Umar Apong

Pengiran Haji Umar bin Haji Pengiran Apong (2 February 1940 – 12 May 2023), sometimes spelled Omar Apong, was a nobleman and police officer who became the second Brunei local to be appointed Brunei's Commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) after the Sultanate regained full independence from Great Britain on 1 January 1984, and later a member of the Royal Council.

Early life and career
Awangku Umar was born on 2 February 1940 in Kampong Kianggeh, Brunei Town. His father's name is Pengiran Datu Penghulu Pengiran Haji Apong bin Pengiran Saifuddin while his mother's name is Pengiran Siti Hawa binti Pengiran Abdul Rahman Piut. Umar received his initial education at Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam Malay School in 1950, Saint Georges Mission School, and Sultan Omar 'Ali Saifuddien College.

Police career
In 1957, Awangku Umar enlisted as a recruit and joined the Brunei Police Force. In 1958, he had nine months of training in Kuching, Sarawak. At the police recruits' training completion ceremony, he received the title of "Best Recruit" from Brunei. By the conclusion of the year, Awangku Umar was promoted to Corporal 1959. He received a promotion to Sergeant in early 1960 and served as a mentor for the police recruits from Brunei who were stationed in Kuala Lumpur in April 1960. Midway through 1961, he made his way back to Brunei, where he was later assigned to the Riot Prevention Reserve Police Force. While serving with the Brunei Police Force, together with 4 other policemen, Awangku Umar apprehended a killer in Tutong District, where five inhabitants of Kampong Kiudang were killed on 25 July 1961, by a foreigner using a machete. Two boys, ages 5 months and 2 years, a girl, 7, and a 15 year old girl, together with her mother, were the additional victims of the murder. On 3 August 1961, at approximately 9.30 am, the murderer was successfully apprehended in a jungle between Kampong Lamunin and Kampong Mungkom. Allen Neil Outram, the then-Commissioner of Police, recorded his congratulations to the five policemen for their effectiveness in carrying out their duty up until the murderer was apprehended. He was promoted to Inspector at the end of 1961.

In March 1963, he was sent to Special Branch. A Brunei Police Spokesperson clarified that Awangku Omar has been chosen to be latching in the United Kingdom in the meanwhile. He's going to be leaving there shortly. Beginning in April 1965, Inspector Awangku Umar of the Brunei Police Force was designated as the Assistant Superintendent of Police (Assistant Superintendent of Police).

Pengiran Umar played a role in accompanying the procession during the Enthronement Ceremony of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on 1 August 1967. After Brunei achieved full independence on 1 January 1984, Pengiran Umar was appointed as Police Commissioner of the RBPF to replace Pengiran Jaya who retired from that position. This appointment also makes Pengiran Umar the first police commissioner of RBPF after the country's independence.

In 1997, Pengiran Umar and Alias Sheikh Ahmad went up against appellant Zainuddin Marsal during the Privy Council Appeal No. 63 regarding a potentially wrongful imprisonment of a police officer from 20 August 1986 to 11 April 1989. This was caused by a confrontation between a businessman and a policeman at the Brunei International Airport (BIA). In addition, the policeman accused the respondents of conspiring against him, being careless and dishonest, and failing to look into the alleged offense against him, which resulted in his detention between those dates. On 30 September 1995, the Senior Registrar of the High Court denied his request to add six more defendants and make significant changes to his writ and statement of claim.

Death
Pengiran Umar died at Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, Bandar Seri Begawan at 8.45 a.m. on 12 May 2023. Both the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah offered their final respects to the late Umar at his residence at Kampong Salambigar. He was buried at the Kianggeh Muslim Cemetery.

Personal life
Pengiran Umar married the veteran Malaysian actress, Yang Mulia Datin Hajah Suraya binti Harun on 31 August 1945. As a result of this marriage, they had four children, Awangku Saiful Feisal (born on 25 May 1967), Awangku Saiful Rizal (born on 7 December 1970), Awangku Saiful Hassanal (born on 26 August 1973) and Dayangku Dara Naqiah (born on 4 April 1976). Yang Mulia Datin Hajah Suraya died on Wednesday, 1 June 2016. He is son of Pengiran Datu Penghulu Pengiran Haji Apong, and the brother of Pengiran Ibnu Basit, a military officer in the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).

Honours
On 10 August 1972, with the consent of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Pengiran Umar was given the cheteria title of Yang Amat Mulia (The Most Noble) Pengiran Putera Negara. The investiture ceremony took place in Lapau. Among the awards conferred upon Umar such as:

National

 * BRU_Order_of_Merit_of_Brunei.svg Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa First Class (PSLJ) – Dato Paduka Seri Laila Jasa
 * BRU_Order_of_the_Hero_of_the_State_of_Brunei.svg Order of Pahlawan Negara Brunei First Class (PSPNB; 10 February 1976) – Dato Seri Pahlawan
 * BRU_Order_of_Loyalty_to_the_State_of_Brunei.svg Order of Setia Negara Brunei Second Class (DSNB) – Dato Setia
 * BRU_Order_of_the_Crown_of_Brunei.svg Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB; 28 October 1970) – Dato Paduka
 * Sultan_Hassanal_Bolkiah_Medal.gif Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS; 1968)
 * Pingat_Bakti_Laila_Ikhlas_(PBLI).gif Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (PBLI)
 * Pingat_Jasa_Kiebaktian_(PJK).gif Meritorious Service Medal (PJK; 1968)
 * Brunei Police Long Service Medal.jpg Police Long Service Medal (PKLP)

Foreign

 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom:
 * UK Colonial Police Medal for Meritorious Service ribbon bar.PNG Colonial Police Medal (CPM; 1969)