Abdul Jalil bin Haji Ahmad is a Bruneian aristocrat, diplomat and retired naval officer who served as the sixth Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) from 1995 to 2002. In addition, he later became the ambassador and high commissioner to several other countries.

Early life and education

His early years were spent in Kampong Ayer, where he remained until he enlisted at the recruiting office of Bolkiah Camp of the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (RBMR) in 1972.{{Cite book |last=Pehin Datu Penglima Kolonel (B) Abdul Jalil Hj Ahmad |title=Memoir Wira Samudera di Muara |year=2008 |isbn=9799991792322}} On 21 February 1972, when RBN was still known as 1st Boat Company RBMR (ALP AMDB), Abdul Jalil enlisted in the RBMR. He was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant on 13 December 1973. Both the Royal College of Defence Studies and the Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth trained him to become an executive officer.{{Cite web |title=6th Commander |url=https://navy.mindef.gov.bn/Site%20Pages/6th%20Commander.aspx |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=Royal Brunei Navy}} He spent three months in the Mediterranean Sea serving on board the British warship {{HMS|Intrepid|L11}}. In addition to making visits to cities like Gibraltar, Malta, Famagusta, Istanbul, Athens, and Naples.

Military career

Upon completing his training, Abdul Jalil was assigned to the 30-person crew {{KDB|Pahlawan|}} as a gunnery and navigation officer. He organised a missile launch exercise utilising SS.11 and SS.12 at the time, using Pelong Rocks as the target. He took on his first command as {{KDB|Masna}}'s commander in 1975, a position he maintained for 23 years. After his time on KDB Masna, Abdul Jalil was given honorary command of {{KDB|Seteria}}.

In Brunei's waters in the early 1970s, He came across illegal immigrant ships, particularly from Vietnam. As a result, all ships in the fleet at the time were always on guard duty. During one of his patrols, the ship he was aboard dragged a boat carrying illegal immigrants for security reasons. Unfortunately, the towing line had to be broken in order to prevent accidents due to the poor weather and sea situation.

The RBN Commander was Abdul Jalil from 5 February 1995 until 13 June 2002. Under his administration, he witnessed a great deal of progress, particularly in the areas of administration and maritime mobility.{{Cite web |last=Nooratini Haji Abas |title=Kebawah DYMM amat prihatin kepada pesara tentera |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Lists/Berita/NewDisplayForm.aspx?ID=13394&ContentTypeId=0x0100BC31BF6D2ED1E4459ACCF88DA3E23BA8 |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn |language=ms}}

Diplomatic career

Pehin Abdul Jalil completed his term as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan's High Commissioner for Brunei.{{Cite web |title=Announcements - All Items |url=https://www.mfa.gov.bn/germany-berlin/Lists/Announcements/AllItems.aspx |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=www.mfa.gov.bn}} On 26 February 2013, the Sultan of Brunei presented him with a letter of credence confirming his appointment as Brunei's ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany.{{Cite news |date=2013-03-11 |title=Call By New Brunei Envoy To Germany To DMOD |url=https://www.mindef.gov.bn/airforce/Lists/News_Test/DispForm.aspx?ID=267&ContentTypeId=0x01005A98E14FB0FEBF4EA84BFF035D91D657 |access-date=2023-09-16 |work=www.mindef.gov.bn}} On 24 August 2013, he was among the Bruneian representatives to at the launching ceremony of KDB Daruttaqwa (09),{{Cite web |date=2013-08-24 |title=Prince at launching of RBN's new ship |url=http://www.sultanate.com/news_server/2013/24_aug_1.html |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=www.sultanate.com}} and also the ship's acceptance ceremony on 12 May 2014.{{Cite web |last=Prashanth Parameswaran |first= |date=2019-04-12 |title=What’s in the Brunei Navy Vessel’s New China Voyage? |url=https://thediplomat.com/2019/04/whats-in-the-brunei-navy-vessels-new-china-voyage/ |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=thediplomat.com |language=en-US}}

Books

{{Cite book |last=Kolonel (B) Abdul Jalil Hj Ahmad |first=Pehin Datu Panglima |title=Memoir Wira Samudera di Muara |year=2008 |isbn=9799991792322 |language=ms}}

