Mythbusters: Brunei episode

Tonight, some claims about the Bruneian character are examined in the light of experience.

Myth 1
Bruneians won't confront you if you offend them, but will act behind your back.
A note I wrote on a public notice offended a department head. She had reason to be offended, though I had reason to be angry about the content of the notice. However she said nothing to me about it but complained instead to someone in authority over her. I was reprimanded by this other person. The head of department and I were then to carry on, in our shared workspace, as if this dispute had never occurred. The same thing happened when I inadvertently caused offence to a government inspector who treated me with incredible (until that all-too-real moment) contempt on a very busy workday.









Revenge for real or perceived slights will be secretive, bitter and cowardly.


Myth 2
Bruneians don't criticise the Sultan.
I was often the recipient of complaints from one of the Bruneians I befriended about the royal family's complete dominance of local property and business assets, to the exclusion of ordinary citizens. He also objected to the fact that waving banners and looking happy at the Sultan's birthday ceremony was compulsory for all citizens unlucky enough to be press-ganged into this task.









As is the case in repressive countries elsewhere, the story behind closed doors is different from the official one.


Myth 3
Bruneians don't show their emotions in public.
I saw a male teacher explode with rage, screaming at and shoving two young male students against an office corridor wall. He had to be restrained from striking them physically by two other male staff members. On another occasion I saw a female staff member run to her desk and collapse in loud tearful sobs as a result of an unfortunate encounter with the school principal. The students themselves showed the same gamut of emotions and behaviours that children around the world will show in repressive, regimented settings.









Believe the line about 'Asian inscrutability' when you see evidence for it in your dealings with Asian people.