei's population was 423,196 in 2016.

Malay is an Austronesian language spoken in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore, as well as parts of Thailand. A language of the Malays, it is spoken by 290 million people across the Strait of Malacca, including the coasts of the Malay Peninsula of Malaysia and the eastern coast of Sumatra in Indonesia and has been established as a native language of part of western coastal Sarawak and West Kalimantan in Borneo. It is also used as a trading language in the southern Philippines, including the southern parts of the Zamboanga Peninsula, the Sulu Archipelago and the southern predominantly Muslim-inhabited municipalities of Bataraza and Balabac in Palawan.

History

Public housing was first initiated in the 1950s by the government in the form of mass resettlement programmes for the residents of Kampong Ayer, the stilt settlement on the Brunei River.^[3] In that decade there were cholera and smallpox epidemics which greatly affected the residents; at that time more residents settled along the banks than the middle of the river and hence more prone to the diseases.^[3] Therefore, the initial aim of the housing programme was to relocate the residents to places on land which are less susceptible to the spread of the diseases.^[3]

Kampong Ayer is a historical settlement area in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It literally means 'water village'. Kampong Ayer consists of a cluster of traditional stilt villages built on the Brunei River, mainly in the vicinity of the present-day Pusat Bandar or the City Centre. Hence, it has often been dubbed as 'Venice of the East' since the past. Kampong Ayer has been historically the principal settlement of Brunei; it was the de facto capital, in particular social and economic centre, of the Bruneian Empire for a few centuries, but also extending into the early period during British imperialism in Brunei.

The Brunei River is a river which flows through Brunei and empties into Brunei Bay towards the North-east direction. The Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei, stands on its banks. The Brunei River is the shortest major river in Brunei Darussalam. Brunei Darussalam's traditional residential areas, Kampong Ayer, is situated on the river. Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei Darussalam, stands on its banks. The upper reaches of the river are an important source of freshwater for the western parts of the country.

However, the programme eventually shifted its aim to allow the Kampong Ayer residents in owning a home on land.^[3] The first resettlement programme was carried out in 1952 in which a housing estate was developed in Bunut.^[1] There were then succession of resettlement programmes in the following few decades, and subsequently various resettlement estates appeared which are all located in Brunei-Muara District.^[4]

Bunut is a neighbourhood and commercial area in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is officially a village subdivision under Kilanas, a mukim (subdistrict) of Brunei-Muara District. The postcode for Bunut is BF1320.

Brunei-Muara is the northernmost district in Brunei. It is the smallest of Brunei's four districts in terms of area but by far the most populous, containing over half the country's population. It is the most important and bustling district because the capital, Bandar Seri Begawan which is also the state capital, is the seat of the government ministries and departmental headquarters as well as the centre of business activities. Other major towns in the Brunei-Muara district include Muara town. The Brunei-Muara district houses the largest and deepest port in Brunei, the Muara Port.

In the 1970s, the government conducted analysis on the housing demands in the country and eventually came up with the present housing programmes.^[1]^[4] Lambak Kanan became the first area to be developed as the estate of Rancangan Perumahan Negara beginning in 1984.^[1]

Lambak Kanan, formally known as Lambak Kanan National Housing Scheme, is a public housing estate on the northern outskirts of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It officially consists of five village subdivisions which are under Berakas 'B', a mukim (subdistrict) of Brunei-Muara District. Lambak Kanan is de facto a suburb of the capital.

Programmes

Although there has been three main housing development programmes conducted by the government, only two are currently pursued, namely the National Housing Scheme and the Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme.

National Housing Scheme

The National Housing Scheme (Malay : Rancangan Perumahan Negara, commonly abbreviated as RPN) aims to provide homes to the citizens of Brunei regardless of ethnic or racial background.^[5] Houses are granted in turns according to the year of the application by the applicants.^[1]

Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme

In contrast with the National Housing Scheme, the Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme (Malay : Skim Tanah Kurnia Rakyat Jati, commonly abbreviated as STKRJ) aims to provide private lands, which often comes with completely-built homes, specifically to rakyat jati or the indigenous citizens of the country.^[1] The rakyat jati are essentially the indigenous Malays, which consist of the seven ethnic groups officially recognised by the government, namely the Brunei Malay, Kedayan, Bisaya, Tutong, Dusun, Belait and Murut.

Bruneian Malays 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. The Bruneian Malays are a subgroup of the larger Ethnic Malays population found in the 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, having visible differences especially in language and culture, even though they are ethnically related to each other and follow the teachings of Islam. All Bruneian Malays who are born or domiciled in East Malaysia even for generations before or after the independence of the states of Sabah and Sarawak from the British Empire through the formation of Malaysia in 1963 are also considered Malaysian Malays in the national census and were in the same status like the Malaysian Malays domiciled in Peninsular Malaysian states and the central and southern parts of Sarawak. They are also defined as a part of the Bumiputera racial classification together as a subgroup within the Malaysian Malay ethnic population along with the Kadazan-Dusuns, Ibans, Malaccan Portuguese and the Malaysian Siamese.

