SINGAPORE, Tuesday 24 January 2017 – The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence Captain (Rtd) Abd Rahman bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, RBN, is currently on an introductory visit to Singapore from 22 to 24 January 2017.
During the visit, the Permanent Secretary called on Singapore’s Minister for Defence His Excellency Dr Ng Eng Hen. At their meeting, Dr Ng and Captain (Rtd) Abd Rahman reaffirmed the close and long-standing bilateral defence relationship between both countries and reiterated their mutual commitment to further elevate such ties.
Also present at the call was the High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to Singapore His Excellency Awang Saiful Bahri bin Haji Awang Mansor as well as Brunei Darussalam’s Defence Adviser to Singapore Lieutenant Colonel (U) Abu Hussin bin Abu Sahat.
Captain (Rtd) Abd Rahman also made separate calls to Mr Chan Yeng Kit, Permanent Secretary (Defence) and Mr Ng Chee Khern, Permanent Secretary (Defence Development).
As part of his visit, the Permanent Secretary had the opportunity to join the dinner for the 5th IISS Fullerton Forum: Shangri-La Dialogue Sherpa Meeting. A special address was made during the dinner by His Excellency Major General (Rtd) Delfin Lorenzana, Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines, in which His Excellency Lorenzana spoke of the Philippines’ focus for their ASEAN chairmanship this year towards the promotion of regional peace and security. Aside from attending the dinner, the Permanent Secretary also took time to visit Singapore’s Armour Simulation Centre and ST Kinetics.
The visit underscores the strong defence partnership between Brunei Darussalam and Singapore, which is widely seen as one of the key pillars of the overall bilateral relationship.
Just last year, Brunei Darussalam and Singapore celebrated the 40th anniversary of defence relations where both countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Technology Cooperation on 29 August. Dr Ng was present to witness the signing during his official visit to Brunei Darussalam in which he also had the opportunity to have an audience with 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.
LAWATAN PENGENALAN SETIAUSAHA TETAP KEMENTERIAN PERTAHANAN KE SINGAPURA
SINGAPURA, Selasa 24 Januari 2017 – Setiausaha Tetap Kementerian Pertahanan Kepten (B) Abd Rahman bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar, TLDB, kini sedang mengadakan lawatan pengenalan ke Singapura dari 22 hingga 24 Januari 2017.
Semasa lawatan tersebut, Setiausaha Tetap Kementerian Pertahanan telah mengadakan kunjungan hormat kepada Tuan Yang Terutama Dr Ng Eng Hen, Menteri Pertahanan Singapura. Ketika perjumpaan berkenaan, Dr Ng dan Kepten (B) Abd Rahman telah menggariskan kepentingan hubungan persahabatan yang sekian lama terjalin dalam bidang pertahanan di antara Negara Brunei Darussalam dan Singapura dan seterusnya menekankan komitmen untuk terus mempereratkan hubungan tersebut.
Turut hadir pada kunjungan tersebut ialah Pesuruhjaya Tinggi Negara Brunei Darussalam ke Singapura Tuan Yang Terutama Awang Saiful Bahri bin Haji Awang Mansor, serta Penasihat Pertahanan Negara Brunei Darussalam di Singapura Leftenan Kolonel (U) Abu Hussin bin Abu Sahat.
Kepten (B) Abd Rahman juga telah mengadakan perjumpaan secara berasingan kepada Chan Yeng Kit, Permanent Secretary (Defence) dan Ng Chee Khern, Permanent Secretary (Defence Development).
Sebagai sebahagian daripada lawatan itu, Setiausaha Tetap Kementerian Pertahanan telah berpeluang untuk menyertai majlis makan malam bagi 5th IISS Fullerton Forum: Shangri-La Dialogue Sherpa Meeting.
Ucapan khas telah dibuat oleh Mejar Jeneral (B) Delfin Lorenzana, Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines ketika majlis tersebut yang mana beliau telah memberikan fokus kepada isu-isu yang akan diberikan keutamaan oleh Filipina sebagai pengerusi ASEAN pada tahun ini ke arah meningkatkan keamanan dan keselamatan serantau. Di samping majlis makan malam tersebut, Setiausaha Tetap Kementerian Pertahanan juga telah mengambil masa untuk melawat Armour Simulation Centre dan ST Kinetics.
Lawatan ini menggariskan hubungan pertahanan yang sangat rapat di antara Brunei Darussalam dan Singapura, di mana ianya dinilai sebagai salah satu tiang utama dalam hubungan dua hala secara keseluruhannya.
Pada tahun lepas, Negara Brunei Darussalam dan Singapura telah menyambut ulang tahun hubungan pertahanan yang ke-40 di mana kedua belah pihak telah memeterai Memorandum Persefahaman mengenai Kerjasama Teknologi Pertahanan pada 29 Ogos yang lalu. Majlis penandatangan tersebut turut disaksikan oleh Dr Ng ketika lawatan rasmi beliau ke negara ini, yang mana beliau juga telah mengadap ke hadapan Majlis Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Negara Brunei Darussalam.