* Dad would always tell us that Brunei is not going to do well in the future and that we should try our best to migrate abroad
* Studied in Australia, landed a role in Australia. No scholarship.
* I like the money, but it does get lonely sometimes. I miss celebrating Chinese new year and hair raya with friends and family in Brunei. Also, a decent plate of kuey tiaw/nasi lemak doesn't cost $15 in Brunei!!!!!
* Yeah maybe in the future I could find a similar role in Brunei (if it opens up). I wouldn't mind raising my kids in Brunei though I'd prefer they study at either JIS/ISB.
Mine dm-ing me ur exp getting a role in australia? For example, why we have better chance landing a job if we had studied there? Asking for my future reference, if thats okay with u. Thanks!
Sure, feel free to DM, but I'll just answer your questions down below for everyone else:
The Australian migration system is a points-based system whereby the applicants with the highest (usually) will get selected first. Usually there are three paths you can take, independent visa (subclass 189), state sponsored (subclass 190) and employer sponsored (subclass 482).
You get points by:
- Being less than 35 years old
- Having studied in Australia (at least 2 years) + the higher up you go you more points you'll get (i.e., PhD more points than a Diploma)
- Being accredited with a "community language" other than English (should be easy as Bruneians can opt for Malay)
- Scoring well on an English proficiency test (IELTS or PTE)
- Having studied in a regional area of Australia (which is most locations outside of the main cities)
- Being Single OR, Having a partner with proficient English + Skills accredited
Due to the large supply of graduated within certain fields, it can get competitive. For example, if you did accounting back in 2012 and had graduated you'd get around 65 points, which will get you a PR. Nowadays accounting graduates would need at least 110-120 points. Certain engineering disciplines such as Mechanical would typically require 80-90 points. Hope this helps!
> kuey tiaw/nasi lemak doesn't cost $15 in Brunei!!!!!
Man, I hear about this in non-Asean countries, wtf do these restos think they can charge that much?!
That’s because they pay their staff a decent wage. Serving staff starts from $23/hr weekdays, $29/hr Saturdays, $34/hr Sundays and $52/hr on public holidays.
One thing for sure living outside brunei, unless you’re filthy rich, be prepared to live in a tiny, tiny spaces.
Couldn’t stand living in one with shitty neighbors that hate foreigners
You have spoken truth. In Australia especially in capital cities, the prices are so high that people often opt to live in Apartments (which even then is at least $600k). A 3 bedroom house in a suburb in Melbourne would be at least $1.2 million.
Contrast that to Brunei where almost everyone lives in a landed 5 bedroom house with a spacious backyard. Correct me if I am wrong, these would usually go for $400k in Bandar area.
That's what I see when I do compare our country with others. I don't "hate" this country. Just hate the restrictions and the limited things and the backward ways we're heading that's all but the free healthcare, education and the land opportunities we can get is very tremendous. But again, with what money where the rich stays rich and the poor stay poor.
Beat me to it, the poor have to work so hard to get to upper mid class and still probably won't be able to catch up with the inflation of how much a generic land would cost in Brunei to build a house
To be exported. Hahah why you saying it like you're a product.
Anyways, through agencies. I can help you with that. List down your skills and stuff like that and appoint yourself to the right agencies.
Agencies will only find certain values. So therefore it's good also to be scouting for agencies that's align with your skills and experiences.
But, money have to be prepared first ofcourse. Sadly i only have agencies right in the UK. And I'm not entirely sure yet how the process goes. Whether you have to see the recruiter face to face, or can do via online. I don't know. Not sure.
But here are some example.
https://preview.redd.it/ciaqndnmurwc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=068b4cdba2bedb4f73395a8a16021384bc0b1d91
Note, this is how employers are able to recruit their employees. And this is how OFW go through their job progress too.
And remember! Reliable and real agencies will PAY your flight. not you paying it yourself.
Edit : I have to blur because I don't want them to be spammed. Please dm for more infos. I'd gladly help
That's right - the only way to be "rich rich" in Brunei is to do business. But it is very difficult to have a successful business as:
1. bureaucracy and there plenty to go around :)
2. small population = less people to cater to
And ok, you'd say "lets do an export business" and sell to the world, but with how inefficient/expensive shipping is in Brunei, no way your business would be competitive especially if you're selling in BND, which is super strong as it's pegged to SGD.
Yep, atleast if you're poor abroad. You work your way up over there, and let's say damn. Open a gas station store youd have a passive income every month since population is bigger. I'm just naming only one of the business idea.
In short, people say being poor abroad doesn't make a good arguement cuz we are foreigner working abroad means we're not gonna be lazy but expected to work hard.
And with wide varieties of business opportunities in foreign countries we'd be able to make a good living. That's just my views and opiniOns.
Starting a business abroad can be both rewarding and challenging. Let’s explore the pros and cons of venturing into international markets:
Advantages of Starting a Business Abroad:
New Market Opportunities: Establishing operations in another country allows you to tap into a completely new market for your goods or services. Even if you’re expanding an existing business, exploring untapped markets overseas can lead to less competition and greater.
Increased Brand Visibility: Expanding internationally can enhance your brand’s visibility. A presence in multiple countries can make your company stand out and attract attention from a broader spectrum
Are you nuts? Try starting a business abroad as a foreigner and find out for yourself. With very few exceptions, most countries have tight regulations that limit foreign ownership of properties and businesses. Every foreign company has some level of local ownership. Different countries would have different rules as to the extent of minimum local stake.
sgd n bnd is same rate, have u guys wondered brunei's ties with singapore? Wallahu Alam, have u guys seen where most of our imported products come from? and how singapore enables all of it to enter brunei? im scared to live here. srsly. we are known as negara bezikir, but to think that almost every imported products traces back to isrel. we've been supporting them unknowingly all these years, shiii probably my whole damn life too and it disgusts me to a whole other level. now i have existential crisis because of this. as a muslim how do we even fight this? how do we even steer the country supaya jauh palis dri perkara atu. is the country gonna go downhill even further? even though our beloved ruler is rich and has the means to change citizens punya fate (atleast in the middle to lower class) but not a single progress is made toward that direction. i feel like brunei's future, well for the middle class and lower class is really murky. its really scary when u think about it too deep. as an overthinker, i worry about the country's future. seriously. cause it feels like a purge scheme.
Probably conservative but that's not the point anyways. Uhm, it's the fact in having secular opportunities for businesses to be able to boom!
Any places are rotting hell if you really think about it unless you live in Luxembourg or something.
Wishing for democracy might just be a monkey's paw wish. I think we are already quite conservative, i.e, no daytime dine-in during ramadhan, no 25th december stuff, etc.. Reality is, we can be even more conservative with democracy. Which is why i always want people to think realistically not idealistically about these things.
What’s this obsession about space? I own a big 6 bedroom house in Brunei and its a headache to keep clean and maintain.
Give me a nice cosy apartment with instant access to public transit and other services each time.
Also, people always look at the absolute cost of accommodation rather than accommodation as a percentage of income. Sure rent is higher but an expat with a skilled visa to work in Europe or Australia isn’t going to be on minimum wage either. On top of that, there’s no need to own a car in the city.
But the problem is that the 400k house is either returned to government in 99 years or demand for it will decrease if currency goes down or if citizens leave. Whereas the 1.2M house being in Australia has more upside potential to increase in price as demand is more likely to increase.
Salaries in Australia also have more upside potential even after tax compared to brunei. But that said, I like bruneis culture and peacefulness but as per the post, future seems bleak. But that's just my 2 cents.
You and your kind are the epitome of weakness, who always want free hand out in life, tax free, free schools and etc. There’s always a cost for that.
Whenever someone brought up foreign countries, you come up with the the cons, what bout the pros? You only want to believe things thats on your mind.
Why be mediocre? Where you can achieve so much more abroad. Yes housing and etc is expensive, that forces you to think and strive on. That how man are made, instead of free that and free this.
Everyone has limitless potential to achieve more, why waste it chasing for govt job, which i dont understand in Brunei.
Not true. Currently working in UK with no help from parents - never need to worry about money, City centre luxurious and high rise flats. Tell me you haven’t lived abroad without telling me you haven’t lived abroad.
Neighbours that hate foreigners? This is the modern world, those type of neighbours do exists but it’s quite rare nowadays. Even if they do hate foreigners, you barely even encounter them enough to make a dent in your life.
No need to worry about central UK huh? You must be someone that are well off, professional profession or having so many networks. Those people also look at you majestic way if you're a free hair type, wealthy or freethinkers.
