Yasmin Umar

Colonel (Retired) Dato Seri Setia Haji Mohammad Yasmin bin Haji Umar (born 23 April 1956) is a Bruneian nobleman and politician who previously held the positions of Minister of Energy from 2010 to 2018 and Deputy Minister of Defence from 2005 to 2010.

Early life and education
Yasmin was born on 23 April 1956. In the 1970s, he studied at Anthony Abell College in Seria. His Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Electronics degree from the University of Wales in the United Kingdom (UK) was awarded to him on 12 July 1979. He continued on to the University of Loughborough (also in the UK) to pursue a Master's degree in Digital Communication Systems, and on 1 December 1981, he received his Master of Science from the faculty of Electrical and electronic engineering. On 25 June 1986, the Institution of Chartered Engineers presented him with the certified Chartered Engineer (C Eng) insignia. On 28 April 2008, he has been a Fellow of the Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET) in the United Kingdom. He has also taken classes, seminars, and workshops in the United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, Japan, and the United States. The 22nd Army Staff Course Division 1 at the Royal Military College of Science (RMCS), United Kingdom, in 1987; the Defence Research Fellow Exchange Programme at the National Institute of Defence Studies, Japan, in 1991; and the Defence College, Australia, in 1999 are a few examples.

Military career
Yasmin joined the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF / ABDB) as an commissioned officer, and on 9 November 1981, he was promoted to Lieutenant. He has held a variety of positions in the fields of policy, corporate management, logistics, and strategy. He began his career as an engineering officer, and was first employed by the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN / TLDB) as a weapons engineering officer. He was appointed Senior Engineering Officer to lead the Naval Engineering Department on 1 April 1988. On 14 September 1990, he was appointed Head of Research in the Defence Minister's Office and Directorate of Strategic Planning (DMO / DSP). Two years later, he accepted a position as a Staff Officer Grade 1 Maintenance at the Directorate of Logistics, where he was in charge of creating the maintenance guidelines for equipment used by the armed forces. He was reassigned to DMO / DSP on 2 May 1994, to fill a Staff Officer Grade 1 position. He was named Director of Intelligence and Security on 14 July 1995, and he held that position through December 1998.

Political career
Yasmin was appointed by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah as an official member of the legislative council on 6 September 2004, and on 24 May 2005, he was appointed deputy minister of defence at the Sultan's direction. He was appointed as the Prime Minister's Office's Minister of Energy since 29 May 2010. He warned foreign businesses doing business in Brunei not to obstruct investigations into allegations of wrongdoing. He reiterated the government's policy of having no tolerance for corruption, and added that such criminals had no place in Brunei on 3 November 2016.

On 7 May 2017, the Saudi Arabian government's Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Khalid Al-Falih, paid Yasmin a courtesy call to further strengthen the close relationship and cooperation between Brunei and the Saudi Arabia. He criticised Brunei Shell Corporation, the nation's largest oil and natural gas producer, for enabling big businesses to dominate energy contracts at the detriment of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). To encourage the growth of SMEs in the nation's energy industry, he called for better openness and quicker vendor registration.

Controversies
Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah announced a significant government overhaul in the last few days of January 2018. Two years had passed since the last restructuring. Cabinet changes typically take place every five years. Six of the nation's senior ministers were replaced by him. The former Minister of Energy was a defendant in a Brunei Shell lawsuit for $45 million. According to Armtr Corporation, its contracts were broken by the government and Shell Brunei. Between 2012 and 2016, it reported a loss in revenue. While serving as Minister, Yasmin was a member of the board of Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP). The Sultan made reference to a conflict of interest like this in his speech.

A letter before action was filed by Amrtur Corporation, a provider of drill pipes and other services to the oil sector, asserting a $45 million claim against Brunei Shell's operation. According to reports, the decision was brought on by budget cuts brought on by the drop in oil prices. One of the twelve defendants, along with Pehin Yasmin, is Shell. The assertion is claimed to have gained widespread attention on social media as a consequence of a letter about the disagreement being leaked.

Personal life
Yasmin married Datin Hajah Noryasimah binti Abdullah on 5 August 1983, and they had a daughter together.

Honours
On 1 May 2010, he was awarded the Fellow of Pertubuhan Ukur Jurutera & Arkitek Brunei. Pehin Yasmin Umar received the DUBC medal for his efforts in fostering the strong defence connections between Singapore and Brunei while serving as Brunei's deputy Defence Minister from 2005 to 2010. He was bestowed the manteri title of Yang Berhormat (The Honourable) Pehin Datu Singamanteri. Moreover, he has earned the following honours; National Foreign
 * BRU Order of the Crown of Brunei.svg Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei First Class (SPMB; 15 July 2006) – Dato Seri Paduka; Second Class (DPMB; 15 July 2003); Third Class (SMB)
 * BRU Order of Loyalty to the State of Brunei.svg Order of Setia Negara Brunei First Class (PSNB; 15 July 2011) – Dato Seri Setia
 * Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal.gif Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal First Class (PHBS; 15 July 2010)
 * Sultan's Silver Jubilee Medal (1992).gif Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)
 * Sultan's Golden Jubilee Medal (2017).jpg Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal (5 October 2017)
 * BRU Independence Medal ribbon.png Proclamation of Independence Medal (1997)
 * Royal Brunei Armed Forces Silver Jubilee Medal.jpg Royal Brunei Armed Forces Silver Jubilee Medal (31 May 1986)
 * Royal Brunei Armed Forces Golden Jubilee Medal.jpg Royal Brunei Armed Forces Golden Jubilee Medal (31 May 2011)
 * 🇸🇬 Singapore:
 * Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) ribbon.png Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) (DUBC; 16 June 2011)
 * 🇯🇴 Jordan:
 * Order of Independence - Grand Cordon (Jordan).png Grand Cordon of the Order of Independence (13 May 2008)
 * 🇵🇭 Philippines:
 * PHI Order of Sikatuna 2003 Grand Cross BAR.svg Grand Cross of the Order of Sikatuna (GCrS; 24 August 2008)