Bandar Seri Begawan, Thursday 16 Aug 2007 - His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, Supreme Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) AND the Minister of Defence has consented to bestow the title of "Darjah Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang Yang Amat Gemilang Darjah Pertama (D.P.K.T) to the Chief of Defence Force, Singapore Armed Forces, His Excellency Lieutenant General Desmond Kuek Bak Chye. The investiture ceremony took place at the Istana Nurul Iman.



His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam also consented to recieve the Chief of Defence Force, Singapore Armed Forces an audience. Present during the ceremony were the Deputy Minister of Defence Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Singamanteri Colonel (Rtd) Dato Seri Paduka Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar, Commander of Royal Armed Forces (RBAF), Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Md Yussof and the Singapore High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam, His Excellency Mr Joseph K.H. Koh.

Also in presence were the Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office Datin Paduka Dayang Hajah Salbiah binti Haji Sulaiman and the Acting Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Defence Dato Paduka Haji Rashid bin Haji Abd Rahman.

The 3-day official introductory visit by His Excellency Lieutenant General Dato Paduka Seri Desmond Kuek Bak Chye ever since his new appointment as the Singapore Chief of Defence Force aims to strengthen the friendly relation and to extend the importance of defence cooperation between both countries as well as respective armed forces.