The Kedayan are an ethnic group residing in Brunei, Labuan, Sabah, and parts of Sarawak on the island of Borneo. The Kedayan language bears a similarity to Brunei Malay, which is spoken by more than 530,000 people in Brunei, 46,500 in Sabah and 37,000 in Sarawak. In Sabah the Kedayan mainly live in the cities of Sipitang, Beaufort, Kuala Penyu and Papar. In Sarawak the Kedayans mostly reside in Lawas, Limbang, Miri and the Subis area. The Kedayan people are also regarded as a sub-ethnic group of the Klemantan Dayak people.

The Bisaya are an indigenous people of the north-west and the coast line of Borneo, Malaysia. They mostly live in Limbang division and Lawas district, more than 20 villages including Kg Batu Danau to name a few. In part of Sabah, Bisaya mostly live near the Beaufort district, the Padas River also Kuala Penyu in the Sabah region. There are also some Bisaya living in Kampung Manunggang, Sabah. Nowadays the Bisaya living in Sabah are Muslim, while the Bisaya living in Sarawak are mostly Christian. In Brunei, they are referred as Dusun, Jati Dusun and Bisaya. The Bisaya people are also regarded as a relatives of the Dayak people whereas Bisaya was not brought into Borneo instead they are aboriginal of the land.

National Resettlement Scheme

The National Resettlement Scheme (Malay : Rancangan Perpindahan Negara) has been a housing programme carried out by the government to aid the residents of Kampong Ayer in resettling on land. It is currently not active or that the relocation programme is handled as part of the other two housing programmes.

Estates

The housing estates are developed in all four districts of Brunei, generally as part of existing villages or other survey areas, or in their vicinity. Each estate constitutes only one of either housing programmes. However, a village or area may have more than one type of estates. Some estates may also have enough population comparable that of village settlements and hence they are designated as village subdivisions, the third- and lowest-level administrative divisions of the country. A few estates even have larger population and end up having more than one village subdivisions.

Nevertheless, each village subdivision of a housing estate functions similar to the local village, including having a ketua kampung or village head as its community leader as well as a Village Consultative Council (Malay : Majlis Perundingan Kampung) as the community association. There may also be presence of community infrastructure such as a primary school and a community centre. As Brunei is predominantly Muslim, a mosque may also be built for the Muslim residents to perform Jumu'ah or Friday prayers, as well as a religious school which provides the Islamic religious primary education compulsory for Muslim pupils in the country.

Related Research Articles

Mumong is a residential suburb of Kuala Belait, the principal town of Belait District, Brunei. It comprises the original Mumong settlement, as well as the Mumong public housing estate of the Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme. However, it officially consists of two village subdivisions, namely Mumong 'A' and Mumong 'B', which are under the mukim of Kuala Belait.

Liang is a mukim or subdistrict of Belait, a district of Brunei. Liang is headed by a penghulu and the incumbent is Abdul Hamid bin Mumin.

Lumut, also known as Kampong Lumut, is a settlement area in Belait District, Brunei. It is the common name given to a group of village subdivisions and residential communities in the subdistrict of Liang.

Bukit Beruang is a populated place in Tutong District, Brunei. It is officially a village subdivision under Telisai, a mukim (subdistrict) in the district. Bukit Beruang is primarily a public housing estate of the National Housing Scheme, a government housing programme.

Mentiri National Housing Scheme is a public housing estate in Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. It is one of the housing estates under the government programme National Housing Scheme which provides housing opportunities for the Bruneian citizens. Mentiri National Housing Scheme is located adjacent to Mentiri, the settlement in which it is named after.

Katok 'A', officially Katok 'A' Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme, also Area 3 of Tungku Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme, is a village administrative division in Brunei-Muara District of Brunei. It is a village subdivision under the mukim or subdistrict of Gadong 'A'. Katok 'A' has an area of 69.15 hectares and, as of 2014, the population is 1,776. The community of Katok 'A' is headed by a ketua kampung or village head and the incumbent is Adanan bin Bagol. Katok 'A' is also a designated postcode area with the postcode BE2919.

Mata-Mata, locally known in Malay as Kampung Mata-Mata or Kampong Mata-Mata, is a populated place in Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. It is a group of settlements on the outskirts of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei, comprising the original settlement of Mata-Mata, the Perpindahan Mata-Mata settlement and the Mata-Mata public housing areas of the Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme.

Katok, locally known in Malay as Kampung Katok or Kampong Katok, is a village administrative division in Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. It is a village subdivision under the mukim or subdistrict of Gadong 'A'. The community of Katok is jointly led with that of Tungku subdivision by a ketua kampung or village head, and the incumbent is Ismail bin Rajab. Katok is also a designated postcode area with the postcode BE2319.

