Umar Apong

Pengiran Umar (2 February 1940 – 12 May 2023), sometimes spelled Omar Apong, was a nobleman and police officer who became the second Brunei local to be appointed Brunei's Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) after the Sultanate regained full independence from Great Britain on 1 January 1984, and later a member of the Royal Council.

Biography

Early life and career

Pengiran Umar was born on 2 February 1940 in Kampong Kianggeh, Brunei Town (Bandar Seri Begawan). His father's name is Pengiran Datu Penghulu Pengiran Haji Apong bin Pengiran Saifuddin while his mother's name is Pengiran Siti Hawa binti Pengiran Abdul Rahman Piut. Umar received his initial education at Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam Malay School in 1950, then continued his studies at Sultan Omar 'Ali Saifuddien College.

Career

Pengiran Umar began his service with the Government of Brunei Darussalam as an Ordinary Police Officer (Mata-Mata) on 1 November 1957. He was later promoted as follows:

* Second Class Police Constable - 13 August 1958.
* First Police Constable - 1 August 1959.
* Corporal - 1 October 1959.
* Sergeant - February 1960.
* Inspector - 1 November 1963.
* Assistant Superintendent of Police (A.S.P.) - 1 April 1965.
* Deputy Superintendent of Police (D.S.P.) - 1968.
* Superintendent of Police - 1973.
* Assistant Commissioner of Police (A.C.P.) - 1977.
* Deputy Commissioner of Police (DC.P.) - 10 October 1981 to 31 December 1983.
* Royal Brunei Police Commissioner - 1 January 1984 to 31 March 1991.
* Ministry of Foreign Affairs - 1 April 1991.
* Ambassador of the Kingdom of Brunei Darussalam - 9 July 1991.

While serving with the Police Force, together with 4 other policemen, Pengiran Umar apprehended a killer in Tutong District, where five inhabitants of Kampong Kiudang were killed on 25 July 1961, by a foreigner using a machete. Two boys, ages 5 months and 2 years, a girl, 7, and a 15 year old girl, together with her mother, were the additional victims of the murder. On 3 August 1961, at approximately 9.30 am, the murderer was successfully apprehended in a jungle between Kampong Lamunin and Kampong Mungkom. Allen Neil Outram, the then-Commissioner of Police, recorded his congratulations to the five policemen for their effectiveness in carrying out their duty up until the murderer was apprehended.

Pengiran Umar played a role in accompanying the procession during the Enthronement Ceremony of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah on 1 August 1967. After Brunei Darussalam achieved full independence on 1 January 1984, Pengiran Umar was appointed as Police Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force to replace Pengiran Setia Raja Pengiran Haji Jaya bin Pengiran Haji Rajid who retired from that position. This appointment also makes Pengiran Umar the first Police Commissioner of the Brunei Darussalam National Police Force after Independence.

In 1997, Pengiran Umar and Alias Sheikh Ahmad went up against appellant Zainuddin Marsal during the Privy Council Appeal No. 63 regarding a potentially wrongful imprisonment of a police officer from 20 August 1986 to 11 April 1989. This was caused by a confrontation between a businessman and a policeman at the Brunei International Airport (BIA). In addition, the policeman accused the respondents of conspiring against him, being careless and dishonest, and failing to look into the alleged offense against him, which resulted in his detention between those dates. On 30 September 1995, the Senior Registrar of the High Court denied his request to add six more defendants and make significant changes to his writ and statement of claim.

Death

Pengiran Umar died at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan at 8.45 a.m. on 12 May 2023. Both the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah offered their final respects to the late Umar at his residence at Kampong Salambigar. He was buried at the Kianggeh Muslim Cemetery.

Personal life

Pengiran Umar married the veteran Malaysian actress, Yang Mulia Datin Hajah Suraya binti Harun on 31 August 1945. As a result of this marriage, they had four children, Awangku Saiful Feisal (born on 25 May 1967), Awangku Saiful Rizal (born on 7 December 1970), Awangku Saiful Hassanal (born on 26 August 1973) and Dayangku Dara Naqiah (born on 4 April 1976). Yang Mulia Datin Hajah Suraya passed away on Wednesday, 1 June 2016. He is son of Pengiran Datu Penghulu Pengiran Haji Apong, and the brother of Pengiran Ibnu Basit, a military officer in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).

Honours

On 10 August 1972, with the consent of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Pengiran Umar was given the cheteria title of Yang Amat Mulia (The Most Noble) Pengiran Putera Negara. The investiture ceremony took place in Lapau. Among the awards conferred upon Umar such as:

* Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa First Class (PSLJ) – Dato Paduka Seri Laila Jasa
* Order of Pahlawan Negara Brunei First Class (PSPNB) – Dato Seri Pahlawan (10 February 1976)
* Order of Setia Negara Brunei Second Class (DSNB) – Dato Setia
* Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB) – Dato Paduka (28 October 1970)
* Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS) (1968)
* ''Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas'' (PBLI)
* Meritorious Service Medal (PJK) (1968)
* Police Long Service Medal (PKLP)

References

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Bruneian royalty
1940 births
2023 deaths
Bruneian police officers
Members of the Privy Council of Brunei