A Profile Of The Crown Prince
By M K Anwar and Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Sunday morning, February 17, 1974 corresponding to 24 Muharam 1394 Hijrah in the Islamic Calendar was a momentous day for Brunei Darussalam that ushered in a new chapter in the history of the Royal Family.

Born on that day at Istana Darul Hana was HRH Crown Prince Pg Muda Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the third child of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam and Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha.

From his childhood, the Crown Prince who was destined to be next in line to throne to become the 30th Sultan of Brunei was groomed to consolidate and enhance the achievements of both His Majesty the Sultan and His Royal Highness' late grandfather, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III.

Education was a priority for the Crown Prince whose school years began at the Putera-Puteri School at Istana Darul Hana, after which he entered St Andrew's School for kindergarten and lower primary education in 1979. Later on, the Crown Prince passed the Primary Certificate of Education in 1995.

His Royal Highness was accepted into Maktab Sains Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan where His Royal Highness passed the Brunei Junior Certificate of Education in 1998 with flying colours. In 1992, the Crown Prince passed the General Certificate of Education 0' Level and continued his pre-university education at Maktab Duli Pengiran Muda Al Muhtadee Billah.

After completing his A' Level in 1995, the Crown Prince pursued further his education. In October 1995, the Crown Prince arrived at Oxford as a member of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies and Magdalen College.

His Royal Highness chose subjects that were significant in leading Brunei in the international arena in the future. Not forgetting his Malay Islamic roots, the Crown Prince also studied Brunei History and Islamic Studies during his first year at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.

Concluding his first year at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies, His Royal Highness successfully matriculated for admission to the Oxford's University's Foreign Service Programme.

His Royal Highness took the final examinations for his overseas study programme in June of 1997 passing all the four compulsory papers and thus graduated from the Foreign Service Programme.

On 31 August 1998, His Royal Highness received his diploma for graduating from Oxford University in a special convocation held at the ICC.

A turning point in his life was when at the age of 25 on 10 August 1998, His Royal Highness was proclaimed as the Crown Prince. The proclamation came almost 37 years after his father was proclaimed as Crown Prince in 1961.

Being prepared for the future responsibilities of the state, His Royal Highness made a series of official visits during his two years at Oxford. This brought the Crown Prince to different places and in contact with different world leaders.

His Royal Highness was received by the then Secretary General of the United Nations, Butros-Butros Ghali, and Kofi Anan, the present UN Secretary General. As a follow up, His Royal Highness visited other United Nations agencies in Geneva and New York where the Crown Prince was briefed on the organisation and objectives of the UN.

The Crown Prince also visited the World Bank, the World Trade Organisation and the International Monetary Fund. Also on his itinerary were trips to the World Health Organisation, World Meteorological Department and the UNHCR.

Back in Brunei, His Royal Highness was attached to the Ministry of Education for theoretical and practical training.

These attachments continued at other government ministries. The attachments added depth to the views of His Royal Highness and gave the Crown Prince the experience of being even closer to the citizens.

In 1998, His Royal Highness was appointed Pro-Chancellor of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) by His Majesty, who is the Chancellor of UBD.

His Royal Highness was awarded the rank of General of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces in March 2004.

The Crown Prince was awarded the Most Exalted Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang (Darjah Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang Yang Amat Gemilang) First Class.

His Royal Highness also made several working visits to government departments. This year alone, His Royal Highness visited different government departments under the Ministry of Home Affairs and other districts.

World leaders from the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, China, Australia, New Zealand and Arab countries as well as Southeast Asian nations were among those whom His Royal Highness had met with and discussed bilateral matters.

His Royal Highness' visits to these countries received a warm welcome indicating the high recognition accorded to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince's visits were to acquaint him with world leaders, especially in foreign affairs.

His Royal Highness made official visits to Malaysia in March 1999, Singapore in May 1999, Indonesia in May 2000, Thailand in May 2000, United Kingdom in January 2001, People's Republic of China and Japan in March 2002, New Zealand and Australia in March 2003 and to Jordan in conjunction with the royal wedding of HRH the Crown Prince Hamzah B. Al-Hussein in May 2004.

Since the establishment of the Brunei government during the era of the first Sultan Alak Betatar or better known as Sultan Muhammad Shah, Brunei is well-known as a country that practises the Islamic way of life and has established business with other Islamic countries. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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