Manteri

The Manteri are a group of royal dignitaries within the Sultanate of Brunei whose position ranks the fourth-highest official in the country behind the Sultan. There are two main groups in the Manteri, namely the Manteri Berchiri and the Manteri Bertauliah. Each person who is given a position in the Manteri is also given a certain title. They are also referred to in official speech and correspondence with specific honorific references. The title of Manteri is given to ordinary people and is held in a ceremony, which for the awarding of the title of Pehin Manteri, it is known as "menyampiri gelaran".

History

Manteri-Manteri Ugama

High-ranking government officials are in charge of topics pertaining to Islamic religious affairs in an endeavor to strengthen Islam in Brunei. The senior wazir, Pengiran Bendahara, is the "Pengetua Tertinggi" in matters of Islamic religion, for instance. While Pengiran Paduka Tuan, one of the Cheteria 4, is the most senior assistant in Islamic religious issues. Additionally, the compilation of the Manteri-Manteri Ugama contributed to the management of Islam in Brunei. An appointed Religious Officer named Mudim served under the manteri-manteri. Since the time of Sultan Saiful Rijal, the title of Manteri-Manteri Ugama has been in use. According to their titles, the people have obligations, which is certain in situations pertaining to religious concerns.

Even though Brunei was governed by Britain, the Manteri-Manteri Ugama continued to have a say in the country's affairs. Pehin Tuan Imam Haji Mohidin bin Nakhoda Jambul was chosen to serve in the State Assembly of Brunei in 1907. One of the government's initiatives to elevate the role of Islam in Brunei is illustrated by the above-mentioned handover of administrative offices to Manteri-Manteri Ugama.

Ceremonies

Copper, silver, and gold crafts used in royal traditions reveal the identity of the user or owner. Tools like daggers and ''betel'' were given to royal dignitaries who received the titles of Wazir, Ceteria, and Manteri, for instance. The ''kaskol'' given to the Wazir and Kepala Ceteria is made of gold. Pehin Dato Perdana Menteri and Pehin Orang Kaya Di-Gadong received a silver-bearing ''tipa'' for the Besar Ceteria, Besar Pengalasan Ceteria, Damit Pengalasan Ceteria, and Manteri-Manteri. While copper-born ''tipa'' was granted for the other people.

Hierarchy

Manteri Berchiri

Manteri Berchiri is recited by ''Chiri'' (one of the important position in the enthronement) during the title ceremony. It is also known as Pehin Manteri because the Manteri-Manteri in this group carry the title "Pehin". The position is based on the system of ''Empat Lipatan'' (Four Folds) which is up to thirty-two folds. However, there are additional positions either above or below certain levels. Manteri Dagang is the country's honour system for non-Malays. The positions in Manteri Berchiri are as follows:
*''Kepala Manteri''
*''Kepala Manteri Ugama''
*''Kepala Manteri 4''
*''Manteri Tambahan di Atas Manteri 4''
*''Manteri 4''
*''Manteri Dagang di Bawah Manteri 4''
*''Manteri 8'' or ''Manteri Pengalasan Besar''
*''Manteri Ugama di Bawah Manteri 8''
*''Manteri Ugama Tambahan di Bawah Manteri Ugama'' (below Manteri 8)
*''Manteri 16'' or ''Manteri Pengalasan Biasa''
*''Manteri 32'' or ''Manteri Pengalasan Damit''
*''Manteri Tambahan di Bawah Manteri 32''
*''Manteri'' (Dalam) ''Istana''
*''Manteri Dagang di Bawah Manteri Istana''
*''Manteri Ugama'' (Pehin Khatib)

Manteri Bertauliah

In contrast to Manteri Berchiri, Manteri Bertauliah's title granting ceremony just recites ''Tauliah'', does not employ the phrase "menyampiri," and does not recite ''Chiri''. The Manteri Bertauliah has the following positions:

* ''Mudim''
* ''Penglima''
* ''Perwira''
* ''Pahlawan''
* ''Pateh''
* ''Damong''
* ''Pengarah''
* ''Janang''
* ''Malek''
* ''Ketua Juru Laki''
* ''Juru Laki''
* ''Juru Bini''
* ''Kepala Manteri Pendalaman''
* ''Manteri Pendalaman'' or ''Manteri Darat''

Title and styling

The difference between the titles for Manteri Berchiri and the Manteri Bertauliah is that only Manteri Berchiri has the title Pehin. However, there are two positions in the Manteri Berchiri that do not carry the title, namely the positions in the ''Manteri Istana'' that carry the titles Seri Lela Pengiring Diraja and Dayang-Dayang Diraja. The full title of Manteri Berchiri is Pehin followed by an additional phrase, which phrase may also use the titles of Manteri Bertauliah such as Orang Kaya and Datu for example Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa and Pehin Datu Lailaraja.

For Manteri Bertauliah, the title is like the name of the position, for example Pengarah (Director), Mudim, and Hulubalang Diraja and Hulubalang Asgar. However, the base titles for Manteri Pendalaman or Manteri Darat are Orang Kaya and Datu and one position carries the title Bendahari. For the position of ''Pehin Khatib'' and ''Mudim'', the incumbent is due to the position and when he has retired his title is added to Begawan. Therefore, ''Pehin Khatib'' became Begawan Pehin Khatib and ''Mudim'' became Begawan Mudim.

Honorary styles for Manteri-Manteri are as follows:

* Yang Dimuliakan Lagi Dihormati ( Honored and Respected) — ''Kepala Manteri'', ''Kepala Manteri Ugama'' and ''Kepala Manteri 4''
* Yang Dimuliakan ( The Exalted One) — Manteri Berchiri
* Yang Mulia (The Noble or His Highness) — Manteri Bertauliah

However, if a Manteri is a member of the Council of Cabinet Ministers, the Legislative Council or the Privy Council, his honorific reference is replaced by Yang Berhormat ( The Honourable).

Manteri-manteri

Manteri Berchiri

The list of Manteri Berchiri below is as of 2 February 2024.

Manteri Bertauliah

The list of Manteri Bertauliah below is as of 6 September 2022.

See also

* Cheteria
* Wazir
* Council of Cabinet Ministers

References

{{authority control
Lists of Bruneian people
Brunei politics-related lists
Titles in Brunei