Mohammad Daud

Military career

On 8 December 1962, Mohammad was among the three musketeers to be commissioned as a second lieutenant by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, in a ceremony presided over by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaya, Putra of Perlis. This marked the official start of his military career. Having completed his officer cadet training, he had earned the rank of second lieutenant. During his time at the FMC, Mohammad underwent training in infantry tactics, jungle warfare, public order management, and ceremonial duties, all of which equipped him for a future leadership role in the armed forces. During the fifth anniversary of the Brunei Malay Regiment in 1966, local officers began taking on roles once held by British officers. Captain Mohammad was appointed adjutant, succeeding Captain R. J. L. Sherrin, marking a key step in the localisation of leadership within the regiment. In 1968, he, alongside the other "three musketeers," underwent advanced small weapons and tactics training at the British Army School of Infantry in Warminster. This was followed by attachments to three British battalions in Germany and a British infantry brigade. On 1 July 1969, he was promoted to major, alongside Captain H. N. Houghton, after completing this training. left In 1970, Major Mohammad returned to the role of adjutant, further cementing his leadership within the regiment. In 1971, he attended the British Army Staff College in Camberley, continuing his professional development. When Queen Elizabeth II visited Brunei in 1972, he was appointed as her aide-de-camp. Mohammad was the first Brunei officer to be given the responsibilities of commanding officer at the training institute from June 1973 to June 1974, and was later reappointed in July 1974, promoted to lieutenant colonel in April 1975. In 1976, he was appointed as an ex-officio member of the Legislative Council of Brunei, until 1983.

Diplomatic career Mohammad represented Brunei Darussalam at ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization conferences in Singapore in 1982, Bangkok in 1991, and Jakarta in 1992. In 1991, he was appointed to Brunei's Privy Council, the highest advisory body to the government. Between September 1993 and May 1995, he served as Brunei's ambassador to Egypt while concurrently holding the role of ambassador to Morocco. On 14 February 1996, Mohammad presented his credentials as Brunei's permanent representative to the UN to Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali. On 22 June 2005, he launched the , focusing on the welfare of less fortunate senior citizens and emphasising the role of volunteers, the community, and family in addressing their needs. From 3 to 4 August 2005, the ASEAN Ministers Responsible for Culture and Arts (AMCA) and AMCA Plus Three met in Bangkok, with Muhammad attending the AMCA conference.

On 12 April 2006, Mohammad received a donation from Royal Brunei Airlines for the Pakistan Earthquake Humanitarian Fund at the ministry's office. On 9 August, he welcomed a delegation from Northern Australia, where they briefed him on the Arafura Games and invited Brunei's athletes to participate in the 2007 event. On 22 November, he officiated the foundation-laying ceremony for Sengkurong Library, which was set to open the following year. Later, on 24 December, Mohammad opened the National Scout Camp in Sungai Liang, celebrating the Asia-Pacific Scout Movement's 50th anniversary, praising the Brunei Darussalam Scouts Association's efforts and presenting honorary awards to contributors.

On 13 February 2007, Mohammad attended the opening of the B$24 million Muara jetty, a key infrastructure project set to support Brunei Shell Petroleum's offshore operations for the next three decades. The jetty features large storage tanks for drilling, which are managed safely by local engineers, with local graduates trained in various engineering disciplines. He was subsequently reappointed as the minister of energy at the PMO on 22 August 2008.

Mohammad underscored the pivotal role of media in spreading ASEAN messages at the 10th ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Information, emphasising ASEAN Digital Broadcasting and ASEAN Television News as essential platforms. He highlighted the importance of leveraging mobile phones and new media to engage younger audiences and advocated for collaboration with telecom companies to distribute ASEAN-related content. On 29 December 2009, Mohammad launched The Report: Brunei Darussalam 2009 at the Empire Hotel and Country Club. However, following a cabinet reshuffle on 29 May 2010, Mohammad was succeeded by Ahmad Jumat.

Later life

After his ministerial career, Mohammad continued to contribute to various sectors and communities. As early as 2015, he became the co-patron of the Kampong Tanah Jambu Mosque. He also took on the role of chairman of the Takaful Brunei board of directors. Additionally, Mohammad has served as an advisor to the Brunei Darussalam Former Soldiers Association.

In his later years, Mohammad continued to play a prominent role in various ceremonial events. On 10 October 2018, he presided over the transfer of a Kia KM450 military vehicle to the RBAF, with senior representatives from the Ministry of Defence, RBAF, and Goh Hock Kee Motors present at the ceremony. Additionally, on 10 August 2020, Mohammad, alongside Pengiran Ibnu Basit, officiated the launch of the upgraded Kowira Minimart at Berakas Garrison, marking another milestone in his ongoing contributions to his community and country.

According to Mohammad in a 2021 interview, the National Service Programme is essential in assisting young people in developing their discipline, especially those who are unemployed. He emphasised that in addition to academic credentials and physical training, the three-month program instills military discipline. Participants who work in front-line roles exhibit the beneficial traits that the program has shaped, according to him.

Personal life Mohammad is married to Datin Hajah Saidah binti Haji Mohd Said, and they have four children.

Honours

Mohammad has been bestowed the following honours:

National

Foreign Indonesia :

Malaysia :

Singapore :

South Korea :

Thailand :