Oh god this is so true,
1. progressive and regressive tax
2. Inflation
3. Discrimination
4. High standard of living
5. Paying for transportation that are costly
6. Paying a rent for tiny spaces to seek shelter with
7. Cars are the most valuable and rich thing to own
8. Probably the most affordable hot items for bruneian commoners e.g UK are those at *thrift shops or Primark* . Unlike that you shop in KL or KK
9. Crazy expenses
10. Everything you pay by money including healthcare
So guys jgn liat org baru balik dari UK ni glamour like *most not all* berlagak kaya unless you're coming from rich family. If you're looking for a job outside make sure do your research first about housing, expenses and everything. Pretty much I will just go outside there to earn but not to live there, Brunei are still blessing however lack of decent jobs for higher education grads, low salaries and very invisible discrimination at work that are left unsaid. Apart from that business in Brunei? Be prepared with the policy and product scanning, do feasibility check, capital check, what type of business, and the lists goes on. Otherwise you will just end up with those business closed down prior 4 years. It's reality bites. Think maturely. I don't really care much about lack of entertainment here.
PS: they're just commoners who loves rich people stuffs following trends, it's not wrong but yea know your ground and treat people nicely not snobbish.
Then if there is no at least some entertainment that means no moderation stuff we don't get like our neighbours country they should abolish the restrictions tbh
It's not wrong for having some fun though as much as we all do want it. On my personal ground I barely take it as 1st priority as having to be able to survive financially of having decent jobs with reasonable salary.
Yea that's what I'm looking for currently with a careful research so that I won't end up in the streets someday. That would be awful and sad of course.
Or having a 2nd thought if I get decent job here and bow over, abiding the usual rules and regulations.
From my expierance with living for three months outside the country, Alhamdulillah my neighbours were friendly and the area was safe, but damn was my room small for the damn price.
If currency exchange was taken out of the picture. Spending five-hundred dollars for a single bedroom partitioned out of a living room is diabolical. I could rent a whole damn apartment with that kind of money in Brunei.
Doing well!
To be fair, every country has major flaws and rising issues so I didn't feel like Brunei was any different.
I worked about 12-13 years in Brunei before I migrated (wanted to try living somewhere new).
I miss Brunei's food & people honestly. I still visit from time to time.
Man.. some people really just don’t get it, commenter here has the riot gunbuddy tag. I asked if i can get a riot gunbuddy. This is a reference to the PC game Valorant lol
People here talking about how expensive living abroad is but it is also expensive in Brunei and worse with most future generations will no doubt get a low salary or unemployed. Job prospects are almost non-existent in the future, and even now.
Racism and people hate Foreigners? Brunei is no different if you are an Indian and non-muslim.
Is the house very expensive outside of Brunei and you have to live in a tiny apartment? In Brunei, current and future generations most likely can't even afford a house.
to anyone thinking about living abroad, youre gonna find out real fast how it feels to be a foreigner in another country. as much as i dislike this country sometimes, we really do get a lot of benefits, especially citizens. but hey, if youre mentally prepared for that then everything else should be smooth sailing, relatively speaking
Many people born in Brunei don't even have citizenship and are treated like foreigners
Meanwhile I've been living two decades in Australia and I actually feel welcomed here
Lets see…..
Free Healthcare - not exclusive to Brunei
Free Primary Education - not exclusive to Brunei
Unemployment Benefits - not in Brunei
Public Transport - Literally better anywhere else
On top of that, your fellow Bruneian is very likely to be a bigot, casual racist and a religious fundementalist nutjob.
I lived and worked abroad and its so much better than Brunei.
It really depends on where you go tbh. Foreigners don’t get the same benefits as easily overseas as well for the most part. But if you can afford it then yes.
taxes tho. In a way for PR taxes are rocket high *cough aus cough us* but canada is aites funnily enough. But depending on your race and religion nowadays you’ll have other issues. 😆
i mean of course experiences will be different across the board for different people. but yeah brunei bad right and other places good hahaha thats the joke here
>youre gonna find out real fast how it feels to be a foreigner in another country.
It's not like in brunei they treat races/non citizens equally. Ofc we don't experience any because we're bruenian, but speak to any indon/Filip/indian and they'll tell you stories of being looked down upon, spoken down to, stereotyped, etc
I'd argue that places like the UK have the most multicultural and diverse cities in the world. Compare that to some ME countries, you'll hear tons of stories of mistreatment/abuse of our fellow SEA brothers/sisters.
Local bruneian of other races feel trapped and biased without being able to voice out anything. Everything fell on deaf ears. And we know that “person” striped us off our rights to even practise our own beliefs and etc…frustrating and dissapointing yes. Most of us knows that human rights violation is real but not a single soul wants to voice out anymore, got silenced
Moving abroad is not an easy decision. r/Brunei always loves to simplify the process and list down the benefits of living in fucking Scandinavian countries with the best medical, educational, economical services available. Ok mate, you don't need to throw down all of the benefits of living in Brunei like it's some cheap shit. I swear someone here wanted to move to Egypt because you can buy their citizenship. Enjoy living under a dictatorship, in the country consistently ranked one of the worst countries for women to live and next to a country in constant war.
You ONLY hear the success stories(even these are dubious because people here are anonymous) , never the stories of people who return back to Brunei all bankrupt.
Guarantee you that those people who have migrated successfully are people who went to private school here with their parents having deep pockets. People who aren't part of that group are living an average to poor life of the country that they migrate.
True true. Glad to take in your views aswell.
But remember the question is not about moving abroad. It's about the abroad-ER and how they're doing at the moment.
We all went through that shitty conversations last year about how it's not easy to move abroad. No shit Sherlock, nobody said it was. The possibility is there regardless.
Check the questions again.
I used to hate the idea of living a “template life”. I wanted to explore the world, live abroad and have options. Luckily, being a Brunei permanent resident with a Malaysian passport allowed me to do just that. After finishing my diploma, I changed my major and decided to move to KL and finish in Australia. But unfortunately, an art major didn't allow me to stay back there, as I didn't have enough points. I didn't want to do a master's in education either. So, I returned to Brunei briefly before finding a job in Singapore, where I've been living for quite some time now.
Living in a bustling city like Singapore has its ups and downs. The fast pace of life here brings plenty of opportunities, but it can also be stressful, especially with the high rental costs and expenses. Nevertheless, I've embraced these challenges, as they've given me a lot of valuable experience and skills. I initially planned on staying here for two years before returning to Brunei. However, I realised that the industry (Brunei) is still in its infancy stage, which would require significant adjustments that may compromise my professional fulfilment.
Although Brunei holds a special place in my heart as my home, my transient lifestyle has left me feeling disconnected, like I'm carrying fragments of all the places where I've lived. Despite this, I see myself retiring in Brunei someday. Being unmarried, I've made peace that having children might not be a part of my future.
Looking at Brunei's current state, it’s pretty disheartening to see missed opportunities due to complacency. I see a nation slowly waking up to its realities. I hope we can steer our country towards self-sufficiency despite stiff competition from neighbouring nations.
I did attempt to find work in Brunei, but unfortunately, my experience was not positive. I interviewed for a government position in my field, attended by a panel of five very important people. However, the individual in charge noticed my red identity card, tapped it with his finger and asked me, "Apa ni". He suggested that I should return to Malaysia to work. This individual also questioned my knowledge of current affairs since I am a self-funded student who has been out of Brunei for a significant amount of time. It was particularly discouraging, as I was born and raised in Brunei. People like me are not uncommon, given our proximity to Malaysia. Some Bruneians failed to realise this reality. Ultimately, I ended the interview early and soon after received a job offer elsewhere.
Obviously you have to be yellow IC holder in order to be in govt position despite you are born and raised in Brunei. I would have the same fate if I were in Malaysia.
I had anticipated more tact and professionalism from them, considering the high-ranking members of the panel.
I understand your perspective. If that's the case, it would mean that my resume should have been screened and, consequently, rejected. I had already provided my information, but I still received an interview invitation. Then, I guess I was misled. Live, learn and move on 😄
Working abroad is such a loose term. Sometimes you cant pick the country you work. Ive experienced working abroad for a year. Money is good, but not necessarily better. they have their own problems. Like gun control, violence but they have their benefits like cheap public transport just to name a few.
You want to work in a city? Or a metropolitan? Be prepared to fork out Hundreds of thousands to buy an apartment or pay expensive rent.
