Abdul Ghafar Ismail

Last updated

Dato Paduka
Abdul Ghafar Ismail
DPMB
ابدول ڬهافر إسماعيل
HE Haji Abdul Ghafar Bin Haji Ismail.jpg
President Narayanan receiving a letter of credence from Abdul Ghafar (right) in 2001
Permanent Representative of Brunei to the United Nations
In office
28 March 2013 –2019
Occupation
  • Diplomat
  • civil servant

Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Ghafar bin Haji Ismail (born 1 October 1952) is a retired Bruneian diplomat who formerly held the position of high commissioner to India from 2001 to 2007, Singapore from 2007 to 2012, [1] and permanent representative of Brunei to the United Nations in New York from 2013 to 2019. [2]

Contents

Education

Abdul Ghafar graduated from the University of Staffordshire in the United Kingdom with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in geography from 1972 to 1975, and continued his PGCE studies at Reading University from 1981 to 1982. In 1985, he embarked on the Foreign Service & Diplomatic Course at the Australian National University & Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia. From Tufts University's Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in the United States with a Master of Arts (MA) in international law and diplomacy. [3] In 1994, he studied at Maastricht, Netherlands's European Institute of Public Administration (EIPA). [4]

Diplomatic career

From 1978, Abdul Ghafar began his career in the Brunei Darussalam Government Service. After being posted abroad for the first time in 1984, to Bangkok, he worked as assistant director of Economics from 1988 to 1989 and as second secretary from 1985 to 1987 after joining the Ministry. From 1989 until 1991, he served as a first secretary in the Bruneian embassy in Riyadh. Between 1991 and 1995, he held the same position of responsibility for the ASEAN. From 1992 to 1995, he was appointed as the deputy director of Protocol and Consular Affairs. [3] [4]

From 1995 until 1998, Abdul Ghafar was Brunei's deputy grand chamberlain. He served as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (MOFAT) Director of Multilateral Economics from 1988 to 1999 and Director of Politics II from 1999 to 2001. He served as the Bruneian high commissioner to India from August 2001 to May 2007, while also holding accreditations in Nepal and Sri Lanka. [3] [4]

After being appointed as Brunei's high commissioner-designate to Singapore in August 2007, [5] Abdul Ghafar took office as Brunei's high commissioner to Singapore on 29 November 2007, in addition to his dual roles as non-resident high commissioner to South Africa and the Maldives. [3] [4] During his tenure, he saw Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah's official state visit to the country in January 2012. [6]

On 26 February 2013, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah presented Abdul Gafar his letters of credence, as the newly appointed permanent representative of Brunei to the United Nations in New York. [7] He was present when Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Queen Saleha attended the 70th Session of the UN General Assembly on 29 September 2015. [8] With the signing of a joint declaration by representatives from Abdul Gafar and the Bahamas, Elliston Rahming, Brunei formally established diplomatic ties on 21 November 2016. [9]

Personal life

Abdul Ghafar is married to Datin Aishah Husain, together they have three children. He was born on 1 October 1952, in Kampong Danau, Tutong, Brunei. [3] His hobbies included reading, jogging, golf and badminton. [4]

Honours

Abdul Ghafar has earned the following honours; [4]

National

Foreign

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Prince Mohamed Bolkiah</span> Bruneian prince (born 1948)

Mohamed Bolkiah ibni Omar Ali Saifuddien III 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. He is the Head of the Brunei’s Viziers. After Brunei’s independence in 1984, he became the country’s first foreign minister, serving from 1 January 1984 until 22 October 2015. He served in the cabinet as the Minister of the Brunei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade alongside the second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Lim Jock Seng.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Religious Affairs (Brunei)</span> Bruneian government ministry

The Ministry of Religious Affairs (MORA or MoRA; Malay: Kementerian Hal Ehwal Ugama, KHEU) is a cabinet-level ministry in the government of Brunei which is responsible for the propagation of Islam and its upholding as the state religion, as well as oversees the Islamic religious education in the country. It is currently led by a minister and a deputy minister, whereby the incumbents are Badaruddin Othman and Pengiran Mohd Tashim Pengiran Hassan respectively. The ministry is headquartered in Bandar Seri Begawan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque</span> Mosque in Brunei

Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque, is a mosque in Kampong Kiarong of Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. It is named after Hassanal Bolkiah, the 29th and current Sultan of Brunei. It is one of the two state mosques, the other Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mustappa bin Sirat</span> Bruneian politician (born 1957)

Mustappa bin Sirat is a diplomat and politician in the Government of Brunei. He took office as the Minister of Communications from 2015 to 2018 and also as the Deputy Minister of Defence.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Setia Negara Brunei</span> Order of Brunei

The Most Blessed Order of Setia Negara Brunei, also translated as The Most Blessed Order of Loyalty to the State of Brunei, is an order of Brunei Darussalam. It was established on 29 November 1959 by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei</span> Honorific order of the Sultanate of Brunei

The Most Honourable Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei, also translated as The Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Brunei, is an order of Brunei Darussalam. It was established on 1 March 1954 by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa</span>

The Most Distinguished Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa, also translated as The Most Distinguished Order of Merit of Brunei, is an order of Brunei. It was established in February 1964 by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abu Bakar Apong</span> Bruneian politician (born 1948)

