ON MONDAY, August 8, 2016, the latest book by His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah goes on sale.
It is a record of His Royal Highness’ work during the 30 years in which he represented the Government of 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, as Minister of Foreign Affairs and, later, as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
As its title suggests, ‘Sana’a to San José: 1984-2015’ presents more than a local perspective.
Its focus throughout is on Brunei Darussalam’s relations with the international world of over 200 independent nations.
It sets out to show how a very small nation has made a positive, constructive contribution to this world.
It takes inspiration from the 1984 address by His Majesty on the occasion of joining the United Nations.
It identifies our principal points of international reference as regional, spiritual and global, through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the United Nations (UN).
Throughout the 30-year period, His Royal Highness stresses the consistency of Brunei Darussalam’s approach to world affairs, from which the country has never veered.
That consistency has remained since the 1984 address to the UN.
In fact, in every detail, the address could be delivered today in its entirety, with not a principle, nor underlying policy, changed.
The latest book by His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah
His Royal Highness sums it up modestly by saying, “that, I feel, represents a good contribution from a very small country.”
In today’s world, however, which is often defined by extremism, divisiveness, uncertainty, corruption, terror and hatred, Brunei Darussalam’s continual insistence upon reason, values, honesty, inclusiveness, support and respect, may well be judged by many as a remarkable contribution.
His Royal Highness sets out this policy using His Majesty’s 1984 UN Inaugural Address and continually refers to its defining principles.
He intersperses commentary in a presentation of his own speeches delivered all over the world.
He sees three clear developments in Brunei Darussalam’s approach to regional, spiritual and international affairs.
He begins with the period in which we established our identity.
He continues through the often desperately challenging period of world economic, political and often bitterly divisive social crisis in the Post-Cold War era.
He concludes on a note of confidence in a future which sees his country able to contribute to and utilise the world’s institutions as valuable points of reference in the search for peace and stability in the interest of all people.
It is a serious, respectful account of how a small nation can offer a positive, consistent contribution to world affairs whilst never surrendering the values of its own faith and its unique system of government.
Three themes run through the book.
Firstly, the deep and consistent values of Islam which, His Royal Highness demonstrates, are clearly not in any way in conflict with modern thought and with other faiths.
Secondly, it proclaims the international values held by all members of the international community and demonstrates that a 700-year-old monarchy, such as Brunei Darussalam, can be among the most prominent in promoting those values.
And thirdly, as in his previous book, ‘Association’, it shows how vital the regional association of Asean was in giving these values credibility and showing the vital need for them in the modern world.
‘From Sana’a to San José’ is the fifth book published by His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah.
His previous books are: Time and the River (2000); Remember…Remember The 8th of December (2007); Southeast Asia – More than a Matter of Geography (2008); and Association (2013).
His Royal Highness was one of the longest serving ministers in the modern era. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs, later on adding the Minister of Trade to his portfolio, from 1984 to 2015.
In spite of the countless problems facing the international community in a “Globalised” world, His Royal Highness has always shown himself to be a realist who is also an optimist and a Muslim and, at the same time, a complete man of the world.
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