Orders, decorations, and medals of Brunei

Orders, decorations, and medals on a military officer's ceremonial dress in 2024

The orders, decorations, and medals of Brunei consist of Bintang-Bintang Kebesaran (translatable as 'state decorations') and Pingat-Pingat Kehormatan (literally 'medals of honour'). Both are awarded by the Sultan of Brunei on the basis of merit, especially on the contributions to the country. The investiture of some of the state decorations also include the conferment of titles, whereby they become part of the awardees' personal names in official correspondence or when mentioned in formal media in the country. The decorations and medals are under the responsibility of Jabatan Adat Istiadat Negara, a government department under the Prime Minister's Office, which also oversees Bruneian royal traditions and protocol.

The insignia are displayed in the Royal Regalia Museum located in the capital.

Investiture

Lapau building in Bandar Seri Begawan's city centre
Lapau building in Bandar Seri Begawan's city centre

The actual investiture involves awardees being given badges in a ceremony by the Sultan or sometimes the Crown Prince upon the Sultan's discretion. The ceremony is traditionally held in Lapau which is a type of ceremonial hall for royal ceremonies in the Bruneian culture. At present, the state decorations to the third class are always conferred by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in a royal ceremony held annually on the day of the Sultan's birthday on 15 July at Balai Singgahsana Indera Buana, a ceremonial hall within Istana Nurul Iman, the Sultan's palace. Meanwhile, the state decorations of lower classes as well as medals of honour are conferred by the Sultan or the Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah in other ceremonies on other days, although commonly held in conjunction with the said birthday celebration. They had been traditionally held at the Lapau building in Bandar Seri Begawan's city centre but in recent years they have been held at the Lapau hall within the palace instead to accommodate the growing number of awardees.[1]

Decorations and medals

The following are the lists of state decorations and medals of honour of Brunei.[2] All of their names are styled in the Malay language, nevertheless many of the names have also been officially given the equivalents in English, that is by the Department of Adat Istiadat.

State decorations

List of state decorations (Bintang-Bintang Kebesaran)
Name in Malay Official English translation Class Ribbon Title Post-nominal letters
Darjah Kerabat Mahkota Brunei The Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei - Image of the ribbon of the Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei - DKMB
Darjah Kerabat Laila Utama Yang Amat Dihormati The Most Esteemed Family Order of Laila Utama - Image of the ribbon of the Most Esteemed Family Order Laila Utama Dato Laila Utama DK / DK I
Darjah Kerabat Seri Utama Yang Amat Dihormati The Most Esteemed Family Order of Seri Utama - Image of the ribbon of the Most Esteemed Family Order Seri Utama Dato Seri Utama DK / DK II
Darjah Seri Ugama Islam Negara Brunei Yang Amat Bersinar The Most Eminent Order of Islam Brunei First Class Image of the ribbon of the Most Eminent Order of Islam Brunei Dato Paduka Seri Setia PSSUB
Second Class Dato Seri Setia DSSUB
Third Class - SSUB
Fourth Class - SUB
Fifth Class - PUB
Darjah Paduka Laila Jasa Keberanian Gemilang Yang Amat Cemerlang The Most Illustrious Order of Paduka Laila Jasa Keberanian Gemilang First Class Image of the ribbon of the Most Illustrious Order of Paduka Laila Jasa Keberanian Gemilang Dato Paduka Seri DPKG
Second Class Dato Laila DLKG
Third Class - DKG
Darjah Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang Yang Amat Gemilang The Most Exalted Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang First Class Image of the ribbon of the Most Exalted Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang Dato Paduka Seri DPKT
Second Class Dato Laila DKLT
Third Class - DKT
Darjah Pahlawan Negara Brunei Yang Amat Perkasa The Most Gallant Order of Pahlawan Negara Brunei First Class Image of the ribbon of the Most Gallant Order of Pahlawan Negara Brunei Dato Seri Pahlawan PSPNB
Second Class Dato Hamzah Pahlawan DHPNB
Third Class - PNB
Fourth Class - PJB
Darjah Setia Negara Brunei Yang Amat Bahagia The Most Blessed Order of Setia Negara Brunei First Class Image of the ribbon of the Most Blessed Order of Setia Negara Brunei Dato Seri Setia PSNB
Second Class Dato Setia DSNB
Third Class - SNB
Fourth Class - PSB
Darjah Paduka Seri Laila Jasa Yang Amat Berjasa The Most Distinguished Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa First Class Image of the ribbon of the Most Distinguished Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa Dato Paduka Seri Laila Jasa PSLJ
Second Class Dato Seri Laila Jasa DSLJ
Third Class - SLJ
Darjah Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Yang Amat Mulia The Most Honourable Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei First Class Image of the ribbon of the Most Honourable Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Dato Seri Paduka SPMB
Second Class Dato Paduka DPMB
Third Class - SMB
Darjah Perwira Agong Negara Brunei Yang Amat Setia The Most Faithful Order of Perwira Agong Negara Brunei First Class Image of the ribbon of the Most Faithful Order of Perwira Agong Negara Brunei (First Class) - PANB
Second Class Image of the ribbon of the Most Faithful Order of Perwira Agong Negara Brunei - PaNB