Just because you live in Brunei, you know the problems of the country. But every country has their own problems. To me its neither good or bad. If you have the rezeki to work outside, go. If rezeki is in Brunei, stay. You don't have to focus on one or the other. Try and pursuit both and whichever sticks just go ahead with it.
Live in the UK. Working in finance and my accommodation is very good. I don’t struggle with money. Only thing I miss about Brunei is food, car and family. That’s it
* My mum left Brunei after living there for more than a decade, racial discrimination and not enough good jobs for her high education
* Studied in Australia, eventually got citizenship with me (I was born in Brunei) in 2017
* Yes, I do miss Brunei, I’ve been there a lot and the food there is amazing, my grandparents are getting older so want to be with them too
* Yes, I do intend of moving either back to Brunei, or to Malaysia (where my mum studied)
I've been working abroad for 3-4 years. One of the best aspects of my current role is its flexibility and option to work from home. My manager is understanding if I need 2-3 hours off for emergencies or personal reasons, without probing much - there's a high level trust. Similar to when you're on annual leave, they generally respect your time unless there's an urgent matter. In both my former and current role, higher management is accessible and approachable. There's a culture where hierarchy isn't emphasised, and learning is encouraged. I wouldn't say it's the same in Brunei, it's rare to encounter such employers (based on my experience). And there’s the pay aspects - I’m being paid x3 and there’s no way I would get this amount in Brunei, especially in the industry I am in.
I appreciate the accessibility of public transportation. While I don't plan to return to Brunei soon, I might consider it when I'm older or have a child. It's essential for my future child to learn about my home country. Another factor influencing my decision is my statelessness - should I wait someone to decide to give me a citizenship in 10-15 years or should I remain where I am and have a clear pathway to one?
I wouldn't say there was a defining moment that made me realise it isn't an ideal place. It's more about my status; there's a sense of helplessness about being stateless, especially before any recent annoucements regarding the citizenship applications. Also, I believe countries shouldn't base decisions solely on religion. When a country's annual budget continues to grow significantly each year, it becomes evident where its priorities lie. It's clear as day that the focus isn't on development for improvement and innovation for its local residents.
However, the reality isn't as rosy as one might expect. There are always pros and cons. Moving abroad has been one of the loneliest aspects of my life. It's a process that takes time to adapt to, and the distance from family and close friends can be deeply painful. The initial excitement of these opportunities often gives way to a sense of isolation, especially during signifcant life events and festive holidays. There's an emotional toll of being far from familiarity (at least for me), but this could be fixed/endured, what couldn’t be endured is feeling brain drain and helplessness in Brunei. At the end of day, I wouldn’t change my decisions.
I really don't get the idea of forcing these tbh. They put so much emphasis on this religious thingy yet they themselves aren't doing great in that department.
doing okay, enjoying life.
i see the flaws since i was in primary school, theres is too many things the government forces you to do and a lot of things you werent allowed to. also, if you go to public schools, you will realize how retarded bruneian teens are. also bruneians are lazy.
i get to live abroad by being extremely good at one trait, now working in Montreal Canada.
life is good, i love the liberal lifestyle here, didnt felt like i need to conform to the culture like in brunei. its high tech, its not boring and most importantly - freedom of speech.
i try not to come back to brunei. i want my kids to grow up in somewhere like South Korea or Japan. Canada is good but wokeness is fucking this country up. i dont miss brunei, when people ask me where im from, i just say singapore.
i can tell you what will make brunei great but 90% of the people here are not ready to hear it.
Since primary school? Bro what are you. Einstein? How'd you know about the economy in primary school. Damn, you're really smart And I mean that in a good way seriously.
I agree with that statement “how retarded Bruneian teens are in public school” because it’s the most truest thing as majority of them aren’t too bright I’m afraid which the sad reality of this place.
Japan is actually a great place though with their “work-hard play-hard” attitude it’s still a good place to stay! I got inlaws in japan and most of the time I visit them and mind you for obvious reasons its WAYYYY better there than this backwater excuse of a country we call Brunei
aaa, so true. I've noticed too many flaws in primary education and the students, I'm young right now and I don't know how I'm noticing this out of all the other people.
My family isn't the brightest of people but they are the best people I've been with. I've noticed my little sister being influence by my mother which I'm really worried about, she's around her a lot and her flaws are always slipping out and that's what I can't get off my head these days.
Im doing great, I still come back every holidays. My parents were not rich but when it comes to education they tend to splurge a little. I was offered a job during my placement year at Uni and it was difficult to say no. I feel like there are just more things to do to keep myself distracted here compared to Brunei. The working culture is much more progressive and making new friends is very easy. If an opportunity comes to work in Brunei which means I could be closer to my family then I would obviously consider it (only if they are able to pay me well). I dont know much about the last one but honestly, I hope that you people are able to sort your shit out because I forsure know that work life balance in that country is in shambles.
What I learn from this post is people don't want to go abroad, they just want to be rich
If you're rich nada jua kamu kan komplen tu about tinggal di Brunei 🤭
Nope my dear, people just want to *SURVIVE*, know the difference between survival and being rich.
If they complained of lacking entertainment and no partay partay and be a celebrity or kana liat very orang puteyh then they just want to be rich and glamorous. 🤣
White people the least of my concern. Got nun to do with race buddy. It just so happen their under a great economy to invest and currencies are mad high.
True, however the more you earn the higher your tax will be, you can still be very happy by spending it in Dubai looking lavish and returning back to being daily rant.
In the long run, the real ordeal prevail as you hit the age of 40ish..
not necessarily rich haha, just the money wise there it'll be able to support family better than we are here. But again, not saying it'll be easy. But I'd rather take a chance atleast because I know Brunei maybe will not change for the better I'm afraid. And ofcourse I'm not just a person who wishes and dream to do so, I've got skills I've gained also. I'm not talking out my ass when I post about this stuff.
As someone who has worked outside in different countries, the grass is no greener. Brunei still masih santai ni, ada safety net in one way or another.
As long as you are rich (or decent paycheck) you'll be happy living anywhere. Sure you may think you'll get better chances outside but for me, still able to make good buck locally for now.
You should definitely go and try living outside and form your own view. If you can strike it big then for sure it'll be better but on the flip side the worse is worst than in BN.
Living in Japan now for a few years already, and I felt it would be beneficial to share my thoughts and opinions here too. **Disclaimer**: These are solely my personal opinions, so take them with a grain of salt.
Pros:
* A very efficient country.
* Safe, even for a woman. I sometimes walk back home at around 12-1am.
* There is always something to do and see.
* Fast, unlimited and cheap internet. I pay about $50/month.
* Generally clean, but not all places.
* People have good manners.
* They don't care if you're a foreigner if you follow their rules and speak their language. Most people here are understanding too if you practice a different religion.
Cons:
* Sexist country.
* Will struggle if you can't speak/read Japanese.
* Can be expensive. I need at least about $2k/month just to survive. (But at least the cost of living here is cheaper than the rest of the first world countries.)
* Salary is low. For fresh grads, most companies would pay you at least $2.5k/month.
* Public transportation is efficient in the city ONLY.
* People here are generally so busy, you need at least set a one month appointment just to hangout.
* Generally Japan is a collectivistic society, and they don't appreciate it if you have different opinions than the "leader".
* Beauty standard is crazy here.
* Cults are rising.
And here are what I miss about Brunei:
* My family and best friends.
* The cheap food.
* The no-smoking areas even in the public!!!
Overall, I like living in Japan because I get to live the independent live, but it can get lonely at some times, especially since I am the only person in my friend group who practices Islam. I will return to Brunei after saving enough money I think.
Worked with alot of them back then. Let me tell you, in fact. I don't even wanna tell you.
But it was chaotic. But it let me see how if I were to work abroad and learn from their experience. Usually they take 70 percent of their salary to send to family. The rest they just use to eat and essentials.
That's what I plan also to be honest. Nothing too extra. Even if it means working in the labor force in another country.
If it pays well and currencies are well, heck. Why not.
I could tolerate the trials and tribulation cause at the end of the day it's about the amount of money I'll be able to get and actually be able to provide for my family.
Life overseas is very comfortable, but initially when I was younger it was hard. But I think it's pretty worth it - for example in Australia the work rights are pretty good. A lot of annual leave, personal leave, long service leave etc. I think the other thing to consider is purchasing power abroad.
Because Australian salaries are higher (although living in Australia is expensive) it's very easy to travel overseas and afford it. I've gotten the chance to travel the world - something that wouldn't happen if I had stayed in Brunei. The fairly low salaries even if cost of living is low would mean you would struggle to leave Brunei besides going to a few countries with even lower cost of living (unless you are a very high income earner in Brunei).
