Mohamed Bolkiah, Prince of Brunei
Mohamed Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III (born 27 August 1947) is a member of the royal family of Brunei. He is the second son of Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, and Raja Isteri (Queen) Pengiran Anak Damit. He is the Head of the Brunei’s Viziers. After Brunei’s independence in 1984, he became the country’s first foreign minister, serving from 1 January 1984 until 22 October 2015. He served in the cabinet as the Minister of the Brunei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade alongside the second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Lim Jock Seng.
| Mohamed Bolkiah | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pengiran Perdana Wazir Sahibul Himmah Wal-Waqar | |||||||||
 | |||||||||
| 1st Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade | |||||||||
| In office 1 January 1984 – 22 October 2015 | |||||||||
| Monarch | Hassanal Bolkiah | ||||||||
| Deputy | Zakaria Sulaiman Ali Mohammad Daud | ||||||||
| Preceded by | Office established | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Hassanal Bolkiah | ||||||||
| Born | Mohamed Bolkiah 27 August 1947 Istana Darussalam, Brunei Town, Brunei | ||||||||
| Spouse |
Pengiran Anak Zariah
(m. 1970) | ||||||||
| Issue | List
| ||||||||
| |||||||||
| House | Bolkiah | ||||||||
| Father | Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III | ||||||||
| Mother | Pengiran Anak Damit | ||||||||
| Religion | Sunni Islam | ||||||||
| Signature |  | ||||||||
| Education | Victoria Institute Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College Royal Military Academy Sandhurst | ||||||||
| Bruneian royal family |
|---|
 |
|
| Extended royal family |
Early life and education
Prince Mohamed Bolkiah was born on 27 August 1947 at Istana Darussalam, Brunei Town.[1] He is the second son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, and his wife, the late Suri Seri Begawan Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit. Among his siblings are the current Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Prince Sufri Bolkiah, Prince Jefri Bolkiah, Princess Masna, Princess Norain, Princess Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam, Princess Amal Rakiah, Princess Amal Nasibah and Princess Amal Jefriah.
Along with his siblings, Mohamed Bolkiah had his early education at the Lapau (the Royal ceremonial building). Afterwards in 1960, he attended his secondary education with his brother Hassanal Bolkiah at Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia until 1963.[2] From 1964 until 1965, he studied his GCE 'A' Levels at Omar Ali Saifuddien College, Brunei.[1] From there, he would then be enrolled into Sandhurst Military Academy, United Kingdom.[1] He was commissioned as a junior lieutenant in the Irish Guards, in 1967.[3]
Perdana Wazir
On 29 September 1967, Mohamed Bolkiah was appointed by his father, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, as Pengiran Temenggong, one of Brunei's traditional wazirs.[4] In 1970, Mohamed Bolkiah was given by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah the new title of Perdana Wazir, head of the traditional Brunei wazirs, the "eyes and ears" of the ruler.[5] On 23 September 1974, he was appointed as the honorary Commissioner of Police of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF).
Prince Mohamed Bolkiah was reported to have primary authority over QAF Holdings.[6] Immediately following the independence of Brunei Darussalam in 1984, Mohamed Bolkiah was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.[7] Only until that same year, he was the President of the National Bank of Brunei (NBB).[2] During the cabinet reshuffle on 22 October 2015, he was replaced by his brother, the Sultan himself.[8] He also holds the title of the Chief Vizier (Perdana Wazir) in the Royal Court.[9]
Personal life
Family
In August 1970, Mohamed Bolkiah married his first cousin, Yang Teramat Mulia (HRH) Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam, the sister of Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha, the Raja Isteri (Queen).[10] Together they have 10 children whom are;[2]
| Name | Birth | Marriage | Their children | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Spouse | |||
| Pengiran Anak Hajah Taiyibah Qalbul Bolqiah | 11 June 1971 | 28 July 19XX | Pengiran Haji Mohammad Hakimmuddin bin Pengiran Haji Hashim | Pengiran Wajeeh Al-Bolkiah |
| Pengiran Qaiyimah Nurul Bolkiah | ||||
| Pengiran Muda Abdul Qawi | 27 January 1974 | 27 June 2013 | Tengku Amalin A’ishah Putri binti Almarhum Sultan Ismail Petra of Kelantan | Pengiran Anak Tengku Afeefah Musyafaah Bolkiah Putri |
| Pengiran Anak Tengku Azzahra Iffatul Bolkiah Putri | ||||
| Pengiran Anak Tengku Zaafirah Muizzah Bolkiah Putri | ||||
| Pengiran Anak Tengku Abdul Muhaimin Bolkiah Petra | ||||
| Pengiran Anak Hajah Ruqiyah Mataul Bulqiah | 2 May 1977 | None | ||
| Pengiran Muda Dr. Abdul Fattaah | 8 March 1982 | 10 September 2018 | Dayangku Elina Zuraidah binti Pengiran Kamaluddin | None |
| Pengiran Muda Abdul Mu'min | 17 July 1983 | None | ||
| Pengiran Anak Mansurah Izzul Bolkiah | 1 October 1985 | None | ||
| Pengiran Muda Omar Ali | 28 November 1986 | None | ||
| Pengiran Anak Khaliilah Khalilatul Bolqiah | 19 July 1989 | None | ||
| Pengiran Anak Naafi'ah Khairul Bulqiah | 27 May 1990 | None | ||
| Pengiran Muda Abdul Muqtadir | — | None | ||
Bibliography
- Bolkiah, Mohamed (2000). Time and the River. Brunei Darussalam: Brunei Press. ISBN 9789991732039.
