| Azaraimy HH |
FORMER Chief of Armed Forces Staff and Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) (1990-1998), Allahyarham Pehin Datu Indera Setia Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Sulaiman bin Haji Damit passed away yesterday.
The former RBAF commander was laid to rest at Sugan Muslim Cemetary, Bukit Bendera, Pekan Tutong.
Allahyarham, the second person to be the commander of the armed forces, was one of the pioneers at the RBAF.
Allahyarham was born in 1941 in Kampong Keriam, Tutong. He received his education and training at Sekolah Melayu Seria; Anthony Abell College in Seria; Maktab Tentera Perseketuan Tanah Melayu; Overseas Joint Warfare, Old Sarum England; and Royal College of Defence Studies, London.
His major appointments include Regiment Accountant, Force Personnel Officer, Director of Personnel and Administration, Deputy Commander of RBAF, Task Force Commander, and Chief of Armed Forces Staff/Commander of the RBAF 1990-1994.
Former Chief of Armed Forces Staff and Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (1990-1998), Allahyarham Pehin Datu Indera Setia Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Sulaiman bin Haji Damit. – AZARAIMY HH
He was appointed as Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Cairo, Republic of Egypt from September 7, 1995 to June 3, 1998.
Allahyarham was awarded the title of Pehin Datu Indera Setia by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on October 3, 1974.
His local awards and medals include the Darjah Keberanian Laila Terbilang Yang Amat Gemilang (DPKT) Darjah Pertama; Darjah Mahkota
Brunei Yang Amat Mulia (SPMB) Darjah Pertama; and several others.
Among his other medals and awards from foreign countries include the Panglima Setia Mahkota Malaysia (Tan Seri) – 1995; Panglima Gagah Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (Malaysia) – 1994; Knight Grand Cross of The Most Exalted Order of The White Elephant (Thailand) – 1991; Knight Grand Cross of The Most Noble Order of The Crown of Thailand – 1987; Bintang Yudha Dharma Utama (Indonesia) – 1993; Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang Singapura (Tentera) – 1994, Legion of Honour (Degree Commander) – Philippines – 1991; and Order of National Security Merit Tong-ill (Korea) – 1992.
Allahyarham is survived by his wife Datin Hajah Noraini binti Haji Mohd Ja’afar, three sons and two daughters.
His family remembered Allahyarham for how he always maintained his personality of being a military man, where he instilled his children with good discipline. He also had very good humour and always tried to fill others around him with happiness and laughter.
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