Alaihuddin Taha

Alaihuddin was born on 29 May 1958, to an aristocrat, Pehin Orang Kaya Digadong Seri Lela Dato Seri Utama Haji Mohamad Taha bin Pehin Orang Kaya Ratna Diraja Hussain. He has one child and is married to Datin Mariani Bongsu.{{Cite web |title=MALAYSIA-BRUNEI RELATIONS NEED TO BE STRENGTHENED - KINGMALAYSIA-BRUNEI RELATIONS NEED TO BE STRENGTHENED - KING |url=https://www.nabalunews.com/post/malaysia-brunei-relations-need-to-be-strengthened-king |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.nabalunews.com}} He has a brother, Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Jaya Dato Paduka Haji Abu Hurairah.{{Cite web |last=Haji Abas |first=Nooratini |date=2017-11-02 |title=Their Royal Highnesses adakan perjumpaan bersama anggota 2RGR |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Lists/Berita/NewDisplayForm.aspx?ID=13093&ContentTypeId=0x0100BC31BF6D2ED1E4459ACCF88DA3E23BA8 |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Pelita Brunei |language=ms}} This made him the uncle of Huraini, clerk to the Legislative Council,{{Cite web |title=Clerk of Legislative Council |url=https://www.councils.gov.bn/JMM%20Site%20Pages/Clerk%20of%20Legislative%20Council.aspx |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=Jabatan Majlis-Majlis Mesyuarat}} and Hazarena, Intermediate Court Judge.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-24 |title=Brunei courts: Brothers sentenced to jail and get whipping for intruding homes, thefts |url=https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2023/12/24/brunei-courts-brothers-sentenced-to-jail-and-get-whipping-for-intruding-homes-thefts |access-date=2024-08-09 |website=The Star |language=en}} He received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in international studies from North Staffordshire Polytechnic in the United Kingdom in 1984.{{Cite web |date=2007-08-13 |title=NEW PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF UNOG {{!}} The United Nations Office at Geneva |url=https://www.ungeneva.org/en/news-media/presentation-of-credentials/2007/08/new-permanent-representative-brunei-darussalam |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.ungeneva.org |language=en}}

In 1986, Alaihuddin worked as the personal assistant to the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Zakaria Sulaiman, after joining the ministry in August 1984. He had two postings overseas: the Brunei high commission in New Zealand, where he worked as a second secretary in 1986, and the Brunei embassy in Washington, D.C., where he held the same position from 1987 to 1990. After his return to Brunei in 1990, he worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Southeast Asian political section in 1991. He headed the Brunei delegation to the fifty-fourth session of the General Assembly in 1994.

Alaihuddin was sent overseas once more in 1995, this time to work for the Brunei high commission in London as first secretary and then acting minister counselor. In the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he was appointed deputy director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (MOFAT) Department of International Organisations in 2001 and director of the department in 2003. In {{Circa|2004}}, he was the Ministry of Communications' permanent secretary.{{Cite web |last=Bahyiah Bakir |date=2014-09-14 |title=His Majesty presents Letters of Credence |url=http://www.sultanate.com/news_server/2014/14_sep_1.html |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.sultanate.com}} He would then serve as the MOFAT's acting private and confidential secretary in January 2007. As the new Permanent Representative of Brunei to the United Nations Office at Geneva, Alaihuddin presented his credentials to Sergei Ordzhonikidze on 13 August 2007.

Alaihuddin was appointed as the Brunei high commissioner to Malaysia on 25 November 2014, with the Sultan consenting to give him his credentials at the Istana Nurul Iman on 14 September 2014. In September 2015, a group headed by Alaihuddin from Brunei paid a visit to Regional Corridor Development Authority's (RECODA) Kuching headquarters to discuss economic collaboration.{{Cite web |last= |date=2015-11-15 |title=Brunei team learns about SCORE and Tanjung Manis opportunities |url=https://recoda.gov.my/brunei-team-learns-about-score-and-tanjung-manis-opportunities/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=recoda.gov.my |language=en-US}}

In 2019, Alaihuddin, during a Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC)-hosted dinner in Kuala Lumpur, expressed hope for a friendship association between Brunei and Malaysian business owners to boost trade cooperation and leverage mutual strengths. He highlighted the importance of including both public and private sector members to sustain public-private partnerships as key economic growth drivers. This initiative aligns with Brunei's goal to strengthen economic ties within ASEAN.{{Cite web |last=Wardi Wasil |date=2019-05-14 |title=New association mulled to help Brunei, Malaysia businesses seek more trade opportunities |url=http://thescoop.co/2019/05/14/new-association-mulled-to-help-brunei-malaysia-businesses-seek-more-trade-opportunities/ |access-date=2024-05-25 |website=The Scoop |language=en-GB}}

Alaihuddin paid Muhyiddin Yassin a courtesy call on 7 December 2020. He arrived to say goodbye as his stay in Malaysia would expire later that month.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-08 |title=Malaysia hopes Brunei will establish Reciprocal Green Lane - Muhyiddin |url=https://www.astroawani.com/berita-malaysia/malaysia-hopes-brunei-will-establish-reciprocal-green-lane-muhyiddin-272180 |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.astroawani.com}}{{Cite web |last=Pizaro Gozali Idrus |date=2020-12-08 |title=Malaysia vows to enhance ties with Brunei Darussalam |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/malaysia-vows-to-enhance-ties-with-brunei-darussalam/2069184 |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.aa.com.tr}} In addition, he received praise from Al-Sultan Abdullah for his six years of service in Malaysia, particularly for fostering closer ties and collaboration between the two countries.

