Yakub bin Abu Bakar (31 August 1947 – 20 January 2007) was a politician from Brunei who served as the deputy minister of culture, youth and sports between 2005 and 2007, and deputy minister of finance from 2003 to 2004. He was also among the board of directors of Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah from 1992 to 1995.

Early life and education

Yakub received his education at

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

and began working for the government in 1973 as an administrative officer, first for the

Brunei Economic Development Board The Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) is a statutory body established in 1975 under the ''Brunei Economic Development Board Act'' (Chapter 104). This legislation created the BEDB as a corporate entity with perpetual succession, empowering ...

and later for the

department of education An education ministry is a national or subnational government agency politically responsible for education. Various other names are commonly used to identify such agencies, such as Ministry of Education, Department of Education, and Ministry of Pub ...

. In September 1980, he was appointed

postmaster-general A Postmaster General, in Anglosphere countries, is the chief executive officer of the postal service of that country, a ministerial office responsible for overseeing all other postmasters. History The practice of having a government officia ...

. He further expanded his experience and served in the young Brunei

diplomatic service Diplomatic service is the body of diplomats and foreign policy officers maintained by the government of a country to communicate with the governments of other countries. Diplomatic personnel obtain diplomatic immunity when they are accredited to o ...

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

before being promoted to

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 ...

at the ministry of finance between 1 September 1989 and 19 October 2001. He attended the 5th Meeting of the ASEAN Directors-General of Customs in Brunei from 22 to 23 May 1997.

Ministerial career

For the following three years, Yakub served as deputy minister of finance. He held a number of additional positions, such as acting

chairman The chair, also chairman, chairwoman, or chairperson, is the presiding officer of an organized group such as a board, committee, or deliberative assembly. The person holding the office, who is typically elected or appointed by members of the gro ...

of the

Brunei Investment Agency The Brunei Investment Agency (BIA) is a government-owned corporation that reports to the Ministry of Finance and Economy of the government of Brunei. Established in 1983, its offices are located in Bandar Seri Begawan at the Ministry of Finan ...

(BIA) from 28 November 2001 to 8 February 2003. Additionally, he held the position of chairman of Brunei Shell Tankers for a while. He occasionally served as the acting minister of finance, with allusions to the dates of 5 January 2002, 12 June 2002, 18 June 2002, and 19 October 2003, with the

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 ...

serving in that capacity from 1984 to 1986 and again from 1997 onward. He had also taken part in significant international gatherings throughout his career, such as the 7th

APEC Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC ) is an inter-governmental forum for 21 member economy , economies in the Pacific Rim that promotes free trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Following the success of Association of Southeast Asia ...

Finance Ministers Meeting in Brunei in September 2000, where he served as the organisation's chairman for finance and central bankers. On 20 September 2004, he was transferred to the role of minister of culture, youth and sports, a post he would hold until his death in 2007.

Death

At the young age of fifty-nine, Yakub died in

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 ...

. His body was flown and delivered to the family's home in

Kampong Jerudong Kampong Jerudong is a village in Mukim Sengkurong, Brunei–Muara District, Brunei, about from the capital Bandar Seri Begawan. The population was 3,856 in 2016. It is one of the settlements within Mukim Sengkurong. It is of historical interest ...

around 11:35 a.m. On 21 January 2007,

Sultan Sultan (; ', ) is a position with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", derived from the verbal noun ', meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be use ...

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 ...

gave his permission to visit and offer his condolences to his family at their home in

. Prince Abdul Mateen, Princess Masna, Princess Nor'ain, Princess Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam, and Princess Amal Nasibah were also in attendance.

Abdul Aziz Juned Abdul Aziz bin Juned (born 22 December 1941), also known by his pen name Adi Rumi, is a Bruneian aristocrat, poet and politician. Serving as the State Mufti of Brunei since 1994, his appointment marked a pivotal moment in the country's Islamic g ...

led the gathering in ''Jenazah'' prayers. Incumbent and retired ministers, deputy ministers, permanent secretaries, other top government officials, as well as Yakub's family members, were present at the family's home. Once prayers were completed, he was buried at the Damuan Cemetery in

Bandar Seri Begawan Bandar Seri Begawan (BSB) is the capital and largest city of Brunei. It is officially a Municipalities of Brunei, municipal area () with an area of and an estimated population of 100,700 as of 2007. It is part of Brunei–Muara District, the s ...

Personal life

Yakub was born on 31 August 1947. He has four biological children with Datin Hajah Suzanah Rahmah binti Haji Abd Aziz, as well as four more through adoption.

Honours

Throughout his career, Yakub 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) – ''Dato Paduka'' *

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 ...

Fourth Class (PSB) * Excellent Service Medal (PIKB) * Meritorious Service Medal (PJK)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abu Bakar, Yakub Bruneian civil servants Government ministers of Brunei Finance ministers of Brunei 1947 births 2007 deaths Harvard University alumni Bruneian Muslims