Bahar ibni Jefri Bolkiah[a] (born 20 August 1981) is a member of the royal family of Brunei. He is the second son and third child of Prince Jefri Bolkiah by his first wife, Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Norhayati, thus making him a prince of Brunei. He is regarded as one of Southeast Asia's top polo players.[5]

Bahar
بهار
Bahar in 2024
Born (1981-08-20) 20 August 1981 (age 43)
Brunei
Spouse
Regnal name
Yang Amat Mulia Pengiran Muda Bahar ibni Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Digadong Sahibul Mal Pengiran Muda Haji Jefri Bolkiah
HouseBolkiah
FatherPrince Jefri Bolkiah
MotherPengiran Norhayati
ReligionSunni Islam
Signature
Sports career
CountryBrunei
SportPolo
Medal record
Polo
Representing  Brunei
SEA Games
Bronze medal – third place 2017 Kuala Lumpur Men's tournament
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Calatagan Men's tournament

Early life

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Pengiran Muda Bahar was born in Brunei on 20 August 1981 as the third child and second son of Paduka Seri Pengiran Di-Gadong Shahibul Maal Pengiran Muda Haji Jefri Bolkiah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar 'Ali Saifuddien Sa'adul Khairi Waddien and Pengiran Anak Isteri Pengiran Norhayati binti Al-Marhum Pengiran Jaya Negara Pengiran Haji Abdul Rahman. He has an elder brother and sister, Pengiran Muda Abdul Hakeem (born 13 June 1973) and Princess Hamidah Jamalul Bulqiah (born 26 April 1977). On his sixteenth birthday, he was given $400 million.[6]

Sports career

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During the 2017 SEA Games polo competition at the Putrajaya Equestrian Park, Brunei beat Singapore 10–8 to win the bronze medal on 28 August 2017. Pengiran Muda Bahar, the captain of the Brunei team and a player with a handicap of 2, was the team's star, contributing eight of the team's ten points while colleague Huzaimi Mahari scored two, winning him the title of "Most Valuable Player" for the competition.[5] When approached by media following the game, he said that his team's performance had much improved and that they had performed better.[7]

The polo team from Brunei recovered from the disappointment of losing the 4-6 high goal final to take home bronze at the 2019 SEA Games on 1 December in Calatagan, Batangas. Following their successes in the previous tournament in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, two years ago, he won a second consecutive polo bronze medal. In the opening chukka, Indonesia took a 2–0 lead until Pengiran Muda Bahar, the game-winning penalty taker for the Philippines, cut the score in half. He scored twice, including in the last 34 seconds of the third chukka, to help Brunei mount a comeback.[8][9]

Business career

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Pengiran Muda Bahar was the owner of a business named Argent International.[6]

Princess Azemah and Pengiran Muda Bahar launched Shine Brunei. To raise the bar in the country's local fitness sector and promote the health and welfare of the country, they wanted to make this form of boutique training available to Bruneians as well. In the nation, Shine Cycle is the only authentic cycling boutique; its doors first opened in February 2018.[10]

Lawsuit

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His father, Jefri, appointed him and Hakeem as directors of the New York Palace before to the couple's departure for Brunei. The large, hefty princes are the real heirs to Jefri's lavish lifestyle, claim Jefri's lawyers Faith Zaman and Thomas Derbyshire. He claimed that he had simply "skimmed" the paperwork and would sign whatever Zaman put in front of him, despite the fact that he held the title of president of the New York Palace hotel and had approved many of the contracts and leases the defendants were alleged to have taken from his father.[6]

According to Derbyshire, Pengiran Muda Bahar and his hairstylist had "an unbreakable friendship" as he matured. Eventually, they co-opened No. 5 Cavendish Square, a hotel, restaurant, and club in London. Upon being sued in a civil action, the partners sought the assistance of Derbyshire, a budding barrister they had encountered at No. 5. Derbyshire focused in money-laundering and fraud cases and was now defending Terry Adams, a well-known gangster in Britain.[6]

