Jocklin bin Kongpaw

Jocklin bin Kongpaw (12 November 1944 – 21 April 2025) was a Bruneian military officer and diplomat who became the high commissioner to Canada from 1998 to 2001, and Australia from 2001 to 2004.

Being one of the first military pilots in the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), he and Pengiran Abidin had indirectly aided the expansion and development of the RBAirF.

Military career Junior Lieutenants Abidin and Jocklin completed a two-month Royal Air Force (RAF) Air Crew Selection training at RAF Biggin Hill, Westerham in England, and returned to Brunei on 11 September 1966. After completing all domestic and foreign flight training, two local officers, Second Lieutenants Abidin and Jocklin were given the pilot badge for the first time by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on 6 August 1968, marking a very significant moment for the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (RBMR). This event is also remembered by the AMDB as the first in the history of the organisation for having produced two successful local military pilots. The presentation ceremony was further enhanced at that time by a flight display at Istana Darul Hana that utilised a Bell 206B helicopter. The two pilots from the area had shown a very high level of skill and effectiveness.

RBMR created history on 14 August 1967, when the two pilots were sent to British Executive Air Services Limited at Kidlington in Oxfordshire, England, for basic flight training. Before going to training in the United Kingdom, the two officers also completed flying school in Sabah, Malaysia, to obtain a pilot's license. After completing basic training, the two pilots underwent ninety hours of advanced flight training on a Bell 206B helicopter under the supervision of Major Herbert Marshall, the commander of the Helicopter Platoon, RBMR. Both pilots have subsequently flown a range of RBAirF aircraft in various capacities and have served as officers. After being advanced to the rank of Colonel in 1990, he assumed the position of Director of Membership and Administration within the Ministry of Defence. From 4 January 1994 to 31 January 1996, he was appointed the Director of Personnel. He spent 31 years working for the ABDB.

Diplomatic career On 10 January 1998, he was presented his credentials by the Sultan, as the high commissioner to Canada until 2001. He would be reappointed the high commissioner to Australia from 2001 to 2004.

Family Colonel (Retired) Dato Seri Laila Jasa Jocklin was married to Datin Meliah binti Lungkau and blessed with 4 children.

Death Colonel (Retired) Dato Seri Laila Jasa Jocklin died on Monday morning, 21 April 2025 at his home in Brunei Darussalam. He was buried in Kampung Bukit Udal, Brunei Darussalam.

Honours A road within the Royal Brunei Air Force Base, Rimba was named Jocklin Drive on 22 April 2022. Examples of honours awarded to him;