| Hakim Hayat |
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 yesterday announced the reshuffle of the Council of Cabinet Ministers which saw the transfer of several ministers to different portfolios and the appointment of fresh faces.
His Majesty, in a titah broadcast live on Radio Televisyen Brunei (RTB), also announced the creation of two new ministerial posts: Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism.
The appointments are effective from October 22.
As per the announcement, His Majesty retained the posts of Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and Minister of Finance while also taking over the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince, also retained his post as the Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong, who previously held the Minister of Education post has been appointed the new Minister of Home Affairs.
Former Minister of Development, Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman is the new Minister of Education.
Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim has been appointed the Minister at the PMO and Minister of Finance II.
Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng has been appointed the Minister at the PMO and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II.
Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, who previously held the post of Minister of Energy at the PMO has been appointed as Minister of Energy and Industry at the PMO.
Former Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman has been appointed as the new Minister of Religious Affairs.
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, delivering a titah. – INFOFOTO
His Majesty also elevated some deputy ministers and permanent secretaries as ministers. Dato Paduka Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah, who previously held the post of Deputy Minister of Finance, is now the new Minister of Development. Dato Paduka Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, former Deputy Minister at the PMO has been appointed as the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, while the former Deputy Minister of Defence, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, has been elevated as the new Minister of Communications. Former Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, is the new Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports.
Former Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education cum Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD), Dato Paduka Dr Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi, is the new Minister of Health.
The Cabinet reshuffle also saw the creation of nine new Deputy Minister posts, mostly filled in by former permanent secretaries and senior government officers. Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hamdan bin Haji Abu Bakar, who was previously the Permanent Secretary (Security and Enforcement) at the PMO, has been appointed as the new Deputy Minister at the PMO while Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohd Roselan bin Haji Mohd Daud, previously the Permanent Secretary at the PMO, has also been appointed as a Deputy Minister at the PMO.
First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit has been appointed as the new Deputy Minister of Defence. Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hisham bin Haji Mohd Hanifah, former Permanent Secretary (Policy and Investment) at the MoF, has been appointed as the new Deputy Minister of Finance while Dato Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah has also been appointed as the Deputy Minister of Finance. Former Permanent Secretary at MoFAT, Dato Paduka Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Dato Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof, has been appointed as the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade while Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar, former Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs, has been appointed as the new Deputy Minister of Education. Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud, former Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Saudi Arabia, is now the new Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs and Dato Paduka Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar, former Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Development, is the new Deputy Minister of Development.
In the titah, His Majesty also announced that the posts of the State Mufti and Attorney General will continue to remain as ministerial ranks.
Before concluding the titah, His Majesty reminded the newly appointed ministers of the trust they have been reposed with. “Trust is a serious matter, because it encompasses tasks and responsibilities in upholding justice. Towards this, it has to be shouldered with full responsibility, honesty and sincerity, with full devotion and loyalty,” the monarch said.
His Majesty also expressed his appreciation to those who have not been reappointed in the Cabinet reshuffle, for their services rendered to the country. “May Allah the Almighty reward them with blessings as well as continuous happiness.”
The reshuffle came just after the expiry of the five-year term of the Council of Cabinet appointed by His Majesty on May 29, 2010.
This is the fifth Cabinet reshuffle since the country gained independence in 1984. The appointments are for a period of five years.
Earlier in the titah, His Majesty reminded the newly appointed ministers to maintain fairness, which the monarch said is an obligation shouldered upon them.
His Majesty advised the leaders to “always listen to the voices of their subordinates, their complaints and grievances and accept good ideas as a way to uphold fairness” in the government.
The monarch also reminded that fairness is not just following ones conscience, but it must be guided by the right religious, legal and ethical principles.
His Majesty in the titah also stressed the importance of solidarity and selflessness among the ministers, likening the Cabinet as “a boat with the ministers as its paddlers. As paddlers they must be a team and play a role in the team, not just for themselves”.
Despite being in different ministries, His Majesty said the ministers are in one team with the same goal, which is to bring prosperity to the country. “As the manifestation of teamwork, they are required to contribute to or at least support any good notion or plan put forward by a ministry, solely for the country’s good,” said His Majesty.
BRUNEI’S NEW CABINET
Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, Minister of Finance and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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
Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office
His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah
Minister of Home Affairs
Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Awang Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong
Minister of Education
Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Suyoi bin Haji Osman
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance II
Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Haji Ibrahim
Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II
Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng
Minister of Energy and Industry at the Prime Minister’s Office
Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Awang Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar
Minister of Religious Affairs
Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman
Minister of Development
Dato Paduka Awang Haji Bahrin bin Abdullah
Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism
Dato Paduka Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong
Minister of Communications
Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof
Minister of Health
Dato Paduka Dr Awang Haji Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi
Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office
Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hamdan bin Haji Abu Bakar
Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office
Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohamad Roselan bin Haji Mohamad Daud
Deputy Minister of Defence
First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Abdul Aziz bin Haji Mohd Tamit
Deputy Minister of Finance
Dato Paduka Awang Haji Hisham bin Haji Mohd Hanifah
Deputy Minister of Finance
Dato Paduka Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Dato Paduka Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Dato Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof
Deputy Minister of Education
Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Bahrom bin Pengiran Haji Bahar
Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs
Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Mokti bin Haji Mohd Daud
Deputy Minister of Development
Dato Paduka Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar
The post His Majesty reshuffles Cabinet appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.