Royal Family of Brunei Darussalam
THE ROYAL FAMILY OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM
(SOUTH EAST ASIA)
Allah Peliharakan Negara Brunei Darussalam.
The 29th King of Brunei Darussalam.
The eldest son of His Royal Highness His Majesty Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and wife Al-Marhumah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit Binti Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman (1924 – 13th September 1979) was the Queen consort of Brunei as the wife of the 28th Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien III. She is also the mother of the current monarch, His Royal Highness His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.
His Royal Highness His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah is the 29th sultan to ascend to the Bruneian throne, following the abdication of his father in 1967. The sultan has been ranked among the wealthiest individuals in the world. Currently, as of 1990, His Royal Highness His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah is said to have a net worth of $50 billion.He is the world's longest-reigning current monarchy and the longest-serving current head of state. On 5th October 2017, His Royal Highness His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah celebrated his Golden Jubilee to mark the 50th year of his reign.
Early life and education His Royal Highness His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and His Royal Highness His Majesty Prince Mohamed Bolkiah at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, officially known as the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, is the main training center for all officers in the British Army in 1966.
His Royal Highness His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah was born during the reign of his uncle Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin on 15th July 1946 at Istana Darussalam. His father, the Pengiran Bendahara Seri Maharaja Permaisuara at that time, was the heir presumptive of Brunei which put him second in line to the throne at the time of his birth.
List of Brothers & Sisters of H.R.H.M Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah
His education at the Istana Darul Hana Surau began in the latter part of 1955 and finished in the first week of 1959 revealed in an interview that in addition to His Royal Highness Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, among the students at the mosque. His Royal Highness His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah finished his third grade school at the Sekolah Menengah Jamalul Alam Malay School in Brunei Town in 1955 when he was nine years old. Abdul Rahman bin Haii Mohd. Ja'afar was the teacher assigned to him and the Prince only received instruction from Abdul Rahman for three to four months, following which he ceased receiving "Private Tuition" for a month at the surau.
He was able to read English literature in three months, and after four years, he had reached the sixth grade of primary schooling. He prefers to study the sciences, languages, and history from a subject standpoint. For over four years, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah attended school at the Istana Darul Hana Surau before relocating to Kuala Lumpur to further his education. He originally attended Jalan Gurney School before studying at Victoria Institution from January 1961 to December 1963.
At the age of fifteen, he was crowned as Yang Maha Mulia Seri Paduka Duli Pengiran Muda Mahkota Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (His Royal Highness the Crown Prince) on 14th July 1961.Notably, the 2nd Gurkha Rifles were dispatched to Brunei in December 1962, the month the Brunei revolt began.
Lieutenant Colonel Digby Willoughby and a small Royal Gurkha Rifles squad helped to rescue his father and him from their palace, and his father was eternally grateful for Willoughby's actions on that day. Due to the strained relations between Brunei and Malaysia in 1963, Hassanal Bolkiah went back to Brunei to complete his education at an English school, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College.
The wedding between Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha and Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah took place in the palace on 29th July 1965. He later enrolled as a cadet officer at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) on 4th January 1966. On 16th August, he praised the launch of two ships by Sharikat Limbongan Kapal Takehara Berhad, highlighting the Japanese company's investment as beneficial for Brunei and stressing the importance of pursuing domestic enterprises over relying on specific income sources.
He and his wife bade farewell to state dignitaries early on 7th September 1966, and departed Brunei Airport for England. He pursued studies in English, mathematics, science, military science and international affairs, with a focus on the country of Russia, throughout his time at the RMAS. He gave particular emphasis to the study of the significance of technical and strategic development.
The two most crucial skills for his future, self-discipline and responsibility were the focus of his training at the RMAS. He graduated and was commissioned as an Honorary Captain in the Coldstream Guards on 1st March 1968.
Reign
Accession
Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, then aged 21, immediately returned to Brunei from England to assume his father's responsibilities as leader of the country's government and populace. At night, Pengiran Pemancha Anak Haji Mohamed Alam, the Chief of Adat Istiadat Negara, made the abdication public on Radio Brunei. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah's proclamation took place the next day, on 5th October 1967, at 3:00 p.m., in a public ceremony in the Balai Singgahsana of Istana Darul Hana, in which he was designated Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Muiz'zaddin Wad'daulah, the 29th Sultan of Brunei. State dignitaries, including the Wazir, Cheteria, Acting Menteri Besar, and Legislative Council (LegCo) members, were present during the occasion.
Issue List House Bolkiah Father Omar Ali Saifuddien III Mother Pengiran Anak Damit Religion Sunni Islam Signature Education Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Military career Branch Royal Brunei Armed Forces Years of active service 1957–present Rank Field marshal Awards Full list Names: Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah Bin Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien The Acting Menteri Besar represented government officials at the ceremony by pledging, "loyalty that does not waver even for a single point and is similar to what was once offered to Paduka Ayahanda Baginda (His Majesty's Father)...
