ASIAPAC CULTURE

Compiled by Asiapac Editorial

Publisher’s Note

Recent events have shown the importance of cooperation andcollaboration amongst the 10 Southeast Asian nations. Manycountries from this region banded together to help rebuildIndonesia and Myanmar when the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunamidisaster and Cyclone Nargis hit them respectively. Economic tiesbetween the 10 countries are also expected to be furtherstrengthened in the near future.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN – anorganisation made up of the 10 Southeast Asian countries ofBrunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar,Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – has beeninstrumental in these efforts. It was established in 1967 tofacilitate the cooperation between the countries for the mainpurpose of economic and social stability. By 2015, ASEAN hopesto form an ASEAN Community that comprises three pillars: thesecurity community, economic community, and social and culturalcommunity.

To foster closer ties, it is imperative to understand the multiculturalaspects of the region such as the religions, languages, traditions,values and beliefs as practised by more than 550 million people.Better appreciation of one another’s cultural background willresult in a more effective cross-cultural communication.

Brunei

Cambodia

Indonesia

Laos

Malaysia

Myanmar

Philippines

Thailand

Vietnam

Contents

Singapore

Country / Page number: Brunei 1. Cambodia 16. Indonesia 31. Laos 46.Malaysia 62. Myanmar 78. Philippines 93. Singapore 106. Thailand 122.Vietnam 137

1BRUNEI

Geography and EconomyBrunei is located in Southeast Asia, bordering the South China Sea and Malaysiaand is located close to vital sea lanes. The capital of Brunei is Bandar SeriBegawan.

Land area: 5,765 sq km

Population: 398,000 (UN 2008)

Climate: Tropical, rainy, hot and humid throughout the year.

Currency: Brunei dollar

Major exports: Crude oil, liquefied natural gas and petroleum products.

GNI per capita: US$26,930 (World Bank, 2007)

Negara Brunei Darussalam means the‘Nation of Brunei, an Abode of Peace’.Its monarchy, which dates back to 600years ago, is one of the oldest survivingmonarchies in the world.Brunei’s natural reserves of oil and gasallow its citizens to enjoy one of thehighest standards of living in the world.Currently, eco-tourism and rainforestresearch are being developed in an effortto diversify its economy. Brunei alsopromotes itself as a financial centre toensure its future remains thriving evenwhen its natural resources are depleted.

Map of Brunei

BRUNEI

Many Faces of Southeast Asia2

National PhilosophyThe national philosophy of Melayu Islam Beraja (Malay Islamic Monarchy) is asystem that retains Malay cultural influences, emphasises the importance of Islamin daily life as well as respect for the monarchy. It is a philosophy of tolerance thatallows other cultures to follow their individual traditions and to practise otherreligions.

The National Flag

The National AnthemThe national anthem – Allah Peliharakan Sultan (God Bless the Sultan) – wasadapted when Brunei gained independence in 1984. It is played every night byRadio Television Brunei at the end of its transmission.

The National FlowerThe Simpor (Dillenia Suffruticosa) treehas bright yellow petals with big leaves.The Simpor flower design is embossedonto the Brunei dollar notes. It is also acommon design found on traditionalBruneian handicrafts. The Simpor canbe seen along rivers in Brunei.

The Simpor

The flag of Brunei has four colours. Its backdrop is yellow,with two wide strips of black and white runningdiagonally across it. The red state crest is located atthe centre of the flag. It was first used in 1906 whenBrunei signed an agreement with Britain.The national crest of Brunei consists of the bendera (flag), payung ubor-ubor(royal umbrella) and sayap (wing of four feathers) where each feather signifiespeace, prosperity, justice and tranquillity. The tangan or kinhap (hand),represents the government’s pledge to promote peace, prosperity and thewelfare of its people. The bulan or crescent moon symbolises Brunei’s Islamicheritage. Arabic characters inscribed on the crest mean “Always in ServiceWith God’s Guidance”, while the words on the scroll mean “Brunei, The Abodeof Peace”.

3BRUNEI

HISTORY & GOVERNMENT

Early in the ninth century A.D., theSumatran Hindu Empire of Srivijayainvaded the kingdom, rapidly expandingit to cover northern Borneo and thePhilippines. Brunei was subsequentlytaken over by the Java-based MajapahitEmpire before it became an independentterritory. Its early ruler was called KingSang Aji, or Reverend Monarch.

