Omar Ali Saifuddien III


DYTM Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Sir Muda Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien III was the 28th Sultan of Brunei who ruled from 4 June 1950 until his voluntary abdication from the throne on 5 October 1967. He was also Brunei's Minister of Defence after the country's independence. He was known as "The Architect of Modern Brunei", "The Royal Poet", and "The Father of Independence".

Early life

Pengiran Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien was born at Istana Kota, Kampong Sultan Lama, Brunei Town on 3 Zulkaedah 1332 Hijrah, corresponding to 23 September 1914. He was the second of ten children of Muhammad Jamalul Alam II and Raja Isteri Fatimah. His older brother, Ahmad Tajuddin later became Sultan. His other siblings were; Pengiran Muda Besar, Pengiran Muda Tengah, Pengiran Anak Puteri Besar, Pengiran Anak Puteri Tengah, Pengiran Anak Puteri Damit, Pengiran Muda Anum, Pengiran Muda Laila Gambar and Pengiran Muda Bongsu.

Career experiences

Omar Ali Saifuddien, under the behest of his British mentor and father-figure Sir Roland Evelyn Turnbull, studied at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar in Perak, British Malaya from 1932 to 1936. As a result, he was the first of the Brunei sultans to receive formal
education in a foreign institution.
After finishing education in Malaya, he returned to Brunei in 1936 to work in the Forestry Department, Kuala Belait as a Cadet Officer. This job enabled him to be closer to the people in villages and remote areas. As such he was also able to understand the people's problems and their needs.
In 1938, he was transferred to the Judiciary Department, also in Kuala Belait in 1937. Here, he was able to learn about the Criminal and Civil Procedure Code from the Assistant British Resident, Hughes-Hallet. He remained there until 1938.
In 1941, he worked as an administrator in the British Resident's office. It was here that he studied English language under the guidance of H.F. Stalley. During the period of Japanese Occupation and the Second World War, he worked at the Japanese Governor's office as a secretary to the Japanese Sub-district commander, Tsuyoshi Kimura.
After the war, in 1947, he was subsequently appointed a member of Brunei State Council and chairman of the Syariah Court. He was the first member of the royal family to suggest fact-finding visits to the rural villages.

Personal life

Family

His first wife was Dayang Siti Amin binti Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Setia Laila Diraja Awang Haji Hashim, but the couple had no children. On 6 September 1941, he married his cousin as his second wife, Pengiran Anak Damit binti Pengiran Bendahara Seri Maharaja Permaisuara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman. She was the great granddaughter of Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin. She bore him 10 children, including the eldest, Hassanal Bolkiah, the incumbent Sultan of Brunei.
On 13 September 1979, his wife, Paduka Suri Seri Begawan Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit died. After that, for the last time, he married Pengiran Bini Pengiran Anak Hajah Salhah binti Pengiran Bendahara Seri Maharaja Permaisuara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman, who was also his sister-in-law. The couple, however, had no children. She died on Friday, 18 February 2011.

Grandchildren

The titles Pengiran Muda and Pengiran Anak Puteri only fall to the children of ruling Sultan of Brunei.
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III had several grandchildren,
Great Grandchildren
He had the title Pengiran Bendahara Seri Maharaja Permaisuara conferred on him by his brother, Ahmad Tajuddin on 15 July 1947.

Succession to the throne

Upon the death of his brother, who left no male heirs, on 4 June 1950, he was proclaimed the next Sultan on 6 June 1950.
Omar Ali Saifuddien was crowned as the Sultan Dan Yang Di-Pertuan on 31 May 1951. In conjunction of the coronation, he was conferred with the Honorary Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George by Queen Elizabeth II. In September 1951, upon becoming Sultan, he performed his first pilgrimage to Mecca, and made another in April 1962.

Contributions

Under Omar Ali Saifuddien's leadership, Brunei gradually gained self-rule while its external affairs and defence remained under the charge of Britain. The introduction of the 1959 Constitution effectively brought to an end to the Resident's rule in Brunei and reinstated the Sultan's internal sovereignty, making him the supreme executive head of government in Brunei. He was increasingly able to make his own decisions in finance and administration.
In 1959, the post of the British Resident was replaced with that of High Commissioner. The High Commissioner was still required to give advice to the Sultan on all matters concerning the administration of the state except on matters pertaining to religion and customs.
He promoted the use of English extensively among his people. He was instrumental in setting up the first English government school in 1953 namely SOAS College followed by STIPRI girls school and Anthony Abell College. He introduced the scholarship scheme and sent his people to study in the UK to prepare his people to lead the country’s administration. Even though the first Bruneian only got a degree in 1959, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin III was quickly able to educate and train enough local people to manage the state affairs.
His other contribution was in raising the inherited monarchy to a height of prosperity. After he came to power, he faced formidable challenges from within the sultanate as well as from the British Government to bring Brunei in line with the status enjoyed by other Southeast Asian countries.

