Ministry of Defence (Brunei)

Summary

The Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam (Malay: Kementerian Pertahanan), officially abbreviated as MinDef, is a cabinet-level ministry of the Government of Brunei. It is responsible for the country's national security and military forces, the latter collectively known as the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF); Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei, (ABDB). It is Brunei's ministry of defence; and was established on 1 January 1984; 40 years ago (1984-01-01), when Brunei Darussalam achieved independence from the United Kingdom.[1][2] The Ministry of Defence leadership presently consists of a minister (First minister); its incumbent is the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah,[3][4][6] who is also the Supreme Commander of the RBAF / ABDB. A deputy minister (Second minister) is second-in-command at the MinDef.

Ministry of Defence
Brunei Darussalam
Kementerian Pertahanan
Ministry of Defence logo

Ministry of Defence building
Ministry overview
Formed1 January 1984; 40 years ago (1984-01-01)
TypeDefence ministry
JurisdictionGovernment of Brunei
HeadquartersBolkiah Garrison, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei-Muara District, Brunei Darussalam
04°55′34″N 114°56′07″E / 4.92611°N 114.93528°E / 4.92611; 114.93528
Annual budgetIncrease$597.67 million BND (2022)
Ministers responsible
WebsiteMinDef.gov.bn
Map
Location in Brunei
Footnotes
[1][2][3][4][5]

The Ministry of Defence is headquartered within Bolkiah Garrison in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei Darussalam, in the Brunei-Muara District. In late 1986, the Ministry of Defence was restructured and reorganised; it currently manages the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, the Royal Brunei Malay Reserve Unit, and also the Gurkha Reserve Unit. The ministry is sub-divided into two divisions, Civilian Staff (headed by a Permanent Secretary) and Military Staff (headed by Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces).[2]

Leadership edit

The first Minister of Defence (Menteri Pertahanan) upon the inception of the ministry was Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III,[7] who was the late father of the current Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, and had been the preceding Sultan of Brunei until his abdication in 1967.[2] Upon the death of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III in 1986, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah assumed the position and has remained the minister to the present day.[2][4][7]

The Second Minister of Defence (Menteri Pertahanan Kedua) portfolio was established in 2018 as a result of a cabinet reshuffle, and was held by Halbi Mohd Yussof.[3][8][a]

The Deputy Minister of Defence (Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan) portfolio first appeared in the cabinet assembly in 1986. The position of Deputy Minister of Defence was abolished when the cabinet reshuffle in 2018 established the portfolio of Second Minister of Defence.[10] But in 2022, there is no longer a second minister at the defence ministry and the portfolio of Deputy Minister of Defence reappeared as a result of cabinet reshuffle.[9] The incumbent was Abdul Razak Abdul Kadir,[4][b] who took office from 7 June 2022 until his termination, alongside the abolishment of its office on 27 February 2023.[11]

Following the termination, Halbi Mohd Yussof was appointed temporarily as the current Second Minister of Defence in addition to his present appointment as Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office.[11]

Budget edit

The allocated budget for the fiscal year 2022–23 is 597.67 million Brunei dollar (B$ or BND),[c] an increase of two percent from the previous year.[5]

List of ministers edit

First minister edit

First minister, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam
no. portrait minister term start term end time in office ref.
1   Omar Ali Saifuddien III 1 January 1984 21 October 1986 2 years, 293 days [7]
2   Hassanal Bolkiah 21 October 1986 incumbent 37 years, 186 days [3][6][15]

Second minister edit

Second minister, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam
no. portrait minister term start term end time in office ref.
1   Halbi Mohd Yussof 30 January 2018 7 June 2022 4 years, 128 days [3][5][6][8]
27 February 2023 incumbent 1 year, 57 days [11]

Deputy minister edit

Deputy minister, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam
no. portrait minister term start term end time in office ref.
1   Ibnu Basit Apong 21 October 1986 24 May 2005 18 years, 215 days [16]
2   Yasmin Umar 24 May 2005 29 May 2010 5 years, 5 days [17]
3   Mustappa Sirat 29 May 2010 22 October 2015 5 years, 146 days [18]
4   Abdul Aziz Tamit 22 October 2015 30 January 2018 2 years, 100 days [6][19]
5   Abdul Razak 7 June 2022 27 February 2023 265 days [4][8][11][20]

