Abdullah bin Haji Bakar (born 29 July 1951), also referred to as Pehin Dato Abdullah Bakar,[1] is a Bruneian aristocrat and politician who took office as the Minister of Communications from 2010 to 2015,[2] and Minister of Development from 2005 to 2010.
Abdullah Bakar | |
|---|---|
| عبدالله بكر | |
 Pehin Abdullah in 2023 | |
| 5th Minister of Communications | |
| In office 29 May 2010 – 22 October 2015 | |
| Monarch | Hassanal Bolkiah |
| Preceded by | Abu Bakar Apong |
| Succeeded by | Mustappa Sirat |
| 4th Minister of Development | |
| In office 24 May 2005 – 29 May 2010 | |
| Deputy | Mat Suny Ali Apong |
| Preceded by | Ahmad Jumat |
| Succeeded by | Suyoi Osman |
| Chairman of Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam | |
| In office 2006–2010 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Yahya Bakar |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 July 1951 Kampong Lurong Dalam, Kampong Ayer, Brunei |
| Relatives | Yahya Bakar (brother) |
| Alma mater | University of Leeds (BSc) Harvard University (MPA) |
| Profession | Politician |
Education
editAbdullah is a fellow in the Edward S. Mason Program in Public Policy and Management at Harvard University's John Fitzgerald Kennedy School of Government from 1993 to 1994. He attended Harvard University from 1993 to 1994 to earn his master's degree in public administration. At the University of Leeds, he also earned his BSc (Hons) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering in 1972.[3][4]
Career
editAbdullah's career began as an Assistant Telecom Controller on 10 August 1992; Telecom Engineer on 1 January 1977; deputy director of Telecom on 11 February 1981; Director of Telecom on 1 April 1984; Senior Special Duties Officer, Ministry of Communications on 15 February 1996; managing director of DST from July 1998 to 13 December 1999; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Religious Affairs on 18 September 1998; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Communications on 26 July 1999, Minister of Development from 24 May 2005 to 28 May 2010; appointed as Minister of Communications on 29 May 2010.[3]
Minister of Development
editOn 26–28 August 2005, Yaacob Ibrahim led a group to Brunei. Minister Yaacob and his counterpart, Pehin Dato Abdullah Bakar, signed a Memorandum of understanding (MOU) on environmental cooperation during the visit. Solid and hazardous waste management, water resource management, recycling, and environmental education are all potential areas of collaboration under the MOU. An Annual Exchange of Visits (AEV), which would take the form of a ministerial meeting jointly presided over by both ministers, would also be launched with the signing of the MOU.[5][6]
Only 5% of Brunei's land is categorized as being available for residential or industrial use, with residential use taking precedence, according to statistics made public by Pehin Dato Abdullah Bakar, on 17 October 2009. Only about 28,825 hectares (71,230 acres) of the 576,500 ha total landmass of the country have not been designated for preservation or have already been used, according to the minister. He said it was important to manage land resources given that there are already 17,000 people on waiting lists for public housing, with that number likely to reach 30,000 by 2012.[7]
Minister of Communications
editOn 12 November 2010, in Bandar Seri Begawan, the transport ministers of the ASEAN member states and Japan gathered for the 8th ASEAN and Japan Transport Ministers Meeting (ATM+Japan). The Meeting was co-chaired by Pehin Dato Abdullah Bakar and Toshiaki Koizumi.[1] From 28 November to 1 December 2012, he attended the 18th ASEAN Transport Ministers Meeting in Bali, Indonesia.[8] Brunei is not the only country in Southeast Asia looking to the container shipping industry for expansion; Singapore's Port and Malaysia's Port Klang are competitors in this industry. However, he said that rates of increase in transshipment volumes in Southeast Asia are anticipated to be in the range of 5–6% annually, providing Brunei with the chance to capture a portion of the market.[9]
On 15 December 2014, Pehin Abdullah Bakar unveiled the "White paper" for land transportation, which paves the way for reducing Bruneians' reliance on automobiles, preventing traffic congestion, attaining a sustainable society, and enhancing governance. According to him, the "white paper" outlines a number of policies organized under seven key topics that would serve as the basis for the creation of certain national transport policies and the Land Transport Master Plan. The minister emphasized a number of advantages that the Land Transport Master Plan's execution will provide to the people of Brunei as the publication of the "white paper" advances its implementation.[10]
Other appointments
editPehin Dato Abdullah also held the positions of President of PUJA (National Institution for Engineers, Architects, and Surveyors, Brunei Darussalam) from January 2004 to December 2009, Chairman of the board of directors of BIBD from 1 February 2006 to January 2010, Chairman of Pantai Mentiri Golf Club from 24 May 2005 to 29 May 2010, and Chairman of the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry (AITI) from 1 January 2003 to 13 July 2005.[3]
Personal life
editPehin Dato Abdullah is blessed with seven children; 4 sons and 3 daughters. He is married to Datin Hajah Hasiah binti Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Setia Dato Paduka Haji Hasim. His hobbies include; reading, golfing, astronomy, and photography.[4] He is also the older brother of Dato Yahya Bakar, former Minister of Industry and Primary Resources.[11] Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Captain (Retired) Dato Abdul Rahman is another sibling of his.[12]
Pehin Dato Abdullah's residence is located in Kampong Lambak Kiri.[13]
Honours
editDato Abdullah was bestowed the Manteri title of Yang Berhormat (The Honourable) Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan on 24 April 2004.[13][14] Moreover, he has earned the following honours;[4]
Order of Setia Negara Brunei First Class (PSNB; 15 July 2006) – Dato Seri Setia[15]
Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB; 15 July 1987) – Dato Paduka
Long Service Medal (PKL; 23 December 2000)
National Day Silver Jubilee Medal (23 February 2009)
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References
edit- ^ a b "Joint Ministerial Statement of the 8th ASEAN and Japan Transport Ministers Meeting Bandar Seri Begawan, 12 November 2010". asean.org. 8 October 2012. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ "Pehin Dato Abdullah Bakar, Minister of Communications, : Interview – Asia 2013 – Oxford Business Group". 2 May 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ a b c "Keluaran Khas Sempena Pelantikan Menteri-Menteri Kabinet dan Timbalan-Timbalan Menteri" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 12 June 2010. p. 3.
- ^ a b c Minister's Curriculum Vitae
- ^ "MINISTER YAACOB IBRAHIM TO VISIT NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM, 26 – 28 AUG 05". www.nas.gov.sg. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ "Speech by Dr Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Information, Communications and the Arts at Brunei Darussalam Pavilion". Infocomm Media Development Authority. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ "A Growing Industry in Brunei". A Growing Industry in Brunei. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ "Indonesia". www.mfa.gov.bn. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ "Brunei gears up for an expansion in container volumes". country.eiu.com. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ "Land transport White Paper set out". Centre for Strategic and Policy Studies. 16 December 2014. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ Sidhu, Jatswan S. (22 December 2009). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Scarecrow Press. p. 14. ISBN 978-0-8108-7078-9.
- ^ "Permanent and Deputy Permanent Secretaries in Brunei (21 November 2016)". Permanent and Deputy Permanent Secretaries in Brunei (21 November 2016). Retrieved 11 August 2023.
- ^ a b "Keluaran Khas Sempena Pelantikan Menteri-Menteri Kabinet dan Timbalan-Timbalan Menteri" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 12 June 2010. pp. 5–6.
- ^ "BRUNEIresources.com – Pehin Abdullah". www.bruneiresources.com. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
- ^ Sonia K; Lyna Mohammad (16 July 2006). "His Majesty awards titles, medals to 56". sultanate.com. Retrieved 11 March 2023.