Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar is a Bruneian politician and civil engineer who formerly served as the seventh Minister of Development from 2018 to 2022, and also the Deputy Minister from 2015 to 2018.
Suhaimi Gafar | |||||||||||||||
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سوهايمي ڬفر | |||||||||||||||
![]() Minister Suhaimi in 2018 | |||||||||||||||
7th Minister of Development | |||||||||||||||
In office 30 January 2018 – 7 June 2022 | |||||||||||||||
Monarch | Hassanal Bolkiah | ||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Bahrin Abdullah | ||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Juanda Abdul Rashid | ||||||||||||||
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Personal details | |||||||||||||||
Born | Brunei | ||||||||||||||
Education | ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology (BE) | ||||||||||||||
Profession | Politician and civil engineer | ||||||||||||||
Education
editSuhaimi obtained his Bachelor of Engineering (BE) with civil engineering speciality from the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology.[1]
Early career
editIn the Public Works Department, Suhaimi began his career in the government in 1985 as an engineer. He has held the following positions in the division; an engineer in 1985; working engineer in 1991; assistant director of Roads in 1996; Director of Roads in 2001; Director of Water Services in 2003; Director of Development in 2003; Director of Water Services in 2005; Deputy Director General of Public Works in 2005; Director General of Public Works in 2008. He was assigned to the Ministry of Development's Permanent Secretary (Technical and Professional) post in 2010.[2][3]
Ministerial career
editOn 30 January 2018, at 2.30 p.m., the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, unexpectedly reshuffled the cabinet. Dato Suhaimi will be appointed as the new Minister of Development as part of the announcement.[4] The Temburong Bridge, which is expected to be the longest oversea bridge in Southeast Asia, is now 75% finished and on schedule to be finished by November 2019, and after correcting work, which would take three to five months to complete, the B$1.6 billion project is anticipated to open to the public in 2020, Dato Suhaimi said on 14 February 2019.[5] It was under his tenure, to witness the opening of the bridge on 17 March 2020.[6]
In 2021, there would be 229,496 tonnes (225,871 long tons; 252,976 short tons) of rubbish disposed of in landfills, according to a statement for World Environment Day from Dato Suhaimi. According to the minister, it makes up the second-highest percentage of garbage in landfills, and during a national drive to collect marine debris from beaches, plastics, primarily plastic bottles, made up 80% of the trash that was gathered. He further stated:[7]
As a person who inhabits on this Earth, we can tackle these issues by collectively incorporating the concept of sustainability into our lifestyle, with ‘Whole-of-Government’ and ‘Whole-of-Nation’ approaches. Simple sustainable lifestyle choices can be made through the switch to using re-usables and reducing the consumption of disposable or single-use plastics...
— Dato Seri Setia Ir Suhaimi Gafar, TheStar, 5 June 2022
In order to manage water sustainably, the Sultanate is dedicated to engaging with the local community, regional participants, and international participants. In his speech at the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit (4thAPWS) in Kumamoto, Japan on 23 April 2022, Dato Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar reaffirmed the Sultanate's commitment to tackling water concerns.[8] Similar to the announcement of his appointment as minister, he was replaced by Dato Juanda after another cabinet reshuffle on 7 June later that year.[9]
Honours
editBahrin has earned the following honours;[10]
- Order of Setia Negara Brunei First Class (PSNB; 15 July 2018) – Dato Seri Setia;[11] Third Class (SNB; 15 July 2010)[12]
- Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei First Class (SPMB; 15 July 2017) – Dato Seri Paduka[13]
- Excellent Service Medal (PIKB)
- Long Service Medal (PKL)
References
edit- ^ "Brunei". aaet-asean.org. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "Menteri Kementerian Pembangunan". www.mod.gov.bn. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 5 February 2018.
- ^ Press, C. Q. (10 May 2013). Worldwide Government Directory with Intergovernmental Organizations 2013. CQ Press. p. 230. ISBN 978-1-4522-9937-2.
- ^ Scoop, The (30 January 2018). "HM announces surprise cabinet reshuffle - full list of new appointees". The Scoop. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ Bakar, Rasidah Hj Abu (14 February 2019). "Temburong mega bridge completion on track for November 2019 deadline". The Scoop. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "SULTAN HAJI OMAR 'ALI SAIFUDDIEN BRIDGE – BRUNEI DARUSSALAM". ASEAN Connectivity. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "Brunei: Plastic waste makes up 29 per cent of landfill waste in 2021". TheStar. 5 June 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "Brunei committed to tackling water challenges, says minister » Borneo Bulletin Online". Brunei committed to tackling water challenges, says minister. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ Scoop, The (7 June 2022). "HM announces major cabinet shakeup - full list of appointees". The Scoop. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ YANG DI-PERTUA DAN AHLI-AHLI MAJLIS MESYUARAT NEGARA 2020-03-09
- ^ "His Majesty's 72nd Birthday Celebration Audience and Investiture Ceremony" (PDF). Brunei Darussalam Newsletter. Vol. 33, no. 7. July 2018. p. 7.
- ^ Waleed PD Mahdini (16 July 2010). "His Majesty at investiture ceremony". www.sultanate.com. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
- ^ Nooratini Haji Abas (17 July 2017). "Seramai 35 orang menerima Bintang Kebesaran NBD" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). p. 11. Retrieved 7 June 2024.