The new Cabinet ministers were sworn in on Thursday in the presence of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.

Accompanying His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office, His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik, His Royal Highness 920 Major (U)Prince ‘Abdul Mateen and Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman began with the letter of appointment read by Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Penggawa Laila Bentara Istiadat Diraja Dalam Istana Pengiran Haji Alauddin bin Pengiran Paduka Tuan Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar, the Grand Chamberlain.

First sworn in was His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah.

This was followed by Special Advisor to His Majesty and Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Diraja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa bin Pehin Datu Perdana Manteri Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Ibrahim and Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman.

It continued with the swearing in of Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar and Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Finance and Economy II Dato Seri Setia Dr Awang Haji Mohd Amin Liew bin Abdullah.

This was followed by Minister of Foreign Affairs II Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Erywan bin Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Haji Mohd Yusof, Minister of Home Affairs Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Ahmaddin bin Haji Abdul Rahman and Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Paduka Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin.

The ceremony continued with the swearing in of Minister of Development Dato Paduka Awang Haji Mohd Juanda bin Haji Abdul Rashid, Minister of Education Datin Seri Paduka Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh, Minister of Transport and Infocommunications Pengiran Shamhary bin Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Mustapha and Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad.

Also sworn in were deputy ministers starting with Deputy Minister of the Department of Energy at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Seri Paduka Awang Haji Matsatejo bin Sokiaw, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Mohamed Riza bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohamed Yunos and Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Dato Paduka Haji Sufian bin Haji Sabtu.

This was followed by Deputy Minister of Defence Brigadier General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Abdul Razak bin Haji Abdul Kadir, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy Haji Khairuddin bin Haji Abdul Hamid, Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy Pengiran Hajah Zety Sufina binti Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Sani and Deputy Minister of Religious Affairs Pengiran Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohd Tashim bin Pengiran Haji Hassan.

The new appointment of Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers took effect on June 7 and will run for the next four years.

During the announcement, His Majesty called for the Cabinet to hold the appointments with absolute loyalty and responsibility.

State Mufti Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia (Dr) Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned and Attorney-General Haji Ahmad bin Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Setia Bakti Diraja Dato Laila Utama Haji Awang Isa were also present at the ceremony.

-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin