BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

FOREIGN envoys in Brunei signed a condolence book on Wednesday and yesterday in honour of the late Indonesian ambassador to Pakistan and his wife, who were aboard a Pakistani military helicopter that crashed in the country’s mountainous area earlier this month.

Burhan Muhammad, 57, died on Tuesday, 11 days after battling severe burn injuries.

Burhan had to be evacuated to a Singaporean hospital last week.

His spouse, Heri Listyawati, and the ambassadors of Norway and the Philippines, as well as the Malaysian ambassador’s wife and three Pakistani crewmen, died instantly in the May 8 crash.

Burhan and his wife are survived by their two sons.

Upon arrival at the Indonesian Embassy at the Diplomatic Enclave in Jalan Kebangsaan, each of the envoys was received by Indonesian Ambassador to the Sultanate Nurul Qomar.

Among other foreign envoys who came to express their sympathies on Wednesday were new Philippines Ambassador to Brunei Meynardo LB Montealegre, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Myanmar Embassy Myint Tun, High Commissioner of Bangladesh Mohammed Abdul Hye and Thailand Ambassador Chirdchu Raktabutr.

Also present at the embassy were Chinese Ambassador Yang Jian and Malaysia’s High Commissioner Datuk Awang Sahak Awang Salleh.

Nurul said that the government of Indonesia has called for its diplomatic missions all over the world to open the condolence book signing ceremony and hoist the Indonesian flag at half-mast in respect for the late ambassador and his wife, who passed away while performing official duties in a host country.

“The passing of the envoy was a great loss for the country,” Nurul said.

She added that the late ambassador, who was also her senior by two years during their university days, was musically gifted.

“He played music very well and, during his tenure in Pakistan, he actively promoted Indonesian traditional cultures and brought closer bilateral relations between both countries,” she said.

The Brunei Times