Ali Mohamed Daud

Pengiran Haji Muhammad Ali bin Pengiran Haji Muhammad Daud (4 October 1916 – 16 June 2005), simply known as Pengiran Ali, was a Bruneian nobleman, teacher and politician whom formerly held the position of Deputy Menteri Besar from 1962 to 1965, Legislative, Executive, and Privy Councils. He emphasised the significant impact he played in Brunei's history, notably from the 1950s to 1960s, and was also the first of the "three M's" that the British government dreaded ( Pengiran Mohamed Yusuf Rahim and Marsal Maun were the other two).

Early life and career

Pengiran Ali was born on 6 July 1916 in Brunei Town's Kampong Pengiran Pemancha Lama. The Jalan Pemancha Malay School was where he received his early schooling, completing his five years of education from 1925 to 1930, and as of 8 February 1933, he was employed as a student teacher. He departed in 1937 to pursue his studies at SITC and finished his teacher preparation in 1939. He is also the founder of ''Persatuan Guru-Guru Melayu Brunei'' (PGGMB) which was established in 1939. The association eventually awarded him a medal (Pingat Guru Berjasa). He was also a driving force behind the founding of the PGGMB Cooperative Society (''Syarikat Kerjasama dan Bantu-Membantu PGGMB''), which is still in operation today. Pengiran Ali, like many notable individuals in Brunei after the Second World War, was a teacher who attended the Sultan Idris Teachers' College (SITC) in Malaya. He was hired as a group instructor when he got back to Brunei, and he retained that post during the Japanese occupation in 1943.

Career

Pengiran Ali was a prominent member of the ''Persatuan Guru-Guru Melayu Brunei'' (PGGMB) and was not active in '' Barisan Pemuda'' (BARIP) activities. In 1953, he was nominated to the Constitutional Advisory Committee (also known as the ''Tujuh Serangkai''), and was a close friend of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III. The committee offered suggestions for constitutional advancement in the sultanate, crucial in securing Brunei's nationalist objectives. In 1954, he visited Malaya to observe the progress of the constitution of the Malay state and in 1955 he went to London to observe how to develop education in the United Kingdom.

Pengiran Ali held the positions of chairman of the Brunei Town District Advisory Council (DAC) and observer on the State Council between 1954 and 1957. From November 1954 to January 1957, he attended the Legislative Council as an observer on behalf of that DAC. At the same time being a member of the Legislative Council in 1957, he was the inspector of Malay schools who has worked together with his colleague Marsal Maun to develop Malay education on Brunei.

Pengiran Ali was one of the key players in the redrafting of the Anglo–Brunei Agreement and the Brunei Constitution during the 1959 Brunei Negotiations. The Department of Religious Affairs was created on 29 September 1959, with Pengiran Ali as its new leader, in addition to serving as the Majlis Ugama Islam Brunei's Acting Head following the adoption of the 1959 Constitution. Between March 1959 until September 1962, he served as Speaker of the Legislative Council and as acting head of the Islamic Religious Council. He became an unofficial member to Legislative and Executive Councils from November 1959 to August 1962.

On 29 July 1961, the Standing Advisory Council on Defence convened. This body was established under the 1959 Agreement to address issues related to internal security. The High Commissioner, the Chief Police Officer, the Officer in Charge of the Special Branch, and the Menteri Besar made up its membership. The Sultan served as its chairman. However, Dato Haji Ibrahim, the Menteri Besar, was absent due to illness. In his stead, the Sultan appointed two of his closest advisors: Pengiran Ali, the head of the department in charge of religious affairs, and Dato Marsal, then Acting Menteri Besar.

Pengiran Ali was named Deputy Menteri Besar on 1 September 1962, and resigned in 1965 to run in a by-election. At this time he was granted 436 days of leave, before retiring. The Brunei revolt of December 1962, the ambiguity surrounding the creation of Malaysia, and the issues brought on by Konfrontasi all occurred during this tumultuous period.

Later life

Pengiran Ali returned to politics after leaving the administration, though not totally successfully. Despite this, he started off well, earning a seat on the Brunei-Muara District Council in a by-election on 23 October 1965. After the elections in December 1965, he founded the ''Partai Kemajuan Rakyat'' (PAKAR) political party, to push for the establishment of parliamentary governance and independence. On 31 July 1966, he was elected chairman of ''Barisan Kemerdekaan Rakyat'' (BAKER), a merger of four political parties which included PAKAR and ''Barisan Rakyat Brunei'' (BARA); in 1968, he lost a by-election. He ran in a Legislative Council by-election in Temburong District on 8 January 1968, but lost narrowly, and again in April 1969. Considering politics to be a horrible lot, Pengiran Mohd Ali went into business later on. In , he was the chairman of Swee Sendirian Berhad.

Death

On 16 June 2005, Pengiran Ali passed away at the age of 89. Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, who was also serving as the Deputy Sultan at the time, attended his burial, which was held on the same day. The national flag was flown at half-mast at Sultan's order.

Personal life

Pengiran Ali is married to Hajah Nahriah in , and together they have several children including Pengiran Haji Kamarulzaman, married Princess Amal Nasibah on 19 July 1979.

Titles and honours

Titles

Pengiran Ali held the title of ''Yang Amat Mulia'' (The Most Noble) ''Pengiran Pekerma Setia Diraja Shahibul Bandar'' in 1983, making him a member of cheteria.

Namesakes

* Pengiran Pekerma Setia Diraja Sahibul Bandar Primary School, is a school in Kampong Perpindahan Mata-Mata.

Awards

Pengiran Ali has earned the following awards;
* Pingat Guru Berjasa
* Tokoh Guru Berbakti (1994)
* Anugerah Jasawan Agama (8 May 1997)

Honours

Pengiran Ali has earned the following honours;
* Order of Setia Negara Brunei Second Class (DSNB; 1960) – ''Dato Setia''
* Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei First Class (SPMB) – ''Dato Seri Paduka'' (23 September 1963); Third Class (SMB; 23 September 1958)
* Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa First Class (PSLJ) – ''Dato Paduka Seri Laila Jasa''
* Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS)
* Omar Ali Saifuddin Medal (POAS)
* Long Service Medal (PKL)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Muhammad Ali, Pengiran
Chief Ministers of Brunei
Bruneian Muslims
Bruneian politicians
Bruneian businesspeople
1916 births
2005 deaths
Speakers of Legislative Council of Brunei
Sultan Idris Education University alumni
Members of the Privy Council of Brunei
Bruneian royalty