BOLKIAH GARRISON, Wednesday, 9 February 2022 – Major General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), paid a farewell visit to the Ministry of Defence in Bolkiah Garrison as one of the events arranged, under the current COVID-19 early endemic guidelines, before his retirement as the 11th Commander of RBAF.
Upon arrival at the RBAF Band Building, the RBAF Commander was greeted by Colonel (U) Hj Mohammad Muluddin bin Awang Hj Latif, Director of Intelligence and Lieutenant Colonel Hj Ishak bin Hj Ali, Garrison Commander, Bolkiah Garrison. The ceremony began with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah and Surah Al-Ma’idah delivered by Sergeant Nazirul Bin Haji Asmat from the RBAF Religious Directorate.
This was followed by a speech by the Director of Intelligence, where he recalled the achievements of Major General (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat throughout his tenure as RBAF Commander. These include the RBAF Commander as Chairman of the 18th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting (18th ACDFM) in March 2021, where Brunei Darussalam successfully proposed to hold the ASEAN Military Exercise (AMX). He was also instrumental in establishing the Office of the Defence Adviser in Canberra, Australia, in November 2021. During his tenure, he also saw the introduction of the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to the RBAF, assisted in the publication of the 2021 Defence White Paper and drafting the capability direction blueprint ‘Force 2035’. In addition, exercise Hikmat Bersatu 6 was also successfully conducted in July 2021, despite the country being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This was followed by the presentation of souvenirs in the form of The Holy Quran Translation and a collection of Hadith from officers and other ranks in the Ministry of Defence.
The Commander of the RBAF then delivered his speech where he emphasised the importance of discipline in service, as it is the main core in the military, and to always be sincere in performing duties. The RBAF Commander further emphasised the need to instil spirituality in every member as it is an obligation as a Muslim and the main source of one’s success.
To further bless the event, a Doa Selamat was recited by Major Ariffin bin Amit, Officer from the RBAF Religious Directorate, which was followed by an afternoon tea session in the lobby of the RBAF Band Building, where a video clip showcasing the RBAF Commander’s activities at the Ministry of Defence was shown and accompanied by a musical performance by the RBAF Band. Finally, the RBAF Commander had a group photo session and signed a parchment before leaving the building.
The Commander of the RBAF then proceeded to Surau Ad-Difa, Bolkiah Garrison, to lead the Fardhu Asar congregation prayer that concluded with a group photo session with other ranks personnel at the Ministry of Defence.
KUNJUNGAN PERPISAHAN PEMERINTAH ABDB KE KEMENTERIAN PERTAHANAN
BOLKIAH GARISON, Rabu, 9 Februari 2022 – Mejar Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat, Pemerintah Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB), telah membuat kunjungan perpisahan ke Kementerian Pertahanan, Bolkiah Garison sebagai salah satu acara yang telah disusun,
menurut garis pandu semasa Fasa Endemik COVID-19, sebelum persaraan beliau sebagai Pemerintah ABDB ke-11.
Sejurus tiba di Bangunan Pancaragam ABDB, Pemerintah ABDB disambut oleh Kolonel (U) Hj Mohammad Muluddin bin Awang Hj Latif, Pengarah Perisikan dan Leftenan Kolonel Hj Ishak bin Hj Ali, Pemerintah Garison, Bolkiah Garison. Acara tersebut dimulakan dengan bacaan Surah Al-Fatihah dan Surah Al-Ma’idah yang disampaikan oleh Sarjan Nazirul Bin Haji Asmat dari Jabatanarah Agama ABDB.
Ini diikuti dengan ucapan oleh Pengarah Perisikan di mana beliau mengimbas kembali pencapaian Mejar Jeneral (U) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat di sepanjang menjawat tugas sebagai Pemerintah ABDB. Ini termasuk Pemerintah ABDB sebagai Pengerusi ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting yang ke-18 (18th ACDFM) pada Mac 2021 di mana Negara Brunei Darussalam telah berjaya mengutarakan cadangan untuk mengadakan ASEAN Military Exercise (AMX). Beliau turut memainkan peranan utama dalam penubuhan Pejabat Penasihat Pertahanan di Canberra, Australia pada November 2021. Semasa perkhidmatan beliau, beliau juga menyaksikan Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) mula beroperasi di ABDB dan turut membantu dalam penerbitan Kertas Putih Pertahanan 2021 serta penulisan blueprint hala tuju keupayaan iaitu
Force 2035. Eksesais Hikmat Bersatu 6 (HB6) juga telah diadakan dengan jayanya pada bulan Julai 2021 dalam keadaan negara masih menghadapi pandemik COVID-19. Ini diikuti dengan penyampaian cenderahati kenang-kenangan berupa terjemahaan Kitab Suci Al-Quran dan Buku Himpunan Hadith dari pegawai-pegawai dan anggota lain-lain peringkat di Kementerian Pertahanan.
Seterusnya Pemerintah ABDB turut menyampaikan ucapannya di mana beliau menekankan kepentingan disiplin di dalam perkhidmatan, yang merupakan inti utama di dalam ketenteraan, dan untuk sentiasa bersifat ikhlas di dalam melaksanakan tugas. Pemerintah ABDB seterusnya menekankan perlunya kerohanian disemai di dalam setiap anggota kerana ianya adalah kewajipan setiap orang Islam dan punca utama kejayaan seseorang.
Bagi memberkati acara tersebut, Doa Selamat telah dibacakan oleh Mejar Ariffin bin Amit, Pegawai dari Jabatanarah Agama ABDB dan diikuti dengan sesi minum petang di lobi Bangunan Pancaragam ABDB sambil menonton tayangan klip video aktiviti Pemerintah ABDB di Kementerian Pertahanan diiringi persembahan muzik dari Pancaragam ABDB. Sebelum meninggalkan bangunan, Pemerintah ABDB terlebih dahulu bergambar ramai dan menandatangani lembaran kenangan.
Pemerintah ABDB kemudian bergerak ke Surau Ad-Difa, Bolkiah Garison untuk mengimami solat Fardhu Asar berjemaah dan diakhiri dengan sesi bergambar ramai bersama anggota lain-lain peringkat di Kementerian Pertahanan.