Jamil Al-Sufri

Dato Seri Utama Dr. Haji Mohammad Jamil Al-Sufri bin Haji Umar (10 December 1921 – 4 March 2021), pen name Wijaya, was a nobleman, historian and teacher from Brunei who previously served as a member of the Royal Council, member of the Royal Succession Council, member of the Islamic Religious Council, and member of the Privy Council. He has also been referred to as the National Historian. He wrote works on the country's history, ancestry, customs and traditions, royal titles, Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB), education, writings on Brunei heroes, and other topics.

Pehin Jamil has seen Brunei grow both under British patronage and under the Japanese occupation. Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah were the three Bruneian sultans that he lived under. He was a highly experienced national historian due to his testimony on significant events that occurred in Brunei, such as the Japanese occupation of Brunei, the British Residency, the 1962 Brunei revolt, independence in 1984, and others.

Early life and education
Jamil Al-Sufri bin Haji Umar was born on 10 December 1921 at Kampong Sungai Kedayan of Kampong Ayer. He was the son of an Ulama and nobleman, Begawan Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Seri Paduka Haji Umar. He married to Siti Hara Taha (died 2012), and together they have a daughter, Normah Suria Hayati, permanent secretary of Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources. Notably, he is also the half brother of Abdul Aziz Umar.

From 1 January 1939, through 31 December 1946, Jamil worked as a trainee teacher for the government of Brunei. He became a prominent member of Barisan Pemuda (BARIP) from 1946 to 1947, he also served as a member of Brunei's delegation to several meetings on the formation of the Malaysian Federation. Later, he held positions as an assistant headmaster from 1948 to 1950. During the Japanese occupation, a number of students from the nation received training from them. These students included Marsal Maun, Yassin Affandi, A. M. Azahari, Pengiran Muhammad Yusuf, and Jamil. From 1950 to 1951, Jamil attended Agriculture College, Serdang. He later went to the Teacher's Training College of City of Worcester, United Kingdom from 1956 to 1957.

Career
In 1949, when Brunei's education was placed under British administration, James Pearce, the Education Officer, decided to stop teaching Jawi script because he thought it was impeding pupils' learning. Jamil and local resisted this decision as many Bruneian children were left without the capacity to read Jawi would have a detrimental effect on their access to religious scriptures and sense of cultural identity. After it was realised how harmful they were, Jawi lessons were finally brought back into the classroom.

Jamil was made an unofficial member of the LegCo from 1959 to 1983, becoming official in 1965, and a member of the Privy Council from 1959 until his death. He was named Director of the Language Board from 1961 until 1964. From 1965 until 1975, he served as the Brunei Language Board's chairman before it changed its name to the Language and Library Board (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka; DBP). The Malay language is not only the official language but also the language that unites the people and residents of the country. This was emphasised in his speech as the Director prior to the construction of the DBP building and the Brunei Broadcasting and Information Department, which was attended by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III in 1965. Following this, the placement of signboards that read Bahasa Melayu Bahasa Rasmi Negara, on the roadways up to this point is a result of his leadership in the effort to elevate the Malay language. Subsequently, he organised a Language Month Campaign utilising literary and linguistic exercise. This campaign includes associations, workers from the public and commercial sectors, and students. He was later conferred Honorary Litt.D by the American Institute of Science Indiana, USA in 1968.

Asbol Mail's study indicates that on 13 May 1969, riots in Malaysia had an impact on education, which led to the drafting of the 1972 Education Policy announced by Pehin Jamil. As a result, the Malaysian government promptly implemented the National Education Policy in 1969, giving priority to Malay as the language of instruction in all English, Chinese, and Tamil schools. To ensure that it doesn't occur in Brunei, the Education Policy studied for this reason.

When Pehin Jamil was assigned to investigate prior to the implementation of the 1972 Education Policy, he considered Brunei's educational system. Despite the generality of this idea, he believes that Brunei's education may advance toward becoming Negara Zikir itself. His primary goal is to transform Brunei into a real nation that is obedient to Allah and the Sultan and advantageous to the people and the nation.

Pehin Jamil became the director of the Language and Literature Bureau from 1977 to 1981. From 1982 until his death, he served as principal of the Brunei History Centre and member of the Privy Council from 1959 until his death. He was the chairman of the Education Council in 1983. He held a number of significant posts before Brunei achieved complete independence in 1984 and contributed to the development of Brunei. He also served on the Royal Succession Council (Majlis Mesyuarat Mengangkat Raja).

The idea of creating a Federation of Malaysia to unite Malaya, the colony of Singapore, and the three British Borneo regions was put out in 1961 by Tunku Abdul Rahman, the Prime Minister of Malaya. At first, everyone was on board with the concept, but Brunei and Singapore would later back out. It was during the meeting between then Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III and A. M. Azahari with Pehin Jamil in presence. He firmly held his ground on accusing A. M. Azahari of being a liar.

Death
At seven in the morning, Pehin Jamil, who was 99 years old, passed away at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital on 4 March 2021. At Kampong Mabohai in Bandar Seri Begawan, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, ministers, and dignitaries paid their final respects to Pehin Jamil on Wednesday morning of the same day. The funeral prayer was offered by the Sultan under the direction of Pehin Abdul Aziz Juned, the State Mufti.

Awards

 * S.E.A Write Award (2010)

Honours
Pehin Jamil was given the manteri title of Yang Berhormat (The Honourable) Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Diraja in 1968, upgraded to Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja in 1991. He has earned the following honours;
 * BRU_Family_Order_of_Brunei_2nd_Class.svg Family Order of Seri Utama (DK) – Dato Seri Utama
 * BRU Order of the Crown of Brunei.svg Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB; 23 September 1965) – Dato Paduka 
 * BRU Order of Merit of Brunei.svg Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa Second Class (DSLJ; 23 September 1967) – Dato Seri Laila Jasa 
 * Omar_Ali_Saifuddin_Medal.jpg Omar Ali Saifuddin Medal (POAS; 23 September 1963)
 * Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal.gif Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS)
 * Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (PBLI).gif Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (PBLI)
 * Pingat Jasa Kiebaktian (PJK).gif Meritorious Service Medal (PJK)
 * Long Service Medal (PKL).jpg Long Service Medal (PKL; 23 September 1959)