By Lyna Mohammad
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to preside over the swearing in ceremony for the newly-appointed Cabinet Ministers and Deputy Ministers.
The ceremony took place at the Istana Nurul Iman.
The Grand Chamberlain YAM Pg Penggawa Laila Bentara Istiadat Diraja Dalam Istana Pg Hj Alauddin read the letters of appointment.
First to be sworn-in was His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince as the Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, followed by His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah who continues to be the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Also in attendance at yesterday's ceremony was Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
His Majesty then consented to receive other Cabinet Ministers:
Minister of Education - YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Dato Setia Hj Mohamed Taib, previously Minister of Industry and Primary Resources;
Minister of Religious Affairs - YB Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Haji Mohd Zain bin Hj Serudin, who held the same post previously;
Minister of Industry and Primary Resources - YB Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Hj Ahmad bn Hj Jumat, previously Minister of Development;
Minister of Communications - YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna Dato Seri Setia Hj Awang Abu Bakar bin Hj Apong, previously Minister of Health;
Minister of Home Affairs - YB Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Paduka Awang Hj Adanan bin Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Mohd Yusof, who was the Deputy Minister of Home
Affairs from August 2002 until his present appointment;
Minister of Health - YB Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Paduka Hj Suyoi bin Hj Osman, who was the Deputy Minister of Education since August 2002 until his present appointment;
Minister of Development - YB Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Paduka Awang Hj Abdullah bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, who was the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Communications;
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports - YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Hj Mohammad bin Hj Daud, who had held the post of Commander of the RBAF and ambassador to several friendly nations;
Minister of Energy - YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Paduka Awang Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, previously a Permanent Secretary at Prime Minister's Office;
Minister of Finance II - YB Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Dato Paduka Hj Abd Rahman bin Hj Ibrahim, who was the Deputy Minister of Finance;
Minister of Foreign Affairs II - YB Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Paduka Lim Jock Seng, who was a Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The swearing in of the Cabinet Ministers was followed by the swearing in of 10 newly-appointed Deputy Ministers:
Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office - Yang Mulia Dato Paduka Hj Eusof Agaki bin Hj Ismail;
Deputy Minister of Defence - YB Pehin Datu Singamanteri Col (L) Dato Paduka Hj Mohammad Yasmin bin Hj Umar;
Deputy Minister of Education - YM Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Mohammad bin Pengiran Hj Abd Rahman;
Deputy Minister Religious Affairs - YB Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Hj Othman;
Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources - YM Dato Paduka Hj Hamdilah bin Hj Abdul Wahab;
Deputy Minister of Communications - YM Dato Paduka Hj Yusof bin Hj Abdul Hamid;
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs - YDM Pehin Orang Kaya Dewa Pahlawan Dato Paduka Awang Hj Dani bin Hj Ibrahim;
Deputy Minister of Health - YB Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Lela Diraja Dato Paduka Hj Hazair bin Hj Abdullah;
Deputy Minister of Development - YM Dato Paduka Dr Hj Mat Suny bin Hj Mohd Hussein;
Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports - YM Dato Paduka Awang Hj Yakub bin Abu Bakar;
Also present at the ceremony were the State Mufti, YB Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Hj Awg Abd Aziz, and the Attorney-General, YB Dato Seri Paduka Awg Haji Kifrawi Dato Paduka Hj Kifli, whose posts, as His Majesty announced in the titah, are of ministerial status.
A doa was read by the State Mufti.
- Borneo Bulletin
(31st May 2005)