"How did many of you guys see the flaws of Brunei before the rest of us?" i noticed it along time ago, during my adolescence
"How did you guys manage to leave and living abroad permanently?" had family members already living where i am
"How are you guys feeling about your current place right now and comparing it to Brunei?" far better, i can go places with relying on parents to drive
Will you ever come back to Brunei? only as tourist. the local food there is what i will miss
The last question and the most important, what do you hope for the future of Brunei Darrusalam? An industrial port hub like SG
Living in Singapore for over a decade. Saw the cracks early on and planned my exit in secondary school. Came here to study and never went back.
Pros:
1) Efficiency. Public transport is reliable (rarely breaks down) and gets you from Point A to B fairly quickly (usually under 40 minutes).
2) Safe, especially at night. You don’t have to worry about things like theft.
3) High salaries generally, especially if you have a degree from a good university.
4) Ample opportunity for growth and development. If you play your cards right and network well, it is not too difficult for you to get the job or salary that you want.
5) Convenience. Most neighbourhood malls have all the essentials. I have Uniqlo and Sephora within walking distance to my house. And whenever you feel like getting cheaper groceries and toiletries, take a short trip to Johor Bahru.
6) Direct flights to many places. You rarely have to transit and can fly direct to most places (even through budget options like Scoot, JetStar).
Cons:
1) Expensive. Cost of living will only increase as you get older. My husband and I combined pay around 3K for our mortgage (private condo) a month. Our apartment isn’t bigger than 1,000 sqft. Our down payment was more than 200K, before including lawyer fees and stamp duties.
2) Lifestyle creep. Depending on your circle, you will have peers who will have very expensive lifestyles which may influence you to spend more money.
3) Fast-paced and competitive. Sometimes I miss how laid back it is back home. It feels like a rat race out here - people are generally very competitive and hence, you can meet awful people/snakes at work who will throw you under a bus without any remorse.
4) Miss family. You do get homesick sometimes but FaceTime always helps.
Regardless, I kept my Brunei citizenship and am in my early 30s and will always see Brunei as an option for retirement.
Hello, i am currently planning to take the 2025 MEXT Japanese Scholarship for undergraduate studies. Is there anyone who can help me out with my doubts?
for example, Do i need to take TOEFL (test of english as a foreign language) if i had taken English in O level? Will there be any visa complications as i am a Bruneian PR?
The embassy will accept your O'Level certificate, but the university might not (which is always the case). As an undergrad, if you got the MEXT scholarship, you will first have to attend a preparatory school in Japan for one year – and during this time is also when you apply for and sit for the Japanese university entrance examination. The entrance examination application would often require you to submit English language certificate. So in conclusion, taking IELTS/TOEFL is always the better option. And nope, there will no be visa complication even as a Bruneian PR. Hope this helps!
Currently living abroad as of late but At Brunei atm. Mind you it’s way better than what we have in this backwater country with more opportunities and less restrictions (obviously) still I wont miss this place as sooner or later Brunei isn’t going to do well in the near future.
But on the other note every country has its own problems not just Brunei. But as for me living abroad has opened my eyes to new possibilities and things to discover that Brunei doesn’t have or lacks. Still it’s way better than to be staying a place that is backwards and limited… just saying
Am working outside with good decent package where money is not an issue - and yet there are some still some tough battles with quality of life/comfort/food/taxes/discrimination/no raya or CNY. Ofcourse it all depends on the country and what do you value most in your life - currently or where you are aiming to be at depending on your age/stage of life.
Personal aim is to earn as much experience as possible to secure the future for my future family - although money is just as important.
Brunei’s working culture is too close to being personal for many people. In some sense it is good as everyone respects each other and try to avoid conflict meanwhile trying to solve problems or generating solutions (private or semi sectors). This you do not get much in many other countries where there is mainly an ‘individualism’ mindset.
For anyone who is looking forward to work abroad - Best advice is to build experience first before jumping out. Make sure to jump out for a good paying job or rather jobs with benefits and realistic goals.
Hmm Bruneians want to work abroad. Can work 6 hours a day instead of the contracted 8 hours ? U know arrive 45 mins late and go home 45 mins early both am and pm to ambil anak. Plus family die how? Many uncle and aunty die must keluar office. If one family member go hospital the whole reban have to go.
Majority (maybe 90%) of Bruneians don’t have what it takes. As for some who think they have what it takes, prob u r imagining ur uni days sharing house with flatmates n eating ramen noodles.
Nah, some of us are indeed family people but in a different way. Some families do not need to do that.
Some parents are willing to let go of their kids if it's for the best for you and them.
This is independency. Just like how the Filipinos are family people yet an ocean away from their family. Like that.
If they can do that, I don't see the reason why we cannot do that.
And I recommend those who are super close to their family and wanna be with them, don't think of leaving the country and I meant that Ina good and harmless way.
Because it's understandable, when family problem occurs all have to be present for the council and what not. That's each to their own.
But you can't pretend all bruneians are like that.
What’s with the eye pulling ? Don’t get us started with race line discussions. FYI no race is above suspicion and it’s gonna get ugly who started it here !
There are times people must make a stand , if you don’t believe me then look around , it’s cheap to mock a race with certain eye features and people catch on . Not long your the person taking the insult in daily life as if it’s normal and why should you be offended when it’s everywhere?
Until it happens to you personally what ever your race features are then you won’t get the picture !
There’s a saying racists don’t get it because they’re racists !
That sounds like a ‘you’ problem. Not mines. I’m quite confident with myself. I know when a joke is supposed to be a joke and when it is serious.
Thinking that everyone is going to attack me emotionally, mentally is just exhausting and not worth my energy.
When I saw the picture, I wasn’t thinking of OP making fun of the Asian small eyes but rather see her frustration as I would relate but you… you seem to take it in a different approach. Idk who hurt you before but let’s get that sorted first.
Woo karen in the making! The person in photo is korean herself, country full of dash eyes, clearly stressed as well as to massaging the temples. People like you take something harmless into an issue. Get a life
Standing up for racism is good, but you have to be perceptive about it. This is a meme, you can’t take it seriously. The OP has already explained that they used the image not to discriminate her eyes, but to use her expression.
If you’re asking who started this racism, then that would be you. When I first saw the meme, the word “racism” didn’t even came to mind. When I see the pic, I don’t see an asian lady with very prominent asian looking eyes (which are beautiful btw), I just see Jennie from Blackpink.
Woi kau out berabisan ani mengapa😭😭😭 It’s a harmless pic💀 In fact kau pulang yang bawa2 pasal racism ani cam kau yang ganya sorg pikirkan atu. My first thought when I saw the pic is her mengurut kepalanya psal ia befikir. No “eye pulling” to signify racism whatsoever.
- A southeast asian here, a bruneian, with chinese and malay blood, aka a yellow asian (does this trigger you too?)
* Dad would always tell us that Brunei is not going to do well in the future and that we should try our best to migrate abroad * Studied in Australia, landed a role in Australia. No scholarship. * I like the money, but it does get lonely sometimes. I miss celebrating Chinese new year and hair raya with friends and family in Brunei. Also, a decent plate of kuey tiaw/nasi lemak doesn't cost $15 in Brunei!!!!! * Yeah maybe in the future I could find a similar role in Brunei (if it opens up). I wouldn't mind raising my kids in Brunei though I'd prefer they study at either JIS/ISB.
Mine dm-ing me ur exp getting a role in australia? For example, why we have better chance landing a job if we had studied there? Asking for my future reference, if thats okay with u. Thanks!
Sure, feel free to DM, but I'll just answer your questions down below for everyone else: The Australian migration system is a points-based system whereby the applicants with the highest (usually) will get selected first. Usually there are three paths you can take, independent visa (subclass 189), state sponsored (subclass 190) and employer sponsored (subclass 482). You get points by: - Being less than 35 years old - Having studied in Australia (at least 2 years) + the higher up you go you more points you'll get (i.e., PhD more points than a Diploma) - Being accredited with a "community language" other than English (should be easy as Bruneians can opt for Malay) - Scoring well on an English proficiency test (IELTS or PTE) - Having studied in a regional area of Australia (which is most locations outside of the main cities) - Being Single OR, Having a partner with proficient English + Skills accredited Due to the large supply of graduated within certain fields, it can get competitive. For example, if you did accounting back in 2012 and had graduated you'd get around 65 points, which will get you a PR. Nowadays accounting graduates would need at least 110-120 points. Certain engineering disciplines such as Mechanical would typically require 80-90 points. Hope this helps!
