• Source: Suyoi Osman

Suyoi bin Haji Osman (born 15 February 1952), sometimes referred to as Pehin Dato Suyoi, is a Bruneian aristocrat, politician and diplomat who was the Minister of Health from 2005 to 2010, the Minister of Development from 2010 to 2015, the Minister of Education from 2015 to 2018, and currently a member of the Brunei Legislative Council (LegCo).




Early life and education


Suyoi was born in Kuala Belait on 15 February 1952, and obtained his early education at the Anthony Abell College in 1973. He later went for his further studies at the University of East Anglia (BA Development Studies, 1975), the University of London (Certificate in Education) and the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University (Master of International Public Policy (MPP), 1986).




Ministerial career


Suyoi began serving as the Deputy Director of the Political Department in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in 1984, the Bruneian Ambassador to France from 1991 to 1996, and as the Deputy Minister of Education in June 2004, he would visit Australia under the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Special Visits Program.




= Minister of Health

=
Pehin Suyoi would be appointed the Minister of Health from 2005 to 2010. During the World Health Organization (WHO)'s Fifty-ninth WHA on 22 May 2006, he was appointed one of the vice presidents. Later in 2007, he stated that although there are only 32 people living with AIDS in Brunei, the number is nevertheless alarming considering the size and population of the nation. According to him in 2009, the tiny sultanate is clear of infection, and plans are in motion to increase its supply of the antiviral medication Tamiflu from the current 25 percent to 40 percent of the population of more than 380,000 people.
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of health services in the nation, Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah launched the Integrated Health Screening and Health Promotion for Civil Servants Programme on 5 September 2007. According to Pehin Suyoi, the number of patients receiving renal dialysis increased significantly that year from 79 in 1991 to 471, and healthcare expenses increased from a little over one million dollars to $8 million. The health budget increased from $66.6 million to $259.7 million in 20 years. The majority of the total medicine costs were attributed to the top 10 medications, which are primarily used to treat cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cholesterol. Through "Mukim Sihat" programs, the ministry also raises public awareness of health issues, which in turn encourages health checks and enhances overall medical planning and preventive actions.




= Minister of Development

=
Pehin Suyoi was reappointed the Minister of Development from 2010 to 2015, replacing Abdullah Bakar. He stated in March 2013 that there is still a lack of interest among Bruneian property owners and that the government is having difficulty gauging the success of the strata title. In order to lessen floods, Tutong will have five retention basins created, he informed the LegCo on 17 March 2015. The following day, he was part of the Brunei delegation for the Ninth Meeting of Brunei-Singapore Cooperation on the Environment under the Annual Exchange of Visits.
Following the implementation of the Strata Title Act, Bruneian surveyors must continue to advance their skills, as highlighted by Pehin Suyoi on 2 February 2015. He emphasised during the Surveyors' Night that professionals, including surveyors, would be impacted by ASEAN's single market and pointed out that land surveying has advanced significantly in Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore. In order to preserve professional capacity and integrity, he promoted adherence to international norms. Speaking on global requirements for surveyors, Bill Jones from RICS ASEAN also covered value, measurement, and ethics.
Pehin Suyoi attended the 11th Annual Brunei Darussalam Roundtable as the Deputy Chairman of the Autoriti Monetari Brunei Darussalam (AMBD) on 19 October 2015. He would then go on to state that both domestic and foreign market participants can rely on these advantages to take advantage of the numerous opportunities in the financial sector, particularly in the area of Islamic finance where their strong Islamic values are a great source of assurance to investors on our capacity and capability to provide Islamic financial services.




= Minister of Education

=
On 22 October 2015, Pehin Suyoi became the 6th Minister of Education.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) has increased its national aim for Primary School Assessment (PSR) examination scores to 79%, up 5% from the previous goal of 74%, according to an announcement made by Pehin Suyoi on 18 January 2016. He unveiled the National Literacy and Numeracy Standards at the 5th National Education Forum and commended the government, parents, and schools for working together to achieve the previous goal. He also established a new national goal for secondary schools, which is to have at least 60% of students get five O-Level credits by the year 2017. The minister underlined that adopting required adjustments and being dedicated to reaching predetermined objectives are essential to raising the caliber of education.
Pehin Suyoi declared in August 2016 that the MoE would concentrate on researching scholarship recipients' employment upon graduation and return to Brunei. The ministry wants to track graduates more closely in order to make sure they land jobs and to track their professional development. He stressed the need of matching students' abilities to the needs of the labor market and urged nearby colleges to evaluate graduate employability in order to improve their curriculum.
The 48th President of the Southeast Asian Council of Ministers of Education (SEAMEO Council), Teerakiat Jaroensettasin, and his entourage were honoured at a dinner held by him on 9 February 2017. After obtaining consent from Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah on 20 January 2023, he was again appointed for the second time as a member of the LegCo.
Pehin Suyoi advised MoE staff members, both from public and private schools, to make the most of the newly redesigned MoE portal on 24 October 2017. He underlined that the portal's primary function should be to facilitate access to official data and reference materials in order to maximize government spending on education and promote growth. In addition to encouraging users to voice concerns and offer feedback, the site gives users access to government data, instructional resources, and educational information. In order to raise user awareness and engagement, it also includes new methods for integrating and distributing instructional resources.
Pehin Suyoi made a national statement during the 39th Session of UNESCO General Conference General Policy Debate on 4 November 2017, highlighting the National Education System's (SPN21) dedication to providing high-quality education. He emphasized the significance of school administrators keeping an eye on teachers' performance by highlighting the Brunei Teacher Standard (BTS), which aims to have 90% of instructors reach at least Level 3 by 2035. He also mentioned Brunei's dominance in the Asia–Pacific area for female scientific graduates and the involvement of 59 schools in the Global Lesson on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He proposed that UNESCO may serve as a platform for international collaboration in professional growth and teacher exchanges.




Legislative Councillor


Pehin Suyoi was one of the titled individuals nominated to the new Legislative Council of Brunei, it was announced on 20 January 2023.




= 19th LegCo session

=
Discussions concerning the allocation of funds for the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and related ministries for the Financial Year 2023/2024 took place on 7 March 2023, during the 19th LegCo session. Reviewing licenses for businesses and large-scale downstream projects that are essential to the growth of the non-oil and gas sector were among the key topics. Pehin Suyoi underlined that foreign direct investment (FDIs) have the potential to increase national income and generate employment possibilities for locals who are joining the workforce annually. She also underlined the necessity of identifying current job categories and the necessary skill sets to prepare locals for these positions.
Minister Muhammad Juanda announced on 20 March 2023, that there will be fewer government construction projects as a result of the decline in the need for new infrastructure and buildings. He emphasised that the upcoming year would be devoted to preserving and modernising the current infrastructure, which continues to require the assistance of consultants and contractors. Minister Mohd Amin Liew highlighted the need for an equilibrium between both demand and supply and recommended raising foreign direct investments and industry diversification to spur growth in response to Pehin Suyoi's worries about the detrimental effects on the construction industry. A 1.2% increase in construction permit applications was also noticed by Minister Muhammad Juanda between 2016 and 2022, with a median of 116 permits awarded each month in 2022.
Pehin Suyoi led six LegCo members and representatives from the Department of Councils of State in a delegation to the 31st Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in the Philippines from 23–26 November 2023. Representatives from eighteen nations participated in the meeting, which included a plenary discussion on security and politics. Pehin Suyoi highlighted Brunei's efforts to tackle transnational crimes like laundering money, cyberattacks, and terrorism, as well as the Sultanate's close collaboration with friendly states to ensure a united effort.




