His Majety the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, yesterday consented to present Letters of Credence to three newly-appointed Brunei envoys and received Letters of Credence from four foreign envoys to the Sultanate.

His Majesty presented Letters of Credence to Haji Haini bin Haji Hashim, Ambassador designate of Brunei Darussalam to the Russian Federation; Shaikh Haji Fadilah bin Shaikh Haji Ahmad, Ambassador designate of Brunei Darussalam to the Kingdom of Cambodia; and Haji Mahamud bin Haji Admad, Ambassador designate of Brunei Darussalam to Japan.

His Majesty received Letters of Credence from four newly-appointed foreign envoys to the country, namely, Major General (Rtd) Muhammad Ijaz Hussain Awan, High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Brunei Darussalam; Mr Saleh Mohammed Al Nesef, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Brunei Darussalam; Mr Marcel Gaumond, High Commissioner of Canada to Brunei Darussalam; and Mr Jaya Ratnam, High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore to Brunei Darussalam.

Following the ceremony, His Majesty granted an audience to the three newly appointed envoys of Brunei Darussalam. Haji Haini bin Haji Hashim, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to the Russian Federation, 51, previously served as Director of Protocol and Consular Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Meanwhile, Brunei Darussalam's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Shaikh Haji Fadilah bin Shaikh Haji Ahmad, 47, previously served as Director of Politics I at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Haji Mahamud bin Haji Ahmad, 53, Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Japan, previously served as Deputy Head of Mission, Brunei Darussalam High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

His Majesty later granted separate audiences to the three newly appointed High Commissioners and one newly appointed Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam. First to be received in audience by His Majesty was Major General (Rtd) Muhammad Ijaz Hussain Awan, High Commissioner of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Brunei Darussalam. The High Commissioner, 57, previously served as Director General Defence Export Promotion Organisation, Ministry of Defence Production.

His Majesty then consented to receive in audience Mr Saleh Mohammed Al Nesef, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Brunei Darussalam. The Ambassador, 61, previously served as Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Federal Republic of Germany.

His Majesty also consented to receive in audience Marcel Gaumond, High Commissioner of Canada to Brunei Darussalam. The High Commissioner, 52, previously served as Director of International Investment Marketing, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Canada.

Lastly, His Majesty consented to receive in audience the High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore to Brunei Darussalam, Jaya Ratnam. The High Commissioner, 45, previously served as Director of the Consular Directorate in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Singapore.

Jaya Ratnam, the newly appointed High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore to Brunei Darussalam told the Bulletin, "I am very grateful for the honour and privilege to have called on His Majesty this afternoon, to present my credentials as the new High Commissioner of Singapore to Brunei Darussalam.

"I conveyed to His Majesty the warm wishes of Singapore's President Mr Tony Tan and Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong and took the opportunity to thank His Majesty for His Majesty's personal support and that of the Bruneian Government for closer relations between our two countries.

"I come to Brunei with the clear goal of working with my Bruneian counterparts in further enhancing our already strong and multi-faceted relationship."

He further added, "It has only been a week in Brunei for me but I already feel very much at home. Brunei is such a warm and hospitable place that there have been no problems at all for me and my family in settling down. My family, especially my three young daughters, love the beauty and tranquillity of Brunei and we are looking forward to making new friends and learning more about Brunei."

The ceremony took place at the Istana Nurul Iman yesterday. - Borneo Bulletin (26 June 2012)