By Azrol Azmi
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to present credentials to the new High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to Australia, Mohd Sharip Othman in a ceremony held at the Istana Nurul Iman. His Majesty also consented to receive credentials from three friendly nations' envoys to Brunei Darussalam - Mr Leopold Alfred Battel of Canada, Mr Hashimoto Itsuo of Japan and Mr Mpumelelo Joseph N Hlophe of the Kingdom of Swaziland.
His Majesty also consented to receive in audience the newly-appointed Brunei High Commissioner to Australia, Mohd Sharip Othman. Mohd Sharip Othman, 44, holds a BA (Hons) degree in International Studies from North Staffordshire Polytechnic, United Kingdom and was last posted as the Director of the Department of Policy Planning for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
His Majesty then consented to grant audiences to the three newly-appointed foreign envoys to Brunei Darussalam. His Majesty first granted an audience to Mr Leoplold Alfred Battel of Canada, the newly appointed High Commissioner of Canada to Brunei Darussalam.
His Majesty then received in audience Mr Hashimoto Itsuo, Ambassador of Japan to Brunei Darussalam. His Majesty then granted an audience to Mr Mpumelelo Joseph N Hlophe, the High Commissioner of Kingdom of Swaziland to Brunei Darussalam.
Also in attendance at the audience ceremony was the Minister of Education, Pehin Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Abdul Rahman.
In a separate event, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, yesterday granted audiences at the Balai Penghadapan, Bukit Kayangan to the three newly-appointed foreign envoys to Brunei Darussalam - Mr Leopold Alfred Battel of Canada, Mr Hashimoto Itsuo of Japan, and Mr Mpumelelo Joseph N Hlophe of the Kingdom of Swaziland.
HRH Prince Mohamed welcomed the three new envoys and discussed bilateral matters.
Mr Leopold Alfred Battel prior to his new appointment was a Counsellor (Commercial) at the Embassy of Canada in Paris, while Mr Hashimoto Itsuo was previously the Managing Director, Council of Local Authorities for International Relations of Japan. Mr Mpumelelo Joseph N Hlophe is currently the High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Swaziland to Malaysia, based in Kuala Lumpur.
- Borneo Bulletin
(7th Nov 2006)
