Pengiran Abidin bin Pengiran Ahmad[3] is a Bruneian airman and military officer who served as the fourth Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) from 1997 until 1999.
Pengiran Abidin | |
|---|---|
| ڤڠيرن عابدين | |
 Pengiran Abidin in 2024 | |
| 4th Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces | |
| In office 30 September 1997 – 3 July 1999 | |
| Monarch | Hassanal Bolkiah |
| Preceded by | Husin Ahmad |
| Succeeded by | Shari Ahmad |
| 1st Commander of the Royal Brunei Air Force | |
| In office June 1993 – 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Ibrahim Mohammad |
| Commander of the Air Wing, Royal Brunei Malay Regiment | |
| In office 1982–1986 | |
| Preceded by | John Cheshire |
| Succeeded by | Jocklin Kongpaw |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Awangku Abidin bin Pengiran Ahmad[1] Brunei |
| Education | Mons Officer Cadet School[2] |
| Occupation | Military officer |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Brunei |
| Branch/service |  Royal Brunei Air Force |
| Years of service | 1965–1999 |
| Rank |  Major General |
| Commands | Air Wing RBMR |
As one of the first pilots in the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), him and Jocklin Kongpaw have indirectly contributed to the growth and advancement of RBAirF, where their dedication and open sacrifice have become one of the sources of motivation and inspiration for all RBMR members, especially RBAirF, to carry out the tasks and missions required by RBMR and the nation.[4]
Military career
editOn 11 September 1966, Junior Lieutenants Abidin and Jocklin returned to Brunei Darussalam, after undergoing a two month Royal Air Force (RAF) Air Crew Selection course at RAF Biggin Hill, Westerham.[5] Later on 6 August 1968, the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (RBMR) experienced a very significant moment when Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah was pleased to present the Pilot Badge for the first time to two local officers, Second lieutenants Abidin and Jocklin, after completing all domestic and foreign flight training.[6] For the AMDB, this ceremony has also gone down in history as the first time that two local military pilots were successfully produced. At that time, a flight display employing a Bell 206B helicopter at Istana Darul Hana further enhanced the presenting ceremony. The two local pilots demonstrated a very high degree of proficiency and efficiency.[7]
When the two pilots were dispatched to British Executive Air Services Limited at Kidlington, Oxfordshire in the United Kingdom, for basic flight training on 14 August 1967, RBAirF made history. The two officers also undertook flying school in Sabah, Malaysia, to earn a pilot's licence prior to attending training in the United Kingdom. Following basic training, Major Herbert Marshall, commanding officer of the Helicopter Platoon, RBMR, oversaw the two pilots as they conducted 90 hours of Advanced Flight Training in a Bell 206B helicopter. Abidin Ahmad and Jocklin Kongpaw have both served as officers, and have flown a variety of Royal Brunei Air Force (TUDB) aircraft in a variety of positions.[7]
In 1982, Lieutenant Colonel Abidin also became the first local officer to be appointed as the first commanding officer of the Air Wing, RBMR; later handing over the reins of leadership to Lieutenant Colonel Jocklin Kongpaw in 1986.[7] In June 1993, he was appointed as the commander of the newly recognised RBAirF.[8] He was also the first RBAirF officer to be promoted to Major General in 1997, and subsequently appointed as the fourth Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).[7] He attended the Asia-Pacific Defense Forum in early 1999.[9]
Later life
editAt the 2019 Seri Angkasa Cup, which was hosted at the RBA Golf Club, the retired members of 'The Legend' team from the RBAirF under the leadership of Abidin Ahmad successfully defended their title.[10] An iftar celebration with former RBAirF commanders was organised on 2 May 2021, at Rumah Wira Angkasa in Berakas in honour of the blessed month of Ramadan.[11]
Honours
editA road within the Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba was named Abidin Boulevard on 22 April 2022.[11] Examples of local and foreign honours awarded to him;[12]
National
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Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang First Class (DPKT) – Dato Paduka Seri[4]
Order of Pahlawan Negara Brunei First Class (PSPNB) – Dato Seri Pahlawan
Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa Second Class (DSLJ) – Dato Seri Laila Jasa
Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB) – Dato Paduka
Order of Setia Negara Brunei Third Class (SNB)
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS; 7 August 1968)[13]
Excellent Service Medal (PIKB)
Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)
Royal Brunei Armed Forces Silver Jubilee Medal (31 May 1986)
General Service Medal
Long Service Medal and Good Conduct (PKLPB)
Proclamation of Independence Medal (1997)
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Foreign
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Indonesia:
Bintang Yudha Dharma Utama (BYD)[14]
Singapore:
Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) (PJG; 4 May 1995)[15]
Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) (DUBC; 2 February 1999)[16]
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References
edit- ^ "Royal Brunei Air Force: Playing its role in air surveillance, support - a special report". TheStar.com.my. The Star, Star Media Group Berhad. 27 February 2021. Retrieved 5 February 2024.