His Majesty will follow in the footsteps and example of Paduka Ayahanda Baginda in performing his role as Sultan."In Hassanal Bolkiah's first titah (speech) inside the Balai Singgahsana as Sultan of Brunei, he stated: I, as Sultan of Negara Brunei Darussalam, would endeavour to carry out the policies of my dear father, and would always safeguard and preserve the peace, tranquility and prosperity of the country.
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Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddien Waddaulah, 5th October 1967 Coronation Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah at his coronation, 1968. A meeting of the country's nobles and high-ranking officials was held six months prior to the date of Perpuspaan (Coronation) to decide what would be done in the ceremony. An official announcement was sent to all districts of Brunei, and from that point on Bukit Sungai Kebun a red flag was raised, and on Bukit Panggal a yellow flag. On 8th January 1968, at 8:15 pm, the Acting Menteri Besar announced the date of the coronation on Radio Brunei:
So I hereby act as Acting Chief Administrative Officer of the State of Brunei uphold the agreement that has been approved by His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei in the Privy Council which convened on the 8th January 1968, declared that the date of the coronation of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Muiz'zaddin Wad'daulah, Sultan of Brunei, will be held on the 1th August 1968, same to 6 Jamadil-Awal 1388, that is on Thursday.
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Yang Amat Berhormat Pengiran Dato Seri Utama Haji Mohd. Yusuf, 8th January 1968. On 1th February 1968, two groups of individuals left for Bukit Panggal and Bukit Sungai Kebun.
Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Perdana Haji Muhammad officially hoisted the red ceremonial flag on Bukit Sungai Kebun while the yellow flag on Bukit Panggal was raised by Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Orang Kaya Shahbandar Haji Ahmad. According to Bruneian tradition, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah's coronation begins with the flag raising ceremonies in these two communities of the red and yellow flags. The coverage of the coronation that Radio Brunei and the Information Department provided was hailed as the year's most excellent program.
Furthermore, the Coronation Committee contracted a Japanese film firm to make a coloured film that documented the occasion. The film was distributed in 35 mm and 16 mm films for global distribution. As thousands of residents and tourists flocked to vantage points in Pusat Bandar, access to which had been limited (except from official vehicles) since early in the morning, dignitaries from near and far saw the age-old rite in the newly built Lapau. With the back roof dropped to make himself visible, the Sultan arrived in his brand-new six-door Mercedes-Benz 600 Pullman Landaulet following the customary Muslim washing rite at the palace, which was preceded by a 21-gun salute.
At the fire station, the Sultan and his similarly colourful attendants entered the Usongan Diraja (Royal Chariot). The Sultan was wearing a red and gold ceremonial dress, gleaming with his medals' insignia. Specifically constructed for the coronation, the chariot included a tiger skin throne and a body composed of 26 carved wooden panels embellished with 24-carat gold lead and precious diamonds. About 85 feet (26 m) long, it was driven on 1 August 1968, by fifty soldiers from the fifty specially selected black-dressed soldiers of the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (RBMR).
He had the crown placed on his head and handed him the Keris si-Naga, symbol of supreme royal power in Brunei, by his father, Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien. Following this he removed his ceremonial sabre, swearing loyalty to his son as head of state and religion. His brothers and the senior ranked nobility did the same as well. Like his father before him, the new Sultan took vows to maintain the peace and the prosperity of the nation. He also promised to improve the standard of living of his subjects through various development projects, and to protect and uphold Islam and Brunei's customs and traditions.
After the crowning ceremony, the new Sultan proceeded in procession through the capital, passing lines of school children cheering Daulat Tuanku (Long Live the King). Among the foreign dignitaries who attended the ceremony were prime ministers Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore and Tunku Abdul Rahman of Malaysia, as well as the British High Commissioner to Brunei, Arthur Adair, who represented Queen Elizabeth II. To commemorate the event, the Coronation Medal and stamps were established. Early reign Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah at a state ceremony in 1970.
Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah was advised by his father on all significant decisions because of his youth and lack of expertise in state administration matters. When he gave a speech at his coronation, he clarified this problem. Despite previously affirming that he would not be involved in politics, the directive indicated that the Sultan still retained the ability to influence the politics of Brunei. His father's participation strengthened the case for the royal family's stability because of the "power behind the throne.
"Under the 1959 Constitution of Brunei, the Sultan is the head of state with full executive authority, a position strengthened by an emergency proclamation imposed since the 1962 Brunei revolt. The British government's demand for Brunei to become an independent parliamentary democracy conflicted with Hassanal Bolkiah's and his father's preference for maintaining the monarchical political structure. They were concerned about Brunei's security and defence capabilities and assessed the nation was not ready for independence from British protection.