In the early 1360s, Awang Alak Betatar, a prince from western Borneo, becameBrunei’s ruler and his line has ruled the country unbroken ever since. AwangAlak Betatar assumed the title of Sultan Muhammad Shah after converting toIslam. During his rule, which lasted till 1402, he turned Brunei into a dominanttrading power in the region. Brunei’s influence and trade expanded with thespread of Islam to Borneo and the Philippines.

Brunei’s third Sultan, Sharif Ali, a Persian missionary and direct descendant ofthe Prophet Muhammad, expanded Islam’s influence in the kingdom. Its goldenage arrived under the reign of its fifth ruler, Sultan Bolkiah, who ruled from 1485to 1524. He achieved fame from many successful territorial conquests andexplorations that took him to Java, Malacca and the Philippines. He extendedhis rule to Sambas, Pontianak, Banjarmasin, Pasi Kotei, Balongan, the SuluArchipelago, and the islands of Balabac, Banggi, Balambangan and Palawan.In the late 15th century A.D., Brunei’s ruler commanded a fleet of 100 ships fromthe ancient capital city of Kota Baru. It had brass workers and silver artisans whowere well-skilled in designing exquisite brass gongs, cannons and householdutilitarian wares.

Brunei prospered as a port city on Borneo’s north coast between Sarawakand Sabah as early as the fifth century A.D. Chinese records allude to theexistence of a port city called Poni or Puli. Arabic and Javanese recordsprovide further evidence that a kingdom of ethnic Malays with Hindu andBuddhist beliefs was located at the mouth of the Brunei River in the seventhor eighth century A.D.

Cannons and brass gongs

Many Faces of Southeast Asia4Adapted from the legends of Maria Makiling.

A Tale of the Unfilial Son

Dang Ambon, a poor widow inKampong Ayer, struggled to giveher son the best. One day he toldher he would venture out to the cityof Sulu to make a fortune. She feltunwell when her son set sail.

Several years later, she found outthat her son had become wealthyand was married to the daughter of anobleman.“Oh my God,” she sighed worriedly,“when is my beloved son returning?”

At her return, her son’s wife was disgustedupon seeing the old and haggard DangAmbon. She commanded the crew to chaseher away. Dang Ambon’s son did not want todisplease his wife and ordered the ship,anchored in the Brunei River, to sail backtowards Sulu.

Dang Ambon was so heartbrokenand angry that she put a curse onher son. Moments later, a stormemerged out of the river, rolled outto the bay and hit her son’s ship,sending it to the bottom of the sea.

After the storm, people noticed a hugerock jutting out from the Brunei Rivernear the sunken ship. That rock cameto be known as Jong Batu.

5BRUNEI

Important People in BruneiHis Majesty Sultan Haji HassanalBolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah

James Brooke

He is also known as Yang Di-Pertuan ofBrunei Darussalam.Born on July 15, 1946 at the Istana, he washome-tutored at Darul Hana andreceived higher education in Malaysiabefore proceeding to the UK to becomean officer cadet at the Sandhurst RoyalMilitary Academy.As the eldest son, he became CrownPrince in 1961 and assumed reign asSultan on October 5, 1967 following thevoluntary abdication of his father, Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali SaifuddienSa’adul Khairi Waddien.

His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal BolkiahMu’izzaddin Waddaulah

James BrookeBrooke was a British adventurer who washired in 1840 to stop a rebellion in theSarawak river region on the western endof the Bruneian kingdom.He succeeded in quelling the rebellionand was appointed by the Sultan ofBrunei as the Governor of Sarawak onSeptember 18, 1842.Brooke believed he was carrying out hisimperial adventure for the good ofBorneo and the Bruneian people byimposing what he considered to be amore effective and benevolentgovernment.Brooke passed away in 1868 and wassucceeded by his nephew, Charles Brooke.

Many Faces of Southeast Asia6

PEOPLE

Charles Brooke

Brunei is deeply rooted in the Malay culture and theIslamic religion. The majority of the people are Malay-Muslims. Islam unites and bonds the nation with theroyal family. There are also large Chinese and Indiancommunities in addition to indigenous minoritytribes within Brunei.

