Pengiran Muda Abdul Kahar

Pengiran Muda Abdul Kahar (1922 – 16 April 1957) was a nobleman and civil servant from Brunei who served as the chairman of the ("seven branches") committee from 1953 to 1954, tasked with gathering the perspectives of Bruneian citizens, both rural and urban, on the proposed Constitution of Brunei, compiling a comprehensive report, and advising Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III during its drafting. Additionally, he was the appointed head of the Cheteria from 1951 to 1957.

Early life and education Born in 1922 in Kampong Sumbiling Lama of Brunei Town as Pengiran Anak Abdul Kahar, he was the son of a nobleman named Pengiran Bendahara Pengiran Anak Muhammad Yasin bin Pengiran Tua Omar Ali. He has a brother named Pengiran Anak Kemaluddin.

Death and funeral

Pengiran Muda Abdul Kahar became unwell on 15 April 1957, while on holiday in Singapore with his family. He was brought to the Singapore General Hospital that same evening and died the next evening, 16 April 1957, at the age of 38. As soon as Brunei learned of his passing, the Sultan commanded that the national flag be flown at half mast, and it would stay that way until his remains were interred. In order to return his body to Brunei, his younger brother Pengiran Anak Kamaluddin, Pehin Orang Kaya Di-Gadong, and Pehin Khatib Haji Alihussain boarded an aircraft on Wednesday, 17 April.

The Persekutuan Seruan Islam se-Malaya's Singapore Branch, in collaboration with the Chief Kathi of Singapore, Tuan Haji Ali, and a number of Bruneians who were in Singapore at the time, including Pengiran Anak Kamaluddin, Pehin Orang Kaya Di-Gadong, and Pehin Khatib Haji Alihussain, handled the logistics of moving and preserving his body. On 17 April, at 7:30 a.m., a Malayan Airways aircraft transported his remains from the Singapore International Airport and touched down in Brunei Airport at 12:52 p.m. Before he left, a number of individuals paid their respects to his remains, including Abdul Aziz (representing William Goode), Burhanuddin al-Helmy, Abdul Hamid Jumat's wife, and representatives of the United Malay National Organisation. married to Princess Amal Umi Kalthum Al-Islam in 1972. Pengiran Haji Ahmad Mahdi Al-Sufri, father of Dayangku Najibah Eradah. Pengiran Datin Paduka Hajah Hairani

Titles, styles and honours

Titles and styles Pengiran Muda Abdul Kahar was bestowed by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III the noble title of Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Maharaja Lela Sahibul Kahar on 9 May 1951, styled as Yang Amat Mulia. With this appointment, he rose to the top of the Cheteria aristocratic hierarchy and became head of the group, ranking only behind the Wazirs.

Honours