During visits by Malcolm MacDonald in January 1968 and George Thomson in April 1968, the Sultan and his father expressed their worries about the consequences of a British military withdrawal from the Far East. A delegation led by Hassanal Bolkiah travelled to London to discuss Brunei's political future. From 19th September to 26th October 1968, the delegation held negotiations with British officials, focusing on the stationing of Gurkha troops and the provisions of the 1959 Agreement concerning Brunei's security clause and British responsibility for its foreign affairs, both set to expire in November 1970. Despite the fact that the first round of negotiations did not result in a change of heart from the British regarding Brunei, he remained optimistic and pursued more talks.
Between May and December 1969, Hassanal Bolkiah made three journeys to London in an attempt to establish contact with the British government; however, these travels were unsuccessful. The British government persisted in pushing for the removal of all military troops, including those stationed in Brunei. On 14th November 1969, the Sultan travelled to London to resume talks with Malcolm Shepherd and Michael Stewart. Accompanied by Prince Mohamed Bolkiah and other officials. Despite these efforts, the British Labour Party government persisted in its resolve to cede sovereignty of Brunei.
Hassanal Bolkiah made another trip to London in April 1970 in an attempt to break the stalemate in the negotiations, but the British government refused to compromise since it thought Brunei could defend itself on its own without British assistance. Given that the defence pact was about to expire in November 1970, he expressed significant concern about this, saying that "even if half the male population were to join the Armed Forces, Brunei would not be able to defend itself. With the election of the Conservative Party, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah found new hope. The British government agreed to keep a limited presence of British troops in Southeast Asia, which included keeping Gurkha troops stationed in Brunei, and decided not to renounce the 1959.
Agreement, which was scheduled to expire on 30th June 1970. This resulted in successful negotiations with Anthony Royle in November 1970. These negotiations led to the signing of the Brunei–British Friendship Agreement on 23rd November 1971, which gave Brunei "full internal independence" and restricted the authority of the British High Commissioner to matters concerning foreign affairs. At the age of 25, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah was named Inspector-General of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) and General of the RBMR on 17th July 1971. In an earlier statement on 14th July, he stated that this was "in accordance with long established Royal Custom in other countries.
"The commander of the RBMR, Colonel John Simpson, declared this to be a noteworthy distinction and an effort to fortify the relationship between the army and the royal family. A budget of B$500 million was allotted for the Third National Development Plan (RKN 3), which was enacted between 1975 and 1979. The following objectives were given priority in the formulation and design of the plan to maintain a high level of employment and diversify the economy through accelerated development of agriculture and industry. With a budget of B$2.2 billion, the RKN 4 (1980–1984) placed a strong emphasis on advancing the economic, social and cultural well-being of the populace. With a budget of $B3.7 billion, the RKN 5 (1986–1990) aimed to offer the numerous services and infrastructure necessary to raise peoples' standards of living while advancing the nation's economic and social growth.
Per Chapter 55 of the 1959 Constitution, the LegCo elected in 1970 was dissolved on 15th December 1977, with the Sultan's approval. He consented to restructure and reappoint a number of the council's former members. On 22nd December 1977, a new council was formally called back to order. The next day, Hassanal Bolkiah dissolved the council. Independence of Brunei Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (seated far left) at the 3rd ASEAN Summit on 14th –15th December 1987. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah headed another mission to London in 1978 to negotiate Brunei's status as an independent sovereign state with the British government.
The result was the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Brunei and Great Britain, which took effect on 1st January 1984, and released the British government from its duties managing Brunei's foreign affairs and defence. This marked Brunei's transition to an independent sovereign monarchy. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah recited the Declaration of Independence at midnight. Whereas, the time has now arrived when Brunei Darussalam will resume full international responsibility as a sovereign and independent nation in the community of nations.
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Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, 1st January 1984. On the country's independence, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah assumed the portfolios of Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Finance. At the same time, he declared Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB) as the national philosophy. It serves as a pillar of life for the citizens of the nation, regardless of religion, culture, or social background; the royal family, Malay cultural values, and Islamic religious teachings have all contributed to the nation's historical heritage that is still upheld today. They have also served as a fortress to protect Brunei from outside influences.
The Sultan presided over Brunei's first National Day celebrations on 23rd February 1984. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah reestablished the LegCo on 27th December 1983, and it was dissolved on 13th February 1984. He gave a contribution of B$210,000 to the United Nations International School (UNIS). Pengiran Bahrin, his special envoy, presented the gift to Refauddin Ahmad, chairman of the board of UNIS, on the occasion of the United Nations' 40th anniversary and the first anniversary of Brunei's membership.
With a budget of B$5.5 billion, the RKN 6 (1991–1995) intended to address the demands of the country, particularly in enhancing the standard of living and quality of life of its citizens as well as further bolstering the national economy. The RKN 7 (1996–2000) of a 20-year long-term development plan that began in 1985 and has a total budget of B$7.2 billion is the seventh national development plan. The plan aimed to raise the nation's economic achievement while continuing to significantly improve the quality of life for the populace.
He appointed himself as the Minister of Finance on 23rd February 1997. He had previously held the post from 1984 to 1986 before it was taken over by his brother His Royal Highness His Majesty Prince Jefri Bolkiah.
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