Is Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday presented Letters of Credentials to three newly-appointed Brunei envoys as well as received Letters of Appointment from three newly-appointed foreign envoys to the Sultanate.

His Majesty first received Letter of Credentials from His Royal Highness The Crown Prince Tupouto'a-Lavaka, new High Commissioner from the Kingdom of Tonga to the country.

His Majesty later presented the Letters of Credential to Brig General Dato Paduka Mahmud Hj Saidin, Brunei Darussalam's Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia. He was followed by Pengiran Hj Mustapa bin Pengiran Hj Aliuddin, Brunei's Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, and Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Awang Besar bin Hj Bakar, Brunei's Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman.

His Majesty later received Letters of Credentials from two newly-appointed envoys to the country, namely, Hirose Noriki of Japan and Lt Gen (Rtd) Sallah ud Din of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Following the ceremony, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam granted an audience to the three new Brunei envoys.

Prior to his appointment as Brunei's Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia, Brig Gen Dato Paduka Mahmud Hj Saidin, 51, served as Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force.

Meanwhile, Pengiran Haji Mustapa Pengiran Haji Aliuddin, 47, Brunei's Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, held the post of Assistant Director of Haj Department.

Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Awang Besar Hj Bakar, Brunei's Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, served as a Mosque Affairs officer.

Following the ceremony, His Majesty granted separate audiences to the newly-appointed foreign envoys from the Kingdom of Tonga, Japan and Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

The non-resident High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Tonga, His Royal Highness The Crown Price Tupouto'a-Lakava, 50, is currently based in Australia.

Hirose Noriki, 61, previously served as Advisor at the Economic and Social Research Institute, Cabinet Office of Japan.

Meanwhile, Lt Gen (Rtd) Sallah ud Din, 58, High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan was the Chief of Staff at Rawalpindi.

The ceremony took place at the Istana Nurul Iman. - Borneo Bulletin (8th November 2009)