Yusuf Abdul Rahim

Pengiran Muhammad Yusuf bin Pengiran Abdul Rahim (2 May 1923 – 11 April 2016), pen name Yura Halim, was a Bruneian nobleman, politician, civil servant, diplomat, and writer. He served as the Chief Minister (Menteri Besar) of Brunei from 1967 to 1972. He wrote the lyrics for Brunei's national anthem, " Allah Peliharakan Sultan," in 1947. The song was adopted as the country's official national anthem in 1951, when it was still a British protectorate. He was longtime member of the Legislative Council of Brunei, serving on the council until his death in 2016.

Early life and education

Pengiran Yusuf was born in Tutong, Brunei, on 2 May 1923. He began his education at Bukit Bendera Malay School in Tutong, which he attend from age 10 until he reached fifth grade. In 1939, he became a trainee teacher, or student teacher, at Bukit Bendera Malay School, which is now known as Muda Hashim Secondary School, in Tutong. He then enrolled in courses to become a teacher at Sultan Idris Teachers College (SITC) in Perak, British Malaya, beginning in 1939. Following the Japanese invasion of Malaya in 1941, he was transferred to Kita Bornei Kanri Yosei Jo in Kuching, Sarawak, to study the Japanese language.

Atomic bombing of Hiroshima

In 1944, Pengiran Yusuf enrolled in advanced Japanese studies at the International School Kokusai Gakuyukai in Tokyo. He then studied Education at the Hiroshima University of Arts and Sciences (present-day Hiroshima University), in April 1945, towards the end of World War II. On 6 August 1945, Pengiran Yusuf, who was a student in at the university, survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. He had radiation sickness while residing in Hiroshima during the time of the atomic bomb's detonation. Pengiran Yusuf was one of only three Southeast Asian students who survived the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The other two survivors were Abdul Razak, who later became a professor of Japanese in Malaysia, and Hasan Rahaya, an Indonesian politician. In 1945, he went back to Brunei.

Political career

Pengiran Yusuf returned to Brunei following the end of World War II, where he worked as a teacher at Kuala Belait Malay School. In April 1946, he was chosen to serve as '' Barisan Pemuda'''s (BARIP) deputy president; in 1947, he was returned to SITC. 1949 saw the return to Brunei and posting to Temburong District. He later became a prominent ''Persekutuan Guru-Guru Melayu Brunei'' (PGGMB) member. He was appointed in 1953 as the Secretary of the Constitutional Advisory Committee (also known as the ''Tujuh Serangkai''); moved to the Information Department in 1954; and sent to South Devon Technical College, Torquay, United Kingdom, in 1954–1957 to complete a public and social administration degree.

After his return from the UK, Pengiran Yusuf was assigned to the Department of Information Office. A member of the Sultan's constitutional delegation to London for the 1959 Brunei Negotiations; an unofficial member of the State Council from 1957 to 1959; an official member of the Legislative Council and Executive Council from 1959 to August 1962; a State Information Officer from 1959 to 1961; Deputy State Secretary and Director of Broadcasting and Information from August 1961 to 1964.

Pengiran Yusuf was elevated to the post of State Secretary of Brunei from 1964 to 1967. He was appointed acting Menteri Besar in 1965 and was confirmed to the office as permanent Menteri Besar in 1967. He held the office of Menteri Besar from 1967 to 1972. He retired from the Bruneian civil service in 1973.

Later life

In 1995, Pengiran Yusuf was appointed High Commissioner of Brunei to Malaysia by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. He was next appointed Ambassador to Japan in 2001. From 6 September 2004 to 15 March 2011 and 1 June 2011 to 11 April 2016, he was among the appointed members of the Legislative Council. Borneo Bulletin formally declared on 31 May 2011, that he will join the Legislative Council, effective 1 June. In his later life, he was a well-known businessman and Borneo Bulletin's managing director.

Death

Pengiran Yusuf at his home Teratak Yura in Kampong Sengkarai in Tutong District, died on 11 April 2016, at the age of 92. He was survived by eight children, 38 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren. He passed away peacefully in his sleep, according to his businessman son Yura Kesteria. His son, Pengiran Haji Yura Halim, received the letter of condolences from the Embassy of Japan in Brunei.

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Personal life

Pengiran Yusuf was married to Datin Hajah Salmah binti Mohammad Yussof, and together they have 7 sons and 4 daughters, who are:

* Pengiran Haji Yura Halim
* Pengiran Haji Yura Kesteria
* Pengiran Haji Yura Laila
* Pengiran Haji Yura Perkasa, married Pengiran Anak Hajah Mastura
* Pengiran Haji Yura Dupa Khodadat
* Pengiran Haji Yura Muhammad Abai
* Pengiran Hajah Yura Alaiti, married to Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Adnan
* Pengiran Hajah Yura Muliati
* Pengiran Hajah Yura Nurulhayaty

Pengiran Yusuf is also the father-in-law of Adnan Buntar, former ambassador to Japan, and uncle to Pengiran Shariffuddin, first director of Brunei Museum.

Awards and honours

In 1968, Pengiran Yusuf was bestowed the title ''Pengiran Setia Negara'', admitting him into the senior ranks of the Cheteria.
He was awarded an honorary doctorate from Hiroshima University for promoting peace and bilateral relations between Brunei and Japan on April 22, 2013. He was the first Bruneian to receive such an honor. The only two other Southeast Asian survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Hasan Rahaya of Indonesia and Abdul Razak of Malaysia, had previously been awarded honorary doctorates from Hiroshima University as well. He has also received the following awards;

Namesake

* Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran Mohd Yusof Primary School, school in Seria.

Awards

* Southeast Asian Writers Award (1993)

Honours

National

* Family Order of Laila Utama (DK; 1968) – ''Dato Laila Utama''
* Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei First Class (SPMB; 23 September 1963) – ''Dato Seri Paduka''; Third Class (SMB; 23 September 1958)
* Order of Setia Negara Brunei Second Class (DSNB) – ''Dato Setia''
* Omar Ali Saifuddin Medal (POAS; 1962)
* Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS; 1970)
* Meritorious Service Medal (PJK; 1959)
* Long Service Medal (PKL; 23 September 1959)
* ''Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas'' (PBLI; 2008)
* Campaign Medal (1963)

Foreign

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** Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE; 1968)
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** Order of the Rising Sun First Class (1985)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Halim, Yura
1923 births
2016 deaths
Chief Ministers of Brunei
Government ministers of Brunei
Hibakusha
Members of the Legislative Council of Brunei
National anthem writers
High Commissioners of Brunei to Malaysia
Ambassadors of Brunei to Japan
Bruneian civil servants
Bruneian songwriters
Bruneian writers
Bruneian educators
Sultan Idris Education University alumni
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
Bruneian royalty
Grand Cordons of the Order of the Rising Sun