Abu Bakar bin Apong is a Bruneian nobleman and politician whom formerly held the position of Minister of Health (MOH) from 1998 to 2005, Minister of Communications (MOC) from 2005 to 2010, Minister of Education (MOE) from 2010 to 2015, and Minister of Home Affairs (MOHA) from 2015 to 2022. He had served in the government for the second-longest period of time after Pehin Isa Ibrahim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdul Rahman bin Ibrahim</span> Bruneian politician

Abdul Rahman bin Ibrahim is a Bruneian nobleman and politician whom formerly held the position of Minister of Finance II from 2005 to 2018 and Minister at the Prime Minister's Office from 2015 to 2018. Moreover, he is also a member of the board of directors of Brunei Investment Agency (BIA) from 2001 to 2003; deputy chairman of the board of directors of the Sustainability Fund; board member of the Authoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD); board member of the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdul Aziz Umar</span> Bruneian politician (born 1936)

Abdul Aziz bin Umar, also sometimes referred to as Pehin Abdul Aziz Umar, is a Bruneian nobleman and politician whom had a wide range of positions in the Government of Brunei. Before to that, he served as the Minister of Communications, the Minister of Education, and the Minister of Health. His last position was as Minister of Education, which he held from 1988 until 24 May 2005. He served in the civil service beginning with his first appointment in 1964 and held a number of roles from that time until Brunei's independence in 1984, including acting Chief Minister.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ali Mohammad Daud</span> Bruneian politician and diplomat (1936–2018)

Mohammad Ali bin Mohammad Daud was a Bruneian nobleman, politician and diplomat whom formerly served as the Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from 1986 to 1989, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1989 to 2005. Additionally, he was a member of the Islamic Religious Council, director of several Bruneian banks and the President of the Brunei Scouts from 1974 to 1979.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdul Hamid Bakal</span> Bruneian politician (1939–2024)

Abdul Hamid bin Bakal was a Bruneian nobleman and Muslim scholar who held several high-ranking and important positions in the Government of Brunei.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abdu'r Rahmani</span> Bruneian military officer and diplomat (born 1954)

Dato Paduka Haji Abdu'r Rahmani bin Dato Paduka Haji Basir is a Bruneian nobleman, diplomat and retired military officer who served as the commander of the Royal Brunei Land Forces (RBLF) from 2003 until 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yusoff Abdul Hamid</span> Bruneian politician and diplomat (born 1949)

Dato Paduka Haji Yusoff bin Haji Abdul Hamid is a retired diplomat and politician from Brunei who served as the Deputy Minister of Communications from 2005 to 2009, the high commissioner and ambassador to several countries, including the United States and United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aziyan Abdullah</span> Bruneian diplomat

Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Aziyan bin Abdullah @ Yong Foo is a Bruneian diplomat of Chinese descent who became the high commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2010 to 2014, and non-resident ambassador to Greece.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nor Jeludin</span> Bruneian diplomat

Dato Paduka Haji Mohammad Nor bin Haji Jeludin is a Brunei diplomat who became the ambassador to Japan from 2003 to 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haini Hashim</span> Bruneian artist and diplomat

Dato Paduka Haji Haini bin Haji Hashim is a Brunei artist and retired diplomat who became the ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2022. He became the first Bruneian to be honored as a member of the Russian Academy of Arts in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alaihuddin Taha</span> Bruneian diplomat (born 1958)

Dato Paduka Haji Alaihuddin bin Haji Mohamad Taha is a Bruneian diplomat and holding the post of high commissioner to India since 2021. He was formerly the permanent representative to the United Nations at Geneva and high commissioner to Malaysia.

Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Maidin bin Pengiran Haji Hashim is a retired Bruneian diplomat who formerly held the position of permanent representative of Brunei to the United Nations from 1997 to 1998, high commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2006 to 2010, and ambassador to Germany in 1994.

References

  1. ↑ Azrol Azmi (13 November 2007). "Audience to new Brunei envoys". sultanate.com. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  2. ↑ "MISSIONS OVERSEAS". Borneo Bulletin Year Book 2023. 14 April 2015. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "His Excellency Dato Abdul Ghafar Ismail". washdiplomat.com. 11 November 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "HAJI ABDUL GHAFAR BIN HAJI ISMAIL" (PDF). www.mfa.gov.sg. November 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  5. ↑ "His Majesty grants audience to new envoys". sultanate.com. 6 November 2007. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  6. ↑ "Crown Prince concludes visit". www.sultanate.com. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  7. ↑ "His Majesty presents and receives letters of credence" (PDF). www.information.gov.bn. 26 February 2013. p. 4. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  8. ↑ Department of Information, Prime Minister's Office (29 September 2015). "70th Session of United Nations General Assembly" (PDF). www.information.gov.bn. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
  9. ↑ Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Affairs (22 November 2016). "Brunei - Kerajaan Bahamas jalin hubungan diplomatik". www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Retrieved 2 May 2024.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Permanent Representative of Brunei to the United Nations
28 March 2013 – 2019		Succeeded by
Preceded by High Commissioner of Brunei to Singapore
August 2001 – 2012		Succeeded by
Preceded by High Commissioner of Brunei to India
September 1994 – May 2007		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.