Notes edit

  1. ^ The official Malay name upon the appointment was Pehin Datu Lailaraja Mejar Jeneral (Bersara) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd. Yussof.[9]
  2. ^ The official Malay name upon the appointment was Brigadier Jeneral Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Abdul Kadir.[9]
  3. ^ ≈ US$449 million / 411 million / £354 million as of December 2023.[12][13][14]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b Menon 1987, p. 92.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam - Introduction". MinDef.gov.bn. Bolkiah Garrison, Berakas 'A', Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei-Muara, Brunei Darussalam: Public Relations Unit, Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 2015. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e "HM announces surprise cabinet reshuffle – full list of new appointees — The sultan announces major changes to top posts in televised address to the nation". TheScoop.co. The Scoop, Scoop Media. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e "HM announces major cabinet shakeup – full list of appointees — The sultan makes changes to top posts; appoints Brunei's first female cabinet minister". TheScoop.co. The Scoop, Scoop Media. 7 June 2022. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Haris, Nabilah; Bandial, Ain (28 February 2022). "MinDef tables $597 million budget to support national security — Minister highlights the RBAF's key role in Brunei's pandemic response". TheScoop.co. Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam: The Scoop, Scoop Media. Archived from the original on 3 June 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d Bandial, Ain (30 January 2018). "HM: Cabinet reshuffle is of 'vital importance' — The announcement sees six cabinet ministers replaced and appointment of two women as deputy ministers". TheScoop.co. The Scoop, Scoop Media. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "The Cabinet 2010". BruneiResources.blogspot.com. The Daily Brunei Resources. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  8. ^ a b c Othman, Azlan (8 June 2022). "New Cabinet unveiled". BorneoBulletin.com.bn. Borneo Bulletin Online, Brunei Press Sdn Bhd. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Ali Rahman, Muhammad Khairulanwar (8 June 2022). "Perlantikan, Pertukaran Menteri Kabinet, Timbalan Menteri" [Appointment, Exchange of Cabinet Ministers, Deputy Ministers] (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). No. 67 #69. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  10. ^ "HM announces surprise cabinet reshuffle — full list of new appointees". The Scoop. 30 January 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2024.
  11. ^ a b c d "Deputy minister of defence appointment terminated, post abolished". BorneoBulletin.com.bn. Borneo Bulletin Online, Brunei Press Sdn Bhd. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  12. ^ "597,670,000 BND to USD - Bruneian Dollars to US Dollars exchange rate". XE.com. XE.com Inc. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  13. ^ "597,670,000 BND to EUR - Bruneian Dollars to Euros exchange rate". XE.com. XE.com Inc. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  14. ^ "597,670,000 BND to GBP - Bruneian Dollars to British Pounds exchange rate". XE.com. XE.com Inc. 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Menteri-Menteri Kabinet" [Cabinet Ministers] (PDF). Information.gov.bn (in Malay). Information Department, Brunei Darussalam. 2017. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  16. ^ "1st Commander — Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Sanggamara Diraja Mejar Jeneral (B) Pengiran Haji Ibnu Ba'asith Bin Pengiran Datu Penghulu Pengiran Haji Apong PSPNB., DSNB., DSLJ., PHBS., PBLI". Navy.MinDef.gov.bn. Royal Brunei Navy, Defence Information Technology Unit, Ministry of Defence Brunei Darussalam. n.d. Archived from the original on 6 December 2018. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  17. ^ "Minister of Energy — Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar". Information.gov.bn. Information Department, Brunei Darussalam. n.d. Archived from the original on 15 July 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  18. ^ "News - Deputy Minister of Defence's working visit to the United States of America". MinDef.gov.bn. Washington, USA: Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 28 June 2013. Archived from the original on 27 October 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
  19. ^ "News – Official announcement of newly appointed Deputy Commander of RBAF". MinDef.gov.bn. Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam: Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 15 March 2015. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2023.[failed verification]
  20. ^ "Ambassador Yu Hong meets with Brunei's newly appointed Deputy Minister of Defence". FMPRC.gov.cn. Chinese Embassy in Negara Brunei Darussalam: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China. 26 July 2022. Archived from the original on 3 August 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2023.

Bibliography edit

Further reading edit

  • "Akta Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (Penggal 149)" [Royal Brunei Armed Forces Act (Chapter 149)] (PDF). AGC.gov.bn (in Malay). Attorney General's Chambers, Prime Minister's Office, Brunei Darussalam. 16 December 2013.
  • Hussainmiya, Bachamiya Abdul; Mahdini, Waleed (2013). Sarimah Haji Umar (ed.). Pencapaian aan aspirasi : ABDB 1961–2011 dan seterusnya [Journey of accomplishments and aspirations : RBAF 1961-2011 and beyond] (in Malay). Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam: Brunei Press / Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei. OCLC 973874229.

External links edit

  • MinDef.gov.bn — official website
  • Defending the Nation's Sovereignty – Defence White Paper 2021 — Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam