Prince Mohamed Bolkiah

Mohamed Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III (born 27 August 1947) is a member of the royal family of Brunei. He is the second son of Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, and Raja Isteri (Queen) Pengiran Anak Damit. After Brunei's independence in 1984, he became the country's first foreign minister, serving from 1 January 1984 until 22 October 2015, alongside the second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Lim Jock Seng.

Early life and education

Pengiran Muda (Prince) Mohamed Bolkiah was born on 27 August 1947 at Istana Darussalam, Brunei Town (now called Bandar Seri Begawan). He is the second son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, the 28th Sultan of Brunei, and his wife, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit. Among his siblings are the current Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Prince Sufri Bolkiah, Prince Jefri Bolkiah, Princess Masna, Princess Nor'ain, Princess Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam, Princess Amal Rakiah, Princess Amal Nasibah and Princess Amal Jefriah.

In an interview, Abdul Ghani bin Jamil disclosed that Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Princess Masna Bolkiah, Princess Nor'ain, Queen Saleha, Pengiran Muda Abdul Rahman, Pengiran Anak Yusof, Pengiran Anak Puteh, Pengiran Anak Ja'afar, and Pengiran Muda Apong were students at the Istana Darul Hana Surau.

Afterwards in 1960, he attended his secondary education with his brother Hassanal Bolkiah at Victoria Institution in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia until 1963. From 1964 until 1965, he studied his GCE 'A' Levels at Omar Ali Saifuddien College, Brunei.

Perdana Wazir

Since 1906, Mohamed Bolkiah was appointed by his father, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, as , on 29 September 1967. He became a wazir upon receiving the title, surpassing both the Pengiran Anak Mohamed Alam and Pengiran Muda Hashim in importance. In keeping with protocol, the ceremony to install the new wazir took place at the Istana Darul Hana Throne Room. He was chosen to serve on the Privy Council the same year. head of the traditional Brunei wazirs, meaning "eyes and ears" of the ruler, by his brother. On 23 September 1974, he was appointed as the honorary police commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF).

Ministerial career

Immediately following the independence of Brunei on 1 January 1984, Mohamed Bolkiah was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In an effort to fortify its global Islamic identity, Brunei joined the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in January 1984 in addition to ASEAN and the UN. As soon as Brunei gained independence, it also joined the Commonwealth, whose goal is to advance world peace and order, something that the Bruneian administration actively pursued. During the cabinet reshuffle on 22 October 2015, he was replaced by his elder brother, the Sultan himself. In spite of this, he continues to meet foreign dignitaries and participate in royal ceremonies and national events.

Raja Reza was granted permission to meet Mohamed Bolkiah on 3 November 2022, at the Balai Penghadapan, Bukit Kayangan, Bandar Seri Begawan. During their meeting, they discussed a range of topics, including the bilateral relationship between Brunei and Malaysia, the current cooperation between the two countries, and efforts to encourage more foreign direct investment (FDI) from Malaysia to this nation in the future.

Personal life

Family

In August 1970, Mohamed Bolkiah married his first cousin, Yang Teramat Mulia (HRH) Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Zariah binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Haji Mohamed Alam, the sister of Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha, the Raja Isteri (Queen). Together they have 10 children whom are;

| rowspan="2" | Pengiran Haji Mohammad Hakimmuddin bin Pengiran Haji Hashim

Titles, styles and honours

thumb|[[Personal standard of ]]

Titles and styles

27 August 1947 – 29 September 1967:
29 September 1967 – 6 February 1970:
Since 6 February 1970:

Military ranks

thumb|[[First lieutenant|First Lieutenant Mohamed Bolkiah in the Irish Guards at Sandhurst, 1967|267x267px]] Brunei

1 November 1970: Honorary Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Brunei Malay Regiment
1 September 1972: Honorary Colonel, Royal Brunei Malay Regiment
Pengiran Muda Mohammed Bolkiah Religious School, a religious school in Temburong District.
Jalan Mohamad Bolkiah, a road in Tutong Camp.

Honours

thumb|282x282px|Mohamed Bolkiah wearing his ceremonial dress

Mohamed Bolkiah has received the following national honours;

50x50px Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei (DKMB)
50x50px Family Order of Laila Utama (DK; 24 January 1964) – Dato Laila Utama
50x50px Family Order of Seri Utama (DK; 23 September 1962) – Dato Seri Utama
50x50px Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS; 1 August 1968)
50x50px Omar Ali Saifuddin Medal (POAS)
50x50px Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (PBLI; 1975)
50x50px Meritorious Service Medal (PJK; 1954)
50x50px Proclamation of Independence Medal (1997)
50x50px Coronation Medal (1 August 1968)
50x50px Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)
50x50px Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal (5 October 2017)
50x50px National Day Silver Jubilee Medal (23 February 2009)
50x50px Royal Brunei Armed Forces Silver Jubilee Medal (31 May 1986)
50x50px General Service Medal (Armed Forces)
50x50px General Service Medal (Police)
50x50px Police 75 Years Medal (1996)

In addition, he has received several foreign honours:

:
50x50px Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (2009)
:
50x50px Royal Family Order of Kelantan (DK; 24 October 2022)
50x50px Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Crown of Johor (SPMJ) – Dato
50x50px Knight Grand Cordon of the Order of the Crown of Thailand (MVM (KGCT))
:
50x50px Grand Cross of the Order of the Golden Heart (GCrGH; 1 August 2007)