Abdul Jalil Ahmad

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Ahmad is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Abdul Jalil. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Datu Penglima Colonel (Retired) Dato Paduka Abdul Jalil Ahmad DPMB SNB
عبدالجليل احمد
Second lieutenant Abdul Jalil in 1973
6th Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy
In office 5 February 1995 – 13 June 2002
Monarch	Hassanal Bolkiah
Preceded by	Kefli Razali
Succeeded by	Joharie Matussin
Diplomatic positions Ambassador of Brunei to Germany In office 26 February 2013 – 2015 Preceded by Yusof Abu Bakar Succeeded by Rakiah Abdul Lamit High Commissioner of Brunei to Pakistan In office 2006–2008
Personal details
Born	Kampong Ayer, Brunei
Education	Britannia Royal Naval College Royal College of Defence Studies
Profession	Naval officer diplomat
Military service
Allegiance	Brunei
Branch/service	Royal Brunei Navy
Years of service	1973–2002
Rank	Colonel
Unit	HMS Intrepid (L11) KDB Pahlawan

Abdul Jalil bin Ahmad is a Bruneian nobleman, diplomat and retired naval officer who served as the sixth Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) from 1995 to 2002. In addition, he later became the ambassador and high commissioner to several other countries.

Early life and education

His early years were spent in Kampong Ayer, where he remained until he enlisted at the recruiting office of Bolkiah Camp of the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (RBMR) in 1972. On 21 February 1972, when RBN was still known as 1st Boat Company RBMR (ALP AMDB), Abdul Jalil enlisted in the RBMR. He was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant on 13 December 1973. Both the Royal College of Defence Studies and the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth trained him to become an executive officer. He spent three months in the Mediterranean Sea serving on board the British warship HMS Intrepid (L11). In addition to making visits to cities like Gibraltar, Malta, Famagusta, Istanbul, Athens, and Naples.

Military career

Upon completing his training, Abdul Jalil was assigned to the 30-person crew KDB Pahlawan as a gunnery and navigation officer. He organised a missile launch exercise utilising SS.11 and SS.12 at the time, using Pelong Rocks as the target. He took on his first command as KDB Masna's commander in 1975, a position he maintained for 23 years. After his time on KDB Masna, Abdul Jalil was given honorary command of KDB Seteria.

In Brunei's waters in the early 1970s, He came across illegal immigrant ships, particularly from Vietnam. As a result, all ships in the fleet at the time were always on guard duty. During one of his patrols, the ship he was aboard dragged a boat carrying illegal immigrants for security reasons. Unfortunately, the towing line had to be broken in order to prevent accidents due to the poor weather and sea situation.

The RBN Commander was Abdul Jalil from 5 February 1995 until 13 June 2002. Under his administration, he witnessed a great deal of progress, particularly in the areas of administration and maritime mobility.

Diplomatic career

Pehin Abdul Jalil completed his term as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan's High Commissioner for Brunei. On 26 February 2013, the Sultan of Brunei presented him with a letter of credence confirming his appointment as Brunei's ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany. On 24 August 2013, he was among the Bruneian representatives to at the launching ceremony of KDB Daruttaqwa (09), and also the ship's acceptance ceremony on 12 May 2014.

Books

• Kolonel (B) Abdul Jalil Hj Ahmad, Pehin Datu Panglima (2008). Memoir Wira Samudera di Muara (in Malay). ISBN 9799991792322.

Personal life

Abdul Jalil has a daughter named Norlila, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS). Furthermore, Haji Edy Jofren, his son, is a commander in the RBN.

Honours

Main article: Orders, decorations, and medals of Brunei

Pehin Abdul Jalil receiving his letters of credence from Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in 2005

Abdul Jalil holds the manteri title of Yang Dimuliakan (The Exalted One) Pehin Datu Penglima in 2003. Additionally, he has earned the following honours:

National

• Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB) – Dato Paduka; Third Class (SMB)
• Order of Setia Negara Brunei Third Class (SNB)
• Meritorious Service Medal (PJK)
• Proclamation of Independence Medal (10 March 1997)
• General Service Medal (Armed Forces)
• Long Service Medal and Good Conduct (PKLPB)
• Royal Brunei Armed Forces Silver Jubilee Medal (31 May 1986)
• Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)
• Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal (5 October 2017)
• National Day Silver Jubilee Medal (23 February 2009)

Foreign

• Indonesia:
  • Navy Meritorious Service Star, 1st Class (BJSN)