PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

LIEUTENANT COLONEL (U) HASNUL ALWE BIN HAJI MATASSAN​
Ministry of Defence Spokesperson​

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Lt Col (U) Hasnul Alwe Haji Matassan (Hasnul) enlisted with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) on 9th February 2001 and was later commissioned in June 2003 upon the completion of the Initial Officer Training Course at the Royal Air Force College, Cranwell United Kingdom. 

He began his tour as a pilot trainee at the No 3 Squadron (Currently 73 Squadron) Basic Flying Training School, Training Wing of the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) on the Pilatus PC7-MKII (2004); followed by his multi-engine flying training at the British Aerospace and Engineering (BAe) System in Tamworth, Australia on Piper Seneca III (2006). Upon returning, he was then posted to the No 5 Squadron (Currently 15 Squadron), Operations Wing of the RBAirF for his operational conversion training on CASA CN235-110M and served operationally afterwards. His operational flying experiences include several Search and Rescue (SAR) missions and other regional transport missions which include Medical Evacuations (MEDEVAC) for senior citizens involved in a tragic road accident in Ranau-Tamparuli, Sabah (2011); the UBD students mercy flight to Tawau, Sabah (2013); several International Monitoring Team (IMT) changeover transport tasks to Mindanao, Republic of the Philippines (2008-2013); the Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) operation for the Typhoon Haiyan Tacloban, Republic of the Philippines (2013); as well as assisting the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport’s Sport School transport task to Balikpapan, Indonesia (2016). His last executive post was as the Flight Commander Operations prior to being posted to RBAirF Headquarters. 

Lt Col (U) Hasnul has also attended other aviation-related courses throughout his operational tour including the International Aviation Safety Officer Course, Royal Australian Air Force (2009) and Aircraft Accident Investigator Course, Republic of Singapore Air Force (2010). These credentials were immediately put to the test during his involvement with the RBAirF Bell 212 helicopter crash incidents in 2012 during the preliminary stages of the investigation. Furthermore, he was recognized as the youngest member and the pioneer for the National Investigator Team under the Ministry of Transport and Info-Communication from 2018 to 2022. 

He assumed his staff tour at the headquarters as the Staff Officer Grade 2 Capability Development Cell (CDC) RBAirF and subsequently as the head upon completion of his command and staff course in 2018, whilst concurrently holding a very brief tour as Staff Officer Grade 2 Operations (A3).  Amongst the RBAirF capability projects, he was heavily involved with the introduction into the service of the Unmanned Aerial System Project and assigned as the Head of Delegation for Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT) as well as Customer Acceptance Tests (CAT) at the Boeing Insitute, United States of America, leading towards the unveiling of the system by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Dipertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam during the RBAF Diamond Jubilee (2021). His further involvement for the Air Transport Project continued up to the Contract Implementation Phase in preparation for the System Delivery by 2024.

 

He also fulfilled other short tours and assignments which among others include being Aide-de-camp to the Commander of RBAF (2009). Lt Col (U) Hasnul is an avid graphic designer and has been assigned to a few of RBAF’s pesambah design projects, significant designs include projects for the Brunei International Tattoo’s (2011) and for the Golden Jubilee of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Dipertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam’s Succession to the Throne (2017). He designed the RBAF Defence Academy’s logos; RBAF Officer Cadet School (2009), RBAF Defence Academy (2010) and RBAF Command and Staff Course (2013). Lt Col (U) Hasnul has taken leadership roles in various RBAF projects such as the establishment of Pusat PRIHATIN ABDB (2020), Aplikasi Kesejahteraan Tentera (2020), Buku Panduan Kesejahteraan Tentera ABDB (2020), Buku Strategi dan Pelan Tindakan Kebajikan ABDB (2020) and the initial member for developing Force 2035 project (in-progress) and Force Structure Review project (in-progress). 

 

Lt Col (U) Hasnul’s personnel development courses include the RBAF Junior Staff Course 11/2010 at RBAF Training Institute and the RBAF Command and Staff College (CSC) 8/2018 RBAF Defence Academy in which he was awarded Post Graduate Diploma in International Security from Massey University, New Zealand and received the RBAF CSC Commendation Award. His Policy Analysis Exercise (PAE) paper was amongst the Top 5 policy papers for the 17th Executive Development Program (2022).

