Abbas Al-Sufri

Dato Laila Utama Haji Mohammad Abbas Al-Sufri bin Haji Ibrahim (25 October 1925 – 8 March 2014) was a nobleman, civil servant and courtier from Brunei who previously served as the acting personal secretary to Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III. He had a career in the government service of Brunei, in which he held a number of important positions such as being a member of the Privy Council of Brunei.

Career
On 1 January 1951, Abbas Al-Sufri began his employment with the government as a Probationer for the Brunei Administrative Service. Later, he would join Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Ill's entourage for Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 Coronation. On 26 April 1956, he stopped serving as HH the Sultan's aide-de-camp (ADC), but he started back on 18 September 1956. From 29 September 1959 to 10 September 1961, he served as the Sultan's acting personal secretary. He and his father traveled to London in April 1959 as part of the Sultan's constitutional delegation to begin work on the Brunei Constitution during the 1959 Brunei Negotiations.

ADC to the Sultan, Abbas Al-Sufri reportedly urged TNKU rebel commanders Pengiran Matussin and Awang Hafiz to leave Istana Darul Hana when a party of rebels attempted to deliver a letter to the Sultan. The rebels also refused to take the letter, according to an unnamed source. The Sultan was never even seen by the delegation.

Abbas Al-Sufri was one of the two officials that went with the Grand Chamberlain (GC) on 1 January 1984, to deliver the Proclamation of Independence to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. He was also one of the 21 pupils that worked to establish the Brunei Scout Association from the Government English School's First Labuan Scout Troop.

On 10 March 2014, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah paid his last respects to Abbas Al-Sufri. On 8 March, he passed away at the age of 88. Before his interment at Kianggeh Muslim Cemetery, State Mufti Abdul Aziz Juned performed prayers at his home at Mile 1, Jalan Tutong.

Personal life
Abbas Al-Sufri was born on 25 October 1925, to Ibrahim Mohammad Jahfar (former Menteri Besar of Brunei). Married to Dayang Besar binti Yusof and they have two sons. He was the older brother of Pehin Isa, the speaker of the legislative council.

Honours
Abbas Al-Sufri was given the title of Yang Berhormat (The Honourable) Pehin Orang Kaya Penggawa Laila Bentara Diraja on 7 May 1968, previously holding Pehin Orang Kaya Sanggamara Seri Diraja since 23 September 1958.

Namesakes

 * Jalan Dato Abbas Al Sufri, a road in Bandar Seri Begawan.

Honours
He has earned the following honours;

National

 * BRU Family Order of Brunei 1st Class.svg Order of Laila Utama First Class (DK) – Dato Laila Utama
 * Ordine della Corona del Brunei (Brunei).png Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei First Class (SPMB; 12 February 1969) – Dato Seri Paduka; Second Class (DPMB; 23 September 1958)
 * BRU Order of Loyalty to the State of Brunei.svg Order of Setia Negara Brunei Second Class (DSNB; 23 September 1963) – Dato Setia;


 * Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal.gif Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS)
 * Omar_Ali_Saifuddin_Medal.jpg Omar Ali Saifuddin Medal (POAS)
 * Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (PBLI).gif Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (PBLI)
 * Pingat Jasa Kiebaktian (PJK).gif Meritorious Service Medal (PJK)

Foreign

 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom:
 * UK Royal Victorian Order honorary member ribbon.svg Member of the Royal Victorian Order (MVO)