Sidek Ali

{{Infobox officeholder

| honorific_prefix = His Excellency Dato Paduka

| name = Sidek Ali

| native_name = {{no bold|سيدق الي}}

| honorific_suffix = DPMB

| image = The Ambassador of Brunei to India, Mr. Dato Paduka Sidek Ali calling on the Vice President, Shri Mohd. Hamid Ansari, in New Delhi on November 12, 2015.jpg

| caption = Sidek (left) and Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari in 2015

| office = High Commissioner of Brunei to Singapore

| term_start = 29 September 2020

| predecessor = Saifulbahri Mansor

| office1 = High Commissioner of Brunei to India

| term_start1 = 16 May 2008

| term_end1 = 2020

| predecessor1 = Abdul Ghafar Ismail

| successor1 = Alaihuddin Taha

| office2 = Ambassador of Brunei to Laos

| term_start2 = 2006

| term_end2 = 2008

| successor2 = Johan Thani Abdullah

| birth_place = Brunei

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Diplomat
civil servant}}

| spouse = Mariaratnah Mohd Apong

| children = 5

| term_end = 17 August 2024

| successor = Noor Qamar Sulaiman

}}

Sidek bin Ali is a Bruneian diplomat who formerly held the position of ambassador to Laos from 2006 to 2008, high commissioner to India from 2008 to 2020, and Singapore since 2020.{{Cite web |title=Home |url=https://www.mfa.gov.bn/singapore/SitePages/chancery.aspx.aspx |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=www.mfa.gov.bn}}

Diplomatic career

In 1979, Sidek started working for the Ministry of Education as an education officer in the Brunei Civil Service. When Brunei gained independence in 1984, the Diplomatic Service Department, which he had joined in 1981, changed its name to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. From 1997 to 1999, he was stationed in the Bruneian Embassy in Indonesia. Between 2006 and 2008, he served as Brunei's ambassador to Laos.{{Cite web |last=Borneo Bulletin |date=2006-01-15 |title=Two new Brunei envoys appointed |url=http://sultanate.com/news_server/2006/15_jan_1.html |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=sultanate.com}} In March 2006, he welcomed Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah and Princess Sarah during their state visit to Laos.{{Cite web |date=2006-03-25 |title=Their Royal Highnesses end their three-day official visit to Laos |url=http://sultanate.com/news_server/2006/25_mar_2.html |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=sultanate.com}}

= India =

From 2008 until 2020, he served as Bruneian high commissioner to India. During his tenure in India, he served as both the non-resident ambassador of Brunei to Nepal{{Cite web |title=Brunei Darussalam – Ministry of Foreign Affairs Nepal MOFA |url=https://mofa.gov.np/brunei-darussalam/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=mofa.gov.np}} and the non-resident high commissioner of Brunei to Sri Lanka.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-29 |title=Presentation of Credentials, 29 September 2020 |url=http://www.mfa.gov.sg/Newsroom/Press-Statements-Transcripts-and-Photos/2020/09/20200829-POC |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=www.mfa.gov.sg |language=en}} When Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and his delegation arrived at Palam Air Force Station on 20 December 2012, he welcomed them.{{Cite web |date=2012-12-20 |title=Their Majesties Arrive In India |url=https://www.theborneopost.com/2012/12/20/their-majesties-arrive-in-india/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=Borneo Post Online |language=en-US}} He escorted Datin Romaizah to the 2018 ASIAN Summit on Education & Skills (ASES) in New Delhi.{{Cite web |last=Dk Siti Farhana Binti Pg Hj Yusof |date=2018-04-10 |title=Deputy Minister of Education Attend ASIAN Summit on Education & Skills (ASES) 2018 New Delhi India |url=https://www.moe.gov.bn/Lists/Announcement/DispFormCustom.aspx?ID=409&ContentTypeId=0x010400335E5DEA2740C344B3905EA7B342601C |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=www.moe.gov.bn}} On 28 February 2019, Brunei's representative, Dato Sidek, signed the Agreement for the Exchange of Information and Assistance in Collection with regard to Taxes (TIEA) between India and Brunei.{{Cite web |date=2019-03-04 |title=High Commission of India, Brunei Darussalam : Important Notice/Alerts |url=https://www.hcindiabrunei.gov.in/alert_detail/?alertid=14 |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=www.hcindiabrunei.gov.in}} He also participated in the 2019 India ASEAN Expo and Summit on behalf of Brunei.{{Cite web |date=2019-02-21 |title=FICCI : Industry's Voice for Policy Change |url=https://www.ficci.in/api/press_release_details/3357 |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=www.ficci.in |language=en}}

= Singapore =

As the newly appointed high commissioner to Singapore, Dato Sidek had a meeting with Al-Muhtadee Billah on 9 December 2020.{{Cite web |date=2020-12-09 |title=DYTM DPMM MENERIMA MENGADAP PESURUHJAYA TINGGI NEGARA BRUNEI DARUSSALAM KE REPUBLIK SINGAPURA |url=http://www.infofoto.gov.bn/main.php?g2_itemId=973848 |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=www.infofoto.gov.bn}} On 29 September, he gave President Halimah Yacob his letter of credence during a ceremony held at the Istana. On 24 to 25 August 2022, he hosted Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Queen Saleha during their state visit to Singapore.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-23 |title=Keberangkatan Negara ke Republik Singapura |url=https://www.jpm.gov.bn/Lists/Berita%20JPM%202022/NDispForm.aspx?ID=172&InitialTabID=Ribbon.Read&source=/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=www.jpm.gov.bn |language=ms}} On 18 July 2023, the Supreme Courts of Singapore and Brunei Darussalam signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to improve cooperation, communication, and coordination on matters pertaining to the avoidance and settlement of disputes.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-03 |title=MoU further seals Brunei-Singapore judicial ties |url=https://borneobulletin.com.bn/mou-further-seals-brunei-singapore-judicial-ties/ |access-date=2024-05-07 |website=borneobulletin.com.bn |language=en-US}} He was succeeded by Noor Qamar Sulaiman on 17 August 2024.{{Cite web |date=17 August 2024 |title=HIS MAJESTY THE SULTAN AND YANG DI-PERTUAN OF BRUNEI DARUSSALAM PRESENTS AND RECEIVES LETTERS OF CREDENCE FOR NEWLY-APPOINTED ENVOYS |url=https://www.mfa.gov.bn/Lists/News%20Headlines/NDispForm.aspx?ID=304 |access-date=2024-08-25 |website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs}}

Personal life

Datin Mariaratnah binti Haji Mohd Apong and Sidek are married, and together they have five children.

Honours

File:The High Commissioner of Brunei Darussalam to India, Mr. Sidek Bin Ali presented his credentials to the President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on May 16, 2008.jpg Pratibha Patil in 2008]]

Sidek has earned the following honours;

National

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}}
50x50px Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Third Class (SMB)
50x50px Excellent Service Medal (PIKB)
50x50px Long Service Medal (PKL)

Foreign