28. SULTAN HJ OMAR 'ALI SAIFUDDIEN III (TM 1950-1967)

Baginda adalah Sultan Hj Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien III [Sultan Brunei ke-28, 1950-1967] dan merupakan putera kepada Al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Jamalul ‘Alam II [Sultan Brunei ke-26, 1906-1924] dengan pasangan baginda Raja Isteri Pg Anak Siti Fatimah binti Pg Tua Omarali. Sebelum ditabalkan menjadi Sultan, baginda adalah Pg Muda Tengah Omar Ali Saifuddien dan diarak menjadi Pg Bendahara pada tahun 1947. Baginda naik takhta Kerajaan Brunei setelah kemangkatan kekanda baginda iaitu Al-Marhum Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin (yang tidak mempunyai zuriat lelaki) dan menjadi Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien, Sultan dan Yang Di-Pertuan Brunei pada 31 Mei 1951.

Semasa hayat baginda, baginda berkahwin dengan isteri pertama Dyg Siti Amin binti Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Setia Laila Diraja Awg Hj Hashim (asal dari Kg. Mulaut) dan tidak mempunyai zuriat bersama baginda. Isteri kedua baginda adalah sepupu sekali baginda iaitu Pg Anak Damit binti Pg Bendahara Pg Anak Abdul Rahman dan mempunyai 10 zuriat bersama. Setelah kemangkatan Raja Isteri Pg Anak Damit, baginda mengahwini Pg Anak Hjh Salhah (adik ipar baginda) dan tidak mempunyai zuriat. Pada tahun 1967, baginda secara sukarela turun dari takhta Kerajaan Brunei dan menjadi Begawan Sultan maka seterusnya Kerajaan Brunei digantikan oleh putera sulung baginda Pg Muda Makhota Hassanal Bolkiah dan menjadi Sultan Brunei ke-29.

Baginda mangkat pada tahun 1986 dan dimakamkan di Kubah Makam Diraja Brunei, Jln Tutong.

والله أعلمُ

1950 - 1967 General H.R.H. Kebawah Duli Maulana Paduka Sri Sultan Haji Sir Omar ‘Ali Saif ud-din III Sa’ad ul-Khair wa ud-din ibni al-Marhum Sultan Muhammad Jamal ul-Alam Khair wa ud-din, Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei Dar us-Salam, GCVO (29.2.1972), KCMG (9.6.1953, CMG 1.5.1951). b. at Istana Kota, Kampong Sultan Lama, Brunei Town, 23rd September 1914, youngest son of H.H. Sri Paduka Bawah Duli Yang di-Pertuan Sultan Muhammad Jamal ul-Alam II Khair wa ud-din ibni al-Marhum Sri Paduka Bawah Duli Yang di-Pertuan Sultan Hashim Jalil ul-Alam Aqam ud-din, Sultan and Yang di-Pertuan of Brunei Dar us-Salam, KCMG, educ. Malay Coll, Kuala Kangsar, Perak, Malaya. Cadet in the Forestry Dept at Kuala Belait 1936-1937, Cadet Judicial Dept 1937-1939, Presdt Kesatun Melayu Brunei 1939-1947, Adtr in the office of the British Resident 1941-1942, MSC 1942-1950, Chair Shariah Court 1947-1950. Installed as Paduka Sri Pangiran Bendahara Sri Maharaja Permaisuara, 18th July 1947. Succeeded on the death of his elder brother, 4th June 1950. Proclaimed at the Courthouse, Brunei Town, 6th June 1950. Crowned at the Lapau di-Raja, Brunei Town, 31st May 1951. Attended the Coron. of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London 1953. Promulgated the first written Constitution of Brunei, 29th September 1959. Founder of the Most Esteemed Royal Family Order and the Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Brunei on 1st March 1954; the Most Gallant Order of the Hero of the State of Brunei and the Most Faithful Order of Perwira Negara Brunei on 28th November 1959; the Most Distinguished Order of Sri Laila Jasa in February 1964. Perhaps the most revered monarch in modern history, his reign saw the transformation of the realm into a modern and prosperous state. Advances were achieved in every area of activity, in health, education and welfare, government and administration. Abdicated in favour of his eldest and took the title of Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Maulana Paduka Sri Begawan Sultan Muda Haji Omar ‘Ali Saif ud-din Sa’ad ul-Khair wa ud-din, 4th October 1967. Minister for Defence 1984-1986. Hon. Gen. Brunei Military Forces, 22/9/1984. Col-in-Chief Royal Brunei Malay Regt. 1969-1986. Rcvd: DKMB (15.8.1982), DK (1.3.1954), PSNB (29.11.1959), SPMB (1.3.1954), DMN (23.4.1959) of Malaysia, PSSUB (1972), PHBS (1.8.1968), DK of Kelantan, of Johor (1960), and of Selangor (28.6.1961), Elizabeth II Coron Medal (1953), etc. m. (first) at Belait, 1937 (div. 1944), Y.M. Dayang Siti Amin (d.s.p.), daughter of Y.D.M. Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Setia di-Raja Awang Haji Hashim bin Awang Haji Muhammad Salleh. m. (second) at Kampong Sumbiling, Brunei Town, 6th September 1941, H.R.H. Paduka Suri Sri Begawan Raja Pangiran Anak Damit (b. at Brunei Town, 1924; d. at Istana Dar us-Salam, Kampong Sumbiling Lama, Bandar Seri Begawan, 13th September 1979, bur. there at the Royal Mausoleum, Jalan Khutbah Makam di-Raja), rcvd: DK (1st class 31.5.1954), elder daughter of Y.A.M. Pangiran Anak ‘Abdu’l Rahman ibni al-Marhum Pangiran Muda Besar Omar ‘Ali Saif ud-din. m. (third) at Bandar Seri Begawan, 1980, Y.A.M. Pangiran Bini Pangiran Anak Hajjah Salhah, younger daughter of Y.A.M. Pangiran Anak ‘Abdu’l Rahman ibni al-Marhum Pangiran Muda Besar Omar ‘Ali Saif ud-din. He d. at Istana Dar us-Salam, Kampong Sumbiling Lama, Bandar Seri Begawan, 7th September 1986 (bur. there at the Royal Mausoleum, Jalan Khutbah Makam Di-Raja), having had issue, four sons and six daughters by his second wife.