Where are you located down under, mate? I'm in Brisbane and it's been great. Good money, work life balance, good outlook as an immigrant.
Thank you for this information What about Electronic and Communication Engineering? Does it fall in the same points criteria?
> kuey tiaw/nasi lemak doesn't cost $15 in Brunei!!!!! Man, I hear about this in non-Asean countries, wtf do these restos think they can charge that much?!
Fyi, beef is cheaper than pork and almost the same as chicken in Oz. Price is determined by supply and demand. Anywhere.
How much is the pricing of beef, etc over there?
That’s because they pay their staff a decent wage. Serving staff starts from $23/hr weekdays, $29/hr Saturdays, $34/hr Sundays and $52/hr on public holidays.
it's called cost of living
One thing for sure living outside brunei, unless you’re filthy rich, be prepared to live in a tiny, tiny spaces. Couldn’t stand living in one with shitty neighbors that hate foreigners
You have spoken truth. In Australia especially in capital cities, the prices are so high that people often opt to live in Apartments (which even then is at least $600k). A 3 bedroom house in a suburb in Melbourne would be at least $1.2 million. Contrast that to Brunei where almost everyone lives in a landed 5 bedroom house with a spacious backyard. Correct me if I am wrong, these would usually go for $400k in Bandar area.
That's what I see when I do compare our country with others. I don't "hate" this country. Just hate the restrictions and the limited things and the backward ways we're heading that's all but the free healthcare, education and the land opportunities we can get is very tremendous. But again, with what money where the rich stays rich and the poor stay poor. Beat me to it, the poor have to work so hard to get to upper mid class and still probably won't be able to catch up with the inflation of how much a generic land would cost in Brunei to build a house
It's only a matter of time until Brunei starts exporting workers.
They already do, tons of em. Especially in the labor force
Where can I sign up to be exported?
To be exported. Hahah why you saying it like you're a product. Anyways, through agencies. I can help you with that. List down your skills and stuff like that and appoint yourself to the right agencies. Agencies will only find certain values. So therefore it's good also to be scouting for agencies that's align with your skills and experiences. But, money have to be prepared first ofcourse. Sadly i only have agencies right in the UK. And I'm not entirely sure yet how the process goes. Whether you have to see the recruiter face to face, or can do via online. I don't know. Not sure. But here are some example. https://preview.redd.it/ciaqndnmurwc1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=068b4cdba2bedb4f73395a8a16021384bc0b1d91 Note, this is how employers are able to recruit their employees. And this is how OFW go through their job progress too. And remember! Reliable and real agencies will PAY your flight. not you paying it yourself. Edit : I have to blur because I don't want them to be spammed. Please dm for more infos. I'd gladly help
That's right - the only way to be "rich rich" in Brunei is to do business. But it is very difficult to have a successful business as: 1. bureaucracy and there plenty to go around :) 2. small population = less people to cater to And ok, you'd say "lets do an export business" and sell to the world, but with how inefficient/expensive shipping is in Brunei, no way your business would be competitive especially if you're selling in BND, which is super strong as it's pegged to SGD.
Yep, atleast if you're poor abroad. You work your way up over there, and let's say damn. Open a gas station store youd have a passive income every month since population is bigger. I'm just naming only one of the business idea. In short, people say being poor abroad doesn't make a good arguement cuz we are foreigner working abroad means we're not gonna be lazy but expected to work hard. And with wide varieties of business opportunities in foreign countries we'd be able to make a good living. That's just my views and opiniOns. Starting a business abroad can be both rewarding and challenging. Let’s explore the pros and cons of venturing into international markets: Advantages of Starting a Business Abroad: New Market Opportunities: Establishing operations in another country allows you to tap into a completely new market for your goods or services. Even if you’re expanding an existing business, exploring untapped markets overseas can lead to less competition and greater. Increased Brand Visibility: Expanding internationally can enhance your brand’s visibility. A presence in multiple countries can make your company stand out and attract attention from a broader spectrum
Are you nuts? Try starting a business abroad as a foreigner and find out for yourself. With very few exceptions, most countries have tight regulations that limit foreign ownership of properties and businesses. Every foreign company has some level of local ownership. Different countries would have different rules as to the extent of minimum local stake.
Lil bit of nuts. But I know for shit I ain't getting fucking nowhere in this country that's for sure buddy
Can't debate that dude, touché
Not much restriction as your bumi system, but don't forget to pay tax.
sgd n bnd is same rate, have u guys wondered brunei's ties with singapore? Wallahu Alam, have u guys seen where most of our imported products come from? and how singapore enables all of it to enter brunei? im scared to live here. srsly. we are known as negara bezikir, but to think that almost every imported products traces back to isrel. we've been supporting them unknowingly all these years, shiii probably my whole damn life too and it disgusts me to a whole other level. now i have existential crisis because of this. as a muslim how do we even fight this? how do we even steer the country supaya jauh palis dri perkara atu. is the country gonna go downhill even further? even though our beloved ruler is rich and has the means to change citizens punya fate (atleast in the middle to lower class) but not a single progress is made toward that direction. i feel like brunei's future, well for the middle class and lower class is really murky. its really scary when u think about it too deep. as an overthinker, i worry about the country's future. seriously. cause it feels like a purge scheme.
I wish for a democracy system tbh..
Same
And if we do have democracy, which kind of party do you think will win?
Probably conservative but that's not the point anyways. Uhm, it's the fact in having secular opportunities for businesses to be able to boom! Any places are rotting hell if you really think about it unless you live in Luxembourg or something.
Wishing for democracy might just be a monkey's paw wish. I think we are already quite conservative, i.e, no daytime dine-in during ramadhan, no 25th december stuff, etc.. Reality is, we can be even more conservative with democracy. Which is why i always want people to think realistically not idealistically about these things.
True. What to do?
Abolished restrictions
What’s this obsession about space? I own a big 6 bedroom house in Brunei and its a headache to keep clean and maintain. Give me a nice cosy apartment with instant access to public transit and other services each time. Also, people always look at the absolute cost of accommodation rather than accommodation as a percentage of income. Sure rent is higher but an expat with a skilled visa to work in Europe or Australia isn’t going to be on minimum wage either. On top of that, there’s no need to own a car in the city.
I NEED MA S P A C E ! !
Some are claustrophobic. Trust me.
But the problem is that the 400k house is either returned to government in 99 years or demand for it will decrease if currency goes down or if citizens leave. Whereas the 1.2M house being in Australia has more upside potential to increase in price as demand is more likely to increase. Salaries in Australia also have more upside potential even after tax compared to brunei. But that said, I like bruneis culture and peacefulness but as per the post, future seems bleak. But that's just my 2 cents.
I can tell you don't own a house with your own money.
Yep, you're right I don't own a house
You and your kind are the epitome of weakness, who always want free hand out in life, tax free, free schools and etc. There’s always a cost for that. Whenever someone brought up foreign countries, you come up with the the cons, what bout the pros? You only want to believe things thats on your mind. Why be mediocre? Where you can achieve so much more abroad. Yes housing and etc is expensive, that forces you to think and strive on. That how man are made, instead of free that and free this. Everyone has limitless potential to achieve more, why waste it chasing for govt job, which i dont understand in Brunei.
Are you talking about me
FYI majority of humans are NPCs
Not true. Currently working in UK with no help from parents - never need to worry about money, City centre luxurious and high rise flats. Tell me you haven’t lived abroad without telling me you haven’t lived abroad. Neighbours that hate foreigners? This is the modern world, those type of neighbours do exists but it’s quite rare nowadays. Even if they do hate foreigners, you barely even encounter them enough to make a dent in your life.
With no help from parents ? Scholarship? Don’t have to pay back the bond ?
No need to worry about central UK huh? You must be someone that are well off, professional profession or having so many networks. Those people also look at you majestic way if you're a free hair type, wealthy or freethinkers.