Developments in Religious Affairs and Religious Education

Upon his ascension to the throne, Omar Ali Saiffudien also became the head of the Islamic religion in the country. His influence over religion guaranteed the continued beliefs and practices of Islam among the people. He was also pragmatic in ensuring that the brand of Islam promoted in the country would not conflict in the secular development of the state. He was especially keen to modify and modernise Islam in fears that Wahabism may become a threat to the monarchical structure, noting that the ideology does not recognise Kingship given the egalitarian nature of the religion.
One important contribution of the Sultan was to regularise Islamic administration in Brunei. In 1948, a religious council, comprising the Mohammedan Religious Advisers was formed. Due to the Sultan's initiative, the council met for the first time on 31 January 1948. He himself was appointed chairman of this council. After examining several laws on Islamic affairs in the Malay Peninsula, the board made new proposals regarding the religious administration in Brunei.
According to his speech during the Opening Ceremony of the Shariah Council,
He was also responsible for the formation of the Department of Religious Affairs on 1 July 1954. The department was responsible for all the important decisions made on Islam in Brunei. All aspects of Islamic activities such as community life, laws, education, missionary activities and social administration were supervised by these two religious bodies.
He was also concerned about the insufficient time allocated for religious instruction in government schools, and authorized the government to request for assistance from Johore. In 1954, two religious officers from Johore were sent to Brunei. They were Haji Othman Mohammad Said and Haji Ismail Omar Abdul Aziz.. As a result of their recommendations, in September 1956, religious schools operating in the afternoon were established.
The Bruneian government also offered religious scholarships to students with potential to continue their higher education overseas. This was limited to Aljunied Arabic School in Singapore at first, but from 1956 onwards, students were also sent to the Islamic College in Klang, Selangor, Malaysia and Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt for degree courses.

Other contributions

Omar Ali Saifuddien granted permission to build mosques and surau throughout the country in his efforts to expand and strengthen the Islamic religion. The most significant of all his achievements was the completion of a new state mosque named after him, Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque on 26 September 1958. He was also responsible for making Islam the state religion of Brunei. This was stated in the 1959 Constitution Agreement. Islam's position was therefore strengthened in Brunei.

Notable visits by foreign leaders during reign

In 1952 the Sultan worked for the implementation of the constitution as the foundation of governance and the achievement of independence from the United Kingdom. On 9 June 1953, he was conferred with the Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George by Queen Elizabeth II.

Writing of the Constitution

In July 1953, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III formed a seven-member committee named Tujuh Serangkai to find out the citizens’ views regarding a written constitution for Brunei. In May 1954, a meeting attended by the Sultan, the Resident and the High Commissioner was held to discuss the findings of the committee. In March 1959 the Sultan led a delegation to London to discuss the proposed constitution. The British delegation was led by Alan Lennox-Boyd, 1st Viscount Boyd of Merton who was the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The British Government later accepted the draft constitution.
On 29 September 1959, the Constitution Agreement was signed in Bandar Seri Begawan. The agreement was signed by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and Sir Robert Scott, the Commissioner-General for Southeast Asia. Some of the points of the constitution were:
Five councils were also set up:
Under the Constitution, the Sultan remained the supreme executive authority in the state. Five councils were created to assist him. They were the Executive Council, Privy Council, State Religious Council, Legislative Council and the Council of Succession.
Five principal administrative posts were also created. They were the Menteri Besar, State Secretary, Attorney-General, State Financial Officer and Religious Adviser.
During his reign, 3 chief ministers was appointed according to the Constitution. They were Ibrahim Mohammed Jaafar, Marsal Maun, and Pengiran Mohd Yusof Pengiran Abdul Rahim.

The National Development Plans

A series of National Development Plans were initiated by the 28th Sultan of Brunei, Omar Ali Saifuddien III.

The First National Development Plan

The First National Development plan was introduced in 1953. A total sum of B$100 million was approved by the Brunei State Council for the plan. E.R. Bevington from the Colonial Office in Fiji. A $14 million Gas Plant was built under the plan. In 1954, survey and exploration work were undertaken by the Brunei Shell Petroleum on both offshore and onshore fields. By 1956, production reached 114,700 bpd. He had launched the first delivery of 10-inch oil pipeline from the seabed off the coast of the Seria oil Base on 28 October 1964.
Developments on education were also made. In 1952, a written policy on education was made. By 1958, expenditure on education totaled at $4 million. Communications were also improved with new roads built and reconstruction works at Berakas Airport being completed at 1954.

