Jamil Al-Sufri

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Umar is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Mohammad Jamil Al-Sufri. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Mohammad Jamil Al-Sufri bin Umar (28 April 1921 – 4 March 2021), pen name Wijaya,^[1] was a nobleman, historian and teacher from Brunei who previously served as a member of the Royal Council, member of the Royal Succession Council, member of the Islamic Religious Council, and member of the Privy Council.^[2] He has also been referred to as the National Historian.^[3] He wrote works on the country's history, ancestry, customs and traditions, royal titles, Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB), education, writings on Brunei heroes, and other topics.^[4]

Yang Berhormat Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Dato Seri Utama Jamil Al-Sufri DK DSLJ DPMB
جاميل الصوفري
Pehin Jamil in 1972
1st Principal of Brunei History Centre
In office 26 January 1982 – 4 March 2021
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Hadi Melayong
Member of Legislative Council
In office 1972–1976
In office 1961–1961
Monarch	Hassanal Bolkiah
Personal details
Born	(1921-04-28)28 April 1921 Kampong Ayer, Brunei Town, Brunei
Died	4 March 2021(2021-03-04) (aged 99) Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Resting place	Rangas Cemetery
Spouse	Siti Hara
Children	5
Parent(s)	Umar Rendah (father) Siti Aishah Jalil (mother)
Relatives	Abdul Aziz Umar (half-brother)
Occupation	Historian writer teacher

Career

From 1 January 1939, through 31 December 1946, Jamil worked as a trainee teacher for the government of Brunei. After leaving the service, he was rehired and given the positions of director of the Language Board of Brunei from 1961 until 1964, and Director of the Language and Literature Bureau (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka) from 1977 to 1981. Since the Brunei History Centre's founding in 1982, he has served as its director till his death.^[4] The late Pehin held a number of significant posts before Brunei achieved complete independence in 1984 and contributed to the development of Brunei. He also served on many councils, such as the Royal Succession Council (Majlis Mesyuarat Mengangkat Raja), and the Privy Council.^[3]

The idea of creating a Federation of Malaysia to unite Malaya, the colony of Singapore, and the three British Borneo regions was put out in 1961 by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister of Malaya. At first, everyone was on board with the concept, but Brunei and Singapore would later back out. It was during the meeting between then Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and A.M. Azahari with Jamil in presence. He firmly held his ground on accusing A.M. Azahari of being a liar.^[5]

Death

At seven in the morning, the National Historian, who was 99 years old, passed away at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital on 4 March 2021.^[6] At Kampong Mabohai in Bandar Seri Begawan, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah paid his final respects to Pehin Jamil on Wednesday morning of 4 March 2021. The funeral prayer was offered by the Sultan under the direction of Pehin Abdul Aziz Juned, the State Mufti.^[3]

Personal life

Pehin Jamil was born on 28 April 1921, also to a nobleman, Begawan Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Seri Paduka Haji Umar.^[7] He married to Siti Hara Taha (died 2012), and together they have a daughter, Normah Suria Hayati, permanent secretary of Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.^[8] Notably, he is also the half brother of Abdul Aziz Umar.^[9]

Books

• Tarsilah Brunei. Brunei: Brunei History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. 2000. ISBN 9789991734033.
• History of Brunei in Brief. Brunei: Brunei History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. 2000. ISBN 9789991734118.
• Chorak pendidekan di-Brunei pada masa hadapan. Brunei: Majlis Pelajaran Brunei. 1982.
• Brunei Darussalam. Brunei: Brunei History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. 2007. ISBN 9789991734538.
• Chatatan sejarah perwira2 dan pembesar2 Brunei. Vol. 1. Brunei: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. 1971.
• Legasi payung negara. Brunei: Brunei History Centre. 2019. ISBN 9789991763699.
• Melayu Islam Beraja. Brunei: Brunei History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. 2008. ISBN 9789991734637.
• Satu pemikiran mengenai pendidikan untuk Brunei Darussalam berasaskan Islam. Brunei: Brunei History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. 2008. ISBN 9789991734675.
• Latar belakang sejarah Brunei. Brunei: Brunei History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. 1990.
• Sejarah sultan-sultan Brunei menaiki takhta. Brunei: Brunei History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. 2002. ISBN 9789991734255.
• Liku-liku perjuangan pencapaian kemerdekaan Negara Brunei Darussalam. Brunei: Brunei History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. 1992.
• Rampai sejarah. Brunei: Brunei History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. 2005. ISBN 9789991734446.
• Survival Brunei. Brunei: Brunei History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. 1997.

