Wikipedia

Mariam Abdul Aziz

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Abdul Aziz is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Mariam. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Mariam binti Abdul Aziz (born 1955/1956), also referred to as Mariam Aziz,[1] is the former wife of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, married to him from 1981 to 2003.

Mariam
مريم
Mariam in 2024
BornMariam binti Abdul Aziz
1955 (age 68–69)
Brunei
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1981; div. 2003)​
Issue
Names
Hajah Mariam binti Haji Abdul Aziz
Regnal name
Yang Mulia Datin Paduka Seri Dayang Hajah Mariam binti Haji Abdul Aziz
FatherHaji Abdul Aziz Abdullah
MotherPengiran Hajah Rashida
ReligionSunni Islam

Early life and education

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Mariam binti Abdul Aziz, born around 1955 or 1956 in Brunei Town, worked as a stewardess for Royal Brunei Airlines. Although she was a commoner, she came from a mixed heritage, being not of pure Malay descent. Her mother, Rashidah Saleh, was Bruneian, while her father, Jimmy Bell, born to a Scottish father and Japanese mother, was a government servant in Brunei. After marrying Rashidah, Jimmy Bell converted to Islam and took the name Abdul Aziz. As the fourth child in the family, Mariam was half Bruneian, a quarter English, and a quarter Japanese. She attended Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College in Brunei Town and was reportedly sympathetic to the outlawed Parti Rakyat Brunei (PRB) during her school years.[2] She is also the sister of Pehin Dato Mohd Jaafar and Dato Mohd Samid.[3]

Marriage

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Mariam became the second wife of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in a secret ceremony on 28 October 1981. Her marriage to the Sultan was initially met with strong disapproval from the Sultan's father, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, primarily because Mariam was a commoner of mixed heritage and not of pure Malay descent. However, by March-April 1987, Sultan Omar Ali reconciled and began accepting her as his daughter-in-law.[2] Mariam has four children with the Sultan: two sons, Abdul Azim[4] and Abdul Mateen,[5] and two daughters, Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah[6] and Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah.[7] It was also known that she has an adopted daughter, Afifa Abdullah.[8]

Her family resides in Istana Nurul Izzah, a palace built for her by the Sultan at a cost of US$120 million. Although officially ranking second to Queen Saleha, Mariam is often perceived as more influential. The Sultan spends most of his time with her, both at home and during official and unofficial trips abroad. It is also rumored that she is leveraging her status to promote her son, Abdul Azim, as the heir apparent to the throne.[2] She was the colonel-in-chief of the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (RBMR) Women's Company (Kompeni Askar Wanita), which was founded in 1981.[9][10]

After meeting in 1980, the couple got divorced in February 2003. Prince Sufri Bolkiah, the brother of the Sultan, announced the information on official television on 2 February 2003,[11] that she was getting a divorce in accordance with the country's Sharia Islamic law. In government and commercial establishments, several images of the sultan's ex-wife that were displayed alongside to pictures of him and his first wife were swiftly taken down after the royal announcement. The monarch has 100 days to change his mind without requiring new marriage vows, but no explanation for the divorce was given.[12]

Jewellery lawsuit

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Mariam accused Fatimah Kumin Lim of stealing jewelry in two lawsuits in London.[13] The judge concluded that the theft had illegally sold two diamonds and a diamond jewellery worth about £12.5 million. She lives in Singapore and is currently pursuing compensation for the theft. Mariam had previously testified in court that she had given a diamond bracelet to one of her bodyguards on a night out in 2008 for safekeeping and had not seen it since.[14]

Social contributions

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Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to offering high-quality training, rehabilitation, and educational opportunities for people with special needs. Mariam serves as Pusat Ehsan's patron.[15] The center was founded by the patron with the intention of improving the lives of people with impairments.[16]


Together with Princess Masna on 8 May 2002, participated in tai chi during a mass charity exercise hosted by the Brunei Business Women's Association at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.[17]

Titles, styles and honours

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See also: List of honours of the Bruneian Royal Family by country

Honours

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Mariam had her national awards revoked upon her divorce in 2003, despite this she still holds the title of Datin Paduka Seri as of 2022.[18] She has been awarded the following awards:

National

Foreign

Things named after her

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Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam Mosque in 2022

References

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  1. ^ "Sultan of Brunei's ex-wife wins jewellery case". BBC News. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Singh, D. S. Ranjit; Sidhu, Jatswan S. (1997). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. London: Scarecrow Press. pp. 85–86. ISBN 9780810832763.
  3. ^ "Berita - Perhimpunan keluarga eratkan hubungan silaturahim..." www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  4. ^ Bandial, Ain (24 October 2020). "HRH Prince Azim passes away at 38". The Scoop. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  5. ^ Singh, Keval (8 October 2023). "Brunei's Prince Mateen to marry in January 2024". The Strait Times. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  6. ^ Bakar, Rasidah Hj Abu (17 February 2020). "SEA Games medallists receive cash payouts". The Scoop. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Istiadat Berbedak Pengantin Diraja highlights royal wedding celebration". Borneo Bulletin Online. 12 January 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Sultan of Brunei's daughter Afifa Abdullah 'duped over jewels'". BBC News. 30 January 2014. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  9. ^ Bachamiya A Hussainmiya (1 January 2012). "Royal Brunei Arrmed Forces 50th anniversary Commemorative History". RBAF 50th Golden Anniversary Commemorative Book. Southeastern University of Sri Lanka: 12–24.
  10. ^ "Pelita Brunei" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). 10 April 1996. pp. 8–9. Retrieved 28 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Dijatuhkan talak satu". Pelita Brunei (in Malay). 3 February 2003. Archived from the original on 6 February 2003. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  12. ^ "SULTAN OF BRUNEI DIVORCES HIS SECOND WIFE". HELLO!. 5 February 2003. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Former Singapore shuttler allegedly stole from ex-wife of Brunei sultan to settle $10m debt". The Straits Times. 12 February 2014. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Sultan of Brunei's ex-wife wins jewellery case". BBC News. 5 April 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam". www.pusatehsan.org.bn. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  16. ^ "Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam". www.pusatehsan.org.bn. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  17. ^ "DYTM berangkat ke Senaman Amal Beramai-ramai" (PDF). Pelita Brunei. 8 May 2002. p. 4. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Berita JPM - Majlis Persantapan Diraja bergemerlapan". www.jpm.gov.bn. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  19. ^ "Ratchakitcha" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Dikurniakan Bintang Kebesaran Thailand" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). 28 August 2002. p. 4. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Pengiran Isteri Hajjah Mariam Hospital". Ministry of Health. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Ministry of Education, Brunei Darussalam". www.moe.gov.bn. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  23. ^ "SenaraiMasjid - Masjid Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam, Kampong Jerudong". www.mora.gov.bn. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
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