Ethnicity in colonial Burnyasborg

The history of racial mixture in Swedish Borneo occurred on a smaller scale than other Swedish overseas possessions during the colonial period from the 17th to the 19th century. This ethno-religious social stratification schema was similar to the casta system used in the Spanish Empire, with some major differences.

The system was used for city planning, with Malays being allocated the yttrestad (outer city), Chinese being allocated the kinesiskstad, and Arabs being placed in Lilla Arabien. Europeans, however, were allocated separate boroughs: Portuguese and Dutch in Gadong, Britons in Pintu Malim and Swedes in the innerstad (inner city).

Peranakans (peoples of mixed-race ancestry) would be allocated Ranggu Island, until 1843 all kinds of Peranakans were allowed to populate but only non-Eurasian Peranakans (Chettiars, Baba Nyonya, Jawi Pekans and Chindians) were allowed to stay on Ranggu Island thereafter, Eurasian Peranakans (Indos, Mardijkers, Kristangs etc.) were moved to Telanai.

Malays
The Malays were the original denizens of Borneo, having first arrived during the time of the Bruneian Empire in the 14th century. It is unknown where they came from, but it is commonly believed that the Malays were originally inhabitants of Malacca, Johor and Riau.

Malay immigration increased in the British colonial era, with Malays from Johor, Riau, the Riau Islands, Sumatra, Penang, Malacca and Singapore immigrating to Borneo encouraged by the British, Dutch and Swedish.

The Malays lived in the Yttrestad (outer-city) neighborhood, allocated to the Malays by the Swedish. Now called Pusar Ulak, it is one of three neighborhoods in St. Michaelsburg with a predominantly Malay population (the other two being Lupak Luas and Pelambayan). The legacy of the Malays in colonial-era Pusar Ulak is marked by traditional kampong-style houses and mosques.

Infödda
The infödda (natives) were the original inhabitants of Borneo. Divided into various ethnic groups, the predominant ones being the Iban (Sea Dayaks) and the Kadazan-Dusun, with Murut, Tutong and Melanau as minorities in St. Michaelsburg.

They were given the city's Berangan district, where the native groups remain in St. Michaelsburg to this day, albeit pockets of Malays and Indonesians have appeared.