- ^ SP's Military Yearbook, Volume 29. India: Guide Publications. 1998. p. 236 – via Google Books.
- ^ "The Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces, MG Pengiran Dato Paduka Seri Haji Abidin Pengiean Ahmad calls on Dr Tony Tan, DPM & Minister for Defence Singapore at MINDEF Gombak Drive". NAS.gov.sg. Ministry of Information and The Arts (MITA), Government of Singapore. 20 November 1998. Retrieved 8 May 2024 – via National Archives of Singapore.
- ^ a b "Imbau Sejarah Dua Juruterbang TUDB" [Recall the history of two TUDB pilots]. BruDirect.com (in Malay). Bandar Seri Begawan. Pelita Brunei. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "Pegawai2 A.M.D.B. Balek Dari England" [Officers of A.M.D.B. back from England] (PDF). PelitaBrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). Berakas: Pelita Brunei. 14 September 1966. p. 8. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "Remembering the pioneers". BorneoBulletin.com.bn. Borneo Bulletin Online. 7 August 2021. Archived from the original on 8 August 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d Nurdiyanah, R. (7 August 2021). "Dua juruterbang tempatan pertama lakar sejarah TUDB" [The first two local pilots sketch the history of TUDB]. MediaPermata.com.bn (in Malay). Media Permata. Archived from the original on 14 August 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
- ^ "Top military award for Brunei's cur force chief". The Straits Times. 4 May 1995. p. 23. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ Asia-Pacific Defense Forum. Vol. 24, number 1. Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command. Spring 1999. p. 19 – via Google Books.
- ^ "Seri Angkasa Cup 2019 interaction golf tournament". MinDef.gov.bn. Berakas: Royal Brunei Air Force. 30 November 2019. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ a b "Iftar with former Commanders of RBAirF". MinDef.gov.bn. Berakas: Royal Brunei Air Force. 2 May 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ The Army Quarterly and Defence Journal. Vol. 127. West of England Press. 1997. p. 212. ISBN 978-0-85052-467-3 – via Google Books.
- ^ "52 orang di-kurniakan Bintang2 Kebesaran" [52 people awarded Stars of Greatness] (PDF). hmjubliemas.gov.bn. Bandar: Pelita Brunei. 7 August 1968. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 October 2017.
- ^ Agus Lolond (24 August 1999). Brunei Armed Forces Chief General Pengiran Abidin Ahmad (C) shakes hands with Indonesian President B.J. Habibie (R) at the Merdeka Palace in Jakarta 23 August 1999 as Indonesian Chief Armed Forces General Wiranto looks on. GettyImages.com (photograph). AFP (published 16 December 2023). Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ "Top military award for Brunei's cur force chief". The Straits Times. 4 May 1995. p. 23. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
- ^ "Royal Brunei Armed Forces Commander Awarded Distinguished Service Order (Military)" (PDF). NAS.gov.sg. Ministry of Defence, Singapore. 2 February 1999. Retrieved 8 May 2024 – via National Archives of Singapore.
External links
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Media related to Abidin Ahmad at Wikimedia Commons
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