Sultan of Brunei divorces third wife

The Sultan of Brunei's Hassanal Bolkiah (centre) has divorced his third wife after five years of marriage

Thursday, June 17, 2010
AFP

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN — The sultan of the small oil-rich kingdom of Brunei has divorced his third wife and stripped her of all royal titles after five years of marriage.

Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, 63, divorced Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim, 30, a former Malaysian television journalist, whom he married in 2005, according to state television late Wednesday.

"The Sultan has divorced his wife Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim and all the royal titles that have been awarded to the Sultan's former wife have been withdrawn," Grand chamberlain Haji Alauddin Haji Abu Bakar announced on Radio Television Brunei.

He said the divorce was granted based on "special reasons" but no other details were given. Rumours of the royal break-up had been circulating in the capital in recent weeks.

During their marriage, Azrinaz bore two children, adding to the Sultan's 10 heirs from earlier marriages.

The pair married in a private ceremony in Kuala Lumpur in 2005.

The ruler remains married to his first wife Anak Hajah Saleha and their son Prince Al Muhtadee Billah Bolkiah, is the present heir to the throne.

He married his second wife, former stewardess Mariam Abdul Aziz in October 1981 but divorced her in 2003.

Hassanal Bolkiah came to the throne as the kingdom's 29th sultan in 1967 upon the abdication of his father. He has a reported fortune of 20 billion dollars built on Brunei's oil and gas reserves.

Sultan Ends State Visit

By Sonia K.
Borneo Bulletin

Bandar Seri Begawan - His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday ended a three-day State Visit to Cambodia. Prior to ending the visit early yesterday morning, His Majesty consented to visit the Bayon Temple and Angkor Wat Temple at the Angkor Archaeological Park.

Upon arrival at the Bayon Temple, His Majesty was welcomed by Mr Samdech Chaufea Yeang Kong Bom 0i, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Royal Palace as Minister-in-Attendance: Mr Chan Sophal, Deputy Governor of Siem Reap province; and Mr Nan By, the Ambassador of 'Cambodia to Brunei Darussalam.

In the afternoon, the Monarch departed for Brunei. Before leaving the hotel, a doe selamat' was read by Pehin Datu Seri Maharaja Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Awang Abdul Aziz bin Juned, the State Mufti of Brunei Darussalam.

At the Siem Reap International Airport to bid farewell to His Majesty were Mr Samdech Chaufea Veang Kong Som Ol, Mr Sou Phirin, Governor of Siem Reap province; and Mr Nan By as well as senior officials from Siem Reap province.

Also at the airport were Pengiran Hajah Basmillah Pengiran Haji Abbas the Ambassador of Brunei Darussalam to Cambodia and officers of the Brunei Embassy in Phnom Penh.

On Friday, His Majesty consented to attend a State Banquet hosted by the King of Cambodia at the Royal Palace Preah Reach Damnak Serei Mongkol in honour of His Majesty's visit.

During the banquet, His Majesty delivered a titah lauding Brunei-Cambodia ties where he said that he had come to Cambodia bringing with him the respect, friendship and lasting goodwill of the people of Brunei Darussalam.

This was His Majesty's first State Visit to Cambodia, which started on Wednesday and signified not only the warm and close relations between the leaders but also between the people of both countries.

Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy's clarifications on the visit of the Sultan of Brunei in Cambodia

Dear KI-Media,

In a news titled "Sam Rainsy on Sultan of Brunei visit: It's a visit of an unimportant dictator of an authoritarian regime" (April 4, 2007), I was misquoted and mistranslated. Speaking originally in Khmer, I basically answered three questions:

- First question: What do you think of the Sultan's visit to Cambodia?

Answer: Whatever helps strengthen/improve relationship between Cambodia and other countries, is a good thing.

- Second question: Is this visit a very important event?

Answer: I don't think so. We have more pressing concerns.

- Third question: What Brunei can give to Cambodia?

Answer: With their beggar mentality, the current Cambodian government may ask some money from the Sultan, who is one of the world's richest persons (oil money). But Brunei is not an example for Cambodia to follow. It is an absolute monarchy, with no parliament, no system of checks and balances, and the Sultan is actually a dictator.

Sincerely,

Sam Rainsy

Sultan Meets Cambodian King And PM

Borneo Bulletin

Bandar Seri Begawan - His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday held a Royal Audience with Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.

His Majesty also consented to meet with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Senate chief Chea Sim and National Assembly leader Heng Samrin as well as attend an official ceremony at the capital's Independence Monument, dpa reported.

His Majesty was scheduled to finish the first day of the State Visit to Cambodia yesterday by attending a state banquet hosted by King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace, dpa said.

Dpa said that His Majesty, who arrived in Cambodia on Wednesday night, is scheduled to view a military parade at Kambol, just outside the capital, Friday before travelling to the northern city of Siem Reap for a tour of the Angkor Wat temple complex and a visit to a de-mining project.

His Majesty is scheduled to end his visit Saturday, dpa added.

Sultan Of Brunei In Cambodia To Meet With King, Prime Minister

April 5th 2007
DPA

Sultan of Brunei, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, was scheduled to finish a hectic first day of an official visit to Cambodia Thursday with a state banquet hosted by King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace.

After arriving late Wednesday evening, the sultan spent much of the day at the palace, as well as meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen, Senate chief Chea Sim and National Assembly leader Heng Samrin and attending an official ceremony at the capital's Independence Monument, according to his official schedule.

He is scheduled to view a military parade at Kambol, just outside the capital, Friday before traveling to the northern city of Siem Reap for a tour of the Angkor Wat temple complex and a visit to a de-mining project.

