Abu Bakar Apong

Dato Seri Setia Dr. Haji Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong (born 19 September 1948) is a Bruneian nobleman and politician whom formerly held the position of Minister of Health (MOH) from 1998 to 2005, Minister of Communications (MOC) from 2005 to 2010, Minister of Education (MOE) from 2010 to 2015, and Minister of Home Affairs (MOHA) from 2015 to 2022. He had served in the government for the second-longest period of time after Pehin Isa Ibrahim.

Notably, he was also the Vice-Chancellor of the Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) from 1991 to 1998, Deputy Chairman of Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD) Board of Directors, concurrently the Chairman of the Brunei Investment Agency (BIA) and chairman of the Board of Directors of the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation.

Early life and education
Abu Bakar is born on 19 September 1948 at Kampong Setia Pahlawan of Kampong Ayer, and educated at Lela Menchanai Malay School (1955–1957); Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam Malay School (1957–1957); Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College (1958–1968); Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the MARA Institute of Technology in Malaya (1972); Diploma In Education in Singapore (1974); Master of Arts from the Lancaster (1980). Moreover, he graduated from Leeds University with a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering (BEE), a Master in Public Administration (MPA) from Harvard University, fellow at the Edward S. Mason Program in Public Policy and Management. Notably, he graduated in class 1964, together with Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Eusoff Agaki and Goh King Chin.

Early career
Abu Bakar held several positions early in his career which consisted of an Education Officer in 1972; teaching staff at Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Malay College and became Principal in 1974; Head of Planning, Research and Guidance Unit, Department of Education (1975–1980); Head of Training Unit, Personnel Office (1980–1981); Senior Administrative Officer in the General Counsel Department of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam (1981–1984); Director of Studies (1984). Other appointments he held while in service with the government consisted of Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UBD (1985–1986); Permanent Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office (1986–1991); Universiti Brunei Darussalam Vice Chancellor (1991–1999); Permanent Secretary (Professional) at the Ministry of Education (1999–May 2002).

In June 1994, Vice-Chancellor of the UBD, Abu Bakar, visits Library 1 and the Computer Center at Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Additionally, he attended a dinner hosted by the Vice-Chancellor of the National University of Singapore (NUS), Lim Pin.

Ministerial career
From 17 May 2002 until 23 May 2005, he became the Minister of Health. He was later appointed as the Minister of Communications on 24 May 2005. During the TELMIN + 1 Sessions with ASEAN Dialogue Partners in 2006, Abu Bakar presided. As well as the Secretary-General of ASEAN, ICT Ministers from ASEAN member nations, China, Japan, South Korea, and India were present.

Abu Bakar was again reappointed as the 5th Minister of Education on 28 May 2010. The fifth Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Education Ministers Meeting was attended by Abu Bakar, who also paid a working visit to the Republic of Korea from 21 to 23 May 2012. As the 33rd Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow (LKYEF), Abu Bakar will be in Singapore from 1 to 9 April of that same year. Making him the third Bruneian Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow, and would be accompanied by members of the Brunei MOE as well as his wife Jahrah Mohamad. At The Empire Hotel & Country Club in Jerudong, Timor Leste's Minister of Education, Bendito Freitas, and Abu Bakar Apong had a bilateral meeting on 16 March 2014.

On 22 October 2015, Abu Bakar was reappointed for the final time as the 5th Minister of Home Affairs. He remained in his position during the 2018 Cabinet reshuffle which saw the replacing of six ministers. During the 109th International Labour Conference in June 2021, the unemployment rate in Brunei is 6.8%, according to his citation of their 2019 Labour Force Survey. Moreover, the Manpower Planning and Employment Council was founded in 2020, and since then, it has achieved a success rate of 103%, or 12,763 jobseekers employed, increasing local employment to almost four times that of prior years. According to him on 14 May 2022, 1,352 children in the same age range received the COVID-19 vaccine in a second dosage, bringing the total number of second doses given to 8,542, or 20.1%. In the meantime, 68% of the populace as a whole has gotten the third dose of the vaccination. It was during the cabinet reshuffling on 7 June 2022, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah announced the replacement of eight ministers, including Abu Bakar, therefore replaced by Ahmaddin Abdul Rahman in his position.

