In the tiny Sultanate of Brunei, the majority of its local-born Chinese population are denied citizenship, making them stateless. During the Legislative Council meeting yesterday, Yang Berhormat Pehin Dato Goh King Chin, one of the only two Chinese representatives in Brunei's parliament, proposed that stateless individuals who are aged 60 and above should be granted citizenship, and also that the country's Nationality Act be amended.


Brunei Home Minister: only the Malay people have rights to citizenship by law, others are granted by requirements

According to Goh, before Brunei achieved independence in 1984, every resident held a British passport. Upon independence, only those belonging to the seven Malay indigenous groups became citizens. He cited the case of Australia, Canada, Malaysia and Singapore, which were under the British Colony. When they achieved independence, every resident in those countries received citizenship.

The current Bruneian Nationality Act states that any person born in the Sultanate "who is commonly accepted as belonging to one of the seven indigenous groups of the Malay race: Belait, Bisaya, Brunei, Dusun, Kedayan, Murut or Tutong is a citizen by operation of law". Goh said it will be a "loss to the nation" if a stateless person with significant contributions to the country leave and is granted citizenship elsewhere.


Pehin Goh, one of the only two Chinese representatives in Brunei parliament, says the country should amend its Nationality law

Brunei's Minister of Home Affairs, Yang Berhormat Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Badaruddin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Awg Othman, shoot down the proposal, saying there is no need to amend the Act. "Every nation nearby also had stateless citizens," the minister said. "Citizenship is not a right of the applicants … it is the nation's right to give."

Goh reiterated the uncertainly of the country's Chinese community. "In the 1950s, the Tiong Hwa community also held the Certificate of Identity (CI). If they wanted to become Bruneian citizens, they needed to abide by the Nationality Act by taking a brief oral exam. But now, all these processes have become more difficult." Home minister Pehin Udana Khatib responded that even those who passed the citizenship exam is not guaranteed of citizenship.


Brunei Home Minister: even passing citizenship exam is not guarantee, implying the state has rights to take back citizenship of other races anytime

The Bruneian Nationality Act confirmed that only those people belonging to the seven Malay groups in Brunei can get citizenship, while the rest can apply provided they fulfill the requirements. The Home Minister cited the agreement made in 1979 between the British and government that allowed Brunei to take over its international responsibility as a sovereign nation, saying the matter of citizenship for those who did not belong in the seven groups was raised in the exchange of notes between the Monarch and the English government.

"In the exchange of notes, it was explained that they can become citizens and live in Brunei once the requirements under the existing laws are fulfilled. Hence the independence did not change the Act, it actually preserved it and that is why (the Act) is very fundamental to Brunei. In conclusion, I feel confident in the National Citizenship Act, it is important for Brunei Darussalam in the long term, and that I feel there is not yet a need to amend the Act," the minister said. Citizenship exam for Bruneian stateless has reportedly been frozen, raising doubts among non-Malay stateless Bruneians on whether they should migrate to other countries.
http://borneobulletin.com.bn/passing-tests...ee-citizenship/
http://bt.com.bn/frontpage-news-national/2...hip-turned-down
http://borneobulletin.com.bn/government-ru...ationality-act/

If no oil eady, what if Brunei request join Bolehland? How arhhh?

no, singapore just rent the place as their army training ground, just like they do also in taiwan, thailand or australia. the money singapore pays brunei every year for this is not disclosed.

uk will protect brunei for 5 more years, subject to further renewal.

brunei pays uk 40 million pounds every year for such protection.

it is unlikely the other SEA countries will attack brunei. china is also unlikely to attack.

but if brunei goes too crazy with race and religion, the US may intervene. the uk will not honor its commitments if US attack brunei. uk values its friendship with US far more.