Awards and honours

Awards

• S.E.A Write Award (2010)^[1]

Honours

Main article: Orders, decorations, and medals of Brunei

Jamil was given the manteri title of Yang Berhormat (The Honourable) Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Diraja in 1968,^[10] upgraded to Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja. He has earned the following honours;^[2][11]

•   Family Order of Seri Utama (DK) – Dato Seri Utama
•   Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB; 23 September 1965) – Dato Paduka^[12]
•   Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa Second Class (DSLJ; 23 September 1967) – Dato Seri Laila Jasa^[13]
•   Omar Ali Saifuddin Medal (POAS; 23 September 1963)^[14]
•   Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS)
•   Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (PBLI)
•   Meritorious Service Medal (PJK)
•   Long Service Medal (PKL; 23 September 1959)^[15]

References

1. "Utama - Pengiktirafan - Anugerah Penulis Asia Tenggara (S.E.A Write Award)". www.dbp.gov.bn. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
2. "PEHIN-PEHIN MANTERI DAN MANTERI UGAMA KEPALA MANTERI" (PDF). Jabatan Adat Istiadat Negara. 4 December 2019. p. 3.
3. "His Majesty Pays Last Respects | Brunei's No.1 News Website". www.brudirect.com. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
4. "The historian with a golden heart » Borneo Bulletin Online". The historian with a golden heart. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
5. Melayong, Muhammad Hadi bin Muhammad (2010). The Catalyst Towards Victory. Brunei History Centre, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports. p. 110. ISBN 978-99917-34-71-2.
6. "Negara kehilangan tokoh terbilang » Media Permata Online". Negara kehilangan tokoh terbilang. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
7. Ahmad, Fadzil (4 March 2021). "اِنّا لِلّهِ وَاِنّا اِلَيْهِ رَجِعُوْنَ". Berita Keluarga Brunei Darussalam. Retrieved 19 December 2023.
8. "Surah Yassin, Tahlil and Doa Arwah Ceremony for Allahyarhamah Datin Hjh Dyg Siti Hara bte Allahyarham Pehin Orang Kaya Shahbandar Hj Awg Mohd Taha" (PDF). Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources Newsletter. No. 7. 31 August 2012. p. 4. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
9. Funston, John (2001). Government & Politics in Southeast Asia. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 25. ISBN 978-981-230-134-5.
10. Vienne, Marie-Sybille de (9 March 2015). Brunei: From the Age of Commerce to the 21st Century. NUS Press. p. 263. ISBN 978-9971-69-818-8.
11. Brunei (1978). Brunei. behalf of the Information Section, Department of State Secretariat, Brunei. p. 161.
12. "SAMBUTAN HARI PUJA USIA D.Y.M.M." (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 29 September 1965. p. 2. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
13. "Istiadat Mengurniakan Bintang2 Dan Pingat2 Sepuloh Orang Di-Anu Gerahkan Gelaran Dato" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 27 September 1967. p. 7. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
14. "D.Y.M.M. Mengurniakan Bintang2 Kehormatan Dan Pingat2 Pada Ari Jadi Baginda" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 2 October 1963. p. 2. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
15. "65 Dapat Bintang Dan Pingat Hari Jadi" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 7 October 1959. p. 1. Retrieved 18 July 2023.