2015 Bruneian cabinet reshuffle

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Hassanal Bolkiah Presidente Kuczynski recibe a lideres de economias en Cumbre APEC Brunei 01 (cropped).jpg
Hassanal Bolkiah

Hassanal Bolkiah carried out the fifth reshuffle of his government on 22 October 2015, [1] replacing nine cabinet ministers. [2] The announcement was delivered during a televised speech at 2:20 pm. The previous cabinet had been reshuffled in 2010 for a five-year term, [1] followed by the next one in 2018. [3]

Contents

Most notably, the sultan appointed himself as minister of trade and foreign affairs, a role previously held by his brother, Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, since 1984. [4] The 2015 cabinet reshuffle further consolidated the sultan's authority, with him taking over the foreign affairs and trade portfolio following his brother's retirement. [5] Simultaneously, the sultan retained control of key portfolios, including finance, defence, and the prime ministership. [6] This reorganisation represented a significant step in centralising power within the monarchy, [5] with Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah being the only remaining direct member of the royal family in the new administration as the senior minister at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). [4]

A possible reason for the cabinet reshuffle could be the sultan's emphasis on the importance of effective governance in fostering the nation's gratitude. During the televised announcement, he highlighted the critical role of the government and its machinery—comprising leaders, officials, and employees—stating that justice is the cornerstone of all good deeds. The sultan warned that without justice, welfare and blessings would inevitably diminish, which could have influenced his decision to reorganise the cabinet and reinforce the centralisation of power. [7]

On 26 October 2015, members of the newly formed cabinet were sworn in for a five-year term during a ceremony at the palace. [8] Three days later, on 29 October, the sultan chaired the first cabinet meeting following the reshuffle, which was also held at the palace. [9]

Cabinet-level changes

Colour key
  •      Joined the Cabinet
  •      Left the Cabinet
MinisterPosition before reshuffleResult of reshuffle [2]
Mr. Abdullah, Dato Bahrin (Cropped).jpg Bahrin Abdullah Deputy Minister of Finance Became Minister of Development
Hazair Abdullah.jpg Hazair Abdullah Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Left the government
Mr. Pehin Abu Baker Apong.jpg Abu Bakar Apong Minister of Education Became Minister of Home Affairs
Ali Apong (2017).jpg Ali Apong Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Became Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism
Pehin Abdullah in 2023.jpg Abdullah Bakar Minister of Communications Left the government
Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar.jpg Yahya Bakar Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Left the government
Zulkarnain Hanafi in 2008.jpg Zulkarnain Hanafi Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education Became Minister of Health
Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah (cropped).jpg Hassanal Bolkiah Prime Minister of Brunei
Minister of Defence
Minister of Finance 		Prime Minister of Brunei
Minister of Defence
Minister of Finance
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Abdul Rahman Ibrahim (2024).jpg Abdul Rahman Ibrahim Minister of Finance II Became Minister of Finance II and Minister at the Prime Minister's Office
Lim Jock Seng (2013).jpg Lim Jock Seng Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II Became Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade II and Minister at the Prime Minister's Office
Portrait of Prince Mohamed Bolkiah in 2004.jpg Prince Mohamed Bolkiah Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Left the government
Halbi Mohd Yussof - 53890736418.jpg Halbi Mohammad Yussof Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Became Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports
Suyoi Osman in 2016.jpg Suyoi Osman Minister of Development Became Minister of Education
Badaruddin Othman - 53890483921.jpg Badaruddin Othman Minister of Home Affairs Became Minister of Religious Affairs
Pengiran Mohammad Abdul Rahman.jpg Pengiran Mohammad Minister of Religious Affairs Left the government
Mustappa Bin Haji Sirat in 2012.jpg Mustappa Sirat Deputy Minister of Defence Became Minister of Communications
Adanan Yusuf - 53857691221.jpg Adanan Yusof Minister of Health Left the government