Pancha Delima is a small residential neighbourhood in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is officially a village subdivision under Berakas A, a mukim (subdistrict) of Brunei-Muara District; the incumbent ketua kampung or village head is Zulkifli bin Awang Ya'akub. The postcode for Pancha Delima is BB4513.

Orang Kaya Besar Imas is a small residential neighbourhood in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is officially a village subdivision under Berakas A, a mukim (subdistrict) of Brunei-Muara District. The postcode for Orang Kaya Besar Imas is BB4113.

Katok 'B', also known as Mata-Mata Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme or the abbreviated Malay name STKRJ Mata-Mata, is a public housing estate on the outskirts of Bandar Seri Begawan in Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. It is officially designated as three villages, the third- and lowest-level subdivisions of Brunei. Katok 'B' is one of the estates in the country under the Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme, a public housing programme.

Perpindahan Mata-Mata is a settlement on the outskirts of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is officially a village subdivision under Gadong 'B', a mukim (subdistrict) of Brunei-Muara. Perpindahan Mata-Mata comprises the public housing estate under the National Resettlement Programme, as well as the original Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme estate of Mata-Mata. The postcode for Perpindahan Mata-Mata is BE1918.

Bunut Perpindahan is a neighbourhood in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is officially a village subdivision under Kilanas, a mukim (subdistrict) of Brunei-Muara District.

Lambak Kiri Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme is a public housing estate in Lambak Kiri, a populated place in Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. It is officially a village subdivision of Berakas A. Lambak Kiri Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme is one of the housing estates in the country for the Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme which is a government housing programme for the rakyat jati or indigenous citizens of Brunei.

Pengiran Siraja Muda Delima Satu, commonly known as Delima Satu or Pengiran Siraja Muda, is a neighbourhood in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is also a village subdivision under Berakas A, a mukim (subdistrict) in Brunei-Muara District. Pengiran Siraja Muda Delima Satu is primarily a residential area but also contains the commercial area of Delima, one of the commercial areas in the capital. The postcode for Pengiran Siraja Muda Delima Satu is BB5113.

Rimba National Housing Scheme is a public housing estate on the northern outskirts of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It officially consists of five village subdivisions which are under Gadong 'A', a mukim (subdistrict) in Brunei-Muara District. Rimba National Housing Scheme is one of the housing estates under the National Housing Scheme, a government housing programme for the citizens of Brunei. It is de facto a suburb of the capital.

Rimba Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme is a public housing estate near Rimba on the outskirts of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is officially a village under Gadong 'A', a mukim (subdistrict) of Brunei-Muara District. As a village, it has an area of 69.15 hectares and the population of 6,800. Rimba Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme is one of the public housing estates in the country under its namesake, which is a government housing programme for the rakyat jati or indigenous citizens of Brunei.

Sungai Buloh is a settlement in Brunei-Muara District, Brunei. It is officially a village-level subdivision in Mentiri, a mukim (subdistrict) in the district. Sungai Buloh comprises the original Sungai Buloh village settlement, as well as Sungai Buloh Rakyat Jati Housing, a public housing estate under the Landless Indigenous Citizens' Housing Scheme. The postcode for Sungai Buloh is BU1229.

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 "Jabatan Kemajuan Perumahan - Mengenai Rancangan Perumahan Negara (RPN)". www.mod.gov.bn (in Malay). Retrieved 2018-02-20.
↑ Bandial, Quratul-Ain (2016-03-17). "National housing scheme is only for Bruneians". btarchive.org. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
1 2 3 4 "An evolving plan to meet demand for public housing". Oxford Business Group. 2014-11-30. Retrieved 2018-02-20.
1 2 "Brunei-Muara District" (PDF). www.information.gov.bn. p. www.information.gov.bn. Retrieved 2018-02-21.
↑ Bandial, Quratul-Ain (17 March 2016). "National housing scheme is only for Bruneians". btarchive.org. Retrieved 1 July 2018.

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[:0-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Jabatan Kemajuan Perumahan - Mengenai Rancangan Perumahan Negara (RPN)". www.mod.gov.bn (in Malay). Retrieved 2018-02-20.

[2] Bandial, Quratul-Ain (2016-03-17). "National housing scheme is only for Bruneians". btarchive.org. Retrieved 2018-02-21.

[:1-3] 1 2 3 4 "An evolving plan to meet demand for public housing". Oxford Business Group. 2014-11-30. Retrieved 2018-02-20.

[:2-4] 1 2 "Brunei-Muara District" (PDF). www.information.gov.bn. p. www.information.gov.bn. Retrieved 2018-02-21.

[5] Bandial, Quratul-Ain (17 March 2016). "National housing scheme is only for Bruneians". btarchive.org. Retrieved 1 July 2018.