Before 1 February 2022, dog owners must register their animals. According to a press statement issued on 26 January by the MOHA, directed by Abu Bakar, noncompliance would result in a fine or jail. The government also stated that canines older than three months are covered.

Other appointments
Ahmad served as the Chairman of the Council of the Asian Pacific Development Center (APDC), Secretary of the Brunei Education Council (1975–1979), and Alternate Member of the Board of Directors of the Brunei Shell Petroleum Company and the Brunei National Gas Company (1989–1991). Kuala Lumpur (1987–1988): Participated in the ASEAN Consultant Group for the establishment of the ASEAN University Network (AUN) in 1991; Member of the Board of Governors, SEAMEO Innovation Technology Center (SEAMEO-INNOTECH) in 1984–1986).

In addition, Ahmad was elected to the SEAMEO Regional Institutions of Higher Education Leadership Board (1991–1999), served as President of ASAIHL (December 1996–November 1998), and was a member of the AUN Board of Trustees (1995–1999). Members of the Islamic Studies Council (1990–1999), the Public Service Institute's Advisory Council (1995–1999), the Board of Borneo Research Council (1994–1999), the Secretary of Brunei Research Council (1992–1999), the Member of the Da'wah Center's Advisory Board (1991–1999), the Members of the Royal Malay Muslim Supreme Council (1991–1999), the Brunei Economic Councils (May 1998–19999), the Brunei Darussalam Examination Board (1986–2000), and Refree for Brunei Museum Journal (1991) are among the other appointments.

Ahmad has held additional appointments, including those of Chief Executive Officer of the Fund Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah in May 1999, Managing Director of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (YSHHB) in October 1992, and Chairman of Bank Islam Brunei (IBB) Berhad and its subsidiaries as well as the Director IBB business started in July 2001. The Islamic Religious Council of Brunei Darussalam appointed him in April 1997. He was also a member of the Southeast Asian Research Review Group (SEARRAG) since 1986, the Brunei Darussalam Education Council, the Council of Universiti Brunei Darussalam, the Board of Directors of YSHHB since October 1992, the Mahkota Al-Muhtadee Billah Youth Development Fund for Orphans Board of Trustees in May 1999, and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Directors in 2000.

Deputy Chairman of AMBD Board of Directors, Abu Bakar, attended the Brunei Darussalam Islamic Capital Market (BICAM) Conference 2018 as the honored guest at the Rizqun International Hotel. According to him, these discussions will offer crucial insights into how we may advance together in offering creative and workable ideas to raise the bar for the Islamic capital market and Islamic finances in general.

Personal life
Abu Bakar is married to Datin Paduka Hajah Jahrah binti Haji Mohamad.

Honours
Abu Bakar was bestowed the title of Yang Berhormat (The Honourable) Pehin Orang Kaya Putera Maharaja on 25 May 1996, and later promoted to Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Kerna on 1 April 2004. Moreover, he has earned the following honours;

Academic

 * Highest Awards of Soka, University of Japan, 1984
 * Honorary Doctorate of Soka, University of Japan, 1998
 * Doctor of Education, University of Malaya, 1999
 * Honorary Doctorate of Letters, University of Brunei Darussalam, 2007

National

 * BRU Order of Loyalty to the State of Brunei.svg Order of Setia Negara Brunei First Class (PSNB) – Dato Seri Setia
 * BRU_Order_of_Merit_of_Brunei.svg Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa Second Class (DSLJ; 1989) – Dato Seri Laila Jasa
 * Order_of_Seri_Paduka_Mahkota_Brunei_Third_Class_(SMB).jpg Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Third Class (SMB; 1982)
 * Sultan_Hassanal_Bolkiah_Medal.gif Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS; 15 July 2006)
 * Medal_for_Service_to_State_(Brunei).jpg Excellent Service Medal (PIKB; 1987)
 * Long_Service_Medal_(PKL).jpg Long Service Medal (PKL; 1996)
 * Sultan's_Silver_Jubilee_Medal_(1992).gif Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal Gold Class (5 October 1992)
 * Brunei_National_Day_Jubilee_Medal.jpg National Day Silver Jubilee Medal (23 February 2009)