Isa bin Ibrahim explained

Honorific Prefix:Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja Dato Laila Utama
Isa bin Ibrahim
Honorific-Suffix:DK SPMB DSNB PHBS PBLI PJK
Office1:Minister at the Prime Minister's Office
Term Start1:30 January 2018
Alongside1:Halbi Mohammad Yussof and Amin Liew Abdullah
Deputy1:Elinda C.A. Mohammad
Riza Yunos
Sufian Sabtu
Monarch1:Hassanal Bolkiah
Predecessor1:Abdul Rahman Ibrahim
Lim Jock Seng
Office2:7th Speaker of the Legislative Council of Brunei
Term Start2:10 February 2011
Term End2:11 February 2015
Predecessor2:Pengiran Anak Kemaluddin
Successor2:Abdul Rahman Taib
Office3:2nd Minister of Home Affairs
Term Start3:21 October 1986
Term End3:24 May 2005
Deputy3:Abidin Abdul Rashid
Adanan Yusof
Predecessor3:Hassanal Bolkiah
Successor3:Adanan Yusuf
Office4:2nd Deputy Menteri Besar of Brunei
Term Start4:October 1970
Term End4:1972
Monarch4:Omar Ali Saifuddien III
1Blankname4:Menteri Besar
1Namedata4:Pengiran Muhammad Yusuf
Predecessor4:Pengiran Muhammad Ali
Successor4:Office abolished
Birth Date:9 February 1935
Birth Place:Brunei
Spouse:Rosnah Abdullah
Children:5; including Ahmad
Parents:Ibrahim Mohammad Jahfar (father)
Saadiah Tahir (mother)
Alma Mater:University of Southampton (BA)
Signature:Signature of Isa Ibrahim (cut out).png
Primeminister2:Hassanal Bolkiah

Isa bin Haji Ibrahim (born 9 February 1935) is a Bruneian aristocrat and politician, currently serving as Special Adviser to His Majesty the Sultan and Minister at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) since January 2018. His distinguished career began in 1962, when he started as an assistant legal adviser, later becoming Deputy Menteri Besar of Brunei and General Adviser to the Sultan. Over the years, Pehin Isa has held numerous high-profile positions, including chairman of Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA), member of the Privy Council, and Speaker of the Legislative Council.

Early life and education

Isa was born in Brunei on 9 May 1935, to Pehin Datu Perdana Manteri Dato Laila Utama Haji Ibrahim, an aristocrat who served as Brunei's first Menteri Besar and later as the speaker of the Legislative Council.[1] He had several siblings, each with notable achievements, including his brothers Pehin Orang Kaya Penggawa Laila Bentara Diraja Dato Laila Utama Abbas Al-Sufri, a distinguished civil servant,[2] and Haji Adnin, a successful businessman.[3]

He received his early education at Kilanas Malay School in Brunei Town (now Bandar Seri Begawan) and continued his schooling at Roman Catholic School in Brunei Town. He furthered his studies abroad, attending Stamford School in Penang, Malaysia, Victoria Bridge School in Singapore, Beatty Secondary School in Singapore, and Sevenoaks School in Kent, England. He completed his A-level at Brighton Technical College in Sussex, England, and in July 1961, earned a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in law from the University of Southampton, England. In February 1962, Isa qualified as a Barrister-at-Law from Middle Temple.[4]

Political career

On 21 February 1953, the inaugural Sarawak–North–Borneo–Brunei Conference took place in Kuching. Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, British Resident John Barcroft, and Secretary Isa were present on behalf of Brunei. To assure the Conference's success and validity, the High Commissioners Anthony Abell and Malcom MacDonald personally persuaded the Sultan to join.[5] In March 1962, Isa began his government service as an assistant legal adviser (assisting counsel) and deputy public prosecutor at the Department of Legal Affairs. Then from April to December 1962, he was attached to the Attorney General's Chambers in Kuala Lumpur as Deputy Public Prosecutor, Federation of Malaya. In February 1963, he was the Secretary to Brunei Delegation at negotiations on merger with Malaysia.[6] In September 1965, he was appointed assistant AG and promoted to deputy AG in January 1968. He served as acting AG multiple times in the absence of the AG. In October 1970, Isa was appointed Deputy Menteri Besar and, in October 1971, General Adviser to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

Isa was also a member of the Adat Istiadat Council and the chairman of RBA's board of directors from its founding in November 1974 to January 1984. He later became Special Adviser to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in the PMO, concurrently serving as Minister of Home Affairs from 21 October 1986, to 24 May 2005. At the same time, he served as a member of the Council of Cabinet Ministers from from 21 October 1986 to 24 May 2005, and as a member of the Privy Council until 24 May 2005.

