BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

TWENTY people were bestowed state decorations by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday in conjunction with celebrations for his 68th birthday.

Hundreds of guests, including members of the royal family, state dignitaries and cabinet ministers from Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines and Indonesia witnessed the annual investiture ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman.

Sarawak’s head of state, Tun Dato Seri Paduka Pehin Sri Dr Hj Abdul Taib Mahmud, was conferred the title of The Most Esteemed Family Order Laila Utama (DK), which carries the title Dato Laila Utama.

Three people were conferred The Most Exalted Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang (DPKT 1st class), which carries the title Dato Paduka Seri. Among them were Indonesian National Armed Forces Commander General Dr Moeldoko; Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces Pehin Datu Perkerma Jaya Major General Dato Seri Pahlawan Mohd Tawih Abdullah; and Police Commissioner Dato Seri Pahlawan Bahrin Md Noor.

“I am honoured and grateful to His Majesty to receive this honour,” the RBAF commander told media after the ceremony. “I will fulfil my duties to the best of my abilities.”

The Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force, Brigadier General (U) Hj Wardi Hj Abd Latip, was also bestowed The Most Gallant Order of Pahlawan Negara Brunei (PSPNB 1st class), which carries the title Dato Seri Pahlawan.

Malaysia’s foreign minister, Dato’ Seri Anifah Hj Aman, was conferred the title of The Most Honourable Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei (SPMB 1st class).

Two other Malaysian officials were also given honours, including Tan Sri Rastam Mohd Isa, the former special envoy on the Implementation of Exchange of Letters between Malaysia and Brunei; and Tan Sri Dato’ Ahmad Fuzi Hj Abdul Razak, former secretary-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The duo was bestowed The Most Distinguished Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa (DSLJ 2nd class), which carries the title Dato Seri Laila Jasa.

Three were awarded The Most Honourable Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei (DPMB 2nd class), which carries the title Dato Paduka.

They were the imam of Masjid ‘Omar Ali Saifuddien, Pehin Khatib Hj Emran Hj Kunchang; medical specialist at Ministry of Health, Dr Hj Mehboob Alikhan; and CEO of Fajr Capital and board member of BIBD, Iqbal Ahmad Khan.

A further two people were awarded the The Most Eminent Order of Islam Brunei (SSUB 3rd class), and five people were given The Most Blessed Order of Setia Negara Brunei (SNB 3rd class).

Two others were bestowed The Most Distinguished Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa (SLJ 3rd class). One of the recipients, Senior Lieutenant Colonel Meyyappan Nadarajan Thevar of the Singapore Armed Forces told _The Brunei Times _he was “deeply honoured” to receive the honour.

“I believe it is not only an honour for me but the Singapore Armed Forces to be recognised for the contrbutions we have made to the RBAF,” he said.

The Brunei Times