Zulkarnain Hanafi

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Hanafi is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Zulkarnain. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

• University of Liverpool (MBChB)

Dato Seri Setia Zulkarnain Hanafi PSNB DPMB PIKB
ذو القرنين حنفي
Zulkarnain in 2024
6th Minister of Health
In office 21 October 2015 –1 December 2017
Occupation	Surgeon

Zulkarnain bin Haji Hanafi is the former Minister of Health in Brunei from 2015 until 2017 and a Vice-Chancellor at the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) from 2008 to 2015. ^{[1] [2]}

Early life and education

Zulkarnain went for his higher education in the United Kingdom. He obtained his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Liverpool and later the FRCSEd (Otolaryngology) from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Lastly, FRCGP (Hons) from the Royal College of General Practitioners. ^[3]

Career

Zulkarnain was a head and neck surgeon and otolaryngologist, who in 2001 was involved in the first cochlear implant surgery on a child in Borneo at, Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital. ^[4]

During the 2015 Bruneian cabinet reshuffle on 22 October, ^[5] Zulkarnain was sworn in as the minister of health. ^[6]

For the 2017–18 fiscal year, Zulkarnain's ministry received a budget of B$323.88 million, including $7.77 million for development. ^[7] Emphasising shared responsibility for health, he proposed consolidating health centres, improving emergency services, and securing international accreditations. To tackle rising non-communicable diseases and obesity, initiatives like Bandarku Ceria promoted active lifestyles, and excise taxes were introduced on unhealthy foods. ^[8] Collaborating with the Ministry of Education, his ministry implemented school health initiatives, including hygiene campaigns and a traffic light system for healthier canteen food. ^[9] He also stressed the need for safe alternative medicine, addressing risks from unregulated treatments. ^[10]

On 1 December 2017, Zulkarnain was dismissed as minister of health in a minor cabinet reshuffle, the first since 2015, ^[11] and was succeeded by Isham Jaafar, who was sworn in at the palace on 4 December. ^[12]

Honours

Zulkarnain has earned the following honours: ^[13]

Main article: Orders, decorations, and medals of Brunei

• Order of Setia Negara Brunei First Class (PSNB; 15 July 2016) – Dato Seri Setia ^[14]
• Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB; 15 July 2011) – Dato Paduka ^[15]
• Excellent Service Medal (PIKB) ^[16]
• National Day Silver Jubilee Medal (23 February 2009) ^[16]

See also

• Cabinet of Brunei
• Health in Brunei

References

1. "Ministry of Health – Minister of Health". www.moh.gov.bn. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
2. "Global Poverty Project". Society for Community Outreach & Training. 27 May 2012. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
3. "About – vitalivhwc.com" . Retrieved 23 January 2023.
4. AM Zukarnaen; Nur Abdullah (18 March 2001). "Major success in implant surgery". borneobulletin.com.bn. Borneo Bulletin Online. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
5. 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.
6. Bandial, Ain (30 January 2018). "HM: Cabinet reshuffle is of 'vital importance'". The Scoop. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
7. "National Day 2018". borneobulletin.com.bn. Borneo Bulletin Online. p. 14. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
8. Noraisah Muhammed (15 March 2017). "Jaga permakanan badan sihat". www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Pelita Brunei. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
9. Sastra Sarini Haji Julaini (18 March 2017). "Teliti cara membudayakan cara hidup sihat" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Pelita Brunei. p. 4. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
10. Hajah Zabaidah Haji Salat (18 March 2017). "Perkhidmatan perubatan alternatif mesti selamat" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Pelita Brunei. p. 7. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
11. Thambipillai, Pushpa (2018). "Brunei Darussalam: The "Feel-Good Year" Despite Economic Woes" . Southeast Asian Affairs. Singapore: ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute: 86. doi:10.1355/aa18-1e. ISSN   0377-5437. JSTOR   26492771.
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.
13. Kementerian Hal Ehwal Ugama (26 August 2017). "Kebawah DYMM perkenankan pelantikan Ahli Majlis Ugama Islam" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Pelita Brunei. p. 9. Retrieved 16 January 2025.
14. "Pengurniaan Bintang-Bintang Kebesaran kepada 22 orang penerima" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 16 July 2016. p. 11.
15. "Sultanate – News | Negara Brunei Darussalam | Sultan confers titles at Investiture Ceremony". www.sultanate.com. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
16. Bolhassan Haji Abu Bakar; Dk. Vivy Malessa Pg. Ibrahim (7 March 2016). "Lima Ahli Rasmi Kerana Jawatan angkat sumpah" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Pelita Brunei. p. 7. Retrieved 13 January 2025.

Political offices
Preceded by Adanan Yusof	6th Minister of Health 21 October 2015 – 1 December 2017	Succeeded by Isham Jaafar
Academic offices
Preceded by Ismail Duraman	Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Brunei Darussalam 2008–2015	Succeeded by Anita Binurul Zahrina