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Article Excerpt
Introduction
The most remarkable Bruneian who died during 2008 was Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Dipa Negara Laila Diraja Pengiran Haji Abdul Momin bin Pengiran Haji Ismail, a ceteria who served as a Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) from 1970 until 1982. Dato Abdul Wahab bin Mohammad was a headmaster involved in the dakwah movement. Haji Butir bin Serudin was an actor, whilst Haji Sawai bin Rajab was a prize-winning writer. The local Chinese community mourned the loss, in particular, of YD Pehin Bendahari Cina Kornia Diraja Awang Ng Teck Hock (1928-2008). Among women, mention might be made of Datin Kamaliah Suhaimi, widow of the first State Mufti of Brunei/NBD.
Further afield, several notable Southeast Asians with NBD connections were lost to the world in 2007-8, notably ex-President Haji Mohamed Suharto of Indonesia and his foreign minister, Bapak Ali Alatas.
The history profession suffered the loss of Professor Mary Turnbull (1927-2008), and Lady Peel, wife of a former British Resident in Brunei, died during 2008.
The usual platoon of British military personnel departed the scene. From the Revolt/Confrontation Era, one might spotlight here Colonel William George, "Charlie" McHardy (1920-2008) and Lieutenant-Colonel Digby-Jeremie Willoughby (1934-2007). From an earlier era Lieutenant-Commander Ian Edward Fraser (1920-2008) was awarded the Victoria Cross for a submarine raid on Japanese-occupied Singapore in July-August 1945 from his base at Labuan.
Two prominent sporting figures were lost: Thomas Richard Butcher was "Mr Tennis" in the sultanate for half a century while Mr Lakshman de Alwis, who died in a bomb blast in his Sri Lankan homeland, was a successful athletics coach.
The highly distinguished Australian lawyer, Athoi Moffitt, was a last-minute entry.
The remainder of this paper comprises obituary notices in alphabetical order. The entries are in most cases a starting point for further research rather than a substitute for it. A list of abbreviations is provided towards the end of the article along with a short bibliography of source material.
Alphabetical Listing
ABDUL MOMIN bin Pengiran Haji Ismail, Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Dipa Negara Laila Diraja [cr 1970] Pengiran Haji (d 2008). Brunei/NBD nobleman, civil servant, diplomat and legislative councillor; returned to the mercy of Allah on Saturday 17 May 2008, aged eighty; survived by a widow, a son, and three daughters; buried in Telanai Muslim cemetery; in the afternoon of the same day HM Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah visited the family residence in order to convey His Majesty's "deepest condolences" in person (BTO Su. 18.5.2008).
Nominated member of the revived Legislative from Monday 6 September 2004 (21 Rejab 1425) until his death (GBOW ON F.10.9.2004; BBO Th. 1.9.2005; PB 15.3.3006:2; PBKK 22.3.2006:5 *; BBO M. 12.3.2007; BTO Su. 18.5.2008).
A nobleman raised to ceteria rank as YAM Pengiran Dipa Negara on 25 June 1970; previously styled "YB Pengiran [Dato Paduka]" (BGG 25.7.1970:166; see also Brown 1970:199, No 18).
Sub-ceteria awards as at 1975: DK DSNB MVO PHBS POAS PJK (BAR 1975:448).
Joined the Brunei government service in 1946 (BB 3.6.1972:32). Acting DO Belait, August 1958 to 29 September 1959 (BGG 24.10.1959:214). DO Belait, 1963-9 (BGG 19.1.1963:20; BB 3.6.1972:32). Acting State Secretary, 23 July 1969, whilst Dato Mohd Taib was on leave (BGG 9.8.1969:210). Resumed as DO Kuala Belait, 2 September until 1 October 1969 (BGG 11.10.1969:268).
State Secretary, Brunei, April 1970 to May 1972. Menteri Besar, Brunei, May 1972 to August 1981 (Eusoff Agaki 1991:238-9).
