Omar Ali Saifuddien III

Omar Ali Saifuddien III III عمر علي سيف الدين
Sultan of Brunei
Reign	4 June 1950 – 4 October 1967
Coronation	31 May 1951
Predecessor	HM Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin
Successor	HM Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah
Issue
HM Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah HRH Prince Mohamed Bolkiah HRH Prince Sufri Bolkiah HRH Prince Jefri Bolkiah HRH Princess Masnah HRH Princess Norain HRH Princess Umi Kalthum Al Islam HRH Princess Amal Rakiah HRH Princess Amal Nasibah HRH Princess Amal Jefriah
Full name
Al-Marhum Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Maulana Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Saadul Khairi Waddien Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II
Father	HM Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II
Mother	HM Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Fatimah
Born	23 September 1914(1914-09-23) Kampung Sultan Lama, Brunei Town, Brunei
Died	7 September 1986(1986-09-07) (aged 71) Istana Darussalam, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Burial	September 8, 1986 Kubah Makam Di Raja

Al-Marhum Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Maulana Paduka Seri Begawan Al-Hajj Sultan Sir Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien III, GCVO, KCMG (23 September 1914 – 7 September 1986) was the 28th Sultan of Brunei ruled from 4 June 1950 until his abdication from the throne on 4 October 1967. He was also the first Bruneian Minister of Defence. He was known as The Architect of Modern Brunei ^[1], The Royal Poet^[2], The Father of Independence, and The Father of Brunei's Negara Zikir.

Early life

Pengiran Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien was born at Istana Kota, Kampong Sultan Lama, Brunei Town on 3 Zulkaedah 1332 - 23 September 1914. He was the second of ten child of Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II and Raja Isteri Fatimah. His older brother who would later become Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin. His siblings were; Pengiran Muda Besar, Pengiran Muda Tengah, Pengiran Anak Puteri Besar, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin Akhazul Khairi Waddien, Pengiran Anak Puteri Tengah, Pengiran Anak Puteri Damit, Pengiran Muda Anum, Pengiran Muda Laila Gambar, and Pengiran Muda Bongsu.

Pengiran Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien studied at the Malay College Kuala Kangsar in Perak, British Malaya from 1932 to 1936. After finishing education in Malaya, he returned to Brunei in 1936 to work in the Forestry Department, Kuala Belait as a Cadet Officer. In 1938, he was transferred to the Judiciary Department also in Kuala Belait in 1937.

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 September 6, 1941, He married his cousin as his second wife, Pengiran Anak Damit binti Pengiran Bendahara Seri Maharaja Permaisuara Pengiran Anak Abdul Rahman. She bore him 10 children, including the eldest being Hassanal Bolkiah, the incumbent.

He had the title Pengiran Bendahara Seri Maharaja Permaisuara conferred on him by his brother, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin on 15 July 1947. He was subsequently appointed a member of Brunei State Council and Chairman of the Syariah Court.

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. He was crowned as the Sultan Dan Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on 31 May 1951 in a glittering Coronation ceremony. In conjunction of the coronation, He was conferred with the Honorary Companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (C.M.G) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. On September 1951, upon becoming Sultan, He performed his first haj to the Holy Land, Mecca (He then performed his second haj in April 1962).

Role as Sultan

In the early era of his rule, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien focused on raising Brunei's standard of living. His top priority was providing adequate education. Several primary and secondary schools were built throughout the nation to ensure that all citizens could attend formal schooling. A free-food scheme was introduced in rural schools and students with distinction results were sent abroad for higher education. In 1953, he introduced the first national development plan with an allocation of $100,000,000. The plan's aims included providing basic education to all districts; improving communication systems; raising the quality of medical and health services; increasing agricultural products as well as providing basic services such as roads, electricity and water to all the people.

Creation of Constitution

In 1952 Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien worked for the implementation of the Brunei written constitution as the foundation of governance and the achievement of independence from the United Kingdom. On 9 June 1953, He was again conferred with the Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (K.C.M.G) which carries the title "SIR" from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Discussions with the British government culminated in the signing of Brunei's written constitution and the Brunei Agreement on 29 September 1959 at Lapau, Bandar Seri Begawan. Among other things, the constitution stipulated that Malay and Islam are, respectively, to be the official language and the official religion of Brunei. At the same time, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien consented to the formation of the Brunei Malay Regiment, which was elevated to the Royal Brunei Armed Forces after independence. During His Reign, also, on September 1962, Partai Rakyat Brunei (P.R.B) led by A.M Azahari led a rebellion against Brunei Government because of Brunei's intention to join Malaysia. The rebellion was later crushed and P.R.B were defeated. One year after that, on July 1963, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III made the decision that Brunei was not to join Malaysia.