On behalf of Brunei's Government, Isa Ibrahim and on behalf of the Malaysian Government, Mohamed Rahmat signed a Memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Field of Information and Broadcasting on 14 February 1992.[7] On 10 February 2011, he was appointed as the Legislative Council's speaker.[8] Pehin Isa has taken on the role of Minister at the PMO since 30 January 2018, in which he had remained at post through the 2023 council reappointment.[9]

Personal life

Married to Seri Laila Pengiring Di-Raja Datin Seri Utama Hajjah Rosnah binti Abdullah, and they have five children; two sons and three daughters. His hobbies include photography and golf.[10] A notable child of his is Ahmad, Attorney General of Brunei.[11] For a period of time, his daughter, Siti Mariam, would be married to Ivica @ Adam Kalebic,[12] founder of Fratini franchise.[13] The former couple would give birth to Anisha Rosnah[14] and Danial Deen Isa-Kalebic,[15] founder of The Potato Habit.[16]

Books

Titles, styles and honours

Titles and styles

Isa was bestowed by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah the Manteri title of Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Di-Raja on 11 May 1968,[17] referred to by Yang Berhormat as honorific.

Things named after him

Honours

Pehin Isa has earned the following national and foreign honours;

National

See main article: Orders, decorations, and medals of Brunei.

Foreign

Notes and References

  1. Book: Haji Awang Mohd Jamil al-Sufri . Jamil Al-Sufri . Brunei Darussalam, the Road to Independence . 1998 . . 195 . en.
  2. Web site: 10 March 2014 . HM pays last respects to Pehin Dato Hj Abbas . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20221108214041/https://btarchive.org/news/national/2014/03/10/hm-pays-last-respects-pehin-dato-hj-abbas . 8 November 2022 . 2023-06-18 . The Brunei Times.
  3. Web site: Wong . Aaron . 2018-12-17 . At 86, business icon Hj Adnin is determined to champion Brunei's ceramic making - Biz Brunei . 2024-04-19 . en-US.
  4. News: 9 February 2011 . Dilantik sebagai Yang Di-Pertua Majlis Mesyuarat Negara . 14 October 2024 . Pelita Brunei . 3 . ms.
  5. Book: Hussainmiya, B. A. . "No Federation Please-We Are Bruneians": Scuttling the Northern Borneo Closer Association Proposals . Haji Mail . Asbol . 2014 . . . 14.
  6. Web site: Special Adviser to His Majesty and Minister at the Prime Ministers Office . 2023-01-22 . Prime Minister's Office.
  7. Web site: Information Department – MoU Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia . 2023-01-22 . www.information.gov.bn.
  8. News: 9 February 2011 . Dilantik sebagai Yang Di-Pertua Majlis Mesyuarat Negara . 14 October 2024 . Pelita Brunei . 3 . ms.
  9. Web site: 20 January 2023 . New Legislative Council appointed » Borneo Bulletin Online . 2023-01-22 . New Legislative Council appointed . en-US.
  10. Web site: BRUNEIresources.com – Pehin Isa . 2023-01-22 . www.bruneiresources.com.
  11. Web site: Attorney General's Chambers - History . 2023-08-10 . www.agc.gov.bn.
  12. Web site: Rankin . Norla . 2011-11-28 . If I Make a Million She'll Not Get a Penny . 2024-01-04 . Goodreads . en.
  13. Web site: Maurina . 2009-09-12 . Drama amidst pizza, pasta and ice cream . 2024-01-04 . iammaurina . en.
  14. Web site: 2024-01-04 . Obsessed Fan Wishes For Prince Mateen & Anisha Isa-Kalebic's Marriage To End In Divorce - Hype MY . 2024-01-04 . en-US.
  15. Web site: 2023-02-16 . Everything To Know About Prince Mateen's Rumoured GF Anisha Isa-Kalebic & Her Family - Hype MY . 2024-01-04 . en-US.
  16. Web site: The Potato Habit . 2024-01-04 . www.thepotatohabit.com.
  17. Web site: 2004-07-14 . Pendekatan Mengenai Istiadat Mengurniakan Gelaran Di Negara Brunei Darussalam . 2024-05-24 . Pelita Brunei . 11 . ms.
  18. Book: Post Report . 1992 . U.S. Department of State. . 6 . en.
  19. News: 7 January 1970 . 27 orang di-kurniakan bintang2, pingat2 kebesaran . 2024-08-23 . Pelita Brunei . 8 . ms.
  20. News: 1965-09-29 . SAMBUTAN HARI PUJA USIA D.Y.M.M. . 2 . Pelita Brunei . 2023-07-15.
  21. News: 1969-04-16 . 96 di-kurniakan bintang2 dan pingat2 . 8 . Pelita Brunei . 2023-08-19.
  22. Web site: Semakan Penerima Darjah Kebesaran Bintang Dan Pingat. Jabatan Perdana Menteri Bahagian Istiadat dan Urusetia Persidangan Antarabangsa. 2024-10-14.