By Za'im Zaini and Yusrin Junaidi
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to attend and express his condolences to the family of the late Dato Paduka Awang Haji Yakub bin Abu Bakar, Deputy Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports at the family's residence in Kg Jerudong.
Also present were His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen, Her Royal Highness Princess Hjh Masna, Her Royal Highness Princess Hjh Nor'ain, HRH Princess Hjh Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam and HRH Princess Hjh Amal Nasibah.
His Majesty also consented to join the congregation in "Jenazah" prayers led by YB Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, State Mufti, before the late Dato Paduka Awang Haji Yakub was laid to rest.
Among those present at the family's residence were ministers and former ministers, deputy ministers, permanent secretaries, other senior government officers as well as family members of the late deputy minister.
Dato Paduka Awang Hj Yakub was 59 years old. Prior to his current position, he held the post of deputy minister of finance.
He also previously held various positions notably as the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Finance, acting chairman of Brunei Investment Agency and a member of the Brunei Currency Board.
During his career, he had also participated in major international conferences including the 7th APEC Finance Ministers Meeting in Brunei in September 2000, during which he was the chairman of APEC Finance and Central Bankers.
He was married to Datin Hjh Suzanah Rahmah binte Haji Abd Aziz and bore four children and adopted four more.
The late Dato Paduka Awang Haji Yakub passed away in Singapore last Saturday. His body was flown in from Singapore and arrived at 11.35am at the family's residence. He was laid to rest at the Damuan cemetery in the capital yesterday.
(22nd January 2007)
