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Brunei

Brunei Darussalam East and Southeast Asia Bandar Seri Begawan 422,675 inhabitants 5,765 sq km 73.32 inhabitants/sq km Bruneian dollars (BND) population evolution

Famous people from Brunei

Here is a list of famous people from Brunei. Curious if anybody from Brunei made it our most famous people in the world list? Read the aformentioned article in order to find out.

Hassanal Bolkiah

Monarch

Hassanal Bolkiah, GCB GCMG is the 29th and current Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei. He is also the first and incumbent Prime Minister of Brunei. The eldest son of the late Sir Muda Omar Ali Saifuddien III and the late Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Damit, he succeeded to the throne as the Sultan of Brunei, following the abdication of his father on 4 October 1967.

Wu Chun

Singer

Wu Chun was born on 10 October 1979, birth name Goh Kiat Chun, is a Brunei-born Taiwanese actor, singer, former model and gym instructor. Chun was a member of Taiwanese Mandopop vocal quartet boy band Fahrenheit from its debut in 2005 to June 2011. He was the last and oldest member to join the boy band and was the bass vocalist of the group. HIM International Music, the group's record label, announced in an official statement on 22 June 2011 that Chun left Fahrenheit to concentrate on his acting career and also to spend more time with his family. He speaks fluent Mandarin, Hokkien, Malay, English and limited Japanese & Cantonese. Chun also starred in many Taiwanese drama such as Hanazakarino Kimitachihe, Romantic Princess, Hot Shot and Tokyo Juliet.

Jayna Oso

Pornographic actor

Jayna Oso is the professional name of an American pornographic actress and model. In 2011, Complex magazine ranked her at #16 in their list of "The Top 50 Hottest Asian Porn Stars of All Time".

Craig Adams

Ice Hockey Right winger

Craig D. Adams is a Bruneian-born Canadian professional ice hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. Adams was born in Seria, Brunei, but was raised in Calgary, Alberta, residing and playing hockey in the community of Lake Bonavista. Adams won the Stanley Cup with both the Carolina Hurricanes and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Jefri Bolkiah

Noble person

Prince Jefri Bolkiah, full name His Royal Highness Pengiran Digadong Sahibul Mal Pengiran Muda Jefri Bolkiah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien, is a member of the Brunei Royal Family. His elder brother is Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah. Prince Jefri was the finance minister of his oil-rich country from 1986 to 1998. He also served as chairman of the Brunei Investment Agency which invests much of the country's wealth and was responsible for overseas investments. In the wake of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, the sultan had external accountants audit the books of BIA, resulting in charges by the Brunei government that Prince Jefri had embezzled $14.8 billion. He denies the charges but in 2000 agreed to turn over his personal holdings to the government, in return for avoiding criminal prosecution and being allowed to keep a personal residence in Brunei. After numerous legal disputes and appeals, in 2007 Britain's Privy Council ruled that this agreement is enforceable. His various legal issues with the Bruneian state have become the most expensive legal case in British legal history. Prince Jefri is known for his extravagant lifestyle. His personal holdings included a huge art collection, the British jeweller Asprey, The New York Palace Hotel, Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles and Plaza Athénée in Paris. He is married to three wives and divorced from two others and has eighteen children.

Omar Ali Saifuddien III

Monarch

Omar Ali Saifuddien III, was the 28th Paramount Ruler and Sultan of Brunei who ruled from 4 June 1950 until his abdication from the throne on 4 October 1967. He was also the first Brunei Minister of Defence. He was known as The Architect of Modern Brunei, The Royal Poet, The Father of Independence, and The Father of Brunei's Negara Zikir.

Al-Muhtadee Billah

Noble person

Prince Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Mahkota Pengiran Muda Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Ibni Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, GCVO; born 17 February 1974) is the Crown Prince of Brunei Darussalam. He is in the first in line of succession to become the next Sultan of Brunei. He holds the position of senior minister of the Prime Minister's Office of Brunei, General of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and Deputy Inspector General of the Royal Brunei Police Force.