High Commissioner of NBD to Malaysia (PB 25.10.1989:32; PB 12.12. 1990:4). Doubled as non-resident High Commissioner to India (PB 12.12.1990:4; PBA 10.2.1993:6); presented his letters of appointment to President R Venkataraman, 24 November 1990 (PB 12.12.1990:4). Ambassador of NBD to the USA (PB 10.5.1995:16). Permanent Representative of NBD at the UN (PB 6.6.1994:10: PB 4.10.1995:12: PB 11.10.1995:13).
Alternative usage: "Momin" (instead of "Abdul Momin").
ABDUL WAHAB bin Mohammad, Dato Paduka |cr 1988| Awang Haji (d 2008). Brunei/NBD teacher, headmaster, and Islamic religion expert; died in the early morning of 18 January 2008 at his house in Kampong Keriam, Tutong District, aged ninety-six; buried at Bukit Bendera; survived by his widow, Datin Hajjah Rahmah binti Haji Basri, and fifteen children, comprising six sons and nine daughters (BBO Sa. 19.1.2008).
Tokoh agama (Anugerah Bakti Hijrah 1421/2000); aged eighty-seven at the time. The prize comprised B$10,000 in cash, plus a certificate, a souvenir (cenderamata), and lifetime free medical treatment in a first-class ward at any government hospital in the sultanate (PBA 19.4.2001:1*). Hari Guru Special Award, 2002 (BBO Tu.24.9.2002; h14.htm).
Member of the Islamic Religious Council of Brunei/NBD, 1981-9. DPMB 1988, POAS 1982, PJK 1956. Pingat Guru Berjasa (awarded by the PGGMB in about 1989).
Born at Kampong Panchor Papan; educated at Tutong Malay School (from 1924). Teacher, 1930-68, serving at his alma mater in the ulu Belait: and in Brunei-Muara District. Retired in January 1968 as a headmaster. Also held adult Islamic religious education classes at his own home, 1958-68; and, at his own expense, erected a balai ibadat in 1970 for the teaching of the Quran and dikir.
ADAMS, Rear-Admiral John Harold (1918-2008). Rear-Admiral Adams was a British officer who served in the Royal Navy from 1936 until 1968 (MVO nd, CB 1968). For our present purposes he is most notable as the Commander of HMS Albion between May 1964 and January 1966, i.e. the core of the Confrontation Era. (1)
Born on 19 December 1918; died on 3 November 2008; "a highly successful captain of a commando carrier during the Indonesian confrontation in the 1960s, which confirmed him to be on course for the highest rank; but he was then sacked for maintaining that the Navy should not scrap aircraft carriers; his conviction, based on his own experience, was later proved correct" (DT M. 10.11.2008:28).
"Albion arrived in the Far East Fleet during the throes of konfrontasi. He sent two flights of Wessexes [helicopters] to bases in Sarawak and Borneo [sic] to support marine and army patrols on the Indonesian borders. Adams's Albion had the knack of being wherever there was a crisis. The demand for her services and the wide range of her operations over thousands of miles of ocean had convinced him of the versatility of such ships by the time he was relieved of his command by Captain Godfrey Place VC. Adams was appointed the service's youngest rear-admiral" (DT M. 10. I 1.2008:28, telescoped).
Educated at Glenalmond College, Perthshire. Ended his career as Assistant Chief of Naval Staff(Policy), Ministry of Defence, UK; dismissed by Admiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Begg, 1968. Twice married; 1s (deceased) + 2s 2d (DT M.10.11.2008:28).
ALI ALATAS, Bapak (1932-2008). Bapak Ali Alatas, who died in Singapore on 11 December 2008, served as Indonesia's foreign minister from 1988 until 1999; survived the fall of President Suharto in May 1998, but not that of President Habibie in O (October 1999. He was also a UN envoy and had worked as an advisor to the Indonesian President since 2003 (BBSO 14.12.2008).
Visitor to NBD, April 1988 (Abu Bakar Hamzah 1989:103); granted an Audience of HM Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, INI, 7...
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