The Brunei Revolt

See Brunei Revolt

Abdication

After ruling for 17 years, on 4 October 1967, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien willingly abdicated in favour of his eldest son, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah. After his abdication from the throne, he took the title of His Royal Highness 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 (G.C.V.O) by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Brunei on 29 February 1972.

On 13 September 1979, his wife, Al-Marhumah Paduka Seri Suri Begawan Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit died. After that, for the last time, he married Pengiran Bini 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.

Brunei's Independence

Brunei achieved its independence on 1 January 1984 as promised by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien. On that day, he led his people the calling of "Allahu-Akhbar" three times immediately after the proclamation of Independence of Brunei Darussalam. Although he had abdicated, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien continued to play an important role as a mentor to his son. was elected as the first Brunei Defence Minister, and consequently conferred the rank of Field Marshal General in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

Death

Finally, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien died on 7 September 1986, several weeks before his 72nd birthday. His death was a great loss for the nation, and the announcement upon his death shocked all the people who loved him. The next day, his body was laid in state at the "Lapau" (the former Legislative Building at Bandar Seri Begawan) before being moved to nearby Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque for a funeral prayer. A casket draped with his royal standard flag was placed on a hand drown carriage for the funeral procession around the Capital. After that, his body was brought to the Royal Mausoleum, Jalan Tutong where he was laid to rest beside his wife, Paduka Seri Suri Begawan.

“	Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III was not just a loving father, more than that. He always gave me advice up to his death	”
—Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah

A Surah Yassin book was published with the consent of His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, to mark the 40th day of the passing away of his late father.

Legacies

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien is known as the Architect of Modern Brunei. ^[1]

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque

In recognition of his contributions, on October 1970, His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, had consented to rename Brunei Town, Brunei's capital to Bandar Seri Begawan, after his father's title. Furthermore, several institutions and places in Brunei were named after him: the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque; Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College; the Seri Begawan Religious Teaching College; the Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Institute of Islamic studies of Universiti Brunei Darussalam; the Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College; and the Taman Haji Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien at the capital.

An annual Exhibition known as "Paduka Anakanda Julangan Kasih Ayahanda" was introduced in memory of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III.

Also, by the consent of his son, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation, in collaboration with the University of Brunei Darussalam, organised an annual Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Memorial Lecture that started on 25 February 2009 to commemorate the late Highness who was indeed an exemplary statesman. In the first Memorial Lecture, Singapore's Minister mentor Lee Kuan Yew was invited to give a speech titled "The Legacy of Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien". The second memorial lecture was held on 7 October 2010 and the speech was given by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran (Dr.) Haji Mohd. Yusof bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahim.

Other information

Titles

• 1914–1947: Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Muda
• 1947–1950: Yang Teramat Mulia Pengiran Bendahara
• 1950–1967: Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan
• 1967–1984: Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan
• 1984–1986: Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan
  

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Pelita Brunei (9 October 2011). "The Architect of Modern Brunei, A King with a Citizen Soul(Malay version)". Department of Publications, Prime Minister's Office, Brunei Darussalam. http://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/news/pelita/09okt10/rencana.htm. Retrieved 25 October 2011. ,
2. ^ Hussainmiya (1995). Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and Britain "The Making of Brunei Darussalam". Oxford University Press. ISBN 967-65-3106-5. 

Futher Reading

• Hussainmiya (1995). Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and Britain "The Making of Brunei Darussalam". Oxford University Press. ISBN 967-65-3106-5. 
• Pehin Jamil Al-Sufri (2010), The Biography of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III (Malay version), Brunei Historical Centre, http://majlisilmu.org.bn/ilmu2010/malay/Dalam%20Negeri/5.YB%20Pehin%20Jawatan%20Dalam%20Seri%20Maharaja%20DSU%20Dr.%20Hj%20Awg%20Jamil/KERTAS%20KERJA%20_PEHIN%20JAMIL.pdf, retrieved 27 October 2011 

Omar Ali Saifuddien III House of Bolkiah Born: 23 September 1914
Regnal titles
Preceded by Ahmad Tajuddin	Sultan of Brunei 1950–1967	Succeeded by Hassanal Bolkiah
Political offices
New title Post created	Defence Minister of Brunei 1 January 1984 – 7 September 1986	Succeeded by Hassanal Bolkiah