Medals of honour

Below is a list of the current medals of honour (Pingat-Pingat Kehormatan):

Name in Malay Official English translation Class Ribbon Post-nominal letters
Pingat Omar Ali Saifuddin Omar Ali Saifuddin Medal First Class
POAS
Second Class
Pingat Hassanal Bolkiah Sultan Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal First Class
PHBS
Second Class
Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas - -
PBLI
Pingat Jasa Kebaktian Meritorious Service Medal[3][4] -
PJK
Pingat Tabah Kerja Laila Lutanan Government Office Medal -
PTKL
Pingat Indah Kerja Baik Excellent Service Medal[3][4] -
PIKB
Pingat Pengisytiharan Kemerdekaan Proclamation of Independence of Brunei Medal -
-
Pingat Kerja Lama Long Service Medal[3] -
PKL
Pingat Perjuangan Campaign Medal First Class
-
Second Class
Pahlawan Periwara Star of Supreme Gallantry[4] -
PP
Asgar Pahlawan Distinguished Warrior Star[4] -
AP
Penglima Lasgar Distinguished Soldier Star[4] -
PL

There are also several medals which are awarded in conjunction with certain national events:

Name in Malay Official English translation Class Ribbon
Pingat Pertalaban Omar Ali Saifuddin Omar Ali Saifuddin Coronation Medal -
Pingat Puspa Coronation Medal Gold
Silver
Pingat Jubli Menaiki Takhta
- Pingat Jubli Emas
- Pingat Jubli Perak 		Jubilee Medal Ascension to the Throne
- Golden Jubilee Medal
- Silver Jubilee Medal 		Gold

Silver
Bronze
Pingat Jubli Hari Kebangsaan
- Pingat Jubli Perak 		National Day Jubilee Medal
- Silver Jubilee Medal 		-

Medals for armed forces of Brunei

The following are the medals of honour specifically for the armed forces of Brunei:

Medals of the Royal Brunei Police Force
Name in Malay Official English translation Ribbon Post-nominal letters
Pingat Kerja Lama Polis Police Long Service Medal
PKLP
Pingat Polis Diraja Brunei 1965 Royal Police Medal 1965
-
Pingat Polis 50 Tahun Police Golden Jubilee Medal
-
Pingat Perkhidmatan Polis Police General Service Medal
-
Pingat Jubli Intan Polis 75 Tahun Police Diamond Jubilee Medal
-
Pingat Laila Tugas General Service Medal (Police)
-
Medals of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces
Name in Malay Official English translation Ribbon Post-nominal letters
Pingat Mulia Gelaran Resemi Inauguration Medal[5] -
Pingat Laila Tugas (GSM) General Service Medal (Armed Forces)
-
Pingat Kerja Lama dan Perangai Baik (Tentera) Long Service Medal and Good Conduct[6]
PKLPB
Pingat Jubli Perak 25 Tahun Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei Royal Brunei Armed Forces Silver Jubilee Medal
-
Pingat Jubli Emas 50 Tahun Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei Royal Brunei Armed Forces Golden Jubilee Medal[7]
-
Pingat Jubli Intan 60 Tahun Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei Royal Brunei Armed Forces Diamond Jubilee Medal -
Medals of the Gurkha Reserve Unit
Name in Malay Official English translation Ribbon
Pingat Pasukan Simpanan Gurkha Gurkha Reserve Unit Medal
Pingat Kerja Lama dan Perangai Baik Long Service Medal (Gurkha Reserves)

See also

References

  1. ^ "Jabatan Adat Istiadat Negara - Bangunan Lapau". www.adat-istiadat.gov.bn (in Malay). Archived from the original on 11 August 2021. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  2. ^ "Senarai Bintang-Bintang Kebesaran dan Pingat-Pingat Kehormatan Negara Brunei Darussalam" (PDF). www.adat-istiadat.gov.bn (in Malay). Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Aziz Idris (13 April 2011). "513 receive honorary medals from the Deputy Sultan". www.sultanate.com. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e "DISTINGUISHED & DEDICATED SERVICE RECOGNISED" (PDF). navy.mindef.gov.bn. p. 10. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Inauguration Medal". wawards.org. Retrieved 9 February 2024.
  6. ^ "Commanding Officer No 4 Wing". www.mindef.gov.bn. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Golden Jubilee of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces | Royal Insignia". royalinsignia.com. 8 June 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2024.