Diplomatic sources have said that oil is on the agenda for talks during the visit. Cambodia has recently discussed importing crude oil from Brunei, the third largest producer in the region, and is expecting to begin its own oil production by 2010.

Hun Sen is the longest serving elected leader in Asia. The sultan is the longest serving government leader. Both nations are members of the Association of South East Asian Nations.

The sultan is scheduled to end his visit Saturday.

Arrival of the Sultan of Brunei in Cambodia

Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah attend a ceremony at the Independence monument in Phnom Penh April 5, 2007. Bolkiah is in Cambodia for a three-day state visit . REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Cambodian Muslims smile as they hold portraits Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in front of the royal palace in Phnom Penh April 5, 2007. Bolkiah is in Cambodia for a three-day state visit . REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

Sultan of Brunei left for Cambodia visit

HM Leaves on Cambodia Visit

By Asri Razak
Courtesy of The Brunei Times

Bandar Seri Begawan - His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, left for a four-day official visit to Cambodia yesterday evening.

Upon His Majesty's arrival at the Royal Pavilion in Brunei International Airport a doa selamat was read by the State Mufti.

Present at the airport to bid farewell were His Royal Highness Prince Hj Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign. Affairs and Trade, His Royal Highness Prince Haji Abdul Azim, His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Mateen.

Also present to bid farewell to His Majesty were PengiranPengiran Cheterias, cabinet ministers, members of councils, deputy ministers and senior government officials.

Today at the Throne Hall, Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, His Majesty will be attending an audience with King Norodom Sihamoni, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. His Majesty will also receive courtesy calls from Prime Minister Hun Sen, Senate President Chea Sim and National Assembly President Heng Samrin, and also attend a State Banquet.

The topic of oil and gas is expected to be discussed following separate engagements between Nan Sy, the Cambodian ambassador to Brunei and Minister of Energy at the Prime Minister's Office, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Paduka Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Bakar and Fred Smeenk, the Director of Brunei Natural Liquified Gas (BLNG) earlier this February.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the same month that Cambodia expects production from potentially rich offshore oil and gas deposits by 2010. Cambodia has said it welcomes advice from other countries on strategies to manage its new resource.

His Majesty is also scheduled to visit a demining project at the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) in Phnom Penh. Since its establishment in 1992 up to 2006, the CMAC has discovered and destroyed 1,494,480 landmines and unexploded ordinances (UXOs - anything explosive that has failed to detonate, and may detonate anytime). The CMAC said 600 people were maimed or killed every month before the centre's establishment.

On the last day of the official visit, His Majesty will be visiting the Bayon Temple and the Angkor Wat temple complex.

Bordered to the North by Thailand and Laos, Cambodia's capital city Phnom Penh with approximately a population of two million, is the centre of commerce, industry, tourism, administration, and industry. Diplomatic relations between Brunei Darussalam and Cambodia were established on June 9, 1992.

Sam Rainsy on Sultan of Brunei visit: It's a vist of an unimportant dictator of an authoritarian regime

Opposition Dismisses Visit by Sultan of Brunei

Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
04/04/2007

The sultan of Brunei was scheduled to arrive in Cambodia Wednesday night, on a visit the opposition called a bad idea.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy said Wednesday that the visit of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah was the visit of an unimportant dictator of an authoritarian regime.

"I don't see a positive point as a model from Brunei," Sam Rainsy said. "The sultan is authoritarian. There is no legislative branch, no Assembly, no power-sharing. It is called an authoritarian monarchy."

The sultan is coming at the behest of King Norodom Sihamoni and over four days will call on Prime Minister Hun Sen, Senate leader Chea Sim and National Assembly President Heng Samrin.

Sultan of Brunei to visit Cambodia

Mar 27, 2007
DPA

Phnom Penh - Sultan of Brunei, Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, is scheduled to pay an official visit to Cambodia next week, diplomatic sources said Tuesday.

The sultan will meet with King Norodom Sihamoni as well as Prime Minister Hun Sen, Senate President Chea Sim and National Assembly President Heng Samrin, according to an official schedule of the visit obtained by Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa.

He is also scheduled to visit a demining project and tour the Angkor Wat temple complex during his scheduled visit between April 4 to 7.

Discussions about oil are expected to feature after Cambodian ambassador to Brunei, Haji Nan Sy, met with that country's energy minister and representatives of the Brunei National Petroleum Company in separate engagements earlier this month.

Cambodia, which expects to begin production from potentially rich offshore oil and gas deposits by 2010, has said it welcomes advice from other countries on strategies to manage the new resource.

It has also been in discussions about importing crude oil from Brunei, the third largest oil producer in South-East Asia.

Cambodia and Brunei, both members of the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN), have openly discussed strengthening bilateral ties in recent months.

The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs was expected to officially confirm the scheduled visit later this week, diplomatic sources said.

Sultan of Brunei to visit Cambodia in April

27 March 2007
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, is planning to perform an official visit to Cambodia at the beginning of April to strengthen the friendship and the cooperation between the two countries, as well as renewing the friendship of the royal families between the two countries. The Kampuchea Thmey newspaper reported that the Sultan’s visit will last 4 days, starting 04 April at 5:00 PM. He will be received by King Sihamoni in the royal palace on 05 April morning. The program of the sultan’s visit includes among other, a visit to the military training academy, and an observation of parachute training in Kambol. He will also observe demining operation carried by the Cambodia Mine Action Center (CMAC) at a site located about 10 kilometer from Siem Reap, and he will visit the Bayon and Angkor Wat temples before departing in the afternoon of 07 April.