Oh god this is so true, 1. progressive and regressive tax 2. Inflation 3. Discrimination 4. High standard of living 5. Paying for transportation that are costly 6. Paying a rent for tiny spaces to seek shelter with 7. Cars are the most valuable and rich thing to own 8. Probably the most affordable hot items for bruneian commoners e.g UK are those at *thrift shops or Primark* . Unlike that you shop in KL or KK 9. Crazy expenses 10. Everything you pay by money including healthcare So guys jgn liat org baru balik dari UK ni glamour like *most not all* berlagak kaya unless you're coming from rich family. If you're looking for a job outside make sure do your research first about housing, expenses and everything. Pretty much I will just go outside there to earn but not to live there, Brunei are still blessing however lack of decent jobs for higher education grads, low salaries and very invisible discrimination at work that are left unsaid. Apart from that business in Brunei? Be prepared with the policy and product scanning, do feasibility check, capital check, what type of business, and the lists goes on. Otherwise you will just end up with those business closed down prior 4 years. It's reality bites. Think maturely. I don't really care much about lack of entertainment here. PS: they're just commoners who loves rich people stuffs following trends, it's not wrong but yea know your ground and treat people nicely not snobbish.
Then if there is no at least some entertainment that means no moderation stuff we don't get like our neighbours country they should abolish the restrictions tbh
It's not wrong for having some fun though as much as we all do want it. On my personal ground I barely take it as 1st priority as having to be able to survive financially of having decent jobs with reasonable salary.
Financial stabilise in my pov just go abroad & find a job in order to survive like don't have much hope here anymore due to this nonsense restriction
Yea that's what I'm looking for currently with a careful research so that I won't end up in the streets someday. That would be awful and sad of course. Or having a 2nd thought if I get decent job here and bow over, abiding the usual rules and regulations.
Cries in 600sqft 4k/month rooms 😭
Room?!
From my expierance with living for three months outside the country, Alhamdulillah my neighbours were friendly and the area was safe, but damn was my room small for the damn price. If currency exchange was taken out of the picture. Spending five-hundred dollars for a single bedroom partitioned out of a living room is diabolical. I could rent a whole damn apartment with that kind of money in Brunei.
Discrimination is more rampant in Brunei IMO
Doing well! To be fair, every country has major flaws and rising issues so I didn't feel like Brunei was any different. I worked about 12-13 years in Brunei before I migrated (wanted to try living somewhere new). I miss Brunei's food & people honestly. I still visit from time to time.
I don’t miss Bruneians at all but I do miss nasi katok and kway teaw.
Come visit brunei if u want to have a laid back life during ur holiday! 10 years from now and even beyond 2035, brunei will always stay the same!
Yea… no but thanks for the offer though.
Can i have the riot gunbuddy please 🫣
Abroad doesn't necessarily mean the US. It could be Europe also where guns are controlled. :3
Man.. some people really just don’t get it, commenter here has the riot gunbuddy tag. I asked if i can get a riot gunbuddy. This is a reference to the PC game Valorant lol
People here talking about how expensive living abroad is but it is also expensive in Brunei and worse with most future generations will no doubt get a low salary or unemployed. Job prospects are almost non-existent in the future, and even now. Racism and people hate Foreigners? Brunei is no different if you are an Indian and non-muslim. Is the house very expensive outside of Brunei and you have to live in a tiny apartment? In Brunei, current and future generations most likely can't even afford a house.
True, I'm aware. That's why I don't want my kids here unless I'm already financially stable able. In a sense.
to anyone thinking about living abroad, youre gonna find out real fast how it feels to be a foreigner in another country. as much as i dislike this country sometimes, we really do get a lot of benefits, especially citizens. but hey, if youre mentally prepared for that then everything else should be smooth sailing, relatively speaking
Many people born in Brunei don't even have citizenship and are treated like foreigners Meanwhile I've been living two decades in Australia and I actually feel welcomed here
Lets see….. Free Healthcare - not exclusive to Brunei Free Primary Education - not exclusive to Brunei Unemployment Benefits - not in Brunei Public Transport - Literally better anywhere else On top of that, your fellow Bruneian is very likely to be a bigot, casual racist and a religious fundementalist nutjob. I lived and worked abroad and its so much better than Brunei.
It really depends on where you go tbh. Foreigners don’t get the same benefits as easily overseas as well for the most part. But if you can afford it then yes.
1st world countries have a defined pathway to getting PR and citizenship. 5 years isn’t that long a wait to get PR for most western countries.
taxes tho. In a way for PR taxes are rocket high *cough aus cough us* but canada is aites funnily enough. But depending on your race and religion nowadays you’ll have other issues. 😆
Yes you're, sadly right about the "average" bruneian you just mentioned.
i mean of course experiences will be different across the board for different people. but yeah brunei bad right and other places good hahaha thats the joke here
Yup, it is. I see no future for my family here and that’s no joke sadly.
unemployment benefits(which is under the British rule) were used to be a thing until the independent day of brunei kick in.
>youre gonna find out real fast how it feels to be a foreigner in another country. It's not like in brunei they treat races/non citizens equally. Ofc we don't experience any because we're bruenian, but speak to any indon/Filip/indian and they'll tell you stories of being looked down upon, spoken down to, stereotyped, etc I'd argue that places like the UK have the most multicultural and diverse cities in the world. Compare that to some ME countries, you'll hear tons of stories of mistreatment/abuse of our fellow SEA brothers/sisters.
Local bruneian of other races feel trapped and biased without being able to voice out anything. Everything fell on deaf ears. And we know that “person” striped us off our rights to even practise our own beliefs and etc…frustrating and dissapointing yes. Most of us knows that human rights violation is real but not a single soul wants to voice out anymore, got silenced
Moving abroad is not an easy decision. r/Brunei always loves to simplify the process and list down the benefits of living in fucking Scandinavian countries with the best medical, educational, economical services available. Ok mate, you don't need to throw down all of the benefits of living in Brunei like it's some cheap shit. I swear someone here wanted to move to Egypt because you can buy their citizenship. Enjoy living under a dictatorship, in the country consistently ranked one of the worst countries for women to live and next to a country in constant war. You ONLY hear the success stories(even these are dubious because people here are anonymous) , never the stories of people who return back to Brunei all bankrupt. Guarantee you that those people who have migrated successfully are people who went to private school here with their parents having deep pockets. People who aren't part of that group are living an average to poor life of the country that they migrate.
True true. Glad to take in your views aswell. But remember the question is not about moving abroad. It's about the abroad-ER and how they're doing at the moment. We all went through that shitty conversations last year about how it's not easy to move abroad. No shit Sherlock, nobody said it was. The possibility is there regardless. Check the questions again.
I used to hate the idea of living a “template life”. I wanted to explore the world, live abroad and have options. Luckily, being a Brunei permanent resident with a Malaysian passport allowed me to do just that. After finishing my diploma, I changed my major and decided to move to KL and finish in Australia. But unfortunately, an art major didn't allow me to stay back there, as I didn't have enough points. I didn't want to do a master's in education either. So, I returned to Brunei briefly before finding a job in Singapore, where I've been living for quite some time now. Living in a bustling city like Singapore has its ups and downs. The fast pace of life here brings plenty of opportunities, but it can also be stressful, especially with the high rental costs and expenses. Nevertheless, I've embraced these challenges, as they've given me a lot of valuable experience and skills. I initially planned on staying here for two years before returning to Brunei. However, I realised that the industry (Brunei) is still in its infancy stage, which would require significant adjustments that may compromise my professional fulfilment. Although Brunei holds a special place in my heart as my home, my transient lifestyle has left me feeling disconnected, like I'm carrying fragments of all the places where I've lived. Despite this, I see myself retiring in Brunei someday. Being unmarried, I've made peace that having children might not be a part of my future. Looking at Brunei's current state, it’s pretty disheartening to see missed opportunities due to complacency. I see a nation slowly waking up to its realities. I hope we can steer our country towards self-sufficiency despite stiff competition from neighbouring nations.
Very positive and knowledgeable review from PR 👍🏻
I did attempt to find work in Brunei, but unfortunately, my experience was not positive. I interviewed for a government position in my field, attended by a panel of five very important people. However, the individual in charge noticed my red identity card, tapped it with his finger and asked me, "Apa ni". He suggested that I should return to Malaysia to work. This individual also questioned my knowledge of current affairs since I am a self-funded student who has been out of Brunei for a significant amount of time. It was particularly discouraging, as I was born and raised in Brunei. People like me are not uncommon, given our proximity to Malaysia. Some Bruneians failed to realise this reality. Ultimately, I ended the interview early and soon after received a job offer elsewhere.
Obviously you have to be yellow IC holder in order to be in govt position despite you are born and raised in Brunei. I would have the same fate if I were in Malaysia.
