Mustappa bin Haji Sirat (born 4 October 1957) is a

diplomat A diplomat (from ; romanization, romanized ''diploma'') is a person appointed by a state (polity), state, International organization, intergovernmental, or Non-governmental organization, nongovernmental institution to conduct diplomacy with one ...

and

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

in 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 ...

. He took office as the Minister of Communications from 2015 to 2018 and also as the Deputy Minister of Defence.

Early life

Mustappa Sirat is born in

Seria Seria or officially known as Seria Town (), is a town in Belait District, Brunei. It is located about west from the country's capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The total population was 3,625 in 2016. It was where oil was first struck in Brunei i ...

, Belait,

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 ...

on 4 October 1957. His career began as an English teacher in Berakas English School prior to working with the government.

Political career

In November 1982, Mustappa started working in the

Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...

as the

director general A director general, general director or director-general (plural: ''directors general'', ''general directors'', ''directors-general'', ''director generals'' or ''director-generals'') is a senior executive officer, often the chief executive officer ...

in the

Association of Southeast Asian Nations The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, commonly abbreviated as ASEAN, is a regional grouping of 10 Sovereign state, states in Southeast Asia "that aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its ten members." Together, its ...

(ASEAN)–Brunei division and later the Policy Planning Department. In 1985, he became Brunei's

second secretary Diplomatic rank is a system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. A diplomat's rank determines many ceremonial details, such as the order of precedence at official processions, table seating ...

to the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Northwestern Europe, off the coast of European mainland, the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

, and later posted to

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and

Geneva Geneva ( , ; ) ; ; . is the List of cities in Switzerland, second-most populous city in Switzerland and the most populous in French-speaking Romandy. Situated in the southwest of the country, where the Rhône exits Lake Geneva, it is the ca ...

Switzerland Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a landlocked country located in west-central Europe. It is bordered by Italy to the south, France to the west, Germany to the north, and Austria and Liechtenstein to the east. Switzerland ...

. Moreover, he was the high commissioner to

Pakistan Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...

from 18 March 2003 to 4 November 2004. Once returning to Brunei, Mustappa was reappointed as the Deputy Permanent Secretary, and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in June 2005. Posted to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) as their Permanent Secretary on 12 October 2007. In the

2010 Bruneian cabinet reshuffle Hassanal Bolkiah carried out the fourth reshuffle of his Council of Cabinet Ministers, government on 29 May 2010, appointing the first female deputy minister and replacing three ministers. The announcement was delivered during a televised speech ...

on 29 May, Mustappa was appointed deputy minister of defence. Later that year, from 26 to 28 September, he visited

Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...

and discussed with

Teo Chee Hean Teo Chee Hean ( zh, s=张志贤, poj=Tioⁿ Chì-hiân, p=Zhāng Zhìxián, first=poj; born 27 December 1954) is a Singaporean former politician and two-star rear-admiral who served as Senior Minister of Singapore and Coordinating Minister for ...

, ways to strengthen relationships between Brunei and Singapore. He met with Ashton B. Carter to discuss future collaborations between the two nations in

Washington Washington most commonly refers to: * George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States * Washington (state), a state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A ...

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

on 27 June 2013. On 22 October 2015, an announcement was made by the Minister of Defence and

Sultan of Brunei The Sultan of Brunei is the monarchical head of state of Brunei and head of government in his capacity as prime minister of Brunei. Since independence from the British in 1984, only one sultan has reigned, though the royal institution dates bac ...

Hassanal Bolkiah Hassanal Bolkiah Muiz'zaddin Wad'daulah (born 15 July 1946) is the List of sultans of Brunei, Sultan of Brunei since 1967, and Prime Minister of Brunei, prime minister of Brunei since its independence from the United Kingdom in 1984. He is one ...

, about the new cabinet members of the 2015 reshuffle, He became the new minister in the

Ministry of Communications A Communications Ministry or Department of Communications is a ministry or other government agency charged with communication. Communications responsibilities include regulating telecommunications, postal services, broadcasting and print media. The ...

. China ambassador to Brunei visited Mustappa and congratulated him on his newly appointed position, followed by discussions focusing on improving

transportation Transport (in British English) or transportation (in American English) is the intentional Motion, movement of humans, animals, and cargo, goods from one location to another. Mode of transport, Modes of transport include aviation, air, land tr ...

and

communication Communication is commonly defined as the transmission of information. Its precise definition is disputed and there are disagreements about whether Intention, unintentional or failed transmissions are included and whether communication not onl ...

between the two nations on 18 November. After the

2018 Bruneian cabinet reshuffle Hassanal Bolkiah carried out the sixth reshuffle of his Council of Cabinet Ministers, government on 30 January 2018, replacing some of the nation's longest-serving ministers. The announcement was delivered during a televised speech at 2:30 pm. W ...

on 30 January, Abdul Mutalib would succeed him in his position as the minister.

Personal life

Dato Mustappa is married to Pengiran Hajah Jamilah binti Pengiran Haji Mohd Yussof and has one son together. He participated in the Fadhil Yunus & Adib Noor The BMW Golf Cup Brunei 2021 on 17 September 2022.

Honours

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 ...

First Class (PSNB) – ''Dato Seri Setia'' *

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 2006) – ''Dato Paduka'' * Meritorious Service Medal (PJK) * Excellent Service Medal (PIKB) * Sultan_Hassanal_Bolkiah_Silver_Jubilee_Medal

Sultan_Hassanal_Bolkiah_Silver_Jubilee_Medal

Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992) * National Day Silver Jubilee Medal (23 February 2009)

External links

CHIEFS OF DEFENSE (CHOD) ANNUAL CONFERENCE 2014 – 4 NOVEMBER 2014

References

1957 births Government ministers of Brunei Bruneian Muslims Defense ministers of Brunei Living people {{Brunei-bio-stub