Personal life

Abdul Jalil has a daughter named Norlila, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS).{{Cite web |date=2012-12-16 |title=WAW! Brunei Darussalam 2016 |url=https://www.bn.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/waw16.html |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=www.bn.emb-japan.go.jp |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Setiausaha Tetap |url=http://www.japem.gov.bn/Menteri%20dan%20Pegawai%20Kanan/Setiausaha%20Tetap.aspx |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=www.japem.gov.bn |language=ms}} Furthermore, Haji Edy Jofren, his son, is a commander in the RBN.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-25 |title=ROYAL BRUNEI ARMED FORCES PARTICIPATED IN THE 17TH ASEAN DEFENCE MINISTERS' MEETING PLUS EXPERTS' WORKING GROUP ON MARITIME SECURITY |url=https://www.mindef.gov.bn/Lists/News/DispForm.aspx?ID=5740 |access-date=2024-06-06 |website=www.mindef.gov.bn}}

Honours

File:Abdul Jalil Ahmad receives credentials 2005.jpg in 2005|188x188px]]

Abdul Jalil holds the Manteri title of Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Datu Penglima in 2003. Additionally, he has earned the following honours:{{Cite web |date= |title=SENARAI NAMA-NAMA GELARAN DAN ORANG-ORANG YANG DIKURNIAI GELARAN |url=https://www.adat-istiadat.gov.bn/SiteCollectionDocuments/Senarai%20Gelaran/SG%20Manteri%20Berchiri%2020220718.pdf |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=www.adat-istiadat.gov.bn |page=11 |language=ms}}{{Cite web |title=Images - 3.jpg |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/PublishingImages/Forms/DispForm.aspx?ID=36278&Source=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/publishingimages/forms/thumbnails.aspx?rootfolder=/publishingimages/berita/2017/november/191117/ariffin+-+temubual+pegawai+abdb+bersara&folderctid=0x012000f2642f13b448e141ba8df4b047cb2361&view=%257B9ca51de4-898a-47c5-a449-0b37949fbfc3%257D&ContentTypeId=0x0101009148F5A04DDD49CBA7127AADA5FB792B00AADE34325A8B49CDA8BB4DB53328F2140040FDCF7F85D0804486BD97CAE307799A |access-date=2023-10-05 |website=www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn |language=ms}}

National

50x50px Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB) – Dato Paduka; Third Class (SMB){{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JJ4rAAAAYAAJ&q=colonel+abdul+jalil+ahmad+SMB |title=The Army Quarterly and Defence Journal |date=1997 |publisher=West of England Press |isbn=978-0-85052-467-3 |pages=212 |language=en}}
50x50px Order of Setia Negara Brunei Third Class (SNB)
50x50px Meritorious Service Medal (PJK)
50x50px Proclamation of Independence Medal (10 March 1997)
50x50px General Service Medal (Armed Forces)
File:Brunei_Long_Service_Medal.jpg Long Service Medal and Good Conduct (PKLPB)
50x50px Royal Brunei Armed Forces Silver Jubilee Medal (31 May 1986)
50x50px Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)
50x50px Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal (5 October 2017)
50x50px National Day Silver Jubilee Medal (23 February 2009)

Foreign

Indonesia:
50x50px Navy Meritorious Service Star, 1st Class (BJSN, 17 August 1995){{Cite book|last=Markas Besar Angkatan Bersenjata Republik Indonesia|first=Indonesia|date=1995|url=https://www.google.co.id/books/edition/50_tahun_ABRI/r20SAQAAMAAJ?hl=id&gbpv=1&dq=pangab+menganugerahkan+bintang+jalasena+utama+kepada+kasal+brunei&pg=PA643&printsec=frontcover|title=50 tahun ABRI.|location=Indonesia|publisher=Pusat Sejarah dan Tradisi ABRI|pages=643|url-status=live}}
Singapore:
50x50px Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) (PJG; 11 December 1996){{Cite news |date=11 December 1996 |title=Brunei navy commander gets 3'pore award |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19961211-1.2.40.18 |access-date=2024-10-03 |work=The Straits Times |pages=34}}