MUARA NAVAL BASE, Wednesday, 13 December 2023 – His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah Ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office today graced the Commissioning Ceremony of Patrol Vessel KDB AL-FARUQ held at Jetty Bravo, Muara Naval Base.
Upon arrival at Jetty Bravo, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was greeted by Yang Berhormat Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Retired) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof, Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office and Minister of Defence II Brunei Darussalam, Yang Mulia Major General Dato Paduka Seri Haji Muhammad Haszaimi bin Bol Hassan, Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), and Captain Haji Mohamad Sarif Pudin bin Matserudin, RBN, Acting Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN).
Also present during the commissioning ceremony were members of the 9th YLP delegation from the Republic of Singapore, led by His Excellency Lawrence Wong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance. The delegation includes His Excellency Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security; His Excellency Zaqy Mohamad, Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Manpower; Mr Chan Heng Kee, Permanent Secretary (Defence) and Rear Admiral Sean Wat Jianwen, Chief of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN).
The ceremony commenced with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince receiving the Royal Salute and inspecting the parade, which comprised 109 RBN personnel led by Lieutenant Commander Mohammad Shahrul Idham bin Haji Bongsu, RBN. Following that, the ceremonial events proceeded to the Commissioning Dais, where Lieutenant Colonel Abdul Mujib bin Haji Japar, Acting Director of RBAF Religious Directorate (JAMA’AT) led the recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah.
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, then proceeded to deliver the Commissioning Sabda and bestowed KDB AL-FARUQ with its Commissioning Pennant which was presented to Lieutenant Commander Pengiran Haji Khairul Anwar bin Pengiran Haji Abu Bakar, RBN, Commanding Officer of KDB AL-FARUQ. This was followed by the inaugural hoisting of the Commissioning Pennant and RBN Ensign, accompanied by the National Anthem. The commissioning was further blessed with the calling of the Azan and recitation of Doa by the JAMA’AT Director, after which His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, was invited for a ship tour onboard KDB AL-FARUQ.
The ceremony ended with a group photo before proceeding to the RBN Officers’ Mess for an executive session between His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and key leaders from both nation’s Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces and Navies, followed by a luncheon.
The handing over of the ship from the Republic of Singapore Navy, previously known as RSS DAUNTLESS, is a testament to the close collaboration between the two Armed Forces and Navies. Renaming the ship from RSS DAUNTLESS to KDB AL-FARUQ translated to a similar meaning: “courageous”. Courage is one of the core values of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces and is an essential element that all members of the Royal Brunei Navy should embrace. This trait also builds a character with high integrity in defendin
g Brunei Darussalam’s maritime sovereignty.
The Commissioning Ceremony of KDB AL-FARUQ marks the completion of the Patrol Vessel Transfer Project between the Royal Brunei Navy and the Republic of Singapore Navy. The first patrol vessel transfer was KDB AS-SIDDIQ, commissioned on 21 March 2023. The success of this endeavour engraved a significant milestone in defence diplomacy and the relationship between Negara Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore, whilst becoming an essential part of the history of the RBN and RBAF’s development.
