| James Kon |
IN RECOGNITION of his contribution in promoting friendly relations and mutual understanding between Japan and Brunei Darussalam, former ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Japan Dato Paduka (Dr) Haji Mohd Adnan bin Buntar was conferred with the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star by the Government of Japan, during the 2018 Spring Conferment of Decoration on Foreign Nationals.
With the prestigious accolade, Dato Paduka (Dr) Haji Mohd Adnan joined the list of previous recipients of the decoration in Brunei that include His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah; the late Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran (Dr) Haji Mohd Yusuf bin Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahim; Dr Chin Yam Chin; Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Dewa Dato Seri Setia Lim Jock Seng; and Dato Paduka Haji Hamdillah bin Haji Abdul Wahab.
Dato Paduka (Dr) Haji Mohd Adnan attended the presentation ceremony on May 8 and was given an audience with His Majesty the Emperor of Japan at the Imperial Palace.
In a press conference held at the Japanese Embassy yesterday, the former envoy said, “My family and I are truly humbled with this conferment which is an acknowledgement of the deepening relations between our two countries. I am also very happy to be able to continue my late father-in-law Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran (Dr) Haji Mohd Yusuf’s work in promoting friendship with Japan.
“The late Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Setia Negara Pengiran (Dr) Haji Mohd Yusuf studied at the University of Japan in 1945, when the atomic bomb was dropped in Hiroshima, and continued to keep the relationship with Japan when he became the chief minister of Brunei Darussalam.
“He was honoured by the Japanese government with the conferment of Grand Cordon of Order of the Rising Sun at the age of 64. In 1985, he had the privilege to be appointed as Brunei ambassador to Japan. He shared great memories to us and for my wife and I, it was indeed an enjoyable time learning many things about Japan,” he said.
Dato Paduka (Dr) Haji Mohd Adnan who served as ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Japan from August 2005 to October 2008 conveyed his gratitude to the Government of His Majesty for giving him the opportunity.
“It was a great honour for me to be the ambassador of Japan which gave me the opportunity to promote friendly relations and mutual understanding between Japan and Brunei in various areas including economic, health, culture and education through people-to-people contact.
“I would like to share this award with the Government of His Majesty, my colleagues and associations and universities in Japan. It is only with their support I was able to carry out my duties in enhancing Brunei-Japan cooperation,” the former ambassador added.
Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Motohiko Kato highlighted Dato Paduka (Dr) Haji Mohd Adnan’s contributions to the friendly ties between Brunei and Japan.
“We are very grateful of Dato Paduka (Dr) Haji Mohd Adnan’s contributions, especially during his tenure as ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Japan from 2005 to 2008. In 2011, he was the president of the Brunei-Japan Friendship Association and is currently the Adviser I of the Brunei-Japan Friendship Association. During his tenure as ambassador, Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade visited Japan in 2006 and His Majesty visited the country in 2007.
“The Japan and Brunei economic partnership was realised in 2008. The agreement between Japan and Brunei for avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income was also signed in the same year, laying the foundation for further promotion of economic relationship between the two countries.”
The Japanese Ambassador also pointed out that “Dato Paduka (Dr) Haji Mohd Adnan started a communication link between Universiti Brunei Darussalam and Kagawa University in 2005, paving the way for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the two universities in 2006. Currently, both universities are actively conducting exchange programmes for medical students”.
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