On 9 March 2021, Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah held separate audiences with the recently appointed envoys from Brunei, including Alaihuddin.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-10 |title=Crown Prince receives Brunei and foreign envoys |url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn |archive-url=https://borneo363.rssing.com/chan-61976226/article11215.html |archive-date=2021-03-10 |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=borneo363.rssing.com}} On 22 September 2021, Alaihuddin gave the President Ram Nath Kovind a virtual ceremony in which he handed his credentials.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-25 |title=Brunei {{!}} H E Dato Alaihuddin Mohamad Taha presents credentials to the President of India {{!}} Indian Bureaucracy is an Exclusive News Portal |url=https://www.indianbureaucracy.com/brunei-h-e-dato-alaihuddin-mohamad-taha-presents-credentials-to-the-president-of-india/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2021-09-22 |title=The High Commissioner-designate of Brunei Darussalam, Alaihuddin Mohd Taha presenting his credentials to the President, Ram Nath Kovind |url=https://www.sarkaritel.com/the-high-commissioner-designate-of-brunei-darussalam-alaihuddin-mohd-taha-presenting-his-credentials-to-the-president-ram-nath-kovind/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=Sarkaritel.com |language=en-US}} He attended the 2nd Brunei Darussalam-India Joint Trade Committee Meeting on 11 March 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-03-14 |title=Brunei, India committed to enhanced ties |url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/brunei-india-committed-to-enhanced-ties/ |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=borneobulletin.com.bn |language=en-US}} Later on 22 July, Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol, Secretary General of AALCO, paid him a courtesy call.{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-07-22 |title=COURTESY VISIT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF AALCO TO THE EMBASSY OF THE BRUNEI DARRUSALAM, NEW DELHI |url=https://www.aalco.int/Courtesy%20Visit%20of%20the%20Secretary%20General%20of%20AALCO%20to%20the%20Embassy%20of%20the%20Brunei%20Darrusalam%20New%20Delhi |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.aalco.int}}

Alaihuddin also accompanied Halbi Mohd Yussof to the Ministerial Session of the Strategic Conference, India Energy Week 2023, and the 9th Asian Energy Ministerial Roundtable.{{Cite web |last=Radio Television Brunei |date=2023-02-07 |title=9th Asian Energy Ministerial Meeting & India Energy Week |url=https://www.pmo.gov.bn/Lists/2022%20PMO%20News/NDispForm.aspx?ID=346&source=/SitePages/All%20News.aspx&InitialTabID=Ribbon.Read |access-date=2024-02-11 |website=www.pmo.gov.bn}}

Alaihuddin is married to Datin Hajah Mariani binti Haji Bungsu, a patron of ASEAN Ladies' Circle (ALC) Brunei.{{Cite web |last= |date=2024-04-16 |title=ASEAN Ladies' Circle (ALC) Philippines Shares Christmas Joy with Underprivileged Children |url=https://www.ydsmaidagency.com.my/asean-ladies-circle-alc-philippines-shares-christmas-joy-with-underprivileged-children/ |access-date=2024-04-29 |website=www.ydsmaidagency.com.my |language=en-US}}

Throughout his career, he has earned the following honours:

• 50x50px Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB; 15 July 2010) – Dato Paduka{{Cite news |last=Hezlinawati Haji Abd. Karim |date=17 July 2010 |title=85 dikurniakan Bintang-Bintang Kebesaran |url=https://www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn/Arkib%20Dokumen/2010/Julai/PB170710.pdf |access-date=2024-12-15 |work=Pelita Brunei |pages=14 |language=ms}}

{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-dip}}

{{s-bef

| before = Sidek Ali

}}

{{s-ttl

| title = High Commissioner of Brunei to India

| years = 22 September 2021 – present

}}

{{s-aft

| after = Incumbent

}}

{{s-bef

| before = Ishaaq Abdullah

}}

{{s-ttl

| title = High Commissioner of Brunei to Malaysia

| years = 25 November 2014 – December 2020

}}

{{s-aft

| after = Mahmud Saidin

}}

{{s-bef

| before = Mahadi Wasli

}}

{{s-ttl

| title = Permanent Representative of Brunei to the United Nations in Geneva

| years = July 2007 – 15 April 2008

}}

{{s-aft

| after = Janin Erih

}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taha, Alaihuddin}}

Category:Bruneian diplomats

Category:Living people

Category:High commissioners of Brunei to Malaysia

Category:High commissioners of Brunei to India

Category:Permanent representatives of Brunei to the United Nations in Geneva

Category:1958 births

Category:Alumni of Staffordshire University