Zakaria Sulaiman

Zakaria bin Sulaiman (22 June 1937 – 1 November 2011) is a nobleman and politician in the Government of Brunei. He took office as the Minister of Communications from 1988 to 2005, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1986 to 1989.

Biography

Education

Zakaria was born on 22 June 1937. He attended Berakas Malay School for his early primary education and continued his studies at SOAS College until 1957. In 1965, he was admitted to the bar at the Middle Temple in London after completing his legal studies at the University of Birmingham in England.

Early career

Zakaria joined the government service in 1965 as an Administrative Officer after returning from his studies abroad. He had previously held a variety of positions within the Civil Service, including those of Magistrate, Deputy Controller of Immigration and Registrar of Nationals, Deputy Commissioner of Land on 1 May 1972, Commissioner of Land on 8 April 1972, Director of the Economic Development Board in 1975, Director of Establishment, Secretary for Coordination to the Coronation Administration Committee in 1968, Acting Commissioner of Development on 23 July 1967, and Private Secretary to the Sultan of Brunei sometime prior to the country's independence. On 1 June 1971, he was appointed as a member of the Legal Committee.

Ministerial career

When Brunei gained independence in 1984, he was named Personal Secretary (Political) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to Eusoff Agaki in 1991, he was the first director of Brunei Diplomatic Service in 1982. He left his position as a civil servant and was appointed deputy minister of foreign affairs in 1986. As the acting minister of foreign affairs, he signed the Agreement on ASEAN Energy Co-operation in Manila on 24 June 1986. From 1 January 1989 to 23 May 2005, Pehin Dato Zakaria was the minister of communications.

Pehin Dato Zakaria also declared in 2001 that B$11 million will be allocated for computer education initiatives in public schools in Brunei. On 9 July 2002, Pehin Dato Zakaria gave the Ministry of Defence's Defense Information Technology Unit (DITU), also known as Unit Teknologi Maklumat Pertahanan (UTMP), an official debut. DITU offers facilities and services for the provision of computer equipment, the maintenance and repair of computers, and the provision of networks, including Intranet and Internet networks. During the 2003 World Summit on Information Society, he announced that Brunei had set up a wide-ranging broadband backbone optical network that spans the entire nation. Additionally, a variety of e-projects are being carried out. The government had allocated B$1 billion to mobilize e-government applications and services in support of this endeavor.

Death

On the morning of 2 November 2011, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah paid his respects to the late Zakaria, who passed away early on the evening of the day prior after succumbing to a terminal illness at the Jerudong Park Medical Centre. Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Princess Masna, and Pengiran Anak Abdul Aziz were there to pay their final respects earlier in the morning at the late former minister's residence in Jalan Terunjing, Kampong Lambak. Cabinet ministers and former ministers, some of whom collaborated with the late Pehin during his 16-year tenure as the Minister of Communications until 2005, were also present at the funeral. One of those who paid their respects that morning was Mr. Joseph K H Koh, the Singapore High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam. His body was interred at the Jalan Berakas Cemetery.

Personal life

Pehin Dato Zakaria had five children and ten grandchildren. He is married to Datin Paduka Hajah Jusnani binti Haji Lawie (born 1940). He enjoys gardening and playing golf. He has a son named Amer Hishamuddin, permanent secretary (infrastructure, Housing and Professional) at the Ministry of Development. At the time of his death, he has multiple children and eleven grandkids. His wife is a highly distinguished individual in her own right.

Honours

Zakaria was given the title of Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia in 1996. He is also awarded the following honours:
* Order of Setia Negara Brunei First Class (PSNB) – Dato Seri Setia; Third Class (SNB)
* Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa Second Class (DSLJ) – Dato Seri Laila Jasa
* Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS)
* Meritorious Service Medal (PJK)

References

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1937 births
2011 deaths
Bruneian Muslims
Government ministers of Brunei
Foreign ministers of Brunei
Members of the Middle Temple
Alumni of the University of Birmingham