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.

Sikhism in Brunei
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

History

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20th century

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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]

Demographics

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  • In 1993, there were estimated to be 32 Sikh families.[1]
  • In 2010, there was estimated to be 500 Sikhs living in Brunei.[5]

Gurdwara

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There is currently no Sikh Gurdwara in Brunei, despite lobbying from the Sikh community to have one.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Jain, Ravkindra (2012). Nation, Diaspora, Trans-nation. Taylor & Francis. p. 48. ISBN 9781136704147.
  2. ^ "Mammouth Gathering of Sikhs in KL". News Strait Times. 28 August 2004.
  3. ^ "Brunei's oldest Indian Mohinder Singh Bhullar: A successful entrepreneur, flag-bearer". The Economic Times. 7 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Photos: Manmohan Singh goes for pink at this year's ASEAN Summit". FirstPost. 10 October 2013.
  5. ^ Melton, J Gordon (2010). Religions of the World. ABC-CLIO. pp. 418–419. ISBN 9781598842043.
  6. ^ Sidhu, Jatswan (2016). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 267. ISBN 9781442264595.