The Second National Development Plan

The second National Development Plan was launched in 1962. A major oil and gas field was discovered in 1963, with this discovery, Liquefied Natural Gas became important. Developments in the oil and gas sector has continued actively and oil production has steadily increased since then. The plan also saw an increase of production of meat and eggs. The fishing industry increased its output by 25% throughout the course of the plan. A deepwater port at Muara was also constructed under the plan. Power requirements were met and studies were made to provide electricity to rural areas. Efforts were made to eradicate malaria, with the help of the World Health Organization, under the plan. Efforts were successful, bringing the down the cases of malaria from 300 cases in 1953 to only 66 cases in 1959. The death rate was also brought down from 20 per thousand in 1947 to 11.3 per thousand in 1953. This has been attributed to public sanitation and improvement of drainage and the provision of piped pure water to the population.

State Election 1962

Brunei's first state election was held in 1962. This was to elect members to sit in the Brunei Legislative Council. These elected members would then be involved in discussions of governmental policies. However, beside this, the Sultan still held the absolute power and authority in the government.
Among the political parties which contested in the election were Brunei People's Party, Barisan Nasional Organisation, and Brunei United Party.
The polling went on for two days on 30 and 31 August 1962. The Brunei People's Party won the election.

Desire to join Malaysia

When Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister of the Federation of Malaya announced his proposal for a merger of Singapore, North Borneo, Sarawak, and Brunei, Omar Ali Saifuddien saw this as an opportunity for Brunei to achieve independence from British influence. He sent a congratulatory telegraph to Tunku Abdul Rahman, showing his support for the merger.
For him, Brunei as a small country, still needed a protection of a larger country; the only way to achieve this was by merging with Malaya and the rest of the states. This view was also shared by Lee Kuan Yew, the then-Prime Minister of Singapore.

Brunei Revolt

The PRB, including its leader, A.M. Azahari was against the merger. According to them, if Brunei was to join the Federation, Brunei would not have achieve full independence. Instead, it was only transfer of power from Britain to Malaya. This was called as neo-colonisation. On 8 December 1962, the PRB led a rebellion against the government. With British military aid deployed from Singapore, the rebellion was later crushed and PRB were defeated.
During the rebellion, Azahari was at the Philippines during his way to the United Nations to propose another federation called North Borneo Federation, which would consist Brunei, North Borneo and Sarawak, with Brunei Town as its de facto capital.

Brunei's Stand on the issue of joining Malaysia

After the rebellion, the discussion still goes on. Omar Ali Saifuddien sent a delegation to attend meetings of the Malaysian Solidarity Consolidation Committee. The views of the people was also seek by the committee chaired by Marsal Maun, Chief Minister of Brunei at that time.
The views were varied, some were in favour of Brunei joining Malaysia, some opposed and some wanted the Sultan to make the decision.
In 1963, a meeting was held to discuss the prospect of Brunei joining Malaysia. They failed to reach an agreement on the issues of Brunei's oil revenue and federal rights to taxation. The Sultan also refused to accept that he was to ranked as the most junior member in line to be the Yang Di Pertuan Agong of Malaysia. In fact, the then-YDPA of Malaysia at that time was waiting to finish his term.
Even the initial date for the federation was postponed to 16 September, no agreement reached between the two sides. Finally, the Federation of Malaysia was formed without Brunei.

Abdication

After ruling for 17 years, on 4 October 1967, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien willingly abdicated in favour of his eldest son, Crown Prince Hassanal Bolkiah. At the time of the announcement, the Crown Prince was in England, training as a cadet at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. The Prince returned immediately to Brunei.
After his abdication from the throne at the age of 53, he took the title of Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan, a title he held until his death in 1986. He was conferred with the Honorary Grand Commander of the Victorian Order by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Brunei on 29 February 1972.

Coronation of Hassanal Bolkiah

After his abdication, his eldest son, Crown Prince Hassanal Bolkiah ascended the throne to become the 29th Sultan of Brunei.
The coronation ceremony began with the flying of the yellow flag at Bukit Panggal and the red flag at Bukit Sungai Kebun in February 1968. The announcement was also made throughout the country by Radio Brunei. The new Sultan rode to his coronation at the Lapau Diraja on 1 August 1968, on a royal carriage drawn by fifty specially selected soldiers of the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment.
Omar Ali Saifuddien placed the crown on the head of his son, and handed him the Keris si-Naga, symbol of supreme power in Brunei.
Like his father before him, the new Sultan took vows to maintain peace and prosperity of the nation. He also promised to improve the standard of living of his subjects through various development projects and the protect and uphold Islam and Brunei's customs and traditions.
After the crowning ceremony, the new Sultan proceeded in procession through the capital, passing lines of school children cheering Daulat Tuanku.
Among the foreign dignitaries who attended the ceremony were, the Prime Minister of Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, the Malaysian Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and the British High Commissioner to Brunei, A.R. Adair, who represented Queen Elizabeth II.

