His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Minister of Defence and Supreme Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) yesterday consented to receive in audience and confer the title of "The Most Exalted Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang Yang Amat Gemilang Darjah Pertama (DPKT)" which brings the title Dato Paduka Seri to General Tan Sri Dato' Sri Zulkifeli bin Mohd Zin, Chief of Malaysian Armed Forces at the Istana Nurul Iman.

General Tan Sri Dato' Sri Zulkifeli is currently in Brunei Darussalam for the closing ceremony of the 10th BISAM and four-day introductory visit.

Also present during the audience were Dato Paduka Haji Mustappa bin Haji Sirat, Deputy Minister of Defence and Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin, Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

Also present during the ceremony were Dato' Abdullah Sani bin Omar, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Brunei Darussalam; Major General Dato Mohammad Zaki bin Haji Mokhtar, First Division Commander of Malaysian Armed Forces; Awang Haji Hamdan bin Haji Abu Bakar, Permanent Secretary at the Prime Minister's Office; and Awang Haji Saiful Bahri bin Awang Haji Mansor, Permanent Secretary (Defence Policy & Development ) at the Ministry of Defence.

Meanwhile, Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha consented to receive in audience Sri Datin Sri Umi Kalsom binti Wan Awang, the wife of Chief of Malaysian Armed Forces, General Tan Sri Dato' Sri Zulkifeli bin Mohd Zin. She was accompanied by the wife of the Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Datin Nurhayana Janis binti Abdullah and the wife of Malaysian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Datin Adeda Rahemaah binti Ahmad.

The audience ceremony also took place at the Istana Nurul Iman yesterday afternoon. - Borneo Bulletin (31st January 2012)