Prince Azim

Noble person

His Royal Highness Prince Haji 'Abdul 'Azim of Brunei, internationally and professionally known as Prince Azim, is the second born prince of His Majesty Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. He is the third in line to succeed the throne of Brunei. The most well known of the Brunei royal family, he is a paparazzi favourite. Prince Azim is a film producer and is the founder of Daryl Prince Productions.

Pengiran Muda Mohamed Bolkiah

Noble person

Prince Mohamed Bolkiah is a member of the royal family of Brunei. He has been the foreign minister of that country since it gained complete independence in 1984. He serves in the cabinet as director of the Brunei's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade alongside the second Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lim Jock Seng.

Pengiran Anak Saleha

Noble person

Saleha Mohamed Alam is the Queen consort of Brunei as the wife of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the current Sultan of Brunei. She is the daughter of Pengiran Anak Mohamed Alam and Pengiran Anak Besar.

Paula Malai Ali

Woman

Paula Malai Ali Othman is a television personality from Brunei. Formerly a veejay for Channel V, she is now a presenter for ESPN Star Sports. A well-known media figure in Asia, Paula has worked as a television and radio presenter, stage actress, and vocal talent. She has been the choice of international brands such as Redken hair products and Nescafe for best personifying their positioning images. Paula's Bruneian father is the former Permanent Secretary of Industry and Primary Resources. Her English mother ran a kindergarten in Brunei. She has an identical twin sister named Jenny, who is a well-known TV and radio presenter in Brunei, and an older sister named Rachael. Paula had her early education at the International School Brunei, and did her secondary education in Singapore at the United World College of South East Asia. In 2002, Paula married the Malaysian film producer Tunku Azudinshah Tunku Anuar – a member of the Kedah Royal Family and nephew of the Sultan of Kedah. The wedding was photographed by celebrity wedding photographer Kid Chan. In June 2006, Paula confirmed that she and Kudin had divorced. Paula subsequently married television producer Sam Gollestani. The couple's first child was born in February 2011.

Ahmad Tajuddin

Monarch

Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Sir Ahmad Tajuddin Akhazul Khairi Waddien ibni Almarhum Sir Sultan Mohammad Jamalul Alam II, KBE, CMG was the 27th sultan of Brunei from September 11, 1924 until his death. His reign represented the start of a new era in Brunei. The discovery of oil changed the whole course of Brunei's history and enabled faster development in all sectors of the country. The expansion and improvement of formal education and his encouragement of religious education were some of his additional contributions to Brunei Darussalam.

Sulaiman

Monarch

Sultan Sulaiman was the fourth sultan of Brunei, ruling from 1432 until his abdication in 1485 to allow his son, Bolkiah, to become Sultan. He died in 1511.

Muhammad Jamalul Alam II

Monarch

Duli Yang Maha Mulia Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II ibni al-Marhum Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin, KCMG was the 26th Sultan of Brunei Darussalam. He was the eldest son of Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin. When his father died, the responsibility of the Sultan was in the hands of the Majlis Pemangku Raja, that is the Council of Regency. It was only in 1918 that His Highness was crowned as Sultan. Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II took a great deal of interest in the progress of the country, encouraging advances in agriculture, medicine and education. He also encouraged learning Islam, which was often carried out in the surau or small mosque. As a sign of his commitment to Islam, Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II built a mosque despite the country's lack of revenue. The mosque was built on a piece of land near the present Kampong Sultan Lama. The local community used the mosque until it was destroyed in wartime bombing during the reign of his son, Sultan Ahmad Tajuddin. It was also during the reign of Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam II that Islamic Law was officially introduced. This was known as Muhammadan Law. It was introduced in 1912, replacing the Kanun Brunei. Then in 1913, the Marriage and Divorce Act was introduced. He kept his position on the State Council, which met to approve and amend laws and policies. With the introduction of the Residential System in Brunei in 1906, all the executive power, except in matters of religion, was transferred from the Sultan to the Resident. In 1922, he moved from Istana Kampong Ayer to Istana Majlis.