According to Jefri's complaint, "in late March 2006, Pengiran Muda Bahar appointed her as Managing Director of the Palace Hotel, relying on Zaman's position as a fiduciary to him." She produced her job agreement, which he had signed, and stated that her yearly compensation comprised five percent of the hotel's total operating profit, a $100,000 automobile allowance, and free use of the business credit card for personal needs. Jefri later claimed in an affidavit that Bahar had not read the entire deal before signing it, saying, "Ms. Zaman did not inform [Pengiran Muda Bahar] that she was to receive 5% of GOP."[6]

Upon presenting this complex case to the jury. The jury member stated, "There was no real proof that he didn't know what was going on and he didn't approve these dealings." "To me they looked like Hollywood actors, trying to show us that by being royals they were fooled," a fellow jury said of Jefri and Pengiran Muda Bahar.[6]

Marriage

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Pengiran Muda Bahar and Princess Azemah were wed in Istana Nurul Iman. An Islamic ceremony in the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque, a Royal Powdering Ceremony, and a banquet at the Sultan's palace were just a few of the activities that took place during the wedding's week-long celebration.[11] At the palace's Balai Singgahsana Indera Buana, they held their Berbedak Pengantin Diraja ceremony, according to all royal traditions.[12] The royal families of Pahang and Johor as well as the mother of the bride were present,[13] most notably Tengku Hassanal Ibrahim[14] and Tunku Idris Iskandar.[13]

Honours

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Honours awarded to him are as follows:[15]

  •   Proclamation of Independence Medal (1997)
  •   Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)
  •   Sultan of Brunei Golden Jubilee Medal (5 October 2017)
  •   National Day Silver Jubilee Medal (23 February 2009)

Ancestry

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Notes

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  1. ^ State publications still refer to him as Pengiran Muda Bahar rather than Prince Bahar,[1][2] even though sons of the sultan and the oldest son of the Wazirs with their royal spouses are referred to as Pengiran Muda,[3] a Bruneian aristocratic title that means "Prince" in English.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Mohamad, Lyna (17 January 2023). "New envoys wowed by royal wedding". Borneo Bulletin Online. Archived from the original on 25 August 2024. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  2. ^ "'Majlis Persantapan Diraja'". Prime Minister's Office. Retrieved 25 August 2024.
  3. ^ Siti Norkhalbi Haji Wahsalfelah (2007). Textiles and Identity in Brunei Darussalam. White Lotus Press. p. 17. ISBN 978-974-480-094-7.
  4. ^ Sidhu, Jatswan S. (22 December 2009). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Scarecrow Press. p. 148. ISBN 978-0-8108-7078-9.
  5. ^ a b Hazair, Ain Bandial and Hadthiah (9 September 2017). "Bronze medal win at SEA Games spurs young royals to seek further polo glory". The Scoop. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  6. ^ a b c d e f "Prince Jefri: The Prince Who Blew Through Billions". Vanity Fair. 23 June 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  7. ^ "KL2017: Brunei raih gangsa polo". bharian.com.my. 28 August 2017. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  8. ^ "Brunei Darussalam National Olympic Council". www.bruneiolympic.org. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Sultan watches Brunei polo bronze win over Singapore". borneo363.rssing.com. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  10. ^ Pernille (1 September 2022). "Shine Brunei". Ride High Magazine. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  11. ^ "Brunei's Princess Azemah Ties the Knot". Town & Country. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Keindahan Istiadat Berbedak serikan Majlis Mempelai Diraja". Pelita Brunei. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Royal tradition on full display » Borneo Bulletin Online". Royal tradition on full display. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Persandingan diraja berseri-seri, penuh tradisi » Media Permata Online". Persandingan diraja berseri-seri, penuh tradisi. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Jabatan Adat Istiadat Negara - Senarai Ahli majlis Mesyuarat Adat Istiadat". www.adat-istiadat.gov.bn. Retrieved 2 March 2023.
Pengiran Muda Bahar
Born: 20 August 1981
Preceded by Line of succession to the Bruneian throne
21st position
Succeeded by