- Bolkiah, Mohamed (2007). Remember, Remember.....The 8th of December. Brunei Press.
- Bolkiah, Mohamed (2008). A Southeast Asian Community: More Than a Matter of Geography. ISEAS Publishing. ISBN 9789812307866.
- Bolkiah, Mohamed (2016). Sana'a to San Jose' 1984 - 2015: the first 30 years of Brunei Darussalam's modern foreign affairs Mohamed Bolkiah. ISBN 9789991732466.
- Bolkiah, Mohamed (2019). Action Point. Brunei Press. ISBN 9789991798264.
Legacy
Titles and styles
| Styles of The Prince of Brunei | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Reference style | His Royal Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Royal Highness |
| Alternative style | Duli Tuanku |
- 27 August 1947 – 29 September 1967: Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Duli
- 29 September 1967 – 6 February 1970: Yang Teramat Mulia Seri Paduka Duli Pengiran Temenggong Sahibul Bahar
- Since 6 February 1970: Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Perdana Wazir Sahibul Himmah Wal-Waqar
National
1 November 1970: Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Brunei Malay Regiment- 1 September 1972: Honorary Colonel, Royal Brunei Malay Regiment
Foreign
1 March 1968: Honorary 2nd Lieutenant, Irish Guards- 16 November 1985: Honorary Lieutenant, Irish Guards
Namesakes
- Mohamed Bolkiah Mosque, a mosque in Kampong Serusop.[11]
- Pengiran Muda Mohammed Bolkiah Religious School, a religious school in Temburong District.[12]
Honours
Mohamed Bolkiah has received the following honours;
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National
Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei (DKMB)
Family Order of Laila Utama (DK) – Dato Laila Utama (1963)
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS) – (1 August 1968).gif)
Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (PBLI) – (1975).gif)
Meritorious Service Medal (PJK) – (1954).jpg.webp)
Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal – (5 October 2017)
Foreign
Japan:
Order of the Rising Sun Grand Cordon – (2009)[13]
Malaysia:
Royal Family Order of Kelantan (DK) – (24 October 2022)[14]
Order of the Crown of Johor (SPMJ) – Dato'
Order of Sultan Ahmad Shah Grand Knight (SSAP) – Dato' Sri.svg.png.webp)
Order of Cura Si Manja Kini Grand Knight (SPCM) – Dato' Seri
Order of Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Companion (SSA)
United Kingdom:
Order of St Michael and St George Honorary Knight Grand Cross (GCMG) – Sir (17 September 1998)
Royal Victorian Order Honorary Commander (CVO) – (29 February 1972)
Germany:
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Grand Cross – (16 November 1985)
South Korea:
_Grand_Gwanghwa_Medal_ribbon.gif)
Order of Diplomatic Service Merit First Grade
Thailand:
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Order of the White Elephant Knight Grand Cross (PCh (KCE))
Philippines:
Order of the Golden Heart Grand Cross (GCrGH) – (1 August 2007)[15]
Notes
- ASEAN Forecast. Executive Publication Pte. 1985. p. 60.
- Sidhu, Jatswan S. (22 December 2009). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Scarecrow Press. p. 148. ISBN 978-0-8108-7078-9.
- "Yang Teramat Mulia Seri Paduka Duli Pengiran Temenggong Sahibul Bahar Muda Muhammad Bolkiah, adinda Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Sultan kelihatan dalam gambar sabelah kanan sedang mengambil bahagian dalam satu latehan perbarisan baru2 ini bagi perbarisan Baginda Queen di - Sandhurst, Maktab Tentera Di-Raja British yang mashor di selatan England. Yang Teramat Mulia itu akan di-lantek sebagai sa-orang Leftenan Muda dalam pasokan Irish Guards" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 27 December 1967. p. 8.
- Vienne, Marie-Sybille de (9 March 2015). Brunei: From the Age of Commerce to the 21st Century. NUS Press. p. 252. ISBN 978-9971-69-818-8.
- Bolkiah, Prince Mohamed (2008). A Southeast Asian Community: More Than a Matter of Geography. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. ISBN 978-981-230-786-6.
- South. South Publications Limited. 1988. p. 5.
- "About Us". mofat.gov.bn. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Brunei. Archived from the original on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
- Bangkok Post
- "Jabatan Perkhidmatan Awam - Ministers". www.jpa.gov.bn. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
- "Perkahwinan Di-Raja Selamat Berlangsong" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 15 July 1970. pp. 1 and 4.
- "Berita - Majlis Penutup Dikir Masjid Mohamed Bolkiah..." www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- gp (19 August 2022). "Teruja sertai Majlis Khatam Al-Quran 76 kali senegara". Teruja sertai Majlis Khatam Al-Quran 76 kali senegara. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
- Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, "2009 Autumn Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals," p. 2.
- "Royalty receive Malaysian State Decoration".
- "Sultanate - News | Negara Brunei Darussalam | Presidential honour for Prince". sultanate.com. Retrieved 4 March 2023.