Abbas Al-Sufri | |
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عباس الصوفري | |
![]() Pehin Abbas Al-Sufri in 1968 | |
Born | |
Died | 8 March 2014 Jerudong Park Medical Centre, Brunei-Muara, Brunei | (aged 88)
Burial place | Kianggeh Muslim Cemetery |
Occupations | |
Employers | Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III |
Spouse | Besar Yusof |
Children | 2 |
Parent(s) | Ibrahim Mohammad Jahfar (father) Saadiah Mohd Tahir (mother) |
Relatives |
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Dato Laila Utama Haji Mohammad Abbas Al-Sufri bin Haji Ibrahim MVO (25 October 1925 – 8 March 2014) was a nobleman, civil servant and courtier from Brunei who previously served as the acting personal secretary to Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III. He had a career in the government service of Brunei, in which he held a number of important positions such as being a member of the Privy Council of Brunei.[1]
On 1 January 1951, Abbas Al-Sufri began his employment with the government as a Probationer for the Brunei Administrative Service. Later, he would join Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Ill's entourage for Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 Coronation. On 26 April 1956, he stopped serving as HH the Sultan's aide-de-camp (ADC), but he started back on 18 September 1956. From 29 September 1959 to 10 September 1961, he served as the Sultan's acting personal secretary. In April 1959, he traveled to London to attend the Brunei Constitutional Conference.[2]
ADC to the Sultan, Abbas Al-Sufri reportedly urged TNKU rebel commanders Pengiran Matussin and Awang Hafiz to leave Istana Darul Hana when a party of rebels attempted to deliver a letter to the Sultan. The rebels also refused to take the letter, according to an unnamed source. The Sultan was never even seen by the delegation.[3]
Abbas Al-Sufri was one of the two officials that went with the Grand Chamberlain (GC) on 1 January 1984, to deliver the Proclamation of Independence to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah.[2] He was also one of the 21 pupils that worked to establish the Brunei Scout Association from the Government English School's First Labuan Scout Troop.[4]
On 10 March 2014, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah paid his last respects to Abbas Al-Sufri. On 8 March, he passed away at the age of 88. Before his interment at Kianggeh Muslim Cemetery, State Mufti Abdul Aziz Juned performed prayers at his home at Mile 1, Jalan Tutong.[5]
Abbas Al-Sufri was born on 25 October 1925, to Ibrahim Mohammad Jahfar (former Menteri Besar of Brunei).[2] Married to Dayang Besar binti Yusof and they have two sons. He was the older brother of Pehin Isa, the speaker of the legislative council.[5]
Abbas Al-Sufri was given the title of Yang Berhormat (The Honourable) Pehin Orang Kaya Penggawa Laila Bentara Diraja on 7 May 1968,[6] previously holding Pehin Orang Kaya Sanggamara Seri Diraja since 23 September 1958.[7]
He has earned the following honours;[8][9]
Main article: Orders, decorations, and medals of Brunei |