Majeedah Bolkiah

Noble person

Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Majeedah Nuurul Bulqiah is the fourth child of Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei and his wife, Pengiran Anak Saleha. Princess Majeedah holds a BA Administration and Public Policy from the University of Brunei Darussalam. She also holds an MA Environmental Development from King's College London. Princess Majeedah is currently the Senior Environment Officer and Head of Planning and Management Division at the Department of the Environment, Parks and Recreation, an agency of the Ministry of Development. One of the tasks of the Planning and Management Division is to evaluate the Environmental Impact Assessment Report on the Sungai Liang Industrial Site Development. Majeedah has supervised several successful projects, including the ASEAN Youths Forum on the Environment, which was held on 8 January 2007. Majeedah began her career as Special Duties Officer at the Environmental Unit, a section of the Ministry of Development responsible for policy and strategic environment affairs, on 11 February 2002. Among her written work include: the Environmental Management Guidelines for Quarry Activity; and the Position Paper on Brunei’s Accession to the Basel Convention to Control the Disposal and Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes.

Maziah Mahusin

Olympic Track and field Athlete

Maziah Mahusin is a Bruneian hurdler. Participating in 2012 London Olympics, She is the first female athlete to compete for Brunei at the Olympic Games. She has also been selected as their flag-bearer. Mahusin is already the face of female athletics in Brunei. She competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 400 m event and was defeated after first round although she finished in a new national record of 59.28.

Anderson Lim

Swimmer

Anderson Lim Chee Wei is a Bruneian swimmer, who represented Brunei in the 2012 Beijing Summer Olympics. He studied at Jerudong International School, Brunei from 1997–2011. He was based in Jacksonville, Florida, enrolled at the swimming powerhouse Bolles School, and currently attends and swims for the University of Rochester.

Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin

Monarch

Sultan Hashim Jalilul Alam Aqamaddin was the 26th Sultan of Brunei. He ruled Brunei from May 1885 to May 1906. Sultan Hashim was the son of Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin II. Before he became the Sultan, he was one of the four Wazirs in Brunei and was known as Pengiran Temenggong Sahibul Bahar Pengiran Anak Hashim. He had acted as regent when Sultan Abdul Momin became old. At that time also, his elder brother, Pengiran Pemancha Pengiran Anak Muhammad Salleh had died.

Abdul Momin

Monarch

Abdul Mo'min was the sultan of Brunei from 1852 until his death.

Hill Zaini

Pop Artist

Hill Zaini, popularly known as Hill, is a well-known Bruneian singer and actor.

Omar Ali Saifuddin II

Monarch

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien II was the 23rd Sultan of Brunei.

Abdul Muntaqim

Noble person

Abdul Muntaqim is the oldest child and only son of His Royal Highness Al-Muhtadee Billah, heir to the Sultan of Brunei, and his wife, Her Royal Highness Pengiran Anak Sarah. He has a younger sister, Princess Muneerah Madhul, who was born in 2011. In honour of the birth of the prince, a 19-gun salute was fired from the cannons on the grounds of Istana Nurul Iman, the official residence of the Sultan of Brunei. The gun-salute is traditionally carried out to mark the births of immediate members of Sultan's family, and serves as an announcement of a royal birth to the Bruneian people.

Abdul Kahar

Monarch

Sultan Abdul Kahar was the sixth sultan of Brunei, ruling from 1524 until stepping down from the throne on 1530 to allow his brother's son to become Sultan. He died in 1578.

Hardi Bujang

Soccer Midfielder

Hardi Alan Bujang is a Bruneian footballer who is currently a Midfielder for Persema Malang. He is a member of the Brunei national team. On January 4, 2009, He joined Persema Malang of Indonesia. He will have three years with Persema Malang. At the end of 2012, Bujang will apply at Sur Club in Oman. Bujang made his international senior debut against Timor-Leste on July 22, 2008. He was part of the Brunei squad for 2008 AFF Suzuki Cup qualification. Bujang scored his first international goal in a 3–2 loss to Laos. His twin brother Mardi Anak Bujang also played football for QAF FC and Brunei national team. The brothers both have played together for QAF FC, DPMM FC and Brunei national team.

