 | |
 The first Sikh Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh meeting with the Sultan Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah in Cambodia (2012) | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 500 | |
| Religions | |
| Sikhism | |
| Languages | |
| English • Punjabi • Malay |
Sikhs are a religious minority in Brunei. There is estimated to be no more than 500 Sikhs living in Brunei, with most residing in Bandar Seri Begawan on the island of Borneo.
Most Sikhs in Brunei are within the business sector. They specialise in sport goods, textiles, ready-made garments and carpets. The rest are drivers, doctors, teachers and engineers. [1] Most Sikhs in Brunei are closely connected with the Malaysian Sikh community. [2]
In 2010, Mohinder Singh Bhullar, a Sikh Brunei citizen was awarded the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award for community service. [3]
In 2013, Dr Manmohan Singh, the first Sikh Prime Minister of India met with the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah at the ASEAN Summit in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. [4]
There is currently no Sikh Gurdwara in Brunei, despite lobbying from the Sikh community to have one. [6]
Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with its territory bifurcated by the Sarawak district of Limbang. Brunei is the only sovereign state entirely on Borneo; the remainder of the island is divided between its multi-landmass neighbours of Malaysia and Indonesia. As of 2023, the country had a population of 455,858, of whom approximately 180,000 resided in the capital and largest city of Bandar Seri Begawan. Its official language is Malay and Islam is the state religion of the country, although other religions are nominally tolerated. The government of Brunei is a constitutional absolute monarchy ruled by the Sultan, and it implements a fusion of English common law and jurisprudence inspired by Islam, including sharia.
Brunei is a country in Southeast Asia, bordering the South China Sea and East Malaysia. Its geographical coordinates are 4°30′N114°40′E. The country is small with a total size of 5,765 km2 (2,226 sq mi). It is larger in size than Trinidad and Tobago. It is close to vital sea lanes through the South China Sea linking the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The country has two parts physically separated by Malaysia, making it almost an enclave within Malaysia.
Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB) is the capital and largest city of Brunei. It is officially a municipal area with an area of 100.36 square kilometres (38.75 sq mi) and an estimated population of 100,700 as of 2007. It is part of Brunei–Muara District, the smallest yet most populous district which is home to over 70 per cent of the country's population. It is the country's largest urban centre and nominally the country's only city. The capital is home to Brunei's seat of government, as well as a commercial and cultural centre. It was formerly known as Brunei Town until it was renamed in 1970 in honour of Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei and the father of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.
Mohamed Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III is a member of the royal family of Brunei. He is the second son of Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, and Raja Isteri (Queen) Pengiran Anak Damit. After Brunei's independence in 1984, he became the country’s first foreign minister, serving from 1 January 1984 until 22 October 2015, alongside the second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Lim Jock Seng.
Brunei–Muara District or simply known as Brunei–Muara, is the smallest as well as the most populated district in Brunei. It has an area of 571 square kilometres (220 sq mi) and the population of 318,530 as of 2021. The district is also home to its administrative centre is Bandar Seri Begawan, as well as the Brunei International Airport and Muara Port, the country's only international airport and deep-water port respectively. The Brunei River flows within this district and is home to Kampong Ayer. As the administrative center of Brunei is located in the district, it remains the most developed in the country with the most up-to-date infrastructure, despite not being the center of Brunei's main economic activity.
Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni Hassanal Bolkiah is the eldest son of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his wife Queen Saleha. He is the Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam, and is first in the line of succession to the Bruneian throne. He will eventually lead the state and government and is regarded as the second most significant figure in the political hierarchy.
The Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association is the national Scouting and oldest non-governmental organisation in the country, established in 1933. It became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) in 1981. The association celebrate its founding on 1 July each year.
Islam is Brunei's official religion, 82.70 percent of the population is Muslim, mostly Sunnis of Malay, Arab and Indian origin who follow the Shafi'i school (76%) Hanafi and Maliki school (6%) of jurisprudence. Most of the other Muslim groups are Malay Kedayans, local Chinese and Dayak Iban converts. Islam was introduced to Brunei by traders arriving from Persia, Arabia, China and the Indian subcontinent. Therefore, other religions can be practiced freely.
Relations between Brunei and the United States date from the 19th century. On 6 April 1845, USS Constitution visited Brunei. The two countries concluded a Treaty of Peace, Friendship, Commerce and Navigation in 1850, which remains in force today. The United States maintained a consulate in Brunei from 1865 to 1867.
The following outline is provided as an overview of and a topical guide to Brunei:
Brunei and Malaysia established diplomatic relations in 1984. Brunei has a high commission in Putrajaya, as well as consulate-generals in Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. Malaysia maintains a high commission in Bandar Seri Begawan. Both countries are full members of ASEAN and the Commonwealth of Nations. The two countries share a land border on the island of Borneo. Both countries are majority ethnic Malays and maintain excellent and close economic, cultural, political and defence ties.
The Brunei Super League is a professional league for men's association football in the sultanate of Brunei Darussalam. It is at the top tier of the Bruneian football league system, and it is managed by the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam (FABD). The football clubs participating in this top tier league need to pass a set of requirements and verification process, particularly related to professionalism and infrastructure feasibility.
Brunei Darussalam and Indonesia established diplomatic relations in 1984. Since then, both countries enjoy warm and friendly relations. Brunei has an embassy in Jakarta, while Indonesia has an embassy in Bandar Seri Begawan. Indonesia and Brunei don't share direct land borders. Since diplomatic relations were established back in 1984, relations between the two countries overall progressed well, and both sides continued to enjoy strong ties in a wide spectrum of co-operations; including trade and investment, tourism, agriculture, marine and fisheries, health, defence, transnational crimes, education, youth, culture and people-to-people contacts.
The 2007 Hassanal Bolkiah Trophy is the third edition of the invitational tournament hosted by Brunei. The tournament take place in Brunei from 3–12 March 2007. Eight teams from the ASEAN Football Federation participate in the tournament for under the age of 22.
The Eighth East Asia Summit was held in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei on October 9–10, 2013. The East Asia Summit is an annual meeting of national leaders from the East Asian region and adjoining countries.
Tourism in Brunei is governed by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, which is planning to diversify Brunei's tourism to include adventure tourism, ecotourism and Islamic tourism.
The Kianggeh River is a small tributary of the Brunei that flows through Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei.
The ASEAN Smart Cities Network (ASCN) is a collaborative platform that aims to unify smart city development efforts across ASEAN. The ACSN aims to facilitate cooperation on smart city development, broker smart city development projects between city government units and local private sector firms, and secure funding and support for these developments from ASEAN's external partners. The initiative was launched at the 32nd ASEAN Summit as a key deliverable of Singapore's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2018, and its Inaugural Meeting took place on 8 July 2018.
The Football Association of Brunei Darussalam is the governing body of association football in Brunei.
Basir bin Taha was a Bruneian teacher who made significant contributions to education, welfare, and religion in Brunei. He played a pivotal role in raising awareness among Malay teachers about the importance of freeing the nation from colonialism and defending the sovereignty of both the monarchy and the people.
