Matussin bin Omar (born 16 November 1948), pen name D. P. Matussin, is a

historian A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human species; as well as the ...

, civil servant and writer from

Brunei Brunei, officially Brunei Darussalam, is a country in Southeast Asia, situated on the northern coast of the island of Borneo. Apart from its coastline on the South China Sea, it is completely surrounded by the Malaysian state of Sarawak, with ...

who previously served as the third director of the

Brunei Museum Brunei Museum (), the country's largest and most significant national museum, is located in Kota Batu, Bandar Seri Begawan. This national museum houses a collection spanning Islamic art, Southeast Asian history from the 16th century, and exte ...

from 1987 to 1995. He started writing poetry, short tales, essays, and song lyrics in 1962. Since then, he has established himself as a well-known scholar of Bruneian literature and

culture Culture ( ) is a concept that encompasses the social behavior, institutions, and Social norm, norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, Social norm, customs, capabilities, Attitude (psychology), attitudes ...

Early life and education

Matussin bin Omar was born in

Kampong Sumbiling Lama Kampong Sumbiling Lama () is a neighbourhood in Kampong Ayer, the riverine stilt settlement in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It was officially a Villages of Brunei, village Subdivisions of Brunei, subdivision under Mukim Sungai Keda ...

on 16 November 1948. Early education was obtained at

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College The Sultan Omar 'Ali Saifuddien College (SOASC), natively known as (MSOAS), is a government boys' secondary school in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei. It is the first English secondary school in the country. The school is also one ...

(SOASC) from 1959 to 1968 and Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam Malay School from 1955 to 1958. He continued his education at the

University of Malaya The Universiti Malaya (lit 'University of Malaya'; abbreviated UM) is a public university, public research university located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is the oldest Malaysian institution of higher education, and was the only university in ...

Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur (KL), officially the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, is the capital city and a Federal Territories of Malaysia, federal territory of Malaysia. It is the largest city in the country, covering an area of with a census population ...

from 1969 to 1973, earning a

Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, B.S., B.Sc., SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree that is awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Scienc ...

(BSc) degree in

Sociology Sociology is the scientific study of human society that focuses on society, human social behavior, patterns of Interpersonal ties, social relationships, social interaction, and aspects of culture associated with everyday life. The term sociol ...

and

Anthropology Anthropology is the scientific study of humanity, concerned with human behavior, human biology, cultures, society, societies, and linguistics, in both the present and past, including archaic humans. Social anthropology studies patterns of behav ...

. In 1976, the

government of Brunei The Government of Brunei is the union government created by the constitution of Brunei where by the Sultan of Brunei is both head of state and head of government ( Prime Minister of Brunei). Executive power is exercised by the government. Brune ...

sent him to the

Australian National University The Australian National University (ANU) is a public university, public research university and member of the Group of Eight (Australian universities), Group of Eight, located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton, A ...

Canberra Canberra ( ; ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the Federation of Australia, federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's list of cities in Australia, largest in ...

as part of the In-Service Training Scheme, where he earned a

Master's degree A master's degree (from Latin ) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities or colleges upon completion of a course of study demonstrating mastery or a high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional prac ...

Prehistory Prehistory, also called pre-literary history, is the period of human history between the first known use of stone tools by hominins million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems. The use ...

in 1979.

Career

Matussin began employment in SOASC as a teacher. He transferred to the Department of Museums at the end of 1973 and took a job there as an Archaeological Officer. He was named Curator of Archaeology in 1977. He served as the Department of Museums' Deputy Director from 1 January 1983 until 1987. In 1987, he was named Director of

, a role he maintained until 1995. Matussin was hired on 4 December 1995, by the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports (MCYS) as a Special Duties Officer. He was selected as the Chef De Mission for the Brunei delegation in the

1997 SEA Games The 1997 Southeast Asian Games (), officially known as the 19th Southeast Asian Games (; the 19th SEA Games), were a Southeast Asian multi-sport event held in Jakarta, Indonesia. This was the third time that Indonesia hosted the games. Jakarta ...

, which were held in

Jakarta Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania, between the Indian Ocean, Indian and Pacific Ocean, Pacific oceans. Comprising over List of islands of Indonesia, 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, ...

. Additionally, he served as the MCYS'

Permanent Secretary A permanent secretary is the most senior Civil Service (United Kingdom), civil servant of a department or Ministry (government department), ministry charged with running the department or ministry's day-to-day activities. Permanent secretaries are ...

. In addition to his writing career, he has been penning song lyrics for events such as

Family Day Family Day is a public holiday in the countries of Angola, Israel, Namibia, South Africa, Uruguay, Vanuatu, and Vietnam; in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan; in the American states of A ...

and

International Museum Day International Museum Day (IMD) is an international day held annually on or around 18 May, coordinated by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). The event highlights a specific theme which changes every year reflecting a relevant theme or ...

, when Brunei celebrated at the Brunei Museum.

Monographs

Matussin's works and monographs include: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Awards and honours

Awards

Matussin was awarded the 2012 Mastera Literary Award for his work,

Honours

Matussin has earned the following honours: *

Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei The Most Honourable Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei (), also translated as The Most Honourable Order of the Crown of Brunei, is an Order (decoration), order of Brunei, Brunei Darussalam. It was established on 1 March 1954 by Sultan Omar Ali ...

Second Class (DPMB; 15 July 1994) – ''Dato Paduka'' * Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Third Class (SMB; 1986) *

Order of Setia Negara Brunei The Most Blessed Order of Setia Negara Brunei (), also translated as The Most Blessed Order of Loyalty to the State of Brunei, is an Order (decoration), order of Brunei, Brunei Darussalam. It was established on 29 November 1959 by Sultan Omar Al ...

Third Class (SNB; 15 July 1991) * Meritorious Service Medal (PJK; 1999) * Long Service Medal (PKL; 1996) * Sultan_Hassanal_Bolkiah_Silver_Jubilee_Medal

Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (1993)

References

* * * * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Omar, Matussin 1948 births Living people Bruneian Muslims Bruneian historians Bruneian writers Bruneian civil servants Bruneian educators Museum directors University of Malaya alumni Australian National University alumni