Christina Koning

Novelist

Christina Koning is a novelist and short story writer who has reviewed extensively for the UK national press. Koning was born in Kuala Belait, Borneo, and spent her early childhood in Venezuela and Jamaica. She was educated at Girton College, Cambridge, and the University of Edinburgh – the setting for her first novel. She has worked as a travel writer and journalist – most recently for The Times. She has also taught Creative Writing at the University of Oxford and Birkbeck, University of London. Koning has appeared as a critic on BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour and has also had stories broadcast on Radio 4. She is currently the Royal Literary Fund Fellow at the University of Chichester. Koning’s first novel, A Mild Suicide, was published by Lime Tree in 1992, and was short-listed for the David Higham Prize for Fiction; her second novel, Undiscovered Country won the Encore Award for fiction and was long-listed for the Orange Prize for Fiction. Fabulous Time was awarded a Society of Authors Travelling Scholarship. The Dark Tower, like much of her earlier work, touches on colonialism and its legacy. Her most recent novel, "Variable Stars" is about the eighteenth century astronomer, Caroline Herschel. Koning has two children, and lives in London.

Saiful Rijal

Monarch

Sultan Saiful Rijal was the seventh Sultan of Brunei. During his reign, the Castille War broke out in 1578. He died in 1581 and was replaced by his son, Shah Brunei.

Arsen Marjan

Soccer Defender

Arsen Marjan is a Bruneian/Serbian football defender playing for FK Palilulac Beograd. He had previously played with Persuatan Belia Kilanas in Brunei, FK Milicionar Beograd, PKB Padinska Skela, and FK Zvezdara in the 2001-02 First League of FR Yugoslavia. Then he played in 2002-03 with Apollon Limassol in the Cypriot First Division, in 2003 back in Serbia with FK Železnik, FK Beograd, FK Radnički Jugopetrol and FK Zeta, before moving to Greece in December 2005 to play with Panserraikos F.C. and Anagennisi Karditsa F.C. in the OPAP League, beside short spells with Ilisiakos F.C., Fostiras F.C.. He returned to Serbia in January 2011 to play with FK Palilulac Beograd in the Serbian League Belgrade. He holds both Bruneian and Serbian citizenship. Occasionally he is names in Serbia Marijan instead of Marjan.

Khairul Khalil

Noble person

Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Anak Khairul Khalil is the eldest son and second child of Pengiran Syed Haji Jaafari bin Pengiran Syed Haji Mashor and Hajah Sarbanun Haji Abdi Manaf. The eldest child in the family is a daughter and Pengiran Khairul Khalil also has two younger siblings: a brother and sister. Pengiran Khairul Khalil holds a BTEC Higher National Diploma in Building Studies from the University of Teesside, United Kingdom. He is currently the Assistant Executive Officer at the Prime Minister’s Office. His hobbies are graphic designing, multimedia and video production, interior designing, and soccer.

Omar Ali Saifuddin I

Monarch

Omar Ali Saifuddin I was the Sultan of Brunei from 1740 until his death in 1795. He succeeded his father in law, Sultan Husain Kamaluddin as Sultan of Brunei upon the latter's abdication from the throne in 1740.

Ak Hafiy Tajuddin Rositi

Olympic Track and field Athlete

Ak Hafiy Tajuddin Rositi is a Bruneian runner. He competed at the 2012 Summer Olympics in the 400 m event and he was defeated after first round although he finished in his personal best after 48.67. The 5th child of 10 siblings.

Emran bin Bahar

Diplomat

Emran bin Bahar is a Bruneian diplomat and is currently the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Negara Brunei Darussalam to the Russian Federation. Bahar graduated from Keele University with a B.A. in International Relations and continued studies for his Masters in International Relations at the Australian National University in 1994; from which received his Ph.D in 1998.

Masna Bolkiah

Woman

Her Royal Highness Princess Masna, is the sister of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah. She was born in 1948 and is married to Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Lela Sahibun Najabah Pengiran Haji Abdul Aziz bin Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haja Abu Bakar, the Principal of Royal Customs and Protocol. She graduated from Universiti Brunei Darussalam with a first degree and a Masters. In 1995, she was appointed as the Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where she led a number of delegations abroad both as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs as well as Ambassador-at-large. She is also active in other areas including being the Patron for the Girl Guides Association as well as being Commander of the Women's Police Corps.

Mohd Sahan Mumtazali

Soccer

Mohd Sahan Mumtazali is a football player.

Wu Jingtian

Businessperson

Stacy Sandra

Presenter