Since the establishment of Brunei History Centre (PSB) and Brunei History Association (PESEBAR) in 1982 and 1984, numerous Brunei history books have been published for reference and public reading material with around 100 publications on Brunei’s Sultanate history.
PSB Principal Dr Haji Muhammad Hadi bin Muhammad Melayong said this during the launch of Sultanate of Brunei from Various Perspectives (Kesultanan Brunei Dari Pelbagai Perspektif) published by PESEBAR in collaboration with the PSB yesterday.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad officiated the event.
Dr Haji Muhammad Hadi said, “Publishing history books is also one of the goals of PESEBAR, in addition to researching and preserving the history of Brunei.”
The publication is one of the contributions from the PESEBAR in conjunction with the 77th birthday celebration of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam.
Sponsored by Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, the book contains 18 papers contributed by domestic and foreign writers, including youth who were encouraged to conduct research and write on local history.
Dr Haji Muhammad Hadi also touched on the historical cooperation between PSB and PESEBAR. “The establishment of the two organisations eventually saw them becoming the catalyst of ideas and thoughts for two leading historians – the late Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran (Dr) Haji Mohd Yusuf bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahim and the late Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Dato Seri Utama Professor Kehormat Dr Haji Awang Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri,” he said.
PESEBAR Acting President Haji Mohd Rozan bin Dato Paduka Haji Mohd Yunos said PESEBAR aims to record the country’s development throughout His Majesty’s reign which will be a form of aspiration for the present and future generations.
A passage from the book was read by Academy of Brunei Studies Director from Universiti Brunei Darussalam Dr Haji Tassim bin Haji Abu Bakar.
The minister also presented copies of the book to those involved in the publication.
Permanent Secretary (Culture) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Pengiran Haji Mohd Hasnan bin Pengiran Haji Ali Hassan; Permanent Secretary (Planning, Land Use and Environment) at the Ministry of Development, who is also Acting Managing Director of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Dr Nor Imtihan binti Haji Abdul Razak; and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Culture) at the MCYS Dr Siti Norkhalbi binti Haji Wahsalfelah were also present.
Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi also launched the PESEBAR annual general meeting after the book’s launching ceremony with the election of new executive committee members. The meeting commenced with a speech by Haji Mohd Rozan.
Haji Mohd Rozan said, “Alhamdulillah, PESEBAR has implemented projects to disseminate Brunei’s history through conferences, visits and seminars in the country and overseas over the past few years.
“PESEBAR also published five books including the one launched today. The others are on the history of national security, a comparison of the history of the administration system of Brunei and Aceh, the history of fire in Kampong Ayer, history of the institutions of penghulu and village heads and history of education, health and housing,” he added. – James Kon