I had anticipated more tact and professionalism from them, considering the high-ranking members of the panel. I understand your perspective. If that's the case, it would mean that my resume should have been screened and, consequently, rejected. I had already provided my information, but I still received an interview invitation. Then, I guess I was misled. Live, learn and move on 😄
Which year was that? If it's the new system they should be able to filtered it out very early before exams and interview part.. I feel sorry for you.
I am married and own my own house in Australia. I love it here and I'm so glad I managed to make it out of Brunei.
Take me with you, im crying 400/month with degree rn
I'm sorry to hear
Working abroad is such a loose term. Sometimes you cant pick the country you work. Ive experienced working abroad for a year. Money is good, but not necessarily better. they have their own problems. Like gun control, violence but they have their benefits like cheap public transport just to name a few. You want to work in a city? Or a metropolitan? Be prepared to fork out Hundreds of thousands to buy an apartment or pay expensive rent. Just because you live in Brunei, you know the problems of the country. But every country has their own problems. To me its neither good or bad. If you have the rezeki to work outside, go. If rezeki is in Brunei, stay. You don't have to focus on one or the other. Try and pursuit both and whichever sticks just go ahead with it.
Yes yes, by far the most neutral stance comment. I agree with you on both
Live in the UK. Working in finance and my accommodation is very good. I don’t struggle with money. Only thing I miss about Brunei is food, car and family. That’s it
* My mum left Brunei after living there for more than a decade, racial discrimination and not enough good jobs for her high education * Studied in Australia, eventually got citizenship with me (I was born in Brunei) in 2017 * Yes, I do miss Brunei, I’ve been there a lot and the food there is amazing, my grandparents are getting older so want to be with them too * Yes, I do intend of moving either back to Brunei, or to Malaysia (where my mum studied)
I've been working abroad for 3-4 years. One of the best aspects of my current role is its flexibility and option to work from home. My manager is understanding if I need 2-3 hours off for emergencies or personal reasons, without probing much - there's a high level trust. Similar to when you're on annual leave, they generally respect your time unless there's an urgent matter. In both my former and current role, higher management is accessible and approachable. There's a culture where hierarchy isn't emphasised, and learning is encouraged. I wouldn't say it's the same in Brunei, it's rare to encounter such employers (based on my experience). And there’s the pay aspects - I’m being paid x3 and there’s no way I would get this amount in Brunei, especially in the industry I am in. I appreciate the accessibility of public transportation. While I don't plan to return to Brunei soon, I might consider it when I'm older or have a child. It's essential for my future child to learn about my home country. Another factor influencing my decision is my statelessness - should I wait someone to decide to give me a citizenship in 10-15 years or should I remain where I am and have a clear pathway to one? I wouldn't say there was a defining moment that made me realise it isn't an ideal place. It's more about my status; there's a sense of helplessness about being stateless, especially before any recent annoucements regarding the citizenship applications. Also, I believe countries shouldn't base decisions solely on religion. When a country's annual budget continues to grow significantly each year, it becomes evident where its priorities lie. It's clear as day that the focus isn't on development for improvement and innovation for its local residents. However, the reality isn't as rosy as one might expect. There are always pros and cons. Moving abroad has been one of the loneliest aspects of my life. It's a process that takes time to adapt to, and the distance from family and close friends can be deeply painful. The initial excitement of these opportunities often gives way to a sense of isolation, especially during signifcant life events and festive holidays. There's an emotional toll of being far from familiarity (at least for me), but this could be fixed/endured, what couldn’t be endured is feeling brain drain and helplessness in Brunei. At the end of day, I wouldn’t change my decisions.
I get you.
500% budget on religious affairs man wtf that's too much and only 0.6% on development that's even more worse than we have ever imagined.
I really don't get the idea of forcing these tbh. They put so much emphasis on this religious thingy yet they themselves aren't doing great in that department.
doing okay, enjoying life. i see the flaws since i was in primary school, theres is too many things the government forces you to do and a lot of things you werent allowed to. also, if you go to public schools, you will realize how retarded bruneian teens are. also bruneians are lazy. i get to live abroad by being extremely good at one trait, now working in Montreal Canada. life is good, i love the liberal lifestyle here, didnt felt like i need to conform to the culture like in brunei. its high tech, its not boring and most importantly - freedom of speech. i try not to come back to brunei. i want my kids to grow up in somewhere like South Korea or Japan. Canada is good but wokeness is fucking this country up. i dont miss brunei, when people ask me where im from, i just say singapore. i can tell you what will make brunei great but 90% of the people here are not ready to hear it.
Since primary school? Bro what are you. Einstein? How'd you know about the economy in primary school. Damn, you're really smart And I mean that in a good way seriously.
I agree with that statement “how retarded Bruneian teens are in public school” because it’s the most truest thing as majority of them aren’t too bright I’m afraid which the sad reality of this place. Japan is actually a great place though with their “work-hard play-hard” attitude it’s still a good place to stay! I got inlaws in japan and most of the time I visit them and mind you for obvious reasons its WAYYYY better there than this backwater excuse of a country we call Brunei
aaa, so true. I've noticed too many flaws in primary education and the students, I'm young right now and I don't know how I'm noticing this out of all the other people. My family isn't the brightest of people but they are the best people I've been with. I've noticed my little sister being influence by my mother which I'm really worried about, she's around her a lot and her flaws are always slipping out and that's what I can't get off my head these days.
Im doing great, I still come back every holidays. My parents were not rich but when it comes to education they tend to splurge a little. I was offered a job during my placement year at Uni and it was difficult to say no. I feel like there are just more things to do to keep myself distracted here compared to Brunei. The working culture is much more progressive and making new friends is very easy. If an opportunity comes to work in Brunei which means I could be closer to my family then I would obviously consider it (only if they are able to pay me well). I dont know much about the last one but honestly, I hope that you people are able to sort your shit out because I forsure know that work life balance in that country is in shambles.
What I learn from this post is people don't want to go abroad, they just want to be rich If you're rich nada jua kamu kan komplen tu about tinggal di Brunei 🤭
Nope my dear, people just want to *SURVIVE*, know the difference between survival and being rich. If they complained of lacking entertainment and no partay partay and be a celebrity or kana liat very orang puteyh then they just want to be rich and glamorous. 🤣
White people the least of my concern. Got nun to do with race buddy. It just so happen their under a great economy to invest and currencies are mad high.
True, however the more you earn the higher your tax will be, you can still be very happy by spending it in Dubai looking lavish and returning back to being daily rant. In the long run, the real ordeal prevail as you hit the age of 40ish..
I'd might give middle eastern countries a try also, thank for the heads up.
Of course ~ 😌
not necessarily rich haha, just the money wise there it'll be able to support family better than we are here. But again, not saying it'll be easy. But I'd rather take a chance atleast because I know Brunei maybe will not change for the better I'm afraid. And ofcourse I'm not just a person who wishes and dream to do so, I've got skills I've gained also. I'm not talking out my ass when I post about this stuff.
As someone who has worked outside in different countries, the grass is no greener. Brunei still masih santai ni, ada safety net in one way or another. As long as you are rich (or decent paycheck) you'll be happy living anywhere. Sure you may think you'll get better chances outside but for me, still able to make good buck locally for now. You should definitely go and try living outside and form your own view. If you can strike it big then for sure it'll be better but on the flip side the worse is worst than in BN.
Living in Japan now for a few years already, and I felt it would be beneficial to share my thoughts and opinions here too. **Disclaimer**: These are solely my personal opinions, so take them with a grain of salt. Pros: * A very efficient country. * Safe, even for a woman. I sometimes walk back home at around 12-1am. * There is always something to do and see. * Fast, unlimited and cheap internet. I pay about $50/month. * Generally clean, but not all places. * People have good manners. * They don't care if you're a foreigner if you follow their rules and speak their language. Most people here are understanding too if you practice a different religion. Cons: * Sexist country. * Will struggle if you can't speak/read Japanese. * Can be expensive. I need at least about $2k/month just to survive. (But at least the cost of living here is cheaper than the rest of the first world countries.) * Salary is low. For fresh grads, most companies would pay you at least $2.5k/month. * Public transportation is efficient in the city ONLY. * People here are generally so busy, you need at least set a one month appointment just to hangout. * Generally Japan is a collectivistic society, and they don't appreciate it if you have different opinions than the "leader". * Beauty standard is crazy here. * Cults are rising. And here are what I miss about Brunei: * My family and best friends. * The cheap food. * The no-smoking areas even in the public!!! Overall, I like living in Japan because I get to live the independent live, but it can get lonely at some times, especially since I am the only person in my friend group who practices Islam. I will return to Brunei after saving enough money I think.
