Ethnic Chinese in Brunei

Ethnic Chinese in Brunei
Total population
43,000
10.5% of the Bruneian population (2006)[1]
Regions with significant populations
Bandar Seri Begawan
Languages
Hokkien • Hakka • Teochew
Mandarin • Malay
Religion
Predominantly Buddhist • Taoist • Christian[2] and a small number of converts to Islam.[3]
Related ethnic groups
Overseas Chinese

Ethnic Chinese in Brunei form roughly 15% of Brunei's population. As of 1986, it was estimated that over 90% were unable to obtain Bruneian citizenship despite generations of residence in the country.[4] They constitute one group of Overseas Chinese and represent one of the more smaller groups of Overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia. Ethnic Chinese in Brunei were encouraged to settle because of their commercial and business acumen. The biggest dialect group is the Hokkien; many originated from Kinmen and Xiamen, the former administered by the Republic of China located in Taiwan and the latter by the People's Republic of 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 entreprises.[5]

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Brunei". The World Factbook. Langley, VA: Central Intelligence Agency. 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-17. The total population of Brunei is estimated at 380,000, of whom 11.2% are of Chinese descent.
  2. ↑ International Religious Freedom Report 2007 - Brunei
  3. ↑ Islamic banking in Southeast Asia, By Mohamed Ariff, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, pg. 24
  4. ↑ Limlingan, Victor Simpao (1986). The Overseas Chinese in ASEAN: Business Strategies and Management Practices. pp. 240–241.
  5. ↑ Richter, Frank-Jürgen, ed. (1999). "Overseas Chinese and Overseas Indian Business Networks". Business Networks in Asia: Promises, Doubts, and Perspectives. Greenwood. ISBN 9781567203028. Retrieved 2012-05-16.