Later life and Road to Independence

Although he had abdicated and all his responsibilities to his country had been handed over to his son, Hassanal Bolkiah, he became his son's personal adviser. As a father, he still held the lead responsibility towards his son's perfection. That is why he always held open discussion together with his son, both in Council or anywhere, including in London. He wanted to see his son's success in leading the administration of the State. He always led and guided his son in carrying out the duties as the Sultan in preparation for the time Brunei would eventually become an independent and sovereign country.
At the stroke of midnight on 31 December 1983 at Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien, Hassanal Bolkiah in his speech proclaimed that Brunei Darussalam had achieved its independence and sovereignty after 97 years of British protection. Soon after the speech, Omar Ali Saifuddien was honoured by the Sultan to lead the masses of people chanting Allahu Akbar three times. This was followed by the singing of the national anthem, the 21-gun salute and a prayer was read by the State Mufti to give God's blessings to the newly independent nation. Although it was raining that night, the people's spirit and determination did not fail them to attend the celebration.
Although he had abdicated 17 years ago and Brunei had achieved its independence, he did not retire completely from all duties in his country, instead continued to play an important role both as a mentor to the sultan, and as a loving father to his son. He was appointed by the Sultan as Minister of Defence in Brunei's first cabinet ministers and consequently conferred the rank of Field Marshal in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces. He attended the first celebration of Independence Day on 23 February that year at the national stadium. He would continue to attend the celebrations until his death in 1986.
He also welcomed the arrival of Yasser Arafat, the Chairman of Palestine Liberation Organisation on his official visit to Brunei on 26 July 1984.
As Defence Minister, he attended the official opening ceremony of the Reconnaissance Armoured Vehicle Squadron of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces on 30 July 1984. He also attended the opening ceremony of the International Literary Festival IV on 9 December 1985.

Death and state funeral

Omar Ali Saifuddien died on 7 September 1986, several weeks before he would have his 72nd birthday. On that day, the Grand Chamberlain officially announced his death.
On 8 September, a state funeral was held. A large number of world leaders attended the funeral, including Malaysian Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Iskandar of Johor and fellow Malay Rulers such as Ahmad Shah of Pahang, Tuanku Jaafar of Negeri Sembilan, Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah of Terengganu, Tuanku Syed Putra of Perlis, Abdul Halim of Kedah, Salahuddin of Selangor and Azlan Shah of Perak. Also in attendance were US Vice President George H. W. Bush, Corazon Aquino of the Philippines, Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh, Suharto of Indonesia, Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan, Hussain Muhammad Ershad of Bangladesh, Secretary of British Foreign Affairs and the Commonwealth, Sir Geoffrey Howe, and many others.
His body was laid in state at the "Lapau" before being moved to nearby Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque for a funeral prayer. A casket draped with his royal standard flag was placed on a hand-drawn carriage for the funeral procession around the Capital. He was buried in the Royal Mausoleum in Bandar Seri Begawan, alongside his wife, and his father, Muhammad Jamalul Alam II, his grandfather, Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin and his eldest brother and predecessor Ahmad Tajuddin.
Several foreign leaders had given their quotes about Omar Ali Saifuddien,

The Churchill Memorial in Brunei

He was a keen admirer of the wartime British Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill. This can be seen in the way he dressed in several occasion.
He also ordered the construction of Churchill Memorial at Bandar Seri Begawan. In 1992, in conjunction with Silver Jubilee of His Majesty's Ascension to the Throne celebrations, the memorial had become the Royal Brunei Regalia Building. Also in 2017, the building was renamed to Royal Regalia Museum in conjunction with the Golden Jubilee.

Personal interests

He had an interest in writing poems. Apart from that, he was also known for designing the national medals. He also made a design of flowers on his clothes, the "Tenunan Brunei" which he wore on several occasions.
Also, he was interested in self-defence martial arts such as silat and kuntau.

As a poet

His works are on "Syair". Among his poems were:-
These poems contain his advice for the people of Brunei.

Legacy

His portrait is depicted on the obverse. The reverse of these coins, and all subsequent series, was designed by Christopher Ironside OBE. The coins issued were 1, 5, 10, 20, and 50 sen.
His portrait also depicted in Brunei's $500 note. On the $25 note depicting the picture of him crowning his son as his successor to Sultan.

Titles, styles and honours

Titles and styles