Junior ministerial changes

Colour key
  •      Joined the Cabinet
  •      Left the Cabinet
MinisterPosition before reshuffleResult of reshuffle [2]
Hamdan Abu Bakar Permanent Secretary (Security and Enforcement) at the Prime Minister's Office Became Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office
2023 Majlis Ramah Mesra Temburong 91.jpg Amin Liew Abdullah Finance and Business Development Director of Progen Holdings [a] Became Deputy Minister of Finance
Dato Abdul Mokti Mohd Daud.jpg Abdul Mokti Daud Ambassador of Brunei to Saudi ArabiaBecame Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs
Roselan Daud.jpg Roselan Daud Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office Became Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office
Dato Suhaimi Gafar in 2018.jpg Suhaimi Gafar Permanent Secretary (Technical and Professional) at the Minister of Development Became Deputy Minister of Development
Yusoff Ismail Deputy Minister of Education Left the government
Abdul Wahab Juned Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office Left the government
Hisham Hanifah.jpg Hisham Hanifah Permanent Secretary (Policy and Investment) at the Ministry of FinanceBecame Deputy Minister of Finance
First Admiral Dato Seri Pahlawan Abdul Aziz bin Haji Muhammad Tamit (cropped).jpg Abdul Aziz Mohd Tamit Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy Became Deputy Minister of Defence
Adina Othman Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Left the government
Pengiran Bahrom in 2016.jpg Pengiran Bahrom Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Became Deputy Minister of Education
Erywan Yusof - Foreign Minister of Brunei (53632209445) (cropped).jpg Erywan Yusof Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Became Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Later changes

Between the 2015 and 2018 cabinet reshuffles, several minor changes were introduced. On 21 September 2017, the PMO announced that Kamaluddin Bungsu had been appointed permanent secretary, and Jamain Julaihi was named deputy minister (energy) and industry. [10] Later, on 1 December 2017, Zulkarnain Hanafi was replaced as minister of health in a minor cabinet reshuffle, marking the first such change since 2015. [11] A swearing-in ceremony for the new health minister, Isham Jaafar, whose appointment took effect on the same day as Zulkarnain's dismissal, was held at the palace on 4 December. [12]

Colour key
  •      Joined the Cabinet
  •      Left the Cabinet
MinisterPosition before reshuffleResult of reshuffleEffective from
Jamain Julaihi Permanent Secretary (Downstream and Power) at the Prime Minister's Office Became Deputy Minister (Energy) and Industry at the Prime Minister's Office 21 September 2017
Zulkarnain Hanafi in 2008.jpg Zulkarnain Hanafi Minister of Health Left the government1 December 2017
Isham Jaafar - 53890736353.jpg Isham Jaafar Medical Director of Jerudong Park Medical Centre [b] Became Minister of Health 1 December 2017

Notes

  1. ↑ Non-government position
  2. ↑ Non-ministerial position

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References

  1. 1 2 Pg. Hajah Fatimah Pg. Haji Md. Noor (24 October 2015). "Rombakan Kabinet" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Pelita Brunei. p. 1. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Norliah Md. Zain (24 October 2015). "Lantikan Menteri Kabinet Baru 2015 - 2020" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Pelita Brunei. p. 32. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  3. ↑ Abdullah Asgar (31 January 2018). "Pelantikan Menteri-Menteri Kabinet baharu" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Pelita Brunei. pp. 3–4. Retrieved 24 January 2025.
  4. 1 2 Müller 2016, p. 167.
  5. 1 2 Roberts & Cook 2016, p. 101.
  6. ↑ Müller 2016, p. 162.
  7. ↑ Norliah Md. Zain (24 October 2015). "Sistem pemerintahan tersendiri berjaya cipta keamanan" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Pelita Brunei. p. 3. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  8. ↑ "New ministers and deputy ministers sworn in" (PDF). Brunei Darussalam Newsletter. Vol. 30, no. 10. Department of Information. October 2015. p. 1. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  9. ↑ Pg. Hajah Fatimah Pg. Haji Md. Noor (24 October 2015). "Mesyuarat Menteri-Menteri Kabinet Kali Pertama" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Pelita Brunei. pp. 1 and 3. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  10. ↑ Jabatan Perdana Menteri (21 September 2017). "Pelantikan Timbalan Menteri (Tenaga) dan Perindustrian, dan Setiausaha Tetap JPM". www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Pelita Brunei. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
  11. ↑ Thambipillai 2018, p. 86.
  12. ↑ Rohani Haji Abd Hamid (4 December 2017). "Berkenan berangkat ke Majlis Mengangkat Sumpah Menteri Kesihatan". www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Pelita Brunei. Retrieved 27 January 2025.
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