= 20th LegCo session

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Pehin Suyoi stressed at the 20th LegCo session on 4 March 2024, that penghulus and ketua kampungs should respond to community concerns right away rather than waiting for official responses. He called attention to problems that frequently go unaddressed, like the need for maintenance, requirements for housing, and emergency financial support for low-income families. Minister Ahmaddin agreed, noting that penghulus and ketua kampungs serve as the initial point of contact for the people and that they frequently use their own money to assist those in need. Minister Nazmi further mentioned that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) will keep helping, and that the public can get help from the Community Development Department (JAPEM) by calling Welfare Line 141.
Pehin Suyoi brought up the topic of abandoned, dangerous, and deteriorated government buildings at the meeting and recommended that they be demolished in order to enhance metropolitan areas. In response, Minister Muhammad Juanda stated that roughly 1,000 of the 5,639 government buildings—including bungalows and barracks—are unoccupied. According to his report, 639 buildings that were vacant have been demolished, and 213 are presently being evaluated for possible demolition or rehabilitation. In 2023, a few abandoned commercial buildings were also removed because of their terrible state.
Pehin Suyoi questioned the government's attempts to promote local spending and draw in international tourists, and she expressed worries about the reason that a large number of Bruneians take their holidays abroad. He underlined the necessity of taking action to address the increasing attraction of advancements in nearby countries. Minister Abdul Manaf responded by outlining a number of initiatives carried out by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT), such as the Brunei December Festival, the Brunei Gastronomy Festival (BGF), the Kenali Negara Kitani (KNK) program, and various regional product expos and sales events. These initiatives seek to boost domestic consumption as well as overseas travel and indigenous products.
On 7 March 2024, during the 20th LegCo meeting, members reviewed the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA), discussing topics including zakat and the halal certification procedure. Pehin Suyoi demanded that more relief homes be built and that the aid given from zakat monies be reviewed.
Minister Romaizah gave a report on the Whole School Evaluation (WSE) system, which has been evaluating the standard of instruction in government schools since 2018, during a LegCo meeting on 13 March 2024. Pehin Suyoi expressed worry that schools that just meet the basic requirements may be failing their students' education and should be improving their facilities, pedagogy, leadership, curriculum, and community involvement. In an effort to support schools in going above and beyond the basic requirement, the minister stated that the WSE has evaluated 120 schools to date, comprising 90 primary schools, 26 secondary schools, and four sixth form centers.




Other appointments


Pehin Dato Suyoi also held several other key positions such as the Special Chairman of the Committee to review the mechanism of zakat; Deputy Chairman of the Council of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD); Member of the Brunei Darussalam Higher Education Committee; Board Member of the Al-Muhtadee Billah Mahkota Young Youth Fund Fund For Orphans; Advisor to the Handicapped Children's Association (CACA); Patron of Brunei Tennis Club.




Personal life


Suyoi has a son, Mohd Aizul Hakim, a diplomat.




Honours


Suyoi was bestowed the Manteri title of Yang Berhormat (The Honorable) Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan on 17 April 2004. Examples of honours given to him;

Order of Setia Negara Brunei First Class (PSNB; 15 July 2006) – Dato Seri Setia
Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB) – Dato Paduka
Meritorious Service Medal (PJK)
Excellent Service Medal (PIKB)
Long Service Medal (PKL)




References






External links


2009 Interview with Suyoi Osman
2014 Interview with Suyoi Osman

Kata Kunci Pencarian:

• Kementerian Pembangunan (Brunei)
• Abu Bakar Apong
• Kementerian Pendidikan (Brunei)
• Kementerian Kesehatan (Brunei)
• Kuala Belait
• Suyoi Osman
• School of Advanced International Studies
• Ministry of Development (Brunei)
• University of East Anglia
• List of ambassadors of Brunei to France
• Abdullah Bakar
• Pengiran Mohammad Abdul Rahman
• List of Bruneians
• Abu Bakar Apong
• Hamzah Sulaiman