Languages

Charles Brooke

A Malay woman wearing a headscarf

A Malay man wearing a tanjak

Charles Brooke became the second Governor ofSarawak in 1868. However, in 1877–78, a Britishconsortium wrested the rights to most of Sabah,located to the east of Brunei, from the Sultanate ofBrunei and the Sultanate of Sulu in southernPhilippines. By 1881, the consortium had convincedthe British government to charter a share-holdingcompany to run the territories in Sabah for profit.Sabah became known as British North Borneo,administered by the British North Borneo CharteredCompany.In 1888, Britain declared that the core territories ofthe Sultanate of Brunei should remain intact, therebymaking Brunei a British protectorate.

The official language is Malay but English iswidely spoken among its citizens, especially inbusiness affairs. Other dialects spoken by theChinese are Cantonese and Hokkien. Theindigenous groups like the Muruts and Dusuns speaktheir own native languages.

DressHeadgear is worn by men to reflect their socialstatus and during special events. Three types ofheadgear are traditionally worn by Bruneian males:the dastar or the tanjak, a piece of textile tiedaround the head; the songkok or kopiah, worn likea cap and typically made from velvet textiles; andthe tangkolok or serban, which looks like a turban.

7BRUNEI

The serban is typically donned by the ulamas (Muslim scholars), and like thesongkok, was introduced by Arab merchants over 600 years ago. The dastar,however, owes its origins to the indigenous tribes. The songkok’s traditional colouris black; white ones are generally worn during pilgrimages to Mecca.The national dress of Brunei is made up of a loose, long-sleeved shirt, a pair oftrousers and kain samping, a type of sarong tucked around the waist.Muslim women in Brunei dress in brightly-coloured apparels, usually with thebody covered from head to toe. They wear a headscarf in public, similar to otherMuslim women around the world.

FoodBruneians enjoy a wide variety of rich and spicy food, with rice and noodles beingpart of their staple diet. Traditional favourite Malay delicacies such as Sasagunand Jit Manis are enjoyed by many.Other specialities include Daging Masak Lada Hitam (minced beef with black chilli),Udang Sambal Serai Bersantan (prawn chilli with lemongrass and coconut milk)and Serondeng Padang (chicken with coconut milk, scented with pandan leaves).

A Malay family having a meal together

Many Faces of Southeast Asia8

CongkakCongkak is a traditional indoor game played mainly by children. It is played on awooden board shaped like a boat with 14 small holes in two rows of seven. Eachhole is filled with seeds (typically seven pieces per hole) made of marbles or shells.The whole aim of the game is to capture more seeds than your opponents.

Courtesy of Picasa Web Album

A game of sepak takraw

Kite flying

Water taxis are a common mode of transport

Kite flyingKite flying has been a popular gameamong Bruneians for centuries,especially after the harvesting season.Kite enthusiasts in Brunei prefer to usea type of bamboo known locally as‘buluh temiang’ as a framework for thekites due to its flexibility.

TransportMost places of interest in Brunei areaccessible by an efficient publictransport system. Bus fares start from$1.00. Water taxis and ferry services arealso common modes of transport thatconnect people along the Brunei Riverto several parts of East Malaysia suchas Lawas, Limbang and Labuan.

Traditional Games

Sepak takrawThis sport is similar to volleyball; themain difference is that the players tryto keep a rattan ball in the air by hittingit across the net with their feet.Gasing (top spinning)Tops that weigh around fivekilograms are spun around using one’sstrength, co-ordination and skills.

9BRUNEI

Hari Raya Puasa is a significant religious holiday for Muslims, where theycelebrate the end of Ramadhan (fasting month). The festivities start with thesighting of the new moon of Syawal signifying the 10th month of the Muslimcalendar.Hari Raya Haji takes place after the end of the annual Haj pilgrimage for Muslimsto the holy land, Mecca. It is also an auspicious day where Muslims commemorateProphet Ibrahim’s readiness to sacrifice his son Ismail to Allah (God). Cows andgoats are slaughtered on this day and the meat is distributed to the less fortunate.National Day for the Bruneians is on February 23. Mass prayers are held inmosques nationwide.The Sultan’s Birthday, celebrated on July 15, is one of the most importantnational festivals. To mark the occasion, the Sultan delivers a ‘titah’ or royaladdress at the Istana Nurul Iman and visits his subjects in the country’s fourdistricts.Chinese New Year (Lunar New Year) generally falls on February and lastsfor 14 days. It is a major event for the ethnic Chinese community. A family reuniondinner is held on New Year’s Eve and the following day is meant for visiting familymembers and relatives. Ang baos, or red packets are handed out during thisperiod.Public Service Day is held on September 29. It marks the need to work towardsan efficient, clean, sincere and honest public service.

