Expatriate Forums in Brunei

Vixey · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 12:33 am Post subject: Do's and Don't in Brunei

The Brunei Government is run as a Malay Islamic Monarchy, do not insult or speak badly of the Sultan of Brunei or the Royal family.

Common Courtesies

Daily life in Brunei revolves much around the religion of Islam, with certain things forbidden and others that are tolerated but not encouraged. The lists below are things that a Muslim is forbidden or encouraged to do:

Things Forbidden:

* Eating pork * Consumption of alchohol * Eating meat slaughtered in an unIslamic way * Casual touching * Adultery * Touching a dog on its wet nose or when you or the animal is wet * Smacking the fist of your right hand into your left palm (it carries a different meaning in Brunei)

Things Tolerated:

* Smoking * Eating shellfish,crabs

Things Encouraged:

*Shaking of hands lightly then bringing hand back to the chest (it is not customary to shake hands with the opposite sex)
*Using your thumb, with four fingers folded beneath it, as a pointer instead of your finger
*Wave for a taxi with the whole hand (palm facing downwards)
*Always remove your shoes when you visit the mosques, you should not pass in front of a person in prayer and non-Muslims should not handle the Koran
*Women visitors should not dress scantily
*Most Bruneian women cover their heads with a scarf and do not expose their knees or arms
*Gifts and food should only be passed with the right hand, although it is acceptable to use the left hand with the right wrist for support

Vixey · Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 12:36 am Post subject:

Brunei is a 'dry country': alcohol is not sold anywhere in the country and consumption of alcohol in public is prohibited by law. That said, non-Muslim visitors are allowed to bring in up to two litres of alcohol (wine or spirits) plus up to twelve cans of beer, and there's a wide array of duty-free shops just across the border in Malaysia to cater to this demand. However, alcohol permits must be obtained upon arrival in Brunei while going through customs. Many higher-end restaurants allow guests to bring in their own alcohol and corkage is not charged.

tbarry · Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 6:50 pm Post subject:

Is there any requirement to leave the country for a particular length of time before being eligible to bring back these allowances? Elsewhere there are "3 day" rules to stop quickie runs over the border.