Suhaimi Gafar

Dato Seri Setia Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar is a Bruneian politician and civil engineer who formerly served as the seventh Minister of Development from 2018 to 2022, and also the Deputy Minister from 2015 to 2018.

Education
Suhaimi obtained his Bachelor of Engineering (BE) with civil engineering speciality from the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology.

Early career
In the Public Works Department, Suhaimi began his career in the government in 1985 as an engineer. He has held the following positions in the division; an engineer in 1985; working engineer in 1991; assistant director of Roads in 1996; Director of Roads in 2001; Director of Water Services in 2003; Director of Development in 2003; Director of Water Services in 2005; Deputy Director General of Public Works in 2005; Director General of Public Works in 2008. He was assigned to the Ministry of Development's Permanent Secretary (Technical and Professional) post in 2010.

Ministerial career
On 30 January 2018, at 2.30 p.m., the Sultan of Brunei, Hassanal Bolkiah, unexpectedly reshuffled the cabinet. Dato Suhaimi will be appointed as the new Minister of Development as part of the announcement. The Temburong Bridge, which is expected to be the longest oversea bridge in Southeast Asia, is now 75% finished and on schedule to be finished by November 2019, and after correcting work, which would take three to five months to complete, the B$1.6 billion project is anticipated to open to the public in 2020, Dato Suhaimi said on 14 February 2019. It was under his tenure, to witness the opening of the bridge on 17 March 2020.

In 2021, there would be 229,496 t of rubbish disposed of in landfills, according to a statement for World Environment Day from Dato Suhaimi. According to the minister, it makes up the second-highest percentage of garbage in landfills, and during a national drive to collect marine debris from beaches, plastics, primarily plastic bottles, made up 80% of the trash that was gathered. He further stated:

In order to manage water sustainably, the Sultanate is dedicated to engaging with the local community, regional participants, and international participants. In his speech at the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit (4thAPWS) in Kumamoto, Japan on 23 April 2022, Dato Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar reaffirmed the Sultanate's commitment to tackling water concerns. Similar to the announcement of his appointment as minister, he was replaced by Dato Juanda after another cabinet reshuffle on 7 June later that year.

Honours
Bahrin has earned the following honours;
 * BRU_Order_of_Loyalty_to_the_State_of_Brunei.svg Order of Setia Negara Brunei First Class (PSNB; 15 July 2018) – Dato Seri Setia; Third Class (SNB; 15 July 2010)
 * BRU_Order_of_the_Crown_of_Brunei.svg Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei First Class (SPMB; 15 July 2017) – Dato Seri Paduka
 * Medal_for_Service_to_State_(Brunei).jpg Excellent Service Medal (PIKB)
 * Long_Service_Medal_(PKL).jpg Long Service Medal (PKL)