By Azlan Othman
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, who is also Prime Minister, Defence Minister and Finance Minister, yesterday attended and chaired the first Cabinet Ministers meeting at the Istana Nurul Iman.
Also present were His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The ceremony began with the reading of a 'doa selamat' by the Minister of Religious Affairs, Pehin Dato Seri Utama Dr. Ustaz Hj Mohd Zain.
His Majesty announced a major reshuffle of the Cabinet and appointed several new faces into the ministerial line up on May 24. The new Cabinet was sworn-in last Monday at the Istana Nurul Iman.
The Cabinet reshuffle was the third since Brunei gained its independence more than 20 years ago. The first group of Cabinet Ministers was installed on January 1, 1984 immediately after Brunei gained its independence. The first reshuffle was made in October 1986 and the second reshuffle in November 1988.
In the recent Cabinet reshuffle, His Majesty announced the establishment of a Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and three new ministerial posts namely the Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister's Office, Minister of Finance II and Minister of Foreign Affairs II.
Five new Deputy Ministers were also appointed. As a result of the reshuffle, the country now has 14 Cabinet Ministers and 10 Deputy Ministers.
- Borneo Bulletin
(3rd June 2005)