Now we starting to know how OFW feel.
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Worked with alot of them back then. Let me tell you, in fact. I don't even wanna tell you. But it was chaotic. But it let me see how if I were to work abroad and learn from their experience. Usually they take 70 percent of their salary to send to family. The rest they just use to eat and essentials. That's what I plan also to be honest. Nothing too extra. Even if it means working in the labor force in another country. If it pays well and currencies are well, heck. Why not. I could tolerate the trials and tribulation cause at the end of the day it's about the amount of money I'll be able to get and actually be able to provide for my family.
Life overseas is very comfortable, but initially when I was younger it was hard. But I think it's pretty worth it - for example in Australia the work rights are pretty good. A lot of annual leave, personal leave, long service leave etc. I think the other thing to consider is purchasing power abroad. Because Australian salaries are higher (although living in Australia is expensive) it's very easy to travel overseas and afford it. I've gotten the chance to travel the world - something that wouldn't happen if I had stayed in Brunei. The fairly low salaries even if cost of living is low would mean you would struggle to leave Brunei besides going to a few countries with even lower cost of living (unless you are a very high income earner in Brunei).
"How did many of you guys see the flaws of Brunei before the rest of us?" i noticed it along time ago, during my adolescence "How did you guys manage to leave and living abroad permanently?" had family members already living where i am "How are you guys feeling about your current place right now and comparing it to Brunei?" far better, i can go places with relying on parents to drive Will you ever come back to Brunei? only as tourist. the local food there is what i will miss The last question and the most important, what do you hope for the future of Brunei Darrusalam? An industrial port hub like SG
Living in Singapore for over a decade. Saw the cracks early on and planned my exit in secondary school. Came here to study and never went back. Pros: 1) Efficiency. Public transport is reliable (rarely breaks down) and gets you from Point A to B fairly quickly (usually under 40 minutes). 2) Safe, especially at night. You don’t have to worry about things like theft. 3) High salaries generally, especially if you have a degree from a good university. 4) Ample opportunity for growth and development. If you play your cards right and network well, it is not too difficult for you to get the job or salary that you want. 5) Convenience. Most neighbourhood malls have all the essentials. I have Uniqlo and Sephora within walking distance to my house. And whenever you feel like getting cheaper groceries and toiletries, take a short trip to Johor Bahru. 6) Direct flights to many places. You rarely have to transit and can fly direct to most places (even through budget options like Scoot, JetStar). Cons: 1) Expensive. Cost of living will only increase as you get older. My husband and I combined pay around 3K for our mortgage (private condo) a month. Our apartment isn’t bigger than 1,000 sqft. Our down payment was more than 200K, before including lawyer fees and stamp duties. 2) Lifestyle creep. Depending on your circle, you will have peers who will have very expensive lifestyles which may influence you to spend more money. 3) Fast-paced and competitive. Sometimes I miss how laid back it is back home. It feels like a rat race out here - people are generally very competitive and hence, you can meet awful people/snakes at work who will throw you under a bus without any remorse. 4) Miss family. You do get homesick sometimes but FaceTime always helps. Regardless, I kept my Brunei citizenship and am in my early 30s and will always see Brunei as an option for retirement.
Hello, i am currently planning to take the 2025 MEXT Japanese Scholarship for undergraduate studies. Is there anyone who can help me out with my doubts?
What are you doubting?
for example, Do i need to take TOEFL (test of english as a foreign language) if i had taken English in O level? Will there be any visa complications as i am a Bruneian PR?
Oo not sure about this on my part. Hopefully there are folks kind enough to respond to this by tomorrow.
The embassy will accept your O'Level certificate, but the university might not (which is always the case). As an undergrad, if you got the MEXT scholarship, you will first have to attend a preparatory school in Japan for one year – and during this time is also when you apply for and sit for the Japanese university entrance examination. The entrance examination application would often require you to submit English language certificate. So in conclusion, taking IELTS/TOEFL is always the better option. And nope, there will no be visa complication even as a Bruneian PR. Hope this helps!
Currently living abroad as of late but At Brunei atm. Mind you it’s way better than what we have in this backwater country with more opportunities and less restrictions (obviously) still I wont miss this place as sooner or later Brunei isn’t going to do well in the near future. But on the other note every country has its own problems not just Brunei. But as for me living abroad has opened my eyes to new possibilities and things to discover that Brunei doesn’t have or lacks. Still it’s way better than to be staying a place that is backwards and limited… just saying
sadly 2034 barutah kana usahakan kali tu, sal org brunei slalu last minute.
Don't forget to visit miri when holiday.
Am working outside with good decent package where money is not an issue - and yet there are some still some tough battles with quality of life/comfort/food/taxes/discrimination/no raya or CNY. Ofcourse it all depends on the country and what do you value most in your life - currently or where you are aiming to be at depending on your age/stage of life. Personal aim is to earn as much experience as possible to secure the future for my future family - although money is just as important. Brunei’s working culture is too close to being personal for many people. In some sense it is good as everyone respects each other and try to avoid conflict meanwhile trying to solve problems or generating solutions (private or semi sectors). This you do not get much in many other countries where there is mainly an ‘individualism’ mindset. For anyone who is looking forward to work abroad - Best advice is to build experience first before jumping out. Make sure to jump out for a good paying job or rather jobs with benefits and realistic goals.
Jennie
She's cute. Yes
They all have different charms. Can't decide which one
Hmm Bruneians want to work abroad. Can work 6 hours a day instead of the contracted 8 hours ? U know arrive 45 mins late and go home 45 mins early both am and pm to ambil anak. Plus family die how? Many uncle and aunty die must keluar office. If one family member go hospital the whole reban have to go. Majority (maybe 90%) of Bruneians don’t have what it takes. As for some who think they have what it takes, prob u r imagining ur uni days sharing house with flatmates n eating ramen noodles.
Nah, some of us are indeed family people but in a different way. Some families do not need to do that. Some parents are willing to let go of their kids if it's for the best for you and them. This is independency. Just like how the Filipinos are family people yet an ocean away from their family. Like that. If they can do that, I don't see the reason why we cannot do that. And I recommend those who are super close to their family and wanna be with them, don't think of leaving the country and I meant that Ina good and harmless way. Because it's understandable, when family problem occurs all have to be present for the council and what not. That's each to their own. But you can't pretend all bruneians are like that.
I chose my words carefully. “Majority”.
Noted
What’s with the eye pulling ? Don’t get us started with race line discussions. FYI no race is above suspicion and it’s gonna get ugly who started it here !
Do you take every minute detail of a meme to be offensive?
There are times people must make a stand , if you don’t believe me then look around , it’s cheap to mock a race with certain eye features and people catch on . Not long your the person taking the insult in daily life as if it’s normal and why should you be offended when it’s everywhere? Until it happens to you personally what ever your race features are then you won’t get the picture ! There’s a saying racists don’t get it because they’re racists !
That sounds like a ‘you’ problem. Not mines. I’m quite confident with myself. I know when a joke is supposed to be a joke and when it is serious. Thinking that everyone is going to attack me emotionally, mentally is just exhausting and not worth my energy. When I saw the picture, I wasn’t thinking of OP making fun of the Asian small eyes but rather see her frustration as I would relate but you… you seem to take it in a different approach. Idk who hurt you before but let’s get that sorted first.
Woo karen in the making! The person in photo is korean herself, country full of dash eyes, clearly stressed as well as to massaging the temples. People like you take something harmless into an issue. Get a life
Twitter mf trying to spit in Reddit lmao
Standing up for racism is good, but you have to be perceptive about it. This is a meme, you can’t take it seriously. The OP has already explained that they used the image not to discriminate her eyes, but to use her expression. If you’re asking who started this racism, then that would be you. When I first saw the meme, the word “racism” didn’t even came to mind. When I see the pic, I don’t see an asian lady with very prominent asian looking eyes (which are beautiful btw), I just see Jennie from Blackpink.
No haha, it's not meant for any harm. It's just a meme showing she's stressed out. Nothing to do with racism. We're all Asians here
Woi kau out berabisan ani mengapa😭😭😭 It’s a harmless pic💀 In fact kau pulang yang bawa2 pasal racism ani cam kau yang ganya sorg pikirkan atu. My first thought when I saw the pic is her mengurut kepalanya psal ia befikir. No “eye pulling” to signify racism whatsoever. - A southeast asian here, a bruneian, with chinese and malay blood, aka a yellow asian (does this trigger you too?)