FESTIVALSMalay-Muslims celebrating the festival of Hari Raya Haji

Many Faces of Southeast Asia10

Etiquette

Celebration of Hari Raya Puasa

It is customary for the people of Brunei to eat with their hands.Food and drinks are received with the right hand. If refusing anyfood when offered, it is courteous to touch the plate lightly withthe right hand.One must dress decently and remove shoes before entering amosque or a person’s house, unless stated otherwise by the host.When pointing, always clench your right hand, with your thumbdiscreetly pointing out.Alcohol is not sold in Brunei.

11BRUNEI

THE ARTSSongkok-making is considered as arelatively new art form in Brunei comparedto brass and silver-crafting, cloth-weaving, wood-carving and basketry.Other traditional artistry includes boatmaking, Malay weaponry, silat, the gildingof the Holy Qur’an (Koran) and ceremonialitems.

DanceMengalai is the traditional Bruneian welcome dance, often performed to thetune of a traditional song called ‘Dang Mengalai’. During this dance, Bruneiantraditional fans are used to bestow blessings on guests and the audience.MusicFolk music remains popular to this day, reflecting Brunei’s rich heritage.Adai Adai or literally ‘song of the fishermen’ is a type of musical rhythm whichsounds similar to the paddling of boats and the movement of oars. It servesas a call for the fishermen before they set out on their fishing boats.There are several kinds of traditional musical instruments such as kulintangan,agongs and the tawak-tawak, which are basically bells set on a wooden framethat varies in size. Duck gongs produce a slightly different sound while thegambus is a lute with six strings. Dondang songs often accompany the gendangand gambus.

The Holy Qur’an

A Malay folk dance

Many Faces of Southeast Asia12

Literature

Sculpture

This sculpture,called ‘UnitedProfile’, representsSingapore in theASEAN Square.

Sajar or poetry is the most popular form of traditional Bruneian literature. Theepic poem Sy’ir Awang Simawn is about the discovery of Brunei, led by a mannamed Pateh Berbai. Below is the translated version of the poem.

The square exhibits the works ofsculptors from each of the original sixASEAN members: Brunei, Malaysia,Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand and thePhilippines. The adopted theme,‘Harmony in Diversity’, emphasisessolidarity, love, peace, freedom andmutual respect for one another.

The ASEAN Square in Brunei Darussalamis located in a one-kilometre strip of spaceat the Persiaran Damuan (DamuanRecreational Park) situated between theBandar Seri Begawan-Tutong Road andthe Damuan River. The sculptures rangefrom three metres to 6.5 metres inlength, with the heaviest weighing a fewtons.

We entered into the country of Brunei River,With a total of ninety in number,

All of them were Sakai.They rowed up the river,

And caught a lot of sharks and rays,Pateh looked left and right,

For a good place to rest and open a country,To Damang Sari, Awang Alak says,

After looking left and right with Pateh,If Awangku agrees with me,

In Brunei we shall build a country.

13BRUNEI

NATIONAL MONUMENTSSultan Omar Ali Saifuddin (SOAS) MosqueThe SOAS Mosque is a splendid structure with a golden dome and white minarets.It is a picture of serenity, sitting in the middle of busy downtown Bandar SeriBegawan. The mosque draws its influence from Indic civilisation, specifically India’sMughal architecture. It also has European features, influenced in particular bythe Italian Renaissance movement.Named after the 28th Sultan of Brunei, His Highness Sultan Haji Omar AliSaifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, the mosque opened on September 26, 1958,four years after work began on its construction.

Ulu Temburong National Park

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin (SOAS) Mosque

Ulu Temburong National ParkThe Ulu Temburong National Park is anicon in Brunei. One can hear the criesof the famous proboscis monkey bytaking a speedboat through themangrove waters.Today, Temburong stands as atestimony to the success of Brunei’sefforts in preserving one of the world’soldest rainforests that is inhabited bya diverse species of organisms livingside by side in a unique ecosystem.