Bandar Seri Begawan, April 3 (AseanAll) — On April 3,2026 , Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Retired) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Brunei Minister at the Prime Minister's Office and Minister of Defence II, attended a virtual engagement session with the Defence Advisers and Attachés of Brunei Darussalam serving at the country's High Commissions and Embassies, including Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) personnel currently serving overseas.
The session involved RBAF Contingent deployed on peacekeeping mission with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) alongside the Malaysian Battalion (MALBATT) 850-13, the Independent Decommissioning Body Verification, Monitoring and Assistance Team (IDB VMAT 7/2025) in Mindanao, Republic of the Philippines, officers serving at the Information Fusion Centre (IFC) and Counter Terrorism Information Facility (CTIF) in the Republic of Singapore, as well as RBAF personnel undergoing courses overseas. The session was coordinated at the Joint Force Headquarters.
Also present were Yang Mulia Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Commander of the RBAF; Yang Mulia Brigadier General (Retired) Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Alirupendi bin Haji Perudin, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence; members of the RBAF Executive Committee and senior officers of the RBAF.
The event commenced with the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah, led by Yang Mulia Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Mujib bin Haji Japar, Acting Director of the RBAF Religious Department (JAMA'AT), followed by welcoming remarks from the Joint Force Commander. The session then continued with Hari Raya Aidilfitri greetings and sharing by representatives of the Defence Advisers and Attachés, as well as RBAF personnel serving abroad. The session was then featured with a video presentation showcasing their duties and activities abroad.
In his Aidilfitri 1447 Hijrah, Yang Berhormat Pehin conveyed Hari Raya Aidilfitri greetings and sought forgiveness to all personnel, particulary those serving abroad. Yang Berhormat Pehin expressed his deep appreciation for their sacrifice in celebrating Syawal away from their love ones, and prayed that every duty they shoulder will become a blessed act of service. Yang Berhormat Pehin further underscored that responsibilities carried out under the banner of the United Nations, ASEAN and various regional security cooperation are a symbol of Brunei Darussalam's dignity and credibility, and embody the national's principle grounded in the Malay Islamic Monarchy philosophy.
Yang Berhormat Pehin further conveyed his profound gratitude for the sacrifices of both personnel serving overseas and their families, emphasizing that behind every act of courage on duty lies the strength of prayers, patience and unwavering faith of their loved ones, serving as a source of protection and blessing in every step of their service abroad.
In concluding his remarks, Yang Berhormat Pehin led a doa, seeking protection, ease of affairs and the safety of all personnel and their families, and prayed for their safe return to the homeland, enriched with knowledge, experience and wisdom that contribute to the peace and continued prosperity of Brunei Darussalam as a Baldatun Thayyibatun Wa Rabbun Ghafur.