 

Lt Col (U) Hasnul was awarded the Pingat Indah Kerja Baik (P.I.K.B) in 2018 and the Long Service Medal and Good Conduct (P.K.L.P.B) in 2022.
He is married to Dayangku Moniri and blessed with a daughter; Hani Qaireena. Lt Col (U) Hasnul is a sports enthusiast particularly in running (up to ultra-marathon distances), triathlons and enjoys an active lifestyle

 

CHRONOLOGY: LEADERSHIP OVER THE YEARS

Lieutenant Colonel (U) Hasnul Alwe bin Matassan
MINDEF Spokesperson
July 2023​
Lieutenant Colonel (U) Don Giovanni bin Abdul Rahman
MINDEF Spokesperson
March 2021 to 3 July 2023
 
Lieutenant Colonel Dk Sri Rohayou binti Pg Matarsat
MINDEF Spokesperson
April 2019 to March 2021
 
​
Commander Norharirayati binti Yakub, RBN
MINDEF Spokesperson
June 2017 to April 2019
 
Lieutenant Colonel Hajah Suriani binti Haji Junaidi
MINDEF Spokesperson
Nov 2015 to June 2017
 
Major Muhd Kasim bin Haji Awang Yusof
MINDEF Spokesperson
Nov 2013 to Oct 2015
 
Lieutenant Colonel Haji Salleh bin Haji Suhaili
MINDEF Spokesperson
Dec 2012 to Aug 2013
 
 
Lieutenant Colonel (U) Norudin bin Salleh
MINDEF Spokesperson
May 2010 to Dec 2012
 
Lieutenant Colonel (L) Rahaimi bin Haji Abd Karim
MINDEF Spokesperson
Jan 2009 to May 2010
 
Lieutenant Colonel (U) Ali bin Haji Sabar
MINDEF Spokesperson
Feb 2008 to Apr 2008
 
Major Haji Salleh bin Haji Suhaili
MINDEF Spokesperson
Sep 2006 to Sep 2007
Lieutenant Colonel (L) Haji Aznan bin Haji Julaihi
MINDEF Spokesperson
Oct 2005 to Jul 2006
 
Lieutenant Colonel Ramli bin Hadis
MINDEF Spokesperson
Jan 2005 to Oct 2005


 
Lieutenant Colonel (U) Sallehin bin Haji Taib
MINDEF Spokesperson 
Sep 2003 to Dec 2004
 
Hajah Fatimah bte Haji Hassan
Senior Public Relations Officer
1987 to Sep 2003​

PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT

 

HISTORY​​

On 1 March 1987 marked the early inception of the Public Relations Section under the Directorate of Politics and Organisation, Ministry of Defence that was headed by a Director. The Directorate comprised of four main Sections namely Legal Section, Public Relations Section, Research Section and Administration Section.

Initially, the Public Relations Section consisted of a small team of civil servants that included a Senior Public Relations Officer as head of the section, a Public Relations Officer, and a clerk. The primary function of the Section was to coordinate incoming and outgoing VIP visits.

Since then, the Public Relations Section underwent significant reforms. In the year 2002, the Public Relations Section was transferred under the Secretariat Office of the Permanent Secretary II (Finance and Development), Ministry of Defence, Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dato Paduka Awang Haji Abdul Rahman bin Kani.


The section was later renamed as Public Relations Unit and directly reports to the Permanent Secretary II, Ministry of Defence.



In 2003, the Unit underwent further changes with the installation of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) Spokesperson post as Head of the Public Relations Unit. Meanwhile, the Senior Public Relations Officer acts as the Deputy to the MINDEF Spokesperson, who is assisted by two Public Relations Officers.


The incorporation of more military personnel into the unit marked a significant shift in the establishment structure and signaled the start of its expanding role. In 2006, more military posts were installed to assist function in administration, graphic design and multimedia.

The year 2017 signifies the Public Relations Unit 30th anniversary since its inception in 1987. Today, the Public Relations Unit, manned by 20 staffs, reports directly to the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Defence. The Unit’s roles have expanded and redefined to cover publicity management (print, broadcast, and online), editorial governance, media collaborations and media competency development.


ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
1.    Manages and facilitates defence overall publicity strategy and activities
2.    Manages collaborations with media partners
3.    Coordinates updates and review of defence website with relevant stakeholders
4.    Acts as focal point for public inquiries and complaints
5.    Supports Brunei Government overall branding aspirations and activities