written test to get Bruneian citizenship

Dad was spring-cleaning his room and found this useful guide "Kurikulum Kertas Ujian Bertulis Bahasa Melayu". It was published in March 2004 by the Immigration and National Registrar Department, Ministry of Home Affairs.

Under the Akta Taraf Kebangsaan Brunei Penggal 15, Peraturan Taraf Kebangsaan (Lembaga Bahasa) [di bawah Peraturan 9 (3)], in order to apply for Bruneian citizenship, he or she must sit for a Malay written test.

Though I have never been through this test, but I really pity the not-so-educated candidates. Five sections are being tested, namely:

Section 1 - writing a composition
Section 2 - comprehension
Section 3 - Grammar & Bahasa Brunei (Perambahan & Bahasa Dalam) & Pantun
Section 4 - general description
Section 5 - knowledge on Brunei (MIB Philosophy, system of governance, national flag and personal flags, history, royal regalia, national anthem, customs and culture of Bruneian Malay, traditional songs and dance, geography and international relations)

The last section sounds very interesting to me, and I will post some articles on these.

p/s: I am really lucky and grateful that my citizenship was granted through bab 6 (1). If not, I would have to sit for this exam.

Undivided Loyalty

This July I will be celebrating my 2nd anniversary of officially being a Brunei citizen. As I browsed through my documents, I found this Borang Sumpah which reads:

Saya ____ dari _____ adalah dengan ini bersumpah bahawa saya tidak akan menggunakan hak-hak, kuasa-kuasa dan kelebihan-kelebihan yang diberi oleh mana-mana taraf kebangsaan atau warganegara, dan bahawa saya dengan sesungguhnya dan sepenuh-penuhnya melafazkan bahawa saya menghapuskan segala taat setia saya kepada mana-mana negeri, negara atau pemerintah dan saya ____ adalah dengan ini bersumpah bahawa saya akan memberi sepenuh-penuh kasih sayang saya yang tidak berbelah bahagi kepada Negara Brunei Darussalam dan saya bersumpah bahawa saya akan menumpukan taat setia saya yang ikhlas kepada Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam dan pengganti-pengganti Baginda menurut undang-undang.

I am always and will forever love Brunei Darussalam, my Tanah Tumpah Darahku...

Citizenship of Brunei Darussalam

Citizenship has been an interesting topic to me ever since I know the word citizenship. There are a lot of people who eager to become a citizen of Brunei Darussalam. Chapter 15 of Brunei Nationality Act states clearly how Brunei's citizenship can be acquired. Quoting the summary from a local blogger PaPa Law (http://papalaw.blogspot.com):

There are three ways of being a subject of His Majesty: by operation of law, by registration and by naturalisation.

The following categories of persons are subjects of His Majesty by operation of law i.e. automatically:

(a)he is born in Brunei Darussalam and who is commonly accepted as belonging to one of the following indigenous groups of the Malay race, namely, Belait, Bisayah, Brunei, Dusun, Kedayan, Murut or Tutong or if he was born outside Brunei Darussalam and his father is, at the time of birth , a subject of His Majesty by operation of law. In the latter case, the birth must usually be registered with a Brunei consulate within 6 months;

(b) he is born in Brunei Darussalam and his father and mother were both born in Brunei Darussalam and are members of any of the groups of people specified namely Bukitans, Dayaks (sea), Dayaks (land), Kalabits, Kayans, Kenyahs (including Sabups and Sipengs), Kajangs (including Sekapans, Kejamans, Lahanans, Punans, Tanjongs and Kanowits), Lugats, Lisums, Melanaus, Penans, Sians,Tagals, Tabuns and Ukits

(c) any person born outside Brunei Darussalam —
(i) whose father was, at the time of birth of such person, a person born in Brunei Darussalam and was a person commonly, accepted as belonging to one of the indigenous groups of the Malay race, or
(ii) whose father and mother were both born in Brunei Darussalam and were members of any of the groups specified above;

(d) any person born in Brunei Darussalam whose father was, at the time of his birth, a subject of His Majesty; and any person outside Brunei Darussalam whose father was, at the time of birth of such person, a subject of His Majesty and was employed outside Brunei Darussalam if the birth of such person was registered at a Brunei Consulate or in Brunei Darussalam within 6 months of its occurrence;

(e) any person born outside Brunei Darussalam whose father was at the time of birth of such person a subject of His Majesty by registration or by naturalisation , if the birth was registered at a Brunei Darussalam Consulate or in Brunei Darussalam within 6 months of its occurrence.

A person is eligible to apply to be a citizen by registration as follows:

(a) He is above 18, born in Brunei and has within the period of 15 years immediately preceding the date of his application for registration resided in this country for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than 12 years; and has resided here throughout the 2 years immediately preceding the date of his application. He will also need to pass an examination by a Language Board on his proficiency of the Malay language.

(b) She is a non citizen woman married to a citizen (no language proficiency requirement)

(c) A child under 18 years if a parent is a citizen. "Parent" here includes his mother or an adopted parent.

In any other case a person may apply for citizenship by naturalisation (in Malay penuangan) if he has within the period of 25 years immediately preceding the date of his application resided in Brunei for periods amounting in the aggregate to not less than 20 years and has resided here throughout the 2 years immediately preceding the date of his application. The language proficiency requirement also applies. Incidentally, unless this requirement is waived by His Majesty, the period does not include a period during which a person is allowed to remain temporarily here under the authority of any Immigration pass or permit issued. For example, in the case of a contract officer who has been in this country for the purpose of employment , the employment period is excluded.